Barb Smeltzer

I have always had a great passion and love for the holistic healing arts since I was a teenager. Still to this day I consider myself to be a bit of a wellness 'junkie', exploring many different areas of healing and mind-body health. It is my firm belief, and I have had first hand experience, that we all have an innate healing wisdom allowing for optimum health in mind, body and soul if we just allow it to be accessed. Through healing arts such as yoga, meditation, and energy work we have the opportunity to kick that innate healing ability into high gear! I remember doing yoga before I even knew what it was. At the age of ten I was doing somersaults in full lotus position and Halasana just for fun. However, my first real introduction to yoga was through the pages of Yoga Journal, picking up my first copy in the middle 90's when I was still in high school. I was amazed at how the practitioners featured could contort their bodies into these wild and wonderful poses. Up until that time I didn't explore much of a serious physical practice. Originally from Calgary, Alberta, I began my official yoga practice in 1999 with an introduction to Power Yoga through the city recreation and parks program. I was hooked! Since then I practised on and off with a variety of styles; Ashtanga, Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, and Restorative. My dream of becoming a certified yoga teacher manifested into reality when I moved to Brampton to study with Michelle at 5 Elements, graduating from her 200 hour teaching program in Vinyasa/Hatha Flow, Pre-natal and Post-natal training. My studies continue with attending workshops facilitated by well known teachers like Shiva Rea and Cyndi Lee. In addition to my yoga training, I have completed Reiki Level II, Body Talk Level 1 & 2, and Lotus Palm Thai Yoga Massage Level 1 training as well as training in meditation. I am also a freelance writer specializing in environmentally conscious living and mind-body health topics. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology, Recreation Management Diploma, Volunteer Management and Public Relations Certificate. I am registered with Yoga Alliance and Canadian Yoga Alliance.