Kyle Leia Heyesen, MSW, E-RYT 500, YACEP

Founder of Svälja Yoga & Lead Teacher of the 200-Hour Svälja Whole-Being Yoga Teacher Training

Kyle is the heart behind Svälja Yoga and the lead teacher in our 200-hour Whole-Being Yoga Teacher Training. As a yoga educator and trauma-conscious guide, Kyle brings over two decades of experience in social work and a deep passion for healing-centered practices.

She specializes in Trauma-Conscious Yoga and is a Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500 and YACEP provider. Her approach to teaching is rooted in compassion, social justice, and lived experience.

Professional Background

Kyle holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) and has worked in the field for more than 20 years. She currently serves as the supervisor of the Planning Resource & Organization Development (PROD) Unit at St. Louis County Public Health & Human Services (PHHS).

She's also:

• Co-chair of the PHHS Diversity Action Team

• A member of the State Equity Partnership

• A strong advocate for BIPOC and LGBTQI communities

• Actively involved in equity work, both personally and professionally

Lived Experience & Advocacy

Kyle is a trauma survivor. Her path hasn’t been easy—and that’s exactly what informs her depth, wisdom, and fierce compassion.

She grew up in a family affected by Substance Use Disorder (her parents are now in long-term recovery) and lost her sister to an overdose in 2017. These experiences fuel her commitment to trauma-informed care, mental health advocacy, and recovery work.

Yoga, she says, saved her life. Today, she is the Board Chair of Recovery Alliance Duluth (RAD) and remains active in the recovery community.

Yoga Education & Experience

Kyle began teaching yoga in 2002 and has trained in a wide variety of traditions and lineages:

• 200-hour certification from Sun Moon Studios in Mankato, MN – focused on asana and styles like Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Kundalini, and Yin

• 200-hour certification from Yoga North in Duluth – rooted in the Himalayan Tradition and yogic philosophy

• 300-hour training from Yess Yoga in Minneapolis

• Over 100 hours of Yin Yoga training with Bernie Clark, Yess Yoga, and Miriam Hanson at Svälja

She’s also studied with world-renowned teachers, including:

• David Swensen (Ashtanga)

• Desiree Rumbaugh (Anusara)

Training in Trauma-Informed Practice

Kyle’s background bridges both yoga and clinical trauma care. Her trauma-informed credentials include:

• Firefly Yoga International – Trauma-Informed Yoga

• Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY)

• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

• 40-hour Train-the-Trainer Certification for Trauma-Informed Criminal Justice Systems

Where Kyle Has Taught

Over the years, Kyle has brought yoga and mindfulness to a range of community spaces, including:

• Yoga North and the Duluth Area YMCA

• UMD Psychology Department

• Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment

• Human Development Center (Children’s Services)

• PAVSA and CAIR

• Duluth Running Company

• Schools, youth programs, and open community classes

In 2017, she partnered with Judge Floerke of the 6th Judicial DWI Court to co-develop a trauma-conscious yoga program for treatment courts. Together, they co-presented at the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) annual conference.

Poetry & Purpose

Kyle is also a published poet—author of Grace Intoxicated. She is also the poet behind Irrevocable Wholeness: Poems & Meditations to Hold it All, an upcoming collaboration with visual artist, Sarah Brokke. This project will be a beautiful book, as well as an oracle card deck.

Kyle often weaves poetry into her classes as a way to deepen the experience, awaken reflection, and connect students to something greater than themselves.

At her core, Kyle believes in the power of humanity, healing, and transformation. She invites students to know and love themselves more deeply—not just for their own growth, but to ripple that compassion into the world.