January 2007

Open Arms Yoga

Give a brief bio about yourself and/or your studio. I began my yoga journey as a way to relieve pain and boredom and quickly became enamored with it. Teaching became a natural extension of my journey as well as having my own studio to teach in. Open Arms Yoga is a small cozy studio that focuses on the individual as a whole, supporting the students yoga practice with holistic treatments such as Reiki, Reflexology, Thai Massage and Cranio Sacral Therapy.

What styles of yoga you teach? / Do you or your studio specialize in one? I teach Vinyasa yoga and a specialized yoga class called “Yoga 4 Everybody”. We also offer Kripalu and Kundalini yoga.

What makes your teaching or studio unique? At our studio the classes are small (6-8 Max) enabling the teacher to focus on each individual’s practice. I teach a specialized class called Yoga4Everybody that is for people with challenges such as Arthritis, Cerebral Palsy, Cancer Recovery, etc… This class is the most popular class at the studio. I have created specific modifications to allow everyone to enjoy a full yoga practice. Even when some students cannot get down onto the mat.

Do you or your studio provide other services other than yoga? We provide the following services: Reiki, Reflexology, Thai Massage, Needless Acupuncture, Cranio Sacral Therapy.

What is your favorite yoga posture? And why? I love Nataraja-asana or King of Dancers. This pose reminds me most of figure skating which is something I did earlier in my life and loved it as well. It makes me feel like I’m about to dive off a cliff.

Who is your favorite yoga teacher? Kaustub Desikachar. He has a very dry sense of wit and he is very good at getting his point across with the least amount of words.

How long have you been doing yoga? I’ve been practicing yoga for 9 years now.

How long has your studio been around? My studio has been in business for 2 years now.

* Please note these spotlights are written by individuals, and in no way reflects the view of Yoga in Canada.