About Maya
Wholehearted Yoga & Teaching
I’m Maya Lake-Freeman, a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) and wholehearted teacher here to walk alongside you on your healing journey. My mission is to cultivate trust, connection, empowerment, and wholeness- guiding people to rediscover their inner steadiness in a world that often asks more than we can hold.
My work weaves together trauma-informed yoga therapy, mindfulness, breathwork, and somatic practices with yogic wisdom, modern neuroscience, Ayurveda, and seasonal rhythms. In every session and class, I hold space for people to feel seen and supported exactly as they are- tending to the body, mind, and heart as one.
My Approach
I believe yoga is cultivating capacity within and outward to return home to yourself. Through movement, breath, meditation, and reflection, I help people soften the grip of old patterns, meet life’s challenges with clarity, and access their natural resilience.
I integrate multiple limbs of yoga- balancing yin and yang, nourishing the senses, and inviting deeper awareness. By offering choice and supportive guidance, I encourage agency and embodied intuition. In this container of awareness, self-understanding and healing unfold, opening the door to new potential, purpose, and fulfillment.
My Journey
Yoga became my anchor in a world that felt exciting, scary and at times overwhelming. I grew up in a large working class family in rural Nevada where resilience, chaos, heart, and joy were woven into daily life. My late father- our steady rock through both hardship and love- taught me resilience and compassion, especially as I walked alongside him in his final years navigating mental health and illness. Those early experiences shaped my deep empathy for suffering and the importance of compassionate support.
Before dedicating myself more fully to yoga, I spent years in higher education, accounting, administration, case management and customer service. That season gave me practical skills, efficiency, and deep empathy and respect for professionals, caregivers, and helpers who give so much of themselves—while also teaching me about burnout and the importance of balance.
Yoga became the bridge between my structured, left-brain world and my need for creativity, connection, and wholeness. What began as a way to focus mind and body has grown into a resilient toolkit—and more holistically, a way of belonging to myself and the world around me. This path continues to return me to wholeness, and it’s my joy to walk alongside others as they discover the same.
When I’m Not Teaching
I find inspiration from other healers, thought leaders, the changing seasons, and adventures with my partner and our beloved dog, Koba. I enjoy seasonal work at the farmers market, community projects, travel, and the joy of deep conversation or laughter-filled moments. Historical fiction, podcasts, film, and creative arts fuel my curiosity, while wellness practices keep me grounded in life’s rhythms.
Explore More
Curious about ways we can practice together? You can explore yoga in the way that best supports you in person in Portland OR, and online:
