Kali
Studio Greeter
Although Kali is the goddess named after the furious divine mother and is often described as the destroyer of the very world she is supposed to protect. You can often find her at the studio offering much love. When she is not giving the love Kali is stealing your socks!
Favorite quote- “It’s a great life.”
Shirlee
Everyday Shirlee is reminded of how remarkable this life is. She is truly blessed to be surrounded by her husband Simon and her boys Ethan and Oliver who support her on this journey. They are truly her greatest teachers. When one of Shirlee’s sons, Oliver, was born with Cerebral Palsy, she began to search out alternative treatment for children with special needs. She discovered “Yoga for the Special Child” a book by Sonia Sumar. After reading the book, she completed Yoga For The Special Child Training, Levels l & ll, and started working with children of all levels and abilities through a program she designed called Yoga Bear. This was just one of the many fascinating and life-changing landmarks on an exciting and ongoing path of yoga.
19 years ago Shirlee began her yoga journey on the mat. She quickly realized that the benefits she was experiencing were more numerous than just being able to touch her toes, she went on to complete her Hatha Yoga training with Esther Myers in Toronto, Ontario. This 750-hour course changed her life. Being on the mat made her a stronger, happier and a more sensitive human being. When she began to align with nature, life opened up and began to flow for her. In June 2004, Shirlee attended a weekend workshop with John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga. She was hooked! Anusara Yoga is a style of Hatha Yoga known for its heart-oriented focus and its elegant alignment principles. It is a life-affirming practice that touches people on many different levels. Since that magical weekend, She has completed countless hours of training with John, including Therapy Training and The Art of Adjustment. She has studied with certified Anusara teachers Tiffany Fraser, Ross Rayburn, Todd Norian, Ann Greene and Desiree Rumbaugh. Shirlee brings her own unique style and approach to make yoga readily assessable to everyone. She brings a real lightness and joy to the practice.
In 2006 Shirlee became a certified Spinning instructor. Four years ago Shirlee took up road riding and describes the experience as meditation in motion.
Shirlee is the owner of Buddha Rider. You can find her teaching a variety of different classes at the studio or running local and international yoga retreats.
Her teachings are playful, dynamic and full of heart. She tries to inspire people to reach their true potential by rediscovering the very essence of their beings.
Favorite quote
And the time came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom”. – Anais Nin
Simon
Simon is one of the founders of Buddha Rider. He plays an active role in running the studio. Simon is a certified Schwinn cycle instructor and a Can Fit Pro Personal Training Specialist. He brings his love of mountain biking and road riding into the studio.
His classes are filled with inspiring visualizations and anecdotes. Simon loves to motivate his clients to achieve their goals while having fun. His love for fitness shows through in all his classes. He is a competitive tennis player and avid yogi! In 2010 Simon participated in the Sear National Kids Cancer Ride. This ride is a 15 day event that saw 40 cyclists ride from Vancouver to Halifax and raised 2 million dollars to send children with cancer to camp.
He brings all these experiences to his classes. They will challenge you, inspire you and leave you wanting more.
Fovorite quote- You have to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight. – Bruce Coburn
Amanda
Amanda started dancing at the age of three and spent 18 years dancing as well as acquiring her British Academy Teachers of Dance Certification. She has been involved in competitive sports most of her life. This begun her exploration into the world of health and well being. She received a certification in homeopathic medicine from the Homeopathic College of Canada. After practicing Yoga and Pilates for over 10 years Amanda earned her 200 hour Yoga Alliance Certification in Ashtanga Yoga. Amanda has also earned her Pre-natal Yoga Teaching certificate with Cynthia Funk as well as a certification for Prenatal Yoga Birth Method with Dorothy Guerra. It brings her great joy to help women have a natural, mindful and enlightened childbirth experience.
Along with teaching, Amanda managed three of the largest Yoga Studios in downtown Toronto for several years before relocating to Collingwood where she and her husband have happily welcomed the arrival of their first son.
Favorite quote – Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.
B.K.S Iyengar
Claudia
Claudia was born in Berne Switzerland and came to Canada in her early twenties. After the birth of her second child (of 5) she decided to return to exercise and athletics – choosing triathlons as her sport.
Claudia completed the 2010 Hawaii Ironman in Kona in an outstanding time of 9 hrs 55 minutes, one of an elite group of women (amateur and Pro) to break 10 hours. She participated in this years Centurion ride in Collingwood and came in first. Her passion and dedication to heath and wellness is infectious. Claudia is certified in spin, yoga stretch and zumba. She is a NCCP level 2 coach and is an active volunteer and fundraiser in our community.
