Amanda Rico
Amanda is the owner of Harmony Yoga Haliburton. She is an E-RYT 550 with the Canadian Yoga Alliance, a Yoga Medicine® teacher, a kettlebell and steel mace coach, and a Paddle Canada SUP instructor. She is passionate about biomechanics and body movement, anatomy, and the science of yoga, meditation, and breathing practices. Her clear and direct teaching style combines an understanding of alignment and anatomy to create an atmosphere where challenging movement, awareness, and breath merge to create a balance between effort and ease, offering a practice that is approachable, sustainable, and therapeutic.
Amanda leads annual retreats around the around the world to share her love of yoga and wellness. Her teachings help students unlock their potential while encouraging them to play and explore new and creative ways to move, breathe, and connect. She continues to evolve her own personal practices and her teaching through time on the mat, studying under world-renowned teachers, and learning from her students. Her incorporation of Ayurvedic principles adds another layer of depth to her teachings, fostering a holistic approach to health and well-being that honours the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. By staying attuned to the rhythm of the seasons, she helps her students find balance and harmony within themselves and their surroundings.
Amanda, a vibrant and engaged community member, wears multiple hats as an educator, entrepreneur, podcaster, author, Inner Alignment Coach, world traveller, Death Doula, and Grief Companion. She’s currently completing her Masters in Counselling Psychology to become a Psychotherapist, working with trauma, grief and addiction, somatic healing and plant medicine. While she first stepped into a yoga studio during university, it was in Australia that her practice took a more dedicated turn. In 2017, Amanda completed a 200hr Yoga Teacher Training with the Marianne Wells Yoga School in Costa Rica, originally seeking personal growth but discovering a newfound love for sharing her passion for life and yoga in the studio. Bringing a diverse range of energy healing modalities to our team, Amanda is also the co-host for Harmony Retreats alongside Amanda Rico, and teaches a weekly Rest & Restore class at the studio in Haliburton.
Vanessa Iannucci
After a youth spent in competitive gymnastics, Vanessa discovered a calm and peaceful way to connect with her body when a local yoga studio opened. She embraced intuitive holistic centring, incorporating practices like restorative yoga, yoga nidra, and holistic healing, which allowed her to slow down and focus on her health while regulating her nervous system. As a Reiki practitioner, she is dedicated to reviving vitality and embracing inner peace, serving as a guide for holistic health and balance. In poses like Sukhasana, or seated easy pose, she finds grounding, hip opening, and a stillness that enables her to be present with herself and start anew. Just as the rhythms of the day and the cycles of the seasons change, her yoga practice has become a vital part of her lifeway, guiding her through life’s transitions and nurturing her connection to her inner self. Vanessa is a 200-hour Hatha-based Kundalini meditation teacher. She also holds certifications as a Reiki Master, Breathwork Instructor, and Ayurvedic Integrative Nutrition Coach and Consultant with VEDAWISE.
Tayla Kalymon
Tayla's journey with yoga began in her twenties when she spent time in India and discovered breathwork, meditation, the Ayurvedic diet, and deeper self-reflection. She has incorporated yogic principles into her professional career and personal life. As an occupational therapist, Tayla treats people who have experienced trauma, and yoga has helped both her and her clients achieve physical and emotional balance. Tayla is happiest when in nature, often striking a pose or breathing deeply by a lake, on a mountain, or in the forest. She is passionate about sharing the amazing benefits of yoga with others. Believing that energy is shared, Tayla feels that yoga positively influences all aspects of life, regardless of experience, skill, or strength level. She is excited to practice in the Haliburton area and looks forward to meeting the local yogi community.