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Mindful Moments: Meditation & Yoga

Mindful Moments support students’ holistic wellbeing: body, mind, spirit and heart. Through mindfulness meditation and mindful yoga classes, we aim to provide programming where students can learn new skills, develop life-long healthy habits and learn about themselves. These classes are also a great way to find a quiet space during busy days.

Each instructor’s class is shaped by their unique academic and personal experience with mindfulness and yoga. Read about each of our Mindful Moments instructors.

If you’re interested in learning how to facilitate mindfulness for your peers visit MindFIT Training Program.

Sign up for the Multi-Faith Centre newsletter to receive information about mindfulness, meditation and yoga programs!

All undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff are eligible to attend where space permits. All levels of fitness are welcome to our yoga classes.

Types of Mindful Moments Classes

We aim to create a warm, welcoming, joyful, yoga class where everyone can feel comfortable in their bodies and with one another. We know yoga and fitness classes can sometimes feel intimidating. Here, we want to help dismantle contemporary notions of yoga as hierarchical spaces demanding perfection that are hyper-focused on the physical form of the body. Instead we emphasize moving at your own pace and developing a practice that works for you. Your instructor will offer options in class that you can choose to make the practice more or less physically challenging.

Good things to know about these classes:

  • Beginners are welcome. Remember, your instructor was a beginner once too.
  • This is not a competitive yoga environment. Everyone should feel free to do as much or as little of the physical components of class as they feel comfortable doing.
  • Listen to your body. It is your best guide on your yoga journey.
  • No special clothing is required but you should wear something you can move comfortably in.
  • We usually practice barefoot to reduce the risk of slipping.
  • Your instructor is happy to chat after class if you have questions about the practice.

When we get quiet in mindfulness meditation, we start to notice all kinds of things: our mental chatter or self-talk, our physical habits (e.g. clenching our teeth) and we can even become more aware of our mood and feelings. This awareness is empowering because it allows us to question or contemplate whatever we start to notice. Agency and autonomy can grow from this awareness and reflection.

Good things to know about these classes:

  • Your facilitator is trained and they welcome your questions.
  • You facilitator might be a graduate student, a staff member or even faculty.
  • Mindfulness is challenging—that’s why practicing together can really help!
  • Mindfulness is never about being perfect. It’s about noticing when our minds wander and learning about ourselves from that wandering.
  • There is no right, singular mindfulness practice for everyone. Your facilitator will offer a variety of meditations including breath meditations, body scans, visualization meditations, walking meditation, self-compassion and kindness meditations.

Search for Mindful Moments sessions

Some sessions require registration via Folio, others are drop-in style. Search for Mindful Moments on Folio to register.

Mindful Moments Instructors & Facilitators

Lauren Brown, Ph.D., M.Ed., E-RYT, AMMS

Program Coordinator, Yoga Instructor and Mindfulness Facilitator
Yoga Session:
Tuesdays, 5:15 – 6:15 p.m. at Multi-Faith Centre (Register on Folio)
4 Week Intro to Yoga: Wednesdays, 5 – 6 p.m. at Multi-Faith Centre Main Activity Hall
Meditation Session:
Wednesdays, 12 – 12:30 p.m. on Zoom (Register on Folio)

Lauren is the Mindfulness, Meditation & Yoga Program Coordinator for the Division of Student Life. She was introduced to mindfulness as a teen athlete and has practised yoga for over 20 years. Her recently completed PhD research is a call to leverage formal education, such as credit bearing university courses, as a preventative measure in the fight for student mental health and wellbeing. Through her research she identified that undergraduates learn about wellbeing through experiential learning, contemplation and critical thinking.

Headshot of Kirsty smiling.

Kirsty Clarke

Yoga and Mindfulness Meditation Instructor
Sessions:
Tuesdays, Yoga: 1:10 – 1:35 p.m. immediately followed by Meditation: 1:40 – 2 p.m. at Hart House

Kirsty is on staff in Marketing and Communications at Hart House. She has been teaching yoga since 2017, to students of all ages and abilities. She teaches a relaxing vinyasa style, with options for students of all levels and experience. Kirsty‘s goal is for students to leave class feeling refreshed and revitalized, with tools to connect mind and body in a meaningful way outside the classroom in their real lives as well.

Headshot of Silje smiling.