Challenge yourself by joining Claudia in her spin classes at Buddha Rider. She brings her strong enthusiasm for performance and fitness knowledge to the class to help our clients achieve their goals
Favorite Quote: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Jane
Jane settled in Collingwood 14 years ago after moving coast to coast through previous years. Her children, now parents themselves, still express gratitude for living their teenage years in Collingwood. Like many others the geography was a perfect fit: the sailor wanted to be on clean Ontario waters, and in the winter close to the serenity of cross country trails and the invigorating downhill slopes on the escarpment. Jane believes there is truth in the old tales of healing powers on these Southern Georgian Bay shores. She might be found wandering the many hiking trails in the area and in the summers she loses herself at a water hideaway near Haliburton.
Rediscovering yoga at Buddha Rider was like finding a long lost friend. Jane as been a student of Shirlee’s since Buddha Rider opened it’s doors and is grateful for her teachings. Yoga is a pure grounding in her life. It has given Jane the opportunity to find her the strength and renewed health to confidently revisit many activities and discover new experiences. It is also where she returns to heal after some challenging excursions. It is never too late to play in a new sandbox.
So here she is, helping Shirlee at Buddha Rider, finding strengths in handstands and surrounding herself with positive energy.
Favorite quote
In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth. -Mahatma Gandhi
Maggie
Maggie has been heavily involved in many aspects of fitness training for the past 20 years. She is a certified Fitness Instructor, Personal Trainer, Spinning Instructor and also holds a 200 hour yoga certification through Georgian College. Maggie’s passions include running, both road and single track biking, rock climbing and kayaking. She finds that Yoga is the perfect compliment to these sports, helping to keep her flexible, strong and injury free. Maggie is an enthusiastic teacher who loves nothing more than seeing others achieve their fitness goals.
Rob
Rob started yoga just over five years ago as an exercise routine. Slowly this exercise routine turned into a passion. He has experienced first hand the empowerment that yoga brings, physically, mentally, and spiritually, both on and off the mat. As a teacher, it brings Rob great joy to be able to share this gift and help others to find their true potential. Rob completed his Hatha certification in 2009 at Yoga Source in Newmarket. He met Shirlee during his teacher training where she was one of the instructors. Since then Rob has gone off and studied with senior Anusara teachers Todd Norian and Ann Greene. He has completed 108 hour immersion in the Anusara philosophy as well as a 200 hours certification. With its precise physical alignment principles and its open hearted, life affirming philosophy he feels it is truly on the leading edge in the continuing evolution of yoga. This year Rob received his Anusara Inspired status.
To have the opportunity to come work with Shirlee at Buddha Rider in a town as beautiful as Collingwood is really exciting. He is also hoping to learn how to ski!
Favorite Quote- Believe in yourself, follow your heart, find your own truth.
Sarah
Sarah Heipel is a certified personal trainer, holistic lifestyle coach, and the owner of Good Energy Personal Training & Nutrition. She is a Keiser certified spinning instructor with 8 years experience motivating participants towards a fun and safe workout on the bike. Sarah incorporates elements of speed, power, and endurance in each spin class and encourages participants to challenge their own fitness level.
Sarah Heipel is passionate about empowering others towards a healthy, active lifestyle. After Graduating from Cambrian College in 1999 with a diploma in Fitness & Leisure Management, she became a Certified Exercise Coach and Level 2 Holistic Lifestyle Consultant with the CHEK Institute for corrective, holistic, exercise, kinesiology. She is also a Keiser Certified Power Pacing instructor with 9 years experience leading participants through challenging intervals rides on the bike.
Sarah enjoys hiking and biking the rolling hills around Georgian Bay with her husband Matt and their dog. You can catch Sarah filling in when needed at Buddha Rider.
“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do, than by the ones you did. So take Action. You’re worth it.”
Leah
Leah began doing yoga 12 years ago as an alternative to dance classes. What began as an exercise program quickly progressed into something more, taking her further into herself and into yoga philosophy. In 2007, she began her 200-hour teacher training certification through Buddha Rider in Collingwood, a journey to be completed early in 2011. Taking the teacher training has allowed Leah to combine her passion of teaching with yoga, while taking her further into her own practice. Yoga is a journey for both teacher and student, and Leah is honored to teach and be taught by all of her students.
Leah believes that yoga can be accessible for anyone. If you are breathing, you are doing yoga. If you move with awareness, you are doing yoga. Yoga is an experience both on and off your mat. It is through regular practice on our mats that we can bring this sensibility to the rest of our lives.
Quote: “It always comes back to just letting go with love. Just put love in it, whatever it is, and if you can’t put love in it, don’t do it.”
- Bhagavan Das, It’s Here Now (Are You)?
Rochelle
Rochelle is a graduate of the yoga program at Georgian College. She completed her training in 2009 and has been teaching for 8 years. Rochelle is a dedicated teacher who teaching a beautiful Gentle Vinyasa class.
She is a mother of two fantastic children and has been happily married for the past 18yrs. Rochelle has volunteered with the Georgian Bay Humane Society for the past 7 1/2 yrs where she was responsible for the strays, surrenders and adoption of the dogs.
Rochelle is excited to be joining the Buddha Rider team and looks forward to meet all of you.
