Here’s a bit about me
Hi, I’m Cassie!
I am a trauma-informed yoga teacher and yoga therapist with 1200 hours of formal training, 7 years of teaching experience, and 13 years of personal practice. I live and work on the traditional territory the traditional, unceded territory of the Sinixt (Lakes), the Ktunaxa (Kutenai), the Sylix (Okanagan) and the Secwepemc (Shuswap) people, known as Nelson, British Columbia.
I’ve been practicing yoga since I was 13. It became a lifeline for me to overcome periods of trauma, anxiety and depression. It gave meaning to my life that I had never known before.
I take a compassion-based and option-oriented approach to my teachings, rooted deeply in the philosophy of yoga. I am endlessly grateful for the ancient yogis who cultivated, preserved and passed the teachings of yoga through hundreds of centuries, allowing many of us to live today more freely and at peace.
Since 2018, I’ve been working with survivors of a variety of traumas including human trafficking, child sexual abuse, war/conflict and more. I believe deeply in the ability for yoga to empower trauma survivors to lead life with a renewed sense of agency and hope.
For me, the experience of a yoga practice is a kind of art form. I create retreats thoughtfully curated to bring renewal, support and healing to our guests. I call on a wide range of practices including vinyasa yoga, restorative, Yoga Nidra, meditation, pranayama and storytelling, complemented by music and poetry.
I’m set to start my psychotherapy career in spring 2025 and I look forward to weaving these new learnings with my yoga knowledge and experience for the healing of my clients.
Explore ways to connect here or review my education and experience below.
Education & Training
Yorkville University
Masters of Arts in Counselling Psychology (currently enrolled)
University of Ottawa
Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours Specialization in Conflict Studies and Human Rights (2020) Cum Laude
School of Embodied Yoga Therapy
800 hour Yoga Therapy program + Trauma Aware Certification (2022)
School of Embodied Yoga Therapy
A Year to Breathe: A year-long gathering, meditation and study practicing gratitude, grief and endings unto our last breath with Anne Pitman (in progress)
School of Embodied Yoga Therapy
Embodying Yoga’s Philosophy and History: Exploring yoga history, decolonization, Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras and the Bhagavad Gita with Neil Dalai (in progress).
Kranti Yoga
200 hour Yoga Teacher Training (2017)
Carleton University Health & Wellness Equity Research Group
Trauma and Violence Informed Physical Activity Training
Mental Health Commission of Canada
Mental Health First Aid Certificate (2021)
Evolve with Intention
20 hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training (2020)
Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization
Friends of the Family & Peer Support training (2019)
Volunteer & Service Work
Ottawa Coalition to End Human Trafficking
Head of Marketing and Promotion of the Public Outreach Division June 2016-July 2018
A New Day Youth and Adult Services
Provided weekly trauma-informed yoga classes to survivors of sex trafficking 2018-2020.
Work Experience
Independent Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher (2018 onwards) & Yoga Therapist (2021 onwards)
2018-present
Designed and delivered yoga projects safe for people experiencing the effects of trauma, with an emphasis on self-compassion and empowerment in collaboration with a variety of service agencies in Ottawa such as:
A New Day Youth and Adult Services
Jewish Family Services Newcomer Youth Leadership program
Voice Found
Sexual Assault Support Centre Ottawa
Carleton University Sexual Assault Support Centre
Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization
Parkdale Food Centre
SALUS Ottawa
St. Mary’s Home
Banff Community House
Founder, Nest Retreats
2022-present
Created, planned and executed 6 (and counting) immersive retreat experiences locally and abroad for international guests. Designed yoga practices which embody themes such as interconnection with the earth and waters, sacred rest and creative expression. Collaborated with artists and co-hosts offering poetry and installation art.
Lead Yoga Teacher Trainer, SoulSpeak Yoga
2022-2024
Co-created a 200-hour international yoga teacher training focusing on an inclusive approach to vinyasa yoga. Original presentations include traditional yoga philosophy, pranayama and meditation, trauma-informed yoga and teaching methodology. Offers an ongoing mentorship program to past students.
Contracted Yoga Teacher
2018-present
Offered a variety of yoga classes and workshops of varying styles and experience levels at private businesses including:
SoulSpeak Yoga
Prana Shanti
Elevate Yoga
Modern Body
Anytime Fitness
Warrior Yoga Network
Cofounder & Executive Director June 2018-August 2022.
Led program design, service delivery, team management and community partnerships for an international nonprofit agency making wellness practices accessible to thousands of people within trauma-impacted and low income communities in Ottawa, Toronto and Stockholm.
Royal Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research
Research Assistant June 2021-October 2022
Supported participants with a schizophrenia or another psychosis-related diagnosis through an 8-week yoga and mindfulness study.
Morneau Shepell
Client Care Representative February 2019-June 2019
Connected clients with the appropriate supports and resources for their mental and physical health challenges, including crisis services.
CONTACT
Reach out
I’m always happy to hear from you.
yogabycassie@gmail.com