'Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.' -Rumi

where yoga, mindfulness and creativity meet

Loving Self-Care through  Mindful Hatha Yoga on Zoom

Loving Self-Care through Mindful Hatha Yoga on Zoom

Something magical happens when we begin to pay attention to our experience in a kind, non-judgmental and curious manner. There is nowhere to get to in our yoga practice; the invitation is to stay fully present with each breath and movement and to experience the natural quieting of the mind as it unfolds spontaneously. Join a group of women who practice for the same reason: loving self care and reap the many benefits of a committed practice. Let your yoga mat be your sanctuary as you ease and release pain, stiffness and fatigue from your body/mind and nourish your inherent ground of wellbeing. Classes are held on Zoom on Monday and Wednesday evenings @ 6:45 - 7:45 pm EST and on alternating Friday afternoons @ 4:30-5:30 pm EST and Sunday evenings @ 7:30-8;30 pm EST. Each class is recorded and the recording link is sent out to members for later practice. Investment: $32.00 / month or $8.00 drop-in fee Contact me through my website for further information.

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iRest Meditation for Deep Rest and Relaxation on Zoom on Sunday, February 5/23 @ 4:00 -4:45 pm EST

iRest Meditation for Deep Rest and Relaxation on Zoom on Sunday, February 5/23 @ 4:00 -4:45 pm EST

"Instead of asking. 'Have I worked hard enough to deserve rest?' I have started asking, 'Have I rested enough to do my most loving, meaningful work?'" -Nicola Jane Hobbs Join me on Zoom from the comfort of your home to rest deeply and to restore with this ancient healing practice. In the safe container of the practice, you are provided with tools to help you relax deeply, to release stress and to increase resiliency. Integrative Restoration, or iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation is a modern-day secular adaptation of the ancient healing practice of Yoga Nidra. iRest is a form of meditative self-inquiry that research shows effectively reduces PTSD, depression, anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, and chemical dependency; while increasing health, resiliency and well-being and providing one with a greater sense of control and skillfulness in Life. It is a body centered, guided meditation practice for self-regulation and self-care that nourishes qualities such as joy, peacefulness, and loving-kindness toward yourself and others. iRest meditation can be practiced in a group or individual setting and is most often practiced lying down, however, one is always invited to find the most supportive position for the meditation

MUDRAS: The healing power in your hands - Mudra Workshop on Zoom

MUDRAS: The healing power in your hands - Mudra Workshop on Zoom

When: 4:30 - 5:30 pm EST, Friday February 24/23 Where: on Zoom (The session will be recorded and the recording link will be sent out for later practice.) Cost: Included in monthly membership, or $15.00. Did you know that our hands and fingers are full of meaning and potent healing energy waiting to be tapped into? Mudras are ancient healing hand gestures that work on our energy body that underlies our physical body. They release blocked negative energy and activate a vibrant, healthy energy flow. Mudras strengthen the immune system, balance emotions and aid in mental focus and clarity. They are simple to do, promote self-empowerment and are always at your fingertips. They are a beautiful testimony to our inherent wholeness.

Meditations in ink

Meditations in ink

I like to call these drawings meditation in ink - they engage me with a gentle focus and gift me with a sense of calm and contentment. All my drawings are filled with hearts, flowers and creatures from Nature reflecting the inherent simplicity of Life and its abundant offering of simple pleasures, blessings, and joy. I also have several images exploring Motherhood and the fierce, boundless love a mother feels for her children.

The Mindful Stitchery: Where mindfulness and hand embroidery meet - for ages 8-12

The Mindful Stitchery: Where mindfulness and hand embroidery meet - for ages 8-12

This 4-week session combines the art of patient hand embroidery with mindfulness exercises. Stitching by hand, I find, is very calming and meditative in itself. The way the breath flows in and out, so does the needle move through the fabric. And just like attention coupled with a quiet rhythmic breath creates a peaceful inner landscape, so does the patient movement of the needle give birth to something beautiful right under your hands. This session will introduce you to mindfulness exercises with mudras (hand gestures), poetry and song as well as a selection of basic embroidery stitches. All material will be provided. Where: The Sydenham Library Hall in Sydenham, ON When: Tuesdays February 14, 21, 28 and March 7/23 Investment: $60.00 for the session of 4 classes Contact Maria for more information and to register.

