The Healing Hearth was born from an innate, life-long interest in holistic healing. This natural passion led Kayla to various different trainings in aromatherapy, massage, reiki, and birth and postpartum doula work before discovering the school of her dreams.

Kayla began her studies in western herbal medicine at Pacific Rim College where she obtained a Diploma of Phytotherapy. The Diploma of Phytotherapy is a 3-year program that explores the medicinal uses of North American and European herbs and is considered the most comprehensive program of western herbal medicine available in either Canada or the United States. It consists of both traditional knowledge and modern day, scientific-based knowledge.

While at Pacific Rim College, Kayla quickly and passionately fell in love with the ancient system of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the profound effects it can have on the physical, mental, emotional and spirit levels. This inspired her to continue her studies and she went on to obtain a Diploma of Acupuncture, a Diploma of Chinese Herbal Medicine and completed her studies as a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She is now a faculty member at Pacific Rim College where she teaches classes in gynecology and obstetrics, pediatrics, and advanced herbal formulating, along with supervising acupuncture clinics and herbal medicine clinics. 

A dedicated Yoga practice over the past decade led her to India twice to immerse herself in this ancient spiritual tradition. On her first trip she completed a Yoga teacher training and returned a year later and began teaching Yoga and offering free acupuncture services at a charitable hospital through the ashram she was living at. This was rooted in her dream of making medicine accessible to all and she continues to offer sliding scale options if financial restrictions are a barrier to treatment. 

Kayla's greatest passion is women's health, and her continuing education studies are focused on broadening her knowledge in this area. She is currently studying under Aviva Romm - herbalist, midwife and medical doctor - completing a Women's Herbal Educator program. Along with this, she is enrolled in Jane Lyttleton's course 'The Treatment of Infertility - The Complete Course'. This curriculum covers the approach and specialist knowledge a TCM practitioner requires in order to have a thorough understanding of the basis of infertility from a TCM and western medical understanding. 

Past Continuing Education

The A to Z Guide to Using Acupuncture in Pregnancy and Childbirth 

Debra Betts

Simplified Herbal Prescribing for Complex Gynecological Conditions

Jane Lyttleton

You, The Healer; Maximizing the Energetic Effects of Treatment

Jill Blakeway

50-hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training

Bernie Clark

200-hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training

Vinyasa Yoga School - Rishikesh, India

Tui Na and Moxibustion for Menstrual Problems and Fertility Issues

Sarah Pritchard

Women’s Health from the Perspective of Classical Chinese Medicine

Sabine Wilms

Emotional Eating: An Exploration of Stress, Addictions, and Eating Disorders

Orsha Magyar

Habitual Miscarriage: Diagnosis and Treatment with Case Studies

Sharon Weizenbaum

Integrative Fertility Symposium

Various speakers

A Comprehensive Guide to Using Acupuncture in Pregnancy, Labour, and Postpartum

Debra Betts

Mei Zen Cosmetic Acupuncture

Martha Lucas

The Art of Healing Women Using TCM

Martha Lucas

Live Well, Live Long: Teachings from the Chinese Health Tradition

Peter Deadman

Psychology and Chinese medicine: Dragon Rises, Red Bird Flies

Brandt Stickley

Channel Palpation and Diagnosis

Jason Robertson

Sacred Plant Medicine

Stephen Buhner

How Tools Shape Competencies: Or What on Earth are Herbs?

Peter Conway

The Six Tissue States: Forgotten Energetics of Traditional Western Herbalism

Matthew Wood

DONA-Approved Postpartum Doula Workshop

Dorothea Stier

An Introduction to Traditional Western Herbal Energetics

Sean Donahue

How to Live an Anti-Inflammatory Life: The role of herbs & diet in inflammatory diseases

Peter Conway

Breastfeeding Workshop for Doulas

Eva Bild

Introduction to Childbirth for Doulas

Eva Bild

DONA-approved Birth Doula Workshop

Eva Bild

Hormonal Symphony: The Role of Herbal Medicines in Maintaining Hormonal Health

Bev Maya

Reading the Body: Traditional Western Herbal Medicine Diagnosis

Margi Flint

Hidden Dimensions of Healing in Natural Medicine

Peter Conway

The Art of Conscious Touch Bodywork

Fiona Walker

Usui Method of Reiki Natural Healing – First Degree Reiki Practitioner

Eileen Delman

Aromatherapy and the Therapeutic Uses of Essential Oils

Blaine Andrusek