Erika's Wanderlust Yoga Tour

This year I was lucky enough to get to go on a bit of a yoga studio tour around Canada and even a bit in Europe. I am so grateful to have had this experience! I loved getting to practice in different atmospheres and environments, and the opportunity to be taught by a wide array of different teachers was amazing. As far as my own personal practice goes, I found that this was a wonderful way for me to branch out and not get too stuck in the familiar. Each place that I went to had its own unique culture and I loved getting to sit in on that for just a little while. Some studios spoke to me more than others and I think that it’s important to try as many different studios as you can until you find your home.

Studio #1: YYoga Kitsilano in Vancouver, British Columbia

Studio #2: Sun Door Yoga on Hornby Island, British Columbia

Studio #3: Oceanside Yoga Centre in Qualicum Beach, British Columbia

Studio #4: Coastal Bliss Yoga in Tofino, British Columbia

Studio #5: Bliss YogaSpa in Edmonton, Alberta

Studio #6: SATTVA School of Yoga in Edmonton, Alberta

Studio #7: Muskoka Yoga Studio in Gravenhurst, Ontario

Studio #8: Bodhi Tree Yoga in Regina, Saskatchewan

Studio #9: Union Station Yoga in London, England

Studio #10: Tipi Valley Surf & Yoga Eco Retreat in Aljezur, Portugal

Studio #11: Yoga Centre London in London, Ontario

Studio #12: Semperviva Yoga Kits Beach Studio in Vancouver, British Columbia

Studio #13: The Yoga Space in Vancouver, British Columbia

And lastly, of course no tour is complete without a hometown show...

Studio #14: Naada Yoga in Montreal, Quebec

Every single studio was an experience that I cherished, but like I said, some places spoke to me more than others. Here were the major stand-outs to me, studios that I would highly recommend for anyone to visit, should they get the chance.

SUN DOOR YOGA on Hornby Island, British Columbia was pure woodland magic. There are no words for this utopia of a place. Nestled away in the forest, the floor of the studio is made from real earth (talk about feeling grounded!) and sunbeams stream through the ceiling. They have a wood burning stove in the corner to keep everyone warm, and you can imagine the incredible smell that it creates. This place is truly something special.

Coastal Bliss Yoga in Tofino, British Columbia is another one of my favourite spaces. It feels like a glorious tree house of some kind. The space is so warm and welcoming and it smells exactly as it looks like it would smell - comforting and woody. This is the sort of place that I never want to have to leave.

The SATTVA School of Yoga in Edmonton, Alberta holds a very special place in my heart. They used to be located a block away and were called The Yoga Loft, and that is where I took my first-ever yoga class. They have since moved to a brand new location and it is stunning. It’s as if every dream that the little old location was trying to achieve has now been realized, and I feel sentimental about that. Every inch of this place is beautiful and thought out to perfection. I never wanted to leave the lounge area. My class was lead by Ruth Bancroft and she was incredible and taught in exactly the type style that I love the most.

Tipi Valley Surf & Yoga Eco Retreat in Aljezur, Portugal is a whole other thing all its own. This is one of those momentous life experience moments. There aren’t really any words. I stayed for five days and was treated to yoga classes twice a day, lead by our lovely teacher Caroline Graham-Wood. Practicing in the open air, looking up at the sky, gazing over the valley... This is the ideal place to really get into your own heart and mind when it comes to your practice, without distraction.

Semperviva Yoga in Vancouver, British Columbia is my favourite studio in Vancouver. And there is lots to choose from in that city! I love the whole perfect vibe of the place; urban yet totally down-to-earth. Their huge studio space manages to feel intimate and I really loved their lounge/lifestyle store area. The teacher that I had, Alli Shafer, was especially good.

Naada Yoga Montreal in Montreal, Quebec is my home away from home (a short 8 minute walk from my house) and I could never leave them out! While I sometimes wish that the studio had more natural light, no other room fills me with the same calm familiarity. The tea lounge feels more like my own living room at this point. The teachers are all so amazing at Naada, but I typically work the most with Elizabeth Emberly, Thea Metcalfe, Jody Hegel, and Emily Gan. I love each of them for different reasons and they have truly shaped and created my practice. (Special shout-outs to Dawn Mauricio and Xavier Therrien for also being amazing teachers who I wish that I could see more of!) Come to visit me in Montreal... And I will surely take you for a class.

I’ll probably never have another yoga year quite like this one and it has meant the world to me.

ॐ