About Us
Trinity Yoga Centre: A tranquil, harmonious environment conducive to your health and sense of well being. We are an environmentally friendly studio using only natural yoga mat disinfectants and plant based and biodegradable cleaning products.
Trinity Yoga Centre's directors, Jeff and Sonya bring a wealth of experience to every session. Trinity Yoga Centre offers a wide selection of instructional series and drop-in yoga classes to fit your schedule. Choose from a variety of exceptional health services to meet your personal needs.
Sonya Thomlinson, E-RYT 500
As co-director of Trinity Yoga Centre in Kelowna, BC, Sonya has taken her passion for yoga and wellness to create classes and health programs which promote lasting change. Sonya is known for her compassionate, strong, yet graceful style of teaching which includes a deep appreciation for both the physical and spiritual aspects of yoga.
A former resident and director of program operations at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, MA, Sonya is a professional-level Kripalu Yoga Teacher and Kripalu DansKinetics® Teacher. She has studied with many of the master teachers within the field of yoga including; Erich Schiffman, Donna Farhi, Rodney Yee, Angela Farmer, also earning a Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training Certification with Shiva Rea. Sonya is currently studying with Richard Miller and is in the process of obtaining certification in Integrative Restoration (iRest), also known as the meditative practice of Yoga Nidra.
Sonya is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City, certified as a Holistic Health Counselor. She is trained in Eastern and Western dietary theory. Sonya supports her clients in restoring their inner and outer balance, increasing energy levels and overall well-being.
Through Sonya's completion of Landmark Education's Curriculum for Living, she was inspired to create Berkshire County's (Massachussetts) first ever 'Compassion in Action', a fundraising Yogathon to benefit the Berkshire Humane Society. Sonya brought 'Compassion in Action' to Kelowna in 2006 with the Okanagan's first fundraising Yogathon to support the new Neonatal Unit at KGH. Visit www.kelownayogathon.com for 2007 event information.
Sonya lives in Kelowna, British Columbia with her husband Harshad Jeff Thomlinson, daughters Ananda Grace and Leela Kiran and her cat Ella.
Jeff Thomlinson, E-RYT 500
Jeff Thomlinson (Harshad) first explored yoga in 1980, and began teaching at the YMCA in Bellingham, WA, in 1991. During the early 90's he studied with Yogi Amrit Desai at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge, MA, and later opened his own yoga studio in Aberdeen, Washington.
Jeff graduated from Alexandar School of Natural Therapeutics for massage, in 1996, and has been a Nationally Certified Massage Board member, and a senior staff member of the acclaimed Healing Arts Department of Kripalu Center. When Jeff returned to Kripalu Center in 1998 for a 1 year resident program he began focusing on advanced yoga practices and philosophy. Consequently, in 2001, he received his Kripalu Yoga Advanced Certification and went on to become a Kripalu Center staff guest yoga teacher, serving over 23,000 students annually.
In the spring of 2003, Jeff graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City, a vanguard in the field of holistic nutrition and health. With the commitment to continue the study of yoga, in all its forms, Jeff assists and/or trains with many international yoga teachers and scholars, including; Erich Schiffman, Donna Farhi, Richard Miller, Richard Freeman, Stephen Cope, Angela Farmer, and many others. Jeff is currently studying with Richard Miller and is in the process of obtaining certification in Integrative Restoration (iRest), also known as the meditative practice of Yoga Nidra. Jeff, originally from Washington State, now resides in Kelowna, BC.
Ron King (Naresh)
Naresh Ron King has been a dedicated Yoga student and practitioner since the late 80s.
A chance trip to the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health brought a positive shift in direction and energy to his life: from professional photographer living in Toronto, he moved to Kripalu in the north-eastern USA in 1992, staying for over 13 years. After doing photography and creative direction for the Kripalu magazines, he was invited to teach yoga classes, then trained for many years as a program director, culminating in being senior teacher and a Yoga Teacher Training director. "Truly, it has been a wonderful, challenging journey of self-revelation, healing, celebration, and awakening."
Naresh has had the opportunity and great fortune to train with Amrit Desai, Yoganand Michael Carroll, Shiva Rea (becoming a certified Vinyasa teacher), Ana Forrest, Rama Jyoti Vernon, John Friend, Lama Surya Das, (even Bikram Choudhury!) and many others, all so inspiring and wonderfully generous in their presence and knowledge.
With his foundation in the holistic Kripalu Yoga tradition, Naresh integrates the myriad influences into his classes, offering an eclectic flow based on alignment, breath, and a deep focus on the spirit of relaxation and letting go of held patterns that lead to unhappiness (pain, fear, tension, limiting beliefs, self-judgment).
