Nest Yoga and Massage Therapy
212-2186 Bloor Street West M6S1N3 Toronto, ON, Canada

A message from Karen Steele, founder and owner of Nest.... Dear Nest Community, With the end of summer and schedules once again shifting into a time of new beginnings, it hardly feels like we had a holiday with the focus on re-opening COVID-19 phases and important systemic issues including race, gender, mental health and socio-economic privilege. ... We want our community to know that we are here for you. We are committed more than ever to creating a wellness business that encompasses our core values: AUTHENTICITY, COMMUNITY, COMPASSION, INTEGRITY, and RESPECT. We understand that we are in the relationship business that requires a tremendous amount of attention to detail and building solid foundations. We believe that our mission is to be a welcoming and inclusive environment, offering a compassionate and holistic approach to healing and growth through energy, touch and movement. Our vision is to provide a thriving wellness community where individuals feel supported to explore a greater sense of well-being for themselves. Our dynamic and empathetic team have had discussions, meetings, and trainings to better understand what it means to be diverse and inclusive both individually and as a business. We have been looking deeply at our core values, mission and vision so that we can truly provide a welcoming and safe environment for healing, growth and prosperity. We look forward to continuing to offer our yoga and pilates classes virtually for the fall season in order to support the health and safety of our clients. We have added private therapeutic yoga and pilates sessions in our studio for individuals who wish to explore their body, breath and mind relationship more deeply to experience a greater sense of well-being. We have extended our Registered Massage Therapy hours on the weekends to 9:00am to 7:15pm in order to accommodate the growing need for therapeutic touch services. May We All Be Well and Safe. May We All Be Calm and Peaceful. May We All Know Our True Nature. Namaste, Karen

5 things about... Lindsay, Nests fiery Power Flow and Power Fusion teacher! 1. Lindsay grew up spending entire summers with her family living in tents off the grid. Her favourite toy was a bag of milk because it would float in the lake for swimming lessons. 2. She completed her undergrad degree in International Relations @ the University of Calgary. While there she participated in a geography field school traveling through and learning the culture and heritage of 6 middl...e eastern countries. In her final year she went to Harbin, China to study Mandarin as part of an intensive language program. By the time she came home 6-weeks later she was dreaming in Chinese! 3. After graduating, Lindsay spontaneously moved to Taipei, Taiwan to teach English, not knowing a soul. Her parents only found out that she was going after she booked her flight. 4. In the early 2000s she lived in a beach town outside of Sydney, Australia where she attended UNSW and completed her Masters of International Social Development. She spent 15yrs working in community, sustainability and renewable energy. 5. Lindsay and her husband have three kids aged 11, 6 and 3. Her eldest daughter led kids yoga classes on Instagram Live during the pandemic. Her middle son refers to every single form of physical activity as yoga. Her youngest is constantly asking to roll out his map beside her when shes teaching or practicing. Lindsay is a passionate yogi who loves the freedom that comes with getting into her body and out of her head. As a certified 200hr Power Yoga Canada and Equinox mat pilates instructor, Lindsay has personally experienced the physical, mental and emotional benefits of mindfulness, movement and meditation. Lindsay is committed to guiding others into their greatness through wellness, movement and self-discovery. You can find Lindsay online for sweaty Power Fusion on Thursdays @ 8am, and Power Flow on Sundays @ 9am (10am starting September 28th!). Register online @ www.nestymt.ca/virtual-classes/. See more

