mindful yoga
MOVE. STRETCH. BREATHE.
In the practice of Mindful Yoga we intentionally bring mindful awareness to the body as we move, stretch and breathe.
In this 8-week course, you will cultivate a deeper, kinder, more resilient and conscious connection with body and mind.
No pre-requisite is necessary—all are welcome!
A unique, trauma-sensitive program that combines:
traditional Hatha yoga
stretch therapy
mindful movement
Thanks for all the effort and care you put in to such thoughtful classes.
— Catherine, 2022 Mindful Yoga participant
Mindful yoga helps us to become more at home in our body.
What are the possible benefits?
Our Mindful Yoga students have described several positive effects including:
Reduction in physical aches and pains
Sense of emotional safety
Feeling more connected to themselves
I look forward to the class every week. — Mindful Yoga participant
Connect to the body in a kinder and more conscious manner.
all minds and bodies welcome
Participants who have taken an MBSR course will recognise this approach of mindfully attending to the body both in stillness and in movement.
However, no experience with meditation or yoga is necessary. This course is suitable for newcomers as well as those who have mobility issues.
Megan offers variations for all poses, and everything is always optional – you can choose to lie down or rest at any time.
Alternatively, if you are comfortable to do so you can always choose a deeper stretch, or a variation that feels more challenging to you.
There is a strong focus on how to work compassionately with tension, stress, pain and physical limitations.
what happens in a mindful yoga class?
Over 8 weeks (once a week for 1.5 hours) you will move, breathe and stretch.
Each class includes a short arrival practice in stillness, movement, stretches and poses which start of gently and build through the class.
Class finishes with a 10-15 minute relaxing meditation.
Each week has a different emphasis so that through the 8 week cycle the whole body, heart and mind are attended to.
Please note that registration and payment are for the entire term. We are not able to accept casual enrolments. Enrolments are typically accepted until Week 3.
The class is very welcoming. I always feel restored afterwards. — 2019 Mindful Yoga participant
What does the mindful yoga course include?
12 hours of face-to-face practice
1.5 hour class once a week for 8 weeks
Yoga and guided meditations
Physical poses and breathwork
Digital downloads of some yoga classes
Lifetime access to our members-only online library
Meet your mindful yoga teacher
Megan Layton
Director, Senior MBSR, PNT, Self-Compassion and Yoga teacher
The director of Simply Mindful, Megan Layton, will be your teacher. Megan is a trained and recognised trauma sensitive yoga teacher and therapist with extensive experience in trauma therapy and somatic movement.
She is also a mental health social worker who works with a very broad range of people, from CEOs to students. She worked for over 15 years with acute trauma (in a torture trauma rehabilitation service) and has a deep interest in helping people to heal and feel at home in their bodies and to grow in vitality and health no matter what challenges they are facing.
I really enjoyed and got a lot out of Tuesday night. We have been looking for something that suits us and have tried and/or investigated other options. We really appreciated your style, competence, presence and authenticity, together with the content.
— John, 2022 Mindful Yoga participant
Megan that was really beautiful-thank you so much! It was lovely to see you and looking forward to next week!
— 2023 Mindful Yoga participant
Mobilise your innate potential for growth and healing.
Our venue: the Gathering Place
Our programs are offered at our beautiful northside Canberra venue. We are delighted to share this beautiful place of peace, meditation, contemplation, healing, renewal and learning.
enrol now in mindful yoga
Choose a start date below. (We generally run 1-2 courses per term, so check back later if you don’t see a date that suits you.)
Answers to your questions
What kind of yoga is it?
Megan, your teacher, has trained in classical Hatha yoga, Stretch Therapy, as well as Trauma Sensitive Yoga and a wide range of mindfulness, meditation and body-mind practices and therapies. She blends these in a unique and creative way.
Do I need to have any experience with yoga?
No experience necessary! This class is suitable for absolute beginners and we also have many experienced yogis attending.
What happens in a mindful yoga class?
Each class includes a short arrival practice in stillness, movement, stretches and poses which start of gently and build through the class. Class finishes with a 10-15 minute relaxing meditation.
Each week has a different emphasis so that through the 8 week cycle the whole body, heart and mind and attended to.
What if I have an injury or physical vulnerability?
All stretches, poses and sequences are able to be adapted. Options are explained and demonstrated throughout classes and you are actively encouraged to do what feels right for you. You are also welcome to pause or rest anytime.
What if I can't make it in person?
Mindful yoga classes are offered online simultaneously, so you can join us from home or wherever you are. A Zoom link is sent to you each week with your class reminder so you can join online if you choose. Please note that classes are not typically recorded, so you do still need to join in real time.