YYoga South Granville

Although the Passport to Prana is done until October, it doesn't mean I've stopped trying out new studios... for cheap. I friend gave me a pass for one free class at the brand new YYoga studio in the South Granville area of Vancouver (at Broadway and Granville). Here are my impressions...




What: YYoga South Granville

Where: 201-1627 W Broadway, Vancouver BC

When: Aug 18, 2010 10:00am-11:30am

Class: Flow

Teacher: Chris

Drop-In price per class: $15-20

Types of classes offered: flow, hatha, power, anusara, core, pilates, yin

Space:

YYoga never disappoints when it comes to the beauty of their studios. All of the studios have lovely spaces that make you feel like you're at the spa. There was a large yoga studio complete with bamboo floors and nice lighting. The shower/changing area was also very nice, but felt a little cramped compared to other YYoga locations. There were only 2 toilet stalls in the women's, which had a bit of a lineup after class. Also, the toilet stall doors didn't have any locks, which was both embarrassing and annoying (yes, I opened the door on someone). Other than that, the space was really nice. I also appreciated the complimentary lockers and infrared sauna.

Atmosphere:

See above. Super spa-like. Super swanky.

Teacher/Class:

I went to a Flow class, which can be a bit of a toss-up because sometimes you get vinyasa, sometimes it's all power, sometimes it has a hatha (slower) flavour. Chris' class was very distinctly Ashtanga. I say Ashtanga instead of power because he did some quite advanced asanas and jump-through. I think only 2 or 3 people in the whole class could even attempt some of the poses (deep folds with binds, crane, etc). His teaching style was very focused on alignment and bone placement (like, where the femur should be). Sometimes I feel this kind of detailed instruction to be a bit too technical and loses the essence of the pose. Nonetheless, he definitely had a lot to offer in terms of the mental side of yoga and told us some cool little anecdotes to get some bits of philosophy across. Kudos to him for that. A couple things that I didn't like were 1) the fact that he didn't give a great deal of modifications (even though there were definitely beginners in the class) and 2) he didn't mirror his poses (which is one of my pet peeves). His pace was also quite fast, which left me feeling like I was always behind and a bit rushed.

Rating: 9/10. A great looking studio right in the heart of South Granville. Minus a point for not having locks on the toilet stalls and making me embarrass some poor woman while she did her business.

Bikram's Yoga North Vancouver

The last week of the Passport to Prana is now upon us! I really can't believe I managed to make it to this many yoga studios in a mere 3 months, but here I am towards the end of my yoga sampling journey (for now anyways). So after exhausting most of the hatha studios out there, I went back to ol' Bikrams for a class. I hadn't done Bikram's for a couple of months and before that for over a year, so I wasn't quite sure how my body would react to the heat and intense stretching, but I managed to get through it alright.


What: Bikram's Yoga North Vancouver

Where: 856 West 15th Street, North Vancouver BC

When: July 27, 2010, 9:30am-11:00am

Class: Bikram's Hot Yoga

Teacher: Marcus

Drop-In price per class: about $20

Types of classes offered: Bikram Hot Yoga

Space:

Not far from Capilano Mall in North Van, this studio is in a accessible location for most people. The studio is on the second floor of a business complex and boasts quite a large yoga room. The floors of the room were lined with some soft faux wood stuff, which gave it a good look. There wasn't much else in the area of decor, but the shower/changing areas were clean and had all the necessary amenities. The only thing I would make a comment about was the fact that there was nothing to block the front door of the female change room, which meant that if you opened the door, you could see right into the changing area and see people's bare bums from the hallway. Also, there was a vanity and sink right in front of the door, which made it an awkward place to stand.

Atmosphere:

The place wasn't deluxe but did have a friendly vibe. There was some nice yoga artwork on the walls, which gave the place a playful atmosphere. Whenever I go to Bikram's studios, there is sort of a seriousness about the place when you enter the yoga room, but everything seemed alright and the people were friendly.

Teacher/Class:

I hadn't been to a Bikram's class for some time and I kind of forgot how intense the dialogue can get at times. Marcus was a good teacher but tended to speak super fast most of the time. At times he got into this monster truck announcer voice (you know, a la "Sunday, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!!!" which was a bit annoying to me. He had some good insights about yoga but of course was parroting the Bikram's dialogue which tends to be very demanding and not so accommodating to people with limitations or beginners. I've already given my rant about what I think about hot yoga as a whole, so I won't repeat it here (see review for Westcoast Hot Yoga). After the 90 minutes I did drench my mat with sweat and feel completely worked. I managed to not feel like throwing up this time so I must be doing something right with all these yoga classes I'm attending. I did make the mistake of not drinking enough water before the class, so I felt pretty dehydrated for the rest of the day. If you go, make sure you eat properly the night before and drink drink drink! (water, that is).

Rating: 8/10 A descent studio if you're into the hot yoga. Just make sure you know your body when you're practicing and don't let any teacher force you to do anything your body doesn't want you to do.

YYoga Northshore Elements

This week I ventured over to beautiful Lynn Valley in North Van to check out yet another YYoga installment. It was, as usual, absolutely stunning and the lovely location made the experience extra special.

What: YYoga Northshore Elements

Where: 231-1233 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver BC

When: July 20, 2010, 9:30am-11:00am

Class: Flow

Teacher: Chloe

Drop-In price per class: $15-20

Types of classes offered: Hatha, Anusara-Inspired, Kids Yoga, YHot, Flow, Power, Core, Pilates, Yin, Beginner Classes


Space:

Located in Whistler-style Lynn Valley Village, this studio was placed in a lovely valley with mountains in the background and gave off a real "BC" feel. The studio itself did not fail to live up to YYoga's reputation for premiere spa-like facilities. There was a large reception area with a little shop and beautiful changing areas. I always liked the fact that YYoga had complimentary lockers. It does make a difference for some people. The main studio was very large and had an awesome view of the mountains. There was another one a couple doors down (I don't think it was connected to the main areas) that had a lot more props and Iyengar-style ropes hanging from the wall and such. I loved the bamboo floors and the lighting in the space. There was also an infrared sauna, which was mint! It was deluxe.

Atmosphere:

I got a great vibe from this studio. It didn't come off as pretentious as the downtown YYoga locations. I consider the North Van yogis as people who just really live a "BC" life. In other words, North Van has a lot of outdoorsy people with families and good jobs that appreciate the finer elements of life. I saw a lot of these people here. All in all, the atmosphere was very spa-like and the front desk staff made sure you were well-taken care of.

Teacher/Class:
I attended a Flow class, which pretty much translates to a mix between hatha and vinyasa and power. Chloe was an excellent teacher and her style was very focused on proper alignment and engagement of the muscles. I liked that she started out by talking about the concept of a "higher self" and how yoga is really just a metaphor for life. It was refreshing to hear about these concepts in a new way. Her class was pretty advanced, and I was surprised there were so many men around me who were super strong and flexible. I learned a few new ways to get into more advanced poses and took away some great sequencing ideas. It was a 90 minute class and I can't really think of a pose that we didn't do. It was packed chock full of warrior sequences, balancing poses and long holds/stretches. Definitely a class that leaves you feeling invigorated and proud of yourself. It was awesome!

Rating: 10/10 If you live in North Van and have a car (it's kinda hard to get here by transit), this studio is one of the best. It's got everything you need for the full yoga experience. Plus, there's awesome coffee shops and boutiques in the same complex for post-yoga chilling.

Semperviva Sea

Tonight I completed my tour de Semperviva by checking out my fifth and final Semperviva location. I guess you could say I saved the best for last, because the Sea studio has by far the best view out of any yoga studio around.

What: Semperviva Sea

Where: 200 - 1333 Johnston Street, Granville Island, Vancouver BC

When: July 19, 2010, 7:15pm-8:30pm

Class: Hatha

Teacher: Diana

Drop-In price per class: $18

Types of classes offered: Hatha, Vinyasa Power, Ashtanga, Yin, Kundalini, Mom and Baby, Prenatal

Space:

Located on beautiful Granville Island, this studio has the most amazing view overlooking False Creek. It is located at Pier 32, close to Emily Carr University and is pretty easy to get to from most places. The studio has a nautical charm with high ceilings made of wood beams and has a cool, rustic feel to it. It's on the second floor and there's a sweet balcony you can go out on before or after classes to catch a glimpse of the spectacular view. The interesting thing about the space is that it's a split level and there's a raised area where the mats are facing inward. I recommend practicing in the far left hand corner near the window on this level - it has the best view! Haha it's all about the setting here. There's really nothing that can beat yoga by the sea. The studio had most of what you needed - a small but clean washroom down the hall, a changing stall, closets and shelves for belongings. The floors were carpet in the main studio, but I'll let that one slide seeing as it was well cared for and clean.

