Joyga: Yoga & Mindfulness
Empowering children, teens, and adults with trauma-informed practices for well-being and resilience.
Trauma-Informed Yoga & Mindfulness with Heather
My journey with yoga began over a decade ago and has been shaped by incredible teachers from all over the world—starting in India, where yoga was first shared, to the Greater Toronto Area, where I now teach. Along the way, I completed over 500 hours of yoga teacher training, including specialized trauma-informed certifications for children and teens.
With a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and nearing the completion of a Bachelor of Social Work, I tailor my approach to meet participants’ developmental needs. My background also guides me in fostering inclusive, anti-oppressive spaces, rooted in frameworks such as disability justice, anti-racism, and 2SLGBTQIA+ rights.
I am deeply grateful for the traditions and wisdom passed down through generations, and I am honoured to share these empowering, evidence-based practices with you! Whether you're joining me in person or virtually, my goal is to make yoga and mindfulness accessible, compassionate, and meaningful for everyone.
Offerings
Yoga
Available for all age groups, these classes focus on movement, mindfulness, and relaxation, tailored to meet the developmental needs of each practitioner.
Meditation
Offered to children, adolescents, and adults, meditation classes guide participants through techniques to enhance focus, reduce stress and promote well-being.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness workshops and activities teach participants how to incorporate mindfulness into their daily lives, fostering self-awareness and emotional regulation.
Age Groups
Infants & Toddlers (0-3 years)
These classes guide little ones through gentle movements with caregiver support. Visual cues, music, and props engage children as they build motor skills, attention, communication, and self-regulation.
Children (4-9 years)
Children explore yoga poses, balance, and coordination through stories and themes. These classes promote fitness, confidence, and social skills while introducing mindful breathing techniques.
Adolescents (10-19 years)
These classes focus on building strength, flexibility, and attention regulation. With an emphasis on mindfulness, stress relief, and self-esteem, yoga becomes a tool for emotional balance and resilience.
Older Adults (65+)
Gentle yoga sessions focusing on flexibility, balance, and joint health. These classes include options like chair yoga, making it easy for everyone to participate, regardless of mobility or experience level.
Adults (20-64)
Tailored to adults of all abilities, these classes include options for Chair Yoga, Hatha, Vinyasa, and Yin. Sessions focus on movement, mindfulness, and relaxation to support mental and physical well-being.
Our Partners
I’m proud to work with Carol's Light, offering free yoga and mindfulness classes to individuals facing trauma, and with Freedom Yoga, providing authentic 200- and 300-hour teacher training programs.
Adolescent Yoga Practitioner
“Thank you for making yoga so fun and entertaining!”
Recognizing Relationship to Land
I live in the Greater Toronto Area, which, for thousands of years, has been the traditional land of many Indigenous Peoples, including The Anishinaabe, The Chippewa, The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and The Huron-Wendat and Wyandot Nations. I respect these communities as the original stewards of this land and honour their continued relationship with it.
Many practices in yoga and mindfulness are rooted in connection with nature. From Tree Pose to Flower Breath, yoga invites us to ground ourselves in the natural world. Whether we’re feeling the earth beneath our feet, taking a mindful walk, or simply listening to the sounds around us, experiences with nature help us connect with both ourselves and the present moment.
The environment plays a critical role in the health of all people. As an educator and social worker, I am committed to pursuing environmental justice for all. Health disparities exist, and no sense of social justice is complete without addressing the environmental inequities that affect communities, particularly those most marginalized and those most reliant on the land.
Photo by Fan Joo