Alpine Yoga Centre


About Us

“Yoga (for me) is about allowing that bright, shiny incredible spirit inside you, out! Allowing yourself to be BIG, to be joy, to be free. To be love, embodied in this human shell.  At first, you only catch glimpses of this person, flashes of who it is you could be. This spirit, what we call our ‘True Selves’ is often hidden under the layers of life and memory.  Hidden under complex quilts of trauma, pain, and fear; beneath all the masks we wear and all the stories we tell. So, yoga, is a beautiful and gentle process of peeling away these layers we use to protect ourselves so we shine through.” ~Makena~

     
 

The Alpine Yoga Centre was created by Kelly Aikins - a ski bum with a dream! Born and raised in Montreal, Kelly began practicing yoga as a teenager, exploring a number of different styles in an attempt to heal a knee injury. After moving to Vancouver to attend the University of British Columbia, her interest in yoga was nurtured and the benefits of a regular practice began to pervade more and more aspects of her life. With a renewed focus on schoolwork Kelly became and remained a dean’s list student; and with an ever-opening heart and spirit she explored various corners of the earth as a volunteer on humanitarian aid projects.

Whilst earning a degree in Psychology and Human Kinetics; Kelly began assisting and teaching Power Yoga and Pilates classes at various studios in Vancouver and Whistler. After graduating from UBC, Kelly traveled to Crete where she earned a Yoga Alliance certification as an Ashtanga teacher. Wishing to deepen her immersion in yogic philosophy and lifestyle Kelly continued to live and work at the Retreat for 6 months; having the great honour of studying and teaching with some of the most renowned Ashtanga teachers in the world. As the autumn of 2005 approached, Kelly was once again called by the mountains and she moved to Chamonix to spread her love of Yoga. After a year of teaching in chalets, hotels (and yes, even a bar), the Alpine Yoga Centre officially opened in Le Majestic Dec. 2006.

Firmly established in Chamonix, Kelly is settled yet never stagnant. Her continued thirst for knowledge and growth most recently led her to California where she was re-immersed in the beautiful practice of AcroYoga, and became one of only 50 certified teachers worldwide.

Her next step was to combine two of the greatest influences in her life – yoga and humanitarian aid work – by answering the call of a group of African street kids who wanted to learn more yoga. Amazed, inspired and moved more deeply than imagined, Kelly has committed to several projects in Africa including manifesting a real yoga school for the amazing and worthy yogis of Kenya. Please read more about it!

2008 Update from Kelly: It's been another magical year full of laughter, joy, love and learning! Last year's phenomenal season in Chamonix was followed by a kind of spiritual retreat in the Finnish wilderness; a new exploration of the Canadian West coast - biking, surfing and camping with my wonderful big sister and mom; and then one of the most phenomenal times in my life - a couple of months living in the slums of Nairobi (Kenya) with the beautiful, talented and inspiring youths I work with there - before returning to the snowy alps. Sometimes I feel like my life is almost too good to be true and that I may explode with love and happiness!
Let Go,
Give,
LOVE,
Rejoice in everyday life
and Share
  ~Lama Surya Das


A big thanks to Hotel Gustavia, Le Vert Hotel, the Bean family, Eva at Le Salon, Erlend at Steepcam and Richard at Webbelief for all the help and support.