About Tanya
Tanya Porter is the founder and Living Arts Director of The Inner Space, teaching meditation and classical yoga to both adults and youth for over 20 years. She is also the creator of the mindfulness drumming modality Rhythmic Re-framing, bridging her 30 years of drumming experience together with her yoga and meditation practices. She is a multi-disciplinary artist, performer, educator, holistic energy practitioner and yoga instructor specializing in over 25 years of Theatre, Drum, Dance, and creative wellness programming for all ages. Her workshops and teambuilding programs are popular in private, corporate and educational settings. She also offers customized one-on-one sessions in yoga, meditation, drumming and other healing disciplines.
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Yoga & Meditation
Tanya is a certified yoga instructor from the The International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, recognized by the Yoga Alliance in the USA and Canada.
She has been practising yoga for 23 years, and did a 10-year apprentice with Judith McCaffery, senior teacher in the Sivananda lineage. She has been teaching yoga and meditation privately for 16 years, and before that through the TDSB for 4 years. She is registered with the Canadian Yoga Alliance with a designation of CYA-RYT 500. Tanya has a classical foundation for her mediation practice but also includes her study in the fields of psychology, neuro-science, shamanic energy practices and mindfulness in her teaching.
Tanya currently teaches adult and youth yoga in private classes as well as children and youth yoga & mindfulness at the Markham-Stouffville Hospital and in custom programs for schools in the YRDSB, TDSB and the Catholic School Board. She enriches her youth programs with her extensive background in drama, dance and music.
Tanya is passionate about the many benefits yoga can provide to all people- regardless of age, gender, denomination, beliefs or level of fitness. She is most joyous to witness her students develop a presence of being that is respectful, accepting and gentle with the self and therefore with others. Tanya has experienced that Yoga can assist all people in releasing past trauma or unprocessed emotion/energy such that we can be present in our experiences and create a life of choice and peace individually and in community.
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Listen to Tanya's radio interviews about yoga: Part 1 Part 2
Drumming
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Tanya Porter is a drummer and percussionist with over 30 years experience, and is the creator of the mindfulness drumming modality Rhythmic Re-framing, an integrative program and wellness system that combines rhythm, drumming, language and mindfulness.
Her drum story began in 1986, studying at the Ontario College of Percussion, and later with internationally renowned Afro-Cuban and West African drum masters such as Ignacio Depineda, Carlos Godinez, Djibe Sane, Famoudou Konate, Billy Konate and many others. She has recorded with numerous artists including: Corky and the Juice Pigs, Lili Zohar, Magdeline, Rick Monaco, and Michael Holt and in soundtracks for CBC, YTV and for independent films. She has composed and recorded soundscapes for many live theatre and dance productions.
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Tanya has performed with Juno nominated Mr. Something Something, Kenny Kirkwood, The Spirit Drummers, Agoya and the Samba Squad, was a member of traditional Malinké drum ensemble Bolokelen from 2000-2005, a member of the original West African band Ainiké from 2007 – release of the recording Ainike in 2010, was a member of the original composing/recording quartet Drum Cultures and is a founding member of The River Pilots, composing, recording and performing original music since 2007.
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Tanya teaches Rhythmic Re-framing drumming and mindfulness workshops in private, corporate and educational settings. Most recently she has developed and released the online music course for the amazing and unique 432hz Spirit Drums.
Contact Us
The Inner Space
tanya@theinnerspace.ca | (647) 891-2805
To register for a class or make an inquiry, please submit this form
Location
Markham Village Train Station Community Centre
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214 Main Street Markham North
Markham, ON L3P 1Y5