EPIC Teachers
Terry
Terry is the owner of Epic. Terry started practicing yoga in 2009 after playing with Wii Fit. Out of shape with an aching back, Terry summed up the courage to go to a yoga class, where he discovered that there was more to yoga than simply getting a good stretch. There, he learned and experienced the positive impact that yoga can have on people's lives. As a result, Terry became more present in his life and was able to better connect with his family. Terry completed his teacher training with Red Door Yoga in January 2015,
Kim
Kim teaches Hatha Flow, Yoga Basics and Restorative Yoga. Kim’s classical teaching style relies on the foundations of breath, fluidity, curiosity and mindfulness. Kim studied yoga with the founder of Power Yoga, Beryl Bender Birch. Prior to Epic, Kim was involved in the founding of what is now Yoga BC, teaching Power Yoga for over 12 years around Vancouver. In 2012 Kim started her company Primordial Vibe, which sells yoga apparel at Epic’s studio and online at www.ompirewear.com. Kim is also a skilled belly dancer, working as a performer, choreographer and instructor around BC. In 2007, Kim wrote, narrated, choreographed and led the popular 27-episode how-to belly dance TV program, SHIMMY.
Cheyenne
Cheyenne is a RYT-200 and is currently completing her RYT-500 with expertise in breath work, physical assists, pre + post natal, children and teens. She emphasizes the importance of mental health and how yoga creates a gateway for healing. Cheyenne brings huge emphasis on deep breathing and accessing the relaxation response in the body and mind. Her students will experience less anxiety, better sleep and more mindfulness after leaving class. Cheyenne lives in a spacious 180sqft tiny home, alongside a creek and surrounded by trees. She lives an intentional life to use less water, accumulate less waste, recycle and compost obsessively, and spend more time giving back rather than accumulating 'things'. Visit her website for updates, her playlists and more. www.cheyennemerlo.com"
Carrie
A mom, business owner and fitness professional, Carrie has worked and lived in Maple Ridge for more than 15 years and is passionate about living and promoting a healthy, balanced life. Carrie started her career teaching group fitness, and since has expanded her knowledge and experience into personal training, bootcamp, spin, Tabata, running, TRX and sports conditioning. Carrie brings a positive and enthusiastic approach to her classes. She is motivated by her student’s success as well as her own personal commitment to training and health.
Debbie
My fitness journey started over 30 years ago as a group fitness instructor and spin instructor.
I became certified in Third Age ,TRX Functional Training and Pilates
I love to help people conquer their fears about strength training and TRX .
This will give them the confidence and guidance, to see great results and therefore feel the benefits of strength training and with some combined cardio .
I’m passionate about my journey to help people see results in their fitness journey with me
Leila
Leila’s journey into yoga was both a blessing and a gift from a lower back injury in her mid 30s. She realized that her hectic lifestyle was unsustainable, unhealthy and out of balance. The holistic benefits of yoga over the years have been transformational. Her yoga practice keeps her present and connected to the ebb and flow of life. In 2015, she pursued the 200hr Teacher Training with Red Door Yoga - the best thing for personal growth. Leila loves Yin, Hatha, Vinyasa and meditation. She is grateful to all her teachers who have been instrumental in this lifelong journey. In Leila's spare time, she gardens and enjoys being close to nature. She also loves cooking, doing creative projects, and belly dancing to shake things up!
Nicole
Nicole is a mover and a shaker...literally! She has been passionately teaching Yoga, Pilates and Dance for over 15 years. She is a skillful and playful instructor who loves creating unique sequences and eclectic playlists for her classes.
Nicole is an avid traveller and a polyglot. She leads yearly international Yoga & Adventure retreats as well as weekend retreats at various locations across British Columbia. As a professional chef, she also caters her weekend retreats herself. (To learn more, visit her website; www.firespirit.ca)
When not teaching or leading retreats, Nicole enjoys hand-standing, climbing mountains and making food for family and friends. She is a dedicated vegan and an LGBTQ2S+ ally.
Marisa
Marisa Plasterer is a Certified Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor and Lifestyle Coach. Marisa was a competitive gymnast as a child and had to retire at the young age of 13, feeling too old to learn a new sport she felt lost and became overweight. While at university she started working out and discovered the mental health benefits of exercise in addition to the physical ones. This led to Marisa changing her degree focus from the Sciences to Recreation Administration and Health Education where she could focus on helping people improve their health and wellness. Since then she has learned to swim, snowboard, ski, water ski, kayak and most recently started her martial arts journey, proving to herself and others it’s never too late to learn something new. Marisa teaches TRX, group fitness, boot camp, cycle and small group training.
Rebecca
Rebecca has lived in the Maple Ridge area for over 30 years has continually been involved in all aspects of fitness training and active sports. This passion and love of fitness led to her to become an instructor and is certified as a BCRPA fitness instructor with a specialty module in Group Fitness. After years of TRX training and encouragement from Karen, she became certified in both TRX Functional training and TRX Group training with a Level II ranking, and was privileged to have trained under top ranking TRX instructors Gerard Recio and Douglas Li. Rebecca also holds a First Dan Black Belt ranking under the WTF Taekwondo Federation. She strongly believes in creating challenging and technical classes that will engage her students so they are leaving the class both exhilarated and wanting more. "Get fit and have fun!"
