About jaffer

Five years into my journey I completed my 200-Hour YTT at Anjeli Yoga Teacher Training in Mississauga, Ontario - a donation based, affordable teacher training program taught by the loveliest human beings I know. In 2016 I completed a 40-Hour Yoga for Athletes program in Downtown Toronto that allowed me to guide the tightest, least flexible bodies in an accessible and empowering way. Together, these trainings have taught me to guide students safely and simply in an environment where all levels are welcomed.

In September 2019 I attended a Vipassana 10 Day Course, one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. This experience has helped me create a more complete yoga offering that goes beyond physical poses alone. In all of my classes you will experience the power of yoga and meditation combined with great music, aromatherapy and touch - foot and neck massages are commonplace here.

More recently I’ve used downtime during the COVID-19 pandemic to further my studies. I completed a 10 Day Yoga Immersion with Duncan Yoga and a 60 Hour YTT with Bryan Kest. I highly recommend both of these awesome yoga teachers.

Yoga has benefited me greatly over the last decade and has taught me so much that I apply off the mat. It has helped me be a better person and a more present father. It has taught me to work on generating more powerful qualities, like compassion and kindness, so that I can be a better version of myself everyday. Yoga has transformed into a journey and shows up in every interaction I have off the mat. From how I speak to how I act when no one is looking, yoga has influenced me by teaching me the power of gentleness and ease.

I believe yoga provides an access point to mindfulness and spirituality. Growing up in a Muslim household, I struggled to give my faith to my religion. There were always moments when I was dedicated to the path and moments where I would question my beliefs. When I found yoga in 2010, it didn’t take long for me to realize that there was something more to it - something more than just stretching and twisting. I felt that yoga allowed me to connect with my spirituality without the barriers that I encountered with religion. The wisdom gained through yoga and meditation is no different than the wisdom my grandmother gained from being a devoted Muslim and praying 5x a day.

If you dig deeply enough, all religions preach the same core message - love, kindness, compassion and gratitude. I love this message because anyone can follow it. Anyone can join this movement and nobody is left out. To me, that is a message I can get on board with and share with you.