I am Tere Lopez
she/her/hers
I was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised simultaneously in two towns: Cojimar, with its vast ocean, and Casablanca, with its abundance of trains, both part of Havana. I lived in Montreal in my early twenties for two years, relishing a vibrant and diverse culture. It was there where I had the first of my two sons. Today I am in Brampton, Ontario.
I hold the designations of E-RYT® 500 and YACEP®. Since 2008, I have guided students through the transformative practice of vinyasa flow yoga. Over the years, I have honed my skills and developed a unique teaching method: the slow and dynamic flow.
I serve Brampton, Mississauga, Milton, and Oakville yoga communities through local classes, workshops, masterclasses, and special public events. In addition, I have led retreats in Weybridge and Bancroft, and I have been a senior mentor for yoga teacher trainees.
My extensive yoga training includes an initial 200-hour YTT with 5 Elements Yoga School. Next, I completed 140 hours with Samudra Global School of Living Yoga, founded by global teacher, Shiva Rea. As a faculty assistant at the Toronto Yoga Conference 2013-2015, I learned informally from Maria Garre, -Ayurvedic Therapist and international yoga instructor. In 2022 I fulfilled the Mandala of Yoga 300-Hour YTT- School of Embodied Poetry, founded by Shannon Paige. Because my latest area of focus is trauma-informed practices and anti-racism principles, I enhanced my training by completing the 300-Hour YTT program with Indra Yoga Institute in the same year.
My formal education includes a Bachelor of Science in Psychology through a five-year program at the University of Havana which facilitated an evaluation of the same degree by the University of Toronto. This assessment contributed to my entry into Canadian society as a crisis counselor and, at present, into youth justice, employing intervention approaches to model prosocial behaviors. Throughout my social service journey, I have actively pursued and completed specialized training in crisis response, nonviolent crisis intervention, ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), Peer Support Training, and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). In addition, I have advanced my expertise by becoming a certified facilitator of Mental Health First Aid through the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Volunteerism is a practical way in which I’ve combined my passion for helping others with the need to feel an authentic and rewarding sense of connection. For example, throughout much of the ‘2013s, I volunteered to lead a mindfulness program for Brampton Caledon Community Living, which supports people with intellectual disabilities. Currently, I volunteer to provide yoga sessions for youth within my role in Youth Justice. These sessions have had a mutual positive impact: they have elevated my understanding of the process of yoga and substantially improved the overall well-being of the youth I work with.
She is exceptional at what she does. You will not regret it!
Tere Lopez was my private yoga instructor for several years. She is a warm, careful and kind individual who knows how to push you to your limits in the most gentle and subtle way. When I moved out of town, I struggled to find any semblance of her type of yoga practice and miss it very much. She is exceptional at what she does and determined to teach her students her very best. I would wholeheartedly recommend her for private or group lessons. You will not regret it!
Tere embraces the art of yoga and transfers that energy to her students
Tere is such a beautiful soul who embraces the art of yoga and transfers that energy to her students. She helped me through some difficult times to focus my energy in my practice and it really helped me to regain my confidence. I would recommend trying her classes if you get the opportunity to do so.
I consider myself lucky to have found her classes
Tere is the kind of teacher who models the joy and beauty of movement in every breath through which she guides us. Her slow and fluid approach to yoga helps me to reconnect to my youth as a ballet dancer, but her wisdom and experience inspire me to look forward and continue to grow and accept change.
On a practical level, Tere helped me build strength and stamina I didn’t think was possible, and when I find myself missing my mat and losing what I’ve gained, she’s right there with the exact support I need to find my way back.
I think the true genius of her flows is how she builds upon basic movements to a peak pose that (in my case) is usually aspirational, but since the groundwork has been laid, there is still a tremendous sense of pride and drive based on the preparation poses alone.
I consider myself lucky to have found my way into her classes, whether they be in a studio, on a screen, or surrounded by nature.
She is the only teacher I recommend regardless of who I am speaking to
I think for most avid yoga students, there is an unknowing search for an unnameable type of teacher. A teacher that will challenge you to seek your edge, with compassion, humility, and boldness. A teacher that will seem to speak to you directly as they address the community of students — who will adjust with the needs of the community with a level of knowingness that defies rational understanding. Someone who can offer you a connection to a community that is not attainable in solitary practice.
I think everyone seeks this — these ‘Aha’ yoga moments that happen when you get an incredible teacher who is both formidable yogi and compassionate human. That is Tere Lopez. Every class, consistently.
She is the only teacher I recommend regardless of who I am speaking to. She is adaptable, inclusive, and dynamic. Her abilities are impressive and inspirational without feeling inauthentic or ostentatious. I was incredibly fortunate to have found Tere’s yoga class over 9 years ago. As my life changed, whether it be sports related injuries, pregnancy, personal trauma, etc. Tere’s classes have remained spaces where I can soar. For that, I will always be grateful.
As a yoga teacher myself, my teaching has also benefited from Tere’s approach to her students. Her equity in the studio, consistent foundation of consent-based engagement with her students, and genuine care for their wellness continue to be hallmarks of Yoga Teacher Best practice. Tere is the unnameable teacher — the class the stumble into that shows you your wings.
