Yoga and meditation

What began as a personal yoga practice evolved into a lifelong path of mindfulness, connection, and creating spaces for healing and growth.

Being the change

In 2001, I was getting serious about my own personal yoga practice and was not finding enough local support to satiate my thirst for a deeper practice. So, I enrolled in a residential yoga teacher training program at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Massachusetts, an experience that profoundly shaped both my personal life and professional direction. Immersed in a community dedicated to self-inquiry, embodied practice, and compassionate leadership, I began to understand yoga not simply as movement, but as a pathway toward resilience, awareness, and healing

Shortly after returning home, I opened Yoga for You, Barrie’s first specialized yoga studio. My mission was to grow a community of yoga teachers and students in my hometown. What began as a small entrepreneurial leap quickly evolved into a thriving community hub, a space where people gathered not only to practice postures, but to cultivate connection, self-regulation, and inner strength. Building that studio taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, community development, and the power of creating intentional spaces for growth.

While running Yoga for You, I developed a close relationship with an elder who sparked my interest in learning more about meditation.  I travelled internationally to Osho International Meditation Resort in Pune, India, where I undertook intensive meditation study. That experience expanded my understanding of mindfulness beyond technique — into presence, emotional integration, and transformative self-awareness

Committed to grounding my work in accessible, evidence-based approaches, I later trained with Mindfulness Without Borders and became certified in delivering a secular mindfulness curriculum. This training allowed me to bring contemplative practices into diverse settings in a way that is inclusive, trauma-informed, and grounded in research.