Tuesday morning outdoor yoga on my back deck
8:00-9:15 a.m.
July 8, 15, 22, 29, August 5, 12, 19, 26
8 weeks $120
To Register Call: (905) 686-0539
or info@melissawest.com or click on the link below to pay with your credit card.

Location Links

University of Toronto Scarborough Campus
Live with Spirit Classes
Town of Ajax Classes

Descriptions

Pilates Moms ‘n Babes
Babies Welcome! Get your body moving and exercising the Pilates way...baby in tow. Include your baby in this mind/body core training to target those stubborn areas post-pregnancy. Re-lift your pelvic floor, flatten your tummy and tone your legs. Atmosphere is casual and you are encouraged to participate according to baby’s needs. A great way to get in shape and meet other new mums.

Yogalates
A movement system that combines yoga and pilates. Yogalates is a strenuous technique that involves the stretching and strengthening of all the body's major muscle groups, creating a slender, streamlined shape rather than bulk. It enhances posture with its main focus being to strengthen the core postural muscles where the abdominal, lower back, pelvic floor and buttock muscles meet. It also fuses the breathing systems of yoga (the ujjayi breath used to calm the mind) and pilates (the pilates lateral thoracic breath where the abdominal muscle is used and activated continually throughout the practice). Yogalates is excellent for bad backs and for creating a sense of inner calm and relaxation

Hatha Yoga
As a yoga instructor I offer a unique approach to hatha yoga inspired by the teachings Vanda Scaravelli and developed in Toronto by Esther Myers that is both accessible and challenging. My teaching highlights the profound connection between breath, gravity, and spinal mobility. The core premise of my teaching is that because we are always breathing, and gravity is always acting on the body, we can harness and utilize these powerful tools in order to enliven yoga postures. In this way I teach yoga in a safe manner that is constantly unraveling tension and ultimately freeing the body into a state of ease. My approach to teaching promotes relaxation in the muscles, leading to a spacious mobility in the joints of the body; ultimately leading to enhanced energy and vitality for practitioners of any age.

Pilates
As a pilates instructor my goal is to make pilates accessible to everyone by focusing on individual needs. I offer classes that promote functional movement and stability, postural facilitation and post-rehabilitative exercise. My classes are challenging and rejuvenating and offer an overall exercise experience that is stimulating for both the body and the mind. An emphasis on abdominal and back muscles leads to postural realignment, core stability and freer movement. You will feel your body start to change shape, muscles lengthen and posture improve. Pilates targets abdominal and back muscles for strength, power and flexibility. As the class progresses you will see and feel your “core” not only as your midriff, but as part of the integrated system of your entire body.

Yoga
As a yoga instructor I offer a unique approach to hatha yoga inspired by the teachings Vanda Scaravelli and developed in Toronto by Esther Myers that is both accessible and challenging. My teaching highlights the profound connection between breath, gravity, and spinal mobility. The core premise of my teaching is that because we are always breathing, and gravity is always acting on the body, we can harness and utilize these powerful tools in order to enliven yoga postures. In this way I teach yoga in a safe manner that is constantly unraveling tension and ultimately freeing the body into a state of ease. My approach to teaching promotes relaxation in the muscles, leading to a spacious mobility in the joints of the body; ultimately leading to enhanced energy and vitality for practitioners of any age.


Mom and Baby Yoga
Mom & baby yoga classes provide an opportunity for you to regain strength and flexibility, to bond with your baby in a peaceful environment and to make friends with other moms. The focus of the class is on movements and breathing specifically tailored for new moms. The babies benefit from the bonding time with mom, baby massages and the stimulating environment of new baby friends! Special attention is placed on developing core strength and stability – involving a particular emphasis on strengthening the back, abdomen and pelvic floor, as well as relieving tension in areas such as the neck, shoulders and back. Previous yoga experience is not necessary to fully benefit from the classes, and women who have practiced yoga before will find these classes are a great way to transition back to their pre-pregnancy practice.