Saana Yoga Thornhill

I am in LOVE with this place! Lovely people and instructors. They are all high educated and know what they are doing. Very clean studio with lots of different options and classes.

I am in love with this place. As you walk in; the ladies at the front are super nice and welcoming. The hot tough classroom is clean and has a nice clean smell. The instructors are inspiring, detailed oriented and make you work for a good posture, movement and good constant breathing. I wish more people would find this place. I go to the Thornhill locations! Highly recommended.

Love the classes! They are fabulous. Great teachers, great routines and you never feel like you are doing the same thing twice. I would highly recommend the studio to anyone who is a beginner yogi or advanced. There is something for everyone.

I've practiced at numerous studios and of all the places I've been to, this is one of the best. I personally choose studios/classes based on the teachers (and will follow them around to different places if necessary) but I understand that everyone will be looking for different things in their yoga practice which is why I will focus this review a bit more on the studio rather than the specific teachers.

I've been practicing primarily at Moksha Thornhill for the past 6 years and it has really grown since it's infancy. There are two really large studios (one heated and one not heated). The location is inside a more industrial building which means super high lofty ceilings which give you a lot more space to breathe and you feel much less cramped than at some other studios I've been to. Of ALL the studios I've visited (and I've visited a LOT), the shower and washrooms here have got to be the best. The women's side has SIX showers which are quite spacious (most other studios the showers are cramped and tiny). The changeroom area is also quite large and there is plenty of room to move around. There are lockers free of charge for those who want to lock up their belongings. The entire studio is constantly being cleaned and is quite immaculate. For those who want to hang out before or after class, there is a nice lounge area with benches and beanbag chairs and complimentary tea. The front reception staff are super nice and will quickly recognize you and address you by name. Towel and mat rentals are available for an extra fee.

In addition to the heated moksha classes (I can't speak to them anymore as I no longer like to practice in the heat), there is a myriad of other options in the non-heated room. There is a mysore program (astanga yoga) here in the early mornings (for a separate fee) which is amazing because there are so few mysore programs here in Toronto. Anna is amazing and can get you into almost any pose if you work with her for long enough. There are also barre, pilates, and more fitness type classes for those who want something other than yoga. The non heated yoga classes have varying levels and are available throughout the day including morning, afternoon, and evening classes.

As for the classes I take, for the past few years, I only do Ashtanga with Mark Morra and Vinyasa 2 with Michael Siddall.

If you are interested in Ashtanga, Mark is the one to learn from. When I started practicing with him (I had already been practicing ashtanga for about 2 years), he completely changed my practice and I grew in leaps and bounds. His cues and hands-on adjustments teach you to use your own body strength to push yourself deeper into the poses while at the same time, also better aligning your body - with the ultimate goal of truly understanding the pose and how it should feel in your body. Mark has an incredible understanding of the human body and adapts his instructions so that his classes are suitable for both beginners and advanced practitioners alike. His relaxed and no expectations approach also always makes you feel welcome and happy to show up to class. It's one of the reasons I've followed him around from studio to studio (finally ending up in Thornhill).

The Vinyasa 2 classes with Michael are great for those who want to have a challenge while also fun at the same time. Michael's classes start and end with chants which calms the mind and sets the mood for the rest of the class. The beginning of the class starts off with a lot of forward folds and stretching which helps to open up the body and then proceeds to more strength based poses including arm balances and handstands - all the while maintaining a focus on quieting the mind and moving with breath. You will also see lots of giggles in class with Michael's mischievous and fun approach to class. A wonderful combination of strength, flexibility and spirituality all in one class.

MYTH is also the sister studio to Moksha North York which means a membership at either studio will grant you access to both!

My favourite Moksha studio: decent class options, cool instructors, large facilities, and free underground parking (the latter is what sold me). The North York location is associated with Thornhill so you can use the same class passes for both locations. My only critique is that it's really cold in the showers in the winter and they don't have the hemp peppermint soap I love so much. Really not a deal breaker though ?. There are also teacher trainings so free classes are frequently offered (posted on billboard).