Connections

by Mindy Krausman

I went on my first yoga retreat this summer, and it was a wonderful experience. The best part was all of the lovely connections I made with friends - some new, some just deeper. One of the many takeaways I keep thinking about is something Alex said in class the last morning about making connections in yoga. She was talking about transitions, and she said transitions are really connections. We need connections to get us from one pose to another. When I heard that, a lightbulb went off. Reflecting on my personal journey over the past few years—and specifically this spring—I realized that the most vital part of my transition has been the connections that helped me get from one phase to the next. This metaphor seemed so obvious to me all of a sudden. The connections are so important. We can’t practice yoga, or life, without them.

Some of you know that I was laid off from work this spring, and it was a big surprise. I was angry, scared, and feeling really rejected. Job interviewing is a completely different world than it was the last time I looked for work, and my confidence was declining quickly. I was starting to worry that I’d have to take a job for less money, that I didn’t really want, just out of desperation. Thankfully, two days before I left for the retreat in Maine, I got a great job offer! So instead of running away from home and crying and feeling sorry for myself for a week at the retreat, I was able to celebrate instead! It’s funny how that worked out.

Maybe it’s too simplistic to say that just like we need mindful transitions to move seamlessly from one pose to the next, I needed my friends' support to get me through the transition period of being laid off from one job to starting a new one. But, I don’t think so. I think this is what I love about yoga and why I cried tears of gratitude after hearing Alex’s words that day. I was reminded to take the lessons I learn on my mat and apply them to the rest of my life off of my mat.

Connections are important to help us transition and travel through life. Just as important as the poses along the way.

Love and light,

Mindy

The Mat's 2027 Canada Retreat - Week 2
with Samantha, Melanie, and Alex

Week Two registeration is now open! Join us July 19–25, 2027 at Bloom Holistic Retreat Centre in Eastern Ontario.

Investment: From $3,055 per person
Early Bird Discount: Save $150 when you register by August 31.

A $500 deposit holds your spot (non-refundable, applied to your total balance).

Space is limited, and only two single rooms remain. Register early to get your preferred room type.

Visit our website to read all the details and to register.

Lymphatic Self-Care Workshop
with Samantha Martin

Virtual session added. In-person is currently sold out. Email Samantha if you'd like to be added to the waitlist.

Join Samantha for a hands-on workshop focused on caring for your lymphatic system, often referred to as your second circulatory system. The lymphatic system acts as your body's sanitation and recycling network.

We’ll spend time learning lymphatic massage strokes and practicing simple self-massage techniques designed to help alleviate common symptoms such as congestion or sore throat, headaches, digestive issues, and anxiety, while also supporting increased energy and mental clarity.

Date: Saturday, August 15
Time: 1:00 to 3:30pm
In-Studio: $70; Mat Members save 15%

Virtual: $55; Mat Members save 15%

If joining virtually, please purchase a round dry brush prior to the workshop.

No refunds. Space is limited, so register early to save your spot.

The Embodied Middle: Truth Before Transcendence and the Art of Sustainable Living and Teaching
with Nikki Myers

The Embodied Middle is a four-part immersion exploring balance as a lived capacity — biological, relational, and collective.

In uncertain times, it's tempting to reach for transcendence. This work begins somewhere else: with truth about our nervous systems, our patterns, and the conditioning that shapes how we lead and show up.

Four sessions. Discourse, embodied practice, and experiential exploration woven throughout.

When the middle is embodied, it becomes more than personal balance. It becomes relational steadiness and communal resilience.

Date: November 6-8  

Investment: $495; save $50 when you register by August 31. Mat Members save 15%.

No refunds. Space is limited, so register early to save your spot.

300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training
with Samantha, Melanie & Alex

You can uplevel your yoga teaching credentials through so many trainings out there. Why take the Mat 300? We offer the expert guest teachers you need to find your niche in the yoga world and to hone your individual voice as a teacher as well as three lead teachers - Samantha, Melanie, and Alex - who will walk with you along the way, providing the constant support you need to incorporate all your learning moving forward in your yoga career.

This training will take place one weekend per month over the course of a year from August 2026 to September 2027. Some weekends will be taught by lead teachers and others by local and renowned teachers. 

Only 2 spots remaining.

Training Weekends: August 16, 2026 - September 19, 2027

Saturday Yoga Teacher Intensive
with Iris Haftlang

What makes a yoga class unforgettable?

Some classes leave us feeling like we exercised. Others stay with us long after we've rolled up our mat. The difference isn't luck. It's intention.

Exceptional teaching begins by understanding the story within each pose. From there, those individual stories are thoughtfully woven together into a meaningful journey, one that carries students from the first breath to the final savasana.

This September, join Iris for a full afternoon exploring the craft of exceptional yoga teaching, through two complementary workshops. Attend one session or experience the complete journey.

📅 Saturday, September 26

Session I: [Creative Sequencing Part II, Beyond the Expected]
12:30–2:30 PM

Session II: [Inside the Pose, A Framework for Confident Teaching]
3:00–5:00 PM

💵 $55 per session; Mat Members save 15%

Attending both? Save 25% on Session II.

1. Register for Session I first.
2. You'll receive a promo code in your confirmation email.
3. Use that code when registering for Session II to unlock the discount.

Questions or trouble registering? Email Samantha.

Space is limited and there are no refunds, so register early to save your spot.

Strength + Balance: Baby Grasshopper & Eight-Angle Pose
with Iris & the Strength + Balance Divas

This month, we'll explore the pathway into Baby Grasshopper and Eight-Angle Pose through creative progressions, hip-opening transitions, and playful movement.

Rather than focusing on the final pose, we'll build the strength, mobility, balance, and confidence that make these arm balances more accessible. Along the way, you'll discover complementary poses and transitions that support your practice, no matter where you're starting.

All levels are welcome. No previous experience is necessary.

Date: Sunday, September 27

Time: 1:00–2:30 PM 

Investment: $30; Mat Members pay $20.

No refunds. Space is limited, so register early to save your spot.