Instructor

Instructors

Leslie Cranston

Leslie is an experienced and skilled teacher who has been studying and practicing yoga for over 30 years, and sharing her love and knowledge of yoga with others since 2007.

Leslie is a natural leader whose warmth, patience and passion for yoga combine to provide instruction that is deeply nourishing, inspiring and personally fulfilling. She prefers to work with individuals privately and in small classes in order for everyone to benefit fully from her detailed instructions, hands-on adjustments and individual attention. With her caring support and guidance, students are able to develop a deeper understanding and increased proficiency in all aspects of their yoga practice.

Leslie studied under Master yoga teachers Ron Reid and Diane Bruni at the Downward Dog in Toronto in 2007 to become certified with Yoga Alliance International and the Canadian Yoga Alliance. After completing her initial 200 hours of training, she studied an additional 100 hours of advanced training in Yoga Therapy, philosophy, prenatal yoga and Ayurveda. She has taken additional yoga instruction courses in Children's yoga, and has been certified to teach Restorative Yoga (Advanced Relax and Renew(R) training with Judith Hanson Lasater), Seniors Yoga (with Monica Cordes) and Flowyoga (with Bibi Rahim-Hahn). She incorporates elements of all of this learning, as well as her own experience from her personal practice, into her teaching.

Leslie is the owner and founder of Yoga Grove. She teaches Absolute Beginner Yoga, Ashtanga Fundamentals, Flowyoga and Restorative Yoga at the studio.

What People are Saying:

"You are an excellent instructor, Leslie. Thank you for sharing your talent."
- Liz

"Leslie is super friendly and it's obvious that she has a passion for yoga and sharing it with others."
- Nate

"Leslie is kind, patient, encouraging and excited to teach us." - Allison

"Leslie is a thoughtful and sensitive teacher with no pretension. She is caring and skilled and has created a small personalized class where she can be 'hands on' - helping students refine their yoga practice." - Gia

Nikki Gauci

For as long as Nikki can remember, movement has been her medicine.
She found sanctuary in the yoga tradition at a young age and quickly fell in love. Amazed by how yoga offered her a place to land and to connect, Nikki has been studying and practicing for 15 years and teaching for 10.

Inspired by a practice that continues to evolve and grow, her teaching ranges from Vinyasa, Hatha and Flowyoga, to Restorative, Meditation, Breathwork and Yin. For the last few years she has been exploring the restorative benefits of Deep Listening and Sound Meditation (Sound Baths).
As a teacher, her offerings have shifted to a more mindful pace where she encourages deep breathing, rest and relaxation as a form of self care. Through sound, movement and breath she guides others to a place where they too, may find grounding and nourishment.
Nikki teaches Flowyoga classes and Sound Bath Workshops at Yoga Grove.

Leeay Aikawa

Leeay grew up in a small town in Northern West Japan, where yoga was introduced rather later. When she was completing my undergraduate degree at OCAD University more than ten years ago, she first tried ‘gym yoga.’ However, she did yoga only because she wanted to stay fit for physical appearance and had no clue as to the depth of its philosophy.
Over the years, her verdict on yoga has changed dramatically as she continues to study further and it has become a way of life and homecoming.
Being an artist herself, both asana practice and yoga philosophy have helped her unblock creative doubts and nourished her with how she perceives the world. A good yoga class is like a good piece of art!
Leeay approaches making her vinyasa classes as if to create an immersive art experience, often with music that she listens to while she am making art. It is her wish that students feel creative, inspired, and ready to try something new with playful awareness walking out of her class.
Since our minds are already complicated, Leeay give cues that are very clear, followed by gentle hands-on adjustment (currently on hold due to global pandemic), visualizations and yoga wisdom that we can apply on and off the mat.
When she is not doing yoga, you can find her alone in the woods, or writing her MFA thesis paper in nature, making art, or reading more books on yoga and wellbeing.
Leeay teaches Vinyasa and Ashtanga at Yoga Grove.

