Please take a moment to become acquainted with our  Moksha Team!

OUR TEAM

Ryann Doucette
Studio Owner.
Teaches Moksha Level 1 & 2, Hot Flow, Gshtanga and Cycle/Strength.

Ryann is passionate about movement, life, yoga, her wonderful husband, and her great dog Austin, country music, her family, good vegetarian food, and being outdoors. She is a graduate of Lakehead University with an Honours Degree in Outdoor Recreation. Her past and present involvement in sport cover a spectrum of activities from snow- boarding to wrestling to marathon running to backcountry hiking to bodybuilding to yoga. Ryann is a Can-Fit Pro Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor, as well as a Twist Conditioning Certified Bosu Ball, Sport Movement, and Sport Strength Specialist, and a STOTT Pilates Trained Instructor. She is very proud to be a Moksha Yoga Instructor, and is passionate about her personal yoga practice.  

back to top

Phil Doucette
Teaches Moksha Level 1 & 2, Hot Flow, Hot Hatha

Phil Doucette is a passionate human being.  He is an inspirational speaker, author, photographer [see his photos as you come down the stairs from the spin studio] and Moksha Yoga Instructor.  Phil lives with the simple mission statement, "To live with the understanding that there are no ordinary moments."  He did his training in Hawaii this past April and has been teaching in Toronto once a month to gain experience.

back to top

.

.

.

Robyn Thomas
Teaches Hot Hatha and Hot Flow.

Robyn completed her teacher training of Vinyasa Flow with Shiva Rea in Los Angeles CA in February 2007. Robyn started practicing yoga when she was 17. Her first class was in New
York City and she hated it because there were too many "push-ups" and it hurt. It took some time to commit to the practice of patience and process, but she is now at a place in her journey where she can't get enough vinyasas in her day and thrives on the lessons she gains on her mat which then transpire into lessons for life and the practice of living. She cherishes
the opportunities she has to learn and share experiences with her students and is so inspired by their commitment to practice yoga and seize life with all the juices flowing.

When not practicing or teaching yoga, Robyn can be found working at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, riding her bike, playing in her kitchen, and spending time with a wonderful man in her life named Ken.

back to top

.

Sherri Schroeder
Teaches Moksha

Passionate about living Yoga, Sherri ( a total Winnipeg girl) feels the need these days to share this wonderful Love with everyone. Back in the 90's, Sherri took an Iyengar Hatha Teacher Training under her instructor Hart Lazer.(Truly her Mentor) Drifting away for while trying to find a compliment to Hatha yoga she found her edge at the Grand Opening of the Moksha Yoga Winnipeg Studio in March 2007. She knew this fresh ( oops... sweaty) yoga is what she and the community needed. So off to India Sherri and 5 other fabulous people went to study Moksha. To learn more about yoga in the Mother Land was an experience of a life time. Just back from Kerala India, Sherri is greatful that Moksha Studio owners/teachers Ryann and Amy are helping her achieve her goal in sharing her love and her understanding of Yoga in the Moksha Community. Sherri also believes that family,friends and moksha students have been a great support and inspiration to keep her motion and emotions going. Sherri is interested in Ayurveda and Reflexology and hopefully one day bringing these elements in with her yoga teachings. Sherri looks forward to sharing the Love and Light that Yoga is.

back to top

.

Mesia and Nena Custodio
Teaches Moksha, Hot Flow, Hot Hatha

Mesia (left) and Nena love their family and friends, their pets Phil, Eric and The Guy, movies, BBQs, So You Think You Can Dance, partying, party schedules, dance parties, karaoke and Disney! Moksha Yoga Winnipeg's very own twins completed their Moksha Teacher Training in Kerala India this past March and are beside themselves with excitement to be part the teaching staff at MYW! Both having strong backgrounds in ballet and dance, yoga was a natural fit for these two. Establishing a love for the benefits of hot yoga first when they tried Bikram, they found a real sense of community, support, variety and evolution when they started practicing at the Winnipeg Moksha Yoga studio. Starting out in the amazing Energy Exchange program, the twins (a.k.a. the Duplicates) realized that they wanted to be able to deepen their practice and share it with as many people as they could. They made the life changing decision to go to India, and have returned ready to spread love, peace, and fitness through Moksha! 

back to top

Jessica Blaikie:
Teaches Moksha

Though her love of travel has afforded her opportunities to experience many wonderful places, Jessica is proud to call Winnipeg home and to be rooting herself within its diverse communities. She has a great love for the arts, the outdoors, and most importantly, people. She is inspired by the many wonderful people that she has met and come to know throughout her life. Her family and friends are an incredible source of love and strength and she is truly thankful for their presence in her life.

