OUR TEAM
A diverse group of well-rounded yoginis, 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)
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.
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 JOHNSON
Instructor - YTT Philosophy Trainer
Yoga On and Off the Mat
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.
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.
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.
MARCUS FUNG
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.
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.
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.
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. And we feel into this knowing, even when physical distance divides us.
We honour this culture of connection with Yoga classes that go deeper than the physical postures, with teachings that inspire curiosity, wonder and awareness of our innermost being. We share a wide range of offerings in all styles of Yoga, including; workshops, retreats, events and will be sharing a quality Yoga Alliance approved 200hr and 300hr Yoga Teacher Training Program.
Our hope is 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.