yoga studio review

The Sea Studio At Night

Sophie Legrand / Studio Reviews / , / 2 Comments

Now that I’ve practised in all the Semperviva studios, I think that my favourite is possibly the Sea Studio on Granville Island. I don’t go there as often I would like because I currently live a bit far out, but next month I’m moving to Kits so I’ll be able to go more.

For now, I try to go once a week for a Yin yoga class with Bernie on Thursday at 7.15. So far because it’s winter, I’ve seen the studio at twilight or night, and I find it quite magical. It is on the corner of a building overlooking the river and facing downtown, and the wall-to-wall windows offer the most beautiful views.

Before each session, Bernie takes time to light up a myriad of candles around the room by the windows and their reflection mirror the lights of downtown and of the boats that occasionally float by.

The interior, on two levels, feels organic and cosy, with natural fibre carpet and big wooden beams.

[source: www.yoga-gene.com]

One of my best classes there was when it was really cold outside and we were in savasana. It suddenly started to rain heavily and the drops were pounding against the windows. I lied there listening, in the natural darkness of that November night, and it felt like the most wonderful sound to accompany me in meditation.

I can’t wait to practice at the Sea Studio in spring or in the summer when it will be flooded in bright daylight!

bikram yoga vancouver: a review

katiedouglas / Studio Reviews, Studios / , , , / 1 Comment

i find bikram to be the radiohead of yoga:  people either love it or hate it.  there’s very little middle ground.

since i happen to fall into the former rather than the latter, i couldn’t have been happier sweating buckets on an otherwise damp and dreary monday morning.

i’d been meaning to check out a bikram studio in vancouver for quite a while now, and decided what better opportunity to venture outside my normal yoga routine than a free day off of work for the stat holiday.

tucked away in an unassuming building in the west end,  i was pleasantly surprised when i entered the small and welcoming space that is bikram yoga vancouver.

raymond mah, general manager and yogi, had just finished the class prior and was kind enough to give me a pep talk before i went into my 10 am practice.

the practice itself was not unlike any other bikram class i’d experienced:  the 26 postures are always the same, the heat borderline unbearable, the instructor borderline drill sergeant.

however, hillary was the perfect balance of strict and encouraging, inspiring me to go deeper in poses and to really make sure i got the full benefits of her 90 minutes of instruction.

the studio was also slightly different than the bikram studios i’d experienced in the past:  the space was clean, free of the odd foot smell i’d come to associate with hot yoga, and used a unique flooring made from 100% PVC, the same material used in many yoga mats, instead of the usual carpeting used by most studios.

my only criticism of the studio would be it’s size.  while the actual practice space was plenty large enough, the lobby and locker rooms were small and congested.  with only 2 showers and few amenities i couldn’t realistically see myself showering and getting ready for work should i ever hit up an early morning class mid-week.

ray informed me a larger studio is planned to open on cambie and W. 12th in the upcoming months.  good news for me as this is closer to work and right off the skytrain:  i might just have to become a regular.

bikram yoga vancouver

101-1650 Alberni Street
604 662 7722

www.bikramyogavancouver.com

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