About our Centre and our Campaign

The Ashtanga Yoga Centre of Toronto is a truly unique place.  Being the only traditional Mysore style studio in the Greater Toronto Area we welcome 100+ students each morning in our Mysore program and another 40+ in our evening Mysore and beginner's classes.  Here we  provide a safe space for people to explore their bodies and minds, creating change through the support of our staff and our amazing community of students. See one of many stories here.  AYCT aims to provide instruction to anyone who wants to learn, regardless of age, ability or income. 

Our small business employs 20 individuals on a part or full-time basis and another 15-20 people who are exchanging hours or services for yoga. We support international students who want to come and learn at our centre and offer programming based on the needs of our student base.  We support local and community based merchants, vendors, artists and businesses, and we promote these individuals and groups within our studio. 

Every day we breath, stretch and grow together within these walls. 

But boy are we tight on space!

The financial reality of a Mysore studio is quite different from most led class-based yoga studios. With 1 teacher for every 5-10 students in the practice room our income allows us to maintain the daily operations of our studio (which we are very proud of) but we just don't make enough money to allow for big renovations.  

Here's where you come in! 

What We Need

$60,000 to expand our practice room and mat storage area, add a treatment room and expand the ladies' change room.  Much needed improvements in ventilation will also be made to both the practice room and change rooms.  

Distribution:

$13,500 will go towards the extension of the practice room out onto the existing glass structure/ patio area.

• Sub floor prep with proper insulation and cork floor.
• Purchase and install of insulating anti-glare film for glass structure.
• North and south wall insulation, framing and dry wall.
• Installation and electrical work for two thin wall mounted heaters.
• Installation of fan providing direct fresh air ventilation. 
• Wall mounted lighting.
• Installation of wood baseboard and drywall patching, painting and finishing

$8500 will go towards new practice room entrance and hallway with separate mat storage room, towel bin and lost and found area.

• Demolition and building of new studio entrance including reuse of sliding door taken from upstairs change room.
• Install of new mat storage unit and move/ re-install of existing mat storage unit.
• Construction of new wall to enclose mat storage units.
• Relocation of lights as needed.

$12,000 will go towards building of a treatment room for body work practitioners.

• Building materials for walls, electrical, paint and sound proof insulation.
• Relocation of air supply and building of proper ventilation.
• Reuse of frosted glass window currently by shoe/ entrance area.
• Building of wall storage unit for treatment supplies and client coat/ bag storage.

$15,000 Extension in ladies' change room into current cleaning supply/utility room.

• Demolition of wall separating ladies' room from current cleaning supply space.
• Installation of blow dry bar/ change area within this space.
• Seal of wall/ door leading into men's change room and install of air vent.
• Install of air exchange ventilation.
• Install of new door and screen into door leading to outside patio.
• Install of double sink unit in both change rooms. 
• Install of staff sink and cabinet in women's change room.
• New tiling at sink areas. 

$6,000 Contingency fund.

• To cover unexpected costs that may arise in construction

$,5000 for space rental while AYCT is closed for renovations. 

The renovation is planned for March 2014 and will take 2-4 weeks.  During this time we hope to rent a small store front on Yonge Street near to our current location to continue to offer Mysore classes.  

What if we can't raise $60,000?

Any money raised will go to projects in order of importance beginning with the practice room build out and moving down the distribution list above. 

The Design

Image 1:  View of practice room from new extension looking towards Yonge St. 

Image 2: Hallway leading off back of practice room towards exit.

Image 4: View when entering practice room, mat storage room on left. 

Image 7: Ariel Perspective of main floor 

Can you say SWAG?

Awesome giveaways designed, supplied and provided by members of our community! 

• Unique Tapas bracelets and Parampara Tees only available through this campaign. These items will not be sold at our centre.
  
• Private yoga sessions Authorized teachers David Robson and Stan Byrne. 
• Body treatments with Takayuki Tsuchikawa, Caio Oyfuso and Joshua Lyons.
• Photo shoot with Toronto Yoga portrait photographer Tim Bermingham.
• Four course vegan dinner cooked in your home for 6-8 people catered by Vanessa McKernan and Christian Tourangeau.
• One day Ashtanga Workshop in the Canadian city of your choice with David Robson!

Make some Noise!

Help us spread the word. Even if you can't donate, sharing our campaign through social media or with friends and family makes a huge difference! Indiegogo share tools can be found at the bottom of this page.