CHINOOK YOGA

Our teachers

Meet the team

We are so excited to have you

Meet your Yoga Teachers

All bodies are yoga bodies!

We find instructors that embody our values of leadership, to empower and support,
champion positive energy, embrace diversity and inclusion, and engage in continuous learning.

We look forward to flowing with you soon!

INSTRUCTORS AT
CHINOOK YOGA STUDIO

Angela LeFebvre

Brooklyn Derksen

Emma Faulkner

Jeff Young

Gillian Recknell

Jaylene Pfeifer

Jacquie Smith

Kendra Mitchell-Foster

Elaine Weis

Mary-Anne Clavette

Carolyn Manhas

Laura Heagy

Nicolle Therrien

SWATI SURESH BABU

Vivian Bigler

Vivian Giannisis

YOGA STUDIO CLASS SCHEDULE

Angela LeFebvre

To find wholeness is to find ease in oneself through the connection of mind, body, and spirit. Angela learned that as complicated as life can be, nurturing this connection can provide ease and resiliency. Angela is a certified 200-hour yoga teacher and holds a diploma in nursing. Angela became the owner of Chinook Yoga on December 1, 2021.

Her desire is to help bring people into wholeness. She welcomes you into the studio and offers a 30-minute Health and Wellness consult to start you on your journey to inner and outer health.

BROOKLYN DERKSON

The practice of Yoga created a safe container for Brooklyn to come home to her body and herself in full. In pursuit of high-performance endeavors, she pushed through mental, emotional and physical limits which ultimately led her down a path of injuries, burnout and complex chronic health circumstances. Yoga has nurtured a space for recognition, witnessing and welcoming of the mind-stuff and the body-stuff that she experiences.

Through her journey, Brooklyn has formed a budding passion as a teacher, to create an environment in which students can explore the transition from a space of doing to a space of simply being. As a registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) and recent iRest (Integrative Restoration) Level 1 Meditation Teacher, Brooklyn aims to guide students through an inclusive, compassionate and explorative practice with sprinkles of playfulness, joy, nature and connection. She deeply values and believes in the benefits of yoga and connecting with the body for stress management and supporting overall health and wellbeing. Through breath, movement, visualization and gratitude practices, she invites you to join her to re-energize and recalibrate, mind-body-heart and soul!

EMMA FAULKNER

Emma began teaching movement-based classes in 2008, by offering “tribal style belly dance” classes in the style she learned from Donna and Jeanne Anne Bentham, founders of “Your Chance to Belly Dance”, and has, since then completed Fat Chance Belly Dance Certification and Bellyfit training. She completed the SOYA 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program in 2012, then did her specialty project on “Elders Yoga” while completing the SOYA 300 Hour Teacher Training Program in 2015, and received her ERYT 500 designation in 2018. Emma is currently co-teaching SOYA Yoga Teacher Trainings, both the 200 hour and 300 hour extended formats, with fellow Prince George-based yoga teacher Denise Marshall.

Emma’s continuing drive as a yoga teacher is to find ways of approaching movement that create strength, stability, and ease in the body, that release tension and foster a sense of connection and awareness of spirit. Emma is registered with the Yoga Alliance and the International Yoga Teachers Association.

Jeff Young

Jeff discovered yoga in 2017 after a life changing health incident left him paralyzed and dealing with chronic pain. Motivated to return to the outdoors he started with restorative yoga and meditation, eventually working into an active yoga practice. He was certified as a 200hr RYT, so he could help other men and women recovering from cardiovascular incedents. He is an active skier, mountaineer, mountain biker, and fly fisherman. A true lover of nature and the outdoors.

GILLIAN RECKNELL

Gillian loves yoga, nature, outdoor sports (all seasons), and good food that nourishes her soul. Gillian is in her sunset years, a mother of 2 beautiful adult girls.

Her yoga journey started out as a modality to improve my fitness and reduce pain. Through improved mind/body awareness it has morphed into something so much bigger and continues to grow and evolve.
She remind herself daily to see the good, that there is so much more to know, there is always another way, AND practice makes practice.

Gillian has a physical education degree (BPE), is a certified yoga teacher (RYT200), a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), and is certified in ‘Pain Care Aware’.

JAYLENE PFIEFER

Jaylene brings her background as a Kinesiologist and a Yoga Teacher to the mat every time she teaches a class. The experience of being a teacher and connecting with students is a big part of her own practice in remaining grounded in living her life. She is grateful for all the teachers that she has had the opportunity to train with and draws on these experiences to form every yoga class she offers at Chinook Yoga. Jaylene offers opportunities for every level of student to explore their practice with curiosity, ease and presence and most of all a smile : ) - happy exploring!

Jacquie Smith

The beauty of growth lies in the unraveling. In letting go, we find our true selves. Yoga will show you the way.

In addition to her yoga training, Jacquie has a bachelor's degree in psychology. She has always been passionate about learning about the mind, body, and healing. She believes we have the innate capacity to heal ourselves.

Jacquie also loves being outside, especially when snowboarding, hiking, gardening, or painting on a canvas.

Kendra Mitchell-Foster

Kendra Mitchell-Foster, a yogini with more passion than poise, loves to find joy in everyday living and "ordinary" moments. Yoga has helped Kendra bring her life into positive focus, and to understand herself better. Urged by friends to begin a regular yoga practice 9 years ago, she has found yoga to be spiritually, emotionally, and physically transformational. Of the joy and purpose she has found here in PG, "I have been embraced by the community here in Prince George; this beautiful place and the beautiful people in it nurture, encourage and heal me. Joy Yoga is about sharing the light that has come into my life with others. If it is possible for me, it is possible for anyone."