5 Things about...Sara! A fabulous yoga teacher, Meditation Guide and Soul Coach @ Nest! 1. Sara has completed in-depth studies in Consciousness and is passionate about sharing her knowledge with others. 2. She is happiest in the great outdoors biking or hiking, where she finds herself in an expanded state of joyful contemplation 3. Saras version of heaven on earth is when she is playing and having conversations with her grand-beings, aged 6 and 4 years old ... 4. Sara always has an art&craft project on the go at her work table, and has competed one collage everyday since the beginning of self-isolation. 5. Another interest of Saras is to choose organic and local food all of which, (including #s 1-4!) all lead to living a full and empowered life. Sara is a Certified Yoga Teacher, Meditation Guide, Life Coach, Reiki Master, Access Consciousness Practitioner and founder of Evolutionary Journey. She is an experienced subtle energies practitioner and natural healer with a holistic approach towards helping others thrive in mind, body and spirit. She is committed to spiritual investigations through the study of subtle energies, new and ancient wisdom. This is combined with her 25 years experience of studies & teaching Yoga, Meditation, Energy Medicine, Mind Body Fitness, Longevity and Holistic Health, where she has been serving both private clients and larger groups, doing private sessions, group clearings & activations, speaking, and teaching classes & workshops. You can meet Sara online @nestyogamassage for Hatha Flow on Mondays @ 6:00pm, and on Wednesdays @ 6:00pm and Thursdays @ noon for Hatha Flow + Meditation. Register @ nestymt.ca and get ready to savour these magical moments with Sara! See more

5 things about...Karina! One of Nests incredible yoga teachers and leader of our weekly Instagram Live chats! 1. Karina went straight into grade 2 as a 6yr old having never gone to 1st grade, and finished high school when she was 16! 2. She has immigrated twice with her family from Uzbekistan to Russia, and Russia to Canada. 3. Karina has traveled to 33+ countries and has worked in San Diego, Boston, Dubai, Krakow (Poland) and Minsk (Belarus).... 4. A few years ago, she went skydiving in Israel 5. Deeply committed to health, Karina fasted for 7 days on water only to detox her body! Karina is a devoted yoga, pranayama and meditation teacher and therapist in training with over ten years of personal practice. She is committed to bringing joy, presence, breath work and appropriate challenge into yoga classes. Her extensive teaching experience with children and teens, therapeutic, restorative and active flow classes makes her a welcome addition to Nest. You can join Karina online for Yin Restorative on Mondays @ 7:30, and on Tuesday evenings @ 7pm on Instagram Live sharing Whats Next @ Nest! See more

5-things about... Domenica, one of Nests incredible and highly-sought after Pilates instructors! 1. Domenica makes and bottles a years worth of tomato sauce every late August/early September with her family. 2. She has sewn her own clothes and quilts. 3. She has a degree in history.... 4. Domenica earned her pilots licence through the Royal Canadian Air Cadets at 18 years of age. 5. She is allergic to mosquito bites! Domenica believes that movement can heal and empower, and loves teaching Pilates so that we can all be our best selves in the bodies we have. She loves learning and continues to take additional Pilates, anatomy and movement courses, which means our lucky clients get to benefit from her passion and knowledge! Join Domenica for online Pilates @ 9:30 on Saturdays and @ 7:30 on Tuesdays! See more

We have a question (or a few!) for you! We are mapping out our plans to re-open our yoga and pilates studio and would love your feedback on how thats going to look! We would love to know... How keen are you to return to in-person classes? What types of classes are you interested in? What days of the week? What times of day? Things like this... We greatly value your feedback and want to ensure we are opening our studio doors in a way that serves you best. To show our grat...itude for your input, we will send you a free class pass in exchange for your completed survey! Thanks in advance! You can access the survey here: https://forms.gle/t6DnpcL9eUQ4Kr618 See more