Atmosphere:

You just feel very alive when you practice here. The smell of the salt air and the sounds of boats going by is very soothing. The space had a community feel and people were very friendly and seemed truly happy to be there. I've actually done a teacher training in this studio and it was the perfect setting for learning and sharing. There is a feeling of liberation and ease that resonates in the place.

Teacher/Class:

After last week's not-so-hatha class in Richmond, I was happy to go to a class that was very relaxing. Diana was a great teacher and she spoke with a soft and soothing voice. I loved that she gave lots of modifications and options for beginners. The class was very slow-paced and almost felt like a Yin yoga class. We did hold certain yin poses for quite a while and there were many moments of just silence and breath. In the 75 minute class, she didn't guide us through very many poses, but rather spent a lot of time doing preperatory work to set up some key hatha poses. I really appreciated the linkages she would make between the action being created in one pose versus another. It was a very mellow class and I didn't mind it one bit. I think I fell asleep during savasana....and probably snored too!

Rating: 10/10 The location can't be beat at this studio. Of all the Semperviva studios, this is by far the best!

YYoga Richmond

Yesterday I took the Canada Line down to Richmond to check out my 4th YYoga studio. YYoga, as always gets gold for decor and setting that spa-like atmosphere, but unfortunately last night's class left me feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied.

What: YYoga Richmond

Where: 102 - 7731 Alderbridge Way, Richmond BC

When: July 12, 2010, 7:00pm-8:00pm

Class: Hatha

Teacher: Alex

Drop-In price per class: $15-20

Types of classes offered: Hatha, YHot, Flow, Power, Yin, Meditation

Space:

If you take the Canada Line skytrain here, it's a short 15 min walk from Lansdowne station. The studio is located in a business park that inst the most esthetically pleasing, but the exterior is just the exterior, right? The studio had a great front entrance lobby area, with a few tables for pre/post yoga tea and chatting. There were two yoga rooms, named sun and moon. The studio I was in was closest to the front desk, but the changerooms were located down a long, fluorescent pink lit hallway. It was a bit odd to have to walk up and down such a long hallway in bare feet, but I guess that's just how the space had to be laid out. The other studio was bigger and could be accessed directly from the changerooms. There were of course lovely fixtures and amenities and the bamboo floors looked super new. You can basically expect beautiful, professional spaced at any of the YYoga locations.

Atmosphere:

Super zen, lots of bamboo and clean edges. Very spa-like. The front desk staff were super nice and welcoming. With the large tea-room, it looked like a great place to hang out with your fellow yogis/yoginis.

Teacher/Class:

Ok- rant warning. Very seldom do I have bad things to say about a class, but there were so many things that I just couldn't ignore about this one. I went to a 1 hour hatha class led by Alex, who I later found out turned out to be the studio director. He was super charming and funny. The class was packed full of women with the exception of one guy, and Alex brought a light-hearted approach to a class of giggly women. He even spoke Chinese at times (he's not a native speaker), which brought out even more giggles.

Anyways, on to the class itself. We started with some core work and that was all good. His style was definitely workout-oriented, but he did say he was mainly a power/vinyasa teacher so it's par for the course. However, he didn't do a great job of cueing and did no demos (which is understandable given the lack of space in the packed room), which left some people confused. We then went into some standing warrior poses and I started to notice a pattern. He would do one side of a standing warrior pose, then come to tadasana (mountain), then the other side, the back to tadasana, then another warrior variation, then the other side, then back to tadasana, then another... this kept on going on for a while, and, needless to say, I was bored out of my mind at the end There was no flow, no balance between strength and relaxation, no sun/moon, no ha/tha. He was teaching a hatha class like it was a Bikram's hot class! I might be biased to my style, but I hate it when a teacher teaches one side then the other right after for the entire class. Where's the flow and creativity in that? I usually don't make a fuss about classes being boring, but this class was also not taught safely. Towards the end of class, he got everyone to face away from the front of the room and do halasana or plough pose. If you don't know this pose, it's an inversion where you kick your legs up over your head and rest your feet on the floor above your head. It's usually paired with shoulder stand. When you're upside down like that, all your weight is coming down on the neck. If you move your head in this pose, you could potentially seriously harm your spine. So you can see why I was so shocked when he told people to bring their legs up over their heads and rest their feet on the floor behind them. With no demo and unclear instructions, people were moving their heads like crazy to see what they were supposed to do. He started telling them not to move their heads once he realized people were unsure of the pose. He also failed to note the necessary precautions for inversions, like how you shouldn't do it if you have high blood pressure or eye/ear infections or if you're on your period. In a room packed full of women, I'm sure some were menstruating.

So after all that, came savasana, corpse pose. A good savasana can usually save a class and mend any aggravations that might have arisen, but even the savasana sucked this time! Not only was it too short, but all you could hear was loud talking from people waiting outside in the lobby. It was super distracting and I could not fully relax. There was no help from the instructor to tell people to keep it down. There was no music to drown out the talking - it was just a bunch of noise. I thought it was quite rude that a bunch of yoga practitioners would not clue in to keep it down if they knew a class was ending. So all in all, not a fun class. I was so disappointed that I actually met with the teacher after to give him my constructive feedback. Of course, it was just my luck that he happened to be the guy who ran the place, so I can pretty much count on never getting hired at Richmond YYoga! At least he was open to hearing me out and thanked me for the feedback. I'm glad I had the balls to tell him in person. I think safe yoga is so important and I always feel the need to call out unsafe teaching when I see it.

Rating: 8/10. Awesome studio, sucky class. This class doesn't represent the other teachers and classes there, so my review is mainly based on this one experience.

Maa Yoga & Wellness Studio - Maa Sea

This week I took another jaunt over to North Van to check out a studio in beautiful deep cove. I heard some great things about this studio and I gotta say that my friends were right! AND there was bonus awesomeness when I found out that lovely prenatal guru extraordinaire Teresa Campbell was teaching it. She led my prenatal teacher training at Semperviva a few months ago.

What: Maa Yoga & Wellness Studio - Maa Sea

Where: 489 Dollarton Hwy N, North Vancouver BC

When: July 8, 2010, 9:30am-10:45am

Class: Yin/Hatha

Teacher: Teresa Campbell

Drop-In price per class: $17.86

Types of classes offered: Hatha, Vinyasa, Hot, Hatha Core, Yin, Kundalini

Space:

Absolutely gorgeous! The location was beautiful too - steps away from breathtaking views of Burrard Inlet. There wasn't one thing about this studio that I didn't like. It had beautiful decor - similar to the YYoga studios, but a bit more personal. There was a nice open reception area with goodies for sale. The changerooms were fit for the pages of a magazine. They weren't huge but had everything you needed, including showers. I liked how they were labeled "goddesses" for the women and "gurus" for the men. The yoga space was the piece-de-resistence - a large room with spacious high ceilings, hard wood floors (laminate) and beautiful sheers in the back of the room. I really loved this space! ... and as a bonus you can add a soothing massage at the end of your class in the serene massage room beside the yoga studio.

Atmosphere:

It's amazing what a few bamboo shoots and lotus candles will do to a space... oh and nice tiles and fixtures too! The atmosphere was spa-like - very calming and peaceful. I loved being here! I can't say anything bad about this place!

Teacher/Class:

I'm a bit biased because I'm friends with Teresa and I think she's probably the hottest yoga teacher in town. Needless to say, I loved her class! It was a hatha/yin combo, which was an interesting mix of long holds (yin) and energetic flowy hatha poses. There's style is probably the most empowering and feel-good yoga out there. I've been to her prenatal classes (no, I wasn't preggers - just getting a sense of that style of class) and she focuses a lot on empowering women, encouraging self-love, acceptance, creativity, losing inhibitions, booty shaking, etc. A lot of these themes came out in her class today and it felt so good to practice with such a positive voice guiding you through the poses. I felt invigorated and empowered - it was awesome! ... and the walk down to the beach after wasn't too shabby either.

Rating: 10/10. Simply the whole package when it comes to yoga studios. If you're ever in Deep Cove, it's definitely worth checking out!

Yogapod

This week I finally made it across the inlet and ventured into the wonderful land of North Van. Much like Kits, North Van is an affluent, outdoorsy community - it's no surprise there are lots of yoga studios there. This week I tested out Yogapod, a studio located steps away from Lonsdale Quay and the Seabus.

