Jaak is a psychiatrist who has specialized in the treatment of anxiety disorders for over 30 years. He was on staff at Toronto General Hospital (now part of the University Health Network) for over 30 years. He was one of the original 3 staff psychiatrists in the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Toronto General Hospital, the Clinical Director of the Treatment Evaluation Clinic for Stress, Depression and Anxiety at Toronto General Hospital and was the Director of the Anxiety Clinic at the University Health Network.

Over the past 25 years, Jaak has facilitated close to 400 mindfulness-based programs and has led hundreds of daylong mindfulness retreats.

He is currently the director of the Center for Inner Freedom in Barrie.

Dawn may be the first person you speak to at the Center as she is the Center's Program Coordinator.  Dawn has been teaching Yoga for over 17 years in the Barrie area and is a Certified Yoga Therapist and Instructor.  She has her own Yoga business, was a member of the faculty of Georgian College and is a mother of two teenagers. She does her best to live each day as mindfully as she can.

Angie assists in welcoming you to the Center and assists in the administration of the Center. She is also a certified yoga instructor and practices mindfulness and meditation.

Gail was educated at the University of Western Ontario where she obtained an Honours BSc in Physiology. She completed some additional post-graduate courses as well. Her career included medical research, legal work and adult education. She is interested in nutrition, as well as drawing and painting and is a Certified Yoga Instructor.

Gail does administrative work at the Center. Also, she may one of the first people you meet when coming to the Center. One of her roles is to greet you when you attend for Orientation interviews, classes, practice sessions or all day sessions.