Themed Yoga Classes

Mondays, February 3, 10, 24, with Donna Oliver, 5:00pm-6:00pm, $108/6 classes, $21/class
at the Studio

An ancient popular Qigong set to help rectify health disorders. Gentle stretching of the Energetic Meridians will leave you feeling energized and centred. It may be practised sitting in a chair.

Monday, February 17–Friday, February 21, with Shirley Roll, 8:00am-9:15am ET, $100/week, $23/class
on Zoom

Everything about practising yoga touches our nervous system, from grounding, breathing and even elongating the spine, to interoception, proprioception and our awareness of the world around us.  In this series, we will learn how our yoga practice alters the activation of the various pathways of our nervous system – the sympathetic or spinal chain and the dorsal and ventral branches of the vagus nerve.  The resulting balance of that activation affects our sense of wellbeing and that of those around us. Let’s practise together, exploring how these elements influence our energy, our resilience, our mood, our thinking and our feelings about ourselves and others.

Monday, February 24 – Friday, February 28, with Julia Juhas, 8:00am-9:15am ET, $100/week, $23/class
on Zoom

Although the shoulder girdle is brilliantly designed to be extremely mobile, more often than not, it feels the opposite due to the weight of the world we carry on our shoulders. Why not lighten the load? Let’s rediscover shoulder mobility through the exploration of movement of the bones and soft tissue that make up the shoulder girdle and how these movements affect the spine.

“If, like me, you’re recovering from the fatigue of a respiratory infection, attend (Awaken the Shoulder Girdle) with Julia Juhas. The focus on the shoulder blades, especially, helped open my torso and I have been able to breathe more deeply and come off the mat more energized as a result.” Candace S

“I enjoyed ‘Awaken the Shoulder Girdle’ with Julia Juhas. I learned a lot about shoulders and mine have never felt so released and relaxed! The class was a perfect blend of information, instruction, and helpful feedback in a safe and friendly space. ” Jan Fleming

Image: From the film ‘Aniki Bobo’, Manoel de Oliveira, 1942

During the month of March, the Studio will donate $1 to the One City Scholarship Fund for everyone participating in every yoga class, in person and online.

Please boost your attendance – perhaps try something new? an early morning series? a breathing session? a different teacher? – and help us help young people thrive.

Any additional donations you wish to make directly to One City are welcome and will receive a charitable tax receipt. Many thanks!

All proceeds go to the One City Scholarship Fund (www.onecityfund.com) supporting graduating Toronto high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds, who have excelled academically, with their college and university education. Scholarship recipients are hopeful and committed to making a difference. They are talented young people who are changemakers and community builders – not of our future, but of today.

Monday, March 3 – Friday, March 7, with Della Croteau, 8:00am-9:15am ET, $100/wk, $23/class
on Zoom

The hips are central to many movements, acting as a bridge between the upper and lower body. Because of this important role, improving hip mobility can offer numerous benefits, from weight bearing to enhancing our body’s ability to move and walk to reducing the risk of injury. We will explore all the ways the hip joints can move and how we can release and strengthen the surrounding areas to support our functionality on a daily basis.

Mondays, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 April 7, 14, 21, with Donna Oliver, 5:00pm-6:00pm ET, $144/8 classes, $21/class
at the Studio

Focus will be on gentle exercises that may relieve stress, back pain, depression, and insomnia, as well as other common health disorders. Boost your immune system and remain healthy this winter with Qigong!

Image: Waves, Georgia O’Keeffe

Monday, March 10 – Friday, March 14, with Mariko Tanabe, 8:00am-9:15am ET, $100/week, $23/class
on Zoom

Your endocrine glands are like a creative fountain that governs the systems of your body. The different hormones produced by each gland are released directly into the bloodstream to act upon the balance of your body’s functions, and the dynamics of your emotions, and state of mind.

Each gland has a unique structure and is associated with the body’s primary energy centres found in the ancient teachings of the chakra system. The endocrine glands are also active agents in the applications of Chinese Medicine.

We will focus on the main glands with the qualities of their associated chakras along their central axis in the body from the floor of the pelvis to the crown of the head. Through this lens, you will experience their capacity to balance your energy, empower your movement, and unleash dimensions of your creative expression and voice. The practice includes some basic anatomy,
movement, meditation, asana, breath and voice.

