Our Misson

Our mission is, quite simply, mindfulness.

Through movement, breath, stillness and celebration, we help people develop a deeper connection with themselves, others, and the rhythms of nature.

We envision a healthy, conscious and resilient Peterborough community, inspired to live more lightly on planet Earth.

Our Values

In addition to offering great yoga and Pilates classes, we also strive to support other local businesses, while giving back to charities that support diversity and sustainability within our community and beyond.

It takes a skilled instructor to guide a class full of unique bodies through an effective, yet safe, experience.

At Willow, we pride ourselves on providing high quality instruction based on the most up-to-date research, while providing options and modifications for those who want to change it up.

Many of our yoga teachers are trained at the 500-hour level, and we have one of Peterborough’s few Registered Yoga Therapists on staff.  Our instructors regularly pursue new training to expand their skills and we also offer additional trainings for our staff, supplemented by the studio.

Whether you’re looking to create a healthier lifestyle, manage stress and anxiety, get fit, or prepare for pregnancy and birth, our studio fuses traditional techniques with modern research to provide classes that get you amazing results.

The practice of yoga can be adapted to benefit everyone, and all are welcome at our studio. We strive to offer a variety of classes to support the diversity of the Peterborough community, including Yoga for 50+, Prenatal Yoga, and lots of beginner-friendly classes.

Our studio is on ground level and is wheelchair and stroller accessible. Plenty of parking is also available. We have two gender-neutral washrooms.

Breastfeeding is welcome. Our larger washrooms is equipped with a change table and diaper genie, and we also have a quiet nook with a nursing pillow for more privacy.

We recognize that there are many different reasons that people practice yoga, including for fitness, relaxation, spiritual enlightenment, stress release, healing or connecting with community, and we respect all motivations for coming to our studio. We strive to employ instructors with a variety of backgrounds so that you can find the right fit for your personal goals.

The Willow Studio has a zero tolerance policy for discrimination, and reserve the right to ask someone to leave if the safety of our community is threatened. Please be kind and respectful to each other.

We care deeply about our impact on the Earth and our ability to pass its’ gifts on to future generations.

Through our partnership with One Tree Planted, for each piece of our branded apparel sold, one tree will be planted.

We invest in eco-friendly cleaning products and bathroom supplies – while it increases our upfront cost, we feel good about removing harmful chemicals from our environment (and they smell great too!)

Our studio is also moving towards zero-waste.  We encourage students to bring their own water bottles which can be topped up at our filtered water refill station.

We love supporting other local businesses! As much as possible, we source our studio supplies, materials, and business service providers locally.  We try to keep our curated retail merchandise to as small of a sphere as possible – whether that is from within Peterborough, Ontario, or Canada.

We also give back to local charities through special events and fundraisers and love highlighting other local businesses on our social media and newsletter platforms.

We are real people, and can make mistakes. If something isn’t right, please reach out to let us know.

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Meet the Team

Angela Demeester
Angela DemeesterDirector/Owner and Instructor
Angela is the Owner and Director of the Willow Studio. She is also a 200 hr Certified Yoga Instructor, Meditation Facilitator, Reiki Practitioner, and Certified Teacher for Children with Special Needs. Her teachings are intuitive and a synergistic blend of alignment principles, accessibility, and heart centered themes, encouraging students to explore their physical, emotional, and energetic body.

As a parent of a child with Cerebral Palsy, Angela is also passionate about sharing yoga and mindfulness with differently-abled children and their parents and caregivers. When Angela isn’t on her mat she loves to spend time with her family, travel, garden, and be in nature.

Hannah Brown
Hannah Brown
Hannah graduated from Breathe Yoga’s 300 hour Teacher Training in 2017. Since then she has collected certifications in yin, Reiki, trauma-informed yoga, accessible yoga and more.

In addition to teaching in studios around Toronto, Hannah teaches yoga and mindfulness in schools and to adults with intellectual disabilities.

Hannah loves yoga, and is delighted to be able to share this practice with others.

Bonnie Carl
Bonnie Carl
Bonnie is a certified Yoga and Meditation Teacher & Reiki Practitioner with an educational foundation in Classical Yoga and Ayurveda. She offers women’s retreats, workshops and Vibrational Therapy Sessions incorporating Reiki + Aromatherapy + Flower Essences + Crystal Healing + Yoga + Meditation.

