I attended a Kundalini class facilitated by Tiaga Prem, yesterday afternoon. The first 15 minutes…read moreconsisted of unbalanced, disturbing review of all the "bad shit" out there. We're all quite familiar with many of the upsetting aspects of our planet, I prefer to leave them at the door while hoping to relax and restore my faculties. Swearing, phone use and reading mystical sayings from a laptop during a facilitation were things I have not experienced before from a teacher and I do not prefer them. Tiaga Prem barely moved himself as he dictated our movements, the dismissive 'and keep doing that for a bit,' before picking up his phone again There were times when music was being chosen and changed, I understand, perhaps even time checking, but I think we can all identify at this point what it looks like when someone is reading an email, an article, text message or fb post vs. quickly checking the time or swiping and changing a song. This inattention did not have me feeling safe to enter a vulnerable, meditative state during this class and I will not return. A person gets much better guidance from a free youtube video.

Great studio with a small, community based feel to it. There is one studio. I came for the…read morerestorative class on Sunday evenings initially as I was looking for a class that would balance the cardio and intense workouts in my routine. I then tried the kundalini class, which was different (in a good way) from the other kundalini classes that I've taken. There is a focus on breathing and the power of the breath that I hadn't experienced with my other classes. I just tried a Dharma class and it was intense in ways that I didn't expect from a Hatha class. The teachers are wonderful and it's a great way for me to get out of my head by being in class. There is chanting and for me, this is a different way for me to express myself and release. Thank you for a great experience!

If you think this is for you, go ahead, try the introductory information session…read more Then ask yourself: Why is something so great for humanity controlled by one organization? Why won't they tell me what it is? Why do they answer every question with a ridiculous analogy designed to distract me and make me forget the question I asked in the first place? Why does the David Lynch foundation own billions in real estate? Where does this money come from? Above all, ask yourself this: why does this "meditation teacher" remind me of a used car salesman? This is not what you are seeking is supposed to be about. You should not have to be sold or pay upfront if you don't even know exactly what you are paying for. Look elsewhere! If you find yourself asking any of these questions, I promise, it's for a reason. Just google "transcendental meditation scam". You'll find enough first hand testimonies to answer your questions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq0rsiw6IFo

I started the TM program when I was in College because I felt I badly needed some mind clarity so…read morewas willing to try anything. That was over 30 yrs ago and I still use it every day! Actually, I still have friends who have continued using it from way back then. TM teachers make next to no money because there are people don't like to pay for something that they feel should be given for free. Really, don't teachers pay to receive their training and certifications and advertise and be available for what they do? I know a few TM teachers and know their passion is with the program, teaching the technique, not selling the program. I would highly recommend this program for a quick deep rest, and many other benefits that I get from it that I have no idea how to explain. I'm 60 and look 50 and have never been in a hospital. By the way, I managed through college and eventually completed my Master's Degree!

Inspired by some Twitter flutter, I purchased two tickets to Bring The Balance's "Do More Less"…read moreworkshop, for Peter S and myself, conveniently just post Valentine's Day. It's the first time I've looked at the price of a yoga class/workshop and thought - yes! That is fantastic value for the event. For $40 you get 3 hours of restorative and yin yoga, a head massage, a foot rub and reiki while you zen out on your comfy mat. Only feedback - make the foot rub longer! What to expect: a very quiet, meditative like evening. Some acoustic music, candles, and at the end - bliss balls. What's lovely is that Chris + Tim do all of the work, so you truly can do more less. From setting up the room, to helping adjust your props, and putting everything away after, I felt like I was floating home. Warning: like any good drug, probably a good idea to steer clear of operating any heavy machinery after one of these evenings.

I attended the "Do Less..." workshop this evening at The Path Yoga Studio, which I purchased…read morethrough Bring the Balance (Tim Cyr ran the event with Chris Brandt). I found the workshop listed on yelp events a while back, and bought my ticket as an early birthday present to myself (I like to get myself a class or workshop as a personal bday present). After tonight's workshop, I've decided to continue celebrating my birthday all year long with the monthly "Do Less" workshop series ... The 11th happens every month, so I can pretend it's like a miniature birthday again, right? Right! I love yin yoga, but I had never tried restorative yoga before, so I looked forward to a combination of the familiar and the new. I had built it up a bit in my expectations (being my very own birthday present and all that), and the actual experience managed to exceed my expectations. The space was fabulous (see my review for The Path), and the workshop itself felt like a yummy and cozy vacation inside a comfy nest. During the 3-hour class (which did not feel that long at all), we did relatively few poses, as is characteristic of yin & restorative yoga, and the instructors' vibe combined with the beautiful space to create an oasis of deep and genuine serenity in the middle of my crazy-end-of-semester life. I loved Tim's & Chris' fun and light-hearted approach because it felt genuine, and was based on a deep respect for the healing power of the practice, and for each of us as individuals. At the core of the fun was a real and true principle: trying to do "too much," as many/most of us do, is not a bad thing to do, but it does require a balancing effort of "doing less" in order to preserve and maintain our good health. So, I look forward to continuing my own personal insanity of work and school in the new year, but now with the balancing effect of these "doing less" moments of bliss. Oh, and they promised us that the scrumptious chocolate "bliss balls" we ate had negative calories, which capped off a perfect evening. I'm also looking into to their weekend retreat in Whistler next June. It's a yoga retreat with hot tubs and happy hour. Sign me up for that...

