Meenakshi interviewed on Yoga Dance by FLARE MAGAZINE
May 2008 Issue

Yoga dance is another low-impact option. Incorporating elements of yoga asanas (postures) and breathing exercises with free-form, modern and trance-style dance, yoga dance "is for anyone interested in exploring movement, yoga flow and music, at all levels," says instructor Marla Meenakshi Joy. As with yoga, expect your flexibility, balance and coordination to improve. "It also has an aerobic component, as well as a relaxing component," says Joy, who teaches both yoga and yoga dance at Downward Dog Yoga Centre in Toronto and says the dance leaves practitioners feeling emotionally and physically "cleansed".

(Marla Meenakshi Joy has a background in modern dance, studying in Toronto and Montreal, and dancing professionally before her sojourn to India initially in 1988.)

Yogadance is a class designed to give freedom of expression; synergizing yoga asanas, free dance, trance dance with soothing sounds and funky primal world beat rhythms.
This class allows us to transcend the traditional boundaries of yoga incorporating flowing movements to take the body, mind and spirit to a life-changing experience as we step out of old energetic patterns and open and create new ones!

Swabhava Yoga Dance and Restorative Workshop
At Downward Dog Yoga centre

Swabhava Yoga Dance is a class designed to give freedom of expression; Synergizing yoga asanas, free dance, trance dance with soothing sounds and Funky primal world beat rhythms.
This class allows us to transcend the traditional boundaries of yoga Incorporating flowing movements to take the body, mind and spirit to a Life-changing experience. Using the breath, voice, and body in a creative Way we step out of old energetic patterns and open and create new ones!

We will end the class with the blissful un-winding and un-minding of Restorative Yoga.

Drawing on her background in Modern Dance, Marla Meenakshi Joy brings a Fresh and innovative energy to the class inspiring a sense of fun and play, And liberation of the Spirit!

DATE: Saturday May 23, 2009
TIME: 6-8pm
LOCATION: Downward Dog yoga centre
735 Queen Street West
COST: $35
TO REGISTER: call 416.703.8805 or register online at www.downwarddog.com

YOGADANCE AT SANANDA DEVI YOGA STUDIO

DATES: Wednesday June, 20, 27 and July 4th, 2007
TIME: 4 - 5:15pm
LOCATION: 20 Leslie street, Unit 215
(just North of Lakshore off of Leslie street), Riverdale
COST: One class pass (no pre-registration required)
CONTACT: Xenia for class fees at (416) 690-3676
xenia@sananda.ca
www.sananda.ca

SWABHAVA YOGA DANCE & RESTORATIVE

Swabhava Yoga Dance is a free-form integration of the Spirit of Yoga, Dance, Breath and Chanting, embodying the essence of the cosmic dancer and Lord of Yoga, Shiva Nataraj Himself.

Set to a vast range of recorded music, we will explore freeing the movement of the physical body, as well as the breath and the voice in a creative, spontaneous, free-flowing and fun way!

We will end the class with the blissful un-winding and un-minding of Restorative Yoga.

Drawing on her background in Modern Dance, Marla Meenakshi Joy brings a fresh and innovative energy to the class inspiring a sense of fun and play, and liberation of the Spirit!

DATES: June 25, July 9th, July 30, August 20 and September 17th
TIME: Monday 10:30am-12:15pm
LOCATION: Downward Dog Yoga Centre
735 Queen Street West (west of Bathurst at Tecumseth)
COST: $15
Please note: these classes are pre-registered, like a workshop
CONTACT: 416.703-8805 to pre-register

YOGADANCE CLASSES AT DOWNWARD DOG YOGA CENTRE

DATES: April 16-May 14th only
TIME: 10:30am-12pm on Mondays
LOCATION: Downward Dog, 735 Queen St. W
COST: One class pass (no pre-registration required)
CALL: (416)703-8805 for more info

Dear Marla/Meenakshi I just want to send you a big thank you for the wonderful yoga dance class this morning. Your class was just perfect, it allowed me to release a lot of the feelings that are stored in my body (feeling very stiff and achy) in a creative way, not having to pay attention to all the alignments and "perfect asanas"... So I want to thank you for being such a beautiful person who shares and spreads her blessings to all those around you. You have such a soothing effect on my soul, and I really appreciate and love you for that!

S. A.
P.S. And the music was amazing too!

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www.SWAHA.ca