Jessica has a B.A. (Theatre and English) from the University of Manitoba, a Bachelor of Education (French Immersion) from the Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface, and a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Education (with emphasis on Counselling & Art), from the U of M as well.

Now an inner-city school teacher, Jessica has worked in drop-in centres around the city for at-risk children and youth. She has also taught various art, drama, and creative movement courses to children and adolescents.

back to top

.

Racha Adamek
Teaches Ashtanga

Racha (pictured with son, Thayden) is currently  studying Ayurveda (Science of Life), the healing tradition of India, going back over 5000 years.  A true companion to yoga, Ayurveda offers a blend of science and philosophy that balances the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. The next 3-5 years will be a full of studying, healing and learning more.  
          
Currently, with over 800 hours in training and workshops, Racha instructs methods of Ashtanga, Yin and Restorative Yoga.  9 years ago hatha (physical) yoga was introduced to her, by her sister, who handed her an Ashtanga Video and knew she had to learn more.   Since then, she has dedicated herself to exploring the depths that yoga has to offer, as a way of living and being, not just the physical.  Yoga has persevered through life's challenges, proving that it not only heals the outside injuries and hurts it goes deep to the being, healing the inside.  This is the work and this is the beauty of yoga.  
     
To remain a student, at the same time as teaching is an essential part of being a yoga instructor.  For Racha, teaching is a tool to share her love of the practice, share her personal discoveries and help guide people in their own journeys.

To live from the heart and in the moment is her goal and she expresses gratitude to her teachers, mentors and supporters.  First to Thayden, her son & greatest inspiration and Claude her partner, mirror & great supporter. To teachers David Swenson, Serge Salvador, Jonathan Austman, the Moksha community as well as many others who have touched and inspired her.

back to top

Lori Neufeld
Teaches Ashtanga

Lori began her yogic journey through the persistent encouragement of a fellow co-worker in Halifax, Nova Scotia, just before the turn of the century. Her ongoing quest for well-being and balance led her to Bikram yoga in London, Kundalini in Johannesburg and Iyengar back in Winnipeg. It wasn't until another enabler friend led her to the Yoga Shala in Winnipeg that Lori found a depth of practice beforehand unparalleled. She finds the practice of yoga to be a direct reflection of the yoga in All (things/beings/experience). Lori now teaches Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga in community centres, high schools, businesses and studios throughout the city. She expresses her gratitude and acknowledgment to teachers past, present and future, among whom are Jonathan Austman and Robert Webber. In addition to an immense love for this expansive and healing practice, Lori loves to dance and loves the Best Cat Ever, Loki. 

back to top

.

Darlene Sveinson
Teaches Ashtanga

Sometimes you lose yourself in your practice, and sometimes, you find yourself. Darlene, having specialized in group fitness for 24 years, is grateful that yoga found her along the way. She is trained in both the Iyengar and Ashtanga yoga styles, receiving Certification at the Yoga Centre Winnipeg. She graciously acknowledges her teachers Hart Lazer, Jan Debenham and Shauna Ellerby. In addition to her time spent in the asana room, she has found ways to share the benefits of yoga with others during her roles as Hockey Strength and Conditioning Trainer and Physical Education Teacher at Balmoral Hall School. She shares life, love and harmony with her husband Jeff and teenage sons, Taylor and McClay.

back to top

Brad Young
Teaches Moksha, Hot Flow, Hot Hatha

Brad is a certified Moksha Yoga and Schwinn indoor cycling instructor. He is an avid mountain biker and hiker and always welcomes the challenge of a steep hill to climb. Brad shares his passion with his wife Tally and daughter Aine. He started working as an energy exchanger at MYW and can now be seen teaching yoga and indoor cycling at MYW and other venues around the city.

back to top

Alan Cherniak
Teaches Private Reformer Pilates

Alan is Stott Certified in Mat and Reformer Pilates and has taken ongoing education in BOSU, Exercise Ball, Stability Chair, Flexband, Toning Ball and Cadallic. He is also training in injuries for special populations.

He was first introduction to Pilates was in 1999,and was so impressed, that within half an hour, he knew he wanted to teach Pilates. His first client was the Winnipeg Rowing Club where he did dry land training - 7 years later he is still there. They were training for the Worlds and Olympics and wanted to try some different in-land training to increase their core strength, so they brought him on board for two weeks...that was seven years ago, and he's still there. In 2006, he worked with the MB Provincial Diving Team for the Commonwealth games.

