Wellness Through Yoga & Mindfulness
Virtual Sessions Available
Private, Semi-Private & Group options are available to fit your preference.
Kerri-Ann offers a holistic wellness approach by blending her yoga and mindfulness teachings with a variety of counselling practices that are evidence-based. She has a particular interest in helping people understand the benefits of yoga while addressing concerns related to stress, worry, fatigue, chronic pain, body image, and self-acceptance.
She is passionate about teaching skills to aid in self-awareness, making supportive choices, and building peace within the mind and body.
These skills can help to reduce stress, regulate difficult emotions, tolerate distress, enhance self-compassion, and can have a positive rippling effect on other important aspects of everyday life. The focus of these sessions is to tune into breath, body, sensations, thoughts and emotions, and practice in a way that brings balance.
Each session includes mindfulness-based teachings, gentle yoga, breath techniques, and take-home counselling strategies to support well-being.
Types of Sessions
Be Moved: Yoga & Mindfulness Skills for Mood and Energy
When mood and energy are low, even thinking about exercise and movement can feel daunting. This yoga practice is designed to work with your energy level without judgement. Learn some simple breath practices and mindful movements that can help to increase your energy and motivation.
A variety of mindfulness strategies will also be shared to address negative thinking patterns and may improve motivation to attend to the things you care about.
C.A.L.M. - Gentle Yoga & Mindfulness for Stress-Relief
Learn ways that stress and worry affect our bodies, our thoughts and emotions; the ways they can make us feel small, and even stop us from doing the things we care about. Practice gentle mindful movement and breath techniques that can help to feel calm and focused.
Mindfulness techniques will also be shared that can be practiced at home and may help to start to relate to worry and stress in a more skillful way.
Yoga for EveryBODY & Self-Acceptance
Learn skills to tune into your self-talk and practice strategies that can give less attention to unhelpful thoughts about how you view yourself, your body, and your capabilities. Experience how body appreciation through movement can offer a helpful perspective on how you relate to yourself.
A variety of self-help counselling resources will be shared to assist with viewing yourself with more kindness and acceptance.
Yoga & Mindfulness for Chronic Pain Relief
Explore the practice of gentle yoga, mindfulness skills, and breath work to respond to chronic pain. Learn strategies that may help to create a more compassionate relationship to your pain, even when it’s unwanted and impacts doing the things you enjoy. Gentle movement will be guided to meet your abilities and comfort level.
A variety of modifications such as chair yoga are available to support you. Mindfulness strategies for pain-management will also be provided for you to practice at home.
Yoga Nidra Meditation for Stress-Relief
Yoga Nidra meditation is practiced in stillness in a comfortable position. It is highly guided and can be a helpful option for people who are new to meditation, and for people who do not wish to include mindful movement or yoga poses within the session. This style of meditation can assist with stress-relief, rejuvenation and increased focus.
It is a restorative practice that emphasizes present moment awareness and can help to relieve stresses of multi-tasking and living a busy life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sessions do I attend?
The number of sessions you choose to attend is completely up to you. You may find that you benefit from one session, or you may choose to book follow-up sessions to continue to build upon the skills we practiced.
What do I wear to a session?
Please wear whatever makes you comfortable and allows you to move freely.
What do I bring to a session?
It is recommended to bring a water bottle. A yoga mat will be provided although you are welcome to bring your own if you have one.
I have been wanting to try yoga and feel intimidated. Do I need to be experienced with yoga and “in shape” to come to these sessions?
It can be normal to feel intimidated by yoga, especially with advertisements that focus on challenging poses and certain body types, ages and appearances. So long as you can breathe, you can practice yoga. You are welcome to come as you are, and you will not be judged. No prior yoga experience is needed. We will practice alongside each other with our mats parallel to one another unless you prefer a different set-up. Many people find parallel practice to feel like a team and less intimidating.
What if I have a health concern?
Please check with your doctor to confirm if gentle Hatha Yoga is okay for you.
What can I expect for the first session?
Your privacy is respected, and the first session will begin with some paperwork including a confidentiality and intake form. There will be an opportunity to talk about the reasons that brought you to the session as well as they type of session you would like to participate in. You can expect to practice a combination of some gentle movement, breathing techniques, and evidence-based mindfulness skills that are in line with your goals. You will also receive a variety of mindfulness-based counselling resources that you can practice at home for further personal growth.
Are these sessions covered by my benefit plan?
If you have benefits, please check with your provider to determine if registered social work service is covered by your benefit plan. Our programs have a variety of pricing options. Services by a registered social worker are an approved medical expense for income tax purposes.
How can these sessions help me?
In addition to yoga’s many physical benefits including improved flexibility, balance, strength and vitality, it can also assist with improved concentration and stress-reduction. Mindfulness meditation can also decrease stress, increase focus, improve symptoms of anxiety and depression, increase enjoyment in life, and enhance compassion for oneself and others. Several types of yoga are considered “meditation in motion”, and many people find focus on guided movement to be an easier way to practice mindfulness compared to a seated meditation. It can also be helpful to focus on the felt sense of the body when it may be difficult to express one’s experience through words.
What is your background?
I am a registered social worker and have a Master of Social Work degree. I have over 20 years experience as a social worker in medical, university and community-development settings. I am also a certified yoga instructor and have completed training in a variety of types of yoga including teaching from a trauma-informed lens. I am passionate about sharing mindfulness and yoga skills to help others enhance their self-awareness and personal growth both on and off the yoga mat.
Please refer to the About Us to learn more about Kerri-Ann’s yoga and social work credentials. Additional information about our services can be found by visiting our FAQ page.