5 things about... Grethe! Nests wonderful Studio Manager and magical yoga teacher! 1. Grethe's Japanese middle name is "Mihuyu" which means "beautiful winter" as she was born on a cold and beautiful January morning in Norway. Her background is Norwegian and Japanese. 2. Grethe lived in Japan for 2 years before moving to Canada in 2006. In Japan she studied Japanese and learned more about her Japanese heritage. 3. As a child, Grethe loved all things science fiction. Some o...f favourite movies and shows were "Star Wars", "The Cat from Outer Space" and "V", the TV series. She was even a part of a "V" club in her neighbourhood and had several "V" posters on her wall in her childhood bedroom! 4. In the fall of 2016, she climbed Mount Fuji with her partner, Ryan, and their two friends. 5. Grethe loves living in Canada as it reminds her of her home in Norwayjust everything is BIGGER in Canada As the Studio Manager and also a yoga teacher @ Nest, Grethe wears many important hats. She cares deeply about her team and equally about her students. You can catch Grethe for a virtual class on Mondays @ 6pm and Wednesdays @ 8am for Hatha Flow, Thursdays @ 6pm for Gentle Yoga. You can also book a private in-person class with Grethe @ the studio. Email [email protected] to learn more! See more

5 things about... Grethe! Nests wonderful Studio Manager and magical yoga teacher! 1. Grethes Japanese middle name is "Mihuyu" which means "beautiful winter" as she was born on a cold and beautiful January morning in Norway. Her background is Norwegian and Japanese. 2. Grethe lived in Japan for 2 years before moving to Canada in 2006. In Japan she studied Japanese and learned more about her Japanese heritage. 3. As a child, Grethe loved all things science fiction. Some o...f favourite movies and shows were "Star Wars", "The Cat from Outer Space" and "V", the TV series. She was even a part of a "V" club in her neighbourhood and had several "V" posters on her wall in her childhood bedroom! 4. In the fall of 2016, she climbed Mount Fuji with her partner, Ryan, and their two friends. 5. Grethe loves living in Canada as it reminds her of her home in Norwayjust everything is BIGGER in Canada As the Studio Manager and also a yoga teacher @ Nest, Grethe wears many important hats. She cares deeply about her team and equally about her students. You can catch Grethe for a virtual class on Mondays @ 6pm and Wednesdays @ 8am for Hatha Flow, Thursdays @ 6pm for Gentle Yoga. You can also book a private in-person class with Grethe @ the studio. Email [email protected] to learn more! See more

5 Things About... Karen Steele the amazing and inspiring founder of Nest Yoga + Massage! 1. She has run 7 marathons. One was 50km and one was a trail run in San Martin de los Andes in Argentina. 2. Karen lived on a beach in Thailand for a year in her 20s, which is where she learned all three reiki levels. 3. She has three tattoos.... 4. Karen was the Grade 8 class president. 5. She won the oral communications award for the city of Etobicoke in grade 5 for her speech about her stuffed animal Dino and connected it to the Velveteen Rabbit. AND theres more... Karen is a Registered Massage Therapist, Certified Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapist and Foot Reflexologist, and Yoga Therapist. She opened Nest in 2018 and has been the heart and soul of the massage clinic and yoga studio ever since. In addition to the personal treatment she provides, Karen will often recommend self-care practices as part of an ongoing and holistic bodywork plan. Karen works magic with her hands and feet! Do yourself a favour and book an appointment for a massage today. Your body and soul will thank you! See more

News from Nest! We are looking to hire a Registered Massage Therapist to join our amazing team! Are you a highly motivated RMT interested in building your practice in a boutique-style clinic in Torontos beautiful Bloor West Village? If so, we want to meet you! ... Visit https://www.kijiji.ca/v-view-details.html for all the details and requirements for this exciting opportunity. We cant wait to connect with you! See more

Meet Rebecca, one of Nest's incredibly skilled massage therapist who truly has magical hands... 5 things about Rebecca... 1. She is from the southeast coast of Australia 2. Her next big trip will be to somewhere in South America... 3. She loves Canadian winters because her German shepherd, Alfie, loves the snow! 4. Her favourite drink in any situation, weather or season is water 5. She has a sweet tooth and eats ice cream every day! Rebecca specializes in all forms of massage from relaxation to sports massage, and uses different techniques to ensure each individual gets the care that is right for them. With a Swedish massage base, she also uses Cupping, Fascial and muscle release techniques, and has completed the trimesters massage therapy course for pregnancy. She is dedicated to relieving pain, restoring function and working with individuals to help them take control of their health. Do yourself a favour and don't delay booking yourself in for a treatment with Rebecca! Her availability is as follows: Wednesdays 1pm-8pm Thursdays 11am-5:30pm Fridays 11am-7pm Saturdays 12pm-5pm Sundays 12pm-6pm Book your appointment at https://mindbody.io/locations/nest-yoga-and-massage-therapy