In 2003, He gave his notice at the office and since then, has been pursuing his passion for a living. Now, he feels he has the best job in the world as he is constantly see-ing physical improvement in the injured and the healthy. The positive feedback is never ending. Clients have referred Alan's class as "a one hour escape from reality." He feels this is the greatest compliment an instructor could receive.

back to top

Sam Manchulenko
Teaches Private Reformer Pilates

Physical fitness has always been an important part of Sam's life. She is a professional dancer and musical theatre performer and a full member of both Equity and ACTRA. Sam has performed in a variety of musicals including Anne of Green Gables at the Charlottetown Festival, Chicago and West Side Story; and movies including Shall We Dance, Superstar, One Last Dance and Inside the Osmonds. Sam enjoys pilates, yoga, singing, dancing, studying at Starbucks and traveling across North America to perform. She is a RAD/ADAPT trained dance instructor, choreographer and Stott Certified Pilates Instructor.

back to top

Jenna McMahon
Teaches Pre-Natal Yoga

Jenna McMahon is in her 6th year of practice as a Registered Massage Therapist. She specializes in pre-natal and post-natal care, as well as labor and delivery support, infant massage, and baby-bonding.

Jenna is one who not only lives for her passions, but the opportunity to share them with others. Yoga has been a part of her life for over ten years. Through it, she is honored to have created yet another avenue for pregnant woman to nurture themselves during the most incredible journey of their lives.

Health, wellness, movement, and physical activity have always been a mainstay in Jenna’s life. With past experience in everything from Kick-Boxing to Ultimate, nothing touched and changed her life more than yoga.

Born of Trinity Yoga based out of Nelson BC, Jenna is now more than excited to join the Moksha Yoga family as well! She is also one of the original 30 day hot yoga challengers.

back to top

.

Tally Young
Retail Manager   |   Teaches Moksha

As a lover of the outdoors, adventures, yoga and fantastic journeys, Tally has found a place where she can combine them all and ever expand on the adventure that she calls life. Along on her adventures is her amazing family, her daughter Aine and her husband Brad. Her love of yoga began as a trickle with pre-natal yoga and expanded to a full adoration when Moksha Yoga came to town. She knew she was hooked! Her training in India, March 2008, was a journey built on self discovery and daily learning to perfect the practice that she loves – Yoga. Tally is currently a Moksha Yoga instructor and recently a Kids Yoga instructor. She has been sharing her practice with Red Road Lodge, a space where healing is inspired through art, music and movement. She is honored and excited to share the amazing energy that is Yoga, with everyone.

back to top

.

Paula Hahlweg:
Front Desk Manager   |   Teaches Moksha

Yoga makes sense on so many levels to Paula. To that end she has practiced regularly since Moksha opened its doors in Winnipeg last year. Her Love of practicing yoga turned into a desire to want to become a teacher of yoga. She felt inspired to want to share the amazing feeling that yoga gives her with other people. So she went to Toronto this summer and took her intensive Moksha Teacher Training, and is now regularly teaching here at the studio.

She is also still working on projects every month towards her graduation in July 2009.  In addition to teaching at the studio Paula is also the Front Desk Manager, so when she is not teaching you can find her behind the front desk greeting our customers or working behind the scenes on various studio projects.  She is thrilled to be part of the Moksha Community and is excited to continue her yogic journey alongside such passionate and inspiring fellow yogis.

back to top

.

Denise Noonan
Desk Staff   |   Teaches Moksha

Denise began practicing yoga in the year 2003...a momentous year to begin something that would change her life. She began with lunch time classes as an escape from corporate life. Over the years her passion and love for yoga only grew, so much so that this past June (2008) she decided to leave her corporate career and take part in the Moksha teacher training in Toronto. Although Denise was born and raised in Toronto, she recently relocated to Winnipeg with her fiance Rob, and their 3 cats, Gwen, Gavin and Ewan. Denise is proud to be a Moksha teacher and feels blessed to be part of a community that is so warm and welcoming..

back to top

.

Alison Harack
Desk Staff   |   Teaches Moksha

Alison was born and raised in Winnipeg. She graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Arts while at the same time training as a competitive figure skater for Manitoba. After this she left home to spend a year touring with Disney on Ice. That year became eleven years touring the world as a professional figure skater. Last year Ali and her husband tried the one week trial at Moksha and are now totally addicted. It's no surprise that hot yoga balances out the cold of the ice rink! The strength, balance, flexibility, and focus used in ice skating now make their way to her yoga mat. Alison completed the teacher training this past July in Toronto with the encouragement of Ryann and Amy. Ali is happy to be back in Winnipeg and part of the community.

back to top

.

.

.