Meet Our Yoga Teachers

Manisha’s foundation of yoga was laid in India early on in her childhood. The seed was planted by her father when she would see him do meditation everyday, and when they would go to Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh to attend spiritual lectures and satsangs. Later on, when the time was right, Manisha started her own yoga/spiritual journey. She got her education in Pharmacy and MBA, got married and came to Canada in 1991. Manisha is blessed with a loving husband, and two grown up children. Deep inside, she always felt a quest for something more meaningful…till she found the path of yoga.

Manisha got her formal training as a yoga teacher in May 2013 from Sivananda Vedanta Centre in Grass Valley, California. This was a life changing experience and a true calling in every sense. She founded Sun Yoga studio in August 2013, in her hometown Edmonton, Canada. Since then till now, its been an amazing journey of learning and teaching. Manisha opened the studio with a vision to stay true to the authentic yoga teachings, and has kept that vision alive since 10 years!

Manisha has done numerous yoga and ayurvedic courses from Sivananda ashrams in US, Canada, and India. She has been a regular student of Advaita Vedanta since 2014 at Brahma Vidya Gurukulam, Edmonton. Manisha combines her wisdom of pharmacy and yoga, values of India and western world, and different aspects of yoga and spiritual knowledge beautifully. You can feel her passion and love for yoga in every class. Her knowledge, her kind demeanor, and her calm voice will make you fall in love with traditional yoga.

Currently, Manisha teaches Sivananda Yoga, Yoga for Upper Body, Yoga for Lower Body, Yoga for flexibility, Restorative Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and Traditional Hatha Yoga at the studio.

Jeanette took her first yoga class in 1996 after teaching a fitness class. She continued exploring the practice for several years. It wasn't until she moved to Montreal and hit rock bottom that she truly discovered the power of this ancient practice. Yoga has been incredibly healing and transformational in Jeanette's life. Her enthusiasm and passion to share this with others is evident in each of her classes.

After taking her initial teacher training in 2002 with Joseph LePage of Integrative Yoga Therapy, she has continued her lifelong study of yoga with another 200HR and 500HR YTT with Yogi Vishvketu. Other teachers influencing Jeanette's personal practice and teaching include: Donna Farhi, Mark Whitwell, Rodney Yee, Shiva REa, Rameen Peyrow and David McAmmond..

Jeanette is currently teaching Gentle Yoga and conducts Restorative Reset workshops at the studio.

Casey’s yoga journey began here, at Sun Yoga in 2021. Yoga changed every aspect of her life and gave her the strength and discipline to evolve spiritually and mentally. She began to adopt yoga into her daily life which inspired her to take the Sivananda Teacher Training Course in Reith-Tyrol, Austria, where she received her RYS 200hr Diploma. During her time at the Ashram; Casey found healing, growth, and a deep love for all things yoga! The TTC taught her the importance of living a Sattvic lifestyle, how to understand the language of the body’s needs, and how to work with the body and mind, instead of against them. In other words, don’t fight the current and go with the flow!

Yoga helped Casey to overcome many obstacles and awakened a great passion to help spread the teachings of yoga to others and to integrate yogic values of supreme love, compassion, and kindness into every aspect of life. She believes that all good acts, however small, will always ripple out and that change will always start with the individual.

Casey is so excited to begin this new chapter in her yoga journey right back where she started and feels so blessed for the opportunity to share her love and passion for this ancient practice with the wonderful yogis at Sun Yoga :)

Casey is currently teaching Sivananda Yoga, Yoga Stretch for Flexibility, Hatha Yoga, and subs classes to learn and grow as a yoga teacher.

2004 was the year I was introduced to yoga. Living in South Korea, I started attending Hatha Yoga daily for my remaining 4 years there. 

Fast forward to 2012, living back in Canada, I had my first experience with Ashtanga/ Mysore and have never looked back. The practice changed my life, my attitude, my habits. I have put myself wholeheartedly into the practice and study because I have really reaped the benefits of it, and I just wish to share it with you.

I hope to safely guide you on your way to help you love yourself and learn to try to live in a stress-free state of mind. The practice has worked for me, and I want to share what I have learned.

Melissa will be teaching Ashtanga Yoga (half primary) starting in January 2024.

