Why Mandorla Yoga Institute is the choice for you
Our Community
Twelve years ago, Stef, wanted something more from the yoga world. She wanted relationship and community and connection and transformation and inspiration and spiritual growth and meaningful conversations. She wanted yoga that was manifested as social justice and restoration and reclamation. This desire has lead us to the creation of a school community that comes together beyond our training sessions. The exploration of the feminine is a real life, day to day experience and we love supporting one another for short moments, informal gatherings and events of celebration. Join our tribe! Meet our teachers |
Our Philosophy
With philosophical roots in Buddhism and Tantra, our philosophical leanings are based around reclamation of the body-mind-heart relationship by following the ‘Middle Way’. This is also known as Moksha, a belief that every day activities are spiritual and that we can become aware and awaken to a full and inspired life within our bodies. Celebrating our bodies and enjoying all that life has to offer is part of the spiritual process, not a hindrance to it. We believe that yoga is about cultivating body positivity and creating healthy relationships with ourselves and others. This view strongly pours into how we view interacting with the world. While some of us are practicing vegetarians, many of us are not and you will be hard pressed to hear us say anything along the lines of what yoga teachers should or should not do. While supporting you, we acknowledge your individual process and from a place of generosity and kindness practice AHIMSA (non-harming) from a very gentle place. And of course, this applies to how we teach asana (the yoga postures) and pranayama (breathwork). We will invite you to play with your habits and will certainly support you into entering places of challenge and discomfort, but for us it is about bringing the practice to you and adapting it to your personal needs.
Our Intention
When we work with you, we hold to the following intentions at our core:
Who We Support
Mandorla programs were created to offer a safe atmosphere that is rooted in the exploration of feminine energy. This was inspired in response to the masculine culture that many of us live in. While the majority of our community are biologically female, we recognize that all humans regardless of gender identity, are at times in need of the loving, nurturing and gentleness that comes from a community that is centred in the spiritual feminine. If you are feeling called to connect with your heart and join our community, we will support you and embrace you wholeheartedly. All are welcome in this beautiful space.
How to Know if Mandorla is a fit for you
Mandorla trainings offer a collaborative hands on approach that is a really beautiful fit for most of our students.
Our trainings are a fit for you, at this time in your life if:
Our trainings might not be for you, at this time in your life if:
With philosophical roots in Buddhism and Tantra, our philosophical leanings are based around reclamation of the body-mind-heart relationship by following the ‘Middle Way’. This is also known as Moksha, a belief that every day activities are spiritual and that we can become aware and awaken to a full and inspired life within our bodies. Celebrating our bodies and enjoying all that life has to offer is part of the spiritual process, not a hindrance to it. We believe that yoga is about cultivating body positivity and creating healthy relationships with ourselves and others. This view strongly pours into how we view interacting with the world. While some of us are practicing vegetarians, many of us are not and you will be hard pressed to hear us say anything along the lines of what yoga teachers should or should not do. While supporting you, we acknowledge your individual process and from a place of generosity and kindness practice AHIMSA (non-harming) from a very gentle place. And of course, this applies to how we teach asana (the yoga postures) and pranayama (breathwork). We will invite you to play with your habits and will certainly support you into entering places of challenge and discomfort, but for us it is about bringing the practice to you and adapting it to your personal needs.
Our Intention
When we work with you, we hold to the following intentions at our core:
- To support you in developing and growing your sadhana (personal yoga practice) with the hope that you may deeply experience the transformative benefits of yoga in an intimate way
- To support you in beginning to develop a comprehension of yoga in all of its depth from its history and philosophy to how it is applied physically, emotionally, energetically, mentally and spiritually
- To support you to the best of our abilities to be fully prepared to share yoga with others in an environment that is both safe and nurturing as well as creative, fun and inspiring
- To support you in creating meaningful relationships with yourself and others within an inspiring yoga community founded in transformative yoga practices
Who We Support
Mandorla programs were created to offer a safe atmosphere that is rooted in the exploration of feminine energy. This was inspired in response to the masculine culture that many of us live in. While the majority of our community are biologically female, we recognize that all humans regardless of gender identity, are at times in need of the loving, nurturing and gentleness that comes from a community that is centred in the spiritual feminine. If you are feeling called to connect with your heart and join our community, we will support you and embrace you wholeheartedly. All are welcome in this beautiful space.
How to Know if Mandorla is a fit for you
Mandorla trainings offer a collaborative hands on approach that is a really beautiful fit for most of our students.
Our trainings are a fit for you, at this time in your life if:
- You feel ready to look in the mirror and begin the process of stepping into self-love and self-care.
- You feel that the support of other women will be deeply healing for you at this time in your life.
- You feel ready to support other women on their own healing journey and are ready to create friendships that will last a lifetime.
Our trainings might not be for you, at this time in your life if:
- You would prefer to observe rather than participate.
- You have experienced a trauma that may be triggered within the context of a group environment and feel that one on one support may better suit you in this stage of your life. (We do offer portions of our training online and one on one, if that would better support you.)
- You currently have a very high level of unpredictability and/or responsibility in your life and may need to cancel your attendance at a short notice.