Quiet yoga class to empower newcomers

Headsets on, mats rolled out—time to step into a peaceful, immersive session.

At Canal Lachine, a sunset yoga class offers a unique experience where participants wear headphones, staying connected to the music and instructor.

It’s part of Rabaterapia‘s Outdoor Sessions, an initiative that supports the studio’s mission to welcome newcomers and share Brazilian culture.

“Brazilian people were very friendly. It’s really easy for us to make friends. And I know people from other countries sometimes struggle with that. They’re not just going to come and talk to people,” said Rabaterapia Studio’s CEO and head of communications, Priscila Sanches. “When you come to the studio or to any of the classes that we do outdoors, you’re going to receive this energy and everybody’s going to talk to you like they know you for like 10 years.”

Rabaterapia’s fitness and yoga sessions had a meaningful impact on Brazilian participant Ricelli Palmeira González Dos Santos following her time living in Australia.

“The adaptation was so fast. I met so many people very quickly because of Rabaterapia. I connected with the Brazilian community in a pace that I never imagined. Whereas when I moved to Australia, it took me years to actually build my community. I think the work they are doing here is simply spectacular,” said Dos Santos.

“It’s so nice because there is no judgment on you. You just can enjoy yourself. You have freedom to enjoy yourself through the dance class, yoga, heels, all the classes we’re having,” added participant Amanda Silva.

“The classes are multilingual, so depending on who comes, they can be taught in English, Portuguese and French. And while we are a Brazilian community, we’ve started off as two Brazilian friends that created this community. But now we have people from all over the world attending our classes,” said Rabaterapia’s CEO & co-founder Guilherme Sperb Pereira.

“I just hope people feel invited to come and to experience this because it’s something magical when you put your headsets on and you’re really getting to this moment that there’s nothing else but you and yourself,” added Pereira.