Kate Shingler teaches Soft Yoga as a volunteer at Hope & Cope. While yoga is not her profession (her full-time work is in communications for a research organization called Brain Canada) it has been a steady and meaningful presence in her life since high school.

“I’ve practiced yoga for my own pleasure and well-being since I was a teenager,” Kate says. “Completing my yoga teacher training was always a dream of mine, and I finally did it after the birth of my third child.”

Kate first learned about Hope & Cope through a Facebook group for yoga teachers and began teaching at the Centre in June 2025. Prior to this, she volunteered her time teaching yoga to toddlers in her children’s daycare, elementary-school-aged children, and adult women. Teaching at Hope & Cope is her first experience working with people facing health challenges.

Kate’s Philosophy

“There’s a strong notion of service in yogic philosophy,” Kate explains. “For me, volunteering is about bringing yoga to others and sharing what I believe are its many benefits.”

Kate teaches a Soft Yoga that is open, welcoming, and accessible to all. No prior experience is required. “My hope is to cultivate an appreciation for what each individual can do,” she says. “The poses can always be adapted, depending on where you are that day or where you are in your health journey.”

The program is open to people currently in treatment as well as those who have completed treatment. Caregivers are also welcome to attend if participants feel more comfortable having them by their side.

At the start of every class, Kate reminds participants to listen to their bodies and to honour both their abilities and their limits. “If anything doesn’t feel good, please stop,” she tells them. Throughout the class, she checks in regularly: Is this okay? Does anything not feel right?

“The practice is about learning to listen,” Kate says. “When we listen, we learn to respect what our bodies can and cannot do on any given day.”

The Benefits of a Yoga Practice

Kate views yoga as a holistic approach to wellness that improves physical, mental, and social well-being.

The physical benefits include:

●     Greater comfort in the body and increased flexibility

●     Gentle strengthening, balance, and improved mobility

●     Increased blood flow and lubrication of the joints

These are accompanied by mental health benefits:

●     Breathwork and reflection cultivate stillness, mindfulness, and inner calm

●     Breathing techniques help reduce anxiety and manage stress

●     The practice fosters resilience and appreciation for the body

●     Tension is released, creating a calmer inner space

As part of each class, Kate also encourages participants to set a positive intention for the day, such as, “May I be at peace. May I be loved.”

Yoga also provides social benefits.

“Even when we’re facing cancer,” Kate says, “we can still move through yoga together, as part of a community.” Practicing alongside others creates a shared experience that fosters connection and belonging.

“You might arrive feeling tired or discouraged,” she adds, “but you may leave with a smile. That feeling is empowering.”

Kate also notes that the yoga class can serve as an entry point to the wider Hope & Cope community. She is struck by the Centre’s warm, home-like atmosphere and the range of programs available. “It’s a place where you can feel comfortable,” she says, “and connect with others in meaningful ways.”

Volunteering at Hope & Cope

“Working at Hope & Cope is pretty special,” Kate reflects. “It really lights up my Monday.”

Although the class is just forty-five minutes long, she says it adds tremendous value to her day. “As a volunteer, I feel like I’m brightening someone’s day by helping them to move in a way that feels good, to recharge mentally, and to find renewed energy.”

In Kate’s eyes, the people who come to Hope & Cope are resilient and deeply appreciative of each day, and of the Centre’s many resources.

“There’s a very positive energy here,” she adds. “The room is filled with people who have faced significant challenges and continue to persevere. That reality deepens the sense of connection and bonding.”