MONTREAL – Five years ago, Jackie Wilson, 71, was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer.
She underwent surgery to remove the tumour and now that she’s officially in remission, Wilson said she’s looking at life a little differently.
Her life’s haven: Ambaa Yoga, a small studio in Saint-Henri that has come a long way from two teachers trying to make a living in the big city.
“I’ve done yoga for many, many years,” Wilson told Global News.
“It was just such an eye opener that such therapists were available.”
Ambaa yoga offers classes specifically aimed to help people who suffer from cancer or chronic illnesses, taking the notion of inner peace and self-discovery to a whole new level.
“We wanted to have a small, casual yoga space to stay true to the roots of yoga and to have a focus on community,” said Kate Hudson, one of Ambaa Yoga’s co-founder.
From meditations to modified downward dogs, the teachers encourage people of all physical fitness levels to come to the studio to practice.
The studio opened in Saint-Henri back in 2005; but it was only in 2012 that it became Fondation Ambaa, a non-profit organization.
“She’s the one who transformed the business and established the non-profit side.”
All profits from the studio’s regular classes go to offering subsidized classes for people with chronic illness or cancer.
Those classes work on a “pay what you can” basis.
“We always attracted people with more complaints or illnesses because it’s more individualized attention,” said Hudson, adding that every teacher comes from a therapeutic background, be it homoeopathy, osteopathy or massage therapy.
The classes are small, about 8 to 12 students a class, so teachers can really focus on individual students.
“Classes are very much about people coming into their bodies,” she told Global News.
“It’s great for people of chronic illness to get in touch with their bodies to know what feels good and what doesn’t feel good for them.”
Hudson said the best thing about the classes is that no one feels self-conscious.
“If someone has pain in the hands, we can give them modifications for the poses,” she explained.
“They’re in a class with a lot of other people who need blocks, so you’re not as self-conscious.”
In fact, 50 per cent of the studio’s members are there for the wellness classes.
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Since it’s a non-profit organization, Hudson said the studio makes just enough to pay the bills and support the studio.
“No one is making a living from it,” she explained.
“As long as we can pay our bills and our teachers, we’re fine. All our teachers are there because they’re passionate, not because they’re making money.”
Wilson, a regular at the studio since 2011, said she took her first yoga class back in the 1960s and fell in love right away.
“It’s now a very essential part of my life.”
On Saturday, the studio is celebrating its 10th anniversary by inviting families to try a free (or by donation) class at the studio.
rachel.lau@globalnews.ca
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