Talk about a hidden gem! Bizia has a yoga studio on the opposite end of the same parking lot as…read moretheir coffee and surf shop. As far as yoga studios go, this one is unparalleled. The space is so serene and inviting. The lobby and restroom is downstairs. There are lockers available, a shelf to leave your footwear as you enter, and a small seating are. The actual yoga studio is upstairs and it's bright, airy, and clean. In the corner, there are yoga mats, blocks, bolsters, straps, and in another corner, there are dumbbell sets for sculpt classes.
Canopy offers so many different yoga classes and they have many instructors who lead them. All are welcoming, friendly, and embody the state of calmness.
Carly teaches flow and sculpt classes. They are controlled classes that build strength and focus and believe me, after taking her classes, I feel it for the next few days! Elena teaches several classes and I enjoy taking her Prana class on Fridays to unwind from my busy week.
I was fortunate to attend Allie's first class as a yoga instructor and she taught Canopy Slow. I got a good workout and the impression that she was definitely not new to yoga, just new to the studio. I've also taken Canopy Embodied Hatha Yoga with Allie and she quickly became my favorite yoga instructor. She speaks clearly during class and loud enough to hear over the music, but not boisterous at all.
Don't have a babysitter? They have Mama and Me classes. I've taken Mama and Me classes from Mariah and Janelle. Both classes were fun, entertaining, and naturally, not the typical yoga class you'd expect. When you go, you have to accept that the class may get chaotic with kiddos playing, and at times wanting attention. It can be fun because some yoga poses allow for you to bond with your little one. For instance, when in tabletop position, my little one climbed on my back and laid there. When we had to go down and do a chaturanga (yoga push-up), it intensified my workout when my son was on my back. Other kiddos loved going underneath their moms while in tabletop, and some kiddos just loved hanging out with other kiddos.
There are toys and books available for the kids to play with during the class. Both Mariah and Janelle did a good job of trying to occupy the kiddos towards the end of class when we were in shavasana/corpse pose that promotes relaxation. Mariah blew bubbles with the kids, and Janelle read a book to the kiddos who sat still. Overall, the Mama and Me classes are fun to attend, and add a good mix to the yoga they offer.
A few classes that I plan to try are: Canopy Active Restore (designed to support recovery), and Canopy Surf (mirrors the qualities of surfing - balance, patience, and fluid motion).
I enjoy practicing yoga as a way to challenge myself and improve my physical and mental health. Yoga originated from Eastern religions, particularly Hinduism, but the yoga instructors at Canopy have never pushed the actual roots of yoga onto us in class and focus on promoting wellness. Canopy is truly a place to focus, relax and or energize, stretch, and work on your breath. It's a place free of judgement and the instructors welcome all levels of practice and offer modifications for wherever you are in your practice, whether it may be adding a yoga block to help with the pose, or offering a modification to intensify the pose.
