Our Society
Kelowna Yoga House is a vibrant and welcoming society of teachers, students and volunteers devoted to practicing /promoting the art, science and philosophy of Yoga as a healthy way of life.
Learn more about how you can become involved in our society. We would love to have you on one of our committees or the board!
Our Mission Statement
Established through a generous donation, the Kelowna Yoga House is a non-profit society dedicated to sharing the gift of yoga with the community by promoting physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing.
Yoga/Work Exchange and Karma Yoga
Kelowna Yoga House is a non- profit society.
We offer student bursaries and have a well established Yoga/Work Exchange program. Yoga/Work exchange students work at the studio in exchange for yoga classes taken. This may include sweeping, mopping, dusting, bathroom cleaning, gardening etc. Talk with your instructor if you are interested in this program.
Much of what happens behind the scenes at Kelowna Yoga House is true Karma Yoga. Karma literally means “action”, and Karma Yoga is defined as “selfless service”. Any action or duty can become Karma Yoga if the fruits of the work are offered to a Higher Purpose. In this spirit, many hundreds of hours have been served at the Yoga House. We rely on volunteers who give their time to serve on our Board of Directors, committees, and to help out with our various functions. We are passionate about building a community of like-minded individuals with diverse backgrounds.
“We wish to express our continuous gratitude to our benefactor, Margaret Lunam. It is by her generosity of spirit that we have this beautiful studio and vibrant yoga community.”
Board
The Kelowna Yoga House Society is run through the generosity of time and effort of its members. Our Board of Directors, which is elected by the membership annually at our Annual General Meeting, together with various committees, oversee the activities of our Society.
Below are our current board members:
Janice Loukras
President & IYCT1
Janice has been a student of Iyengar Yoga at the Kelowna Yoga House since 2003 and a certified teacher since 2018. Over those years she volunteered in various ways for KYHS. In 2020, she joined the KYHS Board as a teaching member and participates on the executive committee and strategic planning initiatives.
Ruth Rochlin
Vice-President
Ruth was sent to do yoga with Margaret Lunam, our benefactor, “for the rest of your life” by a local physical medicine physician in 1994. The learning was slow and steady, the mind/body connection established over time. She has tried other types of yoga, but the expertise of the Iyengar teachers is a strong draw back. The Kelowna Yoga House is a centre of excellence and comfort in her life.
She joined the Board at the 2022 AGM after volunteering in different roles over the years.
Barb Adams
Secretary
Barb was introduced to the Yoga House by a co-worker and attended her first class with Melissa in November 2009. The depth of knowledge of the teachers has kept her coming back since then.
A Board Member since 2011, Barb has served on the Finance Committee and as President & Vice-President and now as Secretary.
Sharon Babcock
Treasurer
Iyengar yoga and Kelowna Yoga House was recommended to Sharon in 2008 by her physio to help build strength and stability. She has never looked back as not only did yoga provide the physical benefits, it was a great stress relief at the end of a busy work day.
Sharon volunteers on the KYHS finance committee, and joined the KYHS board of directors as Secretary in November 2022 and as a President in December 2023.
Phofi McCullough
IYCT2 & Board Member
1989 was the year of Phofi’s introduction to Iyengar yoga by Margaret Lunam, our benefactor. She started teaching under her guidance in 2001 and became a member of the Board at that time. She stayed on the board ever since and performed several other duties.
Phofi has taught yoga for 20+ years, and has three certificates. Kelowna Yoga House is her second dwelling.
Dianne Kapty
Board Member
1Dianne was introduced to Iyengar yoga in the 1980s and discovered KYH when she moved to Kelowna in 2011. She enjoyed washing the floors as a work exchange (WE) cleaner. She joined the Board of Directors at the 2013 AGM. In 2014 she took on responsibility for the WE cleaners. In 2015 she started managing the office one morning a week. She accepted the position of president after the 2020 AGM, and continued in that role for 3 years. Iyengar yoga nourishes her body, mind and spirit.
Carola Jaspers
Board Member
Seeking to find help coping with several physical conditions, Carola became a student at KYH in 2012. A year later she started volunteering on the marketing committee and she took over the daily management of the MindBody bookings software. She was persuaded to join the board in 2016 and has been serving ever since (with a 1 year hiatus) as well as on several subcommittees.
Stephanie Kiesling
Board Member
Stephanie joined the board in December 2023
Tyler DeFreitas
Board Member & Yoga Teacher
Tyler has joined the board for 2024-2025 year
Karen Smith
Board Member & Yoga Teacher
Karen has joined the board for the 2024-2025 year
Darcia Fenton
Board Member
Darcia has joined the board for the 2024-2025 year
Committees
The behind-the-scenes work at Kelowna Yoga House Society is done by a committed group of volunteers who do everything from gardening to cleaning.
Our current committees are:
- Bursary
- Finance
- Gardening
- Human Relations
- Marketing
- Maintenance
- Rental
- Teachers
- Volunteers/Karma
- Workshops
