As soon as you walk through the front door, you will be greeted with a sense of belonging, a warm smile and like-minded community members.
Alchemy Yoga’s story began in 2008 in a tiny little studio just a little further down the road from where we are today. We quickly outgrew that space and we’ve been in our current home since 2013.
Our building is snuggled between the big hill to the east and the majestic mountains to the west, and our community that lives within it is the geographical heart and soul of Cochrane.
Our origin story started from a mother and daughter inspired idea which has transformed over time to the collective of like-hearted owners that it is today. From the beginning we have lived up to our name; changing, transforming and transmuting, alchemizing lead into gold time and time again.
As we move forward into the future we maintain our belief that you can rise up from anything. Nothing is permanent. You can completely recreate yourself.
Our philosophy at Alchemy Yoga is start where you are.
There is nothing required of you to begin. There is no special skill set or ability needed. No prior knowledge or belief system. No way of being or living. The common goal of each and every class is to connect with the breath; to create space and to notice what is happening in the body and the mind. We support ourselves and each other with the desire to align the mind, body and spirit. The desire to show up as we are with a curious mind and willingness to try.
The traditional practice of yoga works in a way where the student learns to move away from an external, sensory and transient world to focus more deeply on an internal, spiritual and neutral one.
This ancient practice was designed as a spiritual 8-limbed system where the student learns to train the body and mind to witness itself and become aware of its own nature.
In our modern society these traditional practices and rituals could not be more relevant or more timely. With stress levels on the rise and the pace of our modern world moving at lightning speed this practice may be more necessary now than it ever has been.
At Alchemy, we guide students to develop mindfulness techniques, like breathwork and meditation. We provide space in which to heal and release mental and emotional blockages. We facilitate classes and workshops where students can move their bodies to develop greater strength and flexibility.
In the radiant tapestry of our yoga community, our instructors are the north stars, guiding the path of inner discovery and holistic well-being.
Rooted in a profound understanding of yogic wisdom, they are not mere teachers but healing companions on your journey. With grace, compassion, and a deep connection to the ancient traditions, each instructor brings their own unique blend of expertise and intuition to the mat. Their gentle guidance and nurturing spirits create a sacred space where you can explore the postures, breathe deeply, and find your own inner sanctuary. Meet our extraordinary instructors, and let their wisdom and light guide you on your path to inner harmony and balance.
Dan’s journey with yoga began a couple decades ago as a student at Yoga Passage in Calgary. As an active climber and outdoor enthusiast, Dan has always appreciated the benefits of yoga to complement his active lifestyle. In more recent years however, Dan has embraced the power of yoga to quiet the mind, ignite the heart and embrace the present moment. Dan recently completed a 3 week Ashram stay in Rishikesh, India connecting with Hatha Yoga and the Himalayan meditation tradition.
Dan is trained in Vinyasa and Trauma Informed Yoga. He is also trained in Yoga Nidra and Yoga Therapy. He teaches Vinyasa Flow, Yoga Nidra and the Hot 26 sequence with passion and mindfulness. Students can expect a grounded class where they can feel challenged yet safe, seen and supported.
Hayley has been in the fitness industry for 18 years. Yoga was always part of Hayley’s fitness regime however what started as a way to prevent injury and stretch after long hours training for marathons and Ironman triathlons then became a way of life. Running shoes and road bikes took the back seat to her yoga mat 10 years ago when Hayley discovered the true benefits of yoga not only for her body but for her self discovery and her relationship with others. Hayley believes in the power of yoga to quiet the mind, be content with oneself and to open the heart towards a more peaceful wellbeing.
Hayley brings her adventurous enthusiasm to the studio so students can expect creative sequencing and fun dynamic transitions in her vinayasa classes. Along with being trained in Vinyasa – she also has her Baptiste Power Yoga, Restorative, SUP yoga training and is a Paddle Canada flat water stand up paddle board Instructor.
Ginette (Gigi) has practiced yoga since 2004 and has been teaching since 2018 at Alchemy Yoga, Spray Lakes Sawmill Recreation Centre, and various schools and community centers in Cochrane, AB. She offers Reiki, Mindful Adventure Retreats, Yoga Therapy, and collaborates on Cacao Ceremonies, Drum Journeying, Sound Bath Circles, and more, also facilitating private events like birthday parties and team building.
