The Yoga Barn

There’s a New Barn in Town

Guest post by Lia Glover

Should you sense a warm breeze coming from the general direction of Upper Dyke, it’s not your imagination. Things are pretty hot in the small community thanks to a new addition called, The Yoga Barn.

The Yoga Barn is the Valley’s one and only hot yoga studio.

A gutsy endeavor created by Valley resident and long-time yoga instructor, Jenny Sinclair, the Yoga Barn sits on the property Sinclair shares with her husband, Dr. Mike Sinclair and their four young boys.

Sinclair and I are sitting crossed-legged (she doing so effortlessly) in the light-filled studio that features 26 infrared heat panels, cork flooring and calming blue walls when I ask her how all this came about. Was wine involved? Sinclair laughs and talks about how last summer, she and Mike were enjoying a quiet evening relaxing outside and marveled over what an eye-sore the old barn was.

But Sinclair, who has a soft-spot for old things couldn’t bear the thought of tearing it down. That’s when Mike suggested they do something “really cool” with it, “like build a yoga studio!” Sinclair is quick to add that her husband of 11 years is always supportive, always encouraging her to do what she loves, “It was so busy the first few days I opened, Mike was even directing traffic on our front lawn.” laughs Sinclair.

But if there was one question which worried Sinclair it was will the people come? There are a number of yoga studios in the Valley and Sinclair was justifiably nervous about creating a facility without knowing what the public reaction would be. But her belief in the benefits of yoga and the convenience of having a studio in her own backyard was something she felt so strongly about, she knew it was time to share it with others.

It turns out she had nothing to be worried about. “I was shocked, says Sinclair “the first time I introduced the Yoga Barn idea was on facebook. “I got 1,000 likes in three weeks!” The excitement from family was contagious. Her sister Maggie Milne has designed and created the Yoga Barn’s logo, while her mom, Sue spent hours on a stunning rug-hooking piece. Their support, along with that of friends and strangers alike was reassuring and made the many long hours of designing, planning, and bringing life back to the beloved old barn all worth it.

Given that this it the Valley’s only hot yoga studio I asked what makes hot yoga, hot. The heat comes from the infrared cedar heat panels (infrared meaning just below red light rays) which Sinclair ordered from a small family-run business in British Columbia. There are 26 panels in all and when combined with the moving, breathing bodies in the studio, things heat up pretty quick starting at 90 degrees and rising to 110 degrees.

Through all this, Sinclair has been busy juggling motherhood and all the day-to-day tasks and extra-curricular activities that go along with raising four boys but admits it is a bit hectic right now and at some point she will find her ebb and flow. Her boys have noticed a shift in mom’s time but are also quite excited about the increased traffic at their house. Her eldest, Mac asked her if she was going to be famous.

One thing is for sure, she is definitely in this for the long haul but she remembers a time when she wasn’t so keen on the discipline.

Sinclair took her first yoga class in University but admits that back then she was more of a runner and weight trainer and wasn’t ready for in her early 20’s to understand the benefits of yoga, nor the compassion of caring for it through yoga. That came with age and injuries. She tried it again when she was pregnant with Mac and found it highly unusual to be in downward dog with her belly falling beneath her but she kept at it, finding it a gentle way to stay fit and with each pregnancy knew that she had found something special.

Always keen to learn, Sinclair was asked to teach yoga at Abs-O-Lute Fitness but first she needed to attend a Can Pro Fit weekend training session in Toronto. She remembers how, with Mike’s encouragement, they, along with their four boys Mac, now 9, Sam, 8, Jesse, 6 and Amos, her baby 4 found themselves boarding a plane where she spent the weekend honing her skills, while Mike was taking the kids to see some big city sights. Sinclair recalls feeling “blissed out”at the end of the day while an exhausted Mike was waiting in the parking lot, kids is various stages of dress ready to see their Mom.

Today, Sinclair has 200 hours of Certified Yoga Training in Vinyasa-style yoga and is currently working on her 500 hour Yoga Teacher Teacher Training certificate.

When I asked what yoga means to her she is enthusiastic, “Yoga has become a lifestyle to me. It is not just an outer body thing as was the focus in my 20’s. I try to use yoga in every part of my day, from the way I speak to my kids and my husband to how I stay present in what is going on in my life. Yoga has taught me that each day is special and we are lucky to have each and every moment! Each breathe allows the next and so on.”

Mother Nature may be taking her sweet time bringing us some heat but Sinclair has it down pat and it looks like there will be many sun salutations in her backyard for a long time to come.

If you are interested in learning more about hot yoga or taking classes at the yoga barn, please visit, www.theyogabarn.ca.

Lia Glover is a married mom of two (sometimes feels like more) boys living in Port Williams having moved from Toronto almost 9 years ago (it only took 5 years to adjust!). She is interested in writing about people who make a difference.

Win with the Yoga Barn!

The Yoga Barn is located conveniently just outside of the town of Kentville, Nova Scotia near Blueberry Acres. We are the first hot yoga studio in the Annapolis Valley.

Instructor Jenny Gunn Sinclair, offers a variety of classes – some of which are hot yoga, and some are not! There is yoga for newbies, power classes, flow classes, yin classes and more!

Enter to win an 8-class punch card (valued at $90). This card is good for the whole year!

Enter daily by clicking on the banner below until the draw date of July 31, 2014

Want an extra ballot? Leave a comment on the blog below to tell us about your yoga experiences!