“I left my first class thinking … ‘This is where you come and do Yoga.’”
Amanda always liked taking care of her body but didn’t really know the best way to do it. She was also searching for something that could be her ‘thing’, something that could be “good for the body, and good for the mind”.
Her love of Yoga started at home in her spare bedroom with YouTube videos. She’ll claim that she didn’t really know what she was doing, but those first intuitive nudges towards the practice of yoga have now brought her to her 100th class at The Aura House since becoming a member here in April of 2022. Amanda’s Aura Story is proof that “you don’t need to see the whole staircase, just take the first step”. - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Before joining The Aura House, Amanda was sitting with the anxiety, unpredictability, and overwhelm of the pandemic. Amanda works in the Peel school system and remembers watching kids not being able to play together, and thinking how sad and scary things had gotten. The social distancing and isolating made Amanda long for connection and to be a part of something. But at the time, it wasn’t clear what that could be with all of the restrictions in place.
Although she was uncomfortable getting ‘out there’ with the stress of the world at the time, Amanda was more uncomfortable staying in the rut of loneliness and anxiety that the pandemic had amplified for her.
“You either stay in it, or step out of it; I needed to keep moving.” - Amanda R.
The local gym in her area offered yoga classes at times that worked for her, at a reasonable cost for her budget … but the overall experience of yoga in a gym with the fluorescent lighting and sound of weights clanging in the background left her feeling like this wasn’t the thing she was longing for. Another nudge from her intuition to keep looking.
So Amanda Googled “Yoga studios near me” and found The Aura House website. She had a sense that the vibe was right and decided to give yoga another try in a new place. A place that “looked like yoga” to her. The community, the atmosphere, and the sense of belonging were all felt through the website, and were enough to make her comfortable to call the studio.
“I remember calling and it was Maya who answered … I loved her right from the beginning. Even though I had visited the website and spoken to someone who made me feel so welcome, I still didn’t know what to expect when I walked through the doors …
… I think my first class was a Saturday at 9 am. Maya was at the front desk and so happy to see me. You don’t realize how amazing this space is until you actually walk through it. Everyone was so friendly, and even though I was so awkward … I loved it. I wanted to move in 😛.”
Before coming to The Aura House, Amanda was familiar with elements of yoga like how it can help build strength and flow through things like Asana and Sun Salutations … but she didn’t really know anything about the other limbs, and slower sides, of Yoga.
“When I first started, I wanted to move my anxious energy and tire myself out so it would go away.” After a while though, Amanda started realizing that the Yoga was shifting things internally. She started to enjoy slowing the practice down more and more.
Now, Amanda appreciates the practice of Yin … something she never would have said years ago. The feeling of melting in the pose and knowing you’ve finally started to relax, and the practice of speaking nicer to herself while connecting to her body and mind, keep her coming back for more. She’s even registered for our upcoming Yin Yoga Teacher Training to deepen her practice, something she’s “so excited” about!
“You can do the practice for physical reasons, but there’s more to it. Yoga helps me connect my body to my mind, and allows them to be nice to each other.” - Amanda R.
In the Winter of 2023, Amanda injured her elbow and was unable to return to work for 12 weeks. Having that kind of time out of routine made her a little anxious. She’s the type of person who thrives with stability and structure, and now she needed to create a whole new routine for herself.
We were really curious to know if Amanda thought she’d manage her injury and time off differently if she wasn’t a member at the studio. Her answer … “I don’t know if I would’ve taken care of my body properly. I think I would’ve gotten really down. Having that kind of time off isn’t good mentally for me. It’s too much time to do nothing … and that’s when my mind starts to play tricks on me with anxious and overwhelming thoughts.” But get this … Amanda was actually excited to have that time off … something the Amanda 4 or 5 years ago would have never said. Because of her yoga practice and community at The Aura House, Amanda had the confidence to create a new routine that involved self-care, resting, and taking the time to truly heal her injury.
“Coming to The Aura House and connecting with people and still having a routine was huge for me and my mental health.” - Amanda R.
Amanda took advantage of our Seasonal Unlimited Special and created a routine with 4 yoga classes a week, and physio twice a week at our community partner Nirvana Wellness Center. Members of The Aura House get 20% off of all services there (Registered Massage Therapy, Chiropractic, Physiotherapy and more). She jokingly shared “if money were no object, I’d make this new routine of taking care of myself at the studio my job. 😛”
We asked Amanda what she wished everyone knew about The Aura House. These were her top 5 thoughts:
I wish everyone could experience how friendly and safe this space is.
If you are anxious about trying something new, somewhere new like I was, this is the best possible place to take the leap from that fear.
When you walk through the doors, the stress falls off your shoulders and you’re able to take a deep breath.
I’ve had classes with every teacher and everyone is so different, unique and amazing.
There’s something for everyone at The Aura House. If you feel like doing a slower class, you can. If you want something upbeat, that’s there too. If you want to do something other than Yoga, there’s Pilates and meditation … the variety is incredible.
And when asked what she looks most forward to when she comes to the studio …
“I honestly really appreciate the connections and the community. Yoga looks a certain way on the Internet … mostly people who are younger and super flexible. The community at The Aura House isn’t what I expected based on what I usually see, but was a pleasant surprise. I like coming in and Kim asks me “How’s work? How’s your elbow?” and I can say “how is your grandson?” I’m really quiet in my personal life so it’s nice to have those little conversations and to look forward to seeing people. I love that people know each other here and I’ve made connections that I otherwise wouldn’t have made. It’s the type of community that you notice when someone isn’t there, and get excited when they come back.”
Although Amanda considers herself a quiet person, she was not shy about sharing how being a member at The Aura House has changed her life.
“It’s made me so much calmer. So much more present. So much more appreciative of everything. I have such a hard time sitting still. So to stay still and enjoy it - I can see the growth in myself. I’m more at peace with being quiet, going slow, and being more attentive in my life in general. I used to be more anxious and edgy, but the yoga classes have helped with my anxiety, and I discover more about myself with every practice.
I’m better to myself. I’m more confident in myself … I can’t believe how much self-confidence I’ve gained from the studio, the teachers and the community. I would never think that I would be enrolling in a Yin Yoga Teacher Training and even asking you if I might be able to teach a community class one day!! So amazing!!”
As a fan of the Seasonal Special Membership that gives people the most access to our yoga, mat pilates and meditation classes, Amanda is looking forward to the Spring pass being available. Amanda encourages anyone considering joining The Aura House to come for the experience and see for yourself if it fits for you …
“With everything that’s going on ‘out there’ in the world, it’s nice to have these ‘pockets’, these spaces where you can set it all down for at least an hour.” - Amanda R.
There are always things in life that might distract you from getting to class. “There would be times after work where I’d be tired and really have to convince herself to get to the studio.” But as soon as she was here, all of that convincing was always worth it.
When Amanda lays on her mat and looks up at the ceiling of the Sanctuary, she relaxes in the knowing that she’s found her ‘thing’, and because of the community, she can honestly say … “this is mine”.
