Allison Ulan

My approach is a cross pollination of Hatha Yoga (Iyengar and Ashtanga Yoga) infused with the best somatic movement practices of Pilates and BMC. Plus, I am avid student of neurology and psychology. My approach is the best practices of 21st century Yoga so students understand health from the inside out through balancing the nervous system, strengthen the body, increasing somatic awareness and centring the mind. My mission is provide in-depth teachings in the essence of mindfulness and embodied awareness which supports health, presence, compassion and attunement. I began practicing Iyengar Yoga in 1987 with Joseph Rempel to recover from a car accident. His classes were my gateway into the world of awareness, compassion and mindfulness. During my contemporary and flamenco dance career from 1988 to 2007, I used Yoga to maintain my health and support my creativity. Two pivotal teachers in New York were Sharon Gannon in Ashtanga Yoga and Mary Dunn at The New York Iyengar Center. The next teacher was Richard Freeman from 1998 to 2009. In 2000, I began traveling to Mysore, India to study with Ashtanga Yoga Master, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. He authorized me to teach the Ashtanga form in its traditional form in 2004. I am deeply grateful to all of my teachers. They gave me the deepest gifts of Yoga which are the insight to how to live in harmony, grace, kindness, compassion and joy. Since 1995 I have practiced and studied mindfulness and Vipassana Meditation. My main teachers are Daryl Lynn Ross, Joseph Goldstein and Pema Chodron. Plus, I studied Ayurveda with Dr. Gupta Kemant in Ottawa and received an Ayurvedic practitioner certification. In 2000, I founded Ashtanga Yoga Montreal. In 2018, I pivoted my yoga practice to work in schools and addiction recovery centres. In May 2017, I created Mindful Montreal, a project to offer ancient and contemporary practices of embodied awareness. The core values of the project are in providing a safe and inclusive classes and workshops in non traditional settings i.e. schools, businesses and prisons. Programs are offered to support learning self regulation and resilience through Somatic Yoga, Mindful movement, Mindful communication, and Vipassana Meditation. Annually, I lead a teacher training - A Balanced Approach Yoga Teacher Training and Programs. To this date, the program has certified over 340 yogis. I instruct weekly classes and specialized workshops/teacher trainings in asana, pranayama and mindfulness meditation. Participants find my approach accessible, humorous, informed and always heart centred. I am a Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 500) and YACEP with The Yoga Alliance. If you want to learn more about my courses and trainings, visit my website at www.allisonulan.com. Metta in and out, Allison Ulan