Based on the original one in New York, Three Jewels Vancouver brings the same concepts on…read moremeditation, contemplation and yoga to the West Coast. Fairweather yogis can practice and learn alongside more seasoned practitioners. The founders are devotees to Tibetan Buddhism. Here classes on both Dharma and yoga are available to anyone interested. They offer an eclectic range of classes from guided meditation to creative hatha. The centre runs entirely on donations so be generous! Mondays with Sherri Kajiwara are my favourite.

From the owner: Meditation, dharma, retreats.read more

I started going to Lexy at Ocean Bay Wellness during a very stressful time of my life. The energy…read morehealers I had gone to in the past were not available or not a fit. Because part of my challenges include psychic attacks and dark entities, I wanted to go to someone that my intuition and guides indicated had a strong energetic system, who was well connected to the divine, and who was a good match for me. Lexy fit the bill, and I am happy that I chose her. Lexy does Reiki, Angel healing, and other healing. I am able to get into a deep state of relaxation with Lexy, and feel more like myself after her sessions.

I'm really glad I found this place. I had been feeling very negative, agitated and down recently…read moreso wanted to try Reiki again. I had been to other Reiki places before but it didn't feel like a professional wellness centre like this place. First of all the space is beautiful and bright. It just feels peaceful and calming. The location is right by the beach and absolutely gorgeous. Lexi was very kind, sweet, and supportive. She made sure to answer all my questions before hand. When I lay on the table I immediately felt safe, I began to relax and felt like a huge weight was being lifted off of me. I could actually feel the heat coming from Lexi's hands and after our session, I felt totally relaxed, I felt like I could breathe so much deeper! I slept like a rock that night and since then have been feeling so much more optimistic, clearer and calmer.

This space is beautiful, spacious ~ decorated in South Asian style ~ complete with a kitchen, 2…read morewashrooms, a shower(!) and tons of drawer/storage space for yoga mats and pillows. Soraya offers Gong Baths Mondays and Wednesdays ~ she's a terrific teacher and gong master ~ her classes are packed full of 20+ gong bath attendees! Her gong baths are only $10 which is incredibly cheap ~ and people are lying on the floor all the way to the back of the studio ~ these classes are always full for many good reasons. I feel so amazing every time I leave here and have had friends thank me for introducing them to this Society. I found this space, and organisation through Meetup, and I'm very glad I did! You cannot beat the quality of people teaching, the quality of classes, and the incredibly good value for money with Bridge and Enrich. Definitely, check them out if you are looking for yoga or any type of personal growth class- they offer so much here, and are so caring as a whole.

What a gorgeous space fully functional as a wellness centre with opportunity for yoga tai chi…read moremeditation breath work circles of song private classes Kirtan chanting energy healing kids programs and can be a rental space for other groups as long as you maintain their code of staying vegetarian with as little to no waste produced as possible. it has a beautiful full kitchen gorgeous bathrooms equipped with a shower and on-site amenities like washer and dryer and a full serving table with multiple prong outlets for plug in serving dishes etc. really a very very multipurpose wellness space beautifully lit with a genuinely warm feel. My first experience of the space was via Jacky Yenga doing an African 'spirit of the village' themed night with drumming dance song and a beautiful home cooked buffet given that the space is shoe removal required was very glad for the communal slippers available at the front door which we trust are laundered regularly. Membership is required for rentals.

I do not trust Oxygen Yoga & Fitness. They had my credit card on file, and I used to pay weekly. In…read moreFebruary, before I went on holiday, I told them I was going away and that when I returned, I would renew my membership at the GYM. So asked them not to charge me while I was away, but they did charge me while I was away. I emailed them from Australia and asked them to stop billing me. Unfortunately, they keep charging my credit, and on March 16, they charged my card $41.48 for not using their service, and for being on holiday. I recommend you give them cash, but not your credit card

I ordered the 1-month unlimited class membership from Groupon to begin getting back into shape with…read moreyoga. This studio is very clean and beautiful! I only wish that it wasn't always so fully packed with people. It can be quite difficult to do certain poses with so many people being inches away from you. The instructors are also friendly, non-judgmental, and quick to provide support whenever I needed help. One last thing I would mention is that hot yoga isn't for everyone. I personally prefer regular flow yoga because I sometimes find the hot temperature to be too much for me. From my understanding, they do not offer regular flow yoga classes here. Other than that, I would highly recommend Oxygen Yoga & Fitness to anyone seeking to begin practicing or continue practicing yoga!