Jenny Kierstead (Co-founder, Facilitator, Curriculum Developer)

BPE, BEd | E-RYT 1000 | Yoga Therapist | Ayurvedic & Qi Gong Instructor | Mindfulness and Trauma Facilitator

Jenny Kierstead is a pioneer in yoga education, mindfulness, and trauma-informed wellness, with certifications in multiple disciplines including Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Ayurveda, Qi Gong, Medical Qi Gong, and Mindfulness-Based Practices.

She has studied directly under globally respected leaders such as Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Shiva Rea, Michael Lee, Deepak Chopra, Jack Kornfield, Robert Peng, and Bo Forbes, bringing a depth of wisdom and authenticity to all she teaches.

As the founder of the Yoga in Schools movement, she has authored curriculum for ten school-based yoga and mindfulness programs, several of which were developed in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Department of Education. One standout achievement includes the Grade 11 Yoga Phys. Ed. elective, now taught in high schools across Canada. She also worked closely with First Nations School Boards across Atlantic Canada, supporting them in becoming the first Indigenous boards to integrate Yoga and Mindfulness in Schools into their education system.

Through her 200-hour teacher training program, Awakenings, she has certified over 2,000 yoga teachers. She is also the founder of Breathing Space Yoga Studios, a network of award-winning studios recognized by the Chamber of Commerce and CEED for their outstanding community impact.

Driven by a passion for empowerment, she created Girl on Fire, a 12-week resilience-building program for teenage girls. With over 250 trained facilitators nationwide, the program is igniting confidence, self-worth, and leadership in youth across Canada.

Her contributions have earned her national recognition, including the RBC Women of Influence Award and the Progressive Women of Excellence Award, in honour of her leadership in education, wellness, and community change.