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.
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.
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
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.
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
Janice Tissington
RYT 200
I started yoga just under 2 years ago. It all started when I went for a routine mammogram just under two years ago and was pretty much having a panic attack at the hospital because of my PTSD kicking in and the X-ray technician suggested I try yoga and thought it would really help me. I really never knew much about yoga before I started. I really thought it was just a form of exercise for very flexible people but from the first time I stepped onto the mat I realized that I had found my place and that yoga is so much more than the asanas. I was literally in tears on the mat the very first class I attended and knew I had finally found what I needed since developing PTSD. It has really taught me to stop living in fear and has provided me with the tools to stay more grounded to the present moment. I really only took yoga teacher training to learn more for myself to help in my own journey but while I was taking my yoga teacher training, I felt a calling to help others the way it has helped me.
Since completing my 200 hour yoga, teacher training, I have taken a trauma- sensitive yoga teacher training, and I’m currently working on a meditation course. I am on a constant journey to improve my mental health, and I would like to hopefully help others as well. I would really like to help others learn to feel as self-empowered as yoga has made me feel.
I love the support of all of the yogis at Pure Balance and how Pure Balance is such a safe and supportive space where I can just be me.
Vanessa Lanno
Pilates Instructor
I'm Vanessa, a Registered Nurse originally from Montreal, now calling New Brunswick home. I’m thrilled to be part of this amazing community and to share my passion for Pilates, which has been a big part of my life since 2016. After years of practicing and teaching since 2020, I'm here to help others experience the transformative power of mindful movement.
Pilates has strengthened not only my body but also my connection to it, and I can’t wait to guide you through that journey.
My mat-based, full-body classes focus on building a solid mind-muscle connection, allowing you to feel each movement deeply and grow stronger from within.
The motto I live by is: effort and consistency will take you anywhere, one day at a time.