Yoga Workshops for Everyone

Friday, December 4, with Peter Blackaby
1:00pm-3:00pm ET on Zoom, $45

Over a lifetime we all gather habits and biases that become a part of us, many of them helpful, allowing us to go about our daily business without too much thought. However it is also true that any habit that gets too deeply ingrained may limit our physical or emotional choices in life. This class will look at ways our practice of yoga helps us shed light on things we might be unconsciously doing that hinder us.

Pete Blackaby is a yoga teacher and osteopath based in Brighton, UK, and the author of the book, Intelligent Yoga. His outlook and approach encompass the complex relationship among things and the way perception influences everything. He has been a guest teacher at Esther Myers Yoga Studio for many years.

*Sorry, this workshop is postponed
Sunday, December 6, with Ana Bodnar
11:00am – 12:15pm ET, $25

Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is considered one of the oldest and most powerful mantras of the Vedic era. It is called the “great” and “magic”: it helps protect from diseases, assists healing the soul and body, and gives energy, power, resistance, and strength. Breathwork, guided meditation and personal exploration for healing self and the world will be included in our practice. We will look at how to incorporate this mantra into our lives. Knowledge of Sanskrit not required. 

Ana Bodnar is a clinical psychologist and has been a teacher of yoga philosophy and meditation for many years, both in the community and at the University of Toronto. She leads kirtan chanting events and released a meditation and chanting CD: Embracing Peace. For more information, see www.anabodnar.com.

Thursday, December 10, with Tama Soble and Debbie Danbrook
6:30pm-8:00pm ET, $35

Dive deep into your yoga practice supported by the meditative sounds of the shakuhachi flute, an instrument with surprising depth, volume and range. Feel how sound supports, inspires and brings new insight as you ground, breathe and release at the end of your day. We will absorb sound together as we move.

Sunday, December 20, with Julia Juhas
11:00am-1:00pm ET, $25

As we move toward the shortest day of the year with the longest night, it’s important that we embrace both these opposites in order to live in harmony. Through calming and soothing breath practices, mindful movements and meditation, let’s spend some time to reflect on the integration of the darkness and radiant light. 

Sunday, December 27 – Tuesday, December 29, with Monica Voss
10:30am-12:30pm and 2:00pm-3:30pm ET, on Zoom, $165/3 days, $60/day, $30/half day, included in unlimited packages, bursaries available

Ring out 2020 with an in-town at home yoga “retreat”. Lighten body and heart with three full or partial days of asana, pranayama, meditation and relaxation. Everyone welcome!

Friday, January 1, 2021, with Susan Young
11:00am-1:00pm ET, $25, on Zoom

Bring in the New Year with a 2-hour yoga practice combining asana, breath work and meditative practice to prompt deep reflection and inspire positive intentions for the year ahead. You are welcome to bring a pen and notebook to capture any insights. Open to all levels.

Susan Young is thrilled to be teaching at Esther Myers Yoga Studio. She has over 20 years’ experience teaching hatha and vinyasa flow yoga classes to students ranging from beginners to advanced. Susan developed a strong appreciation for and love of movement at a young age, having trained at both the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada. Susan is a graduate of the Esther Myers Yoga Studio Teaching Training Programme.

Sunday, January 31, with Tama Soble, Monica Voss and John Campbell
10:30am-4:15pm, $70/full day, $50/two classes, $30/one class
Please ask about a sliding scale – no one will be denied access to these sessions based on financial constraint.

Join us for a day of yoga that offers comfort, ease, and relaxation with classes that lead away from anxiety and stress and toward equilibrium and quiet reflection. Beginners to yoga and meditation are welcome – no experience is necessary. Please attend.

All proceeds will support Hospice Toronto, a volunteer organization that serves a basic, vital need and is particularly important at this difficult time with individuals separated from or given limited time with their families at the end of life. 

For more information on Hospice Toronto: https://hospicetoronto.ca/

Friday, February 5, with Tama Soble
1:00pm-3:00pm, ET, $40, on Zoom

The psoas muscle is powerful and intelligent.  It lies deep in the torso connecting spine, pelvis and legs. Understanding how to release, stretch and strengthen the psoas can help us to integrate and stabilize the entire physical body, and free up the respiratory system.  We will explore postures and breathing practices to deepen our awareness and understanding of the role of the psoas in a balanced, resilient and steady body and mind.

Friday, February 19, with Peter Blackaby
1:00pm-3:00pm ET on Zoom, $45

Sensation informs us about the outer world, our physical selves and our inner experience. Our mind makes sense of these sensations based on prior experience and responds according to what it believes is happening. The mind’s interpretation of sensation can for various reasons misrepresent what is. This class will centre around our subjective responses and how accurate they are.

Pete Blackaby is a yoga teacher and osteopath based in Brighton, UK, and the author of the book, Intelligent Yoga. His outlook and approach encompass the complex relationship among things and the way perception influences everything. He has been a guest teacher at Esther Myers Yoga Studio for many years.

A Body-Mind Centering® Approach
Saturday, February 20 – Sunday, February 21, 2021
Saturday and Sunday, 10:00am-12:30pm, 2:00pm-4:30pm, ET
$250/full weekend, $125/day, $65/single session on Zoom

Body-Mind Centering® (BMC^SM) is an experiential body/mind practice study based on anatomical, physiological, psychophysical and developmental principles developed by Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. BMC^SM utilizes movement, touch, voice, imagery, anatomical illustrations and discussion to explore each body system in ways that can be applied to personal and professional development.

For teachers and students at all levels of experience. CEU’s awarded through Yoga Alliance.

Embodying the Skeletal System
Part 1 – Introduction to the Skeletal System: Saturday, February 20, 10:00am-12:30pm ET
Part 2 – Axial and Appendicular Skeleton, Saturday, February 20, 2:00pm-4:30pm ET

Embodying the Muscular System
Sunday, February 21, 10:00am-12:30pm and 2:00pm-4:30pm