Charlene Spiessman
As the owner of Mantra Yoga Studio, located in the Town of Thornbury, Charlene is passionate about yoga. She believes that everyone can enjoy the health benefits and joy that yoga brings to life. Under her guidance, the goal of the studio is to nurture and build an active, supportive and inclusive community that offer a wide range of classes for all abilities.
Charlene’s 23 year career as a healer began at The University Of Western Ontario where she graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts, and then went to Sutherland-Chan earning a Diploma of Massage Therapy.
Practicing massage therapy gives Charlene a strong anatomy background that informs her yoga practice and teaching, allowing her to offers detailed cues, that maximize the importance of alignment and healthy biomechanics.
Charlene’s yoga teaching is supported by a Yoga Teaching Training certificate as well as being a certified SUP-Yoga instructor that takes yoga onto the water, which bring's another natural element into this serene practice.
Kat Stillwell
Kat has been sharing her love and knowledge of yoga for almost two decades. Over the years Kat has had the opportunity to train and study with incredible teachers around the world. Her teaching portfolio includes; Barre/Pilates, hatha, vinyasa, yin, yoga Nidra, hot yoga, meditation,fusion classes, and teacher trainings. Kat teaches with compassion, empowering students to connect with their own uniqueness, wisdom and strength. To focus less on how it looks, but on listening to the experience within their body.
Jeremy Down
Jeremy has been practicing yoga and meditation for over 20 years and teaching for 7 years.
He studied with Bibi Hahn in Toronto and Jenna Arpita-Shea in Nelson BC.
Jeremy brings a deep focus on the breath to his classes, training students in concentration, using attentive breath to lead the practice. As a surfer, mtn.biker and avid backcountry skier, his knowledge of body mechanics and strength training support the teaching, building resilience and longevity.
Natalie Suhanic
Natalie is excited to be joining the Mantra community. She graduated as a Certified Kripalu Yoga teacher in 2010 and began teaching at her home studio and Creating Space Yoga Studio in Oakville. She continued her studies and received a 500 hour designation.
Over the years Natalie has taken trainings in yoga for osteoporosis, yoga for pelvic health and yin yoga. Having experienced the benefits of a regular restorative yoga practice in her own life she has specialized in this area, training with Judith Hanson Lasater, Andrea Pelosa and Beth Rutty.
Natalie’s style of teaching is warm, gentle and heartfelt. She enjoys sharing the traditions and philosophy of yoga and guiding students to listen to their own innate wisdom.
Natalie and her family moved to Grey County in 2020. She considers herself a bit of a homebody, enjoying time in her garden, baking, reading, hikes with her husband and poodle and lots of time spent with her 2 young grandchildren.
Glenn (guylaine) Julien
With over twenty-five years of experience in the fitness and yoga industry, Glenn’s passion for exercise is evident and her energy is contagious. She aspires to educate, empower and inspire every student regardless of their abilities and fitness level. Glenn works to be entertaining, engaging and creative in her yoga sequences and workouts so that no two classes are ever the same. She is a Fitness Instructor Specialist and a Personal Trainer certified with CanFitPro and has completed a 200hr Hatha Yoga training as well as a 500hr Moksha training. Glenn is excited to join the Mantra Yoga family and is looking forward to seeing you in class soon!
Tara
Tara is a registered 500 hour yoga instructor with the CanadianYoga Alliance. Her teachings include yin, restorative, hatha, vinyasa & trauma infused yoga, in addition to being educated in breathwork & guided meditation. Additionally, Tara is a level 2 reiki practitioner and focuses her work on chakra-based healing. Yoga and wellness are passions that she is always thrilled to share with others.
All of her modalities encompass her lens that movement is life and life is movement. Be it beginners or advanced yoga students, Tara welcomes all!"