Hi! I’m Larissa D’Silva.

My pronouns are she/her. I’m a therapeutic yoga teacher and an advocate for trauma-informed care in the health and wellness world.

I’m so glad you’re here.

A non-linear path

I’ve taught yoga since 2018, coming into my second career after ten years in the public policy world.

In my work as a therapeutic yoga teacher I weave together my personal and professional experience in yoga, trauma theory, and pain science.

I know what it’s like to push my body to exhaustion.

To not listen to the messages it’s telling me (let alone know how to decipher those messages!).

To keep going until there’s nothing left to give.

In 2020 I took the leap and founded my business, Three Circles Wellness and haven’t looked back. Moving from writing public policy reports to working 1-1 with motivated and curious people is a dream come true.

I’ve seen amazing growth with the clients I’ve worked with. They’ve:

  • Increased their confidence

  • Felt stronger

  • Reduced pain

  • Learned ways to include yoga in their lives in a non-woo-woo way that works for them.

I use the tools of rest, breath, and movement to support my clients.

Now, more than ever, we could all us some extra support to feel better in our bodies.

If you’re ready to challenge the status quo about what yoga should look or feel like and want to learn the skills of rest, breath, and easeful movement, I’d love to work with you!

 

Being and Feeling and Knowing

Growing up my value was in my knowledge, my ability to think, my analytical skills. I built my first career on my sharp eye for detail and looking at all the angles of an issue.

As a child I was always told how sensitive I was and over time, I began to see my sensitivity and ability to feel and intuit as a weakness. My mind and my heart became more distant from each other, until my mind was the one leading the way.

And as a woman living in this society, my I saw my worth in how productive I could be and how busy my calendar was. Busyness meant worth.

Until this way of operating was no longer sustainable.

Living with the impacts of traumatic stress and learning how to create a joyful life, even in the midst of hardship, has required me to integrate three things. The ability to be, feel, and know.

  • Being: I’ve learned how to be with myself: with my thoughts, the parts of myself I love and the parts that are ok and the parts I wish I didn’t have. I’ve learned how to be with my body, after feeling like it’s been failing me.

  • Feeling: I’ve learned how to feel again, how to tap into a deep trust in myself.

  • Knowing: And, it’s also required me to gather information, think critically, and then step forward into uncertainty — following my heart and gut first.

 

The Manifesto

The Three Circles culture:

  • Rest is a priority

  • You can be soft and strong

  • No jumping forward: be where you are

  • Push softly

  • Let it be easy

  • Refine the basics

  • Don’t exceed your capacity

  • Focus on care and connection

  • Busyness ≠ worthiness

 

My Credentials

I’m a registered yoga teacher and yoga-therapist-in-training. Here are my training highlights and certifications:

  • Trauma-Informed Weight Lifting with the Center for Trauma and Embodiment at JRI (2021)

  • The Coaching Way with Tara Mohr (2021)

  • C-IAYT (Certified International Association of Yoga Therapists) Training with Susi Hatley of Functional Synergy (ongoing)

  • Movement for Trauma Level 1 with Jane Clapp (2021)

  • Recover Your Warrior Foundations Program with Jane Clapp (2021)

  • Reiki Level 1 & 2 with Naaz Ali - Earth Elements (2020) & Reiki Level 1, with Pamela Miles (2020)

  • 200-Hour Trauma-Informed Yoga Psychology Teacher Training with Dr. Melissa Jay - Canmore Counselling (2020)

  • Relax and Renew, Level 1 Restorative Yoga Teacher Training with Judith Hanson Laster (2019)

  • Science of the Private Lesson with Francesca Cervero (2019)

  • Daring to Rest Yoga Nidra Meditation Teacher Training with Karen Brody - Daring to Rest (2019)

  • Therapeutic Yoga Intensive with Susi Hatley - Functional Synergy (2018)

  • 200-hour Gold Yoga Therapy Teacher Training with Trish Robbins - The Yoga Studio College of Canada (2018)

  • 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training with Valery Petrich - The Yoga Studio College of Canada (2017-18)