About
Steph Savage was first exposed to yoga, during their time in Toronto, at a body-positive studio back in 2015. After picking up powerlifting in their spare time, they noticed some muscle stiffness that limited their range of motion. A friend suggested they take a yoga class to help stretch out their muscles, and after their first class, Steph was hooked. Their love for yoga grew, and in 2018, they took their first teacher training to become a certified instructor.
Steph has a passion for accessibility and welcomes everyone into their space. As non-binary and queer, they have experienced their fair share of discrimination in yoga spaces and strives to make their classes and yoga space as inviting as possible.
Steph is a registered Yoga Therapist through IAYT and an E-RYT-500, RCYT, RPYT and holds certifications in Somatic EMDR, Yin, Ayurveda, Restorative, and Laughter Yoga. They also recently obtained status as a YACEP through Yoga Alliance. Steph continues to explore rewarding work with aging adults with limited range of motion and has extensive experience teaching chair yoga. Steph considers themself a student for life and is constantly learning and evolving their practice to meet their student’s needs.
Our Approach
Savage Yoga Inc is a home for people who have never felt truly represented or comfortable in conventional Western yoga spaces. We believe in uplifting voices shut out by the yoga industry and strive to create a space where you can be your authentic self without fear of judgment, shame, or ridicule.
Our Mission
To provide accessible yoga classes, workshops and individual sessions for people who are underrepresented in conventional yoga spaces by teaching with compassion, empathy, authenticity, humour, and kindness. Yoga is not just for the flexible, it is for the willing.
Giving Thanks
We would like to give thanks to the masters from India who shared their knowledge freely with the world and brought the beauty of yoga to the West. This is not our culture and we honour this over 5000 year old rich tradition.
A Note About the Name Savage Yoga
My name is Steph Savage, and Savage Yoga is named after me. I also recognize that the word “Savage” carries a history of violence and dehumanization toward Indigenous peoples. It has been used as a racist and colonial slur, and I acknowledge that seeing or hearing it can be painful and harmful.
When I registered Savage Yoga, I did not understand or consider this history deeply enough. I am sorry for that. I am a second-generation immigrant and do not have Indigenous ancestry. I live and work on the traditional and unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik, and I recognize the profound privilege I hold as a white settler on Indigenous land. I also recognize that acknowledging this history does not undo the ongoing effects of colonization, racism, and colonial violence, nor does my intention erase the impact of my business name.
Savage is also my family name, and it has personal meaning to me. I have chosen to keep it while taking responsibility for the harm and history attached to the word. That means being thoughtful about how I use it. You will not see Savage Yoga using language such as “join my tribe,” using “savage” as a verb or aesthetic, or treating Indigenous cultures, traditions, or imagery as branding.
This is not an attempt to justify the name or ask anyone to accept my apology. It is an acknowledgment that good intentions are not enough, and that learning and accountability need to be ongoing.
I am committed to continuing to educate myself, challenging my own assumptions and racism, supporting Indigenous voices and communities, and examining how Savage Yoga can operate in ways that cause less harm.
I know that this statement does not resolve the contradiction of a yoga business carrying this name. I am not asking Indigenous people to educate me, provide free labour, or make this easier for me. I am listening, learning, and taking responsibility for continuing this work.