ABOUT
Me
Annu Gaidhu
My commitment to the excluded, the powerless, the marginalized, the hungry, illiterate, traumatized, oppressed
- the people who suffer with them, stand and fight by their side
- I am that and that I am.
year
2014
"Annu Gaidhu, 23, an under-graduate in Child Psychology at Ryerson University, is Miss India Canada 2014. She won the title on August 16 competing against 15 other semi-finalists."
at age of
17
Annu becomes Canadas youngest certified yoga teacher. From a young age, Annu learned that to heal and love others; we must first set it in motion for ourselves.
As a South Asian Canadian woman, a daughter of immigrants and pursuer of truth, the practice of Yog taught her about the basic fundamental rights of existence, to love and be loved through unlearning internalized oppressive behaviours via Self-knowledge and Self-awareness. Annu believes in centering the ancient principles of Ayurvedic Yoga into a modern-day practice suitable for communities of all ages, abilities and body types. Annu specializes in serving women, and youth create and sustain healthy lifestyles for themselves and their families through proper diet and herbs aromatherapy, panchakarma, Yoga and meditation.
An experienced Child and Youth Worker, Annu holds a Master's and undergraduate Bachelor's Degree in Child and Youth Care from Ryerson University. Her research focuses on identifying and addressing entrenched systemic discrimination, both indirect and direct, and the critical examination of educational pedagogy, colonial and anti-racism/anti oppressive frameworks within education.
back in
2015
Annu married her love of child welfare and activism, establishing a non-profit organization, The Healing Hearts Project Poverty Relief Initiative , to address theprevalence of poverty and food insecurity within BIPOC communities.
lovely
2016
She is best known for her principal role in the 2016 documentary feature, Finding Spirit. An official selection at the Canadian Diversity Film Festival, Love International Film Festival and winner of Accolade Global Film Competition.
She has successfully led fundraising activities abroad for sustainable development projects focusing on building and enhancing safe spaces for youth to play, access to clean drinking water and warm clothing. Her activism awarded her as the top 15 global finalists for the International Volunteer Headquarters Volunteer of the Year Award, Ryerson University's Children's Rights Award, and the President's Award of Excellence for outstanding social justice & humanitarian efforts in India.
In June 2020, Annu was awarded as a national finalist representing Canada in the global 6th International Yoga Day 2020 video blogging competition by the High Commission of India in Canada and the Ministry of AYUSH in India.
Annu Gaidhu
M.A-CYC., RAP., RAYT., ERYT.
Child and Youth Worker
Registered Ayurvedic Practitioner
Registered Ayurvedic Yoga Teacher
Founder, Bliss Yoga With Annu Inc.
Founder, Healing Hearts Project Poverty Relief Initiative Inc.
Founder, Lakshmi Ayurveda Inc.
