Community Practice
The Practice Room offers a variety of ongoing community practices that are open to the arts community and the neighbourhood. These offerings and practices are free or a pay-what-you-can model.
If you are interested in facilitating or creating a class or exploration, please email us at thepracticeroomto@gmail.com for our calendar availability and a description of what you would like to offer.
Sharing Practice
Description: Sharing Practice is a laboratory where Meryem shares somatic explorations based on her studies in Body-Mind Centering, and her curiosities about dance, movement, stillness and presence, always. From Meryem; "I think there’s nothing I love more than presence. It’s not always easy but it’s also the easiest because it only requires one to be, nothing more, nothing else. It’s not about showing off or trying to do something impressive or cool. It’s not about being interesting, but it’s all about being interested. Interested in the now unfolding."
Instructor: Meryem Alaoui.
Cost: This is a donation-based class, with a suggested starting cost of $10.
How to sign up: Please email meryem@jasad.ca for more information.
The Actors’ Jam
Intended for working actors who want to hone skills they’ve learned on set, in class, auditions, or self-taping, the jam welcomes all styles of work. Whether you choose to bring in a scene, monologue, upcoming/past audition, voice work or improv, the time is yours. Think of the ACTOR’S JAM as your own PERSONAL GYM, with a group who believes that the working actor’s process is their own, and is committed to a space free of personal value judgement and focussed on expanding your community and creative power. Cost: FREE!
Facilitator: David Tompa or Lara-Jean Chorostecki or David Reale
How to sign up: Just show up at The Practice Room!
The Embodied Self
Description: These free classes explore embodied practices that center creativity, connection, and care. These sessions support performing artists by nurturing a fully embodied, creative, and responsive self. Together, we'll engage across generations and diverse practices, sharing intentional time and space. Through movement, embodied voice work, and dialogue, we'll expand possibilities for learning from each other. We suggest you wear comfortable clothes to move in (no outdoor shoes in the studio, but indoor shoes, socks or bare feet are ok!). You may also want to bring a water bottle, notebook and pen.
Facilitators: Julia Aplin, Shannon Litzenberger, Andrea Nann and Roula Said.
Cost: FREE!
Vocally Joyful
Description: A workshop where play, community, and mindfulness intertwine with each other to create a space for vocal empowerment and development. Together we’ll work on learning to be more present, grounded, and risk-taking to overcome anxieties that affect the voice and self-image. Each class will touch on the physical and mental components that are necessary for such growth. For the physical, we’ll focus on stretching, simple breath work, theatre games, and improv activities. For the mental, we’ll have discussions on how certain activities make us feel and our relationship with our sense of self or voice. This workshop is for anyone who wants to enhance their creativity and power of their performance voice and break free mental limitations in a fun and safe environment.
Instructor: SelectaSarah (she/her) is a creative from Brampton Ontario. From a young age, she was passionate about performing, connecting with people, and immersing them in art. With her passion, she has written and directed her own play with Theatre Passe Muraille and performs her spoken word around Toronto at Peard Experiences and They go low, we go laugh. Through her time performing, she’s become enthusiastic about teaching voice skills and aims to empower and train voices and identities. She has worked with Young Peoples Theatre, NIA Centre for the Arts, City of Mississauga, Future Black Female, and the Greenprint Network to build artistic workshops based on voice pedagogy. Selecta loves music and its power to move and resonate with people. She explores those intersections through her podcast Alternative Talks. She hopes by taking up space in her creative disciplines, she will inspire others to do the same and unapologetically share their voice.
Cost: PWYC!
How to sign up: Please email SelectaSarah@gmail.com for more information.
Yoga Therapy & Sun Salutations
Description: This yoga therapy group class which involves appropriate application of yoga and Ayurveda for restoring body, managing energy, and supporting mental emotional complex. Join in every Friday morning for a healing yoga therapy group practice which will involve mindful breath-led yoga movements/Vinyasa, restful supported postures/asana’s, yoga breathing/pranayama, and dedicated time for seated mindfulness practice. Each week will have different focus to facilitate self-inquiry and self-compassion, an all-level practice to connect and create a healing community. Yoga mats, bolsters, blankets, and blocks will be provided.
Facilitator: Shehla Khan is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, Certified Yoga Therapist, mix-lineage certified yoga teacher with Trauma sensitive training and experience working with brain injury, chronic pain, sleep disorders, depression and anxiety. She is passionate about using the power of yoga to empower individuals on their journey to cultivate a life full of healing and love. “I believe in the simplicity and the discipline of this great practice of Yoga. In the tradition of Krishnamacharya and T.K.V. Desikachar. I draw on different styles of Yoga while incorporating contemporary techniques that promote healing and balance. From Sivananda to Classical Hatha, Vinyasa to Yin and Restorative, I incorporate Yoga’s knowledge of itself into my own practice and share it with others through my offerings. As a Certified Yoga Therapist, I work diligently to bring the unaltered teachings of Yoga to the people around me. I have been teaching Yoga and offering Yoga Therapy in Toronto for over 17 years. I have taught public, corporate, and private Yoga classes, workshops, and outreach programs. As a faculty member of 200 hr Yoga Teacher Certificate program at Downward Dog Yoga studio and Iam Yoga, in downtown Toronto, I share my knowledge of Yoga Philosophy, Ayurveda and Tantra with love, respect, and truly believe yoga to be a lifelong journey.” - Shehla Khan
Cost: PWYC!
How to sign up: Please email yogawithshehla@gmail.com with the dates you wish to attend!