In each class you’ll be guided through a sequence of postures, learning to stretch, strengthen and balance, with attention and awareness. Some classes run on a 4-week cycle of poses and you’ll be introduced to standing poses, seated poses, back bends, and breathwork (pranayama). During each week you’ll experience other postures in addition to the focus of the week. You’ll receive a well-rounded practice with variety and freshness. Inversions like headstand, handstand, shoulderstand and forearm stand are offered safely where appropriate. In most classes the teacher will give instructions, demonstrations, variations and adjustments to deepen your understanding of the pose, the practice and yourself. Classes are a combination of shared practice and learning. No two classes are the same. The variation in the content of the class is based on the level and condition of the students, the time of day, the season and many other factors.

Nope, you don’t have to be flexible to practice yoga! The prerequisites for practice are sincerity and an open mind. Yoga has many recuperative, therapeutic and rehabilitative effects and applications. Chat with us about how yoga can meet your needs with suggestions on classes that best fit your conditions.

Props can be used to create optimal body alignment, make poses or actions accessible to those with physical limitations, help you hold the poses longer, make the poses safe, highlight a particular aspect of a pose and your understanding, enhance the recuperative effects, increase sensitivity and find the balance of effort and relaxation. Props include sticky mats, blankets, belts, blocks, chairs, benches, wall ropes, sandbags, dowels, slant boards, trestles and other objects that help students experience the practice more effectively. If you’re attending virtual classes and don’t have props, check out this video which explains what household items can be used to replace props. If you’d like to purchase props, check out PropShop.

You will notice benefits attending once per week and we recommend attending 2-3 times per week or more for learning and steady progression, particularly at the beginning of your journey. Home practice is also encouraged, even for a few minutes daily, to integrate learning, for self-study and to amplify the benefits of in-class practice. New students may take some time to develop a home practice and we offer tools to assist you with this. Ask us and check out our resources page for home practice information.

We recommend wearing shorts or leggings and a t-shirt. Some students like to have an extra layer to wear at the beginning and end of class. Clothing should be freshly laundered, modest and comfortable. For in-person classes, you can bring a yoga mat or borrow one from the Centre. All props are provided for in-person classes and we ask that you please keep all personal belongings including cell phones and water bottles outside of the classroom. Please put your cell phone on silent or leave at home or in your car.

Arrive 10-15 minutes early for in-person classes and 5-10 minutes early for virtual classes to meet the teacher and get acquainted with the Centre (for in-person). Set up your mat and props and settle in a few minutes early to create a quiet, inward focus. Come to class on an empty stomach. Avoid drinking water or chewing gum during class. Come to class with clean hands and feet. Tie hair back and tuck in your t-shirt. Please refrain from wearing any strong scents or perfumes to in-person classes.

Class begins with a few minutes of sitting quietly, sometimes followed by chanting three aums and the invocation to Patanjali, and sometimes followed by other invocations. The invocations help create an inner atmosphere of receptivity. Through the invocations we offer thanks to our teachers, for our lineage and for the opportunity for practice together. You can access a copy of the invocations via our resources page or pick one up in studio.

For in-person classes, please wait until the invocations are finished before coming in. Come in quietly, gather your props and join the class. For virtual classes, come in and we recommend turning on your video and sending the teacher a ‘chat’ letting them know if you have any injuries, health concerns and which props you have.