FAQ

Yoga originated in India as a spiritual and physical practice that brought balance and healing to the body and mind. In North America Yoga has become not just a practice but also lifestyle. Yoga is both an art and a science; through practice a student will explore the connection between the body, mind and spirit. Yoga uses the natural flow of breath, and is a unique way to exercise the physical as well as mental self to achieve total wellbeing. By practicing yoga one can rejuvenate the body and the mind. Yoga stretches, strengthens and builds stamina, in addition to improving the functioning of all the vital organs. Yoga helps individuals realize their potential for holistic self-healing and inner peace.

We generally teach te Vinyasa style of yoga. Vinyasa is a term that covers a broad ranges, but essentially it means “breath-synchronized movement.” In Vinyasa Yoga the teacher instructs you to move from one pose to the next while inhaling or exhaling a breath. This style of yoga typically starts with a series of poses called sun salutations to warm the body up;, the remainder of the class allows for a great deal of variation and involves lots of movement beyond simple active stretching. Because there are many different types of yoga – each with unique benefits – Sweet Serenity borrows elements from many of them in order to offer a wide variety of classes with different goals for all levels of ability.

Absolutely! In fact, you’re the perfect candidate for yoga. Give it a try and, over time, you’ll notice that it helps you to become more flexible. Everybody is different, so never feel the need to practice poses exactly like the teacher: they are there as a guide, and have been practicing yoga for a long time. Listen to your body, don’t force yourself, and stay within your limits. Also, as with any other exercise program, please consult your doctor before beginning any new Sweet Serenity Yoga and Wellness class.

Arrive to class WELL hydrated; avoid caffeinated beverages prior to class. Bring a yoga mat, towel and bottle of water for your practice. Avoid eating heavy meals 2 hours before practicing, but don’t show up hungry either. If you’re feeling hungry close to class starting, it’s recommended you eat something light and easy to digest such as a piece of fruit. Drink plenty of water before and after each class, especially if you are practicing hot yoga. Wear comfortable clothing, kick off your shoes and practice on a surface with some grip. Yoga mats are ideal, as they are “sticky” and help prevent sliding. Yoga mats are also available for use in studio at no charge, and we’ll have anything else that you’ll need.

This is entirely up to you; however, try to avoid practicing if you’ve eaten a heavy meal in the 2 hours prior and only eat something light and easy to digest if you’re hungry as class approaches. This is because you’ll be twisting, bending, and turning upside down – things that are not very comfortable with a full stomach! While some people enjoy early morning sessions, sessions before lunch, or a relaxing class just before bed, it’s recommended you practice yoga as consistently as possible. Some like to practice 1-2 one hour classes per week and some thrive on daily classes just find a time that works for you and schedule your classes so you don’t forget! We also recommend that our clients take advantage of our full program by incorporating cardio, strength training, and restoration into a complete and well-balanced fitness regimen. Every client is different, so there’s no set formula for results.

You sure can! While yoga can have many benefits for mom and baby during pregnancy, there are many poses and transitions that need to be avoided. Sweet Serenity has a registered series* of Prenatal Yoga for those looking to keep their practice going in all stages of their pregnancy. These classes are designed with safe and mindful poses to support you and your growing baby. This registered series offers gentle poses, breathing and relaxation techniques suitable for pregnancy and allows you to learn techniques to relieve aches and pains while connecting with your body and baby. It’s also a great way to meet other new moms-to-be in the community!
*Registered series’ are to be paid in full at the time of registration and cannot be combined with any other offer or pass.

Expect to have FUN! Barre is a low impact, high intensity workout in which small isometric movements target and tone specific areas of your body. Although there are elements of yoga and pilates, barre is a workout like no other. It lifts your seat, tones your thighs, abs, and arms, and burns fat – and you can see results in as little as ten classes! There’s no need to spend hours at the gym or pay a personal trainer when 60 minutes in a barre class will have you addressing every muscle group and feel worked. Instructors put their own spin on every class so no two barre classes are ever the same and you’ll never be bored with a workout again. All classes in the barre program are designed to challenge at every level. We offer modifications and challenges for everyone, regardless of experience or ability. Please let your instructor know if you have any injuries or concerns prior to class, and feel free to ask any questions before or after class as well.

