STUDIO TEACHERS

The studio continues to grow with the grace of yoga and the mutual support and commitment of the teachers and students in the community. The classes that have evolved at the studio, lead individuals toward a thinking body, a tranquil mind, and joyous spirit.

Patricia Dewar (PhD, RYT 500 hrs) Founding Director, Director of Teacher Training Program.

Patricia Dewar teaches and trains yoga teachers in Saskatoon and elsewhere in Saskatchewan. She began her study of yoga in 1990 and continues to study and be inspired by yoga teachers that follow in the Iyengar tradition. Patricia is deeply appreciative of her training with Donald Moyer and Mary Lou Weprin in the Advanced Studies Program at the Yoga Room in Berkeley, California, Fr Joe Pereira ( Founder of the International Kripa Foundation), Judith Lasater ( Relax and Renew), Gert Van Leewen ( Critical Alignment Therapy), Lynne Minton, Gay White, and others. Her life long interest in different modalities that view the body as a vehicle of consciousness, reflects her appreciation of alignment, physiology and intent to awaken the inner self.

Patricia co-founded the Yoga Central in 2000. In 2003-06 she became sole owner and director. Currently, she gives classes, workshops, retreats and teaches individual private classes on request. Along with invited international teachers, she continues to oversee the growth and development of the teacher training program so that students might realize the depth of yoga through it's 8 limbed path.

Sharie Ryon, Sr. Teacher.  Sharie is a certified yoga instructor and a registered massage therapist with a busy practice. The depth of her yoga practice is augmented with a love for understanding the human body in its totality, its wholeness and holiness.  In addition to studying and practicing yoga, Sharie's belief that the body is both a science and a mystery is underscored with her training in cranial sacral therapy, myofascial release techniques, reiki, and other systems of energetic healing. A sense of gratitude and joy is what feeds her desire to study and teach. She feels blessed for the teachings of yoga, the teachers who have passed this on to her, and to those who continue to share their life with her.

Karen Dagdick, Owner/Admin. Karen has been teaching at Yoga Central since Sept. 2005 She is grateful to have been apprenticing under Patricia Dewar and Sharie Ryon since 2003. As an avid traveler and respectful explorer of cultures and traditions, Karen's initial introduction to yoga was in 1992 in India, where she has studied under various teachers. Karen says that "In yoga I knew there was a lifetime of exploration and discovery."  Much like her import business, Karen started teaching yoga to share the things she loves in life. "Yoga has taught me that one must go within in order to explore the magic of the world around.”

Rachel Donen. Rachel Donen has been teaching Hatha yoga for over four years. Her passion is developing mindfulness learning opportunities for students, and she is committed to mindfulness learning because of its focus on developing awareness, which she thinks is key to health. Rachel is currently completing a three-year Hatha yoga teacher training course (Yoga Alliance and Yoga Central Advanced Studies Certification). She is a Certified Exercise Physiologist, and she has completed her Bsc. honours and Msc. in Kinesiology focussing on chronic pain and mindfulness, respectively. Rachel teaches gentle, beginner, multi-level, and private yoga classes for community associations, University and Kelsey students and staff, and the general public. Rachel is working towards her dream of developing, teaching, and researching mindfulness-based programs for medical professionals; and especially for, high school teachers and students.

Miranda Jones.  Miranda is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher who has been studying Iyengar Yoga since 1982 and has ten years experience in creative dance training and performance. She is a well-known Saskatchewan artist who continues to strive for balance in her love for purity, art, yoga and life.

Sarah Junkin. Sarah Junkin has been studying, practicing, and teaching hatha yoga under the guidance of Patricia Dewar for the past four years. Having recently completed a masters of science degree in Kinesiology (exercise and sport psychology) which explored the capacity for changes in self-esteem and mindfulness for middle-aged women participating in hatha yoga, Sarah has become fully immersed in yoga teacher training. In addition to her yoga training, Sarah competed both nationally and internationally in the heptathlon (athletics) for over 12 years. These experiences have shaped Sarah’s unique perspective and understanding of the body. Off the mat, Sarah enjoys diverse employment as a sessional lecturer at the U of S, a mental training consultant for athletes, and coaches with a local track and field club. Sarah enjoys teaching yoga to diverse groups and classes including prenatal, restorative, beginner, basics, and sport specific in the community. Her goals include additional certification in prenatal, restorative, and therapeutic (yoga therapy), as well as to continue discovering how yoga can be integrated into periodized training programs for athletes in various sports. “ It is my hope that I can share with others the journey of practicing yoga from the inner body, where awareness of movement is subtle, and change slowly unfolds with dedication and patience. “

Linda McCann has a quiet passion for helping individuals and organizations discover and reach their full potential.  Active nationally as a leadership facilitator and coach, she is committed to helping others lead more authentic and whole lives  She holds a graduate degree in psychology and is a certified human resource professional and certified yoga instructor. Linda has spent time at the Chopra Centre for Well-Being, the Centre for Creative Leadership, and  Yishodara Ashram as well as with individual thought and spiritual leaders who have shared their wisdom with her.  When teaching yoga or meditation, she draws on her diverse background and on her experience of yoga as a transformative experience.  

Pat Tondevold  first came to the study of yoga in 1969. She is a lawyer, certified yoga instructor and Relax and Renew® trainer.   She is grateful for her study with Yoga Central colleagues, Father Joe Pereira, Mary Lou Weprin, Lynne Minton and Judith Hanson Lasater.   In addition to  teaching studio and community classes she practices karma yoga by volunteering to share the gifts of yoga with various social agencies.  Pat is fascinated with yoga's power to facilitate health and healing, often in unexpected ways.

Phil Wasson has been practicing yoga (attending classes and workshops) for 9 years. He has been teaching in the community and studio for 4 years. He is among the certified teachers at Yoga Central. Phil hopes that he can help people discover and enjoy how hatha yoga enables people to re-connect to their inners selves in very special ways. He believes that yoga can provide a true liberation from depression and obsession. He feels that to be able to live in one's body is a profound and wonderful ethical experience since it applies to all aspect of one's life and is available to everyone.

Tonya Wirchenko. Tonya credits yoga with bringing mindfulness, peace and great joy into her life. Tonya considers herself a lifelong student of yoga, and is deeply appreciative of the teachings offered by Yoga Central teachers and mentors. She believes that yoga can be beneficial to persons in all stages of life, and brings this enthusiasm to her mat and her teaching.