OUR TEAM
A diverse group of well-rounded teachers, ready to begin a journey with you.
KELSEY
Ekatra Founder
YTT Lead Trainer - E-RYT 500 + YACEP
Kelsey is the Lead Trainer and Founder of Ekatra’s School of Traditional Yoga, devoted to sharing the depth of yoga as both a practice and a way of life. Having taught over 5,000 classes, she brings a lived experience of yoga that extends far beyond the mat. Her advanced training spans Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, Restorative, Pre- and Post-Natal, Yoga Nidra, and Kundalini, as well as extensive studies in philosophy, somatics, energetics, Ayurveda, Tantra Shakti, Prana Shakti, Vinyasa Krama, and the soul’s path. Entirely dedicated to walking the traditional path of yoga, Kelsey’s teaching reflects her commitment to honoring the classical wisdom of this lineage while guiding students toward embodied awareness, inner balance, and spiritual depth.
Kelsey leads thoughtful and inclusive classes, encouraging students to challenge themselves while practicing honesty, openness, attention and self-compassion. From the bottom of her heart, she thanks all of her teachers and students, past, present and future, for sharing in the gifts of Yoga and loving connection.
YOGA ALLIANCE ID: 322573 (Kelsey Erin Hansen)
Robert
Leduc Studio Teacher
RYT 200
Robert Alan is a RYT-200 yoga teacher whose classes blend strong, physical asana with grounding meditation. His approach helps students build strength, presence, and self-awareness both on and off the mat.
Robert has been a personal trainer to a diverse group of VIPs and Special Forces members for over a decade. His background in self-defence tactics adds a unique emphasis on mindful movement, body control, and functional strength.
He also draws on 23 years of experience in the Canadian Armed Forces, where he led and mentored emerging leaders. This foundation shapes his calm, confident teaching style and his ability to create classes that are both challenging and supportive.
In 2022, Robert was invested into the Order of Military Merit- one of Canada’s highest honours- recognizing his dedication and professionalism. He now brings that same integrity and commitment to every student he teaches, offering a practice that is grounded, empowering, and accessible to all.
Melanie
Leduc Studio Teacher
RYT 500
Melanie is a dedicated yoga teacher whose journey began with exploration and a quest for self-discovery.Started her yoga journey in 2018, transforming her initial desire for improved flexibility into a profound path of self-awareness and healing.
By 2021, yoga became her daily practice, guiding her to discover the power of presence and mindfulness. In 2023, she completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at the Akhanda Yoga Institute in Edmonton, which led her to a passionate commitment to teaching. Her expertise now encompasses Trauma-Informed Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Sound Healing, and a recent 300-hour Advanced Teacher Training in India. Melanie is devoted to honoring the roots of yoga with authenticity and care, culminating in her 500-hour certification.
Chelsie
RYT 200
Leduc Studio Teacher
Chelsie is a certified yoga instructor specializing in Hot Flow, Vinyasa, Yin, and Restorative practices.
She began practicing yoga in 2015 as a natural way to ease stress and anxiety, and after her very first Savasana in a Hot Flow class, she knew yoga would become a lifelong path. In 2024, Chelsie completed her 200HR training at Prana Yoga Studio and continued her education in Yin and Restorative Yoga to deepen her understanding of the practice.
Chelsie’s classes are grounding, mindful, and empowering. With a trauma-sensitive and safety-focused approach, she creates a supportive space where students can explore strength, softness, stillness, and growth- both physically and emotionally. She is grateful to share her journey with Ekatra Yoga and welcomes all students to join her on the mat.
MATTHEW
LEDUC STUDIO TEACHER
RYT200
Mat has been teaching yoga since 2022, after six years of personal practice and the collective guidance of the teachers who shaped him. His classes blend vinyasa, hatha, yin, and meditation, offering a calm, focused, and intentional space for students to reconnect with themselves.
With breathwork and meditation woven subtly throughout, Mat teaches in a way that encourages ease, introspection, and a deeper listening to the moment as it continues to shift. Students often recognise his loud, steady breath cues- a grounding rhythm that helps the whole room move together.
Rooted in trauma-informed principles, Mat’s approach centres on creating a space where students feel safe, empowered, and in charge of their own experience. His background in alpine climbing also influences his teaching, shaping his understanding of presence, patience, and meeting discomfort with humility.
As a practicing Buddhist, Mat brings a sense of awareness and compassion into his classes. He often uses instrumental music to evoke emotion and sensation, balanced with silence at the beginning of class.
