Mary Baker and Heidi Minga are the founders of Be Well Therapy, a local non-profit offering yoga for cancer recovery classes and private sessions in San Diego County. Their program utilizes yoga, deep relaxation, guided imagery, meditation, and group support for those living with cancer and their caregivers. In 2017, Be Well will be offering a 50-hour Yoga for Cancer Recovery teacher training and expanding their classes throughout San Diego County.
Join us for our weekly Yoga for Cancer classes – these are open to individuals with cancer either in treatment or in recovery as well as their caregivers. Classes are donation-based, pay as you can.
1.) Tell me about your personal journey with yoga. Why is it important to you?
Yoga for both Heidi and Mary has been a journey of healing. Heidi lost her mom to ovarian cancer at the young age of 56 and Mary lost her dad, age 74, to lung cancer followed six months later by her mom, age 72, to stomach cancer. Both have a deep understanding of the healing power of yoga and credit their yoga practice with giving them the physical, mental, and spiritual strength to handle such challenging times.
Mary began teaching in 2010 and Heidi in 2012. The are both now 500 hour certified RYT’s. In 2014 they both received an additional 100 hours of training in yoga for cancer and cardiac disease. It was immediately following this training that they were inspired to form their non-profit, Be Well Therapy, Inc., and begin offering Yoga for Cancer Recovery classes, private sessions & special events. Be Well currently holds two weekly classes at Yoga Six in Carlsbad and will be adding more classes early in 2017.
Recently, Be Well was awarded the “Here to Be” scholarship by lululemon Temecula. This $2,500 award is given annually to a non-profit offering yoga to an underserved population. Be Well is using the funds to hold a very special “Day Treat” Sunday October 30th that will host 20 women cancer thrivers who are in financial need. They will be treated to an entire day of wellness – yoga, massage, accupuncture, reiki, facials, meditative art, healthy food, & more!!
3.) What makes your classes unique?
What makes the Be Well classes unique is the deep understanding both Heidi and Mary bring from their personal experience as caregivers. That, along with their advanced level yoga training and additional specialized training, provides an incredibly safe, healing, nurturing environment for each of their students. This level of care and expertise also transfers over into their public classes as well. Mary & Heidi believe we can all become stronger, more balanced, and find a deeper state of inner peace through the practice of yoga, guided relaxation, and meditation.
4.) How does music benefit your guidance in a yoga class?
Music plays an important role in setting the tone for each and every class Mary & Heidi teach. Bringing in live musicians adds an extra special element and they often feature local musicians at their special event classes. This summer, their Outdoor Yoga at Choice Juicery in Carlsbad featured DTO, singer Julia Shaw, singer Lady Rogo, & crystal bowls by Chiara.
5.) Tell me about your next event and where we can follow you online.
This will be a special Gratitude Practice and will feature live music by DTO!
