Canella was introduced to yoga in 1997. Okay, she actually bought a Rodney Yee Beginner DVD and immediately incorporated the practice into an intense physical fitness routine that was precariously balanced with bad habits and poor nutrition in pursuit of skinny. That short 20 minutes of asana every day was enough to cause a shift in her body and mind. Curious to learn more, she studied on her own for several years using books and frequent home practice – finally making her way to a community class through the park district taught by a patient and inclusive teacher. It was in the group setting that she first acknowledged the shift and began to realize how yoga had created a path to turn self-destruction into self-love. With encouragement, she enrolled in and completed teacher training and has been registered nationally through the Yoga Alliance since 2009. Today, her regular practice enhances her overall performance in hiking, cycling and snowboarding. Canella guides her classes with a mixture of humor, love and vulnerability. Alignment and safety are key as she teaches, using modifications and props to make yoga accessible to all. Her teaching experience includes, Hatha Yoga, Gentle, Chair and Restorative Yoga, Core Strength Vinyasa and Aqua Kriya Yoga.