The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life. ~ BKS Iyengar Upcoming Virtual Retreat: Join Sara MacHin, Preet Shikha and Jeanne Armstrong on Saturday, August 15th for a nurturing and restorative Half Day Retreat which will allow you to center yourself, tend to your body, quiet your mind and see your present circumstances with clarity, freedom and an open heart. Receive the special care and experience of three of Nes...ts highly skilled Yoga Teachers in the comfort of your homewe bring the retreat to you. While widespread challenges persist in our world and communities, we see with fresh eyes the importance of drawing on our inner strength. It is a time to pause, reflect and bring wisdom, courage and care to ourselves and those around us. Invite a friend or family member to do the retreat with you to share and heal together in community. Schedule: 9:00-9:30am: Intro 9:30-10:00am: Pranayama 10:00-10:30am: Sitting 10:30-10:45am: Break 10:45-11:45am Yoga 11:45am-12:15pm: Break (light lunch if needed/ salad or fruit - mindful eating in silence) 12:15-12:45pm: Yoga Nidra 1:00pm: Closing Date: Saturday, August 15, 2020 Time: 9:00am - 1:00pm Cost: $90 + HST Register online at https://nestymt.ca/virtual-classes/ See more

Meet Rebecca, one of Nests incredibly skilled massage therapist who truly has magical hands... 5 things about Rebecca... 1. She is from the southeast coast of Australia 2. Her next big trip will be to somewhere in South America... 3. She loves Canadian winters because her German shepherd, Alfie, loves the snow! 4. Her favourite drink in any situation, weather or season is water 5. She has a sweet tooth and eats ice cream every day! Rebecca specializes in all forms of massage from relaxation to sports massage, and uses different techniques to ensure each individual gets the care that is right for them. With a Swedish massage base, she also uses Cupping, Fascial and muscle release techniques, and has completed the trimesters massage therapy course for pregnancy. She is dedicated to relieving pain, restoring function and working with individuals to help them take control of their health. Do yourself a favour and dont delay booking yourself in for a treatment with Rebecca! Her availability is as follows: Wednesdays 1pm-8pm Thursdays 11am-5:30pm Fridays 11am-7pm Saturdays 12pm-5pm Sundays 12pm-6pm Book your appointment at https://mindbody.io/locations/nest-yoga-and-massage-therapy

Look right now And you will see were only Here by the skin of our teeth as it is So take heart and take care of your link with life and Oh, carry it on, were saying... Oh, carry it on, keep playing Oh, carry it on, keep praying Oh, carry it on... ~ Carry It On, Buffy Sainte-Marie Who we were... Who we are... Who we can be... Living, learning, becoming: Canadian. See more

IG LIVE: What's next at Nest? Join Karina on Instagram LIVE tomorrow, Tuesday, June 30 @ 7pm as she connects with one of Nest's wonderful yoga teachers, Sara MacHin, to chat about Saras upcoming Meditation Workshop running online on Saturdays through the month of July. You'll hear about why meditation is so important for the body, mind and soul, and what will be offered through this very special 4-week workshop. Hope to "see" you there!

News from Nest! Stay in the know with the latest news and updates from Nest! We will soon switch from our current e-newsletter distribution company to keep in touch with you through MindBody, and we dont want you to miss a thing! If you would like to receive the latest news, special offerings and promotions only reserved for our subscribers, kindly take a moment to update your notification settings by going into your personal MindBodyOnline profile and check the boxes "Em...ail" and "Text" under "News and Promos". Link to MBO is https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/launch. Looking forward to staying in touch! See more

Special IG Live: Whats Next @ Nest? Tomorrow, July 2nd @ 5pm join our fabulous Instagram Live host Karina for a special IG Live to hear about her upcoming Pranayama Workshop. Shell share what makes Pranayama breathing so powerful, and why you wont want to miss this important workshop! Hope to see you tomorrow!

