Welcome.

I'm Gen, and I'm so glad you're here. Let me share a little about myself and my journey.

I was born in Chelsea, Quebec, and lived there until I was two years old, after which my family spent four transformative years sailing the Caribbean. The power of the ocean and nature continues to inspire my practice and teaching.

My first yoga class was far from usual. I had been suffering from my own battles with perfectionism and mental health and was at a breaking point. During this period, I recalled walking through the Sivananda Ashram in the Bahamas as a child. The serene energy of this environment was palpable and somehow I knew I needed to travel to this mystical place for my healing process to begin. I had never taken a yoga class, but this decision profoundly changed the trajectory of my life.

The ashram’s physical demands of hours of meditation, breathwork (pranayama), and yoga asana practice allowed me to access a feeling of bliss I had never experienced.

Over the following years, I became increasingly fascinated with Buddhist and Yogic philosophy and their wisdom on the human psyche. I complimented my university studies in Psychology by managing a Hot yoga studio in Montreal.

After graduating, and 10 years of devoted practice I decided to travel to India to complete my first 200-hour Ashtanga-Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training in 2013. I had purchased a one-way ticket and had plans to travel, but was invited to stay and teach for the school I had attended. In exchange I was able to continue my studies at the school, repeating my 200hr and eventually 500hr training multiple times. I would return to South India in the following years to assist and eventually facilitate the trainings.

In yoga philosophy, there's a profound concept known as dharma, or life’s purpose. It is believed that the universe or creator has given each of us a unique path and purpose to share our innate gifts within this life-time. I am eternally grateful that I have discovered my dharma and what a gift it is to share it with you. I believe the potent power of this practice resides within the safe and sacred container we collectively create to foster healing and growth. It is an energy, aligned with grace, offering a place to explore all dimensions of your being through breath, movement, mindfulness and a little bit of magic.

I continue to learn, evolve and grow while still respecting and honouring the roots of this tradition. As an E-RYT 500 and a YACEP continuing educator, I have had the privilege of facilitating yoga teacher trainings, workshops, and retreats both in my hometown of Ottawa, Canada, and internationally. I recently co-founded Sacred Space Yoga School, where I passionately share my knowledge of the ancient traditions of Yoga, Ayurveda, and Chinese Medicine and how to incorporate their wisdom into our contemporary lives.

To complement my teaching, I offer a blend of Thai Yoga Massage and Reiki, integrating holistic bodywork with energetic healing. I believe touch is a powerful tool for regulating our nervous systems and reconnecting us to our hearts.

I am forever grateful to the incredible teachers, such as Bernie Clark, Janet Stone, Ryan Leir, and Tara Brach, who have guided and nurtured my inner journey and growth. It is truly an honour and a privilege to connect and share this sacred space with you.

“You are not a single drop in the ocean, you are the entire ocean in a single drop.”

— Rumi

  • “Gen is one of the teachers who inspired me to commit more deeply to my own practice, because she helped me to see how letting go is a way of diving deep. Much of the progress I’ve made in my own journey through yoga is attributable to her. What’s especially impressive about this ability is that Gen’s teaching is not formulaic: her sequences are always varied and creative, and I always look forward to another yoga session with her at the helm. Gen’s remarkable sensitivity towards others, her attention to each individual, and her generosity of spirit are all in abundant evidence whenever she is leading a class (and whenever she’s not!). Her practical experience and knowledge of anatomy allow her to adapt to students’ varying needs, so that each person in the room can work at a personally appropriate level. She always remembers to make alternative poses and modifications available. At the same time, she helps foster that sense of community and collective energy that students in a class—however randomly assorted—inevitably build between each other. Her classes are simultaneously non-judgmental and inspiring. I know they’ve helped me (and many others) get closer the goals most students share: strength, flexibility, health, and even peace. So, it’s safe to say that spending time under Gen’s guidance will help you safely push the limits of what you think you can do. When she’s teaching a flow, she never loses the rhythm. She is hands-on, but very respectful: she won’t touch you without your consent, but her watchful eye is always prepared to modulate itself into an offer of physical support, gentle manipulation, or caring correction. Whether you’re a novice yogi or an experienced practitioner, I can’t recommend Gen’s highly effective teaching highly enough. She’s a guide whose compassionate nature you can trust.