Ashley’s yoga journey began with a friend in Calgary in 2009. After a few classes, the change in her body and mind was undeniable; she felt more balanced and empowered in her daily experience. Ashley’s yogic path has nurtured her connection to authentic self and supported her with her mental health as she walks the myriad paths of mother, partner, teacher and friend. Yoga has helped Ashley feel more grounded, present and grateful in everyday activities. It has nurtured her awareness that she is perfect just the way she is.
Ashley is trained in Vinyasa and Kundalini Yoga. In her classes, students can expect a fun, invigorating and grounding practice as she incorporates Pranayama (breath work) and shares her love of electronic trance music.
Greg discovered yoga in 2002 while on a backpacking trip through Asia and India and later returned to Bali to become a yoga teacher. Greg has discovered that every teacher has something intangible and special to offer on many levels both on and off the mat. This was a big inspiration for Greg to being teaching; so that he can share the benefits of yoga more directly and deepen a sense of community.
Greg’s day job as a chiropractor and soft tissue worker gives him a wealth of knowledge about everything related to movement. He believes that yoga is unmatched in its ability to help actively heal and rehabilitate the body due to its inherent focus on both strength and flexibility. He has often said that he hasn’t found an activity to produce the same physical benefit per amount of time invested.
Greg’s classes consist of functional and anatomical movement, strength and stability with an element of spicy off-axis flow. With Greg you will often be gifted with his thoughts on the connected human condition. Greg’s mindful journey has been taught from the school of hard knocks and a learned knowledge that complacency stimulates chaos.
Katie’s yoga journey began with meditation in her early teenage years of angst and self discovery! Towards the end of her teenage years, she found her way to her mat discovering gentle and supportive Asana with her family at the local church hall; a beautiful family affair. After immigrating to Canada in 2013, Katie desparately sought to replace the family yoga vibe she experienced in the U.K. and serendipitously found the sense of community she was craving at Alchemy Yoga in Cochrane when she purchased a bike from Kyle! Volunteering at the Alchemy front desk was soon followed by Fireweed Yoga Teacher Training with Jody and Jill. Her appetite for wellness and anatomy then led to massage therapy and more training in Yin and Restorative Yoga. Katie is also trained as a mental health counsellor.
With Katie, students can expect a safe place to be seen and supported. A place to quiet the mind and deeply connect with their bodies. In her classes, she loves to educate students about their bodies and how they work. One of Katie’s many gifts is her incredible voice that students often get to experience in Savasana. We affectionately call Katie the “Slo-gi”.
Johnny’s first introduction to yoga was when his mother invited ashtanga teachers to guide his family in practice at their farm estate in the early 1980s. His real yogic journey began however when he started practising at Alchemy Yoga.
Johnny has a tremendous passion for the practice of yoga and how it can help transform our minds and bodies.
As trikonasana is the penultimate pose of the hot 26, energy and enthusiasm are the penultimate characteristics of Johnny! His strong delivery will help students stand in their power and challenge their limitations. Students can also expect to learn a wide range of pithy aphorisms that are sure to bring a smile to their hard working faces!
If you haven’t experienced a Hot 26 class with Johnny, it is an absolute must!
Natalia took her first yoga class many years ago while working a high stress job and looking for an outlet to decrease her stress. She was hooked after her first class.
In 2013, Natalia travelled to Spain to complete her Vinyasa Flow Teacher Training. A couple years later in 2015, Natalia completed her Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training with Amy Bidrman in Calgary. At that time Natalia was also pregnant with her first child.
Natalia loves to support pregnant mamas through their pregnancy journey. Her hope is that when you attend her class, you will find an inclusive community and leave feeling more grounded and relaxed.
In her spare time Natalia loves spending time in nature. She is also a herbalist and has a passion for the healing power of plants, herbs and tea. She loves sharing her passion for tea through tea ceremonies. Perhaps you’ll enjoy a tea with Natalia on the mat soon!
Sarah teaches Hot 26 with clarity, intensity, and zero fluff. For Sarah, yoga isn’t about perfection or performance; it’s about showing up, getting honest, and using the heat to burn through your excuses. With a strong foundation in the traditional Hot 26 sequence and years of experience as a massage therapist, Sarah brings deep anatomical awareness to every class—along with a killer playlist and just the right amount of irreverence.
