I recently decided to deepen my practice of meditation off of my yoga mat. After a quick Internet…read moresearch, I easily found Edmonton Shambhala Center. They have a newcomer's night one Tuesday of the month. For dates and times, their website is edmonton.shambhala.org/ The Shambhala volunteers were welcoming, informative and supported a small group of us (who had all found the center online) in a short guided meditation. We were introduced to the path of Shambhala Tibetan Buddhism, which follows the teachings of Chogram Trungpa Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist meditation master and his son Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, who has carried on his work. Meditation sessions are free and you can offer a donation, which supports the work of volunteers who maintain and keep the center open and receiving guests. There are also meditation sessions Thursday and Sunday. In the reception area, there's a public bookshelf where you can browse and sign out books. I had a very positive experience here and will definitely return. The people are lovely and the energy in the space is peaceful and quiet, friendly and open. Om.

Just had the most AMAZING massage here from the studio owner, Becca Pati…read more The studio itself is quite large and warm and inviting. I loved the colours and vibrancy at every turn. The minute I walked in the door, I knew I was in love when I spotted a cat yogi statue - Yep, this is gonna be my kind of place. I could smell fabulous essential oils in the air and felt immediately at ease. My massage itself was FABULOUS! The room was large, the table was heated, and the ambiance was perfect. It may have been the largest (space wise) massage room I've ever been in. Becca was simply fabulous and immediately had me melting like butter. The massage included Japanese Mint Oil and a chakra essential oil at the end focusing on my face and forehead. I have already booked my next appointment and can't wait to go back! The studio also offers yoga and personal training. I'm intrigued by a guided meditation workshop offered that focuses on releasing stress and anxiety from the body - also by Becca Pati. Divine Health Studio is located in Riel Business Park - conveniently about 5 minutes off the Ray Gibbons Drive exit on the North leg of the Henday.

From the owner: Divine Health is a boutique style wellness centre dedicated to registered massage therapy,…read moreyoga/meditation, cognitive therapy and tapping. We've been a source for health and wellness in the St. Albert/Edmonton community for 19 years.

Absolutely wonderful instructors. They take their time to ensure your comfortable. If your having…read moreissues with a movement they show you a modification. Great for people with pain and mobility issues.

Above average yoga is a fantastic studio. The atmosphere is lovely and the instructors are all very…read morekind and are well versed in how to work with people of varying skill levels and abilities. The classes tend to be smaller (perhaps due to room size) which is really nice because that means you can get more individualized support if need be. Highly recommend!

I have taken two classes here and am about to sign up for my third…read more My first class was Beginning Aerial Silks. I highly recommend it if you are particularly interested in Silks. If you're unsure, the Intro to Aerial Arts might be better: you do trapeze, vertical rope, and aerial silks. My teachers for Aerial Silks were Sheri and Sandra. They were fantastic. My second class was with Mackenzie and was Aerial Fitness & Cross Conditioning. This class was always fun. Mackenzie kept things fresh with a mix of stretching, strength, and cardio using the floor, trapeze, silks, and other fitness apparatuses. I am about to sign up for the Beginner Contortion class for the Fall and am really looking forward to it! The staff is friendly and all the instructors are actively honing their craft. The class sizes are small so you get what you pay for: lots of one on one attention.

Ever feel the urge to run away and join the circus? Firefly Theatre and Circus has classes in…read morecircus arts for all ages - think more Cirque du Soleil, less bearded lady. Beginners can take their Taste of the Circus taster class held on a weekend several times a year, or their Intro to Aerial Arts class, a 6-week introductory class with instruction on aerial silks, rope and static trapeze. They also offer advanced classes in the aforementioned disciplines, as well as contortion, straps, hoop, loop/hammock, handstands, aerial yoga, conditioning, and kids' classes too! Students even get a chance to perform in their annual student show, Let There Be Height. I have taken several of their classes in the past and have found the staff to all be friendly, encouraging, and safety-minded. It is an excellent upper body workout (hauling your body weight 30ft in the air while climbing the silks will do that!), but should probably be supplemented with other activities for a full-body workout. Although they have safety precautions (there are crash mats below each of the apparatuses and full warm-up and cool-downs each class), you are relying on your own strength (and nothing else - no safety harnesses) to prevent you from falling to the ground, and this part freaks out my non-circus friends routinely, so just a heads up. There have been no serious injuries here that I know of, and they have a very distinct skills progression and won't teach you anything you're not ready to learn. Classes are relatively pricey at around $30 a class if you sign up for the whole session, or $50 for their taster class, but totally worth it for the uniqueness of the workout! See you in the air!