YOUR TEAM
The team at Stafford Street Hot Yoga welcomes you to our Winnipeg yoga studio! If you have any questions about Bikram hot yoga, don't hesitate to ask. We look forward to seeing you soon...
Amanda Ing - Director, Certified Bikram Hatha Yoga Instructor, Reflexologist R.A.C., Registered Holistic Nutritionist R.H.N., Outdoor enthusiast
Hello everybody, and welcome to Bikram's torture chamber! It's only 90 minutes, and it's always up to you how you decide to handle it!
I say this with humility and love for all of us, as it is never easy to face our fears, but it is absolutely exhilirating when you do!
The energy it took to create this space was conceived from a passion to offer everyone who wants it an opportunity to experience the original hot yoga in Winnipeg. It is my belief this room is like a modern day sweat lodge, allowing us the chance to break down right to our cell level then to build up again with newer, healthier and more whole selves/cells! Always come back to the breath, and you will never leave a class!
You will learn that your vulnerabilities are your strengths, that there is no room for your ego here, so leave it at the door! May you all find renewed health and vitality through your practice of hatha yoga.
xo Amanda
For info about PRIVATE CLASSES please click here
Bikram Teachers
Todd - Bikram Hatha Yoga Certified Instructor
I have been teaching in the dance and fitness industry for thirty years and have always loved encouraging students to challenge their perceived limits. I began training at an early age as a gymnast, which led me to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, where I received the Arnold Sphor scholarship to train at Les Ballet-Jazz of Montreal. Upon my return to Winnipeg, I joined Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers as a scholarship student and taught the Youth and Adult Jazz programs until I graduated from the Professional Division program.
At the onset of the fitness craze, I taught a variety of classes including Jazz and Step Aerobics, Toning and Stretch, as well as Aqua fitness. While attending the University of Manitoba, I taught the dance and fitness components in Human Movement Development for the Physical Education department. Upon completion of my degree I became the Program Director at the YM/YWCA of Winnipeg. After ten years with the Y, I decided to develop my own business and teach full-time and I added STOTT Pilates to my teaching repertoire.
After so many years of performing and teaching, my demanding schedule and two serious spinal injuries began to take a toll. I was prescribed numerous medications as well as physiotherapy but was in constant pain. I experienced a physical and emotional breakdown and didn't know where to turn. As fate would have it, I saw the owner of Bikram Yoga on Donald interviewed on the news in March 2005. Although skeptical, I tried my first class and it was absolute torture. I was sure I was going to die, and in some respects, I did. One hour after my first class I felt like a newborn. I soon stopped taking all medications and began to heal my body. I trained consistently and passionately and in the spring of 2008, I traveled to Acapulco to certify as a teacher at Bikram Teacher Training.
"It's never too late, it's never too bad, and you're never too old or too sick to start from scratch once again" - Bikram Choudhury
Alexis - Bikram Hatha Yoga Certified Instructor
I completed my Bikram teacher training Spring 2010 in Las Vegas. I enjoy hot yoga of course, along with fishing, snowboarding, soccer, and traveling. My fav destinations are New Zealand and Greece. Currently, I’m finishing off my last year in Business at Asper School of Business. In the future, I hope to travel the USA and teach yoga with the ultimate goal of one day being a studio owner myself!
Vicky - Bikram Hatha Yoga Certified Instructor
I have been practicing Bikram yoga since 2008 and fell in love instantly. It has proven to be a great stress reliever from my busy schedule as a student. Chances are you will see my smiling happy face at the studio, either at the front desk or in the hot room!
Outside of the SSHY world I am currently working towards a degree in Nursing. My passions in life are Bikram yoga, travelling, my family and my friends. Would you rather suffer 90 minutes or 90 years? ;)
Jenn - Bikram Hatha Yoga Certified Instructor
My name is Jenn Marr and I recently graduated from Teacher Training in November 2011 in LA. I started practicing Bikram Yoga about 2 years before that. My friend and I had decided that we wanted to try out hot yoga not knowing anything about it. Stafford Street just happened to be the studio closest to our homes and once I finally got myself into a class (the hardest part is getting there..) I knew that this yoga was going to be a huge part of my life.
This yoga helps you find the power within yourself to move forward in your life no matter what's in your past. I personally have overcome fear, anxiety, bad habits and sickness because the yoga made me realize that I'm capable of doing anything I want. You learn to communicate with your body and know yourself, possibly for the first time.
It's an honour to be able to lead you through Bikram's Beginning Yoga class. Hope to see you all in the hot room!
