The Branches

The Branches Formerly Queen Street Yoga. Yoga & movement. Rooted in Community. Down-to-earth classes, expert yoga

We opened our doors in 2005, and have become known for our highly experienced teachers, our innovative approach to movement, and our efforts in community care and social justice. Our aim is to make the practices of yoga and meditation more inclusive, more accessible, and more relevant for your day-to-day life.

Teacher Feature! Meet Jen! Some questions we asked Jen : 1. If you could invent a new yoga pose, what would it be called...
07/29/2025

Teacher Feature! Meet Jen!

Some questions we asked Jen :

1. If you could invent a new yoga pose, what would it be called? What would it focus on?

- The Lemon Squeeze - Pucker up your face like you just ate a tart lemon: squeeze! squeeze! squeeze! Then release and let all the muscles in your face relax, ahhhhh.

2. What is your favorite yoga position? Why is it your fav?

- Legs-up-the-wall! It is so calming and grounding to have my legs elevated - especially with a block under my sacrum. It's my go-to when I have trouble with sleep.

3. What got you into yoga? and/or into yoga teaching?

- Over 25 years ago, I came for the flexibility and stretching to compliment my physical exercise - I've stayed for the integrative mind-body wellness that yoga fosters when you practice on a regular basis.

4. If your yoga mat had a built-in special feature, what would be the coolest one?

- The coolest would be warming coils for cozy restorative poses.

Last chance, don't miss out on our Summer 10 pack!
07/25/2025

Last chance, don't miss out on our Summer 10 pack!

Teacher Feature! Meet Nicole! Some questions we asked Nicole: 1. What is your favorite yoga position? Why is it your fav...
07/22/2025

Teacher Feature! Meet Nicole!

Some questions we asked Nicole:

1. What is your favorite yoga position? Why is it your fav?

- Half Moon is one of my go-to's. The stretch feels good as does the downward dive, and I like the challenge of finding new ways to practice it (freestanding or with the backing of the wall, blocks or no blocks, with or without a quad stretch). It contains multitudes and can be freewheeling or more focused, depending on the day.

2. What got you into yoga? and/or into yoga teaching?

- I needed a way to keep moving and take a break as someone who worked at a desk for many years. One of my friends introduced to me to lunch time sessions at work, and it blossomed from there!

3. If your yoga mat had a built-in special feature, what would be the coolest one?

- Temperature control: self-warming, self-cooling (and also, self-cleaning!)

4. What are some other forms of movement that you do outside of yoga?

- Strength training, HIIT

Hello, August! Come join us here for some yoga in the sun :)
07/21/2025

Hello, August! Come join us here for some yoga in the sun :)

✨ We’re so proud of the guest faculty in this year’s Yoga Teacher Training starting October 2025!These are teachers we’v...
07/15/2025

✨ We’re so proud of the guest faculty in this year’s Yoga Teacher Training starting October 2025!

These are teachers we’ve learned from, built relationships with, and invited in because they ask the questions that matter — about anatomy, anti-racism, decolonization, and the heart of practice.
We can’t wait to learn with these incredible folks this year:

Carla Beharry: Racial Justice & Racial Trauma: Restorative and Transformative Embodiment Practicesbeharry

Madeleine Shen: Embodied Anatomyhealing.body

Sheena Sood: Decolonizing Yoga, Healing Justice, Caste Oppression


Nicole Brown Faulknor: Trauma Sensitive Yoga


Jennifer Snowdon: Breath Physiology and Yogic breathingsnowdon

Carin Lowerison: Voice, Creative Sequencing


Indu Vashist: History of Yoga on the subcontinent, History of Asana on Turtle Island, and Decolonizing Yoga


Leslie Stokman: Mobility, Nervous System Education and Trauma-informed teachingstokwoman

Curious about learning from these amazing teachers? Book a Curiosity Call with one of our YTT Directors, Leena and Emma, and get $250 off tuition.

Teacher Feature! Meet Anne! Some questions we asked Anne: 1. If you could invent a new yoga pose, what would it be calle...
07/15/2025

Teacher Feature! Meet Anne!

Some questions we asked Anne:

1. If you could invent a new yoga pose, what would it be called? What would it focus on?

- I have no idea, but likely it would be something inspired by dance. Something that finds that combination of strength and expressiveness.

2. What is your favorite yoga position? Why is it your fav?

- So many favourites, but I think side plank wins for me. There's just such a variety or ways you can do it, it's expansive and makes you feel strong, and the big one for me is it transitions to so many other shapes, so it's fun to play with!

3. What if animals could secretly talk but just choose not to? What conspiracy theory do you think they have about humans?

- There's no way my cats don't think humans have an unhealthy interest in their p**p. Like, why do we keep collecting it? That's super weird! At this point--if they can secretly speak--I'd guess they're too afraid to ask, but the stare down when cleaning their boxes speaks volumes.

4. What are some other forms of movement that you do outside of yoga?

- Does manual labour count? Gardening, building...? I have explored some ballet, and I do enjoy lifting weights occassionally. Next on the list to try is climbing and hip-hop.

📢If you're as passionate about accessibility/equity in the yoga field as we are, please help us spread the word about th...
07/14/2025

📢If you're as passionate about accessibility/equity in the yoga field as we are, please help us spread the word about this scholarship opportunity!

The Branches offers scholarships for our Yoga Teacher Training Program to folx who identify as Black, Indigenous or Racialized, and/or who are trans, disabled or low-income. These scholarships are a step towards decentering whiteness, financial privilege, able and cisgender bodies in the field of yoga.

We are committed to offering AT LEAST 1 in 5 of our Yoga Teacher Training spots at a 50% off scholarship. If you identify with one or more of the above groups and are interested in deepening your yoga practice and one day sharing yoga, please see our website to apply, or reach out to chat with us!

Teacher Feature! Meet Nicole! Some questions we asked Nicole: 1. What is your favorite yoga position? Why is it your fav...
07/08/2025

Teacher Feature! Meet Nicole!

Some questions we asked Nicole:

1. What is your favorite yoga position? Why is it your fav?

- Any warriors series of pose - Fierce Presence
Each Warrior pose calls you into the now. There's no room for distraction—just breath, intention, and shape. It's a series that mirrors living with purpose: facing forward (Warrior I), standing your ground (Warrior II), and daring to fly (Warrior III).

2. What got you into yoga? and/or into yoga teaching?

- I was first drawn to yoga as a personal healing practice—a way to reconnect with my body, breath, and inner world. Over time, as I experienced its transformative impact, I felt called to support others on their own journeys. Teaching became a way to invite curiosity, self-compassion, and embodied healing, while also helping to co-create safer spaces where individuals feel seen, supported, and empowered to reclaim their wholeness

3. If your yoga mat had a built-in special feature, what would be the coolest one?

- If my yoga mat had a built-in special feature, the coolest one would be an immersive sound system woven seamlessly into the mat—designed to play grounding frequencies, soothing nature sounds, or curated healing playlists that sync with the rhythm of my breath and movement. Imagine transitioning into Savasana as soft ocean waves or heart-centered binaural beats rise gently around you, turning your mat into a portable sanctuary for nervous system regulation and deep rest. It’s not just music—it’s medicine woven into the mat.

4. What are some other forms of movement that you do outside of yoga?

- tadasana, savasana & chair pose

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Our Story

We are a beautiful yoga studio with caring, fun, and well trained teachers. A small business that is about community, not commodity. A haven of sunshine, quiet and wide open space in the heart of busy downtown Kitchener. A place where people of varied demographics come together to learn and grow through the practices of yoga and meditation.