Amanda Chisholm​
E-RYT-200, Reiki II, Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga, Yoga for Cancer

"Yoga, in its essence, is not about doing fancy things with your body. It's about connection, kindness, love, letting go, believing, and most of all trusting that we are so much more than this human body."
Amanda began her yoga journey while living in Toronto. After some major life changes, she sought out yoga and meditation as remedies for anxiety and quickly committed to a daily practice.
When life led her back to her Bathurst roots, she felt inspired to continue her journey into Teacher Training. In May 2014, she left for Baja, Mexico to complete her RYT-200. At Yandara Yoga Institute, she lived in simple, rustic surroundings without electricity, eating local food, and learning asana, pranayama, meditation, philosophy and reiki healing.
Since her return, she has been teaching classes in the Bathurst area, connecting with other yogis, and spending time deepening her own personal practice.
​Mélanie Frigault
E-RYT-200, Postnatal Yoga, Yoga for Cancer, Yoga Nidra, HIIT & Flow, Reiki II, Mindfulness Coach
"Yoga is the art and science of living.''- Indra Devi
Melanie has been guiding yoga and meditation classes in both English and French since 2016 with Pure Balance Yoga, after attending an intensive Yoga Teacher Training through Yandara Yoga Institute. This heart-led training program has guided her teaching style ever since, as she strives to always offer an authentic and heart-centered guided practice which honors the deep and rich roots of yoga.
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She is passionate about helping others discover the Divine teacher that resides within their breath, their bodies, and ultimately their Self. She aims to connect with others through our shared humanness, through mindfulness practicies and thought humor, joy and love.
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Mélanie believes that yoga is a way of life that expands way beyond the practice on our mats, and offers a roadmap to living in harmony with life, through connection of the mind, body and soul.
Monique Nowlan
​RYT-200
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Monique first came to yoga for the physical benefits, hoping to ease stiffness and become fit. As her body became stronger and healthier, she discovered that on her yoga mat, she could find a sense of contentment, self-awareness and mind body connection. Monique enrolled in her 200-hour teacher training with Om-Line Yoga and Ayurveda, simply hoping to deepen her own practice. However, as she learned and grew as a yogi, her intentions turned towards teaching and sharing the practice she loves with others.
Monique’s intention is to create a space for students to explore the practice of yoga and to discover their relationship with themselves. Monique wants students to leave her classes feeling peaceful, yet empowered.
Yoga has taught her to harness her thoughts, illuminating how to let go of self-doubt and to be more mindful. In her life, she is becoming more like the person that she is on her mat - courageous, dedicated, kind, patient, and compassionate - and she can’t wait to share that with others.
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Jeremy Pitre
​RYT-200
Jeremy has been practicing yoga for years but dove deeper into his practice two years ago. After suffering a physical injury at work, he began discovering the power of yoga and its ability to heal not only the physical body but the mind as well.
He recently graduated from Yandara Yoga Institute as a 200hour registered yoga teacher and reiki II practitioner
He has a strong interest in the ‘inner work’ of yoga and the power of meditation. He hopes to help students find their own inner peace and guidance within.
Jen Luong
Jenny has two essential philosophies that are fundamental in all she teaches:
1) Individual autonomy
2) Live and learn in harmony with nature.
In nature we can find all the solutions we seek, all the answers explained. We can simplify to live the right path by observing cause and effect. Nature also gives us all the perfectly balanced food and resources we need for optimal living. Individual autonomy means you recognize your part and responsibility in life. You appreciate the miracle of living and act accordingly. These philosophies are part of Jenny’s matrix and so her passion and commitment to them shines through in everything she does.
