Christmas gift for you! & New Year Intentions

What does it mean to teach inclusive, accessible, trauma-informed yoga? As I reflect on the past year and everything that has happened, these principles are what I return to as I set my intentions for Om: The Practice in 2026.

These terms are now nearly ubiquitous in the yoga world - and truly this is a positive. But as a teacher and a business owner, these aren't just marketing buzzwords. They are principles at the core of Om: The Practice. They are guides to which I can return when I am making decisions about how to serve clients and develop new programs. Let me break this down.

Inclusivity is about making the space I hold welcoming to all, and about representing the practices I am leading with authenticity. Peoples' different bodies, cultures, backgrounds nervous systems, religious beliefs, pose no barrier to their deriving benefit from my offerings. Honouring teachers and students from diverse backgrounds and lifting up others to share their gifts is a part of inclusivity. As well, I aim to represent what I teach authentically - clarifying what is innovation, the origins of certain practices or poses, what is "traditional" versus "fusion", not to suggest that one is better than the other, but simply to represent my offerings with humility and authenticity.

In 2026 I'm going to be looking to connect with talented yoga teachers who want to join my mission here at Om: The Practice. If that is you, or you know a teacher based in the Lower Mainland of BC who has a service-minded approach to their teaching, I'd love to connect.

Accessibility is about adapting practices to serve my clients, so that the benefits of yoga and everything I offer are accessible to all. This means acknowledging when certain traditions in yoga practice have caused harm - like rigid adherence to certain asana (poses) which are unattainable for most bodies. This is where I welcome adaptation, innovation and the bridging of different bodies of knowledge. People who have limited mobility can practice yoga. People with injuries can practice yoga. Large bodies can practice yoga as can small bodies. One of my favourite quotations is: "use the shape to get into your body, rather than using your body to get into the shape". Props like blocks, straps, bolsters can make asana more accessible, when skillfully implemented. Adapting cues to give direction without emphasizing a certain endpoint is also important. This is a practice I am continually refining.

Trauma-informed teaching is one way of being inclusive - it is teaching in a way that doens't create friction or barriers for participants who have experienced trauma. Because trauma is so individual, it's impossible to always know a person's experiences and what might trigger a stress response. However, there are certain principles that mitigate the potential for inadvertently shifting a participant into fight-or-flight and pulling them out of their experience.

Firstly, always getting consnet from participants for any type of hands on adjustments. I love experiencing adjustments but touch doesn't feel safe for everyone.

Secondly, making your presence known to even when participants are in savasana or meditation, simply by letting them follow the sound of your voice as you travel. This avoids surprising or startling.

Thirdly, accepting that certain poses simply will not be comfortable and allowing participants to skip or modify. Remembering that the goal of the practice is to reconnect participants with their bodies to still the fluctuations of the mind. Even the most thoughtfully prepared sequence should not be enforced. It's true that yoga is a practice of self-discipline, but this is not to be confused with self-punishment. Sitting with and sometimes moving through discomfort is part of how we grow. But each participant needs to be the one to drive their own practice, their own growth, so that the discomfort is titrated and manageable.

This is what it means to be a yoga teacher, to create and hold space for others to practice, grow and thrive. It is by their own hands, not our as as the teacher that this happens. We simply have the honour of witnessing it.

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Christmas Gifts From Me To You!

I just learned that I have livestreamed and recorded 50 GB of virtual yoga classes this year! In celebration of this, I am going to record and share an HD Christmas Yoga class and share it out with all of my Omies this Friday, on the big day. Check your inbox on Christmas morning for this little present from me to you!

But that's not all! I have officially registered my booth staff for The Wellness Show! As an exhibitor, I have 10 free visitor passes to share with my Omies! If you're interested in attending Vancouver's premier health and wellness themed show, hosted at the Vancouver Convention Centre on January 31st and February 1st, you can email or DM me on Instagram and I'll be delighted to share them with you! First come, first served - so don't wait! Shoot me a message if you're interested in attending. Tickets retail for $22.40!

Here is a sneak peek at some of the exhibitors you'll be able to see there: https://www.thewellnessshow.com/exhibitors-2026/

Britt