UPCOMING EVENTS
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ABOUT US
At Pure Zen Yoga & Wellness we pride ourselves on our welcoming atmosphere and tight-knit community of great people!
We offer a variety of yoga classes for all your needs whether you are seeking to discover yoga as a newbie, find calm, improve your mental health, build strength, improve your flexibility, connect with others, or deepen your practice.
Our instructors are experienced and certified and are able to provide safe and enjoyable modifications for various abilities or health limitations.
We also provide one-on-one services like private yoga classes, Thai Yoga Bodywork/Massage, Craniosacral Therapy, Reiki, and Somatic Healing with a Registered Naturotherapy Practitioner.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY...
"Tamara is a gifted and inspiring yoga teacher, and very definitely one of the best that I have experienced. Her studio also provides a beautiful environment to practice in" - R.J.
"A great studio space; I love the plants and natural light. The instructors are welcoming and I love how they give modifications often and that you can ask them questions. I've enjoyed many classes" - M.D.
"If you haven't tried Pure Zen Yoga Studio yet, you have to put it at the top of your list! I fell in love with this studio many years ago and haven't strayed. They have classes that cater to whatever your body needs, from relaxation to a good challenge. Not to mention, the instructors make you fell welcome from the minute you step into the studio" - K.S.
"Tamara's classes are exactly what I need every week. She incorporates a variety of poses and works on strengthening, flexibility, as well as relaxation. Her knowledge and experience with yoga is outstanding! She offers lots of variations to the poses so that everyone can participate and benefit. You will never be disappointed after going to her classes!" - M.P.
"A great studio with very welcoming instructors. There's a good range of classes too!" - M.W.
"If you want the ultimate relaxing 'make every part of your body feel awesome' experience, you HAVE to try a Thai Yoga Massage with Tamara! I will definitely be going back again and again" - G.A.
"Loved Thai Massage. I was pregnant at the time and Tam was able to help release a lot of areas that held tension. The pressure can vary to your needs or comfort level. Treat yourself!" - K.S.
"I have had Thai Massage with Tam several times and felt benefits after each session. It helped me with joint pain, especially in my hips" - K.H.
INSTRUCTORS
Tamara MacElwain
Tamara MacElwain is the founder and owner of Pure Zen Yoga & Wellness. She believes yoga cultivates somatic self-awareness; identifying where you are carrying tension, or where your mind and body are "at" in the moment. She aspires to teach her students to appreciate their own strengths, and to safely challenge their bodies and minds when they are ready. Expect variation on poses to customize your practice.
Tamara is an experienced and registered yoga instructor (RYT 500hr through Yoga Alliance) as well as a Registered Naturotherapy Practitioner (Examining Board of Natural Medicine Practitioners Canada). Tamara has accumulated over 2000 combined hours of training in yoga, wellness, craniosacral therapy, Thai yoga bodywork/massage, reiki, psychology, and somatic healing. She has taught yoga for 22 years in various locations including Singapore, Japan, Ontario, and New Brunswick.
Tamara enjoys furthering her expertise and education, and enjoys travelling, paddle-boarding, and spending quality time with her family and dog.
Bethany MacFarlane
Bethany began her yoga journey in 2005 here in the town of Woodstock. Looking to complement her athletics by gaining flexibility and preventing injury, her initial draw to yoga was solely for the physical aspect of the practice. Although she enjoys the physical benefits of the asana ‘work-out’, it was her discovery of the ‘work-in’ that kept her coming back to the mat. Practicing presence, self acceptance, and gratitude were quickly identified as areas with room for improvement, and they remain at the foundation of her yoga practice today.
Her willingness to share this with others led her to completing a 200 hour Yoga Instructor, and Yoga in Schools Instructor certification through Breathing Space Yoga Studio in 2018. She began her Yoga Instructor journey at Dynamic Studio in Fredericton, and soon found her way back to Woodstock teaching at Alchemy Yoga Lab. In 2019 she completed the 50 hour Alreal Aerial Yoga Training through Alchemy Yoga Lab, 50 hour Yin Yoga Training through Shanti Yoga in Halifax, and studied Yoga For The Spine through Andrea Peloso in Fredericton.
Bethany loves sharing yoga and persists that bodies of all genders, shapes, ages, and fitness levels can enjoy and benefit from yoga. Bethany practices and teaches Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, and Aerial yoga. Playful in nature, her classes invite others to feel comfortable in discomfort, and enjoy movement in a safe space.
Jenn Carson
Jenn Carson received her children's teaching certification from Kripalu is 2008 and her 200-hour adult certificate from Amana Institute in 2011. She has done many hours of additional training in Yin, Ashtanga, primordial sound meditation, as well as trauma-informed training. She regularly travels the globe teaching yoga and meditation at conferences. She is also a Level 1 Integrated Positional Therapist.
An award-winning author and librarian, she researches the effects of physical literacy on personal wellness. You can expect her classes to focus on proprioception (awareness of your body in time and space), interoception (awareness of your internal experience), and not taking ourselves too seriously.
Expect to laugh a lot. Jenn's teaching mantra is to be gentle, patient, and persistent with ourselves.
Jennie Craig
Jennie Craig began her yoga journey in 2008 when she met her teacher, Swami Mukti. Swami Mukti, who spent over 19 years training under his guru in India, because a guiding influence in her practice. After attending a transformative weekend retreat with him, she was inspired to embark on her own yoga journey.
In 2011, Jenny travelled to India, visiting the same ashram where her teacher had spent time. This journey further deepened her connection to yoga, and she felt called to begin teaching.
Determined to refine her practice, Jennie pursued formal training. In 2012, she received her 300-hour Yin-Yan Yoga certification, solidifying her foundation as a teacher. Seeking to expand her knowledge, she studied Restorative Yoga under Jillian Pransky at Kripalu in Massachusetts. Her dedication to learning continued, and in 2016, she competed an additional 400-hour intensive training in Yoga Nidra, meditation, and other yogic disciplines.
Jennie firmly believes that yoga is for “Every Body”. For her, yoga is a vast and evolving journey, and stepping onto the mat is an opportunity to explore the body, mind, and soul anew each time.
Her classes emphasize breath and movement, fostering an atmosphere of self-acceptance and mindfulness. Jennie encourages her students to honour their bodies and embrace the present moment. She holds the belief that once one embarks on the path of yoga, it becomes an integral part of life. Through yoga, she has cultivated a deep sense of gratitude, acceptance, and non-judgement, values she passionately shares with her students.
CONTACT US
Pure Zen Yoga & Wellness
614 Main Street, Woodstock, NB., Canada E7M2C4
Tel: 506-324-3908
Email: tamara@purezenyoga.com