Within you is a stillness and a sanctuary that you can retreat to any time and be yourself. ~ Anonymous Upcoming 4-week workshop: Introduction to Meditation with Sara MacHin. Over four sessions, you will learn meditation techniques and breathing tools that will help you access your innate, authentic way of being in the world, embodying compassion, courage, and presence. Sara will share her beautiful collection of strategies to stay centered through lifes inevitable ups... and downs. You will build resilience and acquire skills to shift from feelings of powerlessness to feelings of trust and openness. Prepare to leave your time together feeling nourished and renewed! Date: Saturdays in July from 2:00pm - 3:15pm (4th, 11th, 18th 25th) Cost: $120 + HST for all four sessions, or $35 + HST/drop in Location: on MindBodyOnline For more information and to register, the link is in our bio! See more

IG LIVE: Whats next at Nest? Join Karina on Instagram LIVE tomorrow, Tuesday, June 30 @ 7pm as she connects with one of Nests wonderful yoga teachers, Sara MacHin, to chat about Saras upcoming Meditation Workshop running online on Saturdays through the month of July. Youll hear about why meditation is so important for the body, mind and soul, and what will be offered through this very special 4-week workshop. Hope to "see" you there!

Too often we look outside of ourselves for approval, validation, certainty, when all we need is already inside of us. Go inward...there you are. Youve been there, all along. Happy Sunday, Nest family

Happy Pride Weekend! Today, this weekend and every day, lets celebrate LOVE for all!

Self-care massage for mind-body balance... After months of social distancing, working from home, home-schooling, working tirelessly on the front lines, what we all deserve is a long, luxurious massage. Nest Yoga + Massage is now open and wed love to see you! If youre not quite ready to come in yet, we totally understand! In the meantime though, we want to be sure that were taking care of you, even if its from a distance. Theres a powerful healing technique called Abh...yanga, which has roots in Ayurveda. This hands-on practice stimulates deep release using warm oils and a full-body massage which you can give yourself in just 15 minutes! A regular Abhyanga practice nourishes and soothes your nervous system, improves circulation, hydrates your skin, boosts lymphatic detoxification and promotes overall mind-body balance. ~ Home Health Treat yourself to some self-love. Visit https://www.homehealthus.com//the-ultimate-self-massage-t/ to learn more! : #homehealthcareproviders See more

"Breathe in deeply to bring your mind home to your body." Thich Nhat Hanh Upcoming workshop: Pranayama Breathing with Karina. This beautiful pranayama workshop will provide theory and inspiration to try conscious breathing. We will explore the benefits of intentional breathing for the physical body and the mind. Karina will share simple, accessible techniques which we will practice together. Attendees will receive a list of suggested practices, breathing ratios and ...postures as well as a detailed description of each technique. Join Karina for this special opportunity to learn how to breathe in a way that calms your body and feeds your soul. Date: July 5th @ 10am Cost: $30 + HST Location: on MindBodyOnline For more info and to register, visit https://nestymt.ca/virtual-classes/ See more

The light in me honours the light in you. Happy International Yoga Day!

Celebrate the Longest Day of the Year - https://mailchi.mp/a5/celebrate-the-longest-day-of-the-year

Nest has new yoga & pilates classes this week! Our caring and personal instructors join you virtually to support and nurture your practice. Find your class: https://nestymt.ca/virtual-classes/

Yoga allows you to find an inner peace that is not ruffled and riled by the endless stresses and struggles of life. Join our Restorative Yoga classes to find your inner zen. Mondays Yin Restorative at 7:30 pm with Grethe... Wednesdays Yin Restorative at 7:30 pm with Karen Thursdays Yoga Nidra at 7:30 pm with Preet Fridays Gentle Yoga + Meditation 6:00 pm with Sara Sundays Restorative at 4:00 pm with Liz Yoga Nidra at 7:30 pm with Preet See more

You'll still see us on the mat Tuesdays at 7:30 pm and Saturdays at 9:30 am.

