One year of LOVE!

by Nicky Poole, Yoga Community Leader

I recieved a most unexpected and thoughtful gift today. A beautiful bouquet of spring flowers arrived at 889 Yoga for me from Christine, Emily and Mandy. (Christine and Emily are the owners and visionaries behind 889, and Mandy is the Operations and HR Manager - you may not have met her, but she keeps the ship running!). I had no idea what they were for, and upon opening the card was reminded that today was in fact my one year anniversary of joining the team as a teacher, and yoga community leader.

One year already!

I arrived in Toronto from Vietnam late in 2009 as my husband came to Toronto to begin his MBA at Rotman, University of Toronto. I left my thriving yoga community in Saigon that I nurtured and grew for five years, and saying goodbye to that was heartbreaking. Whilst I have lived in different places in the world for the past ten years, the move to Canada was the most difficult move I have made so far. It is about as far as I could possibly get from my family in New Zealand. I had a three year old, and was seven months pregnant with my second child. Integrating into a huge city such as Toronto was much harder than other expatriate cities I have lived in, as most people here already had well established family and community ties (as opposed to the expat lifestlyle where you develop lifelong friendships seemingly instantly). Not to mention, that getting out to meet like minded people is quite difficult when you are always carting two pre-schoolers around with you!

Through a series of global connections, I found my way to 889 and was immediately welcomed into the community as a student. My weekly class here with the previous yoga director Jennifer Findlay were a highlight of my week. I loved the space, the people, and the quality and integrity of the yoga program. I immediately set my intention that THIS was the place in Toronto I wanted to call my yoga home. (I wrote this intention out and posted it in our grattitude wall in the Tea Garden). Within a few months I had been bought into the community as my current role as community leader. As a working mother with a newborn I recieved so much support from my team here that I found the work:life balance reasonably easy to attain. I used to bring my newborn to the office to breastfeed inbetween classes and meetings! To have that support in a work environment is utterly fantastic, (and very rare) and for that I am eternally grateful.

It’s been a busy year. We have grown from one studio, to two busy studio spaces. The number of classes per week have doubled to over 40 per week. We have bought on many new and talented teachers to lead and inspire you. Because of our growing reputation in the international community we have been able to host international teachers such as Simon Park and Eion Finn for regular workshops. Seane Corne is also returning again in the Fall. Our 2010 Global Mala was an incredible success, raising over $30,000 for Schools without Borders, and we are confident we will do even better this year! Our programming has extended to include popular Bootcamps, Beginner Yoga Programs, thai yoga massage in classes, and regular musical accompaniment in classes. We have supported many amazing charities including Off the Mat, Shanti Uganda, Power of Movement, Yoga in Motion, One Love Toronto, YOCOTO, and Trails to name but a few. I have personally witnessed the huge growth in our Pre and Post-Natal program, with most of our pre-natal mamas bringing their babies back to 889 with them for the Mama and Baby yoga classes. We created this 889Yonge blog and have a huge international list of subscribers that love what we have to offer.

I have made strong relationships with many of you - my students. You continue to inspire me with your dedication to your practice and an ethical and well balanced lifestyle. In the past year I have witnessed many, many beginner students develop a consistent and evolving yoga practice, and is my great honour to be a guide on your journey. I am also consistently motivated by the wonderful team of yoga instructors and wellness practioners here at 889. Many of you have become good practice buddies and we support each other in our daily yoga practice. Others of you inspire me with your commitment to karma yoga, or personal stories of triumph over difficult personal circumstances. Others of us have bonded over diapers and parenting stories. I consider each and every teacher here at 889 my teacher too.

There are many more exciting things in the pipeline for the next year (I cant tell you all of them - yet!). But, I want to thank all of you for being a part of 889, one that I am proud to be a part of, a retreat from the hustle of the city, a sacred space for inner journeys here in the heart of Toronto.