Thank you, THANK YOU!
If you took the time to fill in our Yoga Survey this month, we thank you! Receiving your feedback is important for us to learn, grow, and serve you better here at Hemma. We welcome your feedback always and reminder you that you don’t have to wait until the next survey if you have something to share! Congratulations to Michelle Milligan who won the Yoga Timecard draw!
Some of your feedback contributes to our long term planning for classes, events, and overall functionality of Hemma. We’d love to respond to right away to some of your feedback in the following categories:
THE STUDIO
Many of you said that you appreciate the ambiance of the studio, and its cozy homey feeling. Order, functionality, and cleanliness are important to us at Hemma and we have a dedicated team of volunteers and staff who practice Karma Yoga (the Yoga of Action) here. This means they mindfully put their energy into cleaning, organizing and contributing to the space as an extension of their Yoga practice.
Airflow in the studio is something some of you commented on and we are constantly working with it in this heritage building. We open the windows, turn on the fans and clear the air between every class. This is the room’s opportunity to breathe (fresh air in, old air out). In an effort to keep fresh air flowing, this often invites dust from the outside world. To remove the not-so-friendly-dust bunnies, we sweep the studio daily followed by mopping with an antibacterial cleaner. Our blankets, bolster covers and straps are washed on a regular basis. We do our best to keep the space fresh and inviting for your practice and thank you for your suggestions.
VARIETY OF CLASSES
Many of you commented that this is one of your favourite thing about coming to Hemma – that you can select a class style or time that aligns with your schedule or energy for that day; and that we have a variety of talented teachers who support you in their unique ways. Some of you commented that this variety is challenging at times, not knowing what the different class styles are like. We encourage you to try out different styles, teachers, and feel the benefits of different types of Yoga practice. And if you try a class that didn’t meet your needs, let us know so we can direct you to one that would be a better fit.
COMMUNITY
We are so grateful for each of YOU and what you contribute to this community. This web of great community has been weaved over the years because of your openness and willingness to meet your neighbours. We’ve had some requests for silence or quiet in the studio room. We have considered (even tried) this over the years, and have learned that majority of our students really value being able to connect with fellow yogis before class. Our only request is that when you are chatting in the studio that you are aware of the content and volume of your conversation, and know that your neighbour might need silence after a long day. Part of being in community is allowing for differences, and respecting that we all have different needs in any given moment. Remember that we have tea and cookies in the lobby for longer chats before or after class!
CLASS SIZES
Full classes are exciting! We know that sometimes all you want to do is roll your mat out for peace and quiet, to be held in space just for you. However, there is something so special – even sacred, about coming together in community for a shared experience. Yoga is often translated as Union – which has many interpretations. To unite as a community and share a common intention, practice, or experience is something many long for. If you find yourself a little uncomfortable in one of our larger classes, try to connect to the group energy and shared experience of union.
MAT RENTAL/STORAGE/CLEANING
We had some great suggestions for having mat storage, or supplies and space to clean your own mat. Behind the scenes, every inch of space at Hemma is occupied, and unfortunately we simply don’t have the space to store your mats here, or for you to clean your mat after class. We encourage all our students to carry their personal mat with them to each class, and clean it at home. We sell a natural mat cleaner that smells amazing – your house will be happy with the scent! Our rental mats are intended for folks who forgot their mat, or don’t yet own one. We charge a small fee for the rental to keep them clean and renewed each year.
OUR TEAM
Thank you for your glowing reviews of our staff – both on the front desk and teachers in the studio. We are proud of our front desk team for creating a welcoming environment the moment you walk in, for keeping the desk running smoothly, and caring for the space like their own home. We are so grateful for our team of dedicated teachers who blend their passion, training, and diverse experience into a practice of holding space for you to experience the power of Yoga. If you have specific feedback for your teacher, don’t hesitate to let them know directly.
Thank you for offering feedback, for reading this post, and for being part of our Hemmahome. Stay tuned for the Acupuncture survey in a few months!
With love,
Kelly