Mindful Moments works to support students’ holistic wellbeing: body, mind, spirit and heart. Through mindfulness meditation and 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 under PROGRAM FACILITATORS.
Mindful Moments is CCR-eligible if you participate in 10 sessions and complete a reflection. Search “Personal Mindfulness Practice for Wellbeing” in the CCR Opportunity Directory.
If you’re interested in learning how to facilitate mindfulness for your peers visit MindFIT Training Program.
While you are here, join the Mindful Moments at U of T Facebook group.
Sign up for the Multi-Faith Centre newsletter to receive information about mindfulness, meditation and yoga programs!
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Program Eligibility
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.
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How The Program Works
Visit the Mindful Moments event calendar on the CLNx and join us!
Mindful Moments Yoga
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.
Mindfulness Meditation
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.
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Program Facilitators
Chloe Ellard
Pronouns: she/her
Role on Team: Mindful Moments Facilitator
Session(s): Thursdays, 12:15 p.m. Wellness Break on Instagram
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.
Learn more about Chloe
Hela Kalicharran
Pronouns: she/her
Role on Team: Mindful Moments Facilitator
Session(s): Thursdays, 12:15 p.m. Wellness Break on Instagram | Sundays, 10:15 a.m. | Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m.
Hela is a fifth-year student at the University of Toronto pursuing a major in Buddhist Studies and minors in Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health, and Indigenous Studies. She is a Yoga, Meditation, and Mindfulness Program Assistant for the Multi-Faith Centre, where she assists with MindFIT and other Mindful Moments programs. Since completing her 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2021, she has continued to explore the relationships between yoga, health and wellness.
Learn more about Hela
Jordan Weir
Pronouns: they/them
Role on Team: Mindful Moments Meditation Facilitator
Session(s): Mondays, 4:15 p.m. via Zoom
Jordan is a graduate of the MA in Creative Writing program at U of T, and a current student at OISE's MEd in Counselling and Psychotherapy. Their passion resides at the intersection of arts and wellness. They have hosted creative writing and mindfulness workshops for Student Life over the past two years, creating sessions that unite the benefits of artistic self-reflection and traditional meditation.
Learn more about Jordan
Lauren Brown, M.Ed., E-RYT, AMMS
Role on Team: Program Coordinator and Facilitator
Session(s): Starting mid-September: Thursdays, 4:10 – 5 p.m. Mindfulness Meditation at Hart House | Thursdays, 6:45 – 7:15 p.m. Yoga and Meditation at Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport
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.
Learn more about Lauren
Lisa Malinowski Kamaran, E-RYT, MSW Candidate
Pronouns: she/her
Role on Team: Mindful Moments Instructor
Session(s): Wednesdays, 4:15 p.m. starting mid-Sept
Lisa is a yoga instructor, mindfulness educator and sacred activist. She is currently pursuing her Master’s of Social Work at U of T. During her undergraduate degree, while living abroad in the Netherlands, Lisa was introduced to the art of yoga and meditation. For Lisa, the practice felt like an invitation to come home to the body and she has since spent her years practicing, absorbing and sharing yoga, meditation and mindfulness practices. Lisa is thankful to call Toronto her home and deeply enjoys feeling a connection to nature through running, walking and playing outside.
Learn more about Lisa
Lynn Nguyen, HBSc, MSW Candidate, MindFIT graduate
Role on Team: Mindful Moments Facilitator
Session(s): Tuesdays, 8:10 – 9 a.m. at Hart House Fitness Centre starting mid-September
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.
Learn more about Lynn
Melissa Campagnolo, RYT, C-IAYT
Role on Team: Mindful Moments Instructor
Session(s): Mondays, 12:15 – 1 p.m. Mindful Moments Yoga at Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport starting mid-September
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.
Learn more about Melissa
Niamh Wall, PhD student, RYT, MindFIT graduate
Role on Team: Mindful Moments Facilitator
Session(s): Tuesdays, 12:15 p.m. at Daniels Faculty of Architecture, starting mid-September
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.
Learn more about Niamh
Ravi Thiruchselvam, PhD
Role on Team: Mindful Moments Instructor
Session(s): Wednesdays, 12:15 p.m. via Zoom
Ravi completed his BSc at the University of Toronto (2009) and his PhD at Stanford University (2014). His research is in affective neuroscience with a current focus on questions relating to self-perception, emotion and psychological well-being. At UTSC, he teaches Introduction to Social Psychology, the Psychology of Happiness and Meaning and seminars in Current Topics in Neuroscience.
Learn more about Ravi
Savannah Li, MI, BCom
Pronouns: she/her
Role on Team: Mindful Moments Facilitator
Session(s): Tuesdays, 4:15 p.m. at Trinity College, Abbott Room in St. Hilda's Residence, starting late September
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.
Learn more about Savannah
Smriti Sundar
Role on Team: Mindful Moments Instructor
Smriti is a grad student in UX Design at U of T’s School of Information. She is passionate about health and wellness and hopes to create design technology to support it. She is a 500-hour certified Hatha yoga instructor and completed her training in Bangalore/Mysore, India. Yoga has always been part of her upbringing, but practicing as an adult allowed her to connect with herself and her culture, manage her physical and mental health, and develop more gratitude and compassion.
Learn more about Smriti
Dr. Susitna Banerjee
Role on Team: Mindful Moments Instructor
Session(s): Fridays, 12:15 – 1 p.m. The Reflection Room at Robarts Library, Room 8045, starting mid-Sept
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.
Learn more about Dr. Susitna
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Program Registration
Some sessions require registration via CLNx, others are drop-in style. Visit the Mindfulness Meditation & Yoga calendar.
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What Students Are Saying
My anxiety and procrastination around assignments has decreased because of the tools I have learned.
Mindful Moments Participant
Thank you very much for the sessions…[t]he instructors are always thoughtful of the participants and always encourage us not be too hard on ourselves.
Mindful Moments Participant
I very much appreciate these programs; I've been attending for a couple of years now (both in person and online) and they've been very helpful! All the facilitators/instructors have been very helpful, too, so I would like to thank them for their hard work.
Mindful Moments Participant
I love that it is gentle yet makes me feel strong.
Mindful Moments Participant
[The facilitator] created such a welcoming environment where I felt I could best develop my personal skills, without judgment! Due to my social anxiety, I do not often partake in such U of T extracurricular programs, but this class was very accessible for me. Thank you!!
Mindful Moments Participant
I had never joined a yoga session before this one, and this one was amazing for being online! It was fun, the instructor was excellent, and I plan on incorporating yoga into my life more!
Mindful Moments Participant
Listening to a calming voice, while listening to my own body keeps me connected both with myself and with others in the U of T community. Thank you very much!!
Mindful Moments Participant