BYOMyoga: ABOUT

About Me

My name is Jackie Gadd, and I am a San Diego-based yoga instructor and ACE certified personal trainer. I see yoga as a both a mind/body integration practice for inner peace, and a functional movement practice for every body's health.

I took my first yoga class in 2004 as a respite from physical and emotional stress. I had no idea the transformations that it would inspire. After volunteer mentoring in an elementary school under the guidance of another yoga friend, I studied children/teen yoga and continued sharing "mindfulness in motion" in afterschool programs.

In 2012, I earned both my RYT and RPYT (pre-natal), because I wanted a deeper understanding of the principles behind "what made yoga work." It wasn't enough to do poses, or breathe; I had, and still have, a vested interest in understanding and explaining the "how and why" of yoga, to maximize the mind/body/breath experience. Most recently I earned my ACE personal training certification so that I would be more confident in helping people develop healthy movement practices that fit their bodies, their needs, and their goals.

In a children's class I use books, music, and crafts to inspire yoga-oriented play. We energize, and calm, bringing awareness to our actions, and teaching love and respect for ourselves and others.

I teach a variety of adults classes; as an Accessible Yoga Ambassador, all my classes take in account differing needs; some are designed specifically for them. Yoga for ID/DD is mindful of extraneous sensory input, uses special language, and often require support from a caregiver. My mat yoga classes welcome generous us of props, rely on student feedback, and emphasize the function of the pose, rather than the form.

I draw inspiration from different styles like Hatha, Iyengar, Flow/Vinyasa, and Ashtanga, blend in yoga philosophy and mythology, and always include breathwork (pranayama), We finish in Savasana or meditation (depending on class time) to round out the class experience.

I have found that I am most happy when I am in the service of others, and therefore, journey to share yoga as much as possible. I have offered my services as a yoga "coach" for community classes and events like:

2020 Pandemic Response: Free weekly live streaming yoga classes for Seniors (5), Children (3), Physical Disabilities (2) and ID/DD (3 supplemented by private sponsor). All recorded classes free for view/download.
2011-24 National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Stretch Sessions & Yoga Lounge for the 3-Day Challenge Walk
2020-21 Spina Bifida Association Virtual Yoga for National Day of Walk-n-Roll and 2021 Fitness Club
2019-22 Abilities Expo: Live and Recorded Chair and Kids Yoga Sessions
2016-18 International Day of Yoga Live Chair/Adaptive Yoga Sessions
2016-18 People First Self-Advocacy Conference Yoga Class

If you are hosting a fundraiser (or work for a non-profit) and want yoga to be a part of your event, don't hesitate to reach out - being able to give back to my community and the global community is part of why I do what I do!

I have spent hundreds of hours in conferences and trainings, active practice, lecture, and practicum, because I'm fascinated by the developing body of knowledge around this ancient practice. I seek to learn about applications where yoga is a supporting modality not just for fitness and mindfulness in general, but for mitigating deeper mental health issues, aging-related problems, and pain and trauma.

I strive to facilitate a mindful, embodied (and fun) experience in class that can lead to like experiences off the mat. For a complete CV please email me at byomyoga@gmail.com.

I am currently enrolled full-time in the San Diego Mesa College Physical Therapist Assistant program. My desire is to earn my board certification with the State of California so I can work in the health care industry utilizing my knowledge and skills in clinical settings. I hope to graduate in Summer 2026.

Certifications & Trainings

ACE CPT #T269007 (Feb 2027)
YACEP (Jun 2018)
YA E-RYT-200 (ID # 118391) (Oct 2016)
YA RYT-200 (ID # 118391): Yoga Well Center (Sep 2012)
YA RPYT-85 Perinatal: Becalmed Yoga (Nov 2012)
CPR/BLS: AHA (Aug 2026)
TAYMS-65: Yoga Heals Us (Jul 2017)
Accessible Yoga Teacher & Ambassador (2018)
Livestrong at the YMCA trainer (2024)
3000+ Teaching hours as of Jan 223
112 Hours Children/Teen training
38 Hours Silver Sneakers/Silver & Fit
400+ hours post RYT training as of Nov 2021 including:

Yoga for Mental Health: Cindy Beers, Red Head Yoga (Feb 2021) 22 Hours
Yoga for Pain Management: Gary Kraftsow (online Oct/Nov 2020) 9 Hours
Overcoming Trauma through Yoga Module 2: OG Yoga (Feb 2020) 30 hrs
Neuroscience behind Mindfulness-Based Meditation: Dr. Fadel Zeidan (UCSD) (May 2019) 8 hrs
Anatomical Explorations: Diane Ambrosini (Mar 2019) 2.5 hrs
Experiential Anatomy: Judith Hansen Lasater (San Diego, CA) (Mar 2018) 25 hrs
Bridging the Hearts & Minds of Youth Conference (UCSD Center for Mindfulness): 17 Hours
Therapeutic Asana/Pranayama/Meditation with Amy Wheeler, PhD (Sep 2017) 8 hrs
Yoga in Medicine for Mood Disorders (UCSD Center for Integrative Medicine) (Jan 2017) 20 CEUs
Scoliosis & Reversing the Aging of the Spine: Rachel Krentzman (Jun 2016) 4 hrs
Shoulder Therapy Workshop: Kaitlyn Hochart (Jan 2016): 3 CEUs
Yin, Restorative, and Therapeutic Yoga: Wild Abundant Life/Deborah Williamson (Jul 2014) 27 hrs
Yoga for Eating Disorders Module 1 Intensive: Eat Breathe Thrive/Chelsea Roff (Aug 2014) 15 hrs