She has a love of whole foods, forest walks, essential oils, inspirational writing and seeking out synchronicities in everyday life.

Namaswi Shukla
Namaswi Shukla
Bachelor of Physiotherapy
Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200)
Namaswi is not just an instructor; she’s a passionate advocate for holistic well-being. With a rich background in physical therapy spanning 4 years, she has successfully assisted a diverse array of clients, from orthopedic to neurological conditions. She has also immersed herself in the world of Yoga, Pilates, and fitness for over 2 years.
She thrives on creative movement, exploring new yoga postures and inventive Mat Pilates exercises. Picture this: an intense blend of power yoga and mat Pilates, all tailored for anatomical precision and postural alignment for a comprehensive and fulfilling experience.

Namaswi is your partner in progress. She’s eagerly waiting to welcome you to her sessions, where the focus is on enhancing your mobility, stability, and strength.

Heather Clarke
Heather Clarke
Heather is one of only a handful of Certified Yoga Therapists in Peterborough, with 1000+ hours of training and additional certifications as a Recreation Therapist and Senior Fitness Specialist under her belt. She has worked for over 35 years designing, implementing and evaluating therapeutic programs within both clinical and community settings.

Heather’s life, when not teaching yoga, embraces her husband and family of 3 sons and 1 daughter, her grandchildren and grand-dogs. A life full of seasonal, wholesome food, golfing, walking all those dogs and Netflix date-nights are also important.

Andrea Coppins
Andrea Coppins
Andrea is a 200 hour certified yoga instructor who’s personal yoga journey over the past 18 years has evolved from a fitness-based practice to a genuine connection with the power of yoga to unite the body and mind.

Andrea and her family recently returned from spending 3 years in Thailand, where she developed a deep meditation practice and became certified in the Himalayan Art of Sound Healing and Therapy.

Aside from yoga, Andrea works as an environmental consultant here in Peterborough. She and her husband have 2 young daughters, and enjoy outdoor pursuits of all kinds.

Liz Doris
Liz Doris
Liz began practicing yoga in 2000 and quickly realized the many physical and emotional benefits that it offers. Liz completed her Ashtanga Certification at the Yoga Sanctuary in Toronto in 2004 and began teaching.

Since that time Liz has completed over 1000 hours of yoga training including Yoga for Athletes, Yin, Prenatal, Anusara, Yoga Detour Method (strength based movements), and Level 2 Training in Somatics.

Liz enjoys working with athletes, and was the yoga instructor for the Peterborough Petes from 2012-2018.

Rebecca Eadie
Rebecca Eadie
Becca (she/her) has had a dedicated practice of yoga and spirituality for over 10 years. After completing her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training, Becca also completed her Reiki 1 & 2 certification.

Off the mat, Becca is a nurse practicing in the community, where she is able to encourage all things she loves including wellness, caring for others, mindful movement and spirituality through a divine balance of offering yoga classes, Reiki sessions, menstrual education workshops and nursing or nursing consolation.

Carly Eagles
Carly Eagles
Carly is a 200-hour certified yoga teacher and Body Harmonics Certified Pilates Mat and Reformer Instructor. Carly brings a thoughtful, encouraging and style to her classes. She is a believer in the power of mindful movement and enjoys striking a balance between effort and ease. She is also certified by Love Your Brain to teach yoga for people who have experienced traumatic brain injuries.

When she’s not teaching yoga and Pilates, you can often find her spending time outdoors, cooking and baking, travelling, and enjoying quality time with friends and family.

Monika Holland
Monika Holland
Monika Holland began her yoga journey in 2011, which became a routine that helped develop the strength and determination to make positive upgrades in her life.

She is a highly sought-after Peterborough yoga instructor, and is known for her calming voice and ability to relax a roomful of yogis. She has additional certifications in Yoga Nidra and Hot Stone placement and massage.

Jane Jopling
Jane Jopling
As a fitness instructor and healthy living enthusiast for the past 25 years, Jane was drawn to Pilates for its focus on mindful movement that develops strong core muscles and improves posture and flexibility.

A mother of two who recently completed a B.Ed. degree in adult education, Jane completed her extensive Mat Certification at Pilates education leader, Body Harmonics.

When not teaching, Jane, a holistic skin coach, focuses on her Aligned Radiance business. With her passion for helping women achieve their most radiant skin through holistic science-based protocols, she helps women repair, protect and support radiant, healthy, glowing skin.