Mat returns to his mat because it’s one of the few places where the noise of life settles enough for clarity to emerge. What he loves most about yoga communities is the quiet support that forms when people breathe and move together. Outside the studio, students are often surprised to learn he’s equally passionate about alpine climbing, heavy metal, and slow, meditative practice- an intersection of intensity and softness that keeps life interesting.
JENNIFER
LEDUC STUDIO TEACHER
As a mother of four grown boys and an RN of over 30 years, I have always been a teacher. In fact, teaching is one of my greatest joys.
I have been teaching yoga for four years, and have been a student for many more Yoga and breathwork saved my life. After being diagnosed with lupus in 2016, I was struggling and lost and that is when yoga found me.
I am proud to be on this life journey of self-discovery and understanding, one of learning. growing. expanding. and breathing. I enjoy cooking, baking. camping, cheerleading. dance, and spending time with my friends and family.
I want to provide opportunities for anyone to see that yoga can be a key to understanding themselves, others or the universe as a whole.
With open arms, I invite and welcome all who show up to move, shine, and feel through yoga. Join me on the mat and allow me to be your guide.
CARLY
YTT Psychology Lead Trainer
Ph.D. R. Psych
Dr. Carly Heffel is a Registered Psychologist in Alberta (5287), specializing in pediatric rehabilitation and neuropsychology. She received her PhD. In Counseling Psychology from The University of North Texas in 2014, with residency in child and family mental health in Tucson, Arizona.
Dr. Carly Heffel completed a 2-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Neuropsychology at The Alberta Children’s Hospital (2014-2016). Prior to this, she completed two Masters of Psychology in New York (State University of New York at Albany, 2008) and Texas (University of North Texas, 2010), and a Bachelor of Science degree specializing in Psychology at the University of Alberta. Her career has focused on supporting medically and developmentally complex children and their families during inpatient hospitalization and recovery, both at Seattle Children’s Hospital (2016-2019) and Alberta Children’s Hospital (2019-2025).
In her spare time, Dr. Heffel enjoys travelling, a good cup of coffee, and nature dosing with her dogs (Tinker and Ruthie) and family.
JEFF
Yoga On and Off the Mat
Instructor - YTT Philosophy Trainer
Jeff’s first yoga experience was in 2012 when he dropped into a class with his daughter and quickly fell for the way it made his body and mind feel. He has been practicing yoga since at various studios in the St. Albert area and considers himself a real enthusiast. He is trained as a pharmacist, and has worked in health care for almost thirty years. During this time, he has led health research studies as a professor at the University of Alberta, with a focus on chronic medical conditions like diabetes and obesity. He has always been interested in health, exploring and understanding what determines health and how we, individually and collectively, can positively influence our health. He considers health to mean physical, mental and social well-being and thinks yoga contributes to all of these aspects of health!
Jeff completed his 200hr Yoga Teacher Training with the Institute of Inner Source in St. Albert in May 2017. In his yoga teaching, he combines what he knows about health, our anatomy and physiology with yoga philosophies and practices, and love to share that combination with others. He was invited to become an Ambassador with lululemon in 2024, which has helped him to connect with communities and people in so many ways to share his combined passion for yoga and health.
MARCUS
Musician - Founder of Earth Harmony Sound & Wellness
YTT Energy of Sound Trainer
Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Earth Harmony Sound & Wellness has been operating for over 15 years. Serving a diversity of populations, we are proud explorers and pioneers in the field of using sound, rhythm and participatory music making for therapy, community building, and enhanced well-being.
Marcus Fung blends his training as a early movement and music specialist, classical and jazz musician, music producer, alternative healing and expressive arts therapy practicioner to facilitate powerful experiences.
Our mission is to educate and empower holistic, personal and planetary well-being through the power of sound, rhythm and related therapeutic practices.
KRISTINE
YTT Anatomy Lead Trainer
BScPT, YTT200
After graduating from the University of Alberta with a BScPT in 1999, Kristine spent several years exploring different practice settings before finding her groove in private practice physiotherapy in St Albert in 2004.
An observer of people, Kristine has always been fascinated with how people move through this world. Part of Kris's curiosity in becoming a physical therapist initially came from the desire to work with people along their journey to good health. Now, her professional journey is one of complete curiosity and fascination with the human experience, and the desire to truly help people experience moving through life with the most ease possible.
Kris is a physio nerd who is constantly striving to learn more and better understand how we fit together and how she can better help her clients. She is constantly taking professional development courses to help her learn and grow as a therapist. She is the first Albertan certified in the Integrated Systems Model of Assessment and Treatment (Diane Lee) and also trained with LJ Lee in both ConnectTherapy ™ and the Thoracic Ring Approach ™ .
