Denis Karda Bio
Denis resides in Terra Cotta, is married to her high school sweetheart, Phil Karda, and the mother of four wonderful children.
One of six children growing up, she would spend most days at her mother’s dance studio, Marie Ann Longlade School of Dance in Mississauga, taking ballet, tap, jazz, acro and pointe. She achieved honours in her elemtary examinations with Canadian Dance Teahcers Association along with her Associate Teachers Certificate. This naturally led to her teaching at the studio as well.
In 1987, Denis graduated from Toronto Institute of Medical Technology, with honours in Diagnostic Radiography. As an X-ray Technologist for the past twenty years, Anatomy and Physiology are her forte.
In 2002, she was awarded The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for outstanding contributions to Canada and it’s citizens, based on the numerous volunteer activities and the hours she has donated within to her community.
It was in the year 2000 that Denis started practicing Yoga and Nia. After realizing the benefits and noting an increased quality to her life, she decided that she wanted to share these movement forms with others. With her skills and background training, it seemed like teaching would be a natural progression.
As coach of William Osler Health Centre’s dragon boat team, The Spirit of Olser, Denis found herself introducing Yogic postures and choreographed fusion dance routines for the land training sessions that she conducted. Without proper training she could only mimic Nia classes she had taken and demonstrate yogic poses. She recognized there was so much more and committed to educating herself further.
Denis will be forever grateful to her Reiki Master, Judith Thompson who introduced her to the wonderful world of Nia, Yoga and Reiki. Judith encouraged Denis to explore deeper within and to take Yoga and Nia teacher training.
Denis graduated from the Yoga Teacher Training at 5 Elements Yoga & Pilates Studio conducted with Michelle Cormack and is an active member of the Yoga Alliance. She has taken week long intensive Yoga classes with Christine Anderson from Montreal. Denis has attended Kirtans with Kialash and Bagavad Das and plans to continue exploring the benefits of sounding. She has taken specialty Yoga Assists and Open Yoga courses with David Life, founder of Jivamukti from New York. Denis also dedicated herself to a daily Personal Sadhna Development course with David Gluch at Jivamukti in Toronto. She found the daily drive on the 401 in morning traffic added even more challenge to her ability to quiet her mind during this Sadhna Course. Denis has developed much more gratitude to be living and working here in Georgetown area.
Denis graduated the Nia White Belt Training conducted by Black Belt Teacher Trainer, Martha Randall. She has also taken intensive Nia workshops with Lainie Magidsohn, Roberta Molher and Martha Randall. Denis now sits on the Governing Committee for Niac (Nia Instructors Association of Canada).
Denis plans to continue to learn and travel down a road of self discovery, developing her knowledge and sharing with others.
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