Willow FAQ

FAQs

Got any questions?We’ve got answers

How can I sign up for in-person classes?

You can view, book, and pay for classes by credit card through Mindbody. You can access Mindbody through our website here, or through the Mindbody app which you can download to your phone.

‍To pay by eTransfer: send your payment to info@willowptbo.com. Include the name, phone number and email address of the account we should apply the classes to. Please note you will still need to go into your Mindbody account to book the dates for your actual classes once we have added your payment to your account.

‍To pay by cash or cheque: email us to set up a time when you can drop cash or a cheque off at the studio. Cheques should be made out to Angela Demeester.To pay with account credit: use the Mindbody link at the top of our website to pay using credit you may already have on your Mindbody account.

What should I bring to class?

Please bring a water bottle, yoga mat and any props you might want to use (e.g. a blanket, pillow).We do have mats and props available for you to use for free if you need, and also a boutique where you can purchase your own.We recommend you dress in layers to be able to adjust your temperature throughout class.

What do I wear?

You don’t need to dress like a Lululemon model to do yoga – just wear something comfortable that you can move in. Nursing scrubs, that old race t-shirt, whatever you can find in your closet, throw it on.

For slower-moving classes or those involving a lot of time down on the mat, we recommend you dress in layers. You may wish to bring warm socks or a blanket. Please note that we are not a hot yoga studio and we have a variety of people coming for classes, including pregnant and menopausal. We try to keep the temperature at a comfortable level for everyone, but we recommend you dress in layers so you can adjust your own temperature as needed.

Bare feet are typically worn for yoga and Pilates. For fitness/HIIT classes, a clean pair of indoor running shoes is ideal.

Can I get a refund?

Please check out our full set of cancellation and return policies here.

Weather isn't great, do we have class today?

Class cancellations due to inclement weather are rare – only when the instructor isn’t able to make it in to the studio.If we need to cancel a class due to weather, we’ll cancel it through Mindbody, and you’ll receive a notification either by text or email, depending on what notification settings you have set up. We usually decide if we will be cancelling class between 1 and 3 hours before class (i.e. we wouldn’t know in the morning if we would be cancelling an evening class).If we keep a class running but you don’t feel comfortable driving, you’re welcome to get in touch with us about cancelling your spot and using your pass for another class instead.

Will my pack of classes expire?

1 class passes must be used within 6 months of date of purchase; 5 Class Packs must be used within 3 months, 10 class packs must be used within 6 months – if you don’t use all the classes in your pack within the respective time frames, you will lose them. You can check out our full set of cancellation/return policies here.

What notifications should I have for Mindbody?

In your Mindbody profile, you’ll see that you can choose 3 different types of notifications to receive from us:
‍
Account Management
Reminders and Schedule Changes
News and Promos.

If you are adding yourself to the waitlist for a class, please make sure that you have “Text” enabled under “Reminders and Schedule Changes”. When someone cancels their spot in a class, Mindbody will automatically send a text to the first person on the waitlist to offer them the spot. If you don’t have this checked off, you won’t get the text! If only “Email” is enabled here, you won’t be notified either.I

f we have to cancel a class (due to low enrollment or teacher illness), you will also be notified by Mindbody of this as per your settings under “Reminders and Schedule Changes” (ie. either by email or text).

I need to book / cancel / change an appointment with massage or physio

Our treatment room practitioners are separate businesses from The Willow Studio. As such, we are unable to book or change appointments for you. Please visit your practitioner’s website to book or change your appointment, or contact them directly with any questions.

Are you hiring instructors?

At this time, we have a full roster of instructors and are not looking to add instructors or additional styles of classes.

I've never done yoga, I'm nervous

Are you new to yoga? Nervous about giving it a try or not sure what to expect?

When you “enter” a yoga class, people will likely be laying down, stretching, or sitting quietly with their eyes closed.

We recommend using this time to stretch out a few areas that your body really needs, or just relaxing and soaking in a few extra minutes of “you” time!

The instructor will guide you through movements, poses, and breathing techniques – it’s always your choice to participate in any of them, or just relax in a different position.

They will also provide props or modifications to the poses so that someone of any ability can safely enjoy the benefits of the pose.

Yoga classes always end with “savasana”, which means “corpse pose”. Physically, you lay down on your back or in any comfortable position. The goal is to not let your mind wander, but to focus on one thing (e.g. your breath, or a mantra). You may also use your savasana to sink into deep relaxation, almost a dream-like state that is very restorative and a great antidote to our busy modern lifestyle! Your instructor will guide you into this. Savasana usually lasts 3 to 10 minutes.

All yoga classes provide a safe, non-judgemental atmosphere. In fact, a lot of students close their eyes during parts of the class to help develop their body awareness. (So, no one is watching you that closely!)

Yoga also teaches “non-attachment”. Students are encouraged to notice what’s going on inside and outside themselves, and to let that observation go without forming opinions on it.

Any yoga class can be as gentle or as challenging as you make it. The amazing thing about yoga, which sets it apart from other workouts, is that if you feel tired or weak that day, you are encouraged to step out of a pose and just relax.

There are many different styles of yoga, ranging from gentle and relaxing to vigorous and sweaty. The best thing to do is try different styles until you find what works best for you.

Do you have to be a vegetarian / super fit / speak sanskrit to do yoga?

No. Yoga is for everyone.

Can I drop in for a class without booking?

