Welcome! My name is Heather Morton. I am a small business owner, entrepreneur, certified Hath-Raja Yoga instructor, educator and founder of The Yoga Way. Once upon a time, my school was a physical one that served the Toronto community for over 15 years. Today, it is a virtual school where I help people reconnect to their spirituality and become healthier, stronger and calmer!
Since 2013, online courses, classes and workshops have brought more peace, better health and healing to many people. From Canada, the US to the UK as well as North Africa, the message of Yoga is timeless and life-altering.
A 6-week series with me is beyond a workout, but a mentally calming and spiritual practice. For Yoga is a life-long quest, with many other layers beyond the poses that anyone can, and should, benefit from!
The power and love of Yoga lead me to make 23 extended trips over 24 years to India. I continue to study and practice in India under Masters, Swamis and Gurus. And with a passion for travel, I have lived abroad in South East Asia, Europe and North Africa.
Academically, I hold a Master of Education (M.Ed.), a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) and a Fine Arts degree in Theatre Performance (B.F.A.). As an educator and guide, the programs give you the means to reconnect to your soul and self with:
Personal feedback! Practice sheets and reports! Individual guidance & support! Customized classes! Flexible format!
Finding Yoga: More than a Pose
Before Yoga, I was not much different than many people looking for answers, but in the wrong places. As background, I was:
~ diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis
~ a former beauty pageant winner of Canada
~ a waitress at a 5-star hotel
~ a young woman with an eating disorder
~ healing from a car accident
~ an unemployed actress/model
My original aspirations were far removed from yoga as I made what looked like a successful foot in the modelling world. But the experience left me feeling estranged and insecure. After completing a theatre arts degree, I jumped ship by leaving Canada. I worked and lived in South Korea for 2 years teaching both English and Yoga from heart! I had no background as a teacher or Yoga experience! It was upon my return to Canada and living at ashrams where I completed the Sivananda TTC, ATTC and Sadhana Intensive course.
In 1999, I made my first trip to India. A pivotal shift was by directly studying under Pattabhi Jois in Mysore. But after a knee injury, I continued with my spiritual quest and for over 13 years studied Hatha-Yoga in Mysore. In 2009, I met the late Swami Veda Bharati and attended silent retreats in Rishikesh. With his blessings, he initiated me into The Himalayan Tradition of Yoga Meditation.
Over the years to follow from a miscarriage to marriage and the birth of my son, my practice has taken many twists and turns.
During the last last 9 years, I have studied under Vinay-ji Kumar in Mysore; practising a Vinyasa Krama system. In 2014, my dharma landed me at the feet of Shri BNS Iyengar; the oldest living nexus in the Ashtanga Yoga Vinyasa lineage and a disciple of T. Krishnamacharya.
Other certificates include:
Pranayama (2016, 2017, 2018), Mudras (2022), Prana Vashya Yoga Primary Series (2019) and the Science of Ayurveda (2014).
Off the Mat
By producing one of the first instructional dvds on the backbends of yoga, it made the practice far more accessible to anyone. It continues to reach students around the globe. I also created meditation cds, a backbending manual and a Teacher Training handbook. As a published author, I have written extensively about the benefits of Yoga in education for children.
Philanthropy & Life
When in India, I continue to work with children to improve their quality of schooling — a deep passion of mine since 2004.
As a mother, I am raising my 9-year old boy to explore the world with open eyes.
Without any formal training, I rented a space in a Lutheran church in Seoul to teach yoga. What lead me to do this is a mystery. I thought teaching yoga might be a good way to get into shape, become healthy and answer some of my deeper questions. I generally approached yoga from the stand-point of, “Let’s get a good workout”.
Described as the ‘real deal’ by the Toronto Life magazine, Heather founded The Yoga Way school to provide structured classes and more intimate teaching. Not offering drop-ins was the premise in helping students build a self-practice of yoga.