Elaine Jackson

Yoga and Meditation Teacher

I started practicing yoga in the 90’s as a way to work with my own stress and anxiety. When I moved back to the GTA in 2003 I decided to do a yoga teacher training with Esther Myers. I didn’t plan on teaching, but thought that yoga would be a useful tool in my career as an occupational therapist. But then I discovered that I loved teaching. I believed that I was making more of a difference as a yoga teacher than I ever could working inside the medical system. Eventually, I retired from OT (in 2016) and since then have made my living as a full-time yoga teacher and freelance writer.

As an education junkie I’ve continued to take courses every year and have discovered, to my delight, that I’ve barely scratched the surface of what yoga has to offer. For thirteen years I had the privilege of mentoring with and assisting my guiding teacher, Michael Stone, until his tragic death in July 2017. My hope is that his work, his wonderful sense of humour, and his exceptional kindness will live on in all of his many friends and students. I aspire to embody his unique blending of traditional yoga and buddhist teachings, with Western psychology, philosophy, and social/environmental activism.

I count myself lucky to study and work with many other talented, inspiring people and I include many of my students among them. My approach to yoga is eclectic, drawing from several lineages (Scaravelli, Ashtanga, rehabilitation medicine and movement science) and I teach meditation based on the Vipassana tradition. I am Bonefit® certified (osteoporosis) and completed my Level One Yoga Tune Up ® certification. I belong to a fabulous sangha called Gravity which meets in Toronto every Tuesday night and which is open to anyone who is interested in supported meditation practice.