TAKING FEAR OUT OF YOGA
Studio embraces newbies
Starting out in yoga can sometimes feel intimidating. With a lot to learn — from poses to studio etiquette — beginners can sometimes feel lost in the shuffle.
Jen Rondeau is aiming to change that at her new studio, Ivy Yoga House.
Not only is Rondeau a yoga instructor by day, she also works as a paramedic by night.
It was this career in emergency health services that first drew her to yoga as she searched out ways to maintain her physical fitness while also focusing on mindfulness.
Rondeau took her first yoga class at her longtime local crossfit gym, Crossfit BRIO South, and from there she was hooked.
Soon she began instructor training and then teaching classes to her fellow crossfitters before deciding to strike out to do more.
“I saw the need for a studio where, if you are not that comfortable with yoga studios, you’ve never been in one or you haven’t even ever done yoga, where you could come,” Rondeau said.
“(When I started) five or six years ago it did feel intimidating, so I thought maybe I could create a space that felt welcoming.”
This focus on beginners is what Rondeau believes sets her studio apart. Though Ivy Yoga House offers classes for higher skill levels as well, it has classes in Yin, Vinyasa and Ashtanga styles specifically aimed at those just starting out. There are also restorative and emotional balance yoga classes that mix all skill levels to help ease stress, anxiety and promote deep relaxation.
“Yin and restorative (specifically) are very accessible to beginners,” Rondeau said. “There is not a lot of movement; there is a lot of instruction, but you are on your mat and you’re listening (to) how to get into a pose, then holding it for anywhere from two to eight minutes. So, there is a lot of time to make adjustments.”
The studio offers four kids’ yoga classes weekly — for ages four to six in the Yogi Cubs class and ages seven to 12 in the Yogi Bears class.
These classes are meant to help relax the mind and body through breathing and mindfulness exercises and, for the older children, provide tools for them to cope with stress and anxiety in their everyday lives.
“The four-to-six-year-olds, there is a lot of games, it’s so fun to see — it’s hilarious,” Rondeau said,
laughing. “For the older kids, when you ask them what their favourite part is, nine times out of 10 it’s relaxation ... kids are just so busy these days.”
No matter your skill level or schedule, with 32 classes offered weekly it’s easy to find something that works for you.
All classes can be booked and paid for through the studio’s app.
“I wanted to draw members in with all the available classes,” Rondeau said. “So some of our classes are only getting two to eight people, but that leaves room to grow.”
The small class size also means those still learning will get more interaction with the instructors, she adds.
Wanting to remain close to her crossfit gym, which had helped Rondeau find her space and promoted her studio to its own clients, Rondeau opened up only a few doors away in the Stonebridge Industrial neighbourhood in November 2019.
With no other yoga studio in Stonebridge and a plethora of parking, it’s a great option for those in the nearby neighbourhoods as well as those making longer treks to class.
So far people are loving it, Rondeau said.
Her biggest supporters so far are crossfitters and nurses, with many of the new yogis coming in after hearing great word-of-mouth reviews.
But no matter who makes it through the doors, Rondeau says she is just excited to continue building the community by making yoga easy and accessible to those just starting out.
“Those beginners, I think they are looking for somewhere to relax with the added mobility benefits too,” she said.
“Even if you’ve never set foot on a mat ... there is something for everyone.”