As part of Leslieville Post’s ongoing effort to promote the unique people, businesses and institutions in the Leslieville community, we have started a program where we pose 5 questions to local individuals and proprietors.
Today we are proud to present 5 Questions with Anita Barnes, owner of Leslieville Yoga:
1. When and why did you first get involved with yoga?
I first became curious about yoga when I was around 12 years old. In the 1970′s my mother was always watching a TV show called Kareen’s Yoga and I wondered why she was standing on her head. It clearly was an escape for her. In my 20′s she gave me a booked called The ABC of Yoga and I practised on and off for years. I still refer to this now worn out book. My practice was inconsistent until I stumbled across the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in Toronto in 1993 and my life changed forever. In 1998 I completed the Yoga teacher’s training course in Val Morin, Quebec and have been teaching ever since.
I was drawn to the simple practice of Hatha Yoga and the five principles of proper eating, exercise, relaxation, breathing, positive thinking, and meditation. It made so much sense to me.
2. Can you explain what the yoga discipline is about?
The discipline is about connecting mind, body and spirit. This is done through asanas (postures), pranayama (proper breathing), meditation and relaxation. When practised regularly one can create internal harmony and once we have harmony within, we are able to create harmony in all areas of our life. I consider yoga a lifestyle and I try to incorporate yoga into all aspects of my life and encourage my students to do the same.
3. What kinds of people are involved in yoga?
There are as many different kinds of people involved in yoga as the number of different cultures in Toronto. That is the beauty of yoga. What brings people to yoga is just as diverse; a desire to find ways to relax and distress, recovering from an injury or back pain, a need to physically challenge oneself, or longing for a way to have a spiritual connection.
4. How does yoga benefit individuals?
The benefits are endless; spiritual, physical and emotional. For me, spiritually, it helps me connect to the essence of who I really am, physically it was my saviour when I was pregnant with my daughter and has kept the scoliosis and kyphosis of my back pain free, and emotionally it has helped me overcome a tendency towards depression.
5. Tell us about your practice in Leslieville.
Leslieville Yoga opened in January 2010 and is a small Yoga studio in the basement of my home. The cozy space allows classes of up to eight students and gives me the opportunity to give my students lots of individual attention. I offer Hatha Yoga classes that are very gentle and slow paced, which seems to be what individuals that are brand new to yoga are looking for. Some individuals feel intimated in the beginning and going to a fast paced, large class would be very uncomfortable. The studio offers 5 classes a week for different levels. Saturday morning classes are karma classes, with some of the money earned from this class being donated to the Alzheimer’s society. In the spring, I will be offering Yin Yoga classes and will be offering more “Yoga On and Off the Mat” programs in the corporate world.
I’d like to personally thank Anita for taking the time to provide a view into her discipline and practice. Please contact her to learn more about Leslieville Yoga (leslievilleyoga@yahoo.ca or visit www.leslievilleyoga.ca ).
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