Meet Joanne from The Big Stretch Yoga Studio

Last Spring I had the opportunity to meet an extraordinary person while on assignment for CRAVE Toronto. Her name is Joanne Lowe and she is the director at The Big Stretch Yoga Studio. Upon my first arrival at her studio, the calm and peaceful energy was incredible. I told Joanne how calm I felt in her space and she invited me for a session. After my first session, I felt even more relaxed, connected and happy with my inner self and knew I had found a place that balances the exercise and de-stressing I needed. I would highly recommend to anyone thinking about starting a yoga practice .... to simply GO FOR IT!!! The experience is wonderful and very rewarding as you become more and more flexible. There is something magical when you can connect with your body in a peaceful way. Below are some images from my session with Joanne at her studio, plus a little note that perfectly explains what yoga is all about.

Written by Joanne Lowe

Hatha yoga is a gentle, yet effective yoga practice that enhances your health and well-being. The simple breathing, stretching and muscle relaxation techniques is an effective healing treatment that can relieve various symptoms of stress, including tension headaches, fatigue, anxiety, back-pain, depression and insomnia. In our classes at The Big Stretch Yoga Centre, we slow down from our hectic schedules, allowing the breath to flow through the postures. Create balance by uniting opposites - effort and grace, stability and fluidity, strength and softness. Rather than just exercising, we can begin to connect the breath with body and mind, directing our attention inward. The actual physical poses or "asanas" are only one element of a yoga practice. Pranayama or breath work, guided relaxation and the occasional laugh are all part of the greater picture of healing body, mind and spirit.
In yoga, we are not practicing self-improvement, but self-awareness and self-acceptance.