Overview
Here and Now Studio is a cozy, welcoming yoga and mindfulness studio in Ottawa, founded by Heather Cross in 2018. The studio offers courses in hatha, prenatal, children’s, parent and baby, and restorative yoga, along with mindfulness classes and workshops such as cooking, family board games, and wine tasting. Weekly Tuesday evening yoga classes run in 10-week sessions for $250, with modifications for all levels. Workplace wellness programs, from one-hour workshops to multi-week courses, are tailored to reduce stress and build resilience. The studio features a comfortable sitting area with books, coffee, and tea. Heather, a lawyer, professor, and mother, brings a personal understanding of stress management and a warm teaching style. Reviews praise her skill and the unique stretch-and-stir yoga-cooking experience. The studio also offers private sessions, retreats, and customized corporate programs, all designed to help participants live more fully in the present moment.
Yoga Format
Yoga Styles
Studio Amenities
Studio Business Hours
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Studio in Details
Overview and Philosophy
Here and Now Studio, located at 2324 Alta Vista Drive in Ottawa, is a cozy, unpretentious yoga and mindfulness studio founded in 2018 by Heather Cross. The studio’s name reflects its core mission: helping participants anchor themselves in the present moment through mindful movement and meditation. Heather, a lawyer, professor, editor, and mother of two, brings a deeply personal understanding of stress management to her teaching. She first discovered yoga in 2002, completed her teacher training in 2006, and earned her mindfulness certification in 2014. Recognizing that practice is easier to sustain in community, she opened the studio to support those seeking fuller, more present lives.
The studio’s offerings include courses in hatha, prenatal, children’s, parent and baby, and restorative yoga, as well as mindfulness classes and workshops. Beyond yoga, the studio hosts special events such as cooking classes, family board game afternoons, wine tastings, and retreats. Workplace wellness programs are also available, designed and facilitated by legal professionals who understand modern workplace stress. These programs range from one-hour introductory workshops to multi-week courses, covering topics like mindfulness fundamentals, stress resilience, self-compassion, and body awareness.
Classes and Workshops
Weekly yoga classes at Here and Now Studio include Tuesday evening sessions from 6:00–7:00 pm and 8:00–9:00 pm, offered in 10-week series for $250. Classes blend energizing and restful poses, ending with savasana, and modifications are provided for various ability levels. Participants are encouraged to listen to their bodies and work within their limits. Waitlists are available for full classes or inconvenient times, and additional sessions may be added based on interest.
Workshops cater to diverse interests. For example, “Stretch and Stir” combines yoga with cooking, while other workshops explore family yoga, basic yoga poses and sequences (like downward dog and sun salutations), desk stretches, mindful movement, and even compassion practices for challenging relationships. Some sessions are one-hour, others 90 minutes, and multi-week courses allow deeper integration of mindfulness tools. Private yoga sessions and customized half- or full-day mini-retreats are also available for staff or clients.
Visitor Experience
The studio’s atmosphere is described as welcoming and supportive. Besides the main practice space, there is a comfortable sitting area stocked with books, coffee, and tea—perfect for socializing or quiet time before or after class. Heather Cross is noted for being warm, welcoming, and a skilled instructor. Reviews highlight her knowledge and the unique combination of yoga and cooking in the “stretch and stir” workshop, as well as classes held at scenic locations like Springwood Cottages. The studio emphasizes community, practicality, and accessibility, making it a fitting choice for both newcomers and experienced practitioners looking to cultivate presence.