    ”

    — BORA P, TORONTO ON

  • “Genevieve is warm and knowledgeable yoga teacher who makes her students feel capable and welcomed. As an older yoga practitioner with many injuries, Genevieve guided me to practice to my level and gave me many practical tips on learning how to listen to my body and approach the postures through a loving demeanor.

    After having her teach me for a summer, I was so encouraged by her gentle approach to yoga that I decided to become a yoga teacher myself. I travelled back to India to study with her and am currently enjoying teaching and sharing the gift of yoga back in Australia.”

    — LOUISE O, NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA

  • “In my YTT, Gen’s classes were by far my favourite lectures. Gen consistently provided a safe space for us. I am amazed at her level of knowledge. A very authentic, engaging and passionate teacher. So gifted and, without a doubt, in her element as a teacher and educator.”

  • “​I trained with Gen (on my 200 hour TTC) in December 2014. She has all the attributes I look for in a teacher: - a deep and multi-faceted knowledge base of yoga asana, philosophy and the human body; - a creative approach to teaching that inspires her students; and most importantly, a hugely compassionate soul that means that no question asked is too small or too silly. Gen makes students feel totally comfortable to be themselves and try different things, and that, on a personal level, I felt fully supported on my teacher training. I have taken a number of further teacher trainings and immersions with internationally renowned teachers since my 200 hour training and can honestly say I still look back on my training with Gen as one of the most transformative, enlightentening experiences of my life- with a true teacher.

    ”

    — NAMITA SHARMA, LONDON UK

  • “Gen’s training was both the most exiting and challenging part of this YTT. I came to teacher training with a good understanding of asana and a very limited knowledge of everything else. Gen’s curriculum provided me with the opportunity to expand my understanding of yoga, honour the origins of this practice and gain the tools I need to continue to evolve and grow. Gen was kind and incredibly resolute, she encouraged us all to challenge how we see yoga and how we see ourselves. I particularly enjoyed the diversity of her teaching days- we listened, we took notes, we had discussions, we acted things out and we even danced like no one was watching. I saw the effort she put into making training valuable beyond just meeting a requirement, and I appreciate that.”

    — CHARLENE, TORONTO ON

  • “I loved learning from Gen! I felt that this is where the growth really happened for me, and I want to thank her for holding the space so well and taking all of our insecurities and helping us sit them them and face them throughout this journey. Gen you have helped me change the way I view the world and myself and I’m forever grateful

    ”

    — CHEYANNE, OTTAWA ON

  • "Gen’s classes were my favourite of the lecture type classes as she clearly has a gift for teaching this kind of subject. The content was delivered super helpfully, I actually remembered alot of it because it was so fascinating and engaging. The structure was really easy to follow without going overboard. Gen’s yoga and meditation classes were also superb. A+"

  • Gen’s lectures were my favourites! She is so natural at it, you can tell how much she loves and enjoys teaching this part. She made every lecture so interesting and make you to always wanted hear and know more, it was cleared and well put together the lecture, l didn’t want them to end. I love the fact that she will look at everyone in the eyes when she was teaching, it shows that she cares about students and that she is authentic and caring, l felt that every time she was in front of the class, whether if it was lecture, yoga class or evaluating, she is fantastic!
    -Pera, Ottawa ON

  • Gen's course is a wonderful introduction for anyone interested in Yin. Well organized and carefully constructed, you can tell how much time and effort was put into the creation of the course. We learned just enough to understand the basics, and we were given further resources for self-directed learning. Cannot recommend her Yin Yoga Course enough for students and teachers alike!