Jenny was born into a family where natural medicine and healing is the norm. Her grandfather was a Taoist shaman and her father is a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
In 1997 Jenny started studying medicinal herbs and Clinical Herbology through Dominion Herbal College. She also studied Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs with Michael Tierra, and became a Clinical Herbalist in 2000. She then became a Registered Massage Therapist in 2002. She completed her first level of Yoga Teacher training in 2005. Jenny then trained to become a nurse and after almost completing nursing school with honors, she realized it was not in alignment with her belief system. In working with clients and understanding how integral the mind is in a person’s health, Jenny started to study neuroscience and epigenetics and became a Clinical Hypnotherapist in 2008, and Certified Neuro Linguistics Programming practitioner in 2010. In 2012 Jenny started training as a life coach, and was certified in 2016, registered with the ICF (International Coaches Federation). During 2015, she also completed her second level (500 hr) Yoga Teacher training in Yoga Therapy. And then another 200 hr in Ashtanga Vinyasa in 2018.
Jenny currently practices as a Registered Naturopath in Petit Rocher Sud. Her approach is holistic, simplified and pragmatic.
You can find her at www.jenluong.com
Karine Boudreau-Roy​
​E-RYT-200
"Hello, I am Karine. I just completed a wonderful teacher yoga training on Maui with Wisdom Flow Yoga. This experience has confirmed everything that I loved and knew about yoga. No words can describe my appreciation for this formation and meeting a great mentor of mine, Jennifer Lynn. I am over the moon excited to be part of the teaching community at Pure Balance in the near future.
My journey with yoga started in 2015, as I wanted to “stretch” my body during my years in university of Moncton. I found our little paradise studio here in Bathurst when I was back in the region. Since then, my practice has evolved and changed so much over the years.
I am a multi-passionate woman, whose main interest lies in well being and healing from inside out. I thrive in community based engagement ranging from artistic projects, ecological movement and social equity programs. My interests also include physics, philosophy, dance medicine, gardening, poetry and connecting with Mama Earth. I love to learn and consider myself a forever student. I have a background in radiology and assistant chiropractic (Dupas Chiropractic in Bouctouche); where I learned the potential of having an aligned body that helps us thrive in our lives. I have seen from experience the transformation of people working with alternative medicine and yoga practices.
As you may know, yoga is so much more than the Asana practices (poses). It is a path to union. Therefore, it implies relationships. As we walk the yoga path, we improve and rediscover our relationship with ourselves, our mind, our breath, our divine essence, our home Gaia as well as relationships in our life. For me, yoga really did change the way I interact with people in my life and how I navigate the ups and downs of being a human being.
I am forever thankful for what this practice has led to my life. It is a great privilege to be teaching in our amazing studio in Bathurst. Amanda, Melanie, Alex, Monique and Jeremy have all played an important role in my becoming over the years. I am thankful for my teachers and ready to step into this role as well. I will be offering some alignment based sequences with my special creative spin on it. I want students to leave my classes feeling empowered, refreshed and in symphony with the greater meaning of life."
Alexa Lerche
RYT 200​
My goal in practicing and teaching yoga stems from many places but the most relevant is to heal myself, others, and the world. “Be the change you want to see in the world” said Ghandi, which I resonate to deeply. I hope that by practicing mindfulness, gratitude, and prioritizing mental health, we as mankind are able to unite and heal.
I have often asked myself how I can contribute to a safer, cleaner, and happier future and concluded that the best place to start is with yourself. By healing oneself and choosing peace, mentally and physically, I hope that the world will follow suit.
I also must extend a deep gratitude to the community at Pure Balance. I remember feeling lost at the beginning of my yoga journey and was met with nothing but support and love from every single lovely yogi at Pure Balance. I have cherished every encouragement, compliment, and uplifting support, to each of you, thank you. I am so grateful for all the memories I have had the honour of creating with the Pure Balance family, from summer challenges, book clubs, traveling internationally for our yoga retreat, multiple seasonal equinoxes, and each special class shared together. From the bottom of my heart, I hope to return that love to new, and regular, yogis and hope to create a safe place where everyone feels appreciated simply by being their authentic self.