Silje Jensen

Yoga Instructor
Yoga Sessions:
Monday, 7:10 – 7:55 p.m. at Goldring Fitness Studio
Thursday, 5:10 – 5:55 p.m. at Goldring Fitness Studio

I teach a movement-forward, mindfulness-based class that strengthens both body and mind. I have expanded my teachings by studying and practicing yoga around the world under a variety of mentors and I am honored to teach at the University of Toronto. I am currently an undergraduate student studying philosophy and physiology with a focus on nutritional and neurosciences. I have always had a fascination in human biology, and to me, yoga embodies the intersection between bodily and mental awareness.

Headshot of Maya.

Maya Gangji

Yoga Instructor
Yoga Session:
Sundays, 10 – 10:45 a.m. at Goldring Fitness Studio

Maya has been involved with the Sivananda Yoga Organization since 2016 and has been teaching at the Sivananda Yoga Toronto Centre since 2022. Maya’s experience includes traditional Hatha yoga, Kirtan/mantra chants, and discussions on the Bhagavad Gita. Currently, Maya is an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto, studying Physiology, Psychology, and Buddhism, and is heavily involved in campus life.

Headshot of Abby standing and crossing her arms confidently.

Abby Gaskin

Yoga Instructor
Yoga Sessions:
Wednesdays, 7:30 – 8:15 a.m. at Goldring Fitness Studio
Thursdays, 7:10 – 8 a.m. at Hart House

Abby is a graduate from the Master’s in East Asian Studies program at U of T and is an enthusiastic motivator about practicing and teaching yoga. Throughout her studies as a fashion designer (BFA in Fashion Design from the Parsons School of Design), followed by her time as a womenswear designer for UNIQLO in New York City, Abby has been exploring a diverse combination of yoga styles and practices. Though she started her yoga pursuit in 2016 as a Hatha-style certified teacher, Abby enjoys teaching a variety of styles with a focus on relaxed vinyasa yoga flow.

Headshot of Savannah smiling.

Savannah Li

Yoga Instructor
Yoga Sessions:
Fridays, 7:30 – 8:15 a.m. at Goldring Fitness Studio

Savannah has over a decade of experience in various styles of yoga and recently completed 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training and 50-hour Yin-Restorative Training at Yoga Therapy Toronto. Savannah also holds a 100-hour Meditation Teacher Training from Hoame, accredited by Yoga Alliance. Savannah specializes in making yoga accessible and helping participants reconnect their body, mind, and breath. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese and Japanese, Savannah is also learning French.

Headshot of Fiza smiling.

Fiza Mahtani

Yoga Instructor
Yoga Sessions:
Tuesdays, 6:10 – 6:55 p.m. at Goldring Fitness Studio

Fiza is a 4th-year Economics student passionate about health, wellness, and event planning. Over the past two years, she has been actively involved as a Work Study at the Multi-Faith Centre, supporting mindfulness, yoga, and interfaith programming. Beyond university, Fiza is the co-president of the U of T Pilates and Yoga Club and is a registered yoga teacher.

Keke standing in tree pose outside of old city hall in Nathan Philips Square.

Keke Shadane

Yoga Instructor
Yoga Sessions:
Tuesdays, 8:10 – 9 a.m. at Hart House Fitness Centre
Thursdays, 7:30 – 8:15 a.m. at Goldring Fitness Studio

Keke Shadane is a multidisciplinary performing artist, movement/yoga instructor and community leader. She began her movement practice as a classically trained ballerina. After dealing with a traumatic injury in her late teens, Keke fell in love with the magic of yoga and sustainable approaches towards movement and mindfulness. She infuses her love of poetry and dance into her teachings by inviting in childlike explorations and encourages participants to explore what movement can feel like when we tune into what our bodies truly need, instead of contorting to fit in.

Jenna smiling.

Jenna Smith

Yoga Instructor
Yoga Sessions:
Tuesdays, 7:30 – 8:15 a.m. at Goldring Fitness Studio

Jenna is a current Master of Arts student in the University’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. She has worked for the last three years as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and holds her 200-hr YTT certification. Her approach to yoga has always focused on mobility and a mind-body connection and her goal is to make her classes accessible and engaging to yogis of any ability. She has experience teaching professional athletes, kindergarteners and everyone in between! She would be excited and honoured to see you in one (or many) of her classes.