About image
MARIA TEGLAS  E-RYT -200, RYT-500, Certified iRest® Yoga Nidra Meditation Teacher, Certified Mudra/Hand Yoga Teacher

“May my eyes be never blinded by the surface of things; may my heart be kneaded soft and yielding by life’s trials; may I graciously surrender to the mysterious unfolding of my own life.” - an excerpt from The Little Chest of Ready Blessings by Maria

Yoga has supported my life for the past 20 years through all its ups and downs. As an immigrant from Hungary, the mother of five sons, and one who was there for herself on every step of her healing journey from a bout of depression and an anxiety disorder after the birth of my third son; my life, as is that of many others, is a testimony to the healing power of yogic practices and the wisdom teachings of yoga.
Yoga has proved my fundamental belief that we already have everything within us to survive and thrive on our human journey. We are born whole and complete and our wholeness does not change throughout our life, only our experiences do. Our job is to become truly curious about this experience of being alive, about the mystery of being Here Now. 

Originally a teacher of English and Russian Languages from Hungary, I came to Canada more than twenty years ago to be with my Canadian husband whom I met while we were both studying in Russia. Building our life together and fueled by a shared adventurous spirit, we spent almost a decade living in the Canadian Arctic. Of all places, it was in the Arctic that I took my first yoga class on a large towel, in place of a yoga mat, on the linoleum floor of Arctic College. My practice started out in a most simple way and to this day I value simplicity: show up each day and make your practice relevant to YOUR life so it can support your ever-changing needs and circumstances and it can support you in tending to what you need to tend to in life.

Throughout my many years of study, practice and teaching, my passion has been yoga for mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. I have taught in various settings and to various groups: seniors, children, veterans, people with disabilities.  Fueled by deep curiosity and the desire to equip myself with the transformative tools of this ancient practice - both for myself and my students, I have attended numerous trainings and workshops pertaining to mental and emotional health. Some are as follows: Life Force Yoga® for Managing Moods with Amy Weintraub, Yoga for Emotional Balance with Bo Forbes, Yoga for Depression Teacher Training, Yoga for Anxiety Workshop, and Yoga for Chronic Stress Workshop through Esther Myers Yoga Studio. I am a proud graduate of the 300-hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training at the Soul of Yoga Institute (Encinitas, California) where I further immersed myself in the application of yogic tools for health, healing and resilience with Master Teachers such as Dr Richard Miller, Monique Lonner, Flossie Parks, Leslie Kaminoff, and Amy Weintraub. .

I am also a Certified iRest® Yoga Nidra Meditation Teacher and received my certificate from the Integrative Restoration Institute. iRest is an ancient healing practice, a body-centered guided meditation for self-regulation and self-care that focuses on physical, psychological and spiritual health. It is a form of meditative self-inquiry that research shows effectively reduces PTSD, depression, anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, and chemical dependency; while increasing health, resiliency and well-being.

My curiosity also led me to explore the practice of Mudras (ancient healing hand gestures). I studied the practice of Mudras, their therapeutic applications and the practice of Mudras with Crystals with Sabrina Mesko PhD. I am a devoted practitioner of these healing hand gestures and also a Certified Mudra/Hand Yoga Teacher.

I also hold certificates in Yoga for Kids and Families and in Prenatal Yoga.

One passionate mama in the kitchen, I love feeding my tribe and filling their tummies and nourishing their souls with yummy dishes from fresh ingredients.

I love creating beautiful things through embroidery, wet felting and needle felting. I adore making hats and find a lot of joy in the creative process.
When I put down the needle I pick up a pen and draw in my own comforting, meditative style that I call meditations in ink.

I deeply value the gift of a SMILE.


  • Sydenham, Ontario, Canada