Instructor Bios
Anne-Marie Davies
Anne-Marie has been teaching for over 15 years and still loves every moment. Her style is mostly classic Hatha yoga but enjoys adding her own expressive elements. She is a certified yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance and continues to take workshops in other styles of yoga. Anne-Marie is a busy mom of five; yoga helps to keep her grounded, calm and lighthearted!
Kimberly Craig
In 1999, feeling out of shape and uninspired, Kimberly attended her first group Pilates mat class (led by none other than Shari Hamilton-Piercy!). From the very first session, she fell in love with the movements and challenges of Pilates.
After a year and a half of group classes, with no previous althetic inclination or training, Kimberly started her Comprehensive training at Stott Pilates, and after completing her apprenticeship, became a Certified Instructor in 2002. She joined Balanced Body as an instructor when it opened in 2003.
After a host of pregnancy issues with both of her kids, two caesarian sections and a double hernia repair, Pilates has been instrumental in her recovery – and keeping her sanity.
Kimberly resides in Churchill with her husband, two young children, and their dog. She still looks forward to coming to the studio (to teach and attend classes!), and thinks the atmosphere and camaraderie here is like none other.
Shannon Strachan
Shannon has been teaching ballet, tap, jazz, and modern dance for close to twenty years and holds an associate diploma with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and full membership with the Canadian Dance Teachers Association. Pilates became a natural extension to her joy of teaching movement, and she fell in love with the technique from the first introduction. Shannon received training and subsequent certification with Stott Pilates in 2001. Her passion for pilates helps people to realize their potential and improve their overall well being.
Lynn Doyle
Lynn has a passion for mind body wellness and has been a certified fitness instructor for over 20 years.
Specializing in Pilates and Cycling for almost 10 years, she holds certifications with STOTT Pilates, Can-Fit-Pro (FIS, PTS, NWS), Madd Dog Spinning and Reebock Cycle. Currently Lynn is a Stott Pilates and group fitness instructor, personal trainer, and Spinning/Cycle Instructor.
22 years and still lovin’ it !
Laura Cornish
Laura is a Stott-trained pilates instructor, fully certified to teach Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Stability Chair and Barrels. She has over 7 years experience teaching in Barrie and Aurora.
Laura believes the precise, postural and technique-based approach of the Pilates method can benefit everyone, regardless of age, physical ability or fitness level. She loves helping her clients achieve their personal health and fitness goals and uses a wide variety of exercises and equipment to customize their work-out sessions.
Laura also operates Soulspace Retreats, offering yoga, pilates and wellness retreats in one-day and week-end formats.
Tanya Armstrong RDH, Registered Nia/ Yoga Teacher R-YNC
Tanya, a dynamic, nurturing and poised Nia and Yoga Teacher. She has been involved in health and wellness as practicing dental hygienist since 1994, and a professor in the dental hygiene program. The diagnosis of herself and one of her three sons with Celiac Disease started her journey in holistic nutrition, yoga, meditation, and Nia in 2000. Tanya is a licensed Nia/Yoga teacher and is registered with the Yoga Network of Canada. Since 2006 she has been holding space for students in her classes, women’s retreats and workshops, helping them free themselves, listen to their own body’s way, along with reconnecting them to body sensation and spirit.
Jillian McIsaac
Jillian is the director of Wild Life Fitness and the lead facilitator for its programs.
Jillian graduated from the Georgian college Tourism Management program and has gone on to earn her Personal Trainer Specialist certification through CanFitPro as well as a Fitness Kickboxing Specialist Instructor through Fitness Kickboxing Canada. Currently completing a Registered Holistic Nutrition program Jillian’s continuing education has also brought her through various fitness workshops and training sessions.
Jillian has been a successful competitive athlete in gymnastics, baseball, snowboarding, cheerleading, and long distance running. Presently an amateur competitive, provincial champion kickboxer, Jillian continues to study with 23 time world champion Jean-Yves Theriault.
Jillian has motivated countless people of all levels to make fitness, health, and wellness an important part of their daily lives. She continues to empower athletes to take their abilities to the next level and beyond their own expectations. She enjoys encouraging people of all ages and abilities to reach their full potential.
Kim George
After enjoying many years as a yoga and pilates student (taking many classes at Balanced Body), Kim decided to continue her evolution and become a certified yoga instructor. Kim completed her yoga teacher training at the Yoga Sanctuary in 2009 and completed her pre and post natal yoga certification in 2010. Kim has been teaching yoga since 2010, attending workshops whenever possible to expand her knowledge.
Kim's background is primarily in Ashtanga yoga and she loves the connection of the breath, mind and body that yoga provides.
She enjoys that atmosphere at Balanced Body and is looking forward to teaching at the studio and finding time to take classes herself.
Dawn Balfour
Dawn Balfour has had more than 12 years experience of practicing yoga which has helped her to deal with chronic illness, bereavement and fertility challenges. Yoga has allowed her to find more clarity and to have gratitude for all the blessings she has in her life, especially through the challenging times.
Dawn likes to provide you with a variety of different poses each week and encourages you on your Yogic journey. She teaches from the heart and truly believes in the healing, positive power of Yoga. She loves to spend her time with her 2 little girls; they are a great reminder of how to stay fully present in each moment.
She teaches Yoga in Barrie and Orillia and with her main focus on Restorative, Therapeutic, Prenatal, Postnatal and Fertility Yoga. She has set up and organises a Yoga teachers gathering 4 times a year, hosts day retreats at Le Scandinave Spa and creates Yoga events to raise money for charities both locally and further afield. Her passion is to help you become more open in body and mind through the practice of Yoga, to practice acceptance, to be yourself and to bring more awareness into your life.
Natasha Bal
I discovered Yoga when I was about 15. My first experiences were feeling good from stretching and learning some relaxation techniques that helped me both physically and mentally. During the next several years, I felt decreasing symptoms of asthma and developed an increase in strength and flexibility. As I began to practice regularly; receiving more and more benefits such as stress management techniques from yoga, I realized there was still something more for me….to share Yoga with others!
In July 2011, I completed Yoga Teacher Training with Body Therapies Yoga. My training included learning the many aspects of Hatha Yoga, while discovering and exploring various styles of yoga such as Iyengar, Kundalini, and Vinyasa. This program has a strong foundation in therapeutic yoga that allows me to adjust yoga techniques to suit the individual. The program also taught me relate to the individual as more than just the physical.
As well as attending a variety of yoga classes myself, I enjoy staying active with cycling, swimming and running. I am passionate about sharing the gifts of yoga.
Saz Benediktson
Saz discovered her love of yoga almost by accident. But it’s no coincidence that as a certified personal trainer and Reiki Master she loves it for how it makes her feel. Saz believes that yoga is for anyone willing to explore their inner limits, and honour their outer ones. Yoga is a personal practice that strengthens, stretches, and balances the mind and body on all levels.
Saz started her pursuit into yoga with a fast-track Can-Fit-Pro yoga teacher training. Craving more, and looking to deepen her personal practice, Saz completed a Yoga Alliance certified 250hr yoga teacher training at the Yoga Sanctuary in Toronto. With a focus on safety, honouring our bodies as they are, Saz is natural teacher and especially enjoys the opportunity to work with people to discover what yoga can do for them. Saz is very interested in the therapeutic aspects of yoga and is currently enrolled at the Heaven on Earth Yoga Studio in Hamilton Ontario to complete advanced yoga teacher training in yoga therapy.