She has taken over a dozen courses in craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation and neural manipulation through the Barral Institute and is certified in Anatomical Acupuncture. She completed Susi Hately's/Functional Synergy Yoga Therapy Intensive in 2019 and her 200Hr YTT in 2021.
Kristine is excited to learn with you through this experience of discovery and connection.
PAULA
LEDUC STUDIO TEACHER
RYT200
Paula is a RYT 200 yoga teacher who’s passionate about Yin, Restorative and slow flow yoga.
Paula began yoga about 40 years ago as a way to incorporate some movement and “me time” with a young family that was always on the go. After stepping away during a particularly busy season of life, she returned to her practice about five years ago with a renewed appreciation for its ability to support stress relief, grounding, and overall well-being. As she settled back in, she felt a growing pull toward teaching. In January 2024, she decided to pursue her 200-hour training through Prana, deepening her knowledge with the intention of sharing the practice with others.
Paula has since completed her Yin training, Restorative Training, Trauma Training and is enrolled in her Embodied Mastery: Somatic Healing Training in the spring of 2026.
Paula’s classes combine an awareness of listening to your body, self-compassion, arriving on your mat just as you are, with slow purposeful movement.
MOLLY
Cape Breton Retreat Facilitator
YTT Trainer
Molly started practicing Yoga in 2006 and completed her 200 hour teacher training in 2015.
Yoga is a gift Molly feels compelled to share. Her classes foster a deep connection to the wisdom of the body, and strive to gently quiet the mind.She has taught people from all walks of life, from the ages of 5 to 85. Molly has taught classes at music festivals, corporate conferences, Yoga retreats, private sessions and group workshops.
Molly also works full time in holistic health and wellness as a Registered Massage Therapist. Helping individuals feel better in their bodies (and minds) is her passion.
On and off the mat, Molly creates and holds space for individuals to embrace the wisdom of their bodies and their intuition.
KAT
Cape Breton YTT Trainer
Kat discovered her passion for yoga over a decade ago, completing her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2014 in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Upon returning to her roots in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, she began teaching full-time in her local community. With extensive teaching experience, Kat offers a diverse range of styles, blending dynamic flows with restorative postures to cater to both beginners and seasoned yogis. In her classes, students are encouraged to open their hearts, cultivate compassion, and turn their awareness inward, creating a deeply personal practice.
What Kat loves most about teaching is the meaningful connections it fosters between herself and her students. She enjoys introducing themes and ideas for reflection during practice. This often leads to insightful conversations after class that continue to inspire her own practice. In her free time, Kat loves hiking with her family, travelling, and savoring moments at home.
VALERIE
Cape Breton YTT Trainer
Valerie Dolhanty is a certified Yoga Instructor specializing in Hatha Yoga, with a passion for blending her teaching with chakra balancing.
Valerie is also a Reiki Master Practitioner, a Certified Reflexologist and is certified with the Mental Health Commission of Canada as a Working Mind Facilitator. She also offers webinars specializing in mental health and well being. She is an advocate for the powerful healing potential of the human body through working with our natural life forces and energy.
VERNA
Cape Breton Anatomy Lead
YTT Trainer
Verna is trained as a 200 hr Hatha Vinyasa yoga teacher through the Therapeutic Approach to Yoga studio in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of New Brunswick.
She has been practicing yoga since 2009 and started teaching in 2013. Verna is passionate about developing yoga classes that are accessible to everyone while still providing some challenge and flavor. Yoga has enriched her life both on and off the mat and she is thrilled to share this with her students.
ABOUT US
The foundational value of Ekatra Yoga is connection. This is our heart. This is our truth.
Ekatra translates to “together, in one place”, or “in one place, in close connection.”
Ekatra is a first-person felt experience of Yoga in community. We honour this union in the sacred space of yoga practice.
At our Hot Yoga Studio in Leduc, Alberta, we are grateful to offer a wide range of offerings that honour this very sentiment- practices that connect, nurture, and awaken.
We share Yoga that moves beyond the physical postures, offering teachings that inspire curiosity, wonder, and awareness of our innermost being. Our offerings include both hot and room-temperature classes, workshops, retreats, and community events, as well as our Yoga Alliance–approved 200-hour and 300-hour Traditional Yoga Teacher Training programs. All designed to compliment one another to support a journey of presence, depth, and transformation.
Our hope to remind you that our practice does not end within the four walls of a space, or the walls of your physical body- this is only the beginning. Our mission is for you to live from a place of connection- connection to body, to nature, to your community, to your higher purpose, to your spirit. Our mission is for you to connect to peace. Our mission is to remind you of joy.
Our mission is to inspire you to live with love.
What a gift it is to share in this. Together. In one place. At and in and with Ekatra.