One Yoga Review

Last week I shared my experience at The Lab, and this week I wanted to discuss my experience practicing at the yoga studio One Yoga. One Yoga is literally a 5-minute walk from my apartment, so I loved the fact that I was able to get to class in such little time. I found that back in Toronto, I spent a lot of time commuting and one of the things I looked forward to most when moving to Victoria was the idea of being able to walk or bike everywhere. Similar to most studios, One Yoga is decorated with a lot of wooden furniture and accents and there is a small tea station in the lobby of the studio. I decided to take the “All Levels” yoga class, as I thought this would be the best class to get a feel and understanding of the overall vibe of the studio, as it is described as a basic introduction to the practice of yoga, focusing on breath and alignment, which is a type of class I have taken hundreds of times before.  However, when I entered the studio, I was instantly hit with a surprise as I immediately noticed that there were no mirrors and there was no clear direction regarding which side of the studio was the front and the back. I became so dependent and accustomed to using mirrors in my practice that I felt out of place and uncomfortable. I remember thinking throughout the class whether I was doing the postures correctly and was trying to mimic the movements of others around me. After finishing the class, while I felt accomplished and refreshed, I did not feel like I got the most out of my practice.

This experience made me reflect on my time in India and how the purpose of yoga is about cultivating internal awareness and mindfulness and it is not about “doing the postures correctly.” This yoga studio’s philosophy focused on the fact that mirrors distract individuals as they place a greater emphasis on external appearance, and while I can appreciate this experience, I must say that I prefer to practice with mirrors. I really enjoy being able to look at myself in the mirror while I practice as it helps me to correct my alignment and I ultimately feel a greater stretch as a result. Nonetheless, while I will not be returning to back to this studio and prefer to practice at The Lab, I am grateful for this experience as it opened my eyes and made me aware of things about myself that I did not recognize, such as how much I value mirrors in my practice.