Our Classes
Ashtanga
An ancient and rigorous practice - our ashtanga classes are taught in the same tradition as Sharath Jois of the KPJAYI school in Mysore, India.
This most ancient style of yoga coordinates breathing, a focus point and physical movement, improving focus and concentration and helping participants develop more mental peace and calmness in ALL challenges of everyday life.
This is a progressive path that may take years to master - each position prepares you for the next one. At first you may just be doing 10 minutes of the sequence as that's all your body is prepared to do, then over time as you realign and develop your new mind-body connection, more poses shall be added.
The sequence starts with Sun Salutation A and Sun Salutation B.
Gentle Hatha
This is a gentle entry-level yoga class for anybody in any condition. This class is especially effective for those with chronic conditions such as sciatica, scoliosis and arthritis. It's also ideal for working with autoimmune diseases, boosting the immune system by maintaining general health and general flexibility.
Among its many benefits, this class helps improve numerous aspects of your life including sleeping more deeply, stress-processing time and improving relationships. Those who have tried this practice have described feeling more relaxed and less distracted by their fleeting thoughts, demonstrating an enhanced ability to solve problems and recall information better.
a bit about the teacher
Donny Day has been practicing Hatha yoga since 1993. His asana background includes experience in Hatha, Ashtanga & Vinyasa. Donny currently practices & studies Ashtanga yoga daily. From 1993 - 2015, Donny practiced and studied Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga.
His teaching skills include Pranayama, Ayurveda, various forms of Tibetan, Yogic & Shamanic Meditation, Holistic Psychology and Yoga Therapy.
Donny studied Ashtanga Yoga (at the AYCT - Ashtanga Yoga Center Toronto) under Dave Robson since 2018. He is now a lifetime member online as he has moved out of Toronto to the nearby city of Pickering.
Donny continues to study Shamanism & Holistic Counselling under Gael Carter & Marilyn Keffer.Donny also writes and publishes about the connections between Buddhist, Daoist and Yogic beliefs in relationship with holistic psychology and mental health with his writing partner Dr. Amanda Whittal (currently based out of Switzerland).
He also studies Kalaripayattu (the roots of Kung Fu) under Pramod Prathrose (Certified Practitioner deployed to Canada by the Indian Government to sprad out this knowledge) and is a certified 2nd Level Gold Mantis Black belt in Mantis Style Kung Fu, and is becoming a disciple of Sifu Daniel Cimino (8-Step Mantis Sifu, son of Master Michael Cimino).
Prior to 2019, he was teaching Yoga in India (Mysore, Winter 2018/2019), Thailand (Bangkok, winter 2018), Japan (2015-2018) & Rome/Italy (Winter/Spring 2019) - previous to that he resided in Chengdu, China for 6 years where he taught Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga (2007 - 2013).In 2010 Donny met Swathi Iyengar (part of the Iyengar -yoga- Clan in India) in Hong Kong at a street corner. Soon after Donny brought Swathi to Chengdu, China, to teach Yoga Workshops on Philosophy. Donny and Swathi have a lasting friendship to this day.
In 2012 Donny ventured to Pune, India, reviewed the SPINAL HATHA YOGA set he developed with Dr. Balakhar (Spine Specialist) and taught spinal yoga therapy to students at Kaivalyadham (the first government-funded yogic institution in India given the task to connect science and Yoga starting in 1934). He returned to India 4 years later to study Ashtanga Yoga under Saraswathi Jois (Pattabhi Jois's daughter).Currently, Donny teaches Ashtanga Yoga & Yoga Therapy to the community in his neighborhood in Pickering, Ontario.