What: Yogapod

Where: 101 - 260 West Esplanade Street, North Vancouver BC

When: June 30, 2010, 9:30pm-11:00am

Class: Core Essentials

Teacher: Hope

Drop-In price per class: $15-20

Types of classes offered: Hot Foundation, Beginner, Vinyasa, Anusara Inspired, Tragically Hips, Core Essentials, Bhakti Shakti, Shakti-Pod Groove, Prenatal, Mom and Baby, Kids Yoga, Karma Classes

Space:

This studio was beautiful. The front entrance had a little boutique that sold yoga wear, books, mats, etc. There was a cute tea room/waiting area outside the main studio. I always love seeing tea rooms in studios - it gives it that community feel. The yoga space itself was quite large and spacious. It definitely was built with large classes in mind. The floors were carpet, which I didn't love, but maybe it was that sanitary carpet that they have in the hot yoga studios. I am always partial to hardwood floors in yoga studios, though. Anyhoo, there was a nice scent in the main studio - the first time I ever noticed the aroma of a studio. I could see that some people could be bothered by it if was any stronger. In terms of amenities, there were beautiful washrooms and changing area. The only thing missing were showers. Usually, I don't mind if there are no showers and the studio only offers hatha/vinyasa/yin/etc, but this studio had tons of hot classes! Even the class I went to (Core Essentials) was in a slightly heated room and I was sweating my butt off by the end of it. If you take transit like me, going home all stinky and sweaty can be a bit annoying/embarrassing.

Atmosphere:

I loved the esthetic of this place. You could easily call it "girly" with the bright pink walls, but it had other touches that just made it a cut above the rest. There was a water fountain in the hallway with "Namaste" written in the tiles and a drain covered with rocks, giving it a waterfall-like appearance. The tea room was very calming and had a wall with announcements and info to look at. There were also photos on the adjacent wall, giving it a community vibe. I really felt welcomed here.

Teacher/Class:

The class I went to was called "Core Essentials" and was taught by Hope. It was taught in a slightly heated room, which I didn't mind at all. I absolutely loved her teaching style! She had excellent flows and paid particular attention to setting up the alignment properly. I later found out she did her training in Anusara - go figure! The thing I liked the most about her class (in addition to the ab-busting exercises) was her choice of wording - she had this vocabulary that just complimented the poses so well. And man did she ever pack in a lot of poses in that one class! I can't believe how many poses we did in the 90 mins! It was a total body experience and left me feeling like a million bucks at the end.

Rating: 9/10. Great studio and location. Lots of interesting classes to try out as well. The only thing that would have given it a 10/10 would be if it had showers. Still a great studio to try out if you're ever on the North Shore!

Kerrisdale Yoga

So I guess you could call this week "Iyengar week" - 2 classes within 3 days. Today I checked out a cute and quaint studio - Kerrisdale Yoga on the west side of Vancouver.

What: Kerrisdale Yoga

Where: 6170 East Boulevard, Vancouver BC

When: June 26, 2010, 12:30pm-1:45pm

Class: Iyengar Yoga Level II

Teacher: Corrie

Drop-In price per class: $15

Types of classes offered: Beginner yoga, Hatha, Iyengar, Vinyasa, Anusara, Kundalini

Space:

Located right in the heart of the Kerrisdale neighborhood, this studio was easy to find and in a nice location. There was a small reception area at the front with a closet for belongings - no lockers or anything. The studio itself was surprisingly very small! This was surprising because the studio runs over 30 classes a week. I think that you could fit maybe 10 mats in there max. The space was very bright and sunny with yellow walls. It had some nice hard wood floors as well. The space was divided with a wall that separated the main studio from a storage area with lots of props. I'm not sure why they decided to put that wall in, because the floor continues into the storage space (not an extra room) and could probably be opened up to create a bigger studio. Well, what do I know? Maybe the wall had to be there for some reason. Anyhow, it was small and intimate, but quite nice. There was one small bathroom with no real changing area, which was a bit of a drawback.

Atmosphere:

There was a peaceful vibe throughout the space. The sunny walls made the place feel lively and light. One thing I noticed was that you could easily hear anyone talking out in the reception area if you were in the studio, and that was a bit distracting at times. My teacher even had to pop her head out during savasana to say "shhh!"

Teacher/Class:

I had only gone to one Iyengar class prior to this (and only a couple of days ago for that matter) but because I didn't want to wait another 2 hours, I went to the early class, which was a level 2 class. I figured I'd be alright seeing as I AM a yoga teacher for god's sake. We used a lot of props - no ropes or crazy things like at The Yoga Space, but blocks, straps, bolsters, etc. The teacher's name was Corrie and she was an older woman with a bit of a strict tone in her voice. At times, I felt a bit nervous because of how particular she was about elements of the pose, like having your hands in namaste behind the back while doing a forward bend. For me, my wrists really hate this, but she pressed my hands together and made me go there anyway. So in other words, this was a serious intermediate class - no beginner stuff here! This doesn't mean it was bad, just a certain style that was a bit more strict than others. Her voice was quiet and her dialogue was minimal - there was a lot of silence in the room that was at times a bit awkward. Nevertheless, she was definitely very experienced and knew a lot about the proper alignment of the poses. Like the other Iyengar class, it didn't flow like hatha or vinyasa, but instead was like an asana workshop. We worked on variations of a few key poses and did some partner work as well with the props. We did headstands too - and I must announce that I actually was able to do a full headstand on my own for the first time! It didn't feel so scary once I was in it.

Rating: 7/10. Good location, but the space was a bit too small. It was good for 5 people (as in the class I attended), but it would be cramped with more than 10. The price was right and there were lots of classes available at different times.

The Yoga Space

Yesterday I tried out Iyengar yoga for the first time. If you're not familiar with the Iyengar style, it was created by B.K.S. Iyengar and is mainly characterized by its use of props - lots of them! They use everything from ropes hanging on the wall to blocks, wedges, straps and much more. The style I was trained in was "anti-prop," so for a long time I avoided using them, but as I learn more about them, I am gradually starting to use them from time to time in my classes. Here's my review of Vancouver's largest Iyengar studio.

What: The Yoga Space

Where: 202-1715 Cook Street, Vancouver BC

When: June 24, 2010, 10:30am-12:00pm

Class: Iyengar Yoga Level 1

Teacher: Allison

Drop-In price per class: $13-$22

Types of classes offered: Gentle, Iyengar Levels 1, 2 and 3 and Yoga Kurunta/Ropes

Space:

Located in the bustling industrial area of Cambie/False Creek, this studio is the kind you would have to know about in advance or you would never find it. The studio itself was in a nice commercial building and was quite large. In addition to the main studio, it had a few extra rooms for storage, shoes, etc. The first thing you notice when you enter are the ropes hanging from the walls. This is a signature element of Iyengar studios. The floors and walls were lined with varnished plywood. They didn't have exactly and "elegant" feels, but were nice enough. In the corner of the room, there were some very interesting larger wooden props - ones that looked like gymnastics equipment almost. There were only to other people in my class, so we had plenty of space. The washrooms (aka changerooms) were located down the hall and were shared with other businesses in the building.

Atmosphere:

The lighting was nice here. The place had something like a playroom vibe with all the "toys" we had to play with. I noticed there was a nice stained glass "Om" mosaic over the front entrance that was a pleasant touch. I enjoyed practicing in this space. The only thing that was a bit distracting was the loud street noise coming through the windows. Lots of big trucks and loud motors passing by makes for a not-so-zen yoga class.

Teacher/Class:

Normally classes at this studio are by registration and are part of a set. I called in advance to see if I could drop in with the Passport to Prana card and they said it was good for any level 1 class. The teacher's name was Allison and she was clearly an experienced teacher. She paid particular attention to alignment and muscle engagement, much like an Anusara class. At the beginning, we did some work at the wall and then moved on to work on some warrior poses and some back bends. We didn't do a hell of a lot of poses in the 90 minutes. Some poses were more restorative in nature, which means we held them for a while. Others were just explained very thoroughly. I learned a lot - it was almost like an asana workshop. The hands-on corrections were quite nice too. One drawback to this style was that there ewas no real flow between the poses, which was something I missed about hatha or vinyasa styles. We didn't get to use the super cool ropes hanging from the walls either - I was hoping to do some crazy inversion whilst hanging from the ropes or something. Well - it WAS a level 1 class after all!

Rating: 7/10. Great studio and really great teaching. I really respect the Iyengar style, but the props kind of got in the way of the yoga for me. I am biased, but I really like to see what happens when you take a body and a yoga mat and just go with the flow.

The Three Jewels Tibetan Heart Yoga

A couple nights ago I tried out Tibetan Heart Yoga. I was very curious about this style because I had never heard of it before. Three Jewels doesn't offer classes very often (just three evenings a week for yoga and one for meditation in addition to periodic workshops). I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

What: The Three Jewels Tibetan Heart Yoga

Where: 2 - 2275 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver BC

When: June 14, 2010, 7:00pm-8:30pm

Class: Tibetan Heart Yoga

Teacher: Jonie

Drop-In price per class: By donation - Suggested donation $12

Types of classes offered: Tibetan Heart Yoga, Meditation

Space:

Three Jewels is located behind the London Drugs on Broadway between Yew and Vine. Luckily, I talked to a teacher before driving there because I wouldn't have been able to find it without much circling around. The entrance is in the alley and the studio is on the second floor. There were signs in the alley, thankfully. Once you got up the stairs, a beautiful space opened up for you. It had lovely hardwood floors and a really cool slanted ceiling with a big skylight. The space wasn't huge, but it could fit maybe 15 people or so. There were only 4 people in your class. There was a closet nook with lots of mats and props, which was nice. I forgot to check whether or not there were washrooms, so unfortunately, I can't comment on that aspect of the studio. The teacher told us that they will be moving out of that space at the end of the month and are currently acquiring a new studio, so don't come to this location after June 30th!

