Yoga goes perfectly with meditation, relaxation, and…wine? Indeed it does, as In the Spirit Yoga Studio & Wine Lounge has shown. Nestled in Scarborough’s Highland Creek neighbourhood, In the Spirit has been offering yoga classes and a space for community gatherings since it opened in 2010.
In the Spirit is the brainchild of Debi Niven, a local business owner, and is managed on a day-to-day basis by Susan Fraser, her “right-hand woman.” The studio offers Hatha yoga classes, and tailors them to the physical needs and fitness levels of its attendants. The studio also offers classes for therapeutic healing, for seniors and people with mobility issues—including those who use wheelchairs—and for new and expectant mothers. Classes are small—the original studio (Studio A) holds 11, and Studio B, up to 20; they are mirror-free to encourage an intimate, non-judgmental atmosphere.
The instructors reinforce this by adapting their lessons to the skill levels of their students: “If you’re not ready or able to do a particular pose, you can relax in child’s pose and watch to get a better feel or understanding for it. The only demand that’s made is you on yourself,” Susan explains. “Yoga is your own personal practice. It’s unique to you."
