Lara

Lara teaches simple techniques for calming the nervous system through Listen Lightly. She came to the work as a corporate lawyer in Toronto, where she used mindfulness meditation to manage stress and anxiety and to perform better at work. She describes herself then as anxious, stressed-out and always in a rush. Learning to meditate and regularly relax her nervous system changed her life, and she decided to share the practice with others.

A committed yogi for 20 years, Lara has spent thousands of hours in meditation and on retreat. Through meditation and yoga she found a connection between stress, physical tension and emotional well-being. Since 2017 she has guided people through private sessions, corporate workshops and wellness retreats internationally.

Her teaching draws on mindfulness, meditation, visualization, Yoga Nidra ("yogic sleep"), chakra energy work, reiki, ayurvedic practices, breathwork and cannabis-assisted meditation journeys. She works with each client until they find a practice, or a few, that suits their lifestyle and personality, and she stays available to them afterwards. She also offers group courses and personal coaching.

Her training includes a 200-hour yoga teacher training with Tribe Yoga in Goa, a 200-hour meditation facilitator program in Toronto, a 50-hour Yoga Nidra facilitator training, reiki certification, psychedelic sitter training with Medicinal Mindfulness, and a contemplative psychotherapy and mindfulness certificate from the Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science. She holds a JD from Emory University and an honours science degree in environmental geology from Queen's University. She describes herself as a lifelong student who practices daily.