Pilates has a reputation for being focused, controlled, and precise. Yes! We are all that but we are also loving, supportive and fun! Tip: It helps if you work with the right people Domenica leds our amazing pilates classes Tuesdays at 7:30 pm and Saturdays at 9:30 am

We are really excited about our new virtual workshops! These mindful practices help promote restful sleep, a sense of calm and reduce anxiety. Begin a beautiful 4-week meditation journey with Sara on Saturday afternoons from 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm. Share the Yoga Nidra practice with your kids and Preet on Sunday nights from 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm. ... To book your spot email [email protected] or call 647-348-6378

Believe in yourself & know that your practice is unique to you, absorb the positivity and let the strength shine in you. This is why we love our Nest Community. We share our practice together online to stay connected and share positivity. Liz is one of our yoga instructors join her class - Restorative Yoga at 4:00pm on Sundays!

Youll still see us on the mat Tuesdays at 7:30 pm and Saturdays at 9:30 am.

New Class Alert Our instructor Preet is hosting a 30 minute virtual bedtime Yoga Nidra guided meditation for kids (and parents) on Sunday evenings in June starting June 7. Who is this practice for - kids aged 8 to 14... When - Sundays, 8:30 pm - 9:00pm All are welcome. Please register on our website - www.nestymt.ca

Who can relate? Join us for our virtual classes! We offer 21 different classes a week for different fitness levels and abilities. We hope to see you virtually on the mat! ... www.nestymt.ca/virtual-classes/

The psoas muscles are deep in the front of the hip and also connect to your lumbar spine which is often why lower back pain can be linked with hip flexor tension. Stretch your psoas by lunging forward with one leg, and the other knee on the ground (use a cushion if needed). Stretch daily 30-45 seconds per side.

Join us 7 days a week for virtual classes - keeping us connected in an unconnected time! Sign up for our virtual classes - www.nestymt.ca/virtual-classes/

Mondays Yoga Line Up: 8am Power Flow with Karen 6pm Prana Flow with Grethe 7:30pm Yin+Restorative Karina... https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws

Monday's Yoga Line Up: 8am Power Flow with Karen 6pm Prana Flow with Grethe 7:30pm Yin+Restorative Karina... https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws

There might be some truth to this! Tag your favourite pilates teacher - @pilates_domenica

Sundays Virtual Class Line Up ... try all 3 classes as it is going to be a rainy day. 9am Power Flow with Lindsay https://video.mindbody.io//live-s/5ebead2d3240960001887868... 4pm Restorative with Liz https://video.mindbody.io//live-s/5ebead3437d3c70001242d2f 7:30pm Yoga Nidra with Preet https://video.mindbody.io//live-s/5ebead3a37d3c70001242d30 Namaste

Check Out this Live Q&A with Karina and Liz today at 6pm on IG Live.

Sunday's Virtual Class Line Up ... try all 3 classes as it is going to be a rainy day. 9am Power Flow with Lindsay https://video.mindbody.io//live-s/5ebead2d3240960001887868... 4pm Restorative with Liz https://video.mindbody.io//live-s/5ebead3437d3c70001242d2f 7:30pm Yoga Nidra with Preet https://video.mindbody.io//live-s/5ebead3a37d3c70001242d30 Namaste

Invigorate the body, breath and mind today at 11 am with Karina in Prana Flow. A sequence of dynamic movements to increase strength and flexibility, and focus the mind and connect with breath. Today at 11 am! Sign up now at the link below.... https://video.mindbody.io//live-s/5ebead286adde200018c3d6d