Joanne Astley, Clinical Social Worker, is a graduate of 500 hours of teacher training at Octopus Garden Holistic Yoga Centre in Toronto (2012), as well as advanced trainings in Restorative and Yin yoga. Joanne has additional training in iRest Yoga Nidra, a form of guided meditation in the yogic tradition, which was developed by Richard Miller, clinical psychologist. Joanne has benefited greatly from studying with Toronto teachers, Pat Harada Linfoot, Scott Davis, and Cathy Keenan, as well as from internationally known teachers and authors such as Pema Chodron, Amy Weintraub and Thich Nhat Hanh. In addition to a Master’s in Social Work, Joanne has training in therapeutic modalities with mindfulness components such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), which she uses regularly to assist her clients. All of these trainings and experience have deepened Joanne’s understanding of yoga and mindfulness, as well as how to make her classes more accessible and supportive to all students. Joanne encourages students to adapt their practice according to their own needs, while bringing a sense of self-exploration, playfulness and self-compassion.