Namaste.
Glenn - Bikram Hatha Yoga Certified Instructor
Hello my name is Glenn and I am your yoga teacher! Wow, what a feeling to be able to say that after completing 9 weeks training to become a Bikram certified instructor. At the encouragement of Amanda ( my daughter/guru ) and my whole family, I went off on another one of my adventures. This was unlike any other and at times I thought "Are you crazy?" The yoga bubble allowed for some serious introspection. Earlier in my life, I was going to be an educator, graduating with a Bachelor in Education with a major in Sociology and minor in Physical Education. But I opted for a career in sales instead. I feel like a circle has been completed as I guide and encourage our yogis and yoginis to "never underestimate themselves" as they progress at their own pace through Bikram's beginner yoga class.
The best advice that I heard in training is to leave your ego at the door. Give it your best effort in any given class and you will feel better about yourself, which in turn improves your whole outlook on life.
On a physical note, I have been trying to build strength everywhere but concentrating on more flexibility for my lower back and hamstrings. Hence, postures like "standing head to knee & camel" are the most challenging and the ones I have to work hardest at. Everyone has their own "challenges" and they can be overcome with hard work and the right attitude. Good luck with yours :) Namaste
Heather - Bikram Hatha Yoga Certified Instructor
My Bikram yoga journey began when I moved to Winnipeg in 2010. Walking into SSHY I was terrified, self conscious, and unable to touch my toes. The first 90 minutes was like nothing I had ever experienced, and I walked out of the studio feeling absolutely fantastic. I couldn't get enough!!
While I began practising yoga to keep me active while I was in university, I quickly realized how much my broken mind, as well as my body, needed this yoga. This new obsession helped me better understand my constant struggle with anxiety, helped me to eliminate the occurrence of panic attacks, and eventually, gave me the strength to remove the prescription medications from my life that I had become dependent on.
I flew to Los Angeles in the Spring of 2012 for Bikram Yoga Teacher Training, where I developed an even deeper appreciation and love for Bikram yoga, and also for myself. Aside from learning the ropes up on the podium, I am currently studying Sociology and English at the University of Manitoba, and spending as much time as I can at the cabin with friends and family.
And that is only just the beginning of my Bikram yoga journey! Every day offers something new to learn, a challenge to experience, a fear to face, and a new mantra to repeat. I hope to see your happy smiling faces at the studio, toes and heals touching each other, toes on the line! :)
Jodi - Bikram Hatha Yoga Certified Instructor
My yoga practice started when Stafford Street Hot Yoga opened their doors just as I was seeking a stress-busting activity. Though very challenging at first, I was amazed how quickly my range of motion improved, my skin cleared, and I felt relaxed and rested! One of my first goals with yoga was to get back to enjoying other things - great success!! I love all the outdoor fun of winter epecially creating snow sculptures with my children which is very physical, involving a lot of snow shovelling. It is great to practise yoga in the hot room after working on a snow block, skiing or shooting pucks around a rink!
I went to teacher training in Spring of 2010 to build on my education and work background in Recreation Studies. I love teaching yoga and encourage others to maintain regular yoga practice as it is a great way to re-create ourselves and move from stress and injury to feeling connected, happy and well! As a bonus, the peaceful effect of your yoga practice extends to the family & friends around you & beyond!
Ivanka - Bikram Hatha Yoga Certified Instructor
I’m a homegrown (Winni)peggar who grew up with the love of music and movement. Violin and dance became a huge part of my life somewhere around the age of 6 and have ruled me from that point on. Nurtured by cultural influences of Winnipeg, I’m fluent in Ukrainian and grew up heavily involved in the community. The dance I studied ranged from classical ballet, tap and jazz to character, Ukrainian and other types of folk. Musically, I spent time in northern Saskatchewan every summer where I studied under fiddle icons such as Patti Kusturok, Calvin Vollrath, John Arcand, and Jerry Holland in Emma Lake Fiddle Camp. When I turned 18, I decided to move to Calgary to pursue music and ballet further. After circumstances led to the end of a dance-heavy focus, I moved back to Winnipeg and was reluctantly dragged to a yoga class. In April 2010, I set off to Las Vegas for Bikram's Teacher Training until June. Immediately after that, I set off to go on tour for the second summer in a row - 4 months of travel and music! Now I’m home and ready to help you kill yourself, with LOVE :)
Visiting Bikram Yoga Teachers
Miranda - Bikram Hatha Yoga Certified Instructor
Support Network
Sarah - "Receptionist Extraordinaire"
I was born and raised in Winnipeg, and though I have lived in a few other places, I have always felt a strong pull to come back to the city of my roots. Some of my interests include sewing, knitting, jewellery design, spending time with my family, hiking, swimming, dancing, and of course Bikram Yoga!
