Amanda Drage
Peaceful Panda Yoga Teacher
I first experienced yoga, or more specifically, yoga asana - the physical portion of the practice of yoga, back in 1999 shortly after I moved to Vancouver. I have to admit that it was not "love at first sight." Moving my body into these new and interesting shapes was challenging for me.
I am always trying new things, but over the years, I learned that yoga is so much more than a hobby or a good stretch. It is a way of life. I discovered that yoga is something with deep historical and cultural roots, a spiritual, emotional and physical practice both on and off the mat (learn more about the history of yoga in the About Yoga section). I am still learning.
Although yoga started as a physical practice for me it slowly evolved into much more. Yoga reinforces my values of kindness and empathy. It has taught me new words, like ahimsa (non-harming), santosha (contentment), svadhyaya (self study) and mudita (delighting in the well being of others), to describe who and how I want to be. Yoga lengthens my fuse and helps me stay balanced. It strengthens my core and my heart. Through meditation and breath, yoga has deepened my focus and has helped me to become more present. It teaches me how to move through the world.
When I started my yoga teacher training in 2015, I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to be a yoga teacher. Who am I to teach yoga to others, something that is over 3000 years old, originating from culture that is not my own? (still a question I’m working on answering) But I do know that I want to learn and honour the practice, beyond the asana; the rich cultural history and the philosophies and use so much more than my background in kinesiology to grow my own practice. The more I learn, the more I want to share yoga with the people around me through teaching in my community through Peaceful Panda Yoga.
In 2018 and I discovered The Yoga Buggy and was blessed with the opportunity to bring the joy of yoga to more children. In addition to teaching kids through The Yoga Buggy, I also help out with day to day operations, heading up the People Operations department.
My classes are aimed at anyone who wants to try the yoga and maybe a few of you who aren't quite sure. Educational and welcoming. You might start by learning a pose or just find some stillness and learn a bit about yourself and the universe at the same time. Yoga has become extremely popular in North America because of the physical and mental health benefits. I encourage students to take their own journey and to take the time to learn about the history of the practice. I enjoy teaching both kids and adults, in person and online, and never take myself or my classes too seriously. There is no perfection in yoga and we are all always still learning. Yoga is an amazing way to help you connect with yourself and your community.
As an Accessible Yoga Ambassador, I believe that all people—regardless of ability or background—deserve equal access to yoga. I envision a world where everyone has access to the yoga teachings, which offer individual empowerment and spiritual awakening.
I commit to engage in at least one Call to Action each year to help spread the message of equity and accessibility in yoga.
Please drop into one of my classes. You can also find me on the mountain in beautiful Whistler, BC Canada where I teach skiing during the winter months.
Breathe, strengthen, lengthen, stretch, grow, balance, smile, love, be happy, find peace.
Amanda
Peaceful Panda Yoga Teacher
I first experienced yoga, or more specifically, yoga asana - the physical portion of the practice of yoga, back in 1999 shortly after I moved to Vancouver. I have to admit that it was not "love at first sight." Moving my body into these new and interesting shapes was challenging for me.
I am always trying new things, but over the years, I learned that yoga is so much more than a hobby or a good stretch. It is a way of life. I discovered that yoga is something with deep historical and cultural roots, a spiritual, emotional and physical practice both on and off the mat (learn more about the history of yoga in the About Yoga section). I am still learning.
Although yoga started as a physical practice for me it slowly evolved into much more. Yoga reinforces my values of kindness and empathy. It has taught me new words, like ahimsa (non-harming), santosha (contentment), svadhyaya (self study) and mudita (delighting in the well being of others), to describe who and how I want to be. Yoga lengthens my fuse and helps me stay balanced. It strengthens my core and my heart. Through meditation and breath, yoga has deepened my focus and has helped me to become more present. It teaches me how to move through the world.
When I started my yoga teacher training in 2015, I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to be a yoga teacher. Who am I to teach yoga to others, something that is over 3000 years old, originating from culture that is not my own? (still a question I’m working on answering) But I do know that I want to learn and honour the practice, beyond the asana; the rich cultural history and the philosophies and use so much more than my background in kinesiology to grow my own practice. The more I learn, the more I want to share yoga with the people around me through teaching in my community through Peaceful Panda Yoga.
In 2018 and I discovered The Yoga Buggy and was blessed with the opportunity to bring the joy of yoga to more children. In addition to teaching kids through The Yoga Buggy, I also help out with day to day operations, heading up the People Operations department.
My classes are aimed at anyone who wants to try the yoga and maybe a few of you who aren't quite sure. Educational and welcoming. You might start by learning a pose or just find some stillness and learn a bit about yourself and the universe at the same time. Yoga has become extremely popular in North America because of the physical and mental health benefits. I encourage students to take their own journey and to take the time to learn about the history of the practice. I enjoy teaching both kids and adults, in person and online, and never take myself or my classes too seriously. There is no perfection in yoga and we are all always still learning. Yoga is an amazing way to help you connect with yourself and your community.
As an Accessible Yoga Ambassador, I believe that all people—regardless of ability or background—deserve equal access to yoga. I envision a world where everyone has access to the yoga teachings, which offer individual empowerment and spiritual awakening.
I commit to engage in at least one Call to Action each year to help spread the message of equity and accessibility in yoga.
Please drop into one of my classes. You can also find me on the mountain in beautiful Whistler, BC Canada where I teach skiing during the winter months.
Breathe, strengthen, lengthen, stretch, grow, balance, smile, love, be happy, find peace.
Amanda
- Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200)
- BHK - Bachelor of Human Kinetics, University of Windsor
- 200H YYoga Teacher Training
- 50H Yin Yoga Teacher Training with Bernie Clark
- 27H Rainbow Yoga Kids and Families Teacher Training
- 21H Trinity Yoga Adaptive Yoga Teacher Training with Mary Jo Fetterly
- 35H Chair Yoga Teacher Training with Annette Wertman
- Yoga for Bigger Bodies, Yoga Outreach workshop
- Mindfulness Meditation Facilitator Training with The Calm Monkey
- 95H Yoga Ed. Registered Children's Yoga Teacher Training with a Trauma Informed Focus
- Embrace Yoga's Root course with Susanna Barkataki
- 38H Accessible Yoga Training with Jivana Heyman and Amber Karnes
- Trauma & Yoga with Accessible Yoga
- Accessible Yoga Ambassador