Jacob’s bio is coming soon. In the meantime, check out his website to learn more about him
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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
JACOB SAPHRA
JANET SONG
Hi everyone, I’m Janet, a yoga instructor at Better Balance Wellness. Mental health is at the forefront of my mind when I design and lead my classes. I believe that slowing down, mindfulness, body awareness and connecting with your breath are important tools for our mental health toolkit. In my class, you can expect an emphasis on moving with intention and respect for your body, as well as deep breathing to make the class feel like a moving meditation. My favourite style is vinyasa—dynamic flows where we are moving with our breath, taking powerful poses like Warrior 1 and 2, and slowing down in downward dog and child’s pose. My hope is you leave the class feeling the happy hormones released after exercising your body, while also
feeling grounded and balanced.
JULIE BACH
Yoga started for me as a tool for self-healing when I was physically beat up from overtraining. It quickly also became a stepping point for emotional healing as well spiritual awakening. After practicing for a little over a year, I embarked on teacher training.
I have been teaching in the Kingston community for 13 years now! I love teaching and sharing my curiosity and passion for embodying “ease with effort” on and off the mat. I enjoy supporting other people explore their practice, breath and human experience.
My approach to practicing and teaching is to enjoy the practice, find inner alignment, and remember that our greatest teacher lies within. I love a strong flow practiced with grace and ease, but I also enjoy a yin practice sometimes, where one can go deeply inward while staying connected to the physical experience.
My practice over the years has ebbed and flowed, and what interests me changes. My current practice is a flexible set-ish sequence (with room to dial up or tone down). My nervous system knows what to expect, and I can really tune in to how I’m feeling for each practice. I also find it beneficial to track progress or challenges each time I step onto my mat.
I look forward to guiding and supporting you in your next practice on the mat!
HARSHA VYAS
Harsha’s bio is coming soon!
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!
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.