Vancouver Island, BC Yoga and Self-Awareness Program Leaders
HERIZEN™ Yoga & Self Awareness Program Leaders are dedicated and committed to to BEING there for all students to inspire, encourage and teach in a way that serves with loving, nurturing and compassionate values.
Svadyaha - Self Study
Valma Brenton E-RYT. Valma is a transformational trainer and global adventurer. She discovered Qigong and Kundalini yoga 15 years ago while working in Chile. Within a short time, Valma noticed that the benefits of her Yoga practice raised her level of self-awareness, increased energy levels, she became more heart centered and all of her relationships improved, she gained fantastic heath and improved flexibility. This was important to her as she had lost the use of her legs temporarily in the recovery of a back injury some years before. In her continued exploration of Yoga, Qigong, Ayurveda and other healing modalities she found her practice to create a bridge between the body, the mind and the spirit and she believes this will play an important role in the global awakening. Valma has studied in India, Chile, Mexico, Canada and the US. She has been teaching Yoga Teacher Trainings in Baja, Mexico and Vancouver Island, BC, Canada for the last four years. Valma is recognized by Yoga Alliance as an E-RYT in Iyengar/ Ashtanga 200 Hrs and qualifed as an Advanced Yoga and Ayurveda Health Educator by the American Vedic Institute. Valma incorporates intergrative Yoga practices in her daily life as well as offerings in her women only adventure programs. She is certified in Qigong (Cloudy Satchel form) and believes Yoga, Qigong and movement gets people into their bodies, deeply connects them to themselves, and more openly connects them with nature and others. It is a transformational practice. "My purpose, says Valma "Is to be a mirror for other women, to share my knowledge and wisdom of life and encouraging them to reach their desired dreams, reach their fullest potential and live their ultimate life. To inspire them to create miracles in their lives and be open to the present moment… creating balance through awareness, self-confidence, intention and faith. I invite you to celebrate personal success and well-being through awareness, motion and nature. Join me on the journey of freedom through Yoga, Qigong, Ayurveda and let your Spirit fly.
Elizabeth Martin, RYT, RMT, CH. Elizabeth is a natural teacher and leader. Through teaching Yoga she has found her place of balance both on the mat as well as her heart. She lives on Vancouver Island, BC sharing massage therapy, Yoga, doula services and herbal medicine with community families. Her education began 15 years ago in alternative medicine, Ayurveda and nutrition. She earned her Chartered Herbalist Diploma and Doula Certification and attends both hospital and home births with midwives and doctors. She offers belly casting, blessingway ceremonies, and Breastfeeding support. Specializing in pregnant mamas, she teaches and performs belly dancing. Another passion is facilitating women’s healing circles and offering sweat lodge ceremonies. At age 23 she started Massage Therapy College in BC Canada, a 3000-hour medical modeled, therapy-based program with the highest standards for massage therapy training in the world. She trained with Chiropractors, RMT's, and Nurses specializing in prenatal care. She has since been training to teach the Jusstise Method of fertility awareness. In 2005 she attended Yandara Yoga Teacher Training in Baja Mexico and had one of the best months of life, learning and living communally and expanding as a human. She has been dedicated to Yoga since, teaching classes, workshops and living her life in a new, more balanced way. She lived in Hawai’i for 2 months of 2006 at a Yoga retreat community, doing a Karma Yoga work trade program and taking Yoga and dance classes every day. Here she took the Yoga Intensive Teacher Trainings. In 2007 she began her training as a Bellyfit Instructor, and continues to expand learning. She is happily dedicated to sharing what she knows, and learns incredibly much through teaching. Her classes are Free Flowing, Iyengar based and extremely positive, with focus on deep peaceful relaxation and healing. More recently, while attending PachMama Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica in 2008 and living in days of silence, the next step of the journey was revealed, so she came home to commit to partnership and was ecstatic to conceive her own first pregnancy. The real work of life began as breathing thru and learning acceptance brought Yoga into daily challenges. The real work of life began as breathing through and learning acceptance brought daily challenges. Together with her partner Raven they spent their pregnant summer of 2009 teaching couples yoga workshops and in October birthed their son Bodhi Sage. Elizabeth is now focusing on family life, incorporating all of the thoughts, book, words and teachings into the every day practice of motherhood, and looks forward to returning part time to her career and the community. Namaste.
