The Iyengar Yoga Associaton of Canada/Association canadienne de yoga Iyengar (IYAC/ACYI) operates through the voluntary time and effort or “karma” yoga of its members. As an incorporated non-profit organization, we have a Board of Directors elected by the membership at our Annual General Meetings. Please see below for a full listing of current IYAC/ACYI Board members.
Sharoni Fixler, President
Sharoni resides in Calgary, Canada and is the founder and Director of CIY, since 2011. Sharoni has a degree in philosophy and has a lifelong interest in spirituality and human potential. Sharoni believes in the transformative power of the practice to illuminate our living. She teaches classes and workshops locally and retreats in BC and Mexico. Sharoni began her yoga studies in 2002 and met Faeq Biria in 2007, who profoundly inspired her in the subject. Sharoni currently trains with Corine Biria and Jawahar Bangera and has taken multiple trips to Pune, India, to study with the Iyengars. She has been involved with Calgary’s IY community since 2006. Sharoni is an Assessor and a member of the Education Round Table for IYAC. Sharoni served on the board previously as Membership Chair, has helped coordinate multiple assessments in Calgary and is a mentor for apprentices and teachers.
Shelly Smith, Secretary
A career spanning 33 years in telecom, technology and internet safety – which was a blast. Currently Vice President of the Springbank Hill Community Association (Calgary, Alberta). Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher, teaching at CIY|House of Yoga in Calgary.
Kate Hyland, Treasurer
I started yoga in a small studio in my neighbourhood. After many years of classes and practice I decided to apply for the teacher training program and was accepted. I was certified in 2019. I currently teach in my own studio and enjoy the energy, community and challenges of the yoga classes. To quote a great man “Yoga does not just change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees” BKS Iyengar.
Ruth Weiss, Membership
Ruth’s yoga journey led her to the Iyengar method in the late 1990s. With a growing appreciation of the benefits of Iyengar yoga, the desire to deepen her practice and to help others on their yoga journey, she became an apprentice teacher. Having completed the Level 1 certification in October 2023, she continues to enjoy connecting with others and herself on and off of the mat.
Shreya Shah, Communications
Shreya found Iyengar Yoga by chance in 2003 while travelling with some friends in India. Iyengar Yoga has given her much needed stability, balance and perspective both on the mat, as well as off, particularly in her 20+ year career on a trading floor in Capital Markets. Shreya certified as a Level 1 teacher in 2019, and has been fortunate enough to have taught with Studio Po over the last few years. She’s looking forward to serving IYAC in the capacity of Communications chair, with one of her top mandates to increase studentship across Canada.
Lori Berenz, Education Round Table
Lori Berenz is the founder and Director of Yoga Journey, a Collingwood-based Iyengar Yoga studio. She began her yoga journey in 1998, and soon discovered the profound impact yoga could have on every aspect of life. After 15 years in Human Resources, Lori followed her passion and transitioned to teaching full time in 2004. She is now certified as a Level 3 teacher.
A lifelong advocate for the environment, Lori has followed a plant-based lifestyle since her teens. Her love of nature is woven into her teaching, connecting students not only to themselves but also to the natural world around them.
Grateful for the gift of yoga, Lori is deeply committed to sharing it with her community in an inclusive, engaging, and transformative way.
Hana Weingartl, Scholarship
Hana discovered Iyengar Yoga after moving to Winnipeg for work at the very end of the last millennium. Deeply inspired by her first teacher, Sandra Stuart, she decided that she would like to teach yoga in the Iyengar method in her retirement. Due to her demanding profession and raising two daughters, Hana could deepen her studies and practice only after quite some time, and in 2020 was level I certified under the mentorship of Lisa Towson.
Hana has been studying with many other teachers and is very grateful to be part of the Iyengar Yoga community in Canada. Volunteering on the Scholarship Committee and on the Board of Directors is for her a way to give back.
Richard Jezior
Born in Poland, Richard was first introduced to Iyengar yoga as a university student. A diagnosis and recurring episodes of Ankylosing Spondylitis resulted in a lengthy pause in Richard’s yoga journey. Richard eventually moved to Toronto and at the age of 39 decided to resume his relationship with yoga.
Assisting in Sr. Teacher, Marlene Mawhinney’s Special Needs practices and attending the Iyengar Ramamani Institute in Pune provided Richard with a deep appreciation of Iyengar Yoga as therapy. Those special practices were essential to his own recovery and his ongoing management of Ankylosing Spondylitis. Richard is now certified as a Level 3 teacher.
Richard had made various yoga props including heart benches and backbenders for himself, his family and his students.