Instructor Bios
Susanne Reul-Zastre
As a trained pedagogue in the creative arts, I have made a commitment to fitness as a life-long endeavour. My goal is to bring to my group fitness participants the same fun and fulfillment I want for myself. I am a BodyBlueprint certified Personal trainer and registered with the BCRPA as an Older Adult specialist, group and aquatic fitness leader as well as a weight trainer. My passion is to inspire confidence and encourage others in their own journey to a healthy and happy body by providing a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment in all my group classes. I am also the sister of two cancer and stroke survivors. To improve the quality of life for all cancer and stroke survivors, as well as those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and an acquired brain injury, I have completed specialty training with Thrive Health Services (Cancer & Exercise Certification), Island Health (T.I.M.E. classes) and Osteoporosis Canada (Bonefit Level 1). I have also been privileged to a 30+-year journey of Hatha yoga informed by Scavarelli-inspired workshops with master teachers Louise Simmons, Robyn Stamm and Helga Beer.
Cheryl Mason Groulx
Cheryl has been dancing Hawaiian and Polynesian dance as far back as she can remember. Born and raised in Montreal, she was born into the dance life with her mother having her own Polynesian dance company growing up. She also has experience dancing ballet, jazz, tap, and Filipino folk-dancing, performing with Victoria's Filipino dance ensemble, the 'Sampaguita Dancers'.
Loving dance and fitness, Cheryl decided to become a certified Hot Hula Fitness instructor in 2020 and has taught Hawaiian dance and fitness online and in studio, teaching students locally, and abroad. She also has experience teaching children as a Zumbini instructor and also as a Hawaiian dance teacher. She loves to share her love and passion for dance through teaching dance and fitness to all different ages, skills, and experience levels. She lives in Victoria and is a mother to a 6 year old girl who is already following her family's dance traditions.
Nicole D'Agati
Nicole started her career in the healing arts and this year marks the twentieth year that she is practising Foot and Hand Reflexology and running her small business, Ocean Holistics ~*~ Mind Body Spirt Healing in Fernwood.
Nicole loves and enjoys many forms of therapeutic arts and completed her Yoga Teacher Training at the Salt Spring Centre of Yoga in 2005 and has been teaching Yoga, Pilates and various courses for twelve years. Nicole brings a fresh and fun (and funny) take on all modalities and she loves teaching Yoga-style classes at the community centre closest to her home and business. If you enjoy taking classes that are sweet and lovely then she is the teacher for you. Nicole also brings her thearaputic teachings as a Reiki master with workshops offering knowledge on the Chakra System, Reflexology, Reiki healing, crystals and spiritual readings. One Love to All, Nicole D'Agati.
Nicole offers Rejuvenation Yogalates and various alternative health workshops at Oaklands Community Centre.
Elke Schlufter
Elke is originally from Germany and has lived in this neighbourhood for almost 30 years. She has been practicing various styles of yoga since 1994, and became a certified yoga instructor in 2007. Since then, she has been teaching yoga to many different groups of all ages and abilities in Victoria. When facilities closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic, she taught Mindful Movements Outdoors at Oaklands Green and combined yoga with her other passions – qi gong, walking meditation, dance, and meridian energy tapping.
Elke is offering a Neighborhood Walking Group for Seniors on Thursdays this fall. The group meets at Oaklands to walk a different loop in the neighborhood each week, and returns to OCA for social time with snacks. The walk will be an hour long and the social gathering about half an hour.
If participants wish, the group will warm up with gentle guided stretching before the neighborhood walk.
Elke believes that conscious breathing, gentle movements, proper alignment, and fun are essential to health and wellness.
Erica Joelle
Erica Joelle has been a yoga instructor in Victoria, BC since 2017. Passionate about the holistic healing qualities of yoga, Erica completed her 200-hour teaching certification at Brahmanda School of Yoga in 2017, and is currently completing her Bachelor's degree in Exercise and Wellness at Camosun College. Erica continues to advance her education in Hatha Yoga under the guidance of experienced Yoga Therapist Michelle Rubin.
Erica combines her enthusiasm for yogic philosophy with her education in human anatomy and exercise physiology to create classes focused on student safety, alignment, and a rich mind-body connection. You can expect concise and tangible cues aimed at cultivating body awareness and safe alignment for your practice. Classes are designed to improve strength, mobility, and joint stability in a safe and attentive way. Erica warmly welcomes students of all levels into her Hatha Yoga classes.
