Opened on Dec. 7, Trees and Champagne Yoga – located on Rte. 301 in Otter Lake – hopes to be a haven for yogis from across the region to come out and experience the healing nature of Yin Yoga and the countless benefits the practice offers.

Owner Nathalie Gagnon explained that the studio specializes in Yin Yoga – a form of yoga that requires slower movement for poses that are held for longer periods of time (three to five minutes) – and aromatherapy.

“It’s a very calm, relaxing yoga for all levels,” she said. “It’s not as much about how flexible you are, as much as how present you can be.”

Located inside the basement of her picturesque lakeside residence, she said that the studio is an extension of her brand called Trees and Champagne.

“I guess it’s become my baby,” she said.

When she purchased her home, back in August, Gagnon felt like the place – notably its architecture – was the ideal setting for a yoga studio. She explained that the many triangular patterns in the home’s design make it symbolic to elements she enjoys about her practice.

“One of the symbols that I love is the triangle,” she said. “The three points – three is a very special number in yoga – Om is a three, three stands for mind, body, breath; past, present, future. It’s a very powerful number.”

“All through the home, there are many, many triangles,” she added. “I feel like this home was designed for me.”

Allowing people to do their practice on comfortable mats, with a wonderful view of the natural beauty in the surrounding area – while natural light beams through the window – Gagnon feels like her studio is pretty much the perfect place for someone to relax one’s mind, body and soul.

“There’s a tranquility, having a studio on the lake and being around trees,” she said. “There’s something really special, when you spend time close to trees… it makes us more mindful and calmer.”

On one of the walls, the studio dons a gigantic mural, which depicts the four seasons, along with a number of aspects of yoga and life that give Gagnon a great sense of joy and meaning.

She explained that she originally planned on having an artist named Karen Zarcos install a wallpaper on the wall. However, the dimensions didn’t fit. So instead, Zarcos offered to paint the wall.

“I wanted to have something really special,” she said. “The tree stands for the root and solid foundation. Champagne refers to celebrating everyday magic. It’s not about partying. It’s really about celebrating each moment as they come.”

For the time being, Gagnon will be hosting lessons on Sundays at 10 a.m., noting that her class is already highly in demand.

Splitting time between Otter Lake and Ottawa, Gagnon also teaches yoga in the city on Mondays at Manor Park at 4:30 p.m. and on Friday’s at Downdog Studio at 9:30 a.m.

Those interested can follow Gagnon on her Facebook page called Trees and Champagne Yoga or by going to her website https://treesandchampagne.com/.

After a long session of Yin Yoga, students will be able to relax in a soothing sauna made of authentic cedar wood, just outside on the property.

In the summer, she intends on putting on more classes and workshops as well.

“They come into the space and it’s already set up,” she said. “It’s just about coming in, allowing them to feel supported. That’s one of my main things.”

For Gagnon, opening a yoga studio in the Pontiac will bring something that people in the region could benefit from.

“I think it’s going to give people in the Pontiac access to yoga,” she said.

Along with being a yoga teacher for the last 11 years, Gagnon is a language and speech pathologist, with over a decade of experience. Specializing in mindset and communication coaching, she explained that people don’t only improve their yoga poses after coming out of her class.

“As people come to my class, they become a little bit more discerning about the words they use and the thoughts they have,” she said. “So, that they’re more empowered. I think that’s an added bonus to how I teach.”

Having desired to open her own studio for quite some time, she admitted that opening it marked a check off her bucket list.

“I’ve been wanting to have a studio for a long time,” she said. “So, it’s a life-long dream to have my own space.”

“It shows me that when I align to my core values, my highest-self, that the universe is going to bring me abundance like this studio,” she added.

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