Yoga, Ashtanga, and the Octopus Garden
Jun 9, 2025A practice of movement and stillness, learned in a studio that no longer exists.
My journey with yoga began at the Octopus Garden Yoga studio in Toronto’s Annex neighborhood, located at 440 Bloor Street West, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON M5S 1X5. The studio operated for 18 years as a vibrant yoga studio & wellness clinic before closing its doors on July 20th, 2023, but remains vivid in my memory. It was there that I first encountered the disciplined practice of Ashtanga yoga, a system that demands both physical rigor and mental clarity. The studio had an atmosphere of focused dedication that I found both challenging and comforting—a place where the outside world could be temporarily set aside in favor of inner work. I had the privilege of practicing with teachers Pat and JP during my time there.
The practice of Ashtanga is methodical, systematic. Each pose flows into the next in a predetermined sequence, creating a moving meditation that builds strength, flexibility, and awareness simultaneously. It was at the Octopus Garden that I learned to appreciate this structure, this framework within which growth could occur. The studio was known for being home to some of Toronto’s most innovative and passionate yoga, movement and meditation teachers and practitioners.
The Book That Changed Everything
The book that deepened my understanding of Ashtanga practice. The pages are well-worn from countless references.
It was during my time at Octopus Garden that I discovered David Swenson’s comprehensive guide “Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual”. This book became my constant companion, a detailed roadmap through the primary, intermediate, and advanced series of Ashtanga. Swenson’s approach combines traditional wisdom with modern anatomical understanding, making the ancient practice accessible without diluting its essence.
The book taught me that Ashtanga is more than physical postures—it’s a complete system of self-inquiry and transformation. Each pose builds upon the previous one, creating a foundation of strength and awareness that supports deeper exploration. The breathing technique, known as ujjayi, becomes a constant companion, a rhythm that guides you through the most challenging sequences. Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual is renowned for its comprehensive approach to the Ashtanga system, providing detailed instructions and insights into both the physical and philosophical aspects of the practice.
The simple setup that becomes a gateway to deeper awareness.
The Octopus Garden Experience
The Octopus Garden studio had a unique energy as a vibrant yoga studio & wellness clinic that emphasized innovation and passion in yoga, movement and meditation. Located at 440 Bloor Street West in Toronto’s Annex neighborhood, the studio occupied the second floor of the building. The wooden floors were worn smooth by countless practitioners, and the walls held the collective intention of everyone who had practiced there. The teachers were dedicated and knowledgeable, offering adjustments with both precision and compassion. It was a place where beginners and advanced practitioners could coexist, each following their own path within the same structured framework.
The studio was known for hosting teacher training programs and was recognized as a destination for innovative yoga instruction in Toronto. I had the privilege of practicing with teachers Pat and JP during my time there. The teachers there understood that yoga is not about achieving perfect poses but about developing awareness and presence in whatever form you take. The studio represented a particular approach to practice—one that emphasized discipline without harshness, structure without rigidity.
The neighborhood where the Octopus Garden once stood. The building remains, but the energy of practice has moved elsewhere.
The Practice Continues
Though the Octopus Garden is no longer with us, having closed on July 20th, 2023, the lessons learned there continue to inform my practice. The discipline of Ashtanga, guided by Maehle’s comprehensive instruction, remains a cornerstone of my approach to yoga. The book continues to reveal new insights with each reading, each practice session.
Yoga, particularly Ashtanga, teaches us that growth happens not in the comfortable poses but in the challenging ones. It’s in the moments when we’re pushed to our edge that we discover what we’re truly capable of. The breath remains constant, the sequence provides structure, but within that framework, there’s infinite room for personal discovery.
Mountain pose - the foundation of all standing poses, simple yet profound.
The closing of Octopus Garden was a reminder that all things are impermanent, including the places where we find our center. But the practice itself—this remains constant, available to us regardless of where we are or what circumstances surround us. The book by Maehle continues to guide practitioners, and the principles learned in that special space continue to ripple outward into daily life. The studio’s legacy lives on through the teacher training programs it hosted and the practitioners it influenced over its 18 years of operation.
Note: This article is a placeholder that will be expanded with more detailed personal experiences, specific sequences from the Ashtanga practice, and deeper reflections on the philosophical aspects of yoga.