There will be a fundraising class in support of Atlas, who was diagnosed with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome, on October 3 2026.
When I chose Finding Your Voice as this month’s theme, I didn’t know that I would reconnect with Katherine, Atlas’ mom, and be reminded so deeply of what finding one’s voice can look like.
Katherine was my neighbour and a participant in my yoga classes when she was pregnant with Atlas. She also brought Atlas to join my Baby & Me classes. We reconnected after I saw her posters for Atlas’ Lemonade Fundraiser around our neighbourhood.
Since then, I’ve learned more about her journey. Alongside caring for Atlas and his sibling and teaching at the university, Katherine is writing a book about her experience of motherhood and the journey her family has taken since Atlas was born.
I had the privilege of reading a draft of the book. What moved me first were the many details that felt so familiar as a mother: trying to pour from an empty cup, the pressure to be an overachiever, and the very real questions around childcare, finances, and career.
And then there were parts of her journey that I could hardly imagine—living with uncertainty for so long before receiving a diagnosis, navigating the practical and emotional realities of raising a child with complex needs, and learning how to advocate for a child in a world where the resources and research are still limited.
Pitt-Hopkins syndrome is a rare genetic condition with its genetic basis identified only in 2007. Because it is so rare and recent, research, resources, and public awareness remain limited.
That makes advocacy matter.
If you don't speak up, nobody will do it for you.
That is what finding your voice means to me in Katherine's story.
It is not only about speaking loudly. It is about learning to speak when you don't yet have all the answers. It is about asking for compassion for your child, building community, and creating opportunities where there weren't enough before.
Katherine has done this in such tangible ways—from organizing lemonade stands, to creating a colouring book to help others understand how to communicate with Atlas, to writing her story.
Atlas may experience the world differently from many children. Some may say it is a weakness, but it also gives birth to the greatest strength in motherhood and humanity.
This October, I’d love to dedicate our practice to that kind of voice: the voice that comes from love, courage, and the willingness to keep showing up.
All proceeds from this class will go to the Brock Knight Foundation.
If you’d like to support Atlas but can’t make it to class, please consider donate directly through the Brock Knight Foundation or learn more through Katherine’s Instagram.
Thank you for allowing me to make yoga a space for something bigger than ourselves.