Atmosphere:

The big skylight really gave this space a cool vibe. There weren't too many decorative elements except for a floor lamp emitting soft light, but I felt the space didn't really need too much. The hardwood floors were nice enough. During our class there was a thunder and lightning storm, which set a certain stillness and serenity about the room. With rain pitter-pattering on the roof and bolts of lightning illuminating the space in flashes, I felt super still in the calamity, especially during our opening meditation. It was really cool.

Teacher/Class:

Tibetan Heart Yoga is a style that was adapted from Tibetan Buddhist practices and traditional styles of yoga. The current style originated from a couple of spiritual teachers in New York and was created to share the teachings of the Gelukpa order of Tibetan Buddhism, which began about 500 years ago, and is the tradition of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The class that I attended was an adaptation of one of the series of 8 yoga flows that characterizes Tibetan Heart Yoga.

Jonie taught a great class. It started out with a long 20 minute meditation where were practiced a "giving and taking" visualization to help a loved one be rid of their suffering. It was very powerful and left me feeling a little bit funny at the end - not sure how to describe it. One thing's for sure: I couldn't feel my legs at the end! They had gone completely numb! Moving on to the rest of the practice, we did some vinyasa-like flows and variations of sun salutations, along with some warrior asanas and energetic flows. Jonie's teaching style was influenced by a lot of classical styles, such as hatha, ashtanga-vinyasa and even anusara. The thing that made it Tibetan Heart Yoga was a continual reference to practicing compassion and thinking about our loved ones through the challenging moments of the practice. It was a great class and her hands-on corrections were very helpful.

Rating: 7/10. I loved the class and the philosophy behind this style of yoga. However, it was hard to find a class time that worked for me, as they only offered four classes a week. Hopefully their new studio will offer more classes at different times.

Semperviva Sky

Back to Semperviva! I headed back to the intersection of yoga studios at Trafalgar and Broadway for a Friday night class to cap off my week. As I mentioned before, there are two Semperviva studios across the street from one another (Sun and Sky) and Yogacara studio across the street from that. Also, on this block are tons of wellness clinics and alternative medicine centers... it's almost scary how many there are, but I guess it's what you can expect in Kitsilano. I had been to this studio a couple times before on a previous promotion, so my experience is not entirely novel... however, I'll relate back to the first time I went there in this review.

What: Semperviva Sky

Where: 2582 West Broadway, Vancouver BC

When: June 11, 2010, 7:15pm-8:30pm

Class: Hatha

Teacher: Ingrid

Drop-In price per class: $18

Types of classes offered: Hatha, Yin, Kundalini, Prenatal, Postnatal, Vinyasa Power

Comments:

Space:

I remember the first time I cam to this studio. I was extremely confused as to where the actual studio was and how to get in. I of course went to the Sun studio first as that one had a sign visible from the street and a storefront. The Sky studio has very little signage except for a small sign that points you to go into a restaurant (Greens and Gourmet). I remember thinking "you have to go through a restaurant to get to the yoga studio?!?" I still find it weird. Anyways, yes you have have to walk through the restaurant to get to the studio. There was a small hallway/waiting area with benches and a small washroom outside the studio. No changerooms so you have to either come dressed for yoga or awkwardly try to get changed in a bathroom stall without any hooks to put your things on. There were only two walls in the women's washroom, and with Semperviva's draw, lineups tend to form. I really didn't enjoy the washrooms at all. they were dirty and in need of serious renovations. I think that they were also shared with the restaurant, which is not cool. Anyways, enough about that outside stuff, let's move on to the actual yoga space.

It was a fair size, with nice big windows to let in a lot of natural light. I didn't dig the carpet floors, though. There were of course Semperviva's ubiquitous blue mats laid out on the floor, but the majority were worn and had lost their stickiness. Bringing your own mat is highly recommended. There was a good amount of props, which was appreciated.

Atmosphere:

The studio was very bright and had a nice vibe. Not a lot of decorative elements except for a plant, some candles and some crystals in the front of the room. This is kind of what you can expect from all the Semperviva studios. Simply put, they were converted spaces. They serve the purpose of being a space for yoga, and things like nice washrooms and changing areas are less of a priority. As a last note, the street noise was quite loud and you could hear a lot of big trucks and engines revving outside on Broadway.

Teacher/Class:

As a hatha teacher, I always love to attend hatha classes to learn new things to encorporate into my own classes. Ingrid was an older woman (albeit ridiculously fit and flexible). She was a very kindhearted teacher and brought a great deal of powerful yogic wisdom to her class. The only thing was that she was a bit too soft spoken and spoke too fast for me. At times she was hard to comprehend. Her flow was great - it started out with some relaxing restorative poses and then moved through a more powerful vinyasa and warrior sequence. It was a great end to a long week.

Rating: 6/10 The studio was nice once you were doing yoga in it, but the washrooms really sucked and there was no changing area. This was my least favourite Semperviva studio. That being said, the location was great and very accessible. As an after-thought, I'm beginning to understand why Semperviva doesn't post pictures of their studios on their website....

Fitness Table TCP Vancouver

So far, I've been strictly reviewing yoga studios on the Passport to Prana card, but today I feel the need to break the rules a bit. Last week, I tried a very unique class that was introduced to Vancouver by one of my good friends, Katharine Ford. The method is called the Fitness Table and the style originated from Quebec under founder Therese Cadrin-Petit (TCP) in the 1980's. Katharine's business has grown as people begin to learn about the awesome benefits this method has to offer. For more information, visit www.fitnesstable.com or fitnesstablevancouver.com.

What: Fitness Table TCP

Where: 2nd Floor, 302 West 2nd Ave, Vancouver BC

When: June 8, 2010, 8:30am-9:45am

Class: Fitness Table Level 1/1+

Teacher: Katharine

Drop-In price per class: $28

Comments:

Space:

The Fitness Table classes are held in a small dance studio in the Cambie/False Creek area of Vancouver. The space had nice hardwood floors, mirrors and a nice lounge/front desk area. In this practice, the mirrors are key to gaining an understanding of your posture and alignment. The studio could fit 10 tables comfortably, which is the limit for each class.

Atmosphere:

Because this isn't a yoga studio, creating a beautiful meditative atmosphere was not necessarilty the goal of the owner, but I will say that the place was very welcoming and had a vibe of being well used and well loved.

Teacher/Class:

Because this is the first studio to open in Vancouver, I am probably guessing that you have no idea what it's about. A lot can be said about the Fitness Table method, and although I am certainly no expert, I can give you the low-down on how the classes are run and what this "table" stuff is all about. First - the table. Each student gets a table (hence the need to call in and reserve your table before class). The tables are made of wood and are composed of trestles and a table top shaped like a squarish peanut. The nooks in the table allow you to grip the table with the feet, arms or hands. The table allows you to stretch one or several parts of the body and perform various flexions, extensions and rotations below its surface.

The beginner classes use the table laying flat on both trestles but in more advanced classes, the table can be used on a slant. The classes are 75 mins and typically start with a gentle warm up off the table. Props such as small and large balls and straps are used throughout the class. The table work is primarily focused on core strengthening and posture alignment. One thing to note is that in order to participate, you need to attend a one-on-one postural evaluation with Katharine, which costs $70. This is only the beginning of the individualized nature of this practice.

Katharine's teaching style is super hands on and she does a great job of getting you to engage the proper muscle groups. Her language is very technical, but it's not overwhelming and plus it's nice to know exactly what muscles you're using. Even as a yoga and fitness instructor, I learned a great deal about my alignment and muscular kinetics. It's similar to pilates in its focus on core strengthening through breath and movement, but the table enables you to have more stability and leverage.

Rating: 8.5/10. I really recommend this class to anyone with postural or back problems. The drop in fee can be a bit pricey (along with the manditory $70 postural evaluation), but Katharine's individualized feedback and attention is well worth the money. The classes cater to multiple levels so there is no real prerequisite, which is a bonus.

Semperviva City

Yesterday, I found myself once again in the land of yoga studios, Kitsilano. I checked out Semperviva's city studio, located in a business complex (known as the Wawanesa building). It didn't have a storefront with a sign in the front - you kind of had to know it was there. When you came in, it fortunately lost that commercial feel and took on a yoga studio vibe. Here's what I thought of the rest...

