Hi there! My name is Chelsea Schmitz-Gillam and I created The Youth Yoga Collective because I believe in the power of cultivating space where people can feel genuinely seen, heard, valued and connected as part of a larger community.
The spark that's created when a group of people are sharing breath, stories and creative movement reminds me both that there is incredible beauty in this world and being with community is a powerful way to tap into the magical flow of the universe.
More about our Project Founder
As a highly sensitive individual who has also experienced anxiety, depression and perfectionist tendencies, the effects of a meditation and mindful movement practice on my wellbeing have been deeply transformative. I believe all people should have access to an intentional community centered in breath, movement and connection and I create my youth yoga class as an offering to young people that I only wish I would have had access to earlier in life.
In my yoga classes for young people, we explore mindfulness and self-care practices for holistic support and wellness. was trained and certified to teach kids and youth yoga through Kripalu Center in Massachusetts and have taken a variety of trainings and workshops on trauma informed yoga practices in addition to being a 200-hour registered yoga teacher. These learning spaces; other professional trainings centered in youth, family and equity work; as well as my lived experience working with young folks for the last sixteen years inform the way I hold space for young people in class.
Our Women's Circle spaces are a celebration of the fierce women in our communities. They're designed as a love note to all the women who have impacted and inspired me over the years. These Circles are an invitation to come share in loving support of women looking for an intentional space to gather each month and share in mindfulness and talking Circle rituals.
When I'm not with young people or women in Circle, I also work at the Legal Rights Center as a juvenile defense attorney and restorative practices facilitator and Circle keeper working in public schools around the Twin Cities. Prior to this work, I was a practicing attorney and restorative facilitator with The Civil Rights & Restorative Justice Project Project in Boston. While at Northeastern University School of Law, I focused my studies on issues related to Prisoner's Rights; the School to Prison Pipeline; and Restorative Justice. I also worked as a High School English and Reading intervention teacher in the Recovery School District in New Orleans.
In the last few years, I've also come into one of my favorite roles of all - a Mama Bear to my two little magical ones.