Instructor Bios

Serena Oakley, founder & instructor of Shakti Sisters Yoga

How yoga flowed into my life….

Initially, I came to yoga interested in learning about myself, and wanting to become healthier. I began with a hot    yoga class in 2002.  I couldn’t balance on one foot without toppling over, my mind was easily distracted, and my   emotions were all over the place. But I felt so good afterward, I had to continue. I couldn’t afford to pay for classes,so I gratefully traded cleaning services with the studio so I could practice several times a week. Little by little, I found so much balance and strength I didn’t know I had. Not just physically. Many things changed inside of me. I began to realise that my emotional body, and my mental body, were closely linked to my physical body. I felt so much more centered. I didn’t talk so negatively to myself anymore. I learned how to say ‘no’ to others who drained my energy. I learned the rhythms of my body and how to obey it when I was tired, hungry, or thirsty. Gradually, before my eyes, I had a whole new life. A new love, a new job, new friends. And for all of this, I am   thankful.

Yoga has now weaved its way into my relationships, my vocation, my marriage, and into mothering my daughter. Pretty much everything I do now has the potential to be a yoga posture! Each challenging situation in my life is an opportunity to stretch beyond my boundaries, to let go of unnecessary tension, to patiently wait and breathe, or to hold my ground. The techniques learned in yoga I use again and again, both on and off my mat. It’s an ongoing learning experience.

My wish is to share with you the tools and the immense freedom and healing I have received from yoga. To give to you the gifts yoga has given me. I thank all the teachers who have brought me to where I am now, and given me the opportunity to share the joy.

How yoga flowed into bellydance…

As I practiced yoga intensely for several years, I began to feel a sense of imbalance. I felt a need bubbling up inside of me, for addressing my more intuitive, cyclical, feminine nature. The straight lines, perfect alignment and stillness of yoga were always very therapeutic., but had recently become stifling to me. I realised my practice was lacking in the energy of the passionate, dancing, fluid energy of the  sacred feminine.I wanted to express more circular lines, and allow my emotions to be expressed through my body. I wanted the monthly changes in my body and my consciousness to be addressed and honored. So, I began to study the Sacred Feminine through Earth-based spirituality and Goddess mythology. I took up Nia (a form of dance-fitness fusion), and bellydancing. I began to pay more attention to my menstrual cycle and the gifts and challenges each phase brought. I learned how to listen to the voice of my intuition- our greatest gift as women.

Dancing gave me healing and expression that yoga postures couldn’t on their own. Movement unites our bodies with our emotional, feeling nature, and takes us on a ride of surrender, expression, and connects us to the hearts of others dancing with us. Where yoga teaches us patience, alignment and control of our instincts, dance gives us opportunity to express our emotional nature and transform it into something powerful and beautiful, and alive.

Bellydancing in particular has given me a greater appreciation and acceptance of my femininity. It’s rhythmic movements have helped me through very painful menstruation and childbirth. It is a dance that loves the curves and flesh of our bodies. That nurtures our wombs, our bellies, and our hearts. It connects us to our sisters of ancient times, to our past lives as priestesses and powerful shamans. Through bellydance we can recreate ourselves anew. We can take back our power as women. Through the sensuousness of our bodies, the ecstasy of surrendering to music, and sharing in a circle of sisters, we unite with the energy of Shakti- which means ‘sacred force’ or ‘power’- it is considered the feminine force of the universe.

A unique style of yoga is born…

My classes fuse the grounding, meditative practice of yoga with the feminine sensuality of bellydance to give you a well-rounded healing experience. I give you tools to help you find greater physical well-being, balance, confidence and trust in your instincts and intuition. My hope is that you will embrace the gift of being a woman, and shamelessly share the Goddess that you are with the world!

I look forward to walking with you on your journey,

Namaste
Serena

A wife, mother, passionate student and teacher, Serena has been a full-time yoga instructor since 2004,  certified with Moksha Yoga, and inspired by a variety of teachers and styles of yoga since 2002.  She is certified in prenatal yoga with Janice Clarfield, holds a Nia White Belt and a background in Theatre Arts. Her bellydancing journey began in 2006, in Egyptian/cabaret style with Judy Reynolds and in Modern Bellydance with Audra Simmons in Toronto. She continues to explore the more mystical and energetic roots of bellydancing with Roula Said, along with the meditative practice of Sufi Whirling. Her passion for the Sacred Feminine and healing through movement led her to become a certified Dance Our Way Home facilitator with Erica Ross in 2010. Serena uses basic bellydance movements to open new levels of mind-body awareness in the same way a yoga posture does, and to liberate the sensual, creative flow of life-force in women.

She has also studied astrology and tarot from a very young age. Certified by CAAE, she provides astrology & tarot readings for greater self-understanding, and clarity in times of transition.

In 2012 she will begin training to become a Holistic Health Practitioner  at the Transformational Arts College in Toronto to expand her toolkit of healing modalities and feed her passion for transformation, healing and creating balance in her own life and in the lives of others.

Gratitude to my many teachers:

Jess Robertson, Ted Grand, Deena Robertson, Teachers of Moksha Yoga, Teachers of the Yoga Sanctuary, Roberta Mohler, Martha Randall, Lynne Goodman, Judy Reynolds, Ursula Fugger, Janet Markham, Lorena Elke, Audra Simmons, Roula Said, Erica Ross, Janice Clarfield, My students, My family,Rob,Zara,Vera &Sonya.

Jaene Castrillon, a.k.a ‘Lluvia’- Bellydancer & Bellydance instructor

Juvia is considered to be an unorthodox and creative Middle EasternDance Artist. Lluvia’s main tenant is to use this dance form to address issues of social justice, discrimination, advocacy, poverty, marginalization and equality.  Through this unique form of story-telling Lluvia gives the audience a richer experience in dance while being an energetic and giving entertainer. She has performed in a wide range of events from Toronto Pride to Taste of the Danforth and the International Bellydance Conference of Canada. Juvia has graduated from Arabesque Academy’s Pro Course in 2009 and taken Sahra Seeda’s “Journey Through Egypt” level #1 & #2.  Juvia is a self professed Folklore lover and enjoys combining comedy, story-telling and dance.  As a teacher Juvia includes a component of mindfulness and wellness/self-esteem as part of her class.  She is a sought after workshop and class instructor; as a teacher she has taught at Vivace Studios, Om Laila Bellydance, Arabesque Academy and the Beaches Recreation Centre.  Furthermore, Juvia has taught workshops such as Folklore Ethnology at DownHips Dance in Kitchener, Born to Belly at Phoenix Bellydance in Lindsay and her extremely popular Performance Pizzazz which she has taught at Arabesque Academy.  Juvia is a loving, giving and passionate teacher that creates a safe and fun environment for learning Bellydance.