Unifying exercise and yoga classes available in Elliot Lake

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A new business recently opened its doors in Elliot Lake in collaboration with DanceWorks.

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Uniting Movement and Yoga owner Nadia Carriere has teamed up with DanceWorks owner Christine Brunet to share downtown studio space. Uniting Movement and Yoga is located at 126 Ontario Avenue. It is located in DanceWorks Studio C, which is located at street level on Ontario Avenue.

Carriere started teaching at DanceWorks last season, but this season she and Brunet both needed more space than was available downstairs. DanceWorks needed to expand, and if Carriere didn’t use Studio C, DanceWorks would use it for these classes.

“It’s more of a collaboration than a partnership,” Carriere says. “They are two separate businesses.”

While Carriere began this season’s classes on September 9th, the grand opening took place on September 24th, with Elliot Lake Mayor Andrew Wannan cutting the ribbon with Carriere.

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“It’s another business opening in Elliot Lake,” Wannan said. “It is a necessary service that must continue for health and wellbeing. It is conveniently located and easy to get to.”

Carriere has practiced yoga her entire life, starting as a child.

“I grew up in bhakti yoga. My parents were very devoted to the practice and philosophy of yoga,” explains Carriere.

While Carriere began teaching local classes last season, she has been teaching yoga professionally for a decade.

She has taught yoga all over the world and also trains some as yoga teachers.

“I have taught yoga teacher trainings all over the United States. I have led workshops and retreats in Europe, Central America and Africa,” she says, adding that she will travel to Bali in Asia next year.

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She says yoga isn’t a religion, but “it’s very spiritual.” Our practices here are physical, it’s yoga therapy for the body, but we also bring in a lot of that spiritual mindset and breathwork to help you feel yourself to connect with yourself. It’s definitely much more than just exercise. It helps with mobility, flexibility and strength, but also brings a lot of peace and harmony overall.”

She says there are more demanding training programs for athletes who want a harder workout, as well as classes for people who find it difficult to get up from a chair.

“We have classes where you can sit in a chair and practice, so that’s suitable for all ages. We have something for everyone. Our courses are aimed at all age groups.”

Her oldest client is 97 years old and lives in a nursing home. She even has some in wheelchairs.

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Yoga misconceptions

She adds that some people have the misconception of yoga that it is very complicated and difficult, for example that you have to put your feet behind your head.

“It is a great passion of mine to nip this idea in the bud. It’s not everything you see in advertisements of super skinny young girls doing yoga. Yes, these are positions you could do if you are really flexible, but you can experience yoga no matter where you are by adopting different positions and doing breathing exercises.”

Carriere says they also offer sound healing and therapy, where they use crystal bowls, gongs, chimes and other instruments to promote healing and relaxation in the body. It is so relaxing that “some people fall asleep.”

She also teaches classes in dance fitness, Pilates and high-intensity interval training.

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According to Carriere, yoga doesn’t require any special clothing. You can wear jogging sweatshirts or leggings.

She will soon open a small online shop where she will sell various exercise equipment such as yoga mats as well as healthy food and nutritional supplements.

classes

Uniting Movement and Yoga offers 13 classes per week. The earliest class is at 6:15 a.m. and the latest is at 8:00 p.m. The number of participants for face-to-face lessons is limited to 15 students.

In addition to face-to-face events, they also offer online courses where participants do not have to leave their home.

It also offers various packages, the prices of which vary depending on the package and contents. A drop-in class starts at $20 each and packages start at $8 per class. There is a monthly fee for the unlimited package. It is also possible to purchase a block package for a certain number of courses per month. She also offers a four-week starter series at a special price.

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It offers discounts for seniors and students.

It also offers more specific topic workshops, with class lengths ranging from 90 minutes to three hours. She is also planning a course just for men.

The online courses can be streamed using a tablet or computer. Online courses are also available in countries around the world.

“If you live in New York and want to take classes, you can purchase a live stream package and stream to Elliot Lake.

“I have a few ladies who are leaving Elliot Lake for the winter and are snowbirds, and they will be taking classes via livestream while they are in Florida.”

She even has pre-recorded classes to take at home, she explains.

She also has classes in Massey, Espanola, Manitoulin Island and Thessalon.

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“I kind of float around everywhere. I’m like a gypsy yoga teacher.”

“But it’s nice to be grounded. It’s really nice to have a home base and a home space; it feels really good.”

Carriere says, “The whole intention behind it was to serve the community. It should be a place of health and well-being that improves the quality of life for people of all ages, from children to 100 years of age or beyond.”

“I’m really grateful for all the support we’ve received from the community so far. It was really amazing. It exceeded my expectations. Elliot Lake is pretty amazing.”

Family life/business

Carriere is no newcomer to the business. She, her husband and their three children moved from Massey to Elliot Lake in 2022 when they purchased the South Bay Park campground on Dunlop Lake. They lived in Massey for 20 years and continue to operate the Massey Motel.

Now that her children are teenagers, they help out in the shops.

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