Jennifer Whyte

Jennifer came to yoga as an injured runner, looking to quickly heal and get back on the road. Instead, she ended up finding a passion that keeps her coming back to her mat.
Since 2010, Jennifer has been a committed yoga student. She further expanded her experience through completing a 300hr teacher training with a focus in Vinyasa and Ashtanga yoga. Jennifer is a certified Yoga for Runners™ instructor, having completed Christine Felstead’s Yoga for Runner’s training module. She has also continued her training through workshops on sequencing, the primary series, mindfulness and yoga for youth.
Jennifer’s students describe her as energetic and passionate. She brings a balance of strength and flexibility to her classes, sequencing in ways that challenge students to tune into the body and mind.
Jennifer teaches Vinyasa Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga at Yoga Grove.

Amyris Rada

Amyris Rada is a 500 hrs certified yoga teacher and a certified nutritional practitioner (CNP).
Amyris started practicing restorative yoga with Hali Swartz in 1999 as part of healing protocol for chronic pain. After taking Hali's 40 hrs Restorative yoga teacher training, leading restorative yoga classes became a natural way to share what she learned in her healing journey.
Her classes aim at making yoga accessible to everyone regardless of experience. Her gentle approach and use of props allows you to create space, to increase flexibility, and to enjoy all the benefits of yoga. Her use of breath work helps you reunite body and mind and realize the true meaning of yoga.
She provides a safe environment that promotes deep relaxation and deep healing. In addition, she channels Reiki as a way to promote healing.
Amyris teaches Yin/Restorative and Gentle Hatha at Yoga Grove.

Lynn Kerrigan

Lynn is a 300hr certified Yoga Instructor (Breathe Yoga Studio) who also has certification in Pre & Post Natal Yoga (Toronto Yoga Mamas), Yoga for Pelvic Health and Children’s & Family Yoga (Rainbow Kids) She also loves to teach yoga to children in schools, through the organization Tools For Teens.She is a life long learner who is continually training, taking workshops and enhancing her practice. Recently Lynn has decided to further her passion with working with new and expectant moms by starting the process to become a Birth and Postpartum Doula.
Lynn loves to practice and teach yoga outside and be one with nature! During the summer months Lynn can be found teaching in local parks or up north on the dock in cottage country. Off the mat Lynn can be found on her paddle board, competing in triathlons and running races, swimming, walking through High Park with her dog, hiking and snowboarding. Lynn is also a mother of three beautiful and active girls!
She is thrilled to be able to share her love of yoga with others!
Lynn teaches Flowyoga at Yoga Grove.

Christine Felstead

Have you, like me, ever dreamed of learning from a true yoga expert in a small semi-private environment, where you can ask questions, interact directly, and develop a strong student-teacher relationship with them, truly being mentored along your yoga path by a renowned and highly-esteemed yogi?
Christine is most certainly one. In fact, she was voted "Top Yoga Instructor" in the 2019 Toronto Star Reader's Choice awards, and is nominated again for this year's award. She is a teacher of teachers, and many instructors that have taught here at Yoga Grove have trained under her, including AnnMarie Wolf, Jennifer Whyte and Andrea Raymond.
Although I would call her a Master, she insists that she is still, and will always continue to be, a student. And I can definitely attest to the boundless energy she channels into learning and continually evolving, and then sharing all she learns through her teaching and writing.
Christine "invented" Yoga for Runners(TM), that is, she coined the term and developed the program - she literally wrote the book on the subject! And she has trained countless instructors to carry on the lineage. Most recently, she has made her mark in the industry with her insights and instruction in aging gracefully through Yoga, focusing on strength, agility and mobility in our practice.
Christine teaches Strength & Aging and Wise Warriors - Yoga for Ages 50+ at Yoga Grove.

Emily Bartlett

Actor, Yogini and Seeker, Emily has over 500 hours of certified yoga training through Yoga Space
Her love of Vinyasa helped to manage her abundant energy, that if wasn’t channeled led down the road of anxiety. Through her Vinyasa practice she continues to build her personal discipline and stamina.

