Joanna was fortunate to be introduced to yoga as a child, via her mom’s VHS workout collection. She began a daily practice during University as a way to manage piano performance anxiety, and felt yoga's positive effects in all aspects of her life. She completed her first 250 hour training in 2009 and has taught Ashtanga, Yin, Vinyasa, and Slow Flow classes since then. A lifelong learner, Joanna is currently completing her 500 hour Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist teacher training. She is particularly passionate about sharing yoga practices which support fertility, the nervous system, and mental health. Joanna’s classes will leave you feeling refreshed, settled, and reconnected with your body’s inner wisdom. Outside of yoga, Joanna enjoys cooking, hiking, playing piano, and spending time with her spouse and 5 year old daughter.

From a young age, Heather was passionate about helping others, and knew she wanted to work in healthcare. With a keen interest in communication, and following in the footsteps of her grandmother, she pursued a career in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP), and graduated from the SLP program in French (Orthophonie) at the University of Ottawa in 2015. She is registered with the College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists of Ontario (CASLPO) and certified with Speech-Language Audiology Canada (SAC). The majority of her work experience to date has been with young children with a variety of communication difficulties, including language delays, social-communication difficulties, oral motor/motor speech difficulties, and articulation and phonological delays, and she has worked extensively with children with autism and developmental delays. Heather believes in a family-centred approach, with a strong focus on parent education. Early intervention and prevention are so important, yet access to this type of service can be a challenge. It is for this reason Heather hopes to support families through group educational workshops, and teach parents and caregivers the skills and strategies that will help promote and build their children's speech and language skills at home.

Amy Warr is a mother of two, certified French educator in Ontario, and founder of 123 Petits Pas Inc. where she teaches French to families with young children. During her maternity leave with her first born (now age 5yrs), Amy began researching the best methods to raising bilingual babies. The “key” to raising bilingual children, seemed to be “a supportive community”. When she couldn’t find the type of community she was looking for, she started it herself- and so began 123 Petits Pas. Fun fact: Amy raises her sons to speak French as their first language despite being the only bilingual adult in her and her husband’s extended family. She is passionate about helping other parents introduce French at home (whether or not they speak French themselves to begin)! With over 8 years of teaching, 5 years of entrepreneurship, and 6 years of motherhood, “Madame Amy” is our go-to for French learning tips and tricks for families with young children (Ages 0-7yrs). She looks forward to chatting with you during our French support playgroup sessions!

HanNa is an instructor who loves Pilates and Yoga. She obtained her Pilates certification in South Korea in 2017 and also trained in Stott Pilates and RYT-200 when she moved to Canada. She fell in love with the changes she experienced in her own body through yoga and pilates especially after having her own children. She started working as an instructor and finds great joy in meeting people and sharing information about correct body exercises and overall wellbeing and health.

Sarah weaves thought-provoking meditations throughout her classes, applying yoga philosophy to our modern world in a pertinent way. She encourages growth of the spiritual self by nurturing body, mind and soul with simple meditations and a movement based practice. Yoga found Sarah at a heavy time in life, recently grieving the loss of her mother; yoga helped heal around her wound and ultimately changed the trajectory of her life. In 2008, she obtained her first yoga teacher certification with Iyengar Teacher Nesta Falladown, then Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga training with Michelle Cormack and Meditation with Tony Murdock. Completing over 500 hours of advanced yoga training, including Trauma Informed Yoga. Today, with over a decade of teaching experience and practice, Sarah has since shared her story and gift of yoga with others around the world. She is forever grateful for the loving wisdom from students and teachers alike. Sarah is best known in the community for teaching her Mother focused programs in Ottawa, holding space for moms online and leading soul mama circles. She is a self proclaimed rebel mama of two wildly awesome kiddos, a lover of nature and finds joy experimenting in the kitchen! A forever student, Sarah’s studies have taken her to Niagara on the Lake for Tourism Management & Business Development, to Herbalism and Postpartum Doula training in British Columbia and distance education for Women in Business. She is continuing her education as a Mama Rising ™ Facilitator and is the Founder and Creator of Mama Awakened Yoga.