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Sammi Wang
My name is Sammi Wang, a certified yoga teacher, and a professional Eco fashion designer, who lives in minimalist life style, and dreams to inspire millions of people to enjoy yoga and Eco fashion.
Growing up and under the influence of my grandfather who is eastern holistic medicine doctor and a tai chi master, I have devoted myself to an ongoing learning of a variety of ancient healing methods for promoting internal and external balance, including: Traditional Chinese medicine, Acupuncture, Chinese meridians, GuaSha scraping and Moxibustion. I believes that true balance in life comes from within the heart. I aim to bring a unique sense of empowerment to each of my students through intention, pranayama, asana and meditation with a natural, loving attitude. I also aim to guide and encourages students to explore the qualities of external growth and internal stillness, and to explore the union of the body, mind and spirit with a practice that is both physically active and internally / energetically calm.
Languages offered: English and Mandarin-Chinese.
Registered Yoga Alliance RYT-200, BCRPA YFL Yoga Teacher
Alison Réaume
Alison has been teaching yoga for over a decade, and has certified 50+ teachers internationally throughout this time, accumulating over 6,000 teaching hours. While her practice began like mosts, with a love for Vinyasa it has shifted over the years into honouring the roots of the practice, moving slowly and mindfully and believes in the importance of incorporating this into our lives off the mat! When not teaching, Alison can be found crafting, reading and spending time with her dog Macy.
Haley Cridland
Hi, I’m Haley and I am so grateful and I absolutely love being a yoga and fitness instructor! About 10 years ago I was lost in addiction, I didn’t know who I was or even how to live! But we all know the universe has a plan for each and everyone of us! My mom had come across a yoga teacher training and we figured it would help me, but it did so much more, it saved me! Through the teaching of yoga, meditation and fitness I found my soul, my connection, my confidence I found what I was meant to do! I’ve travelled to Costa Rica and Thailand to experience and explore theirs teachings, I’ve worked at oxygen yoga for 8+ years and also opened my own yoga and fitness studio “NEVER 2 FIT Yoga & Fitness and today I am beyond grateful for my life’s path and how now I can help whoever through yoga and fitness to see the beauty each and everyone of us is!
Jessica Towe
My name is Jessica Towe, and I live in Maple Ridge with my husband and daughter. I am a 500 hour YTT certified yoga teacher, Pilates certified, Rainbow Kids certified, and Early Childhood Education certified. When I am not at the studio, you can usually find me hiking and exploring the mountain ranges of BC, reading self help books, taking care of our family and home and always calling in new and creative offerings for my business.
My husband is the owner of Humble Roots Cafe and Deli in Maple Ridge so there is never a dull moment. We are always working hard on taking care of our health, wellness and our community in any way we can.
My passion is inspiring people of all ages to move their bodies, breathe, and feel stronger/healthier each day. Incorporating daily movement into your wellness plan is essential and it is my greatest joy to provide movement opportunities to willing participants of all ages in our community. I am currently teaching a Kids Yoga and Mindfulness Program within SD42 and I am really enjoying bringing together my background in early childhood and yoga to create lasting experiences for children to learn self love, self regulation skills and to simply have fun!
I offer a wide variety of classes and programs all of which you can find full details at www.jessicatoweyoga.com. I look forward to connecting with you at Epic Yoga and Fitness. I have been teaching at Epic since Jan of 2024 and It is an honour to teach yoga and Pilates classes here.
Sheila Scott
Savasana is Sheila's favourite yoga pose.
Her love story with yoga started in 2007 and has continues to grow. Learning as much as she can in her spare time. Sharing her yoga practices as a teacher began in 2022 when she lead her first class as a fundraiser for a special little girl.
She loves teaching Yoga to beginners, and those who "don't do yoga" because she loves to help them feel the post yoga glow.
Canadian Yoga Alliance 250
Kennedy Lee
I found yoga in my teenage years and have been practicing ever since - helping me to navigate the different seasons in life. I am an eager student and love exploring my yoga practice both on my mat and “in the real world”. My passion for yoga has brought me across North America, South America and South East Asia to learn from great teachers. In 2024 I graduated from East & West Yoga School in Bali, Indonesia with my 200hr RYT certificate. Since then I have been spreading my yoga teachings through drop in classes at studios in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, special events, intimate small group events, and retreats. In mid-spring of 2025 I will have classes and content available on my Youtube Channel & my instagram account.
Scott Barney
My name is Scott Barney. I grew up in Maple Ridge but moved into the city for a while (the commute was killing me). I moved back to Maple Ridge a few years ago when I retired from a career in Software Development. When I’m not teaching or practicing (or studying) yoga, I can often be found kayaking in our local lakes and rivers, or occasionally up the coast or further afield. My yoga journey began in 2010. I was looking for something for general fitness and figured I would give yoga a try. I soon realized there was much more than a good workout here. I developed a regular practice that served me well for the next several years. Mostly looking to deepen my own practice, I completed a yoga teacher training course in 2018. This planted the seed that maybe teaching was for me, so when I retired in 2019 I took another 200 hour teacher training. After a little hitch with that pandemic thing, I started teaching yoga in 2020. I added another 300 hours of training in 2024 to complete my 500 hour qualification. I have also taken additional training in Yin Yoga and Ayurveda. I am currently studying Advanced Yoga Therapy. You can never learn too much. I firmly believe there is a yoga practice for every body. It’s your journey, your challenge, to find yours. Maybe I can help.