“You are enough as you are”. I look forward to crossing paths
Sandra Fournier
RYT 200
Sandra originally began her yoga journey in 2014 for its physical benefits, and after practicing intermittently over the years, returned with purpose in 2020 to help her heal spiritually and physically from cancer.
Sandra's stage IV terminal cancer diagnosis in April 2020, propelled her to research and find alternative treatments and protocols to help her fight her cancer. Her belief in the mind body connection motivated her to connect with meditation, guided healing, and yoga to assist with the medicinal practices. Miraculously, Sandra has been cancer-free since August 11th 2021 and has enlightened interest in mindfulness, and its impact on health, disease, stress and anxiety. She recently traveled to Baja Mexico and received her 200 YTT at Yandara Yoga Institute. Sandra has been teaching for over 30 years, 10 years with adults, and the last 20 at Bathurst High School. After 2 years of treatment and recovery, she has decided to return to work at BHS this September and is extremely pleased to be teaching yoga 110 for the first time.
Sandra has always been active and thoroughly enjoys nature, hiking on the Mi'gmaq trails, and walking her beloved brady. She feels blessed to have been born and raised in an area that offers so much natural beauty, serenity, and opportunity to feel connectedness with oneself and the universe.
Alex Gould
E-RYT 200
Hey, I’m Alex! I have been practicing yoga since 2017. I had resolved to exercise more but experienced a back injury, so I needed to find something that was accessible that I could do at least 20 minutes a day. I went on youtube, found Yoga with Adriene, and she became my first teacher. By then I was also meditating regularly and taking more interest in spiritual practices. It wasn’t long before I started practicing at a local studio in Halifax. Fast forward a few months life brought me back to Bathurst where I was happy to discover Amanda had opened Pure Balance. I quickly became a regular at the studio.
In 2019, to deepen my practice and my understanding of yoga, I decided to take a 500hr Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training in India. I spent the year leading up to it preparing my body and mind for the experience. When I decided to embark on this training, I had no intention of teaching, but before I had even left, Amanda had presented me with the opportunity to share my experience after I returned.
Now, after 3 years of teaching at the studio, I know that I made the right decision in taking the leap from student to teacher. Teaching has given me the opportunity to share my passion with others as well as keep me motivated to seek new knowledge and continue to practice regularly.
What I try to bring to the classes I lead: I strive to ensure that students leave the class feeling like they have learned something new. Whether it be a tip about a pose, a new perspective from ancient Indian mythology or a new understanding of yogic philosophy.
What keeps you coming back to your mat? I’ve experienced the transformative power of Ashtanga yoga firsthand. My life is completely different now from when I first started, but the practice is still the same. The time spent on my mat has carried me through the highs and lows of the past few years and provided me with a constant during times of change. Yoga has kept me as fit and healthy in body and mind as I have ever been, and those benefits have seeped into all corners of my life.
Favourite piece of advice or quote: “Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself in your way of thinking.” ― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Diane Luce-Comeau
RYT 200
I began my yoga journey at the age of 14, and it has transformed into a profound spiritual practice that nurtures calm and serenity within me. As I transitioned into adulthood, yoga became a sacred space, allowing me to explore inner peace and the movement of my body in harmony with my inner flow.
When COVID-19 emerged, I recognized it as a divine opportunity to pursue my long-held dream of becoming a yoga teacher. With the extra time available, I immersed myself in a 200-hour yoga teacher training course, which I completed over 10 transformative months. Since then, I have continued to deepen my spiritual practice through additional yoga courses.
I am also a registered massage therapist for 29 years and my passion for the well-being of others enhances my holistic approach. Additionally, I have had the privilege of undertaking three humanitarian trips across the world, which enriched my perspective and commitment to helping others.
For the past three years, I have had the honor of teaching yoga, conducting a total of 130 classes. I am immensely grateful for this journey and the chance to express myself mentally, emotionally, and physically, as it creates a beautiful inner flow that connects me to the essence of life itself.
Looking forward to welcoming you with your yoga mats and your beautiful smiles. Namaste.
