cultivating awareness
from within
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movement (classes)
Gentle Movement classes blend Hatha yoga, Hanna Somatics, balance work, and breath awareness in a live, in-person format. Savour Slow Somatics, offered both live and online, are grounded in the principles of Hanna Somatics. All classes support nervous system regulation and foster brain-body connection through a slower, more intentional pace.
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writing circles (awa)
The Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) Method is grounded with supportive commentary that offers a safe container for writers to explore their voice and written craft. Write from memory or imagination and open up to possibility of words on your page.
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mentoring for movement
Just certified or feeling stuck? You don’t have to figure it out alone. Let’s talk—26+ years of teaching informs my mentoring. In Good Process.
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clinical somatic education
Clinical Somatics Education lessons (1-1) are the most effective way to begin to restore muscle function, improve movement and eliminate pain. Work together with gentle guidance either live or in a virtual appointment.
meet sharon smith-carter, clinical somatic educator & yoga teacher, AWA group circle facilitator
Sharon has been teaching yoga and movement since 1999 in her community of Kawartha Lakes. She opened Path to Stillness Yoga, the first dedicated yoga studio in Lindsay, Ontario, where she focused on mindful practices that support positive shifts in health and well-being. Her work has always been rooted in the therapeutic aspects of movement as a way to calm and regulate the nervous system.
Her most influential teacher was her beloved mentor, Lila Ostermann, who gently encouraged Sharon to explore yoga beyond weekly classes—and to see it as a tool for navigating life. With Lila’s guidance, Sharon began using breath and movement to ease the anxiety and agoraphobia that were once overwhelming. That personal transformation continues to shape the heart of her teaching today.
Over the years, Sharon has studied with many influential yoga educators—including Donna Farhi, Judith Lasater, Paul Grilley, Biff Mithoefer, and Tracey Soghrati—each leaving a lasting imprint on her teaching.
Since 2013, Sharon has been immersed in Somatic Education with Martha Peterson and Essential Somatics. She began as a certified Hanna Somatic Exercise Coach (HSEC), then went on to complete the 3-year Clinical Somatic Educator training, which includes gentle, hands-on neuromuscular guidance. The work of Thomas Hanna has offered Sharon—and her clients—a powerful way to rewire movement patterns, reduce pain, and move with greater ease. She believes somatics cultivates a vivid sense of presence, helping us navigate daily life with more awareness and freedom. Sharon has also assisted at workshops and mentored new trainees in the Essential Somatics Movement Teacher Training.
In 2017, Sharon turned to writing as a way to process the emotional landscape of caring for aging parents. This led her to Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA), where she found such resonance with the method that she completed AWA Group Facilitator training in 2019. She now leads writing circles at her studio, offering a supportive space where people can explore their voice and stories in a safe, welcoming environment.
With over 26 years of experience, Sharon brings a blend of knowledge, humour, and compassion to her classes. She’s especially passionate about helping people stay mobile and connected to what they love as they age. Her hope is simple: that we all keep moving, keep expressing, and keep doing what brings us joy—for as long as we’re here.
meet
sharon smith-carter, clinical somatic educator & yoga teacher
Sharon has been teaching yoga and movement since 1999 in Kawartha Lakes. She founded Path to Stillness, the first dedicated yoga studio in Lindsay. Following the studio’s closure in 2020 due to the pandemic, she reopened in a smaller, dedicated space: Sharon Smith-Carter Movement Studio, located just one block north of downtown Lindsay when restrictions were lifted.
She is certified as a Clinical Somatic Educator (RSME, RSMT with ISMETA), an experienced yoga teacher (ERYT-500, YACEP), and a trained writing circle facilitator with Amherst Writers & Artists. Sharon continues to study, practice, and share gentle, effective approaches that create conscious change—both on and off the mat.
testimonials