What: Semperviva City Centre

Where: 100 - 1985 West Broadway, Vancouver BC

When: June 5, 2010, 11:15am-12:30pm

Class: Yin

Teacher: Cameron

Drop-In price per class: $18

Comments:

Space:

There was a nice-sized reception area upon entry. There you could peruse books and other stuff for sale while you waited for the main studio to open. As with all other Semperviva studios, there was no specific men's and women's changing area. There was just a space with cubbies and changing rooms (like in a clothing store) that was communal. There weren't any lockers, which was a bit of a drawback. Also, like the Kits Beach studio, the washrooms and water were in the main studio and you couldn't access it if there was another class going on. The main studio was definitely the show-stopper. The space was HUGE! It was shaped like an upside-down L and could fit probably 70 people in there. The class was packed but it didn't seem cramped at all. It was nice to see a lot of props and equipment available, with the signature blue mats that Semperviva has in all their studios. Their mats are not the nicest and are over-used, but they're free to use so you can't complain. I wish I had taken a picture of the space because Semperviva has NO photos of their studios on their website and I couldn't find one online. :(

Atmosphere:

This studio had better ambiance than the Kits Beach and Sun studios. It actually had ambient lighting! It's nuts how much of a different a few cheap Ikea lamps will make in a big space like that. However, the space didn't have that extra special touch that some other studios in the city have. It did serve its purpose to hold a large class. Semperviva is very popular so it's no wonder why they keep acquiring larger and larger spaces. One thing that I didn't like was that you could hear the toilet flushing from everywhere in the studio. It's a bit distracting when you're trying to come into a meditative state and you get distracted from a toilet flushing.

Teacher/Class:

The class I went to was a Yin class. If you're not familiar with this style, it is derived from the Taoist concept of yin that embraces a quality of softness, tranquility and moon-like characteristics. The practice involves passive relaxation rather than muscle conditioning. Poses are held for several minutes in order to get into the deep tissues and ligaments. It is not necessarily restorative yoga, but has some similarities in its use of props and passivity. The teacher, Cameron, was amazing! I had only been to one Yin class before, and his teaching really allowed me to gain perspective on what it was all about. When holding the stretches for long periods of time, your mind starts to go a bit crazy. The discomfort only starts to become more apparent, and you start to think only about when you'll be able to release. He described the feeling as "joyful discomfort". The goal is to fully embrace yourself in that experience, through that sensation, in that moment and to re-frame your consciousness towards a state of simply being. If you thought Bikram's was hard, try Yin. It is a whole different kind of hard. It is so difficult to keep your mind still in the moment, and to exist as you are in the asana, void of ambition, anticipation or definitions. It is truly a challenging thing! I really enjoyed the Yin practice and its philosophical and spiritual offerings. It was great!

Rating: 9/10. Semperviva's studios are always a great place to practice yoga. Although they do miss some elements in the ambiance department and in amenities, they do tend to have kick ass teachers, which is all that really matters, isn't it?

Yogacara

A couple of days ago I checked out Yogacara studio, located at what I want to call the yoga studio intersection of Vancouver at Trafalgar and Broadway. Three yoga studios on three corners (Semperviva the other two), not to mention many other yoga studios along those couple blocks!

What: Yogacara

Where: 2460 Trafalgar Street, Vancouver BC

When: June 1, 2010, 9:30am-10:30am

Class: Hatha

Teacher: Tomas

Drop-In price per class: $16

Comments:

Space:

The yoga space was right there as soon as you entered. There was a small front desk with a nice big buddha statue to greet you in the entrance. The room was a bit of an odd shape - sort of T shape with the teacher at the top of the T. It was a fair size and could fit around 15-20 mats. The mats were laid out nicely with a cushion and blanket for each. There was a lovely tea room near the entrance. Also, the place had an infrared sauna and one bathroom. It seemed a bit odd that there was a sauna and no showers, but maybe it's not for those really sweaty types. Who knows! Either way, the space was set up nicely and had a lot of props available.

Atmosphere:

Great ambiance! I loved the touches of red throughout the space - red mats, cushions and asian-style wall lanterns with lots of woody features. The floor had a treatment that made it look like it was made of straw. There was a large mural with big abstract Buddha images that complimented the space nicely. One really cute thing I noticed was the use of little faux jewels stuck on the furniture (like the kind you used to stick on stuff as a kid). Even the wall Buddha's third eye had a jewel! I loved the tea room and the complimentary lady fingers to go along with a nice cup of tea after class.

Teacher/Class:

Tomas was a very soft spoken teacher. He had a very calming effect on the space, which was nice for me seeing as I had already taught a class at 6:30 earlier that morning. I needed to chill out and not do such a vigorous class, and that's exactly what I got! Well... we did do a TON of core work, which was interesting, because a lot of it had similarities to pilates and other more fitness oriented exercises. Nonetheless, the practice was grounded in yogic traditions, and we did some bandha work and pranayama. We didn't do a single down dog and it actually was kind of nice to go to a hatha class with a different flavour. I was really relaxed by the end - for sure slept through my savasana! There weren't too many participants, and most of them were older women. It was cool to chat with them after over tea.

Rating: 9/10. This was a lovely space and had a great atmosphere. No showers, but they weren't really necessary unless you sweated buckets in the infrared sauna. It was easy to get to and the class was a pleasure to attend.

Inner Space Yoga

Yesterday I went to check out Inner Space Yoga in Gastown. I used to work in that area and I forgot how much character the old brick buildings had. Needless to say, this studio was a hit from the second I stepped in there.

What: Inner Space Yoga

Where: 247 Abbott Street, Suite 100, Vancouver BC

When: May 27, 2010, 10:00am-11:30am

Class: Anusara Inspired

Teacher: Rebekka

Drop-In price per class: $20

Types of classes offered: Anusara, Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, Prenatal

Comments:

Space:

O.M.G. What a gorgeous space. I've definitely seem some beautiful spaces, such as the YYoga studios, but this one really had a special quality that you don't find with some of the newer spaces. The main yoga room was beautiful, with a huge OM symbol on the side wall and nice, decorative touches. Just when I thought that enough to wow me, I found myself wandering into another lovely yoga space. Both studios had a unique character and were oriented differently. The place had nice dark stained wood paneling all over and pretty touches of green (mats, plants, etc) to tie everything in together. I thought that a lot of care was put into making this space somewhat of a sanctuary for yoga students and teachers alike. There were no showers, but plenty of changing spaces, mini lockers and cubbies.


Atmosphere:

This space breathed serenity and tranquility. I got such a good vibe from the whole place. Maybe it was the oldness of the building, maybe it was the beautiful statues of Buddha and Ganesh, maybe it was all the lovely greenery in the space... whatever it was, it set up a very calming yet energizing atmosphere about the place. Then, I discovered the tea room! How awesome! It was absolutely lovely! I love it when yoga studios embrace the aspect of community that is cultivated through group practice.

Teacher/Class:

I was fortunate enough to attend a class taught by the owner of the studio, Rebekka. It was an Anusara Inspired class, which is a style conceived by a man named John Friend. It's very heart centered and they focus a lot on proper alignment. With Anusara, they sing an opening "invocation" in Sanskrit at the beginning of each class. I find that I am always mouthing the words and faking it when they sing the invocation. As a pleasant surprise, they had cheat sheets with the lyrics so I could follow along without feeling like a complete newb. I really appreciated this! Rebekka started her class with a beautiful poem that alluded to the act of greeting one's own arrival - that is, to be present to sit down with your self and recognize your own coming to being. Very profound stuff! Then came the yoga - holy crap was it challenging! I tried head stands, hand stands and some crazy core work. Lots of new and interesting variations on classic poses. It was definitely a great learning experience. The mats they provided were thinner and seemingly stickier than average mats, but with a bit of sweat on the hands, they were pretty slippery. She said they were new mats, so hopefully the problem of slipping while trying to get into a hand stand will subside! I thoroughly enjoyed the class and Rebekka's cool, laid back teaching style.

Rating: 10/10. This space has it all! Great location, atmosphere and teachers. It can get a bit pricey at $20 per drop in, but it's hard to put a price on feeling good.

Yoga Spirit

Today I visited Yoga Spirit in Burnaby, located near Holdom Skytrain station. It was my last Burnaby stop on the Passport to Prana promotion. I've wanted to always check this place out because the owner is a friend of a friend. I've heard good things, so here's my review!

What: Yoga Spirit

Where: 5681 Goring Street, Burnaby BC

When: May 25, 2010, 6:15pm-7:15pm

Class: Power Core

Teacher: Jes

Drop-In price per class: $16

Comments:

Space:

Located just one block south of Holdom Skytrain station, this space was very easy to get to. When I first walked into the studio, I was a bit surprised at how small it was. You could comfortably fit 10 people and up to 12 or so. It had a cool vibe though. It kinda felt like I was in someone's new apartment. The building did have apartments above it, so I suppose it might have very well been converted from a residential space or something close to that. There was one washroom just outside the main studio that was well kept and clean. It was an apartment-style bathroom complete with a bathtub that was covered up and converted to storage space.

