A woman with long curly brown hair and light makeup, wearing a cream-colored sweatshirt, looking at the camera with a slight smile, against a green background.

From Montreal to Oyster Bay: A Vision Evolved

The Story Behind Essence Heart Academy

Meet Sonia: Founder

Essence Heart Academy was born from a mother's determination to create what didn't exist - a childcare environment that truly honors children's complete development while keeping them safe and nurtured..

Bright children's playroom with white furniture, books, toys, a chalkboard, and an easel with artwork. Features windows with blinds and a colorful rug with numbers.

The Montreal Beginning

A Mother's Search for Better As a mother of an 18-year-old daughter, Sonia experienced firsthand the disappointment of conventional daycare options. When her daughter was young, the available programs simply didn't meet her standards for what children deserved. So she did what many entrepreneurial mothers do - she created the solution herself.

Au Petit Yogi: Proven Success In Montreal, Sonia founded Au Petit Yogi, a family daycare that became beloved by the families it served. The program featured:

  • Spacious, light-filled environment

  • 100% organic nutrition

  • Daily outdoor exploration in all weather

  • Gentle, attentive care that children loved

A woman and a young girl practicing yoga outdoors on a grassy area with trees and buildings in the background. The woman is sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed, and the girl is sitting in front of her, with her eyes closed and mouth open, appearing to be meditating or doing yoga.
A woman and a young girl playing and making silly faces outdoors in a park.

What Parents Said About Au Petit Yogi:

  • "I send my little boy to this daycare with complete confidence every day. He never goes reluctantly and always comes home in a good mood. Everything is always clean, the daycare is spacious and bright, he literally eats better there than at home (!) and Sonia and her team are gentle and attentive with the children."

    - Bianka, Parent

  • "Au Petit Yogi is a place where I can leave my child without worrying about the quality of his days. I KNOW he is well cared for, I have complete confidence in Sonia... The space is bright, airy, the themes are thoughtful and updated, and the food that helps my child grow is organic, varied and appropriate to the healthy diet I want my child to follow. I recommend this daycare which is the 3rd one I've tried for my child in one year, and I definitely want my child to stay there as long as needed."

    - Mélanie, Parent

  • "My daughter goes to this daycare and she loves it. The educator is wonderful and listens to each child's needs. When I go to pick up my daughter, she doesn't want to leave."

    - Patricia, Parent

Green outline drawing of New York City skyline featuring the Statue of Liberty holding a tablet and torch, the Brooklyn Bridge, and iconic skyscrapers including the Empire State Building, with a few birds flying in the sky.
Line drawing of Montreal's city skyline including skyscrapers, historic buildings, a Ferris wheel, and a park with trees, labeled 'Montreal' at the bottom.

The New York Evolution

From Montreal to Oyster Bay After nearly 10 years in New York and several years as an Oyster Bay resident, Sonia has built a successful career as an entrepreneur and financial analyst. She owns a beauty brand and retail store focused on safe, nurturing products for women - because helping women care for their beauty with safe products has always been part of her mission.

The Natural Connection What might seem like a departure from beauty and finance is actually a natural evolution. Sonia's purpose has always been about nurturing and protecting what's precious - whether that's a woman's natural beauty or a child's developing potential.

Recognizing the Need Living in Oyster Bay, Sonia noticed what many parents experience: there simply aren't daycare options that prioritize both environmental safety AND complete child development. Most programs focus on academics or convenience, but few address what developing children truly need - safe environments, organic nutrition, emotional intelligence, and individual recognition.

Why Essence Heart Academy Now

Enhanced Vision

Essence Heart Academy represents everything Sonia learned from Au Petit Yogi, enhanced with:

  • Deeper environmental health protocols (EMF-free, toxin-free)

  • Expanded consciousness-based approaches

  • Integration of latest child development research

  • Her refined Foundation-First methodology

Personal Mission

As both an entrepreneur and a mother, Sonia understands that the most important investment we make is in our children's early years. She's creating Essence Heart Academy because Oyster Bay families deserve access to the same level of comprehensive, consciousness-based early childhood development that made Au Petit Yogi so special.

Professional Background Supporting Our Mission

Mother: 18+ years of parenting experience

  • Proven Daycare Operator: Successfully ran Au Petit Yogi in Montreal

  • Entrepreneur: Understands business excellence and customer service

  • Financial Analyst: Brings analytical approach to child development research

  • Beauty Industry Expert: Deep knowledge of safe products and environmental health

Oyster Bay Resident: Committed to serving our local community

“Every decision at Essence Heart Academy - from our space selection to our daily practices - is made with the same question that guided Au Petit Yogi: "How does this serve the complete development and safety of the children in our care?"

We're not just opening another daycare. We're creating Oyster Bay's first truly comprehensive early childhood environment where your child's complete being is honored, protected, and nurtured.”

— Sonia, Founder

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