Anita will be accompanying yoga classes led by Diane Bruni and Jennifer Helland followed by an introduction to tabla workshop. Check out the flyer below and read on to learn more about: Anita’s approach to yoga accompaniment, the tabla workshop, Diane and Jennifer.
Anita began accompanying yoga classes in 2005 when encouraged to do so by Toronto yoga instructor and mentor Jeannine Woodall. She had no idea that this was the beginning of a journey where she would become aware of the power of breathing. Anita provides rhythms that can be used to gauge the breath in a class setting. In addition, her music reflects the intensity of the class’s vinyasa. Anita honours the need for space while also trying to capture the mood exuding from the class. When accompanying yoga, she brings her tabla and her laptop with a plethora of sounds including drones, beats and melodic samples. She has released two ‘Yoga Trax’ albums featuring music that link breath to movement.
Within an introductory workshop, Anita covers concepts such as: the language of tabla, the history of Indian classical music, the construction of a set of tabla, the concept of taal (North Indian rhythmic system) as well as important tabla terminology and concepts. Each participant will get hands on experience playing tabla with drums provided in the workshop. In addition Anita will talk about the benefits of a daily practice. No drums or experience necessary!
Diane Bruni
Diane Bruni has been practicing yoga for 35 years, teaching students for 20 years, and training teachers for nearly two decades. Diane was the first Ashtanga yoga teacher in Canada. She co-founded the Downward Dog Yoga Centre (DWD), and hosted an internationally aired television series called Breathing Space Yoga.
For 16 years, as well as devoting herself to DWD, Diane contributed to the growth of a worldwide yoga community. The Ujjayi Pulse classes she created, with their euphoric blend of breath, movement and live drumbeat, drew scores of people to DWD.
In 2012, Diane was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. She followed all conventional medical recommendations, and completed treatment 8 months later. Her healing journey with cancer has changed her perspective, given her new strength, and refocused her energies.
A pioneer and charismatic leader, Diane has devoted her life to the practice of yoga, to spreading its teachings, to the growth of the yoga community at large, and to serving others on their healing journeys towards wholeness. As Diane’s yoga journey continues to evolve, refine, and adapt itself, it reflects the very living, vital tradition that is Yoga.
Jennifer Helland
Jennifer discovered yoga as a dancer in her young twenties. At her very first yoga class, the experience resonated so deeply within that she knew then how meaningful and important yoga was going to become in her life.
As a teacher, Jennifer encourages her students to listen in, practice from a place of abundance, open their hearts, and understand that there is no finish line. She first studied at Downward Dog Yoga Centre, completing their training program in 2004, and has been joyously teaching in Toronto and abroad ever since. In 2013, she completed Octopus Garden’s 300-hour teacher training program.
Jennifer feels blessed for all that she continues to learn as a yoga teacher. Her newest teachers are her children, Oslo, and Lille. They keep her in the present moment, riding the waves of life and embracing it all, from the most challenging to the most joyous times.
