Downward Dog Yoga

Downward Dog can be considered one of the most renowned yoga studios in the city. As the practice of yoga in North America has continued to grow, the studio has become a popular place to practice Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga in particular.

Ron Reid, who co-owns the studio with his wife Marla Meenakshi Joy, began studying yoga in the mid-1970s. As a musician, he found it easy to take his practice on the road, with health benefits accruing right away.

“It was a good fit physically, it was a good fit mentally — pretty much what I continue to feel to this day.”

Ron began the practice of Ashtanga yoga in the ’90s, travelling to India and teaching at various studios in Toronto. Initially, Ron focused on self-practice — also known as “Mysore” — a set form that students practice at their own pace with a teacher moving around the room to help individuals within a group. In 1997, he founded Downward Dog, the very first Ashtanga school in Toronto.

Alongside a loyal and ever-expanding clientele, many prominent actors and musicians have visited Downward Dog for classes. These include The Police front man and solo artist Sting; actor Willem Dafoe and actresses Michelle Williams, Julianne Moore and Jennifer Beals.