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About Us
Meet the amazing team that is Upper 5 Farm
Deborah Cotter
Founder
As a registered 500+ Yoga Teacher (RYT500), Deborah actively teaches classes from vinyasa to restorative in Penticton, Naramata and Vancouver. Her approach to teaching comes from a place of compassion and authenticity, having overcome the challenges of numerous adverse life events. Consistently witnessing the benefits yoga was having, both physically and mentally on students, she continued her studies, pursuing a degree as a yoga therapist with a strong interest in yoga for grief and yoga for childhood development. Yoga therapy is a complementary or alternative treatment to traditional therapies and
improves ones’ overall sense of all well being. Although all yoga is potentially therapeutic and healing, yoga therapy is the specific application of yogic tools – postures/exercises, breathwork,
mantra, mudra, meditation techniques and more – to address an individual’s physical, mental and emotional needs.
Ted Cotter
Teacher
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For as long as Ted can remember, he has lived, eaten and breathed fitness. At an early age, he was introduced to hockey, playing for the Penticton Vees, from which he earned a full scholarship to the University of Illinois (UIC). Through outstanding play and coaching ability, he was voted onto the NCAA All-American team and later inducted into the UIC Hall of Fame. Ted went on to play and coach hockey for the University of British Columbia. His time as an athlete provided him with some of the key life ingredients…discipline, hard work, and belief in oneself. One of the greatest skills he refined was his connection to people.
Ted’s career in the fitness industry is diverse. It ranges from:
â—¦ playing sports
â—¦ selling fitness memberships
â—¦ co-founding a successful line of women’s fitness/golf attire
â—¦ partnering and selling an exclusive high-end forged golf club company; and
â—¦ eventually settling into a coaching/teaching career in spin and group strength classes.
Whenever Ted has a free moment, you can find him exploring biohacking techniques for the body, helping with the care of the animals on their farm, or out on his bike navigating the beautiful Okanagan, BC.