Charlene Spiessman
As the owner of Mantra Yoga Studio, located in the Town of Thornbury, Charlene is passionate about yoga. She believes that everyone can enjoy the health benefits and joy that yoga brings to life. Under her guidance, the goal of the studio is to nurture and build an active, supportive and inclusive community that offer a wide range of classes for all abilities.
Charlene’s 23 year career as a healer began at The University Of Western Ontario where she graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts, and then went to Sutherland-Chan earning a Diploma of Massage Therapy.
Practicing massage therapy gives Charlene a strong anatomy background that informs her yoga practice and teaching, allowing her to offers detailed cues, that maximize the importance of alignment and healthy biomechanics.
Charlene’s yoga teaching is supported by a Yoga Teaching Training certificate as well as being a certified SUP-Yoga instructor that takes yoga onto the water, which bring's another natural element into this serene practice.
Melissa
Melissa is a yoga teacher, mental health & wellness coach, and educator. She is passionate about and committed to sharing the practices of yoga with others to support their unique journeys of transformative healing and wellness, where wellness includes physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Melissa’s yoga classes guide individuals and groups of all levels of practice. Her classes combine movement, breath, and awareness practices to enhance and inspire presence and expansion both on and off the mat. Her classes are both fun and disciplined, and encourage participants to start from wherever they’re at in that moment on the mat.
She has been practicing yoga for over 15 years and continues to grow a devotional practice that nurtures body, mind, and spirit through movement, mantras, meditation, and dedicated study.
Jeremy Down
Jeremy has been practicing yoga and meditation for over 20 years and teaching for 7 years.
He studied with Bibi Hahn in Toronto and Jenna Arpita-Shea in Nelson BC.
Jeremy brings a deep focus on the breath to his classes, training students in concentration, using attentive breath to lead the practice. As a surfer, mtn.biker and avid backcountry skier, his knowledge of body mechanics and strength training support the teaching, building resilience and longevity.
Natalie Suhanic
Natalie is excited to be joining the Mantra community. She graduated as a Certified Kripalu Yoga teacher in 2010 and began teaching at her home studio and Creating Space Yoga Studio in Oakville. She continued her studies and received a 500 hour designation.
Over the years Natalie has taken trainings in yoga for osteoporosis, yoga for pelvic health and yin yoga. Having experienced the benefits of a regular restorative yoga practice in her own life she has specialized in this area, training with Judith Hanson Lasater, Andrea Pelosa and Beth Rutty.
Natalie’s style of teaching is warm, gentle and heartfelt. She enjoys sharing the traditions and philosophy of yoga and guiding students to listen to their own innate wisdom.
Natalie and her family moved to Grey County in 2020. She considers herself a bit of a homebody, enjoying time in her garden, baking, reading, hikes with her husband and poodle and lots of time spent with her 2 young grandchildren.
Glenn (guylaine) Julien
With over twenty-five years of experience in the fitness and yoga industry, Glenn’s passion for exercise is evident and her energy is contagious. She aspires to educate, empower and inspire every student regardless of their abilities and fitness level. Glenn works to be entertaining, engaging and creative in her yoga sequences and workouts so that no two classes are ever the same. She is a Fitness Instructor Specialist and a Personal Trainer certified with CanFitPro and has completed a 200hr Hatha Yoga training as well as a 500hr Moksha training. Glenn is excited to join the Mantra Yoga family and is looking forward to seeing you in class soon!
Catherine Mattice
In 2001, after 20 years working in corporate marketing, PR and communications, Catherine stepped away from the office and onto her mat to discover the magic of yoga. Hooked after the first downward dog, she inadvertently discovered a new life path. Over time, the principles and practices of yoga directed her towards the beautiful healing energies of Reiki and meditation. Catherine completed her 200 RYT as a Hatha Yoga instructor with Barb Leese in 2012. Constantly seeking to expand her knowledge, she has attended over 150 hours of therapeutic yoga workshops with various international yogis. She completed her final certification as Master Reiki Healer in 2016. She offers individual Reiki healing treatments elevate energy levels and restore physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. She also incorporates a group Reiki healing at the end of every yoga or meditation class during final savasana. In addition, Catherine leads group meditation classes, in person and online. She writes all of her meditations, available in online podcast format through Catherine’s Calm: https://linktr.ee/catherinescalm