About
You have reached the official blog of the Runner’s Yoga Program, created by Van Clayton Powel. Here’s a partial Bio: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 
Handstand in the Himalayas 2005
Van is the founder of Mind-Body Fitness, Inc., a Whistler-based company that has been teaching advanced health and fitness techniques to clients like the Canadian National Snowboard Team, Olympic athletes and coaches, and corporations like VISA and Intrawest since 1996.
He is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse who graduated as top student in his class (valedictorian, research article published, member Board of Directors) before going on to specialize in addictions treatment and emergency psychiatric assessments.
He also spent years in Asia studying martial arts, meditation and Ayurvedic medicine and he blends his knowledge of Western medicine and Eastern practices into a unique mind-body approach.
Known for his light-hearted, practical teaching style, Van has been studying yoga for over 30 years and brought the first Ashtanga yoga workshops to the west coast of Canada in 1995 when he sponsored visits by Beryl Bender Birch and then David Swenson. He completed his teacher’s training with David Swenson, and also studied with Beryl Bender Birch, Nancy Gilgoff, Norman Allen, Dr. Peter Bennett, and Dr. John Douillard, the first westerner to do research on ujjayi breathing.
Van and his wife Roxanne have been together for over 30 years and spend most of their time in the mountain resort of Whistler, Canada. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If you aren’t familiar with the program please take a moment to read more about it on the Runner’s Yoga page. And if you have a question or comment, please feel free to leave one. We’d love to hear from you!