All be it, that last interest took some getting used to. It also took Amanda a long time to warm me up to the idea, mostly because I fight with the heat, which has been the greatest challenge for me with this practice. Of course now that I have been practicing Bikram Yoga for a while, I could not imagine my life without it. I am so happy, and consider myself blessed to be involved with this wonderful studio and the people who staff it!
Kate - Receptionista muy adorables!
I’m Kate. I believe that if you believe something will work out, it will. I love friends and hugs, and especially hugs from yogi friends. Jackie once told me that yogis have strong backs, and as a result - they give the greatest hugs. I like to believe that too. Yoga to me is love, and it simply makes me love more.
Sweat the bad out with us at the studio because it’s too hot for anything but love to survive. You’ll get a hug at the very least.
Lydia - "Receptionista Suprema"
My first Bikram yoga class was one of the scariest experiences of my life. My brother Caleb, along with my friend Natasha, convinced me and dragged me over to Stafford Street Hot Yoga. My fears vanished after just one class - not only was I alive, but I was ALIVE! I felt really good after, and decided to keep doing the yoga. There were good classes and bad classes, laughter and tears. In a 6-month stretch, without changing anything else in my life (diet, exercise, etc.), I lost 50 pounds. Soon after I did a 60-day challenge, and continue to rock the hot room (but sometimes it still rocks me)!
I never knew how much I needed Bikram yoga. I also don't think i could have done it without the love and support of the good folks at Stafford Street, from the teachers and my co-workers, and from the community as well. If you are ever in doubt about your ability to start this up in your life, come talk to me...I will lend you the strength that was once lent to me.
Jackie - "Receptionista Magnifica"
I fell in love with Bikram Yoga in China. While teaching English in Jilin, one of my amazing students asked me if I would like to go with her and her mom to yoga…with a bit of a language barrier I said “sure”. Off I went to start a journey of a life time, at 1st wondering what I was doing killing myself there 2 or 3 times a week for 90mins, but loving it - how kind, caring, nice and compassionate everyone one was there! Also loving how great I felt after class and each week how my skin, hair and diet improved. After about a year, came back to western society and fell back into the rat race... trying to find the peace at home that I had found so far away. Then Stafford Street Hot Yoga came into my life. My 1st class in the studio, by about halfmoon pose, I was so excited - this was it! This is what I did a million miles away. Once my own business is fully functioning and can do without me for 9 weeks, I will be off to Bikram teacher training…
Brenda - "Receptionist Internationalist"
Being physically active in any way possible has always brought me happiness, and although my yoga career is relatively fresh, I know that this is something that must always be in my life. I love a challenge and without a doubt, Bikram is intense, but the amazing feeling after is the best reward and keeps us all coming back for more. I love my life and yoga is my way of honouring and giving thanks to my body. I've been a receptionist at Stafford Street Hot Yoga almost since they opened and I could not ask for a better environment to work in. It really is a community here and I get to experience the amazing warmth and welcoming energy of both the teachers and students that practice here. Besides exercise, I have a love of travel and have this strong draw to explore the world (my Sagittarian nature taking over?). I want to go anywhere and everywhere. SSHY has always welcomed me back when I return from my travels and I am so thankful for that. In the near future I will be leaving again, but look forward to returning to everyone's smiling happy faces :)
~Not all those who wander are lost~
Kevin - Tinkerer / Front Desk Guru / Comic Relief
When I first started helping in the building of the studio in 2008, I had more thumbs on my hands than hot yoga classes to my name. I had that common misconception about yoga (in general) that so many westerners still do: "Yoga is a low-energy fitness trend for yuppies." How foolish was I! Well, if you know me at all, my ability for foolishness is unmatched, so maybe it's believable.
At any rate, that's all in the past. l haven't felt this good, this alive, since I was a teenager. Not only have old injuries subsided and new strength been found, but my mind is more disciplined as well. I never would have thought to be here in my life, and I couldn't be happier. Maybe someday I'll find the time and, more importantly, the courage to attend the Bikram teacher training. Until then, you only have 90 seconds of suffering as you check into class with me, not 90 minutes of suffering in the hot room (which might feel like 90 years...HA!)
Eyvi - Bikram yogi in training
