we believe in the power of curiosity, authenticity, support, and informed decision-making
our team
YOGA INSTRUCTOR, REIKI MASTER, ASTROLOGER
cris deas
professional
cristyna is a teacher at heart; she has over 15 years of teaching experience working in municipal government offering aquatic, recreational, and leadership services. she has taught/examined over 40 leadership courses with the lifesaving society, including national lifeguard, swim instructor, lifesaving instructor, assistant instructor, emergency first aid, cpr, aed, and bronze certifications/awards. as a continuous and lifelong learner would, she began her pursuit of yoga teacher certifications in 2019, followed by reiki and astrology shortly thereafter. learning from masters in the field of astrology has empowered her to give insightful readings and workshops that help others navigate life’s transitions with clarity and compassion. she has 5 years of yoga teaching experience in various community settings. she’s worked in a yoga studio, ran her own backyard business, co-hosted a yoga retreat, and through contract work, has collaborated with public education institutions (both primary and secondary schools), fitness brands (lululemon), and community services (alcoholics anonymous). she prides herself on her ability to create an environment where clients feel both supported and valued.
in her professional life, she is known for her organizational skills, inclusivity, problem-solving, customer service, clear communication, and leadership abilities. her past and current clients love her sense of humour, and her focus on functional movement and body awareness.
personal
cristyna is extremely relatable and applies her life experiences and wealth of knowledge to her teachings. she’s gained invaluable “life education” from her long-term travels to places like new zealand, uganda, costa rica, mexico, cuba, and the usa. she’s lived through abuse, unhealthy substance use, financial insecurity, mental health crisis, burnout, and all the feelings of unworthiness; she can easily empathize with the messiness of being human.. both the struggle and the beauty. cris is most proud of her 5+ years of sobriety.
in her personal time, she is either learning a new skill (pottery, sewing, macrame, painting), reading, or being outdoorsy (camping, hiking, paddle boarding, snowboarding). cris believes that variety is the spice of life! she lives with her partner and 7 adopted cats.
certifications
YOGA
2023
pre and post natal (40 hrs) @ one love yoga
2022
yin (50 hrs) @ nirmana school of yoga
2019
hatha (200 hrs) @ mary byerly yoga
REIKI
2022-2023
usui level 1, 2, and 3 @ nakshatra wellness co.
ASTROLOGY
2025
what the retrograde? @ malika semper astrology
composite chart karma @ malika semper astrology
2023
13 moons @ astro auntie
2022
the secret code @ astro auntie
luna: a deeper look @ steph bryden astrology
2021
synastry series @ malika semper astrology
applied astrology level 1, 2, and 3 @ debra silverman astrology
YOGA INSTRUCTOR, REIKI MASTER, BODYWORK PRACTITIONER
ben van bemmel
professional
ben’s pursuit of truth has driven his experiences. one such experience was a dharma internship at indralaya in 2013, a gap year program designed to introduce the concept of purpose into one’s life. this provided many opportunities to share reiki with the other participants; he found this valuable as he was able to be of service without financial reward, which informed how he approaches reiki today. in 2015, ben began offering reiki, yoga, meditation, and sound healing events throughout toronto; shortly thereafter, he co-hosted a retreat in costa rica. in 2018, ben attended PCAB in kauai where he gained 800 hours of massage training, obtaining invaluable experience giving and receiving informed touch. at this point, he recognized there was a beautiful synergy between mind, body, and spirit. through these lived experiences, this has become his intuitive style. in 2023, ben attended a 200 hour intensive yoga teacher training which furthered his relationship with somatic learnings and meditative practices.
in his professional life, ben is known for his quality of touch and compassionate listening to curate the session you need. he easily captures the attention of others, can command a space with confidence, and shares profound wisdom in a considerate and articulate way.
personal
ben was introduced to meditative practices over 15 years ago and has since then, had an intellectual curiosity about our subtle energies and emotional bodies. he’s explored several plant medicines in a ceremonial context which presented opportunities to work through personal trauma like feelings of betrayal, unworthiness, abandonment, and a lack mentality; he emerged from these profound experiences with teachings and tools he’s felt called to share with others.
ben’s had a long-term relationship with basketball and sport, a love of travel, and curiosity of other cultures, people, history, and food. ben’s travelled to hawaii, india, dominican republic, cuba, costa rica, the west coast of canada, and the usa. in his personal time, ben enjoys playing video games, listening to music, being outdoorsy (hiking, paddle boarding), and spending time with cristyna and their 7 kitties.
certifications
YOGA
2023
hatha (200 hrs) @ mary byerly yoga
REIKI
2013
usui level 1, 2, and 3 @ mindful matters
MASSAGE
2018
trauma-informed massage therapy training (800 hrs) @ pacific centre for awareness and bodywork
