About
REAL YOGA. REAL PEOPLE.
We deliver a powerful mix of technical training, experiential learning, and personal development, providing a deep experience of healing and expansion and inspiring you to new levels of expression, satisfaction, and leadership.
The founders have close to 100 years of experience in human development, transformational learning, coaching, somatics & yoga. With deep respect and compassion for what it is to be human, we share ourselves freely, listen generously, connect deeply, and generate real community.
What is Yoga?
Yoga is not for the flexible, it is for the willing.
PHYSICAL
Our body is the vehicle for our mind and spirit but at the same time, no clear boundaries exist which separate body from mind and spirit. Deepening our awareness of and love for our physical body while developing a set of practices which enhance its vitality – distinct from pressuring it into higher performance – is essential to experiencing integration and evolution of the whole self.
EMOTIONAL
We operate from the premise that educating our emotional body and allowing our emotions to educate our whole self is as important as training our physical body and intellect. Cultivating a deep awareness of our feelings and learning how to interpret, express and benefit from the full range of emotions generates powerful capacity to connect, contribute and evolve.
MENTAL
As human beings, our primary tool is our mind. Learning how to harness the unconscious, manage the conscious and create a powerful and productive synergy between the two reaps tremendous benefits. Consciously building this connection, through practices, develops an expanded awareness of the drivers of our thinking, our intuition, and our behavior. From this awareness comes the opportunity to choose and create newly.
SPIRITUAL
Called by many names – the Divine, God, the Creative Force – Spirit is the space outside of time and matter, the source from which all arises, and the energy which nurtures and sustains life. A deep connection with Spirit is essential for our vitality and full expression as human beings. As we evolve our relationship with Spirit, we evolve our being, and support the evolution of consciousness for humanity on the planet.
TOM LUTES
Teacher + Co-Founder
Tom has devoted his life to the study and practices of human development. For over 40 years he has been a coach, facilitator and trainer, working with over 200,000 people with diverse backgrounds, from corporate executives to at risk youth, yoga teachers to athletes. Tom draws from the fields of somatics, interpersonal communication, experiential learning, energy work, and martial arts in his work, seamlessly blending a variety of tools to powerfully contribute to his clients. He is widely known for his skill in coaching people through transition in order to evolve into the next best expression of themselves.
Tom earned a B.A in Communication from the University of California at Berkeley in 1965 and a M.A in Interpersonal Communication from San Diego State University in 1969. He is an active athlete, achieving his black belt in aikido at the age of 65.
ELIZABETH LUTES
Teacher + Co-Founder
Elizabeth has spent over 30 years working in educational, non-profit and corporate environments to empower people to see new possibilities and achieve new levels of satisfaction and effectiveness. For 12 years, Elizabeth ran a community-based, volunteer intensive transformational program for youth at risk, active in 25 cities in the US and in the UK. She then moved into the world of corporate consulting, bringing her training, coaching and facilitation skills to support leaders in transforming their organizations.
In 2006, she found her way to the Baptiste Yoga programs and began supporting and co-facilitating teacher trainings. Elizabeth worked closely with Baron Baptiste from 2010 – 2012 developing and co-facilitating programs as well as serving as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Africa Yoga Project.
ASHLEY BOONE
Yoga Teacher
Ashley has been practicing yoga for 19 years and teaching her practice for 14 years. She founded Zen Muskoka, a thriving yoga studio in Bracebridge, Ontario in 2013. She has led and facilitated international yoga retreats and co-founded the Muskoka Yoga Festival in 2016, a two-day outdoor yoga event that draws thousands of people to a tiny town every summer. Having competed in and coached artistic gymnastics, Ashley is passionate about physical expression that includes safe alignment tailored to the individual, a calm and focused mindset, and a true balance between strength and flexibility training. When she’s not on the mat teaching presence and patience, you can now find her feet strapped into skis or dancing along a surfboard in her new home of Nova Scotia where she is works as a Project Manager.
FAQs
I have read that somatics is a large part of Real Evolution Yoga methodology. What is somatics?
The word somatics comes from the Greek root soma which means “the living organism in its wholeness.” Somatics uses holistic body-centred approaches and awareness practices to assist self development, healing, and transformation.
Do I need to practice yoga for a certain amount of time before participating in a REY program?
No. You simply need the desire to learn and the willingness to practice.
How can I prepare for my REY program?
Build your awareness of your existing practices and the experience they provide for you. Develop your intentions for participating and explore the gap between where you are in your life and where you would like to be. Get on your yoga mat and practice, if possible.
How can I register for a program?
For all registration and information, please email [email protected]