WHAT IS YOGA? Classical Yoga is 4,000 years old and is practiced to establish Self-awareness and internal harmony. It is one of the oldest systems of personal development. It differs from exercise in many ways. When practicing yoga postures or asanas, the muscles receive minimum nutrition and oxygen and the organs receive more, whereas during physical activity, it is the muscles that receive more nutrition and oxygen at the expense of the organs. The respiration rate generally drops in Yoga, as oppose to increase and toxins are eliminated as oppose to built up. Yoga means union of mind, body and spirit.
As Deepak Chopra wrote in his book, Perfect Health, "From the very first Yoga session, people discover the intimacy that nature has established between awareness and physiology—getting back in touch with this intimacy is very reassuring and delightful, particularly for people who have given up on exercise and become virtual strangers to their bodies."
WHAT IS PILATES? Developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920's, this form of exercise combines yoga with physiotherapy. Pilates was designed to strengthen the body from the inside out by focusing on internal movement instead of repetitive exercises.
As Joseph Pilates wrote in his book, Return to Life Through Contrology, Pilates "develops not only the muscles of the body, suppleness of the limbs, and functioning of vital organs and endocrine glands; it also clarifies the mind and develops the will."
I'VE NEVER DONE YOGA. WHAT TYPE OF YOGA SHOULD I TAKE? We mainly offer two different types of Yoga: Hatha and Ashtanga. Depending on your personality you may prefer the style of one type of Yoga to the other. Classical Hatha Yoga is about 5,000 years old and it uses physical postures or asanas, breathing techniques and meditation to bring the body into perfect health and to allow the subtle inner spirit to emerge freely. It is practiced at a gentle pace. Individuals who prefer a more relaxing, grounding type of class should try Hatha Yoga.
Ashtanga Yoga, on the other hand, is only a few hundred years old and it takes the postures from Hatha Yoga and flows them one after the other, incorporating breathing and movement. It is a form of exercise that is fast in pace and one of the desirable consequences is to make the body sweat, to flush out toxins. Individuals who prefer to do a more stimulating workout should try Ashtanga Yoga.
All beginners, regardless of your fitness level, should start at an Intro Level and as with any new activity, you should consult your doctor before you begin. If you are still not sure which type of Yoga you would like to do, try a Hatha and an Ashtanga drop-in class on our schedule to help you decide.
CAN I DO YOGA IF I'M INJURED? Yes, our Restorative Yoga classes are designed for people with specific health issues, such as chronic fatigue, arthritis, and back pain. In this case it is particularly important to consult your physician and/or physiotherapist before you begin. If you have been given the green light, it is still important to check in with the teacher before class to let them know about your injury or illness.
HOW MANY CLASSES SHOULD I TAKE EACH WEEK? Yoga is an ancient Indian ritual practiced daily. However, how many classes you take depends on your body and schedule. Certainly, you will benefit from every opportunity you practice. As you become more experienced you'll feel comfortable taking more classes.
HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN I'M READY TO ADVANCE? When you feel comfortable in and familiar with the postures, you'll feel stronger and ready for a new challenge. If you're unsure, ask your instructor to give you their recommendation.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR IN CLASS? Bare feet and comfortable clothes such as shorts, tights, or jogging pants with a T-shirt. If you don't have your own mat to use in class we have a limited number of rental mats available for $1.
THIS WILL BE MY FIRST CLASS. HOW DO I GET STARTED? On your first visit it's best to arrive 15 to 20 minutes before the class starts to register, find your way around the club, and get centred.
IS IT OKAY TO BE LATE FOR CLASS? The first five to fifteen minutes of class is a warm up and relaxation period meant to prepare you for your practice. Being late not only disturbs others, but it can lead to injury. We do not allow latecomers into classes more than 10 minutes after the scheduled start time. Be a yogi, be on time.
DO YOU OFFER YOGA TRAINING OUTSIDE OF THE CLUB? Yes. We can arrange private lessons, retreats, and on-site yoga for individuals, corporations and organizations. Please contact Mashi for further information.
DO YOU SELL MATS? Yes, we recommend that once you decide to attend classes regularly, you consider purchasing your own mat to practice on. We sell different coloured Yoga mats in our retail area, Canadian-made mat bags, and other merchandise to support your practice.
IS THERE MORE THAN ONE YOGA STUDIO LOCATION? Yes, there are two Yoga Studio locations:
Uptown: 40 Eglinton Avenue East: east of Yonge, on the north side of Eglinton, above Second Cup, at Eglinton station.
Downtown: 87 Avenue Road, inside The Yorkville Club, (above Whole Foods), just around the corner from Bay subway station.
WHERE CAN I PARK? The Yoga Studio at Yorkville has validated parking in the underground lot off Avenue Rd, below Whole Foods. A copy of the parking schedule is available at the front desk.
