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Kristin Knoepfli
Kristin loves animals and children and studied both at University. Back in those days, she wanted to save the world and would advocate for the protection of endangered species and our beloved planet to anyone who would listen.
Looking back over those years, Kristin would like to thank a few people who inspired her to grow, expand her thinking and be better. Dr. Mark Engstrom was one of those people. He was and continues to be the curator of Mammalogy and her graduate supervisor at the University of Toronto, Department of Zoology, which worked in collaboration with the Royal Ontario Museum, Department of Conservation and Biodiversity. He loved his work. He loved being in the field. As a young aspiring conservation biologist, Kristin didn't understand at first why he was known as a "bat and rat" guy. Like come on, seriously? She wanted to study wolves - the big animals - you know our "keystone" species. Overtime, however she began to understand. She began to develop a deep appreciation for the true value of conservation work and those incredible flying mammals. See our page about the World of Bats for more information about these flying super heroes.
So Bella was inspired by Kristin's love and appreciation for BATS! But...
Kristin's inspiration to create an educational energy medicine-based environmental program and resources for children doesn't stop there. She would be remiss not to mention a few others. The next is her mother, a strong minded furiously determined woman who has spent her professional life in the field of education. Along with her dad, the two of them have run one of the most highly respected schools for young children. Their commitment to supporting the staff, families, and their children is unparalleled. "Children must learn how to read", she would say time and time again. Her mother's passion for teaching literacy to young children has led her to become a sought-after consultant (as you will see below) by many organizations seeking approval for their own educational programs. Kristin also worked briefly in the children's television field as a lead researcher for a popular children's program Zoboomafoo, a PBS Kids production.
A long-standing Yogi who had grown tired of her traditional hatha, vinyasa practice, Kristin wants to thank all of her energy medicine and Energy Medicine Yoga mentors and friends. In particular, Kristin thanks Donna Eden, creator of Eden Energy Medicine and Lauren Walker, creator of Energy Medicine Yoga for sharing their wisdom with her. These two incredible women have developed ideas and programs way ahead of their time. Both shine a bright path for all of us to follow if being your best is on your bucket list! Together, they sparked Kristin's curiosity and fascination for the exciting world of energy and energy medicine.
Kristin also thanks the hundreds of children that she has had the honour of working with over the years. Whether you were a client going through a difficult time or attended one of Brant Children's Center's Summer Camps or a yoga class that Kristin ran, each one of you have taught Kristin something - something about yourself, something about the world and often something about herself. These resources are for you, the children of tomorrow. Bella is a friend you can count on when life gets tough. She is here to support you, to inspire you, to expand your thinking, and to encourage you to grow.
Finally, Kristin wants to thank her partner and best friend Eddy and all the animals they have had, do have and will share their lives with. Without his love and support Bella would still be nothing more than one of Kristin's crazy dreams.
So thank you all, bats included. Thank you for bringing Bella - the World's Sweetest Yoga Bat into your homes, studios and classrooms. Kristin hope that Bella touches your heart as much as she has touched her's.
Dr. Heather Knoepfli
Dr. Heather Knoepfli needs little introduction when it comes to the development of children's educational programs, including children's television programs, and resources for parents and teachers.
Dr. Knoepfli is a graduate of the University of Birmingham in England. She has both a Master’s degree and a PhD. in education from the University of Toronto, along with an Early Childhood Education diploma.
For the past 42 years, Dr. Knoepfli and her husband have operated a large childcare centre in Burlington, Ontario. It is known for its high quality, supportive and caring environment. Dr. Knoepfli summarizes the school philosophy’s as follows:
“Although we recognize the importance of play, Brant is perceived as a school for young children. We are classroom-based with a focus on language, literacy, and basic math skills. Our objective is to have children enter Grade One reading or at least having a strong phonetic background. We understand the importance of success in children’s learning if they are to develop confidence and a ‘joie de vivre’ for wanting to learn when they enter primary school. "
In addition to her work at Brant Children’s Centre, Dr. Knoepfli has been active in the world of children’s television for over 25 years. She worked as a Research Project Officer at TVO and, continuing to this day, works as an Educational Consultant for several media organizations, including: TVO, CBC, PBS, DeCode Entertainment, Spin Master, Guru Studio, and MarbleMedia.
Projects have included: Franny’s Feet, Popet’s Town, Save Ums, Justin Time, Paw Patrol, Elliott and Lucy, Rob the Robot, The Wonderful World of Sophie and Smittens, True and the Rainbow Kingdom, The Fantastic Forest, Where Oliver Fits, Edna’s Adventures, Xavier Riddle and The Secret Museum, amongst others.
Dr. Knoepfli has taught at the post-secondary level, including the University of Toronto, Fanshawe College, University of Guelph, Sheridan College and, for over 20 years, at Ryerson University in the Early Childhood Education Department. Her courses included a Children’s Television Course that she taught in association with the Radio and Television Arts Department for many years.
Dr. Knoepfli has devoted time to several organizations promoting the healthy development of children and families, including the Vanier Institute of the Family, ADCO and, more recently, Resilient Kids Canada.
Dr. Knoepfli’s personal motto is “to strive for excellence”. She aims to bring this goal forward in her staff and in the children enrolled at Brant. The importance of innovation underpins her thinking as she continues to evolve programming for children growing up in an increasingly complex and changing world. In her spare time, until recently, she enjoyed flying her Cessna 182T to wherever time would allow!
Dr. Knoepfli continues to look at the sky and to dream of her 22 years of flying. Flying certainly was an important part of her life adventures. But now she is turning to new projects, and one that she is becoming more and more interested in is - BELLA - The Yoga Bat™!
TIME TO JOIN FORCES
The world is evolving. Education needs to change to...
This mother-daughter team has work together for years. In recent times, they began to see needs in children that were not being met in traditional education systems. They have noted growing levels of anxiety and trauma amongst children. Family breakdowns always impact children, but global events have isolated many children as well, limiting their opportunities for peer interactions, an important prerequisite for developing self-confidence. Children also need better tools to self-regulate. They need to learn and develop an appreciation for their interconnectedness to all of life. Children need access to resources that will support their changing needs and the changing needs of our planet.
We wanted to develop a program that every child around the world could access so they would not only have the tools they need to grow up and be their best self "From Inside Out", but also enable them to develop self compassion and an understanding that all life deserves to be protected and supported.
And just like that... the idea to create Bella - The Yoga Bat™ was born.
Bella - The Yoga Bat™ is an educational energy medicine-based environmental yoga program that supports all aspects of a child's learning and development. It will help reinforce and further develop key concepts and skills being taught at school. But it will take children further. It provides additional resources that help children become more emotionally flexible, independent, international in their thinking, creative and positive solution thinkers. Tomorrow's guiding lights and inspiring leaders that the world so desperately needs right now.
Bella - The Yoga Bat™ combines the best elements of the highly successful curriculum developed by Dr. Knoepfli and supported and used by Kristin over the past 42 years. While at the same time, it weaves dozens of simple, yet powerful tools and techniques that Kristin has learned through her study and practices in fields like zoology, energy medicine, HeartMath and yoga among others.
The program is underpinned with exciting content about different animals from around the world and their interconnected environments to provide a truly holistic learning experience for the child of tomorrow.
