Diane Bruni has been studying various forms of yoga for over thirty years.  Having worked full time as a hands-on healer, her knowledge of the human body and its many interconnected layers adds an unparalleled dimension to her teaching.

Diane's exploration of yoga began in 1978 at the age of 19, when she attended a white tantric yoga weekend under the guidance of Yogi Bajhan. This transformative experience led her to Kundalini yoga, which she practiced with the local community in Toronto at that time. Most significantly, the practice of yoga sparked her awareness of the subtle energies within the body.   In 1980, Diane began formal studies is Eastern healing techniques with Mittsuki Kikkawa and in 1983 she graduated from the Kikkawa College of Shiatsu and Massage Therapy.  Diane's yoga practice would provide a constant source of energy to fuel her work as a Shiatsu Therapist as well as an opportunity for studying the human body and its many interconnected layers.

In 1984, Diane met Lisa Schwartz, whose vigorous and compelling classes channeled the teachings of  Krishnamarchya, teacher of both BKS Iyengar and Sri K Pattabhi Jois.  In the years to follow, Diane went on to study various schools of yoga, and in 1993 discovered the Ashtanga series at a workshop with Richard Freeman.  It was Richard's exquisite teaching of breath and bandhas that inspired her to delve deeper into the eight-limbed practice of Ashtanga. At that time there were no Ashtanga teachers in Canada. Diane pursued her practice in isolation until her enthusiasm could not be contained and she began to share with friends her insights into vinyasa yoga. Before long she was teaching classes at the newly opened Yoga Studio in Toronto.

In 1997 Diane and Ron Reid opened the Downward Dog Yoga Centre and Toronto's burgeoning yoga community now had a home. The evolution of Downward Dog has provided Diane and Ron a forum for the development and exploration of this vital living tradition.

Diane brings a therapeutic approach to the traditional yoga context, through classes that synthesize everything she has learnt over the years from her teachers and students alike. Through all of Diane's pursuits in yoga, she strives to understand and support the needs of the individual, approaching each class as a gateway to a magical healing journey.  In 2000, she was able to communicate this approach to mass audiences, filming 65 half-hour episodes of Breathing Space Yoga. The show has been airing around the world ever since, and is today shown regularly on channel ONE.

Diane is thankful to the Toronto community for all of its support, and hopes that Downward Dog will continue to be a part of the vibrant Queen West neighbourhood for a long time to come.

Diane's regular teaching schedule at the downward dog, downtown:

Mondays, 12:00pm to 2:00pm - Level 1

Tuesdays, 5:30pm to 7:15pm - Level 1

Tuesdays, 7:30pm to 9:30pm - Ujjayi Pulse

Wednesdays, 12:00pm to 2:00pm - Level 1

Thursdays, 1:00pm to 3:00pm - Level 1/2

Thursdays, 5:30pm to 7:15pm - Ujjayi Pulse

Fridays, 12:00pm to 2:00pm - Level 1

Sundays, 11:00am to 1:00pm - Ujjayi Pulse

Article link: The Upside of Downward Dog, girlphyte.com