Yoga Vieux Montreal with Tanya Dawe

Last year at this time, I ventured out to try a pole dancing class at Milan Pole Dance studio in the Old Port of Montreal.  To my surprise, Yoga is now being taught at the same establishment.  Tanya Dawe is the director at YVM, Yoga Vieux Montreal and Sunday I passed by to try a Vongasa Flow class. I think it goes without saying that you should try different classes and find a teacher that you know that above all is certified, that you connect with and that you know is teaching a safe class with proper instruction.  Ask a lot of questions before you take a class and take some time to gain some insight into what class you will be taking. 

In my opinion, whether it be from ballet, martial arts and/or Yoga, etc., the bodies need to be flexible, strengthened and stretched is essential to the well being of the bodies core. Much like ballet, the next day, although sore, I could feel how much it had worked so many different muscles.  Yoga is not easy and like anything else, it takes time, dedication and discipline to profit from it.  It is not just a physical philosophy but a mental one as well. 

The great thing about trying so many different classes is the interaction with like individuals that love training, fitness and/or dance and have an all around understanding of how important proper technique and health is to the well being of the student.  You should continue to take classes when you sense that your teacher has a positive interactive energy and you feel comfortable and at ease in the environment.  For me, Tanya Dawe is one of those teachers. Her all around positive aura and easy going attitude made it enjoyable and her proper instructions helped me to focus and stay focused on the positions, the breathing and the alignment.  Knowing now that she was once a nurse working for a large pharmaceutical company and gave it up to become a Yoga instructor only enhanced my impression of her.  She has been certified for 12 years and has studied in India and Hawaii.

YVM is offering the following classes:  

Monday Morning 7:30 Gentle Yoga - A slower yoga to help your body and mind to wake up.

Beginner Flow - For beginners that have never taken a class with explanation of the steps and process of movement focusing on the balancing of the body.

Hatha Yoga - Focusing on the breathing, positioning and movement.

Core Flow and Power and Play Yoga - These are strong classes, no beginners and it focuses on the core. Sit up, planks, abdominal strengthening. Play time, hand stands and head stands, it is a louder music with light acrobatics.

Karma Yoga - Is a free class (preferably with donation) which introduces new yoga teachers with profits going to the Head and Hands organization which focuses on the physical and mental health of our community’s youth.  See more at, http://headandhands.ca/about-us/  A great cause I may add!

Vongasa Flow - This class is more dynamic focusing on postures, positions and the opening of the body.

They offer lunch hour classes for professionals and students as well as night time classes, their weekly schedule is available at http://yogavieuxmontreal.com/index.php/en/.  An added bonus, with so many Yoga classes having problems with over-crowding, the bars separate people giving everyone a comfortable space to move properly.   

Get in shape with Yoga Vieux Montreal!