About Us About Us
We are a team who love what we do! the Yoga door is a yoga studio in the heart of down town Sault Ste. Marie, dedicated to sharing yoga and the contemplative and expressive arts in a non-competitive, relaxing and inspiring environment. We offer a variety of styles and classes at our studio, as well as to the greater community through wellness workshops, special needs yoga, yoga at work and in the school programs, and other ongoing yoga classes. Not only are our teachers Yoga Alliance Certified with the highest creditentials in the yoga field, they also have university teaching degrees. We take great pride in sharing yoga in a well informed, welcoming atmosphere where students are encouraged to go at their own pace, adapt the practice to their needs, and be inspired to new levels when they feel ready. We hope that through The Yoga Door, you will come to know more of who you are!
Our Teachers
Dar Rita Charlebois, B.Ed., RYT, is Founder/Director of The Yoga Door. For Dar, yoga is a natural extension of her personal and professional passion for the spiritual and healing arts. She came to yoga with a background in educational drama, expressive art therapies, and extensive experience as a performance artist and healing arts practitioner in clinical, community and many aboriginal settings. She has completed art and teaching degrees from Laurentian University and Brock University, where she also went on teach. Dar is also a Reiki Master-Teacher and a EMF Balancing Practitioner, and has studied yoga under several imminent teachers in Canada and the U.S. She has been especially inspired by the street level spirituality of Sean Corn, the Taoist yoga style of Paul Grilley, and her training at The Samarya Centre for Integrative Movement Therapy and Ashtanga Yoga in Seattle. Her approach to yoga and teaching in the healing arts is intuitive and integrative, drawing on the wisdom of her teachers and her own spiritual and meditative disciplines. Dar's students often reflect on both her gentleness and her infectious capacity to infuse her teaching with joy, self-acceptance and accessible spiritual wisdom. In addition to teaching studio, corporate and in school yoga classes, Dar continues to write and create performance art that brings holistic learning to life. Contact Dar: dar@theyogadoor.com
Nancy (Stewart) Neave, B.Ed., RYT 500, has trained in an 18 month intensive with Allie Chrisholm-Smith of Ahisma Yoga Studio in Huntsville, Ontario, in the Scaravelli tradition of yoga. Nancy's students benefit from her strong training in this approach which emphasizes working from the ground, the breath and the spine, teaching students to give the body space to move and heal. Nancy currently teaches hatha yoga, baby and me yoga, pregnant friendly classes and private classes at The Yoga Door, and is active in several off-site programs and in the community sharing yoga with children and adults. Nancy's classes are creative and well informed. She is known for her gift of encouragement, kindness, and her ability to make it easy for students to relax and feel at peace. Contact Nancy: nancy@theyogadoor.com
Katie Campbell, is our belly dancing instructor extraordinaire. Originally from Calgary, Katie took up belly dancing shortly after her move to Sault Ste. Marie, and we are all the luckier for it. Katie has studied under dancers such as Scarlett (S.S.M.) and Victoria (Windsor) and Cassandra (Minnesota). Her style of dance is a fusion from regions of the Middle East, North Africa and North America. Katie has performed locally at the Echoes of the Drum Fesitval, the Unity Diversity Celebration, and on stage with Sault Theatre Workshop. Her main focus in belly dance is to teach women love for themselves and their bodies, while gaining an appreciation of the traditional music and the dance itself. Katie naturally infuses her classes with exuberance and joy and her generous and supportive teaching encourages self expression. Katie is also an entrepreneur, and is the 'Katie" in Katie & Allie's organic skin care products. In addition, she is a Doula (birth assistance) and is a integral team member in our Yoga for Childbith classes. Contact Katie: katie@theyogadoor.com
Ruth Koskenoja, B.Ed, RYT, has been dedicated to her yoga practice since 1999, and recently turned her 4 year journey as a student at The Yoga Door toward becoming a Teacher. " I felt that it would be such a gift to share the rewards and peace that I have found personally with Yoga, to others." We are thrilled to have her as part of our team, and to share her gentle, easy going and compassionate spirit with our yoga community. Ruth has studied with both Dar and Nancy, incorporating and being inspired by the athletic, restorative and meditative guidance offered by both. In addition, she has recently completed a summer intensive teacher training at Moksha Studios in Toronto with Ted Grand and Jess Robertson, and will soon be bringing to The Yoga Door the popular "hot yoga" (in a heated room) with its benefits of detoxifying, toning and healing the body. Until our upcoming studio expansion, Ruth will be teaching our Tuesday Yin-Yang Yoga class, which combines the more energetic Yang postures and flows with the gentle, restorative Yin postures. Ruth is also a teacher with the school board, and will be active in our community outreach and in the school yoga programming. Contact Ruth: ruth@theyogadoor.com
Marc Mesich, is a dedicated Yoga student, and an experienced instructor, bringing 7 years of practice and a myriad of teachings to his Yoga. Marc was introduced to yoga through the Kripalu system, and spent 4 years studying with an advanced teacher. After Kripalu, Marc encountered a very advanced yogi and was taught a powerful form of energetic Yoga, based on Taoist, Tibetan, and Tantric teachings. In 2004 he completed the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training. He has taught in Thailand, Japan, the Bahamas, Malaysia, Camboida, South Korea and Canada. Marc teaches a 100% non competitive, non judgemental style. Marc currently teaches Kids Yoga, Raja Yoga, and Gentle Yoga at The Yoga Door. Contact Marc: marc@theyogadoor.com
Our Studio
"It just feels so good here. As soon as I come in, I can feel myself relax. It's my favourite night of the week!" -Karen. Our Studio is a serene practice space designed for relaxation. A natural refuge in the heart of the downtown, we are located on the second floor of a two story building that allows students privacy and natural lighting from several large windows. On site change rooms, a small yoga boutique, and all the extras -- yoga mats, pillows, blankets, props and meditation eye pillows are all part of our way of making the experience as relaxing, easy and enjoyable as possible.
Our Location
In downtown Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario at 740 Queen Street East, Upper Floor. Limited parking is available off of Heinz Street and evening parking of Queen Street is free. We appologize that our studio is not wheel chair accessible. If our flight of stairs is a barrier, please call us to discuss other possibilities.