Atmosphere:

Some serious TLC was given to make this place a warm and welcoming space. The front area had a reception desk and some goods for sale, along with cubby holes and props storage shelves. The front wall had a cool lotus decal-style painting and the whole space was adorned with nice ornaments and decorations. There was a great vibe in this space - I just couldn't quite kick the feeling that I was in someone's living room.

Teacher/Class:

I knew Jes from my prenatal yoga teacher training course and I went specifically to check out her class. I was really impressed with her alignment cues and attention to postural adjustments. She definitely had an anusara-inspired flavour. The class was a Power Core class and man, was it challenging! Lots of ashtanga-style poses, which I like, but can aggravate wrist issues for some people. The class definitely lived up to its name! It was a great core workout! She did a good job of incorporating yogic philosophy in her teaching as well. We tried to do a forearm balance as in scorpion with your legs straight up and I ended up falling out of it by rolling forward and almost smacking the person in front of me... eep! It was a bit scary! I'll need a spotter next time, for sure. The hour passed by very quickly and I really enjoyed the feeling I was left with at the end.

Rating: 7/10. A small space, but with great teachers and overall character. The decor was nice and the place had that "homegrown" community vibe that you don't always get with the bigger studios.

Heart Centre Yoga

Burnaby doesn't seem to have a heck of a lot of yoga studios (at least ones on the passport to prana anyway). I went and checked out Heart Centre Yoga located in North Burnaby. A very pleasant surprise!

What: Heart Centre Yoga

Where: 3978B Hastings Street, Burnaby BC

When: May 21, 2010, 9:30am-10:45am

Class: Hatha Yoga

Teacher: Ariel

Drop-In price per class: $16

Comments:

Space:

Whoever converted this space into a yoga studio did an excellent job of creating a beautiful studio out of a retail space. Everything was in one room, except for the washrooms that were communal washrooms for other businesses in the building. The good thing was that the washrooms were close and not to inconvenient to get to. The space was quite small and there were only 12 yoga mats set up. I think that the max you could fit would be about 20, so that was a minor limitation. The class I went to only had 5 people so it seems that there is usually space for people to attend.

Atmosphere:

So much ambiance! I really felt at home in this studio. I loved the sheers that separated the parts of the room and the lighting. There were laminate hard wood floors, which was a nice addition. I really liked the vibe that this space put off. There was a good stockpile of equipment and supplies - everything from wrist wedges to eye pillows! It was very pleasant to do yoga here.

Teacher/Class:

Ariel did a great job of going through a vinyasa-hatha flow with all the proper posture and alignment cues. Her flow was very meditative and just made me feel good all around. I love going to a class and learning new things about common postures - like how a lunge with your back toes untucked and knee off the ground is really half of an up-dog pose. I appreciated the new approach a lot. Ariel had done the same training as me through Prana, but 8 years earlier, and it was cool to see what I recognized from her dialogue. She was cool to talk to after the class and gave me some more info on workshops and trainings that are held at Heart Centre every so often. A great class!

Rating: 9/10. A small space, but with tons of character and ambiance. You have to get changed in the washroom, but that was not too much of an inconvenience.

Semperviva Sun

...and because I'm slightly crazy, I decided to go to another class at a different studio right after the kundalini class (correction! the previous class ended at 10:45 not 11:45 like I stated)... I checked out one of Semperviva's studios on Broadway. There is actually another Semperviva studio (Sky studio) across the street. I had never been to the Sun studio before, though.

What: Semperviva Sun

Where: 2608 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC

When: May 20, 2010, 11:00am-12:15pm

Class: Hatha Yoga

Teacher: Tianne

Drop-In price per class: $18

Comments:

Space:

This yoga studio is also connected to the Semperviva Lifestyle shop, where you can get yoga clothes, book, health foods and other things. The studio itself was quite large and was easy to get get to. There was only one washroom and it had water all over the floors (they claim that it was due to condensation from temperature changes). Regardless, it was pretty gross to be stepping in water in your bare feet. Also, there was no changeroom other than that one bathroom. Not very convenient.

Atmosphere:

I'm finding that Semperviva puts a lot of care into making their front lobbies look nice, but when it comes to their studios, they sorta lack in atmosphere. The yoga space was nice, but had some odd artwork on the walls and the floors were an ugly cork tile. I just wished Semperviva had more hardwood floors!

Teacher/Class:

It felt really nice to do a hatha class again. I've been trying out all these other styles I don't teach to get a sense of what else is out there, but it's nice to come back to my own style and learn new things to incorporate in my own classes. I really liked Tianne's flow and she had some great alignment cues and wisdom to share. One thing that kept annoying me throughout the class was that she spoke quite slowly and kept saying "ex-a-hale" and over enunciating each word. I kept thinking: "just say it like you're having a conversation with me, not like you're the yoga teacher!" Overall, it was a great class.

Rating: 7/10. Semperviva is a great because once you join, you're able to go to all of their studios (although very condensed in the Kitsilano area). I liked the size of the space and the class, but Semperviva needs to work on providing the proper amenities!

Yoga West

Today I decided to switch it up and check out a Kundalini class. I've been to Kundalini before at Semperviva, but never to an actual Kundalini studio based on the Sikh religion. Kundalini yoga consists of yoga exercises (kriyas) and meditations which are designed to awaken one's consciousness to the universal nature of the soul and ones spirituality. It is very different from other physical forms and one might consider it to be a bit more "new age-y" than the common styles.

What: Yoga West

Where: 2662 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC

When: May 20, 2010, 9:30am-11:45am

Class: Kundalini Yoga

Teacher: Nambir Kaur

Drop-In price per class: $15

Comments:

Space:

A nice big open space for the reception area with chai tea and arrowroot cookies in the lounge. There were lots of books on Kundalini yoga and music for sale. The space also had a seperate gurdwara room for private meditation. The actual yoga space sorta felt like I was in someone's living room, complete with a fireplace in the corner and carpet floors. There was a stage set up that looked like a shrine paying homage to some of the master teachers. There were adequate washrooms and even a little kitchen area next to the cubby holes. It had a cool vibe - definitely different from most yoga studios.

Atmosphere:

Yoga West had a very welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. With the gurdwara and many people dressed in white from head to toe with traditional head coverings, I felt like this was a place where serious kundalini practioners went. Some people sat on real animal pelts! I was one of two people with a yoga mat! I didn't feel excluded though. Everyone was very friendly and there was a cool vibe.

Teacher/Class:

The teacher sat on the stage and used a microphone on a stand. At first, I felt that this was a little unnecessary seeing as there were only about 7 people in the class and the room was not big. However, it did help when it came to chanting and singing. The teacher had a beautiful energy and approached the class with a mixture of eastern philosophy and physical posture cues. The class was quite difficult too! The active meditations went on for about 3-7 minutes each, and I found myself trying to breathe through the strain of keeping my arms in the air for a (seemingly) long time. We also did 108 frog squat and let me tell you - my legs burned so much at the end! The mediations were great as well. I didn't think I would enjoy it, but after all the pranayama work and mental challenges of the kriyas, I had this feeling of elation at the end. Lots of cool sensations!

Rating: 7/10. If you don't mind trying a more spiritual-based yoga discipline and you want to try kundalini yoga, I would definitely come to this place for the authentic experience.

Moksha Yoga Vancouver

Today I checked out Moksha Hot Yoga. What is Moksha, you ask? It's a new hot yoga chain that has roots in Bikram's but also in the hatha and vinyasa styles. It was created by a couple of Bikram's graduates who got fed up with the strictness of the hot style and its risk to beginners. I appreciate what they're trying to do - make hot yoga safe for all levels - but does it have to be another yoga chain with a pre-determined set of postures? I'm not sure if the flow is copyrighted, but it somehow pains me to see yoga becoming such a corporate thing, regardless of how good the yoga actually is (I quite liked Moksha yoga!) One yoga chain stealing students from the other...

What: Moksha Yoga Vancouver

Where: 242 - 2083 Alma Street, Vancouver, BC

When: May 16, 2010, 10:00am-11:30am

Class: Moksha 90 min

Teacher: Rose

Drop-In price per class: $18

Comments:

Space:

A small reception area, but very nice showers and changing area. The yoga studio was a descent size with nice hard wood floors and ambient lighting. I could see it getting quite sweaty in there with more people (my class only had about 8 people in it).

Atmosphere:

This was a very beautiful studio. Small decorative touches with beautiful fixtures and amenities made it a great place to practice. I loved the water fountain in the lobby - simple yet elegant. The teacher/front desk person was really nice and she was happy to answer any questions I had about the yoga. There was a friendly and inclusive atmosphere there that you don't always get at hot yoga studios.

