Tag Archives: Anniversary

Island Yoga Vista Celebrates 20 Years in Nanaimo

Dear Yogis and Friends

We invite you to celebrate 20 amazing years of business in Nanaimo with us on March 18.  Island Yoga Vista has the distinction of being the very first Yoga Studio in Nanaimo. Here is a little history.

This Yoga Studio started in 1997 with me teaching at 5 different locations in Nanaimo and Ladysmith, foremost among them the Diamond Light Centre that some of you will remember in that red brick building on Commercial Street.

As the number of classes and people grew it found it’s own  home at 20 Front St, (a building which is no longer there) on the waterfront with a beautiful view of the harbour and Protection Island.  We had two massage studios and room for big Ashtanga classes.  The first Ayurveda Massages were offered in Nanaimo at that location and I even trained a handful of people then to do Abhyanga and Shirodhara. As well the drumming circles and African Dance classes started in Nanaimo through Island Yoga Vista.  It has a rich history indeed.

When that building was sold and torn down I bought a house and designed a unique, tranquil custom Vastu built studio in the top floor overlooking Newcastle Channel and the island’s untouched shoreline. This clearly is the best version of Island Yoga Vista yet, and the most stable, we have now been here for 12 years of the 20.
It is much quieter here than downtown and has the waterfront seaside vibe that is so inviting, drawing people from all over.  As an Ayurveda and Vastu Practitioner I value the balance of the five elements in the interior environment and can see how it influences those that come here.  It is a wonderful place to gather, practice and to live, it continues to evolve in the most interesting ways.

Our Yoga Teacher Trainings bring people from all over Canada as well as the US, part of the training is conducted in India also and so from our humble roots we have grown.  I personally have trained thousands of people in Yoga and Ayurveda over these 20 years and have seen this community and others benefit from those seeds planted.  It has been a most fulfilling journey.  It is rewarding to have been part of the growing worldwide acceptance of Yoga, Ayurveda and Vastu and to watch them continue to become part of our culture.

Now it is time to refresh and start again with renewed focus and clarity and take it all to the next step.  It is time to thank you for all the support for so many years.
Please join us at the Open House on March 18 to celebrate these many years in business and to find out what we are up to now.  This is a  Celebration of new beginnings as well as a show of gratitude for all the years of support from this community.

I have watched this town change and develop, I have raised my family here, explored the world from this home base and made many good friends. It is with sincere gratitude that I invite you to my home and business to share in this celebration.    Please see the invitation below for the schedule of speakers. The Open House will run from 1-4:30pm showcasing upcoming workshops and have great entertainment as usual.

A new session of Weekly Yoga Classes starts March 7, you must call ahead to register as space is limited.

There are also complimentary Private Sessions to be given to those who stay for all of the speakers on Saturday March 18, 2017!

Be the Light
Sandra