simple & gentle
YOGA & MEDITATION
My classes and retreats are simple and gentle and are all about being quiet together. There is something so nourishing about being in a room with other people who are also navigating the ease and the struggle of their own lives and, together, learning to be in the mystery of it all.
about dana
WHY I PRACTICE
It’s an interesting exercise to write about myself in a way that might capture for you why yoga and meditation mean something to me. As I approach 50 years, I realize that the practices have meant different things to me at different stages of my life. When I was younger, it was more about the body—doing challenging poses, being strong and fit. And then it became more about going through the body to help calm my anxious mind.
While yoga and meditation always felt like coming home, it wasn’t until I was exposed to the power of a daily practice that the real gifts started to reveal themselves. I started to feel more compassion—for myself and for the people in my life. I started to become genuinely curious about my internal experience of the world and began to examine old patterns that didn’t really serve me anymore. Â
And then I became a mom to a remarkable little boy who experiences the world in a different way and who reinforces for me every day why I practice.Â
Very simply: I practice so I can be brave and so I can trust the goodness in the world.
MY CERTIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Education (OISE / University of Toronto)
Masters of Education (University of British Columbia)
Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification (2 years / Tara Brach & Jack Kornfield / University of California’s Greater Good Science Center)
Yoga Teacher Training (300 hours / Yoga Therapy Toronto)
Yoga Therapy Training (500 hours / Yoga Therapy Toronto)
Yin Yoga Teacher Training (50 hours/ Soghrati Yoga)
Children’s Yoga Teacher Training (Yoga Tree)
Reiki Practitioner and Teacher (Usui Method / Mastery Level)
YOGA | MEDITATION | PRIVATES | RETREATS
yoga
classes
RESTORATIVE FLOW
This class is all about giving your nervous system a chance to reset and restore in the middle of the day. Using breath, very gentle movement, restorative poses and guided relaxation, you will leave the class feeling nourished and a little more compassionate towards yourself—and others—as you move through your week.
Yoga Therapy Toronto
692 Bloor St. West
Tuesdays (Sept 10 – Jun 24)
1:00 – 2:15 pm
$25/class
Packages available
Drop-in only – no pre-registration required
monday
women's
circle
Mindfulness Meditation Class
This group has been going for over two years and has become a treasured part of each woman’s week. The opportunity to connect regularly with kind, smart, funny women outside of their circle of friends is powerful. Each class begins with a guided meditation to help settle, followed by a brief check-in. We transition into a 20 minute meditation on a theme ( e.g. mindfulness of the body or mindfulness of thoughts etc.) and then finish with a short debrief of the practice. The meditation is recorded and sent to each participant so they can revisit it anytime.
Held with Love on Zoom
Mondays (Sept 30 – Nov 25)
2:00 – 3:00 pm
$160/8 week session
This class is currently full but please reach out if you would be interested in participating in a Winter session.
year of
mindfulness
Meditation Class
This group has been going for over ten years! During our monthly Saturday afternoon sessions, everyone has an opportunity to relax into the company of women they have grown to care about over the last decade. It has been a powerful experience as we’ve witnessed the highs and lows unfold for one another, experienced births and losses, witnessed growth and transformation, and simply cheered one another on. Each class begins with a guided meditation, followed by an opening circle. We then enjoy a restorative yoga practice, some journaling time and finish with a guided relaxation meditation.
hOMe Studio
Bathurst & St. Clair
Saturdays (Oct 5 | Nov 2 | Jan 11 | Feb 22 | Mar 29 | May 3)
1:00 – 3:00 pm
$240/6 sessions
This class is currently full but please reach out if you would be interested in the future.
private
sessions
Guided Meditation
Relaxation 101
Held with love on Zoom or in-person
1 hour daytime sessions
$100 (includes audio recording)
I believe that one of the best kept secrets in getting the rest we need is a guided meditation practice called Yoga Nidra. It is both restful and transformative as you are guided through a process that touches into all layers: body, breath, thoughts, emotions, and heart wisdom. Before we meet, you are welcome to let me know imagery that you find especially soothing (walking the beach, gardening, particular colours…) so that I can tailor the practice for you. It may also be helpful to consider an intention that can inform our time together.
design your
own practice
YOUR OWN RITUAL
For years, I studio-hopped, tried different teachers, and popped a variety of videos into the VCR. I felt taller, my breath moved a little easier, and I started to get some relief from my anxiety. However, it was the repetition of a daily practice that really changed things for me. Spending a few minutes on my mat each day is truly what keeps me going. Tapping into my experience as a yoga teacher, yoga therapist and meditation teacher, allows me to help you create a daily ritual that nourishes and strengthens so that you can do all you do with a little more heart and a little more ease.
Design Your Own Practice
Held with love on Zoom or in-person
75 minute daytime sessions
$125 (includes outline of practice and audio recordings as needed)
restorative
retreat
DAY LONG RETREAT
I am so happy to be returning to Wondering Willow for another day long retreat. Just an hour from Toronto, you will feel like you’ve really had a day away. The morning will give you a chance to walk along nature trails and enjoy a gentle yoga practice in the loft of a restored barn. At lunch, we’ll enjoy a beautiful, healthy meal by the pond and then some quiet time sitting in nature or exploring the property. Our time together will end with a luxurious guided relaxation practice. It will be a day full of special touches so that you can connect back with yourself and then re-enter your life a little more grounded and refreshed.
Fall Restorative Retreat
Hosted at Wondering Willow
Erin, ON
Sunday, Sept 22
9:30 am – 3:00 pm
$150
weekend
retreat
GENTLE YOGA & MEDITATION
Exciting news! I will be hosting my first weekend retreat this spring at Harmony Dawn—a beautiful location about 2 hours from Toronto. I will be releasing all the details in November, including a detailed schedule.  In the meantime, think about how it would feel to know you have a weekend away to look forward to! It will begin Friday evening and will include 2 nights shared accommodation, 6 delicious vegan meals, gentle yoga practices, guided meditations  & yoga nidra before bed. There will also be plenty of time to read, walk in nature, and rest. If you are interested, send me a note and I’ll save you a spot until all of the registration information is released later this Fall.
Spring Restorative Yoga & Meditation Weekend Retreat
Hosted at Harmony Dawn
Hastings, ON
Fri, May 30 – Sun, Jun 1
$629.40
FREE AUDIO RECORDINGS
meditation & yoga
A Secret Garden Bedtime Meditation For Kids
YOGA NIDRA RELAXATION PRACTICE
SQUARE BREATHING FOR BALANCE AND CALM
Exhale Focused Breathing for a Calmer Nervous System
contact dana
MONTHLY NOTES
simple & gentle finds
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