Teachers
Josephine Vittoria
E-RYT® 500, Founder and director of Institut Yoga Essentiel
Following the teachings of the Iyengar tradition, since 2009 Josephine has studied under the guidance of various senior Iyengar teachers and influencers including Judith Lasater (Restorative Yoga, Relax and Renew®), Elise Miller (Yoga for Scoliosis), Bobby Clennell (author of The Woman’s Yoga Book), and Eyal Shifroni (author of "A Chair for Yoga"). She completed her initial training at École Satyam de Hatha Yoga in Montreal; and continued her studies with François Raoult at Open Sky Yoga, completing over 500 hours in the Pranayama, Back Care Therapy, EYTT and Advanced Teacher Training programs. These trainings have enabled a journey of teachings and practices that are strengthened by dedication and integrity. Her work as a yoga practitioner bestows her with discoveries about the human body and spirit. These experiences have influenced the way she understands herself and the world as well as the way she expresses herself creatively through her jewelry brand Inherstudy. Creating space, discovering self-awareness, and learning to let go are the fundamentals of her teachings.
Josephine has been teaching yoga since 2012. She also directs the 200h Yoga Teacher Training : The Essentials at Institut Yoga Essentiel, and is on the faculty of Open Sky Yoga's 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training : The Journey.
Marina Bortolini
Yoga Teacher, Birth Companion/Doula
Member of the Association of Naturotherapists of Quebec (ANQ)
Marina was introduced to yoga at the age of 13. She has practiced with several teachers and methods. In the past years, she has dedicated her time to deepening her personal practice and knowledge of this fascinating philosophy.
She has acquired over 300 hours of training including the essentials of Hatha Yoga, Yoga for Menstrual Health, Therapeutic Yoga, as well as prenatal and postnatal Yoga. Women's health is a dear subject to her. This led her to specialize in perinatal care, she is also a birth doula who combines yoga techniques in her work with pregnant women.
Yoga made her understand that movement and relaxation are the keys to a balanced life. Her main objective in her classes is to apply her knowledge of the search for equanimity through yoga, as well as to provide students with tools that will be useful on their path.