Stacey has devoted herself to the practice of Yoga since 2004, earning a reputation as a “Teacher’s Teacher” through her leadership of Yoga Alliance-accredited trainings at the Nelson School of Yoga (NSOY), her esteemed Shala in the Kootenays. With a foundation rooted in disciplined practice and a commitment to nurturing community, she guides students toward a deeper understanding of Yoga’s transformative potential.

Her journey began at Vancouver’s renowned Semperviva, where she taught for nearly a decade, honing her craft before establishing her roots in the Kootenays. In 2007, her exploration led her to the Ashtanga method in a modest Kitsilano apartment, guided by Chris Richardson alongside a dedicated group of practitioners. This self-led practice, steeped in camaraderie and mutual support, laid the groundwork for the community-centered ethos that now defines NSOY.

In 2009, Stacey joined the faculty at YYoga’s downtown Flow location, a fusion of traditions that included Kelly and Jason’s pioneering Flow Yoga. During this time, she immersed herself in Vijnana Yoga - inspired from the Iyengar tradition - drawn to its precision and vitality. This opened pathways to advanced studies in functional movement and biomechanics, including Gioia Irwin’s Tensegrity Repair Series, anatomical pro-section through Somatic Explorations, and the fascial fitness principles of Thomas Myers. Under the mentorship of Christine Clancy, a distinguished Iyengar and Vijnana teacher, Stacey deepened her mastery of Yoga philosophy and pranayama over several years.

In 2020, Stacey realized a long-held vision with the founding of Nelson School of Yoga in Nelson, British Columbia. NSOY stands as a sanctuary for holistic practice, where students engage with Yoga as a unifying discipline of body, mind, and spirit, enriched by a vibrant community.

A dedicated student of the Kriya Yoga tradition, Stacey continues her studies under Ryan Kurczak, a direct disciple of Roy Eugene Davis, who himself was a close disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda. This lineage informs her teaching with a profound clarity and reverence for the inner dimensions of Yoga. Welcoming practitioners of all levels, from novices to seasoned students, Stacey creates an inclusive space where the timeless teachings of Yoga are explored with integrity and grace.

Professionally, I have a rich and diverse background. In my role as a social worker, I worked in a non-for-profit in poverty reduction and homelessness prevention, as well as developed and coordinated an at-risk Indigenous youth program. In recent years, I’ve been working in the medical system as an oncology and acute care social worker, and also worked extensively in the mental health sector as a youth crisis response clinician, and with the early psychosis intervention team.

More recently, I completed my Master's in Social Work receiving training and mentorship as a family therapist working with young children, youth, and their parents through an attachment lens. I also teach trauma-informed and have been taking an online training program as an Ayurvedic Health Practitioner. Although I can certainly draw on knowledge and experience from the mainstream discipline of social work and Western therapy, I have found that Ayurveda and Yoga can serve as practical tools that cut to the chase and allow change and healing to happen much more quickly, especially when combined with the tools of CBT, Somatic Experiencing Therapy, and trauma therapy.

Ellissa’s journey as a therapist in the healing arts has paralleled her exploration of the mind-body connection through studying Yoga Asana and Vipassana meditation in Canada and in India. While traveling in India in 2005, she was introduced to the Iyengar Yoga method, which focuses on therapeutic postural alignment and the efficient use of props. In 2010, Ellissa completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training inspired by the Iyengar and Ashtanga methods under the guidance of Hart Lazer at United Yoga Montreal. Ellissa has been teaching weekly Yoga classes in Nelson, BC since 2010.

Cassie is a trauma-informed yoga teacher and yoga therapist (C-IAYT) with 1200 hours of formal yoga training, 7 years of teaching experience, and 13 years of personal practice.

Cassie became fascinated by the healing power of yoga from her own personal experiences with anxiety, depression, and trauma. Since 2018, Cassie has worked with survivors of sexual violence to reclaim their bodies through embodied yoga practice. She has worked in yoga and mental health research, taught 200-hour YTT programs, and regularly hosts Nest retreats in Canada and internationally.

She takes a compassion-focused and option-oriented approach to her teachings, rooted deeply in the philosophy of yoga. In her classes, the practice will meet you where you are. You will always be encouraged to listen to your own needs above her instruction.

Cassie is endlessly grateful for the ancient yogis who cultivated, preserved and passed the teachings of yoga through hundreds of centuries, allowing many of us to live today more freely and at peace.

Jena’s classes focus on mental and physical strength leaving her students feeling expansive and energized at the end of each practice.

Her training in alignment and mobility encourages students to cultivate their deep core strength to feel solid in their bodies.

Jena brings her knowledge of somatics into her teachings to help students connect to their bodies with a deeper awareness creating new patterns and ways of being from within through breath and movement.

Her intention with yoga is to empower people to step into their power and lead with love towards themselves and others.

Molly Jo specializes in pranayama and mindful movement, guiding students to synchronize each breath with motion to craft a seamless flow that nourishes both body and spirit.

Her teaching centers on deepening self-awareness, promoting inner calm, and strengthening a sense of belonging within her classes.

Passionate about accessibility, Molly Jo fosters a warm, inclusive space where practitioners of all abilities feel empowered and supported on their yoga path.