Heavily tattooed with stories and symbols, Sarah lives yoga as both discipline and devotion. She believes leading a class is a privilege, and you’ll feel that in her presence—focused, grounded, and fully committed to your growth. Expect tough love, real talk, and the space to transform—one breath at a time.
Meghan discovered Hatha Yoga in the early 2000s during her undergraduate studies at the UofC. She quickly realized the positive benefits yoga was having on her body and mind and particularly with her ability to manage stress. In 2008, Meghan started practicing Vinyasa Yoga and hot yoga and started teacher training in these lineages a couple of years later. After a devastating loss in 2011, she found Kundalini Yoga. Kundalini is a type of Kriya Yoga, often incorporating rhythmic movement, breath, and mantra. Her first class ignited the realization “oh this is it!” She particularly aligned with the incorporation of deep meditation and spiritual experience. Kundalini Yoga has been Meghan’s foundational yoga practice ever since.
Meghan is sought for her artful teaching of Kundalini Yoga but she has a vast experience in many other modalities which complements her quality as a yoga teacher. Her passion for Kundalini Yoga has also culminated in Meghan’s recent training of new yoga teachers in the Kundalini lineage for which she is extremely grateful. When she teaches Kundalini Yoga, Meghan often wears all white including a head cover. The color white extends your aura by an extra foot, providing more protection from harmful energy and projecting your positive energy out to inspire others and attract prosperity into your life. Head coverings during Kundalini practice are a means to focus and contain your energy and clarify your thoughts, creating a meditative focus at your third eye. Head covers also protect the head centre of the teacher from projecting to others and the projections from others. It is not expected that students wear white or a head cover during class and Meghan encourages students to wear whatever they find comfortable. Meghan is passionate about making yoga accessible for all students who can expect a trauma-informed approach in all of her classes.
Nature and her yoga mat are the two places that help Meghan in her constant practice of mindfulness. Nature is her consistent reminder of the beauty and oneness of being in the present moment. Yoga helps her feel into her body and emotions in the present moment. Together, nature and yoga help Meghan remember what she can and can’t control empowering her with humility and non-attachment.
Jill is certified in just about everything yoga (seriously): Vinyasa, Prenatal, Yin, Aerial, Meditation, Children’s Yoga, Spin, and even Special Needs Yoga—because every body deserves yoga! With over a decade of weaving aromatherapy into classes, Jill believes yoga should smell as good as it feels.
Jill’s teaching roots stretch from the heart of Kelowna to the coasts of Vancouver, and her passion lies in guiding students through the transformative process of mind-body connection. Whether you’re upside down in aerial or breathing deep in stillness, Jill is here to support your journey to feeling amazing; inside and out.
For Holly discovering Yoga was like a gift from a stranger … it was a welcoming release from the stresses of a quick paced corporate financial world and gifted Holly an opportunity to unravel and tap into her unique, sweet and creative nature!
Holly offers students permission to unwind, to be o.k. with exactly where they’re at and build from there. You could say, this is a skill set. Some students will enjoy the liberty of taking their postures to another level and others will enjoy cultivating awareness through stillness. Holly believes her job is to hold space, blend and suggest options. While the classes she teaches will follow a general guideline they will always be different (kinda like my soup)!
Holly loves to cook! Blending spices and herbs, trying on different pairings and flavours. It’s kinda like the yoga she teaches.
Linda has been in the real estate industry for 22 years. An interesting fact about Linda is that she is fluent in American Sign Language, and currently working toward fluency in Spanish.
Yoga has been, and will continue to be, an integral part of Linda’s life, both on and off of the mat. She can’t imagine trying to navigate life without it. Life is Yoga and Yoga is Life. One day, Linda would love to be teaching yoga in Costa Rica!
Linda’s yoga journey also began 22 years ago, with Kundalini yoga. She instantly fell in love with it! It got Linda out of her head and into her heart, allowing her to tap into her True Self, and greatly deepen her connection to Source. She has also practiced many different styles of yoga over the years with wonderful instructors. Linda’s passion however lies with Kundalini. She became certified as a Kundalini yoga teacher, with training also in Trauma Informed yoga.
Carrie’s yoga journey began over 20 yrs ago when she signed up for a sun salutations workshop wanting to try something new. She continued practising for many years thereafter until the birth of her son in 2015 where she stopped practicing because of a debilitating struggle with PPD.
