Murray

Jenny Kierstead, BPE, BEd

Registered Somatic Therapist | Trauma-Informed Mindfulness Educator | E-RYT 1000

Jenny is the founder of Yoga in Schools and the Girl on Fire Empowerment programs. A national award-winning educator and pioneer in the Canadian yoga movement, she co-authored provincial curricula, created programs for diverse learners, and has been recognized with the Women of Excellence and RBC Women of Influence awards.

Blair Abbass, BEd, MEd, MA (Counselling)

Registered Counselling Therapist | Educator

Blair is an award-winning therapist and educator who co-authored Mindfulness in the Classroom and co-developed Nova Scotia’s Yoga 11 program. He has designed mindfulness and trauma programs in partnership with schools and First Nations communities, and brings decades of experience helping youth and adults build resilience.

Together, Jenny and Blair have developed evidence-based programs that transform how schools and communities approach mindfulness, trauma, and empowerment.

Yoga in Schools

A New Path Forward – Healing through Mindfulness,Movement & Cognitive Therapy

10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. - Harbour A

Join Jenny Kierstead, somatic therapist, yoga teacher trainer, and educator, together with Blair Abbass, counselling therapist and educator with Nova Scotia’s new Mood and Anxiety initiative.

Together, Jenny and Blair have designed a self-paced program and live workshop to provide practical, evidence-based tools that support health and healing.

In this workshop, participants will:

Learn the foundations of mindfulness, cognitive therapy, and gentle movement for healing and regulation
Explore accessible practices to manage thoughts, emotions, and body tension
Receive a recorded practice to deepen integration at home or in professional settings

Whether you attend for personal growth or to enrich your professional work, this workshop offers a clear path toward balance, resilience, and wellbeing.

Please wear comfortable clothing.

Explore the self-paced program anytime here: A New Path Forward

Anxiety Recovery Workshop – A Mind-Body Approach

1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. - Harbour A

Did you know that Nova Scotia has one of the highest rates of anxiety in Canada? Since the pandemic, both adult and youth anxiety have risen sharply, highlighting the urgent need for accessible, evidence-based mental health support.

This experiential workshop provides practical tools to calm the mind and restore balance. Through a blend of gentle movement, guided breathwork, and psychoeducation, you’ll learn how to:

Release tension stored in the body
Use the breath to regulate anxiety in the moment
Reframe anxious thought patterns
Practice simple movements that evoke calm

This workshop is designed to support both personal wellbeing and to equip teachers and leaders with strategies to foster greater self-regulation and ease in their communities.

Comfortable clothing is recommended.

Explore the self-paced program here: Anxiety Recovery: A Mind-Body Education

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