Review (sort of )of Downward Dog Downtown

Although I never officially voiced my longing to find a yoga studio in Toronto to consider a home away from home, that was part of this initial quest to sample all the flavors and styles of yoga and report on this here blog! 

Now this desire has been fulfilled. I'm talking Downward Dog baby.

Sometimes we hear about a place, again and again, quietly, a casual mention and gradually the tides in our life begin to create the circumstances that lead us to one morning wake up and say

"Enough is enough! I'm grateful to all of the fabulous and my most favorite yoga teachers in Toronto who trained at Downward Dog, I want to go straight to the source!"

Of course the creme de la creme yoga studios are not on board with the Passport to Prana, thus I forked over twenty dollars for a week unlimited at Downward Dog. Usually when I do this, I drag my ass to the studio for the next week so I get my moneys worth. Not with Downward Dog, it's almost as if I float there and pretty soon I find myself walking past the tulips and into the studio once more.

I am very fortunate to have enough training that I could plop right on down in a level 1-2 class with Marla Joy. I'm not going to gloss over and give this teacher a pseudonym. Marla Joy's classes are changing my life. I needed a more nurturing yet totally bad ass teacher in my life. Marla Joy sings at the end of class accompanied by her Shruti box. When we bowed out in gratitude and humility for the space to practice, for all the people all over the universe, I cried. It's usually the most gentle, subtle openings that remind us we can know love and to love is our destiny. 

Some great things about Downward Dog include: the general use yoga mat's which *gasps* don't cost anything to borrow! The vibe, the people, who are like grounded tornadoes, very grounded! And the excellent instruction, the music, the singing bowls, the assistants in every class who walk around and help you in ways you didnt know you could be helped, while the teacher is instructing.

I've found the good yoga ju-ju in Toronto. So what do I do with my Passport to Prana? My quest to unearth all the weird and wonderful studios in Toronto? Well I continue, but I may not be so active as I once wasn't.

Review of 889 Yonge

I hope to move into the yoga studio at 889 Yonge st. "Our Tea Garden is the heart of the experience - a place to sip our tea and just be". 889yonge is listed with the Passport to Prana, had it not been for the passport affiliation, I may never have visited. 

My first impression from their website was that it was a swanky spa with yoga classes as an afterthought (this is based on my past experiences rather than by fault of the website). 

They offer holistic spa services, medicine treatments, yoga classes (vinyasa, detox, ashtanga, beginners workshops etc.) and a boutique.

Located on Yonge St. near Rosedale Ave. I was welcomed by hospitable staff who were down to earth and sharp as a whistle--they laughed at all my jokes and showed me to the studio upstairs. 

From their website: "The yoga community at 889 is home to three eco-consciously designed, non-toxic Yoga studios: one filled with natural sunlight and a glorious window overlooking the Rosedale Valley, one which was once the main living area of this late 1800's Victorian home, and one intimate space dimly lit by candles for our 889 Customized Yoga." 

The hour long ashtanga class was awe-some. In which the teacher's tone, verbal cues and adjustments allowed my brain to turn off and my body and breath to unify. This is also one of the first classes I have been to in Canada where the teacher pronounced the sahnskrit words correctly.

After class I poured myself a mug of "Shangri-La" tea which was the missing note in my bliss.

The selection of books they carry is so unique, impressed I inquired and was informed, each of the employees has read one of those books.

Downstairs the boutique of clothing and jewelry is carefully selected and arranged, the jewelry is of hand crafted quality I have not seen since I lived at the Shambhala Mountain Center.

The wooden floors, open spaced establishment of 889 Yonge is calming and beautiful.  I will be back to check out the other levels and styles of yoga offered and perhaps for a massage and some tea. 

A few studios in Toronto could benefit from visiting this establishment and taking notes on how to run a joyful business.