Cameron Maly
Cameron Maly
Cameron (she/her) is a 200 Hour Certified Yoga Instructor, Certified Mat Pilates Instructor, Reformer Pilates Instructor, and a Certified Prenatal Yoga Teacher. Cameron is passionate about enhancing our overall well-being through movement and leaning into what makes our mind and body feel good!

Cameron is currently completing her Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology with the aspirations of becoming a registered psychologist in the future. Cameron loves all things wellness, travel and being in nature.

Sonja Martin
Sonja Martin
Sonja Martin is a 500-hour certified yoga and meditation teacher with significant additional training in fertility, pre and postnatal, pelvic floor and core, family, trauma, loss , restorative, yoga nidra and behvaioural therapy.

As a mother of three, surrogate of two, Sonja has been building her family and working in the field of family wellness for over 30 years.

Donna St. John
Donna St. John
Donna is a 500-hour trained yoga teacher with a specialization in Ayurveda, as well as a Pilates and fitness instructor and personal trainer.

She offers fun, safe and inspiring classes.

In her spare time, Donna is busy on her Bethany farm. Donna has a passion for adventure travel… with more than 25 countries visited the list keeps growing!

Telsi Szanyi
Telsi Szanyi
Telsi (she/her) is a Mat and Reformer Pilates instructor, Animal Flow instructor, and Movement Coach. Her passions include functional fitness, stability training, and aiding in injury rehabilitation through therapeutic movement.

Outside of work, you’ll find Telsi going for hikes with her dog, running through wooded trails, or enjoying time with friends and family. She delights in tending to nature and spends her summers digging in the dirt at her flower farm and event space, Retrograde Gardens.

Tracey Cockfield
Tracey Cockfield
Tracey Cockfield (pronounced Cofield) is a full-time Primary Care Nurse Practitioner with a passion for health and fitness. She began her journey in 2005 as a Certified Group Fitness Instructor and expanded her expertise by earning her yoga certification in 2020. Tracey prioritizes safe movements and proper form in her yoga classes, ensuring that participants not only enjoy themselves but also achieve the benefits they seek. Friendly and approachable, she looks forward to meeting you and sharing the wonderful benefits of yoga together.
Penny Dale
Penny Dale
Ten years ago, as a last resort to help ease the pain of her three herniated discs in her lower back, Penny’s yoga journey began. It wasn’t long after she began practicing yoga regularly that she started to feel relief — sweet, sweet relief!

Not only did Penny’s back have less pain and more flexibility, but she also began to feel a shift in her mental well-being. She still remembers that in her first month of practicing yoga, she was lying in Savasana thinking to herself, “I want to make other people feel like this.” Today, Penny is doing exactly that!

A resident of Ennismore, Penny is a small-town girl through and through. This is so true that the very first yoga class she guided was at her local community center, teaching her hockey mom friends, of which she will forever be grateful.

Penny has been blessed with three children who inspire her to bring her big dreams to fruition. She retired from the optometric field to pursue her passion projects. In addition to yoga, Penny loves to put her creative energy into making healing stones. When she began wearing healing stones, she was overcome with the incredible benefits, and like yoga, she knew she needed to share this with others.

Penny is living proof that when one door closes, another opens. Using breathwork, movement, and meditation, she acts as your guide to help improve your personal well-being in body, mind, and soul.

Front Desk Support Staff

Katie Greene
Katie GreeneClient Services Coordinator
Katie (she/her) is an administrative professional with over 10 years experience. You may see Katie’s friendly smile behind the front desk – she’s always ready to answer your questions.

Mama of 3, Katie like to work on art, dance, practice yoga, swim and spend as much time with her kiddos as possible!

Denise Starling
Denise StarlingOperations Manager
Denise brings over 31 years of experience with the public school board and retail sector to her role as front desk staff member. An avid yogi, Denise loves spending time with her dog Sophie, family and friends. She has a renewed interest in biking and likes to eat healthy.

Denise is excited to be part of the Willow Studio and is ready to welcome and assist all.

Kim Hattey
Kim HatteyFront Desk Ambassador
Kim has over 35 years of experience in the retail industry, including as a pharmacy technician and manager of a sub-post office.

Kim loves to spend time with her 3 grandchildren, and has a love of water, kayaking, cycling and watercolour painting. She has practiced yoga for many years solo, but now more than ever, enjoys the community of a group yoga practice.