Tanya Gita Roberts
E-RYT 500; C-IAYT Tanya Gita began practicing yoga in 2000 and is a graduate of the 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training at the Salt Spring Centre of Yoga. She has been teaching since 2011. She has completed the 500 hour Teacher Training at Mount Madonna and the 800 hour Yoga Therapy Program at Ajna Yoga College. She is a certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) through the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Tanya Gita is passionate about creating a safe, compassionate, inclusive space that welcomes everybody. Her gentle approach utilizes movement, breath, meditation, and philosophy to cultivate deep inner connection and overall well-being. She facilitates private sessions and public classes in Victoria and online.
Tanya offers Gentle Yoga on Wednesdays and various yoga workshops throughout the year at Oaklands Community Centre.
Jeffery Wilson
At age 70, after a 40 year career as a lawyer, author, and child advocacy teacher, Jeffery Wilson paused and wondered. That pause, along with a serendipitous invitation, led him to discover the Feldenkrais method. He began to learn to take care of himself, developing an awareness of listening to his movement, discovering a capacity for a soft chest, a head connected to spine and pelvis, gentle breathing and, best of all, the joy of going slow.
Jeffery is now a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Teacher®. He is passionate about offering Awareness Through Movement® classes to seniors, which he does at four community centres in coastal B.C. where he lives. Jeffery is also a long-time student of tai chi, and a novice grandfather.
Angie Ackerman
Angie has been a professional Teacher/Trainer since 2003 and a dedicated practitioner for 25 years. She has taught over 8000 hours of yoga with appreciation, and attended more than 8000 hours of yoga classes, workshops, and trainings with gratitude. Angie has been training safe, effective, quality instructors since 2005.
Curiosity brought Angie to her first yoga class. It was love at first try. The meditative and spiritual qualities of the practice have kept her dedicated. First and foremost, Angie is a real person who teaches yoga to real people. She was never an athlete, dancer or gymnast.
She also has the pleasure of hosting Yoga Holidays in wonderful warm places. Past trips include Cuba, Dominican Republic, Maui, and Santorini in Greece (heaven on earth).
Angie believes in “practicing what you preach” attending several yoga classes/week and weekend workshops in addition to teaching/training.
Junko Hammond
Certified L4 Essentrics Instructor
Andrea Fritz
Andrea Fritz is a Coast Salish artist and author from the Lyackson First Nation of the Hul’qumi’num speaking Peoples on the West Coast of Canada. She learned West Coast Native art in the Victoria school district from Victor Newman (Kwagiulth).
Andrea strives to express her people’s history and all our futures using her art. She focuses on animals and scenes of the West Coast of Canada and our intricate relationships with them. Andrea works in the mediums of acrylic on canvas/wood, serigraph, vector art, and multimedia. She has had numerous shows of her work including at Eagle Feather Gallery, the Place Gallery and The Outpost at Ketchikan.
Andrea teaches Coast Salish art to students in the Victoria school district and throughout the province. Andrea has participated in community based art pieces including Oaklands walking signs, Sir James Douglas Elementary mural, and an elder gift from her nation for an Elder’s retreat to Lummi. Andrea plans to continue sharing her knowledge of the art as well as create new art to inspire change. She hopes to show the beauty of the people, places, animals and stories in our corner of the world.
Dave Prescott
Dave is a former B.C.R.P.A. registered Personal Trainer who has been working in healthcare for 16 years. Dave spent 45 years caregiving for his chronically ill wife. It took a massive toll on his health, his emotions, career and his positivity. Dave spent years working on his feet in demanding jobs while enduring pain a poorly functioning spine and nervous system. Multiple surgeries, concussions and other injuries slowed him down, but, Dave continued to never give up.
“My pain does not DEFINE me.
My pain DRIVES ME!
Every positive thing I have accomplished is due to the pain I HAVE SURVIVED. Remember that the pain you have today will make you strong, it will make to tough, and it will make you more resilient for the next time. YES there will be a next time. Do not run from pain. Use it, embrace it, and learn from it but never ignore it and never give up!
The 3 things I will never give up on:
Life, love, and most of all myself! Never give up on you!"
Giancarlo Rizzo
I am an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and, since graduation in 2007, I have taught more than 6,500 hours in Canada and Italy.
My teaching approach is based on a solid anatomical foundation and the respect for each person’s needs and limitations.
In my classes I create a warm and empathetic environment, with a relaxed yet vibrant group atmosphere.
As a teacher, I believe that smiling and not taking myself too seriously are as important as creating a safe and expansive space where each person can explore, experiment, and express their unique way of practicing yoga.