Teacher/Class:

Rose was a great teacher! It was 40 degrees in there and man did I ever sweat! I had done Bikrams many times before and I was curious as to how the Moksha flow of 40 poses compared. I am happy to say that I didn't feel like barfing once! There were definitely challenging parts, but what I really liked about the class was how it flowed nicely from one pose to the next. There were similarities to the Bikram's flow, such as pranayama breathing techniques and some of the key standing and back bending poses. However, there were more hatha and vinyasa style postures such as down dog and warrior poses, as well as abdominal exercises. I appreciated the blending of different disciplines and the fact that not everything was repeated twice. I find that aspect of the Bikram's flow to be a bit boring and there is no real flow, whereas with Moksha, the class is in a sense a bit more intuitive. It's funny looking back on my first few years of Bikram's devotion and realizing that I never knew what a down dog was until after I had been practicing for 3 years! I loved the alignment and attention to safety that the teacher gave. I don't often hear teachers reminding students to engage the right muscles (especially the core), so it was refreshing to hear her give those cues. After the class I felt extremely invigorated and my skin was radiant after all that sweating! I really enjoyed the Moksha style and would love to check out the other types of classes they offer.

Rating: 9/10. A beautiful studio and space. If you like Bikram's, I recommend trying it out for sure. I do caution that hot yoga is not for everyone and for that Moksha loses a point.

Semperviva Kits Beach

After touring the growing YYoga chain, I turned my attention to Vancouver's other yoga chain, Semperviva. Semperviva's studios are located on the west side of Vancouver (Kitsilano) and are all quite different. They offer a mix of hatha, vinyasa, yin, kundalini and pre/post natal classes. The Kits Beach location is a newer location and sports a very large yoga space. Here are my thoughts...

What: Semperviva Kits Beach

Where: #110-2201 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC

When: May 14, 2010, 10:30am-11:45am

Class: Vinyasa Power Flow

Teacher: Charlie

Drop-In price per class: $18

Comments:

Space:

Very nice front entrance lobby area with clothes, books, jewelery, mats, etc, for sale. A good place to hang out before class. The yoga studio space was HUGE. Converted from an outdoor sports store, this is one of the biggest yoga studios I've ever seen. The thing that I didn't like was that the washrooms were in the yoga studio and you couldn't use them before class. In other words, if you were outside and a class was going on, there were no washrooms. There was only one toilet for men's and two for women's. There was no water fountain outside the studio either. Also, there was only one communal changing area with cubbies and no lockers. The changing spaces had simple drapes that didn't really make things the most private. With all the challenging power classes they offer, you'd think they would have better freshening up facilities.

Atmosphere:

The yoga studio was very white and lacked in ambiance. No particular attention to the decor was given. The cork floors were alright, but still kind of had that "shop floor" vibe vs. yoga studio. There was a stage for the instructor, which I am never super fond of, but with a studio that size, I suppose it does serve a purpose. I was in the back of the room and with the side door slightly ajar I could hear lots of street noise and people talking as they walked up towards busy West 4th Ave. I really wished that this space was a little warmer. The front entrance really had a lively, friendly vibe that could have been carried into the main studio space.

Teacher/Class:

Charlie was a cool guy. He led us through some interesting hand stretches and warm-ups at the beginning of class. This power vinyasa flow was seriously powerful. I sweated a lot! We attempted some crazy arm balances again and spent a lot of time on our wrists. He made us hold our standing warrior poses for a long time, which really got the sweat flowing. This was an advanced class, for sure. I would have appreciated maybe some modifications. I'm finding that a lot of teachers are forgetting to teach to the beginner levels and include all levels in their classes, regardless of whether or not it is called "power". He did a lot of hands-on modifications, which were appropriate and useful. The class was a lot of fun and his attitude was very personal. I liked the reggae music he played too!

Rating: 7/10. I really liked the space and location, but the changing/washing up facilities need to be expanded and it was annoying to not be able to use the washroom before class. Semperviva has a good thing going on, but the ambiance was lacking.

Radha Yoga & Eatery

This morning, I decided to try something a little different and venture to East Van for a class at Radha Yoga and Eatery.

What: Radha Yoga and Eatery

Where: 728 Main Street, Vancouver BC

When: May 14, 2010, 9:30am-10:45am

Class: Hatha Yoga

Teacher: Ciera

Drop in rate per class: $12

Comments:

Space:

Located on the top floor of a building in the downtown east side, this studio has a lot of character. It is part restaurant, part yoga studio, with a simple bamboo divider separating the two areas. The restaurant wasn't open during the yoga class, of course. Although a bit small, the space had beautiful old hard wood floors and old brick walls adorned with Buddhas and other ornaments. We faced some lovely large windows which let lots of natural light flow into the room.

Atmosphere:

This place breathed "community yoga". It had a very friendly atmosphere and really catered to practitioners at the beginning levels. Lots of tea and cozy places to sit and chat. I liked the way the room was set up with no solid divisions, just a suggestion of different parts of the space. It resonated with a good energy, almost as if the old wood and brick held on to the vibrations from past visitors and kept this prana alive in its matter. There were decent washrooms - nothing fancy. Mats were also available, which was nice.

Teacher/Class:

Ciera was a soft-spoken teacher who really took her time to clearly articulate the important notes for each pose. The hatha class was very gentle and slower-paced, which I appreciated because I rarely go to classes that focus on relaxation and release. It was a pleasant surprise! We opened with a Light Invocation and did an amazing visualization of light energy spiraling from our centers and up and out into the universe. I always love going through visualization exercises. The participants in the class were older and you could tell they really enjoyed going through things slowly and patiently. It was definitely a place where you could sink into your own being and tune in with yourself.

Rating: 6/10. This studio is not for everyone - it offers a more relaxing style of yoga and if you're looking for a workout, you probably won't get it here. That being said, the space was beautiful and the style was very soothing. They don't offer classes too often, mainly mornings and evenings. They also hold other community events, such as cooking classes and community organic vegan dinners.

Highgate YYoga

Back to YYoga! This chain is popping up everywhere! You can't deny the studios are gorgeous. I made my way back to my hometown of Burnaby to check out the Highgate location on Kingsway. This area of Burnaby used to be pretty run-down and dingy, but with new developments over the past couple of years, the Highgate area is really an urban hub. I decided to pop in to a power class before I went off to teach my own class downtown.

What: Highgate YYoga

Where: 315 - 7155 Kingsway, Burnaby BC

When: May 13, 2010, 4:00pm-5:15pm

Class: Power Yoga

Teacher: Joe

Drop in rate per class: $15-20

Comments:

Space:

Once again, YYoga never fails to have beautiful yoga spaces. The main studio was large and bright with nice lighting. There were two studios, quirkily named "this" and "that". The second one was really small and I'm not sure what kinds of classes usually get offered there because it could fit maybe 10 people. There was a nice space for post-class chatting over tea by the front desk entrance area which was nice. Really nice changerooms and shower areas too!

Atmosphere:

This place had a calming and soothing atmosphere. Lots of dark colours on the walls contrasted with natural textures throughout. It had a great vibe and the people were really friendly.

Teacher/Class:

Joe was an older teacher and clearly looked like he had been doing yoga for decades. He was very tall and brought about a presence that you don't really get from petite female teachers. He opened his power class by reading some verses from a yoga book (I can't recall which one or the author) and taught us about the bandas (physiological locks where we suck our stomachs in while holding our breath). The room was quite warm and I got sweaty pretty quick. He got us to go through some vinyasas and then proceeded to lead us through a ridiculous series with lots of binds and intense stretches. It was cool to try something new and challenging, but a lot of people weren't able to go there and not too many modifications were given. I appreciated the fact that he shared a lot of his wisdom throughout the class and got us to think beyond the postures and towards and connectivity with something bigger than our bodies.

Rating: 10/10 I would recommend this studio to everyone. They offered more variety than other YYoga studios (kundalini, power, hatha, hot, yin, etc). It was a beautiful studio with a great atmosphere.

Westcoast Hot Yoga

Ahh, the return of hot yoga. I practiced hot yoga for years and years before I ever tried any other style of yoga. I was a devout Bikram's yogi and spent a lot of time sweating it out at Bikram's Yoga Metrotown in Burnaby. Then I moved away from Burnaby and stopped going to classes (I still have about 20 to use up still!) and I couldn't get back into it. I went back for a class or two and just felt like serious crap (I'm not talking about the challenged feeling you get from the class; something wasn't right). Then I took my teacher training where I learned all the bad things about hot yoga (injury, liability, torture-like trainings, no class for beginners, etc), which swore me off of the practice all-together. Some months after my swearing I would never do hot yoga again, I realized that if I had a conscious mind and knew my body, I'd be alright to go to a class or two. So here I was at Westcoast Hot Yoga. Oh, something interesting to note: this yoga studio fought with Bikrams over a copyrighting lawsuit and won. Bikram's told them they weren't allowed to offer hot classes unless they opened a franchise under Bikram's. I'm glad that they were able to break free from the absurdity of copyrighting an ancient practice.

