Program Director & Senior Teacher - Melanie Checknita

About Melanie

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My yoga journey began over 37 years ago taking classes with Gerda Krebs. Over the years yoga has woven a path through my life and my heart. Yoga has taught me that strength and flexibility in my body is important but combining it with strength and flexibility of my mind allows me to face life’s challenges with courage and a positive outlook. Yoga is something that anyone can do. It becomes a need not a want and the benefits are endless!

I have been teaching yoga for over 30 years. Yoga Within opened its doors, 12 years ago, with the help and support of a very patient family and many friends! Our hope was to create a nurturing, welcoming environment where people of all levels could learn, share and practice yoga together. I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with wonderful instructors, students and friends who have shared in creating this space.

We are a 200 hour and 500 hour Registered Yoga Alliance School. This is our 9th year of running our Yoga Within Teacher Training Program. I am a Registered Yoga Alliance Training Instructor and a Senior (over 800 hours) Yoga Association of Alberta Senior Teacher.

I am thankful and fortunate to have studied many styles and traditions of yoga with many wonderful, knowledgeable teachers:

Gerda Krebs, Friedel Khattab, David Swenson, Nancy Gilgoff, Tim Miller, Doug Swenson, Phattabhi Jois, Shakta Kaur Kalsa, Sat Dharam Kaur, Rosemary Antze, Bernie Clark and many others over the years.

Yoga Association of Alberta certified, Yoga Alliance 500 hours, Ashtanga with David Swenson, Prenatal, Radiant Child, Healthy Breast, Okido yoga, Yin yoga.


Study Topics

  • Self-Care

  • How to write a lesson plan

  • Yoga Philosophy

  • Anatomy as it relates to yoga

  • Asanas – Sanskrit, definitions, actions, adjustments, and modifications

  • Meditation

  • Teaching methods

  • Various styles of yoga – Ashtanga, Yin, Kundalini, and more

  • Ethics and lifestyles

  • Practice teaching - Teacher Training Students Only

  • Trauma Informed Yoga