Ashtanga Yoga Centre of Toronto — Local services in Toronto

This review is difficult to write. I have deep emotions about AYCT and the impact it’s had on my life. When my sister introduced me to AYCT 6 years ago, I was the type of person that rarely exercised and had barely done any yoga. I quickly fell hard in love with Ashtanga, and the Shala. The intensity, devotion, difficulty and dedication of the practice attracted me as well as all the friendly faces and family vibe of the shala. As I became increasingly more devoted, my health became important. I finally quit drinking successfully after multiple tries at AA. I found a deep spiritual connection to myself and “god”. The strict boundaries that you must practice within allows your mind to reveal itself. You become much more aware of your ego, in and off the mat. I have finally received a diagnosis for the pain I have been feeling for the last 4 years that started after 2 years of practicing and ultimately took me off my mat and away from AYCT. Pain that has deeply effected my life, mobility, and mental wellness. Including 3 weeks of crutches while I was 7 months pregnant. Now that I have a diagnosis I can confirm the exact moment it happened. I received an assist in baddha konasana in which my knees were pushed further to the ground… I remember feeling like something wrong just happened on my left side. I have had radiating sciatic pain for years. The person that assisted me tore my labrum in my left hip… this was not Jelena or David I will say, I will also say that I do not place blame on the person who did this to me. She is such a lovely beautiful human and it was obviously not on purpose. During practice I was pushed, pushed to keep going, pushed to go deeper, pushed to surrender to my teacher, and at the beginning I loved this. I feel naive looking back and putting trust in someone else who is not in my friggin’ body!!! I was still struggling with my mental demons and surrendering to my teacher felt…. Easy ? It felt intoxicating…. I was pushed to move around my injury, to practice through it, I was questioned when I tried to modify, which made me feel gaslit. There were no “respect your body”… i was devastated to leave my Ashtanga practice… it took so long for my ego to allow me to find my way back to my mat and to yoga. Where I know I will not push past what my body tells me. I will always respect her as she is my teacher. I will accept and love where my limits are. This pain is chronic and the tear will never heal. There is no one to blame noone did this intentionally. I will continue to work through the tough emotions I have about this.

Ashtanga was a medicine that did what it needed to do for me, the shala and people and practice healed me in ways I’m not sure I could have found somewhere else. And at the same time Surrendering and trusting anyone but your own body is toxic and dangerous. There is a part that feels shame in writing this review , and at the same time, my story feels like it needs to be told.

Thanks for...

Finding the Ashtanga Yoga Centre of Toronto has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. From the very first moment I stepped into the shala, I felt a deep sense of grounding, of coming home—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.

Practicing here has brought profound shifts in my body—strength, stability, and a level of awareness I had never tapped into before. But even more meaningful has been the emotional impact. Through the daily rhythm of breath and movement, and the gentle but firm guidance of the teachers, I’ve uncovered layers of myself I didn’t know existed. There’s healing in every practice, and it’s something I carry with me off the mat too.

I have immense love and deep respect for David, Jelena, and all the other incredible teachers at the center. They are true professionals in every sense of the word, but beyond that—they are compassionate, present, and genuinely beautiful human beings. They guide not just your physical body, but your heart and spirit as well. Their teachings reflect a commitment to integrity, tradition, and care that is rare and precious.

This space has become a sanctuary for me. I’m endlessly grateful for the wisdom and warmth that flows here, and I feel honored to be a student in this community.

With all my...

A very popular studio and the mysore room is packed in the mornings! May need to wait until other practitioners have finished their practice if you are not part of the first batch in. And mats are basically mat to mat... so be prepared to maybe stick your foot into someone else's face (or vice versa). The room was a little too humid for my tastes. Instructors there are knowledgeable and give good adjustments. Anna is amazing! DR is also great but is away a lot.

People there are friendly and it has a good vibe. But only one shower which means a bit of a wait after practice.

I personally prefer a smaller studio since I'd like a few more adjustments rather than just help...