He enjoys music, hand drumming, is an art photographer, and loves to bicycle in the wild and wonderful outdoors. He is a certified bodyworker, has studied Positional Release therapy, Vipassana Meditation, and cooking. Living again where he grew up, here in BC, Naresh is happy to be living with his sweetheart in Kelowna, offering yoga classes in Vernon and Kelowna, and Yoga Teacher Training with his friends Sonya and Harshad at Trinity Yoga Centre. Namaste.
Paul Emerson
Paul's love for yoga began at a simple Rec Centre in Burlington, Ontario. Moved by the power of the practice and the quiet strength of the instructor, he knew there was something here for him. It is alongside the community at Trinity Yoga Centre that he found a way to put that something into action.
Paul brings to his yoga classes a light childlike curiosity and sense of wonder. Balancing a strong, well grounded practice, with the presence of spiritual soul searching, healing and a great love for the Kripalu path.
When not in the studio Paul loves spending time with his incredible wife Rachael, pup Tio, cat Kiddy, Ball Python Bella and his tropical fish. You will also find him teaching grade 3 at St James School.
Rachael Emerson
Yoga found Rachael in 1998 while she was looking for answers and a direction after she made the choice to leave a competitive volleyball life. What an amazing gift to discover the spiritual side of herself through the physical body that she was so used to using and identifying with. Finding the balance between the physical body and the spiritual body and accepting both is still her challenge and her journey's purpose 8 years later. Rachael loves to integrate both aspects in her yoga practice: a physical challenge or restoration when needed coupled with a journey of the soul.
Rachael completed a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Simon Fraser University and has recently decided to return to university to study Physics. She hopes to share her love of asking the 'big questions' by teaching Physics in high school.
Leanne Ruechel
Leanne discovered yoga in 2000 and was captivated. She biked or walked daily to yoga classes, continually drawn and curious to the unfolding of yoga in her body, mind and spirit. Leanne is so grateful for the precious and diverse yoga teachers whom so willingly shared their yogic learning to add to her journey. In June 2006, Leanne completed her 250-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Moksana Yoga Centre. Leanne has taught in high schools, homes, and studios in Vernon and Victoria. Leanne's classes are flowing and meditative and her teaching is gentle and intuitive. She creates a space for each student to express their individuality. Through her experiences instructing outdoor adventure programs, guiding nature hikes, and organic farming, her classes are also infused with her love and connection to nature.
Carrie Dawn Schultz
I love life in all its facets of challenges and pleasures. I had an extremely pivotal moment in my life, when after years of working as a hairstylist, I was employed at a Holistic hair salon. My lifestyle choices became a vote to what I believe in. I started making decisions based on all aspects of health including drinking pure water, eating certified organic food, having proper rest and relaxation, getting plenty of exercise, practicing meditation and yoga, doing seasonal cleanses and recognizing the effects of positive thinking. My body became my temple.
For years, I visited yoga studio's in a variety of lineages, receiving benefits physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. I also studied and certified myself in the fields of massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, herbs, ayurveda and nutrition. It was a perfect fit, when I decided to become a graduate of Kripalu Yoga and Holistic Lifestyle Counseling with Jeff, Sonya and Naresh at Trinity Yoga Studio, in May 2009. This year of study has deepened my artful approach to living which I am seeing in my relationships, my work and personal evolution. I am thrilled to offer Kripalu Yoga Trance Dance which couples two passions that I embrace. My class is the combining of textured world-beat fusion music, from amazing artists abroad, with Kripalu Yoga and free-form dance. It is an exploration of breath driven movement to cultivate embodied freedom. My zests for life involves lovingly raising my two beautiful daughters, hiking, biking, fibre artistry, travels, collecting music, fire-dancing, cooking and my newest "WOW" of snowboarding through powder!
For me, life is to breathe fully, live compassionately and to have the potent courage to "Be The Change You Want To See".
(Ask me about private one-on-one sessions and holistic lifestyle counseling.)
Joanne Salé
I have always been attracted to slower, more contemplative physical activity, so it was just a matter of time before I tried yoga, taking my first class in 2000. At first I noticed that when I would get into my car after class, I would always have to adjust the rear-view mirror because I was sitting taller. After awhile I didn't need to adjust it anymore; I was always sitting taller. It was around that time that I also realized that I was happier, more grounded, and more patient.
After a stint away from yoga to attend university, I found Trinity Yoga Centre and knew that it was a perfect fit for me. I attended the Integrative Yoga and Health and Teacher Training Program in 2008-2009, which has had a profoundly positive effect on my life.
I look forward to joining the Vernon yoga community and bringing a sense of introspection and awareness into my classes.
Joanne Van Ee
I had been practicing yoga on and off for nearly 20 years. I knew that I needed to deepen my own practice and make it more on than off, so I joined the 2007-08 teacher training group. I was immediately drawn to Jeff and Sonya's dedication to the true nature and essence of yoga. For me, the teacher training program was a life altering experience that I highly recommend. I went there for my own growth and now I am teaching at the Trinity Yoga studio in Vernon to help others grow as well.
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