What if today were different? What if this is the moment to awaken? What if we don’t delay joy? Like a child tearing into a present, in fury and gladness, the gift of their desire shiny and revealed. So much is possible, tear into your precious life.
— k y l e l e i a
Kyle Leia Heyesen, MSW, E-RYT 500,
YACEP
Kyle Leia Heyesen is the visionary founder of Svälja Yoga and serves as the Lead Teacher for the Svälja Whole-Being 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. Her expertise lies in Trauma-Conscious Yoga, a specialty she has pioneered through her annually offered 40-hour Trauma Conscious Yoga Certification. With extensive credentials as an Experienced-Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 500) and a certified Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP), Kyle brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to her teaching.
Kyle's journey into yoga instruction began in 2002. She holds two foundational 200-hour teacher training certifications: one from Sun Moon Studios in Mankato, MN, which offered a broad exposure to various traditions including Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, Kundalini, and Hatha, with a strong focus on asana. Her second 200-hour training at Yoga North in Duluth immersed her in the rich yogic philosophy of the Himalayan Tradition of Hatha Yoga. Further deepening her practice, she completed her 300-hour teacher training certificate at Yess Yoga in Minneapolis in spring 2021. Demonstrating her unwavering commitment to continuous learning, Kyle also undertook over 100 hours of in-depth Yin Yoga training between 2020-2022, learning from esteemed teachers like Bernie Clark, Yess Yoga, and Miriam Hanson's 30-hour Yin Certificate offered at Svälja. She has sought out diverse perspectives through workshops with world-renowned instructors such as Ashtanga's David Swensen and Anusara's Desiree Rumbaugh.
Her specialized focus on trauma-conscious approaches is built upon extensive training. Kyle is certified in trauma-informed yoga from Firefly Yoga International, the Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) model, and Transcending Sexual Trauma Through Yoga. Complementing her yoga expertise, she has additional training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT). Her social work background further enriches her understanding, encompassing various trauma-informed practice approaches, including a 40-hour train-the-trainer certificate for Trauma-Informed Criminal Justice Systems.
In 2017, Kyle leveraged her unique blend of skills to partner with the Honorable Judge Floerke of the 6th Judicial DWI Court. Together, they developed and implemented a groundbreaking trauma-conscious yoga and mindfulness program for treatment courts, a testament to her innovative application of yoga in therapeutic settings. Their collaborative work was recognized as they co-presented at the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) annual conference, sharing insights on the program's impact.
Kyle's passion for trauma-conscious work is deeply personal. As a trauma survivor herself, she intimately understands the devastating impacts of trauma and serves as a living testament to the possibility of transformation and healing. She often credits yoga with saving her life, viewing it as a powerful pathway to growth and recovery. Having grown up with parents who struggled with Substance Use Disorder (now in long-term recovery) and tragically losing her sister, Jody Ann Elden, to a drug overdose in 2017, Kyle is a fierce advocate for recovery. Her dedication led her to be a founding member and Board Chair of Recovery Alliance Duluth (RAD) from 2018-2023, actively working to save lives and improve recovery support systems.
Beyond her work in wellness and advocacy, Kyle is an accomplished writer and published poet. She gracefully weaves poetry into her yoga classes, using it as a unique tool to expand consciousness and foster a deeper connection to something greater than oneself. She firmly believes in the instrumental role of both yoga and poetry in facilitating profound healing and transformation. Her unwavering belief in humanity underscores her work, championing our innate capacity for self-knowledge, self-love, and the ability to profoundly connect with others, thereby making a positive difference in the world.
Academically, Kyle holds a Master of Social Work (MSW), complementing her practical experience. She has dedicated her career to the social work field, beginning as a teenager in 2016 as a Children’s Advocate at Safe Haven Shelter & Resource Center. Since 2010, she has been a full-time professional at St. Louis County Public Health & Human Services (PHHS), currently serving as the supervisor of the Planning, Resource & Organization Development unit. Her commitment extends to fostering inclusive environments; she is a deeply dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion, serving as the co-chair of the PHHS Diversity Action Team (DAT) and as a former member of the state Equity Partnership.
Kyle is a fierce ally to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) individuals. She actively engages in critical self-reflection to address her own privilege and biases, working diligently to dismantle systems of oppression. Her extensive work with diverse populations impacted by trauma includes supporting domestic abuse survivors and their children, sexual assault survivors, abused and neglected children, people with disabilities, and adults and children grappling with mental illness and Substance Use Disorder.