All are welcome to participate at their own level of experience and comfort.

March 14, April 4, May 2, June 20, July 11 with Tama Soble, 1:00pm-3:00pm ET, $30/class, included in unlimited passes
on Zoom

May 2, with Tama Soble, 1:00pm-3:00pm, $30/class, included in unlimited passes, *class will be held in Studio

Enjoy the pleasure of deepening your practice by taking time at the end of the week to unwind and revitalize. For students and teachers at every level.

“I really enjoyed your Friday Intensive yesterday. I look forward to your monthly classes and love the way you lead up to the theme, gradually encouraging us to open our rib cage as yesterday. I always leave inspired and encouraged in my ability to move into poses with more ease and comfort.” SM

Monday, March 17 – Friday, March 21, with Tama Soble, 8:00am-9:15am ET, $100/week, $23/class
on Zoom

Bones are powerful, resilient, protective and packed with energy. They are the scaffolding for the body, bear and distribute weight, give us form, and protect our vital organs. They are full of life-giving energy, producing red blood cells that carry oxygen and white blood cells that fight infection. Let’s endeavour to understand and embody the skeleton and all of its marvellous attributes as we practise asana and pranayama throughout the week.

Image: Thigh bone with black stripe, Georgia O’Keeffe, 1930

Monday, March 24 – Friday, March 28, with Monica Voss, 8:00am-9:15am ET, $100/week, $23/class
on Zoom

Curving, continuous movements, the hallmark of Qi Gong, are rare in yoga and introducing circles, figure 8s and spirals – mentally and literally – warms and lubricates all the systems of the body creating an overflow of pure enjoyment and assuring us there’s always another chance, another beginning.

Discover yoga practice as a circle game of free movement, cumulative learning, awareness and delight.

Image: All of Nature Flows Through Us, Marc Quinn, 2011

Monday, March 31 – Friday, April 4, with Mar Jean Olson, 8:00am-9:15am ET, $80/week, $23/class *no class on Tuesday April 1
on Zoom

Join us for fun and effective ways to improve our balance. We’ll develop the basics of balance through breathing, eyes, focus, hands and feet and stepping patterns. Plenty of ‘brain aerobics’ exercises are included that we can easily practise on our own.

Monday, April 7 – Friday, April 11, with John Campbell, 8:00am-9:15am ET, $100/week, $23/class
on Zoom

A morning practice – pranayama, guided and silent sitting meditation, finishing with yoga nidra. Start your day here, right here. Energized, grounded, present, free, easy, infinite capacity. Everyone is welcome – both those new to meditation and experienced meditators.

Monday, April 14 – Thursday, April 17, with Julia Juhas, 8:00am-9:15am ET,  $80/week, $23/class * no class Fri April 18
on Zoom

It’s that time of year to Rise Up, awaken and renew the energy core within us, the spine. Let’s invigorate this glorious structure as we gently explore and weave together the breath with the movements within Sun Salutation. We’ll take our time basking in the different asanas that create this vitalizing sequence. This series is not about how many rounds we do – rather how we move mindfully from one asana to the next.

Julia’s class was brilliant. Her creativity to do Sun Salutation even lying down, her thoughtfulness and care and energy are inspiring. I always know I will feel safe and have fun experimenting with all the movements from simple to the most complicated. Delightful!
Sandie Collins

Monday, April 21 – Friday, April 25, with Tama Soble, 8:00am-9:15am ET, $100/week, $23/class
on Zoom

As human beings we need both movement and stillness to balance body, mind and soul. We will use movement sequences, familiar and new, to energize, ease and nurture. After each movement exploration we will rest in stillness and awareness. The temporal balance between these two states is different for each individual. There will be the opportunity to explore our personal relationship between activity and quiet, exuberance and rest, reaching outward and inward throughout the week.
Image: Shooting Star, Matthew Wong, 2019

May 2, with Tama Soble, 1:00pm-3:00pm, $30/class, included in unlimited passes,
at the Studio

Enjoy the pleasure of deepening your practice by taking time at the end of the week to unwind and revitalize. For students and teachers at every level.

“I really enjoyed your Friday Intensive yesterday. I look forward to your monthly classes and love the way you lead up to the theme, gradually encouraging us to open our rib cage as yesterday. I always leave inspired and encouraged in my ability to move into poses with more ease and comfort.” SM