RACHEL Tan

Rachel is a passionate barre instructor with a year of teaching experience, driven by a love for fitness and sports. Rachel focuses on helping people discover their potential and builds confidence through dynamic workouts. Abby’s classes create a supportive and energizing environment where participants are encouraged to challenge themselves, have fun, and leave feeling empowered.

Rachel Giles

Rachel is a passionate barre instructor with a strong background in both barre fitness and dance. Dedicated to empowering individuals to feel strong and confident in their bodies, Rachel creates a welcoming environment for all fitness levels. Professionally, Rachel works as an ecologist, studying the effects of plastic pollution and chemicals on waterways. Known for being a powerhouse, Rachel inspires confidence and strength in every class.

Courtney Hlady

Courtney is currently a Master of Physical Therapy Student with a background as a competitive dancer. Courtney specializes in strength training to support a dancing career and promote body and movement longevity. In classes, Courtney fosters a positive and uplifting environment, aiming to enhance movement potential, improve technique, and achieve long-term physical and mental fitness improvements.

Isabel Cramer

Isabel is entering her 4th year of business school at Rotman Commerce and has been teaching group fitness since 2021. Isabel is passionate about connecting with others on living a balanced and healthy lifestyle, particularly for busy students. Her favorite aspect of teaching is building a sense of community through group fitness. Isabel is excited about meeting everyone this year!

NATASHA VERHOEFF

Natasha is a medical student at the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine with 20 years of experience in diverse dance styles, including ballet, jazz, hip hop, and flamenco. With over five years of experience as a Zumba/Cardio Dance Party instructor, they combine their passion for dance with promoting health and wellness. Their classes are designed to be welcoming, energizing, and fun, catering to participants of all ages and fitness levels.

Steven Cheng

Steven offers a variety of dance classes, including Cardio Dance Party, K-pop, Salsa, and Bachata. Steven's teaching philosophy is centered around creating a fun and positive environment, making dance less intimidating and more enjoyable. In Steven's classes, participants can expect a lot of energy, chaos, and plenty of smiles. For class schedules and updates, you can follow Steven on Instagram at @steven.dances.

Anjana Dattani

Anjana is a Certified Cardio Group Fitness Trainer and Yoga Instructor with experience in Kathak, Salsa, and Contemporary dance. Currently, Anjana teaches Bollywood-Inspired Dance Fitness (BollyX) at the University of Toronto, focusing on developing cardiovascular strength, body awareness, and fun. In addition to this role, Anjana is a professor in Business Design & Creative Thinking for business executives and an instructor in Vedanta Philosophy for kids.

JENNA SMITH

Jenna is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with over five years of experience teaching yoga to a wide range of individuals, from children to professional athletes. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Kinesiology at the ADAPT Lab, their teaching philosophy focuses on making physical activity personalized and enjoyable. They aim to create an accessible and supportive environment where participants feel confident and motivated, while fostering a strong mind-body connection through appropriately challenging classes.

Motahareh Nabavi

Motahareh is a dedicated yoga practitioner pursuing a Master's in Psychospiritual Studies at Emmanuel College, University of Toronto, with a focus on the Muslim stream. Motahareh holds an MA in Education and have completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) from Yoga and Tea in Ottawa. Motahareh’s philosophy centers on using yoga to achieve unity of mind, body, and soul, with a passion for embodiment and using the practice for healing and cultivating presence.

Abby Gaskin

Abby is a graduate of the Masters in East Asian Studies program at the University of Toronto and holds a BFA in Fashion Design from Parsons School of Design. A former womens' wear designer at UNIQLO in New York City, Abby has been a certified Hatha yoga teacher since 2016, specializing in relaxed vinyasa yoga flow while exploring various yoga styles. Passionate about fitness, Abby integrates weightlifting and other forms of movement into a holistic approach to wellness.

Suzi Lima

Suzi believes in the calming and grounding effects of combining movement, breath, and meditation. Suzi's classes offer a blend of breathwork, slow vinyasa flow, and restorative poses. With a teaching style that encourages exploration with curiosity and without judgment, Suzi fosters a supportive and open environment for all participants.

Lucy Wolff

Lucy is a former UofT graduate student who loved attending Mindful Moments yoga. Lucy enjoys teaching classes within the UofT Mindful Moments community. Trained at Downward Dog Yoga Centre in Toronto, Lucy is certified in Pre/Post Natal Yoga and Chair Yoga. Lucy has also completed the MindFit program at UofT, further enhancing a diverse yoga teaching skill set.

Keke Chambers

Keke is a Trauma-Informed Certified Yoga Alliance Instructor specializing in Vinyasa, Hatha, and Yin yoga. A retired professional dancer, Keke has over 7 years of experience teaching yoga. Immersed in yoga since the age of 16, Keke was inspired by her mother, who is also a yoga instructor, and discovered the healing powers of yoga after sustaining multiple dance-related injuries. Keke's teaching philosophy emphasizes playful curiosity and the belief that all bodies are capable of practicing yoga.

Niamh Maria Wall

Niamh is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Forestry and Conservation and has been a certified yoga teacher since 2017. With training in various meditation practices, Niamh integrates these into yoga classes to create a well-rounded experience. Niamh's teaching philosophy focuses on making classes friendly, accessible, and relaxed. Passionate about continuous learning, Niamh enjoys the ongoing growth that comes with teaching yoga.

Smriti Sundar

Smriti is a University of Toronto alum who was raised in India, where yoga has been a constant part of life. Smriti completed 200-hour and 300-hour teacher training programs in Bangalore and Mysore, India. Smriti's teaching focus emphasizes grounding and self-awareness through conscious stillness, controlled movement, and synchronized breath.

Melissa Campegnolo

Melissa is an experienced yoga teacher, meditator, breathing educator, and yoga therapist who teaches as part of the Mindful Moments program. With extensive study in the Viniyoga tradition, Melissa specializes in adapting yoga to meet individual needs. Melissa's classes are beginner-friendly, focusing on stretching, strengthening, and unwinding to provide a range of benefits for participants.

Savannah Li

Savannah has over a decade of experience in various styles of yoga and recently completed 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training and Yin-Restorative Training at Yoga Therapy Toronto. Savannah also holds a 100-hour Meditation Teacher Training from Hoame, accredited by Yoga Alliance. Savannah specializes in making yoga accessible and helping participants reconnect their body, mind, and breath. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Japanese, Savannah is also learning French.

Maya Gangji

Maya has been involved with the Sivananda Yoga Organization since 2016 and has been teaching at the Sivananda Yoga Toronto Centre since 2022. Maya's experience includes traditional Hatha yoga, Kirtan/mantra chants, and discussions on the Bhagavad Gita. Currently, Maya is an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, studying Physiology, Psychology, and Buddhism, and is heavily involved in campus life.

Education

• U of T Kinesiology graduate
• 2nd-year MSc student

Experience and Background

Interests