Fiona Stang

Fiona Stang is a pillar of Vancouver's yoga community and a globally respected figure in the Ashtanga yoga tradition. Her journey began with a life-changing trip to Mysore, India in 1999, where she met and studied with the legendary Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, the father of modern Ashtanga yoga, and his grandson Sharath Rangaswamy, who would go on to carry the tradition forward.

The impact of those early studies was profound and lasting. In 2000, Fiona received authorization to teach from Jois himself, a recognition that marked her as one of a select group of Western students deemed capable of faithfully transmitting the Ashtanga method. She returned to Vancouver with a determination to establish an authentic Mysore program, and with the encouragement of senior teacher Hamish Hendry, she opened Ashtanga Yoga Vancouver that same year.

Fiona's distinction grew further in July 2009, when she was included in the first group of just 40 students worldwide to receive Level 2 Authorization. This advanced recognition reflects not only her personal mastery of the Ashtanga primary and intermediate series but also her proven ability to teach these practices with depth, safety, and fidelity to the tradition.

As the lead teacher at Ashtanga Yoga Vancouver for over two decades, Fiona has guided hundreds of students through the Ashtanga sequences, from complete beginners taking their first steps on the mat to advanced practitioners working through the intermediate and beyond. Her teaching style is characterized by patience, precision, and an intuitive understanding of each student's needs. She provides hands-on adjustments that are both safe and transformative, and her verbal cues are clear and encouraging.

Beyond her daily teaching in Vancouver, Fiona is a sought-after workshop leader who travels regularly to share the Ashtanga practice with communities across Canada. Her workshops in cities like Ottawa and Calgary draw dedicated practitioners who value her depth of knowledge and direct connection to the Ashtanga lineage.

Fiona's dedication to teaching with integrity has earned her the deep respect of students and fellow teachers alike. She represents the best of what traditional yoga teaching can be: grounded in lineage, delivered with skill and care, and continually renewed through her own ongoing practice and study.