meet the teachers
Get connected to some of our favourite humans!
Each teacher at Hive Yoga and Fitness has been chosen for their unique training and experience. We are driven by a passion for inspiring people to move in many ways, which is why each of our instructors are certified to lead any number of yoga styles and fitness classes.
Our teachers also place importance on building a strong and flexible mindset, training our community to be ready for whatever life throws your way. Classes at the studio are all about functional movement, stress-relief and diversifying your training. Connect with one of our open-minded, skilled instructors soon to support a balanced approach to training.
Lianne Burrell
Hivefit instructor, R.Kin
Lianne is from the Maritimes where she did her BSc in Kinesiology from Dal. She has been coaching since 2010 and has coached everyone from the 4-year-old soccer player to the elite endurance athlete. When she isn’t teaching, she is found climbing, snow/splitboarding, or trail running. Lianne is a big believer in having a healthy dose of type 1 and 2 fun in the mountains, and enjoys getting people strong & resilient to get them out there as well.
Rachel Chew
HiveFit Instructor
Rachel has 15 years of sports and exercise experience. Growing up competing in the provincial level for cross-country running, she recognized early how impactful coaches are to her athletic drive, performance, and successes. She went into university initially to pursue naturopathic medicine, but found herself finding so much joy in encouraging others through fitness during her undergrad years participating in various ultramarathons and triathlons that has led her to the fitness industry soon after graduation. Since then, she has trained people of all walks of life in Vancouver. She also coaches group functional fitness in North Vancouver, in addition to being our HiveFit instructor.
Rachel exudes sincere care, positive energy, and will be sure to get you sweating through your workout, with big smiles across the board! When she’s not at the studio or other gyms, you can find Rachel climbing at the Hive, camping in the backcountry, trail running in the North Shore mountains, enjoying an ice-cream cone, or sharing home cooked meals with friends.
Rebecca Hollingworth
Studio Instructor
With an ERYT-500 certification, Rebecca has been mentoring and leading students through the practice of yoga for 15+ years. She believes that embodiment through breath awareness and movement is another way of understanding ourselves beyond the intellect. As a recent graduate of the Certified Applied Positive Psychology Program with the Flourishing Centre, she now infuses positive psychology concepts into her yoga teaching. The union of yoga and positive psychology provides her student community with a unique and impactful support to enable them to thrive and flourish in their lives.
With Rebecca you can expect a well themed and intelligently sequenced class. You’ll leave the class feeling energized, renewed and inspired to take the “yoga” off your mat and into your day.
Sam O'Brien
Yoga Instructor
Sam began practicing yoga many years ago and appreciated it for its empowering and healing qualities. Her classes focus on alignment and fluidity and emphasize that every BODY can practice yoga. She completed her YTT with the Kootenay Yoga School in Isla Mujeres, Mexico in 2019 and has been teaching ever since. She grew up in Chicago, IL and lived in San Diego, CA and Crested Butte, CO before moving to Vancouver in 2021 to attend grad school in clinical psychology. When Sam isn’t practicing yoga, she’s having fun outdoors– running, snowboarding, or mountain biking– and occasionally studying.
On Instagram: @samobriennn
Claudia Nobauer
Yoga Instructor
Claudia has been teaching yoga since 2005, she’s studied with Naresh, Dawn Hampton, Sjanie McInnes, and many other amazing yogi’s. In her classes, you can expect longer holds and feel-good music. Claudia’s classes are great if you’re a beginner or just getting used to what this yoga thing is all about. In her spare time, you can find Claudia climbing, playing guitar and talking about her cat.
Melanie Rae Birch
Yoga & Pilates Instructor
Melanie has been teaching globally for 20 years. She is passionate about teaching people how to move their bodies and quiet their minds. She holds multiple certifications and continues to study with teachers at home and abroad. Melanie offers classes which are a balance of strength, flexibility, functional movement and mindfulness. Melanie teaches public classes and private therapeutics, with the goal of making her students feel more at ease in their bodies and minds. She lives on the North Shore with her husband, young son and frisky terrier.
Rebecca Mckinnon
yoga, pilates & conditioning teacher
Matt Fernandes
Yoga & Meditation Teacher
Matt Believes that Yoga contains both discipline and softness.
It is a journey toward self-realization; uncovering one’s true Self and honoring the greatness within. Being a patient and humble teacher, who is attentive to the progress of each individual, he believes that each pose creates an opportunity to engage in internal stillness and tranquility. Matt holds space for every student so they may feel supported and safe throughout their practice, during movements that offer physical challenges, and experiences that range from playful to powerful and emotional.
Matt is so cool!
Alli S
Yoga Instructor
Alli has been teaching yoga in Canada and internationally since 2010. She has attended over 1,000 hours of yoga training and certifications with senior teachers in various yoga styles. Alli loves building connections with students and strives to teach with compassion, humility and honesty. She is energetic and adventurous outside of her yoga practice, pursuing climbing and scrambling in her spare time. Because of these interests she has a wealth of experience healing injuries, physical misalignments and sore bodies. Alli’s classes are energetic, challenging and sweaty!
Alicia Graham
yoga & acro Instructor
Jason Lee
Yoga Instructor
Aya
Yoga Instructor
Johnny Doan
HiveFit Teacher
Johnny is passionate about teaching new students on how they can build confidence and get stronger. Regardless of age, health, and fitness level! He takes a slow guided approach that is built on personal customization and progression, so you can see first hand the fruition of your hard work. He’s constantly learning and trying to find ways to hack fitness, so that you can get the most out of the least amount of time, however that doesn’t mean it will be easy! When he’s not teaching you can catch him monkeying around on the walls, weightlifting or dying in a hot yoga class.
Wendy Issa
Yoga Instructor
Born and raised in Ecuador, Wendy started her Yoga Practice back in her hometown in 2010. She took her first YTT in 2012 in Costa Rica with Ashley Ludman. Since then she has expanded her range of teaching studying under the umbrella of teachers like Sri Dharma Mittra, Leslie Kaminoff, Seane Corn, Shiva Rea, Susan Hately, and Eion Finn. Wendy’s style of teaching is based on creating a safe place to explore your body, mind, and soul with a mindful practice guided with a combination of asana, pranayama, alignment, adjustments, and meditation.
Linda Doan
HiveFit Teacher
Linda believes that variety is the spice of life and is constantly challenging herself in new ways through different forms of movement. As a certified Personal Trainer there is nothing she loves more than dabbling in different disciplines such as Powerlifting, Olympic Weightlifting, Jiu-Jitsu and Yoga. She specializes in strength and conditioning and has been teaching classes since 2013. When she’s not dropping weights in her garage or learning how to swim at the community centre, you can catch her watching an MMA fight on her couch at home.
Alex Hughes
Yoga & pilates teacher
YOGA & FITNESS CALENDAR
The movement class you need is waiting for you. Take a closer look using weekly or daily views. Book today to make check-in a breeze.
Registration is available 2 weeks ahead of time.
2022 Update: Late/no show policy – 3 strike system. One strike – verbal warning. Two – cancel all your yoga bookings for that week. Three – you’re no longer allowed to book classes for a month. You can still come in and try to drop into classes, but any bookings made for the studio in that month will be canceled. This is implemented due to an increase in no-shows from last year.