Yoga has been part of Sjonum’s life since childhood. She began her journey through the teachings of her father. Throughout her teenage years she practiced many forms of mindful movement including yoga, meditation, rejuvenating fist system, and chenshi taiji. Sjonum soon discovered that her life’s approach highly involved self cultivation, spiritual understanding and the practice of Yoga. She started on a worldwide journey that saw her become a Certified Yoga Instructor studying and completing her 200hr and 500hr Yoga Teacher Training. She is now a E-RYT500 yoga teacher certified with Yoga Alliance. She is also certified to teach Prenatal and Mom & Baby yoga.

Then, wanting to broaden her perspective and deepen her knowledge she became a Certified Thai Foot Reflexology and Certified Level 3 Thai Massage Practitioner. Sjonum is also a Holistic Nutritionist and part-owner of Rejuvenating Spring Holistic Health Company. Her passion for travel, yoga and nutrition came together to create her own travel retreat company www.rstravel.ca She currently leads an international retreat each year in places like India, Morocco, Spain, Costa Rica etc.

One of her fundamental principles is to consider herself as a student. She believes that learning and refining ones knowledge should be a lifelong ambition. She continues to study in the art of yoga, health, massage and nutrition. She is an active teacher in her community, her studio and worldwide assisting and teaching yoga teacher training programs. In the past 5 years she has taught/co-taught and/or assisted 9 trainings and continues to spread her love of yoga and creative teaching through these trainings. Throughout the year you can find her teaching yoga workshops at local studios, yoga retreats internationally and prenatal, mom and baby, yoga in the woods and regular vinyasa classes at her home studio in Burlington.

She is a joyful person who wants her practice and understanding to be an inspiration for her students. Sjonum uses her Thai Massage knowledge to bring a unique wealth of insight, hands on assists and body awareness to her classes. The classes are accessible to students of all levels and are filled with an abundance of energy while infusing the importance of proper alignment and self-awareness.

Off the mat, Sjonum is a mother to 2 year old Anandi Smaia and a cooking enthusiast. When she’s not teaching you can often find her practicing, doing yoga with her family, acroyoga with her partner, or planning her next retreat.

She has a passion and love of sharing, practicing and teaching yoga!