Better Balance Wellness Yoga Studio in Kingston

Yoga
Studio Kingston

Our yoga practice is dedicated to improving YOUR wellbeing

Whether you’re a seasoned “Yogi”, Yoga Teacher, completely new to Yoga, a beginner or somewhere in the middle… you have found the right place! We have a nice mix of traditional and blended classes to offer you.

The reason why some of our classes are blends or perhaps not what you have seen before, is a result of our teachers having an array of education, practices, and experience. We can’t wait to see your smiling and enthusiastic faces in a class soon! And if you’re not feeling 100 % (mentally or physically) not to worry! Reach out and ask for our guidance – either Alana or one the teachers are here to help & can make some recommendations.

Yoga blocks at Better Balance Wellness Yoga Studio in Kingston
Better Balance Wellness Yoga Studio at night in Kingston
Yoga Practice

Kingston Yoga Classes

Hatha Yoga

An umbrella term for many yoga styles and practices, but more importantly it is a very old and revered Yoga practice combining the physical “asanas” (poses) with breath work (pranayama), concentration, mindfulness, mantras/chanting, and meditation – in order to ignite the practitioners energetic life force (prana), so that they might practice clearing any obstructions and ideally find themselves in a more united or enlightened state with oneself and everything that “is”. (Please note: this is an interpretation of different literature and broken down into a simpler explanation of what to perhaps expect. Hatha yoga is a complex and ancient form of practices & philosophies that could take more than one lifetime to “perfect”. The wonderful thing is that these old practices are  just that, tools for us to practice. They are alive today because we are practicing on our own at home or in a group class.  

*In a nutshell, teachers often use Hatha to describe a class that is a slower paced class, connecting breath with movement and more mindful in it’s cuing.

Great for all levels!

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Yoga Stretch
yoga stretches

Vinyasa or “Flow”

Similar to Hatha, but more of a flow between postures & not typically holding postures for longer periods of time.

Faster paced than Hatha, depending on the instructor.

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Yin Yoga

Slow-paced style of yoga (as exercise), incorporating principles of traditional Chinese medicine, with asanas (postures) that are held for longer periods of time than in other yoga styles. 

Great for stretching tight and sore bodies!

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yoga stretches
yoga mat

Restorative Yoga

Suitable for practitioners of all levels, is a restful practice that holds yoga poses (asanas) for a longer duration using props like yoga blocks, blankets, and bolsters.

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Sound Bath

 A sound bath is a full-body meditative experience where people lie down and listen to resonant sounds. It often involves singing crystal bowls, which create an echoing sound that ‘bathes’ people. Some people refer to sound bathing as a healing practice.

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singing crystal bowls at Better Balance Wellness
relaxing and meditation

Guided Meditation

A teacher cues and guides you in a meditation, which is a technique that trains the mind to concentrate and redirect thoughts, often towards the breath, which serves as an anchor. *Often meditation is incorporated into the class – either at the beginning, throughout (integration), or at the end of a class or all of the above! 

But anyone can meditate on their own! Learn more by attending a class and ask your teacher how you can start a simple self-lead practice

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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Learn how to reduce stress, lower anxiety and live with greater ease 🥰

✔ Cultivate greater self-awareness & compassion
✔ Respond rather than react to stress
✔ Change habitual reactivity patterns

Yoga Teachers

ALANA HAMELIN

I began practicing yoga over 20 years ago, starting with “Bikram”, Ashtanga, Hatha and Vinyasa yoga. I’ve always enjoyed trying new styles and classes with an open, humble curious and playful body and mind & this approach and practice has stayed with me over the years. Over the years, I have loved practicing with different teachers and in different counties, so that I may continue to see different perspectives and practices. I’m always looking to take a yoga class when I’m away – even on a cruise ship!

And although my love for the physical practice is ever evolving, “living my yoga” is very much a practice of mindfulness on or off the mat. I highly recommend a mindfulness and meditation practice to anyone – ask me why!

BRENDA LEIFSO

Brenda has completed two 200-hour yoga teacher trainings and further training in prenatal yoga, yoga for kids, yoga for pain, Deep Rest, Hips and SI, and is currently completing Somatic Strength. Her teaching humbly follows the lineage of Desikachar. As an editor and published author of three books, she brings her literary explorations and writing practice, which is deeply engaged with the more-than-human world of water, trees, and wind, the what-is, to every class. She currently operates Brick Books in her day work.

KARIN MERKEL-DIRKSEN

I began practicing yoga 20 years ago to add flexibility to my workouts. I enjoyed the calm that connecting to my breath brought when I practiced , and so began the beginning of a lifelong practice and love affair with yoga . My mindfulness practice, combined with my career in mental health have contributed to my own wellness journey and a love of sharing tools for self care, and finding peace within. My journey as a yoga teacher began when I traveled to Vietnam for Hatha Yoga and Mindfulness teacher training with Saigon Om, it was a life changing experience and I have been blessed to teach since. I enjoy learning and sharing and approach life with a beginners mind, having completed Restorative yoga teacher training and related workshops with Andrea Peloso. Saigon Om training in Yin yoga, restorative yoga and workshops in fascia release, and qi gong. I am currently enjoying enriching my learnings in Qi gong, and completing a certificate in sound therapy with Institute of Traditional medicine. I hold a warm nurturing peaceful space for my students to explore their practice , with a sprinkling of mindfulness and corny jokes. I believe this beautiful practice is for all bodies,and abilities, and options are always given. What gives me joy is a long savasana, and seeing the smiling peaceful faces of my students.

ASHLEY SIMPSON

Why yoga? Well for me, once I started, I couldn’t stop! Yoga is a lifetime practice. It is evergreen. Always changing, always evolving, much like our daily lives. Yoga is an opportunity to move the body in order to still the mind. It is an opportunity to be with the breath. An opportunity to cultivate peace, love and joy, on and off the mat. Yoga is a personal venture to slow down and seek something greater. It is a privilege to be able to mindfully guide fellow yogis to trust their own inner teacher. I have been living practice every day for the past decade. Each day my practice challenges me. It has taught me greater awareness. It has taught me that every day is different. It has taught me to breathe. It has taught me to be strong. It has taught me that some days it is hard to be mindful, breathe, and be strong and that, is okay. Always keep coming back. I received my 200-hour YTT & Mindfulness certification with Saigonom in 2018 and have been teaching ever since. I have also obtained my Level 2 Shamballa Reiki Partitioner Certification and am currently in the process of completing my 300-hour YTT certification.