Essentrics® is a trademark fitness program developed in Montreal, Canada by Miranda Esmonde-White, an ex-ballerina with the National Ballet of Canada. It’s a practice rooted in the foundations of ballet, Tai Chi, and physiotherapy whose goal is to create a strong, lean body with optimal flexibility. It uses the entire body - all 650+ muscles and 200+ bones - to mimic everyday movements in their most broad format with a low impact and maximum results, allowing you to flow through your day (and life) with ease.

Just a mat, some water, and any support props required (block, strap, towel/pillow, chair or barre). Inquire with your instructor as to which props are provided by the studio. Best of all, no socks or shoes!

My classes are 1 hour in length. Quick breaks are provided when transitioning from standing to floor or barre sequences, while you are welcome to take mini breaks as needed throughout the class.

Once you’re already exercising at a moderate level you’re good to go. I would recommend a minimum of 3-6 months, with 6-12 months postpartum being ideal. Most importantly, you know your body best.

I’d love to say yes, especially since I’d love my littles to be there too. However, due to the level of attention required and mental processing taking place while moving your body, as well as the necessity to complete the class start to finish as best as you can in order to not leave your body imbalanced at the end, I keep my classes to participants only. (This may change in future.)

Yes and no. It’s similar to yoga in that Essentrics uses a yoga mat (turned sideways), it uses the body as its own equipment, the entire body is used, and there is some breathwork involved. It’s dissimilar to yoga in that it doesn’t use static stretching, the cueing is more intricate, and we always flow and move within our stretches in Essentrics.

It’s similar to pilates in that there is some repetition used, but dissimilar in that our movements build in intensity and depth of stretch with each repetition. Essentrics also doesn’t work on muscles in isolation, instead it works through entire muscle chains in one movement since everything’s connected in the body.

Over time, most muscle tension and atrophy can be reversed with movements provided in the Essentrics practice. Think of it as a gentle self-massage that lubricates and mobilizes the soft tissues of your body. The goal in this practice is to challenge your muscles and bones without hurting them. The “no pain, no gain” mantra does not apply here! Essentrics is a gentle, rehabilitative, and regenerative practice.

Technically, labour is an injury to the body and that will already be taken into account in my classes, as will any other injuries previously noted with me prior to participating. Though, I would recommend against attending class unless you’re comfortably in the recovery stage. I will always cue specifically to injuries/recoveries and allow you to work at your own level of intensity. In addition, the program itself works with your body without straining it and there are always modifications offered to all participants.

Good news…alternate dates are available for make up classes! Please refer to the scheduled dates on the “Book A Class” page.

Unfortunately, no. You’re always welcome to carry your credits forward to a future series or class, but purchases are non-refundable. In addition, if you signed up for and paid for a class, but didn’t attend without notice to myself (your instructor) at least 30 minutes prior to the class start time, your purchase will be forfeited.