Invermere Yoga

Natalie is a different sort of yoga instructor. She doesn't so much "instruct" you (a word that seems to come from a position of an unquestioned power imbalance) as she does, guide you. If you’re new to the practice or someone who’s hesitant about taking a class from her, please know I can think of no one else who’ll provide you with such a safe and personalized space to help you make yoga 'your own'. I’d expect this to also apply to more 'seasoned' practitioners who want to approach yoga from a different angle to learn new things about themselves & their bodies (but I am not such a person and therefore would be speaking outside of my frame of experience).

You see, Natalie approaches the practice of yoga with a desire for understanding and appreciation for who each person is as an individual. She wants to understand you, personally. She recognizes yoga is not a one-size-fits-all practice and that it is certainly not a status symbol or notch in your fitness routine to help you look good in tight trousers. (My two cents: they’re not necessarily mutually exclusive! ;)). Rather, I see first-hand that Natalie believes yoga is a potentially transformative practice that can help manage pain by allowing you to become stronger and be aware of your movements - but at your own pace and with your own steam/progression. Hence, she guides.

I once attended a terrible hot yoga class in Vancouver. The instructor makes all the difference. It was my first time and I was dealing with some foot issues. The instructor was not pleased with me as I was lying down to rest. That instructor obnoxiously called me out in front of a room full of strangers. Natalie’s method of instruction, however, couldn’t be more different and in my view, better for its compassion. So if you want someone to shout at you (and I’m sure there are some of you who need that, which, fair – we’re all different) then you’ll need to look elsewhere. In contrast, Natalie is someone who is patient and respectful; she does not force her views upon you, and will never ‘adjust’ or touch you without permission. I appreciate very much the mutual respect that goes into Natalie’s interaction with her class participants.

Through Natalie's own decades-long education, including workshop leadership and attendance, she's established an intertwined and nuanced understanding across many interconnected themes. It's a truly multidisciplinary approach. She understands the importance of nature and its influence on human well-being.

Moreover, Natalie has a remarkable personal life experience underscored with an appreciation for advanced research. I know she’s parsed multiple scientific journals and studies about pain management and hormonal influences on the body, for example. She is not just someone who sees yoga as a trendy hobby - Natalie has been studying and practicing yoga longer than anyone I know. She is often ahead of the curve in curiosity about connected studies and research (not that she’d be so hubristic as to say that herself). But this desire for understanding is natural coming from someone like Natalie, who seems to have an intuition about our wonderful world and all that's in it - nature, humanity, pain, growth, resilience, and the role that yoga embodies through all of it. Based upon my discussions with her, I marvel at how passionate Natalie is about the importance of how we respectfully move through and with the world, and that we are all interconnected creatures and entities.

In Natalie’s physically beautiful yoga studio, you will feel comfortably warm and relaxed, and yet somehow rejuvenated. Just take a peek at the gorgeous surrounding mountains, and marvel at the unique rammed earth walls that she and her partner literally constructed by hand from bare earth. The space Natalie created is uniquely magical and yet quite literally down-to-earth. I’m happy each time I visit; I expect you’ll feel similarly. Don’t hesitate to reach out and find out for yourself.

This is a beautiful studio, peaceful and perfect. Natalie has helped me with listening to what my body is saying. Love...thank you...I will return.

Beautiful studio! Natalie is a great instructor and willing to work one on one with you.comfortable environment for all ages.