In the heart of District Central, a place for spiritual awakening that embraces both the traditional values of hatha yoga and yin yoga has set up shop. Annie, the founder of Atelier Balance, offers residents and workers in the area a moment of relaxation in a private setting. Participants have the choice between two different versions of yoga depending on their rhythm and their mood.

At age 17, Annie made a complete turnaround in life following a motorcycle accident. During her stay at Saint-Justine, her multiple fractures forced her to work out and she was able to regain her mobility thanks to yoga exercises. Following this unfortunate event, Annie travelled to San Francisco where she perfected her English and discovered how businesses in Silicon Valley were committed to the well-being of their employees, especially to the practice of yoga in the workplace. In 2017, Annie returned home full of ideas and inspired to take the entrepreneurial step of opening her own studio on Chabanel.

As soon you enter her studio, you are greeted by the pleasant scents of aromatic plants. Maya, the instructor, performs a purification ritual using dried sage that she burns around each client. You can enjoy yin yoga, which involves holding poses for longer periods of time, or you can opt for a day of hatha yoga which is primarily physical but involves meditation and discipline.

In 2019, you will be able to book your class directly on the website. The more curious ones will have the opportunity to continue their experience in the shop area that Annie is slowly filling with healthy beauty products carefully selected with love.

About the author

Living in Quebec since 2012, Diane Martin-Graser found the best way to appreciate Montreal’s patrimony by writing themed articles. Fan of photography since she was 16, she started using silver film first during her stay at Lille. Since then, her focus has been on urban and social perspective. Also collaborating with Une Parisenne à Montreal blog and the 5th season of Printemps Numérique, Diane wants to help you discover the singular atmosphere of Montreal creation with an authentic and original twist.