Joanne Lowe, Director of Stretch

Serenity Now

Yoga is a gentle yet effective exercise that enhances your overall health and well-being. A perfect balance of body, mind and spirit - yoga is rejuvenating, relaxing and strengthening. It tones the body, reduces stress and increases your flexibility and energy level.

The Big Stretch Yoga Centre opened in 1999 on Bayview Avenue in Toronto. The Big Stretch yogis and yoginis find that when body, breath and mind come together they can open their hearts, open their minds and free their spirits.

Hello and welcome,

I am Joanne Lowe, Director of Stretch of The Big Stretch Yoga Centre. I have been practicing various styles of Yoga since 1990 and was certified as an instructor in 1997 at which point I began teaching.

I have drawn upon influences from several different teaching philosophies and styles to develop my own unique approach to the instruction of Hatha and Raja yoga. The Big Stretch Yoga Centre's philosophy is that yoga is for everyone, everywhere - whether they be male, female, young, old, in the office, at home or in the yoga studio.

I was first introduced to yoga in 1990 by my younger brother Gordy. He noticed that I was spending a lot of time and money at the chiropractor's office. I had whiplash twice in my life - due to a fall skiing and a throw from a spirited horse. With limited movement in my neck, I had a constant struggle with headaches and back pain. The chiropractic adjustments relieved my pain and immobility only temporarily.

Gordy demonstrated a few yogic postures for my back and neck - the shoulder stand, plough and fish sequence and then a bow and a locust. He suggested that I take some yoga lessons from a certified instructor. It was a pivotal time in my life. I would leave my yoga classes feeling refreshed, toned, centered and a little taller.

"Joanne has drawn upon influences from several different teaching philosophies and styles to develop her own unique approach to the instruction of Hatha and Raja yoga. Her philosophy is that yoga is for everyone, everywhere whether they be male, female, young, old, in the office, at home or in the yoga studio." Ascent Magazine, Winter 2000

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Yoga @ Work

At the time I had been working in a thriving advertising agency in Toronto as a busy account executive within the corporate financial sector. I was in charge of coordinating complex and complicated multi-component marketing programs for some of Canada's largest banks. I started teaching yoga part-time after work.

After leaving the ad agency, I found myself returning to my roots in the corporate sector once again through yoga by developing a program called Yoga@Work. It has been very well received and my clients find that it's a great release during their hectic day as well as being very convenient in their busy lifestyles.

I am also the Stress Management Consultant for The Canadian Centre for Innovative Thinking, an independent, privately-funded, creative think tank. Its mandate is to research and develop innovative thinking techniques and apply them to the challenges facing Canadians from all walks off life.

Mindful Media
The Big Stretch Yoga Centre has appeared on City TV's Breakfast Television, CTV's The Chat Room, Global TV's National News, The Women's Television Network's current affairs program WTN.CA and has been featured in various articles written by The National Post and Ascent, a Canadian Yoga Magazine. I appeared on the cover of the Winter 2000 arts issue of Ascent Magazine and was also featured inside the issue in a photo essay of the meditative art of the body through yoga asana.

A Big Heart - Karma Yoga.
The Big Stretch Yoga Centre takes an active role connecting with its community by sponsoring local soccer and hockey little league teams and neighbourhood schools. The Big Stretch also takes the time to support the community through donations or by actively participating in fundraising efforts. The Big Stretch's most recent fundraising endeavors include:

The Big Stretch also helps to support the community by offering First Aid and CPR courses and Moms and Babies Yoga classes.

The Big Stretch Yoga Centre

Mats, blankets and eye pillows are provided for your convenience. Music and candles, grounding warm, earthy hardwood floors, large windows and soothing blue walls create a gentle and relaxing atmosphere.

Yoga has positively transformed my life and the lives of those around me.

I hope you will visit us soon to breathe, stretch and relax at The Big Stretch Yoga Centre.

Namaste,

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