It took Carrie a few years to overcome this challenge. Carrie now appreciates that her journey into motherhood was a necessary experience as it forced her to go deep within herself. In 2018, Carrie completed her yoga instructor training with the goal to help others, along with herself, heal the deep internal wounds that surface after a life changing event.
Carrie is currently a serving member of the Canadian Armed Forces, yet another example of her intention to find balance in life through service to others. She has 16 yrs experience as a Naval Warfare Officer and has completed the YogaFit Warrior training program that focuses on helping balance the parasympathetic nervous system.
Carrie’s classes can be considered a moving mediation. She strongly believe that a dynamic class helps the collective keep energy levels balanced. She loves to create a warm welcoming space accessible for all body types. She believes that if you can breathe, you can do yoga!
On and off the mat since the age of 25, there were times in my life when practicing yoga was a daily activity and times when I would practice a few times a month. Over the last 7 years attending training, my personal practice, and teaching have become not only my passion but my career. The principles, philosophy, breath, and movement all resonate with me. Although putting it all into the routine of daily life is a constant challenge and goal, there are so many gifts in this practice. It is a relief that is called a ‘practice’ because I always feel like I am so far from perfect in it. But that is the beauty; to accept where we are at, to understand that more is possible, to cultivate an ear for listening to our bodies, mind, and spirit, so that we can tune into that inner Self that always steers us in the right direction.
In 2009 I took my first 250 hours of Teacher Training with the Yoga Studio College of Canada, with great emphasis on alignment and accessibility for all bodies. For the last year I have been training and practicing Yoga Therapy. I teach private sessions from my home. I love the concept of working toward what is right for your body regardless of what the pose looks like on the outside, it is how it feels on the inside that counts. If we can connect people to that feeling then we are starting to live more firmly in our bodies. This to me, is yoga.
Kim started on this yoga journey about 12 years ago when she took her first 26&2 class. At the time, Kim was so broken down in so many ways and this yoga really resonated with her. In 2019, Kim made a complete lifestyle change, went to Portugal and immersed herself in the study of, and practice of, the e84 with Esak and his team from Calcutta, India.
Upon returning to Canada, Kim started teaching the e84 90 min class at Calgary Hot Yoga. In 2020, Kim deepened her knowledge and teaching skills by immersing herself in a 3 week long intense study of the 26&2 series with Beth Davis and her team.
Kim continued doing further training with other mentos, improving her practice and teaching skills. Kim with passion because she truly believe in the process of this yoga from her lived experience. Kim will guide you through a class that will challenge you, and hold space for you. – balanced with kindness and honouring where you are in this moment. This yoga has transformed Kim’s life in so many healing ways and it would be her honour to guide you through a class.
Chelsey has been teaching yoga since 2016, with a strong focus on Yin Yoga—a practice she offered consistently for over six years. As a registered massage therapist, her approach to Yin is deeply grounded in somatic awareness, inviting stillness, release, and nervous system support. In 2022, she completed a long-held dream of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, a journey that further deepened her connection to the body’s wisdom and the healing power of slowing down. Her classes offer a space to soften, listen, and return to the quiet within.
With a ton of experience on the mat and a lifetime of soulful living, Mary is an old-school yogini who blends wisdom and wit. Don’t expect incense and fluffy platitudes, Mary tells it like it is, grounding ancient practices in real-world grit. Mary brings heart, humor, and hard-won insight to every class. Her teaching is rooted in authenticity, alignment, and a deep respect for the body’s truth. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or a total newbie, Mary will meet you where you are; with fierce compassion, a sharp eye, and a contagious love for the practice.
Denise has been a yoga teacher for 16 years. She primarily teaches athletes and students at the school where she teaches high school math.
Funny story: Denise’s first downward dog was on her first day of yoga teacher training.
Her hope for her students she guides in yoga is to feel the magnificence of movement and the beauty in how the practice makes you feel.
“Our ultimate goal each day is to be the best version of ourselves from the inside out……and that is what yoga is!”
Justin discovered the magic of yoga in the Alchemy studio over twelve years ago. His life was changed forever after having a major emotional release on the mat, and realizing that there is so much more to yoga than just stretching.
It led him on a spiritual journey to uncover the secrets, mysteries, and teachings of yoga. Justin has studied with some of the best yoga teachers in the world, lived in an ashram for three months, and devoted his life to practicing the teachings of yoga.