Yoga is for every body.

Iyengar Yoga Centre | Fort Street, Victoria, B.C

Our Teachers

Ann Kilbertus
Ann has been a student in the Iyengar Tradition since 1984 when she began her learning through regular classes in Victoria, BC. A teacher-student relationship with Shirley Daventry French gradually evolved into one of mentorship and friendship. Ann started teaching in 1988. In 1992 and 1997 she travelled to India for Canadian intensives with BKS and Geeta Iyengar. For the next 20+ years she returned every couple of years to study in classes with the Iyengar family at the institute in Pune. Her training and practice as an Occupational Therapist have offered a valuable contribution to further understanding of this work. Ann continues to serve locally, mentoring teachers, on the board of our IYCV and nationally with IYAC/ACYI (since its inception). For 10 years she taught a credit course on Yoga at the University of Victoria. Ann’s teaching of asana and pranayama is insightful, lively, and accessible. She integrates the philosophy of Yoga through the lens of her own understanding in a natural way.
Certification: Level 3

Johanna Godliman
Johanna is grateful to be teaching at the Iyengar Yoga Centre of Victoria, benefiting equally from participation as a teacher and as a student with the many different and highly skilled teachers, resident and visiting. Johanna became interested in yoga in her early art school days. In 2008 she joined the IYAC community and attended the Penticton AGM and workshop with Geeta and Abhijata Iyengar. BKS Iyengar’s rich teachings affects how she thinks, feels and embodies the discipline of Yoga.
Linda Benn was her original mentor.
Certification level: Level 2

Ty Chandler
Ty has been studying yoga since the late 80s and brings her years of dedicated practice, precision and devotion to her teaching. Ty resides in Victoria, B.C. where she is a long time student of Shirley Daventry French, practices and teaches at the Iyengar Yoga Centre of Victoria (she is a teacher mentor and member of the program committee), the YM/YWCA of Greater Victoria and Saanich Commonwealth Place.
She serves as a national assessor for the Iyengar Yoga Association of Canada.
Ty has made multiple trips to India and France to continue studies with the Iyengar family, Faeq and Corine Biria. Offering retreats in Mexico, Sooke B.C. and online, Ty shares her love of the yoga path through focused discipline, curiosity, warmth and generosity.
Certification: Level 3 (Sr. 1 in 2017)

Leslie Hogya
Leslie has been teaching in Victoria since the early 70s and has been active in the local centre since then. She has studied in Pune at the RIMYI many times since her first trip in 1985. Her most recent trip was in December 2018. Over the years, she has been able to study in person and now via the virtual world with the Iyengar family and other senior teachers around the world. Leslie is an advisor to the Iyengar Yoga Centre Board. Leslie also serves as an assessor, and on other committees for the national Iyengar association (IYAC/AYCI). She continues to study the philosophy of yoga and uses her ability to bring these teachings down to earth for seminars on the relevance of these teachings in our everyday lives.
Certification: Level 3

De Orrell
Originally from Australia, De now calls Vancouver Island home. She began her Iyengar Yoga journey in 2003 with Kelly Murphy in Nanaimo.
De completed her teacher training with Lauren Cox through the Victoria Iyengar Yoga Centre and was certified at level 1 in 2018. She has continued her professional development with Ty Chandler.
She currently teaches at Bend Over Backwards in Nanaimo and live-online via zoom.
Yoga has been an ongoing journey that has bought both her personal and professional growth as well as improved health. As a teacher, De brings a fun and energetic approach to the practice
Certification: Level 2

Wendy Boyer
‘Yoga lives through humanity. I am confident that the beauty of yoga will survive as long as there are ardent seekers.’ BKS Iyengar
Wendy’s yoga inspiration was her mother, Anita, who begun studying yoga when Wendy was a high school student and she practiced until she died at the age of 93. In 1991 Wendy took her first class at the Y with Shirley Daventry French and knew that Iyengar yoga was something she would do for the rest of her life.
Wendy started teaching in 1996 under Shirley’s mentorship. Wendy currently studies with our local teachers and with international teachers online. Her yoga classes are challenging yet fun, keeping students returning for more. Yoga practice, teaching yoga and managing the Centre are the daily practices of her life.
Certification Level: 2

Marlene Miller
In 1975 Marlene began practicing and studying the art of Iyengar Yoga. She has been teaching since 1979 in the Victoria region. Marlene first went to Pune, India in 1982 to be taught by the yoga master Sri B.K.S. Iyengar and family. During the ensuing years she has returned to RIMYI several times, and continues to attend classes and workshops with senior Iyengar teachers locally, nationally and internationally. Marlene is a mentor and an active member of the Iyengar Yoga Association of Canada.
Certification: Level 3

