Krista Nymark VandenBrink

My yoga journey began in 2006. I moved to Red Deer for a job, I didn’t know a soul, and I found myself infinitely bored and a little blue at the end of my work days. I began taking a regular yoga class with the goal of meeting people but, before I knew it, I was in a full blown love affair with the practise.

After a whole lot of soul searching I made a wacky, decision. In the spring of 2010, with the support of my wonderful husband, I left all of my responsibilities behind, including my full-time job, and went to India for five weeks. It was in this wonderful country, under the direction of Lalit Kumar and the Himalaya Yoga Valley, that I realized my true calling, and I became an internationally certified yoga instructor. 

One of my most gratifying, and proudest yoga moments happened shortly after I returned from India when I was invited to introduce a yoga program to the local Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Both of my parents were police officers; making my way to the detachment twice a week to walk members and their families through a yoga practise was a small, but powerful way for me to give back to the community that was, and continues to be, a huge part of my life.

I am trained to teach Ashtanga, Hatha, Prenatal, Yin and Flow. In both my personal practise and my teaching, self reflection, awareness and compassion are the cornerstones of my approach. Alignment, breath, and a serious sense of humour are always a part of my classes.