What: Westcoast Hot Yoga

Where: 1128 Mainland Stree, Vancouver BC (Yaletown)

When: May 11, 2010, 4:00pm-5:30pm

Class: Hot (Bikram's Series of 26 postures)

Teacher: Leo

Comments:

Space:

Located in the heart of Yaletown, this space was pretty easy to get to. The decor was quite nice, although the yoga studio's floor was not hard wood and the plastic sheath was bubbling in places. The females change rooms were quite small and the showers kind of sucked. I did like the lounge area in the back and the yoga studio was a decent size.

Atmosphere:

This space had a bit of an odd aesthetic, albeit still nice. It had more of a spa-like atmosphere, with a Victorian vibe - lots of frilly ornaments and European style fixtures. It didn't really speak to the eastern tradition of yoga at all. I didn't like the burnt orange colours used in the main studio either. It wasn't all that bad, just not as nice as say the YYoga studios. The staff were very friendly though!

Teacher/Class:

Leo was very friendly and personally greeted each participant before class. The class was of course done in a 40 degree celcius room and was the full 90 minute Bikram's flow. It was super challenging for me and I sweated buckets. I didn't remember it being so intense! It felt good to really go to my edge in the hot room, but I did notice that a lot of guys were struggling to find modifications. That's the thing that I really don't like about Bikram's dialogue - no really consideration for the beginners or less-flexible people in class. Leo did do a lot of hands on modifications, but didn't really ask permission, which I always appreciate in teachers. Some people simply don't like getting touched when they're super sweaty and half naked! I wished that the 90 minutes included a proper relaxation (savasana) because people tend to jump up as soon as they lay on their backs, which is never good after such an intense class.

Rating: 7/10 I would recommend this studio to intermediate to advanced practitioners. They did offer power and yin classes, as well as shorter 1 hr hot classes. The aesthetic didn't really appeal to me, but it was in a popular and accessible location.

Flow Wellness YYoga

Back to YYoga! For anyone who didn't check it out during the Olympics, YYoga's downtown location is deluxe! With three studios, beautiful changing/shower spaces, infrared sauna, lounge, juice bar and store, it is definitely one of the nicest studios around town. I just wish it wasn't so busy and "corporate". YYoga is a yoga chain to be reckoned with, but sometimes loses that community grassroots atmosphere that you get with smaller studios.

What: YYoga Flow Wellness

Where: 888 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC

When: May 9, 2010, 10:00am-11:30am

Class: Power Yoga

Teacher: Mike

Drop-In price per class: $15-20

Comments:

Space:

Gorgeous! There is no denying that this YYoga studio is beautiful. It really has that upscale yoga studio feel - lots of round shapes, soft lighting, bamboo. By far one the nicest studios I have ever seen. It almost feels like a spa.

Atmosphere:

Lots of sweaty people walking around due to all the hot classes that take place there, but it had a friendly atmosphere. As with YYoga Yaletown, this location did give me the feeling that it was for hardcore yogis only. They did offer a variety of different classes, including hatha, hot, power, yin and cycling fusion classes. Overall, it was a nice place to be in.

Teacher/Class:

Mike was a very cool teacher. He had this way of teaching that was very personal, as if he was having a conversation with you. I really liked the set up of the class with people facing each other - it lightened things up a bit. His power flow was pretty challenging! Lots of time spent on the wrists which is something about power classes that I'm not particularly fond of. This was definitely an advanced class, which made me feel again like this studio caters primarily to hardcore yogis. We did a number of arm balances and even tried head stands. I am always interested in how teachers teach these advanced poses, especially inverted head stands, because there is so much that could potentially go wrong. One guy that was really sweaty collapsed while doing some inversion and slammed his body into the floor. It didn't seem to hurt him, but I would be really scared if that happened to anyone in my class. I really liked his flow, but one thing that ticked me off a bit was that he was more than 10 minutes over time. It's important for teachers to respect the class' allocated time because you never want to make people feel rushed after class.


Rating: 9/10 I would recommend this studio to intermediate to advanced practitioners. I wish they would offer classes that cater more to beginners, though.

Yaletown YYoga

The second studio I visited on the Passport to Prana promotion was Yaletown YYoga. YYoga is a chain of yoga studios in the lower mainland and is known for offering power, hot (adapted Bikram's), hatha and cycling fusion classes. The studios are very sleek and tend to cater to the higher end clientele. They recently had a promotion during the Vancouver 2010 Olympics where people were able to attend an unlimited amount of classes for free, which was very cool. I wasn't able to check out the Yaletown location, so this was my first experience there.

What: YYoga Yaletown

Where: 280 - 1050 Homer Street, Vancouver BC

When: May 7, 2010, 4:30pm-6:00pm

Class: Anusara Inspired - Intermediate to Advanced

Teacher: Shelley

Drop-In price per class: $15-20

Comments:

Space:

Located in the heart of Yaletown, this space was pretty easy to get to. The decor was beautiful, but the two studios were quite small. The studio I was in for my anusara class was quite warm and with the relatively low ceilings, it felt a bit cramped. There were nice amenities for showering and changing and the little yoga store was a bonus.

Atmosphere:

Being in Yaletown, the space had a bit of an uptight and austere vibe - the same kind of vibe I used to get at Bikram's. Maybe it was the fact that I had chosen to go to an advanced anusara class, but I tended to get the feeling that this was a place for hardcore yogis only. The staff were really nice, though! It was just the fact that this studio didn't offer any classes for beginners really - it's all mainly power yoga, hot and anusara. I wish it offered more hatha classes to include all levels of students.

Teacher/Class:

Shelley was very passionate about her role as a teacher both on the physical and spiritual fronts. She opened with a thoughtful story and reminded us of the true essence of what it means to be on a yogic path. Her presence was both powerful and nurturing. I had been to her anusara class before and every time I go to anusara, I am amazed by the rigorous detail they give to each pose - right down to the placement of our internal organs! At times, I found this language was difficult to connect with (what does it mean to scoop your kidneys in?). Anusara is definitely intense and this class was no exception! This class had crazy arm balances, contortionist-like poses and not a lot of time for resting poses. At least it was labeled intermediate to advanced! We also did some partner work where we meticulously set up our Warrior stances... so don't come if you're apprehensive about someone grabbing on to your thigh and standing on the top of your foot. I really did learn a lot from this class and was impressed with the quality of instruction. Not for the faint of heart though!


Rating: 8/10 I would recommend this studio to intermediate to advanced practitioners. I wish they would offer classes that cater more to beginners, though.

Yoga for the People

So in good blogging fashion, I'm about 5 days behind on my first post. Better late than never, they say! So the first studio I went to on this Passport to Prana promo was Yoga for the People. Here are my impressions:

What: Yoga for the People

Where: #201-150 W Hastings Street, Vancouver BC, V6B 1G8

When: April 28, 2010, 4:00pm-5:30pm

Class: Hatha Flow

Teacher: Elle

Comments:

Space:
I love this space! I can't believe I never knew about this place. It's located just where the downtown east side begins on Hastings above a few run-down businesses. The studio was huge with beautiful dark hard wood floors and rustic brick walls. A great place for daily practice.

Atmosphere:

I really liked the inclusiveness and community atmosphere with this studio. My favourite aspect is that it is all donation based and their suggested donation is $10, which is by far the cheapest I've seen around town. There was a looseness and playfulness that you don't get at some other studios. It was very beginner friendly, as well. The class I went to was small - only about 7 people.

Teacher/Class:

Elle was a very quirky teacher. She wore a rainbow shirt, leg warmers and thick-rimmed glasses that kept sliding down her nose every time she went upside down. Her flow was very powerful and quite challenging. She guided us through a Taoist Flow and ran through some interesting vinyasas such as the Flying Dragon Vinyasa. It was an interesting mix of tai-chi-like movements and traditional hatha yoga asanas. Then we did hand stands. I still can't quite do one - even at the wall. I always get both a bit excited and nervous whenever the teacher tells us to practice hand stands. I enjoy learning how to teach them (and of course, do them myself), because I never really got that training in my teacher course. At the same time, I feel a little anxious because I am still clinging to some sort of belief that I should be able to do these poses since I'm a teacher. I know Shakti, the woman who trained me, would be shaking her head (she taught yoga beautifully even after falling out of a tree and nearly killing herself, not being able to do any of the poses to demo). Alas, I guess this is where yoga becomes a practice of patience.

Rating: 10/10 I would recommend this studio to anyone.