OMG Meditation

How it’s started:

Yoga is simply a spiritual and ascetic discipline originating from ancient India. It incorporates the physical, mental, and spiritual aspect of a human being to ultimately capture tranquility in ones self. The aim can vary from improving health to achieving moksha. By achieving moksha a person is letting go of suffering from life’s hardships. The actual word “Yoga” originated from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which means, “to unite or integrate.”

Ancient Yogis believed that for man to be in harmony with himself and his environment, there are three aspects he has to integrate, the body, the mind and the spirit. If the three are combined, action, emotions, and intelligence must be in balance. Ways to achieve and maintain the balance is through breathing, exercising and meditating.

How is it now:

Yoga has become more popular in the western culture since 2000. The attention of this discipline has broadcasted to the masses due to its effective benefits in dealing with people’s health and mental stability. However with such a boom in interest of this exercise there are a lot of health problems that can arise if the proper precautions are not taken from participants. With such bends and maneuvers done to the body, it can cause straining on the joints and muscles. Understanding the limits of your body is a must and being taught from licensed instructors is also important. From the Toronto Star newspaper, Angela Growse a physiotherapist stated “People can’t tell the difference between muscle tension and pulling a nerve.”

Most westernized yoga focuses learning the physical poses, which includes breathing techniques and some meditation. Yoga can either be done is a class with people or at home alone in silence.

Popular types of Yoga

1.  Anusara Yoga

You are told to be aware of you alignment and the inner energy as the gift from nature. The class can be either gentle or vigorous depending on the instructors.

2.  Ashtanga Yoga

Poses are done fast in a sequence that is accompanied by breathing techniques. This requires a lot of stamina since the class is challenging

3. Bikram/Hot Yoga

This class is done in a hot room almost like a sauna. By incorporating the hot room this allows your muscle to stretch more easily and cleanse toxic from your body by sweating.

4. Hatha Yoga

This type of yoga is more easily found in yoga centres and most recommended for beginners. All the poses are done gently and with soft movements.

5. Integral Yoga

This is geared more towards a spiritual practice as it incorporates chanting, mantra, pranayama, meditation and relaxation.

Yoga Trends:

To say yoga is a trend is an understatement. In Toronto yoga has become a lifestyle where people are constantly infatuated and working towards fitting yoga into their life. The city of Toronto has become a megalopolis of yoga followers and to really show that yoga is simply more than just a fad that will pass. Just look at the many reasons why yoga is here to stay:

1. Yoga studios

In Toronto alone there are more than 70 yoga studios and to even add more to the list there are also yoga classes that are done in regular fitness centres. Yoga exercise has become such a staple in Toronto fitness centres that there are weekly classes done to satisfy customer demand.

2.   Expansion of the Yoga exercise

With any type of exercise there are always ways to expand and incorporate factors that either make it more enjoyable or challenging. There has been a boom of popularity among hot yoga in Toronto where people are doing the exercise in a hot room. Not only that but paddleboard yoga is tickling the curiosity of the Toronto crowd as well. Just look at the video CTV News did on paddleboard yoga. h

3.  Yoga Products

Where do we start? There are mats, clothing, towels, blocks, socks, bottles, bags, headbands, and videos for all yoga lovers in Toronto. Definitely no shortage in yoga products in the Toronto area if anyone was worried. Especially since there is plenty of Lululemon shops that specialize in yoga products for both female and male. Lets not forget Lululemon is a Canadian product. The Lululemon products are so popular in the yoga world that they are now currently suing heavy weight fashion line Calvin Klein due to the similarity in yoga pants. 

4.  Yoga Activism

To some Yoga is a form of exercise to keep the body healthy however to other yoga goes beyond that. For some they believe through this art form it can make a difference in the world. Here are some organization that is based on yoga: YogaAid. Off the Mat into the World, and Michael Franti.

5.  Yoga Festivals

One of the most anticipated events each year is the Toronto Yoga Festival. It is a non-profit organization created to produce a yearly festival based on Yoga Tradition. The Festival is open to all participants at each level, whether people are beginners discovering the love of yoga or advanced students and teachers enjoying the celebration of the discipline. 

6.  Yoga Retreats

There is plenty of vacation based around yoga or regular vacation that includes activities such as yoga. This discipline has no boundries or boarders and is done around the world.

7.  Yoga Bloggers

Yoga Blogs have been popping up everywhere and that includes Toronto based ones. Here are some:

8.  Yoga Magazines

How many times is yoga mentioned in magazines? A whole lot and on top of that there are some magazines dedicated to just yoga.

Toronto Speaks Yoga:

Due to the boom in social media, yoga is now a reoccurring topic amongst most outlets that includes twitter, facebook, instagram and tumblr. People can now talk, chat, discuss, and share pictures between each other. Toronto is a city that speaks yoga and is seen on twitter feeds, facebook pages, and instagram pictures.

Twitter:

Twitter accounts such as “@YogaToronto” helps connect the yoga community but posting various subjects about yoga. They tweet out classes that will be conducted at certain gyms, getaways involving yoga, everyday facts, health tips, and many more topics.

Since bikram yoga (hot yoga) is becoming more popular it now has its own twitter account for Toronto specifically. @BikramYogaTO tweets out to their followers everything that has to do with hot yoga.  It’s a pretty interesting type of yoga and is garnering a lot more followers each month in Toronto.

Yoga Studios in Toronto:

5 Elements Yoga & Pilates 57 Mill St. North 301
Brampton 905.451.9642 www.5elementsyoga.com

889 YongeWellnes Spa Yoga Community 889 Yonge Street 
Toronto 416-925-7206 www.889yonge.com

Ashtanga Yoga Centre of Toronto 3215-A Yonge Street 
Toronto 647-342-6550 www.ashtangatoronto.com

Babaji’sKriya Yoga 401 Richmond St West 209
Toronto 416-850-1160 www.babajiskriyayoga.net

Beaches Fitness 862 Kingston Rd Toronto
Toronto 416-690-0045 www.beachesfitness.ca

The Yoga Lounge 103 Church Street Suite 300
Toronto 416-864-1973

Moksha Yoga Downtown 577 Wellington Street West 
Toronto 416-361-3033 www.mokshayogadowntown.com

Jaya Yoga Centre 121 Willowdale Ave Suite 302 
Toronto 647-352-JAYA (5292) www.jayayoga.ca

Iam Yoga 661 Yonge Street 
Toronto 416-920-9642 www.iamyoga.ca

Gurunamkhalsa College and Bathurst 
Toronto 647-987-4878

Fireflow Yoga 172 Eglinton Avenue East 2nd Floor
Toronto 416-855-3570 www.fireflowyoga.com

Breathe Yoga Studio 2253 Bloor Street West 
Toronto 416-926-YOGA (9642) www.breatheyogastudio.com