Jwalant Desai has been a dedicated student and a teacher of yoga for over 20 years. He began his yoga journey in 2000 at the Sivananda Ashram Divya Jivan Sangh in Ahmedabad, India. Since then, yoga has become so much more to Jwalant, it is truly a way of his life. Jwalant has a strong belief in Patanjali's eight limbs of yoga, which promote physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

In addition to regularly practicing yoga, he has taught yoga to students in India, Singapore and Cambodia. Most recently, he is volunteering for seniors' yoga classes at a local senior citizen center. When Jwalant is not on his mat, he works as a Digital Transformation Consultant. He is a graduate in Electronics Engineering and holds an MBA from Wharton in the US, and NTU in Singapore.

Jwalant is passionate about sharing the life-changing benefits of a consistent yoga practice and can't wait to meet new students at the studio.

Currently, Jwalant is teaching Rise to Yoga, and Traditional Hatha Yoga classes at Sun Yoga.

Colton's yoga journey started over 10 years ago. Initially he was drawn to yoga for the physical practice, but soon realized the physical asanas are only a small piece of the puzzle. Since diving deeper into the teachings of yoga, they have become a daily practice and are held close to his heart. Colton's goal for every practice is for everyone to leave feeling nourished in mind, body and spirit.

Colton took his training under Meera Reid in the Yog-Vedantic tradition and was initiated into Kriya and Himalayan Kundalini. In addition to his yoga training, Colton is also a registered massage therapist and Manual osteopath. He incorporates his knowledge of anatomy and physiology into his classes to ensure students get the most out of their practice.

Colton is currently in India. He teaches Kundalini Yoga for Beginners class at Sun Yoga.

200 Hours of Yoga Teacher Training - Bodhi School of Yoga, India.

50 Hours of Aerial yoga Teacher Training - Aulayaa Yoga Studio, India..

My journey with yoga began in 2015, initially sparked by a desire for physical fitness. Little did I know, it would evolve into such a heartfelt transformation, touching every aspect of my life.

I found a profound passion for Hatha and Ashtanga yoga. After dedicated practice and exploration for years, completing 200 hours TTC marked a significant milestone in my yoga journey. Since then, I have been teaching with joy and enthusiasm, eager to share the gifts of yoga with others.  Yoga transformed me into the happiest version of myself,  and I'm passionate about sharing the same with society.

Along with physical postures, my classes emphasise breath awareness, meditation, relaxation and self-reflection—inviting students to explore their inner landscape and cultivate a sense of balance and harmony in their lives. I am on a mission to create a welcoming space where students of all levels can explore and grow, both on and off the mat. Whether you're seeking strength, flexibility, or simply a moment of stillness, I’m all excited to support and guide you on your journey to holistic well-being at SUN YOGA Edmonton!!

-Dharani S.

Maneesh offers a unique insight into the world of yoga. Born into a traditional Indian family living in Canada, Maneesh grew up firmly established in the roots and philosophy of Yoga.

In addition, a degree in pharmacology gave him an insight into the human body from a scientific standpoint.These experiences have laid a strong foundation for his yoga-asana practice and his approach to sharing asana and other yoga techniques.

Maneesh’s yoga, Ayurveda, and Sanskrit studies in India further inspired his devotion to the path.  He has also been profoundly influenced by world-renowned teachers Chuck Miller, Maty Ezraty, and Chad Hamrin and in addition to studying closely with them, he hosted their teacher trainings, workshops, and retreats across Japan.

Through his years of work in the corporate world, Maneesh naturally relates to the typical yoga student who is busy with life in this fast-paced, often superficial world yet is in search of a more permanent contentment and peace.

And having lived in Japan for nearly two decades, Maneesh has developed insight into the Japanese culture which allows him to reach the hearts and minds of Japanese and non-Japanese alike. His Indian roots and knowledge of Indian spirituality and culture give his teaching an authenticity that cannot be denied.

It is rare to find a teacher with a mix of cultural, educational, physical, and linguistic experiences to bring together the ancient and modern, East and West, the spiritual and the scientific.

Maneesh teaches at the studio when he is visiting Edmonton from Japan. He conducts special workshops/courses at Sun Yoga.

If you have any questions about our yoga teachers, please contact us. We would love to hear from you.