Unfortunately not. Walk-ins (i.e. students showing up at the door who haven’t pre-booked their class) are not permitted. We prefer that everyone pre-books their class as it can get very busy at the front desk before classes. This policy helps to limit crowding in the studio and provides for a contact-free payment process.

Is your studio scent free?

We are not a scent-free environment. We often diffuse essential oils in the lobby area, and we carry handmade bar soap in our retail area that gives off a scent. In the studio itself, essential oils are occasionally diffused – the paper copy of our schedule (available in-studio) indicates which classes may have essential oils diffused in them and which ones don’t. We also occasionally use beeswax candles in some of the evening classes as well which give off a light scent.

We don’t use any artificial scents in our studio.

What if I cannot make it to a class I booked?

If you don’t think you’ll make it to class, you have up to 3 hours before the start of class to cancel your booking. We prefer that you do this online through your account (emails or calls may not be received in time). You can log into your Mindbody account here.

Cancellations made more than 3 hours before class have no penalties. Cancellations after this 3-hour window are considered “Late Cancels”.

If you use a 1 Class Pass, Auto Renew 5 Class Pack, or 10 Class Pack – you’ll be docked that class from your pack for Late Cancels and No-Shows.

Starting January 15^th2023, all clients on our Membership, New Client Intro Month or One Year Unlimited will incur a $10 + HST charge for a Late Cancel, and a $20 charge for a No Show. This also includes Late Cancels/No Shows if you did not remove yourself from a waitlist when you could no longer attend, and were added to the class.

Check out our full set of cancellation and return policies here.

We appreciate your understanding as we strive to ensure our studio runs as smoothly as possible for everyone.

The class is full, I'm waitlisted, now what?

If you are on a waitlist, it is expected that you are available to come to the class. If a spot comes available, you will be automatically added to the class roster by Mindbody. If you are added to the class from the waitlist and you cancel with less than 3 hours notice, it will be treated as a Late Cancel, and charges may apply. Therefore, if you are on the waitlist and are no longer available, please remove yourself from the waitlist.

While we do our best to notify you by call/text/email if a spot comes available, ultimately the responsibility is yours to check your account and see if you have been added to the class. Please do not wait to hear from us that you have a spot. You should be fully prepared and able to attend the class, and keeping your eye on your account to see if you were moved from the waitlist to the class. This can happen up to 1 hour before the class starts.

Can I come to class late?

Unfortunately not. Out of respect for everyone’s schedules, we strive to start class on time, and don’t allow latecomers into class, which can be disruptive to the other participants.

If you arrive late, we’ll gently turn you away (or the door may be locked). We know how disappointing this can be, and we appreciate your cooperation and understanding on this matter.

We occasionally make exceptions for baby-friendly classes as these are less formal and all of the other participants are in the same boat – getting out of the house with an unpredictable baby in tow can be challenging.

We encourage you to arrive 5 to 15 minutes early so you have time to get settled and relaxed before class and to give you a buffer in case you run into traffic.

You can learn more about our cancellation policies here.

Can I bring my baby to class?

At this time, we do not have any baby-friendly classes on the schedule. You can see our full schedule here.

I'm having issues with Mindbody, can you help?

Yes we can!

Please email us at info@willowptbo.com and let us know the nature of the issue, so we can get things working for you. You can also contact Mindbody support – they may be able to help you quicker.

I'm pregnant and want to take a class

While we don't currently have any specific prenatal yoga classes on our schedule, we have many classes that are prenatal-friendly, and appropriate for all stages of pregnancy. No prior yoga experience is required. If you don’t feel comfortable with a movement or position, you’ll be shown modifications to adapt the movement or pose to your body. The hardcopy flyer version of our schedule which you can pick up in-studio indicates these classes.

We also recommend that ALL who are expecting see a pelvic floor physiotherapist during pregnancy, and take Anita Lambert’s Bump to Birth Online Prenatal Prep Course. You’ll learn a lot of valuable info to prepare you for the later stages of pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum recovery.

Do you have treatment rooms to rent?

At this time our treatment rooms are fully booked, and we don’t have space to accommodate additional practitioners.

Where did you get your props?

Our mats, blocks, blankets and straps are from the Toronto-based B Yoga.

Our gorgeous vinyl bolster covers are from the Hamilton-based Love My Mat Yoga & Meditation Props Made in Canada – Love My Mat.

What makes yoga so great?

Yoga is one of the few forms of exercise that you can do your entire life, and you can even get better at it as you age.

If you’re a bit science-y, you’ll find this interesting: a 2010 review paper examined more than 80 studies that compared yoga and regular exercise, and found that yoga equaled or surpassed exercise in such things as improving balance, reducing fatigue, decreasing anxiety, cutting stress, lifting moods, improving sleep, reducing pain, lowering cholesterol, and more generally in raising the quality of life.

Yoga has been shown to have positive health benefits on blood pressure and osteoporosis. It helps to counteract the deterioration of disks that lie between your vertebrae, keeping your spine “youthful” and preventing that hunching that happens with age. Studies have shown that patients who do yoga have fewer hospital visits, less need for drug therapy, and a smaller number of serious coronary events ranging from heart attacks to death.

There are many other benefits that we haven’t mentioned. Yoga is good stuff.

A few FAQ

Got any questions?We’ve got answers

"I don’t feel alone in it"

Your mindset shapes everything.