Adia Kapoor
Even though Adia’s Indian grandmother practiced yoga every morning and Adia tried yoga in the 90s she didn’t develop a personal practice until she encountered the Iyengar Yoga community in Victoria in 2001. Thanks to Iyengar yoga, Adia learned to touch her toes, stand up straight and manage stress and back pain from hours at her desk/phone/computer.
The structure and discipline of Iyengar yoga provides the tools to lead a healthier, more purposeful life. Adia was inspired to share these gifts with others so started the teacher apprenticeship program in 2010. She has studied directly with the Iyengar family on numerous occasions in many different countries. Through the study and practice of Iyengar yoga, Adia aims to provide her students with approachable tools to manage modern life.
Certification Level 2

Brandy Baybutt
Brandy has been practicing yoga for nearly twenty years and discovered Iyengar Yoga in 2000. She became certified as a teacher under the mentorship of Ann Kilbertus and has been teaching since 2012. She spent many years as a professional dancer and dance teacher which provided a background working with the body/mind connection. She found the practice of Iyengar Yoga incredibly insightful and was excited to help students explore the subject. She is inspired daily by these teachings and is ever grateful for the wealth of knowledge that the senior teachers at the Victoria Iyengar Centre bring forth to the community. She is continually inspired by the ways in which Iyengar Yoga leads one to further self-discovery. She operates an Iyengar yoga studio in Sooke.
Certification: Level 2.

Gary Wong
Gary Wong has been a student of Iyengar Yoga since 1998, and completed the Teacher Training program in 2009. He is thankful for the string of coincidences that has brought him to this school of yoga, and to this community of devoted practitioners. He teaches to all levels of students, continually challenging them to work to their capacity, to constantly learn from their own effort, and to experience any insights that may arise.
Certification level: Level 2

Lucie Guindon
Lucie has been a student of Iyengar yoga since the early 80′s. She taught in the province of Quebec for 22 years before moving to Victoria in 2008. She studied with the Iyengar family in India on 3 occasions as well as in Canada, USA and Europe when they travelled for conventions and workshops. She studied extensively in France under the guidance of Faeq Biria during summer intensives for 10 years. She currently attends weekly classes with Ann Kilbertus and takes workshops with visiting teachers. Certification: Level 3.

Britta Poisson
Britta discovered yoga while completing her undergraduate in communication studies, film and art. A serendipitous move to Victoria in 1997 introduced her to the textured beauty of the west coast and a vibrant community of Iyengar yoga practitioners. From her very first class with Linda Benn, she knew she was home.
Britta had just begun formal training as an Iyengar teacher when the Centre opened its own studio in 2001. She accepted an administrative position and to this day finds delight in welcoming everyone to the Centre. She sits on the programming committee, where we team up to host some of the finest Iyengar teachers in the world.
Her professional teaching journey is inspired by the ingenuity of her teachers Shirley Daventry French, Ann Kilbertus, and Chris Saudek.
Britta’s approach to yoga draws from the wisdom of its philosophy and explores how sequencing unlocks the transformative, healing power of this science and art. Her teaching is infused with warmth, laughter and creativity.
Certification: Level 2

Shirley Daventry French
Shirley Daventry French is the founder of the Iyengar Yoga Centre of Victoria and a direct student of B.K.S. Iyengar. Since 1979 when she first travelled to his Institute in Pune, she has studied with him regularly in India, North America and Europe. Shirley has been teaching yoga for more than 50 years in Victoria and internationally and is an advisor to the board of the Iyengar Yoga Association of Canada. Having mentored many teachers locally and across Canada, Shirley maintains a regular connection with these individuals. Through teaching, writing, and editing she stays in touch with Iyengar communities throughout the world. She is the editor of the autobiography/biography IYENGAR: His Life and Work and one of the editors of Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Shirley’s yoga experience has been enriched by extensive study with Swami Sivananda Radha. This rich training enables her to integrate yoga philosophy and psychology with the practical work of asana and pranayama. Shirley’s teaching is challenging, insightful and delivered with a compelling sense of humour. Shirley was awarded her Senior 3 certificate directly from BKS Iyengar. Her continued connection to Guruji’s work locally and nationally provide a vital perspective in keeping the essence of his work alive.
Certification Level: Senior Intermediate 3 (L3)

I started coming to the yoga centre when I was desk-bound at my job, suffering from a very sore back. It didn’t take long for me to figure out this was the best remedy. Classes twice a week keeps the sore back at bay. In fact, I don’t have sore anything anymore. This place is the best! – LAC

Reflect, refresh and transform your yoga practice.

Join Us Today!

OFFICE HOURS
Monday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Thursday 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Friday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Saturday 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Sunday 9:30 am - 11:30 am

MEMBERSHIP
Download the IYCV MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Download the WAIVER.

CONTACT US

#202 - 919 Fort Street
Victoria, BC V8V 3K3
Phone: 250-386-9642
Email: iyoga@telus.net

© 2024 | All Rights Reserved