Mindful Moments: Meditation & Yoga

Chloe is a first-year MSc student at the University of Toronto in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Chloe is specializing in sports psychology, and her research focuses on mental health and self-esteem. She is a Yoga, Meditation, and Mindfulness Program Assistant for the Multi-Faith Centre, where she assists with MindFIT and other Mindful Moments programs.

Keke, also known as Keonna; is a multidisciplinary performing artist, movement instructor and community builder. She began her movement practice as a classically trained ballerina from the age of 8 years old. After dealing with a traumatic injury in her late teens, Keke fell in love with the magic of yoga and sustainable approaches towards movement. She has been teaching for over three years since completing her YTT in 2019 and infuses her love of poetry and dance into her teachings. She also invites others to explore what movement can feel like when we tune into what our bodies truly need.

Lauren is the Meditation, Mindfulness & Yoga Program Coordinator for Student Life and is pursuing a PhD in Curriculum & Pedagogy at OISE, where she is studying student wellbeing in higher education. She was introduced to mindfulness to manage performance anxiety as a teen athlete and has practised yoga for over 20 years. Lauren has taught yoga and mindfulness in healthcare, public schools, with elite athletes, executives and in higher education. She holds a B.Ed. & M.Ed. in Adult Education, is an Applied Mindfulness Meditation Certificate program graduate and is a registered yoga instructor.

Lynn Nguyen is a Master of Social Work candidate and an aspiring therapist. She has received mindfulness training in university and therapeutic settings, and completed the MindFIT Student Facilitator program at U of T. Lynn's classes are beginner friendly, adaptable and involve practices such as relaxation, breathing, and seated or lying down mindfulness meditations. She hopes to learn with and from those joining mindful moments to integrate mindfulness practices and principles and foster awareness and compassion in daily life.

Melissa is an experienced yoga teacher & therapist and Buteyko Breathing Educator. She has completed Foundations of Applied Mindfulness Meditation at U of T’s School of Continuing Studies. She encourages you to personalize yoga and meditation and bring their teachings into daily life. Melissa's classes involve a reflection topic/intention, gentle yoga practice, relaxation, breathing practice and seated/lying down mindfulness meditation. All of her classes are beginner friendly with modifications available.

Niamh is a PhD student in the Department of Forestry. She has been practicing yoga and mindfulness for over 10 years and is passionate about incorporating nature into her practice and facilitation. Niamh has trained in the Vipassana technique and is a certified yoga teacher. She hopes to provide an inclusive space to engage with the practice of mindfulness and to be together in community. All are welcome to join at any point in her sessions. Time for discussion and questions will be accommodated.

Savannah works at the Mastercard Foundation as an information management analyst where she supports colleagues in Canada and Africa with their work on youth employment for Indigenous women in Canada and young people in Africa. Prior to the Foundation, she worked at the Ministry of the Attorney General where she supported counsels and law students with legal research. Savannah was introduced to mindfulness from Search Inside Yourself, an evidence-based mindfulness and leadership program developed at Google. She speaks Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and is picking up French.

Dr. Banerjee is a family doctor who has been meditating for many years. She has focused on mindfulness in healthcare for the last several years due to the growing research on its potential impact on stress management, mental health, pain and many other conditions. Her sessions are a great way to practice as a community whether you are a beginner or a seasoned meditator. Each session involves a short introduction, meditation and a short follow-up discussion.