Leave your tutus & leotards at home! To get the most from your barre class it’s best to wear capri-style yoga pants, a comfortable top and a light sweater. You can wear anything that you’d normally work out in, but please try to avoid loose shorts or shirts. Barre classes focus on specific muscle groups one at a time, and therefore it’s important to keep your idle muscles warm until they’re ready to become the focus.

Arrive to class WELL hydrated; avoid caffeinated beverages prior to class. Bring a yoga mat, towel and bottle of water for your practice. Avoid eating heavy meals 2 hours before practicing, but don’t show up hungry either. If you’re feeling hungry close to class starting, it’s recommended you eat something light and easy to digest such as a piece of fruit. Drink plenty of water before and after each class. Wear comfortable clothing, kick off your shoes and practice on a surface with some grip. Yoga mats are ideal, as they are “sticky” and help prevent sliding. We’ll have anything else that you’ll need.

You’re shaking because your muscles have reached the point of fatigue. We say embrace the shake! It’s a good thing! Our goal is to have each muscle group we target during a specific section of class to shake every time. After you shake, we stretch to lengthen the muscles while they are warm and flexible. This leads to long, lean muscles that are noticeably toned.

At Sweet Serenity Yoga we have many class styles to choose from, which allows for “muscle confusion;” this is the idea that by constantly changing your workouts you “confuse” your muscles, thereby increasing the stimulation and resulting adaptation. We recommend that all clients take advantage of our full program by incorporating cardio, strength training, and restoration into a complete and well-balanced fitness regimen. Every client is different, so there is no set formula for results. Having said that, a great start would be 2-3 classes a week; to get the most out of your workouts, you’ll want to eventually increase your workouts to 3-4 times a week. All classes are constantly being updated so each class remains fresh to avoid muscle adaptation and make sure you’re always being challenged.

Please feel free to reach out to your favourite instructor or speak to anyone on our team about your goals and we’ll be happy to weigh in on the best way for you to reach them.

Fusion Fitness is the combination of traditional yoga with other forms of fitness, like Pilates or resistance training.  This technique still focuses on balance and flexibility, while also providing strength or aerobic exercise for your routine. People who practice fusion yoga benefit by adding two techniques at one time.  Often fusion yoga has a strong focus on the abdominal and spinal muscles which can help promote strong core muscles.

The great thing about fusion yoga is that the workouts are constantly changing to add different workouts or target different areas of the body.  While there are a million ways to fuse yoga with other workout techniques, there are three popular yoga fusion classes that people take.

Fusion Fitness is a blend of cardio, interval training, and yoga styles movements and mainly concentrates on cultivating core strength in the body. It is a valuable tool for increasing strength, definition, and proper posture. We aim to work the body equally and unite the body with mind and spirit and helps people find harmony and release stress!

Arrive to class WELL hydrated; avoid caffeinated beverages prior to class. Bring a yoga mat, towel and bottle of water for your practice. Avoid eating heavy meals 2 hours before practicing, but don’t show up hungry either. If you’re feeling hungry close to class starting, it’s recommended you eat something light and easy to digest such as a piece of fruit. Drink plenty of water before and after each class. Wear comfortable clothing, kick off your shoes and practice on a surface with some grip. Yoga mats are ideal, as they are “sticky” and help prevent sliding. Yoga mats are available for sale in the studio, as well as other props you may need.

At Sweet Serenity Yoga we have many class styles to choose from, which allows for “muscle confusion;” this is the idea that by constantly changing your workouts you “confuse” your muscles, thereby increasing the stimulation and resulting adaptation. We recommend that all clients take advantage of our full program by incorporating cardio, strength training, and restoration into a complete and well-balanced fitness regimen. Every client is different, so there is no set formula for results. Having said that, a great start would be 2-3 classes a week; to get the most out of your workouts, you’ll want to eventually increase your workouts to 3-4 times a week. All classes are constantly being updated so each class remains fresh to avoid muscle adaptation and make sure you’re always being challenged.

“10 sessions – feel the difference. 20 sessions – see the difference. 30 sessions – have a new body!” -Joseph Pilates