Elaine Weis

Elaine tried yoga as a one-time thing in 2012. Something clicked, but she wasn’t sure what, so she went back, again and again…. Becoming more and more curious every time she stepped on her mat. It all finally aligned, and she completed her 200YTT in 2023.

Elaine welcomes anyone interested in exploring the world of “yoga”, to come to her classes. Being curious about the possibilities will open opportunities!

“Wow. I get to share. I get to share what I have learned about yoga, so far. The power of it, the benefits of it, the history of it. Yoga teacher training has changed my life….and I get to guide others on a path that could change theirs! What an opportunity!” - Elaine Weis

CAROLYN MANHAS

When Carolyn first discovered the ancient discipline of yoga, she found home. What began as a self-taught practice out of an old black & white book in the mid-90s, later blossomed into a desire to share her love of yoga with her community. In 2005 Carolyn pursued yoga teacher training through the Iyengar Yoga Centre of Victoria followed by more extensive training in 2006 through the SOYA graduate program at Chinook Yoga studio in Prince George. A 2008 trip to India to visit the birthplace of yoga and train with various yoga masters sent Carolyn deep into the heart of her practice and evermore inspired to help transform the lives of others. She made yoga her soul/sole business and expanded her teachings all around Prince George, becoming one of the pioneers who helped grow Vinyasa Yoga, Hot Yoga and Laughter Yoga within the city.

Carolyn’s classes challenge both the novice and the experienced student to the degree in which they are at. They are a deep dive into oneself, into conscious breath and dynamic flow with the intent to witness the subtle energetic and experience transformation and connection. She encourages students to leave their expectations at the door and come explore!

LAURA HEAGY

With an extensive background in dance and fitness, Laura was drawn to yoga during her first pregnancy, and fell in love with its blend of breath, movement and meditation. Her background in dance has given her a deep understanding of body movement and choreography, and heavily influences her yoga classes, combining creative sequencing, flowing movements, playfulness and a dose of inspiration.

Seeking to help others find the beauty in everyday life, freedom of movement within their bodies, and a joyful energy, her hope is that you step off the mat feeling refreshed, happy and in love with life.

Nicolle Therrien, She/Her

Nicolle is grateful to live on the unceded ancestral lands of the Lheidli T’enneh people, where she was born and raised. She recognizes the importance of acknowledging the roots and teachings of yoga originating in India thousands of years ago. Nicolle draws on her background as a Social Worker and Trauma Informed Yoga teachings to create safe and inclusive spaces for people to connect with the light and strength within themselves. She lives with chronic pain and mobility limitations, therefore, understands the challenges that can bring to a yoga practice. She offers space for the invitation of self compassion with modifications, as every person belongs and can create a practice suitable for their body. Nicolle has used her own yoga practice as her survival tool over the many years to cope with life’s stressors, and to become more confident with her body and capabilities. Life is an ongoing journey, such as yoga is, that can bring inner reflection, glimmers of hope, and peace to your body, mind and spirit.

Swati Suresh-Babu

Swati hails from India and has completed 500 hours teacher training course from Mysore (India).
Currently she is deepening her knowledge of yoga and Ayurveda by doing her Masters.

After having a long 9-year career on cruise ship she decided to live her passion and surprise her first teacher (Father) by taking her certification course in Yoga in 2015. Her passion and training for yoga started at a very early age of 10 and her father being her first master.

She takes varieties of classes which can engage beginners to an advanced practitioner.

Personally, she prefers a disciplined style of Hatha or Ashtanga practice.
Personal sadhana is her way of offering prayers and sharing knowledge with others is like sharing blessings.

VIVIAN BIGLER

Vivian started with Therapeutic Yoga in 2012 hoping to take care of a sore lower back, not only did she learn how our bodies are meant to be moved she also found moments of stillness and peace. Vivian loved learning ways new ways to access that peace!

One of her favorite quotes by Thich Nhat Hahn " Breathe in deeply to bring your mind home to your body. "

Yoga has been a fascinating self discovery of the way her body moves, breathes and experiences joy.Vivian likes to help others connect with their breath and movement too!

Vivian Giannisis

Vivian Giannisis is certified (RYT-500hr) through the South Okanagan Yoga Association (SOYA). Her goal has always been to share her passion for Yoga by making it accessible to as many people as possible. She always is trying to expand her skills through workshops/courses offered in various types of yoga and loves to bring new and creative ideas into her teachings. Over the years she has developed a unique style of peaceful yoga that is an extension of her warm and welcoming personality. Her soothing voice gently guides her students through poses that challenge the body while calming the mind and focusing on the breath. Vivian always reminds her students to honour their bodies and never move into discomfort.

~Yoga is about the journey, not the destination~

CHINOOK YOGA

Our teachers

Meet your Yoga Teachers

All bodies are yoga bodies!

INSTRUCTORS AT CHINOOK YOGA STUDIO

Angela LeFebvre

Brooklyn Derksen

Emma Faulkner

Jeff Young

Gillian Recknell

Jaylene Pfeifer

Jacquie Smith

Kendra Mitchell-Foster

Elaine Weis

Mary-Anne Clavette

Carolyn Manhas

Laura Heagy

Nicolle Therrien

SWATI SURESH BABU

Vivian Bigler

Vivian Giannisis

Angela LeFebvre

BROOKLYN DERKSON

EMMA FAULKNER

Jeff Young

GILLIAN RECKNELL

JAYLENE PFIEFER

Jacquie Smith

Kendra Mitchell-Foster

Elaine Weis

CAROLYN MANHAS

LAURA HEAGY

Nicolle Therrien, She/Her

Swati Suresh-Babu

VIVIAN BIGLER

Vivian Giannisis

INSTRUCTORS AT
CHINOOK YOGA STUDIO