laura bass
Laura comes to us from British Columbia, where she has lived most of her life, and is returning to St. John’s with her two beloved dogs and kitty to pursue an MSc in Kinesiology. Laura first stepped on the mat in 2004 and fell in love with the peace, compassion, and acceptance of self that came with the practice of yoga. As a former figure skater, Laura enjoys the flow and movement that yoga offers, exploring balance, strength, and breath through each pose. Along with the spiritual and mental balance that yoga brings to her life, Laura enjoys the lightness of yoga through playing and exploring new and challenging poses.
Laura’s classes involve playful exploration, dynamic flow, curiosity, detachment from ego, and a theme of self love and non-judgement. Laura completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training at Tandava Yoga in the discipline of Kripalu, and her Acro Yoga Certification through Acro Yoga International.
She enjoys continuing her education through workshops around the country and the USA. Laura believes wholeheartedly in lila, the divine play. She is passionate about community, connection, and the importance of joyous play. She is a movement generalist and loves lyra, hiking, canoeing, strolls with her pooches, and acro yoga! When she’s not moving, she’s travelling for acro festivals; thirsty for play, laughter, and community.
Laura believes that the most important part about yoga is not just the physical practice or the traditional lineage it stems from. Yoga is how we show up in our lives on a day-to-day basis. It’s about being kind to our body, mind and spirit. It’s about connection, community, forgiveness, love, and living authentically.
TESTIMONIALS
In a word, Nova Yoga Retreats are delicious! Melanie and her co-leaders hold space beautifully, guiding the group through yoga and meditation practices and “off campus” excursions with gentle mastery. You can show up and know that everything has been taken care of. Her groups are always welcoming; I attended two retreats solo and left both with amazing friends. Melanie chooses retreat locations with natural and artistic beauty and most importantly–soul. Her love of travel and exploring new cultures adds so much to the experience. Last, but not least, the food and accomodations are always a delight!
It felt like a true escape from my normal life. I feel like I was able to connect to the area and the people who journeyed with me. Your ability to curate a safe space to be and a place to play for people is truly a gift, Melanie. Thank you.
I can’t recommend Nova Yoga’s retreats highly enough. Melanie put together an amazing week that stretched our bodies and our minds, and left both stronger and more restored. This experience was much more than “just” yoga — it was truly a reset physically and mentally, and a wonderful opportunity to restore and refresh alongside amazing and kind women.
From the moment I arrived, I knew it would be a transformative journey. Each class left me relaxed and rejuvenated. This, along with amazing food and people, made for an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for the perfect yoga getaway.
Melanie finds the best places and brings together the most amazing people.
I love the opportunity to get away from the tourist areas and get to know the local scene. The food was fabulous, staff and accommodations were excellent. The yoga was wonderfully therapeutic. And I really enjoyed getting to know the group. This was a wonderful experience for me and my first time travelling as a single. It gave me the confidence to try it again.
Melanie is the most incredible yoga instructor. Her retreats are absolutely amazing. A magical experience of a lifetime. If you haven’t done one of her retreats, you are really missing out!