Her love of Flow yoga truly taught her the beauty of making the practice a moving meditation and how life-changing loving acceptance is. As taught to her by Bibi Rahim-Hahn, Flow yoga is of a Kundalini-Tantric lineage.
Her passion for Restorative Yoga has taught Emily the power or rest, space and stillness. Her Restorative classes are a deeply heartfelt offering combining meditation technique to still the mind and optional hands-on support and aromatherapy.
Emily teaches Flowyoga Yoga at Yoga Grove.

Darcie Clark

Since 2006 Darcie has helped thousands of people realize the benefits of yoga in her studio classes, private sessions, and teacher trainings.
Darcie teaches the skills of awareness and self-inquiry through careful cueing and thoughtful sequencing.
Her goal is to make people of any age, physical ability, body size, and background feel capable, supported, and encouraged in their yoga practice. Her calm, grounded nature and clear, concise language inspire her students to feel more receptive, engaged, and restored after each class.
In addition to a 500HR certification through YogaSpace, Darcie continues to take courses in yoga and other movement modalities that have influenced her contemporary teaching style. These include Functional Movement (Scott Davis), Developmental Movement (Diane Bruni), Pilates (Margot McKinnon), Body-Mind Centering (Mariko Tanabe), Somatics (Nadine Saxton), Mindful Strength (Kathryn Bruni-Young) and Fascial Trains (Tom Myers).
Along with a daily yoga and meditation practice, Darcie enjoys activities that connect her to the web of life all around her, including sailing, bird-watching, astronomy, and walking in nature.
Join Darcie for Therapeutic Flow and Functional Strength for Yoga at Yoga Grove.

Ali Lipson

Ali's passion for movement began over 25 years ago in an Ashtanga Vinyasa class.
She took her first YTT in 2001 and soon afterwards started teaching in the Vinyasa style. It didn't take long
before she began to feel the weight of sharing a dogmatic, rigid practice. As she became curious about moving in new and different ways, it became
clear that the physical practice of yoga is just one of a myriad of ways to move and train the body. She soon found other modalities, among them strength training, Pilates, Natural Movement and Somatics.
Her classes are a distillation of her love for all of these disciplines.
Ali continuously works to enrich and expand her offerings so she can help empower students to be curious and resilient in their own practice.
She teaches Wise Warriors Yoga at Yoga Grove.

Maggie Duan

Maggie has practiced yoga on and off for many years. She struggled with her weight, depression and anxiety for years and found that yoga was a way to deal with all three. Moreover, Yoga helped her feel both calm and focused.
Maggie runs Yogatime瑜伽时间 for all ages and all abilities and she tutors Chinese Mandarin.
She has been teaching yoga for 5 years, with over 6 years of experience
with children including as an Early Childhood Educator Assistant in a daycare setting, teaching children Mandarin.
She has completed her 95-hour Kids Yoga Teacher Training with Young Yoga Master, 200 Hour Teacher Training with Yoga Renew. 50 Hour Pre & Post-natal Teacher Training with Toronto Yoga Mamas, and her 30-Hour Flow Yoga Teacher Training with Yoga Grove. In 2020, she became a kids yoga teacher trainer at Younga Yoga Master.
Maggie teaches Restorative Yoga at Yoga Grove.

Liv Bochenek

Liv began practicing yoga as a teenager, soon after her horoscope recommended she try yoga as a way of improving her sense of embodiment. She quickly fell in love with yoga and has been deepening her practice ever since.
As a young adult, Liv practiced ashtanga for several years, loving the strength and agility associated with this style of yoga. In 2017 she completed a 200 hour Hatha/Vinyasa teacher training program at YogaSpace, and began her teaching journey the months following.
Liv has taken a variety of additional physiology and movement-based courses and workshops that include: Functional movement, Pilates, Mobility, Advanced Anatomy, and Physiology for movement teachers. All of these trainings weave together to inform her Vinyasa and Hatha Flow classes.
Having studied with Hali Schwartz since 2017, she is also passionate and studious about yoga philosophy. Her classes are often deeply inspired by themes and lessons from yoga texts. Liv really believes that yoga can and does make the world a better place. The intention of her classes are to help you connect better in your body and mind, so this energy can radiate inwards and outwards and make a positive impact in your practice and also in your life.
Liv teaches Vinyasa at Yoga Grove.

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