A self-confessed dharma brat and curious cat – Elle first discovered yoga when she was three years old, on the local cable channel. She loved watching an elderly yogi twist and contort and would wake up early just to stretch and play! A rediscovery occurred when Elle entered her twenties and found that yoga gave her integrative means for self-discovery and stress management. Practicing since 2000, Elle found that her focus in life became more heart centered after (more than) a few dramatic life changes, including a debilitating car accident. Yoga became an integral tool for embracing life in its many stages of change. In 2008, Elle found her calling was to the same tools that had made her shift infinitely more manageable. This insight led to her leaving a ten-year career in film and fashion to pursue teaching yoga. To share these gifts and to offer alternatives for stress and life management is an honour and a blessing.

Elle’s teaching styles include Yin, Hatha and Vinyasa yoga. Her expansive knowledge and love of anatomy creates an individual experience for each student that focuses on functionality versus aesthetic. Elle continually draws on inspiration from Buddhist teachings, meditation, daily life and the sheer joy of being present and in the body she was given. She enjoys bringing playful insight into her classes so that each student can find a seed for their own growth and development emotionally, physically and spiritually.

Elle’s training includes 200hrs YA Hatha Yoga from Semperviva Yoga, 100hrs of Yin Yoga & Anatomy with Paul Grilley, 180+ additional hours in workshops and a certification and continued mentorship in Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga with Sadie Nardini. Elle strongly believes in on-going professional study and, most importantly, seeking the little lessons in every day life. Elle is also an Ambassador for Lululemon’s flagship store on West 4th in Vancouver.

Elle’s vinyasa (Flow & Power alike) yoga classes are based on a mindful breath-focused movement. This class is a combination of Core Strength Vinyasa, Vijnana and Taoist Flow. This creates a class that has a challenging and playful approach to fluid, conscious movement. Students can expect to experience the benefits of holistic detoxification and learn strong body awareness. A deep focus on the core and ways to move into a subtle but profound practice translates as facing fear in challenging poses and finding sweetness in familiar movement.

Elle’s yin classes feature deep release, encouragement of individual experience within the body and active meditation. This style of yoga relieves the body in a similar manner as acupressure and can bring many, many benefits to not only the physical body but the mind and subtle, yet profound energetic body. The poses are primarily on the floor and held for some time with props to guide the body open. Each class is a new opportunity to explore avenues of thought, experience and letting go.

Elle has a deep respect for variations in the human body and recognizes that we use the poses to get into our own bodies rather than forcing our bodies into a shape or pose. Come laugh, play and breathe – all humans welcome!