Things to Do in Kingston

Candles, plants, and flowing curtains channel a warm, relaxing vibe in Samatva Yoga's custom-built studios, where students of all skill levels practice ancient poses with a modern twist. To expose pupils to a range of yogic styles, more than a dozen seasoned instructors build an interdisciplinary class lineup that fosters experimentation and self-growth. The studio's signature classes stem from classical traditions such as Hatha and Ashtanga, whose poses and breathing exercises cultivate strength, flexibility, and focus. Many sessions take place in muscle-loosening 105-degree temperatures, which help pores eject body-bound impurities and books on tape lodged in the subconscious. In addition to teaching backbends and arm stands to groups, staffers guide individuals through assisted poses during Thai massages and dissolve energy blockages with reiki treatments. At the downtown Kingston location, a sauna invites students to unwind and detoxify after they stretch and balance in classes and workshops.

Life Yoga's passionate instructors share their expertise in a 1,200-square-foot studio with spacious, spa-inspired shower rooms and a practice space embellished with handmade fabric wallpaper. Students burn calories and release mental stress in small classes with helpful one-on-one attention: gentle Restorative Yoga, energizing Vinyasa Flow, and Hatha Fundamentals are just a few options. In the studio's lobby area, local businesses such as Rhubarb Paper Co. display their wares.

Already a trained yoga instructor, Erin Ball’s transformation into an aerial-silk tycoon began when she discovered circus performance at the Kingston Buskers festival in 2007, as mentioned by the Whig-Standard. She instantly fell in love with the airborne art form, and immediately enrolled in circus courses all across Canada and the United States. Now, Erin shares her passion for acrobatics at Twisted, a circus school that specializes in HoopDance, flexibility for aerialists, and Pilates.

Today, within the Loyalist Gymnastics Club, Erin works alongside skilled fitness and aerial instructors. The staff collectively teaches small groups of no more than 15 people how to flip, twirl, and spin using aerial silks, static trapezes, and aerial hammocks. Students are never pushed past their limits, and are encouraged to explore at their own pace as they learn each move elevated above precisely placed crash mats and squishy, accommodating clowns.

This kind of care and consideration has gained Erin praise from her patrons as well as the media, including the Kingston East News which said, "It's safe to say that Erin is comfortable with and well qualified to guide you in your aerial yoga practice."

Big Rideau Lake Boat Rental's owner, Heather Heins, has boating in her blood. Hundreds of years ago, her ancestor William Davidson was the first European to settle in New Brunswick, where he built and launched the region's first sailing vessel—the Miramichi.

Today, Heather continues in her forefather's footsteps, managing a fleet of watercrafts alongside her husband, Robert. Their kayaks and canoes skim across the lake's crystal clear waters, and their motorized pontoons and Sea-Doos roar past shores lined with pine trees, cottages, and sunbathing cacti on vacation. The Heinses also oversee an armada of seven houseboats that are outfitted with sleeping quarters, barbecue grills, and air conditioning, ideal for day trips or voyages down the Rideau Canal that last weeks at a time. For Heather, the pride of the fleet is a simple 23-foot houseboat, which she named Miramichi in honour of her ancestor's historic vessel.

Since 1972, Renaissance Music owner Gary Mullen has lived out his philosophy—that anyone can learn to express themselves through music—by selling instruments from makers such as Yamaha, Gibson, Fender, and Martin. The shop’s deft repairmen tend to all the wear and tear musicians inflict, building up a cache of services that ranges from guitar restringing to giving the Heimlich to blocked trumpets.

He facilitates patrons' enjoyment of the music world not only through sales but through lessons; the shop’s team of more than 30 instructors teaches almost 800 students on instruments from the piano to the harmonica. Students can show off their newly learned techniques during in-house concerts, and peruse a vast in-house supply of sheet music for classic concertos or newer works, such as Bach and Mozart mash-ups.

When Captain Andy boarded his first ship at age 17, he had no time for sightseeing—the young merchant marine was too busy hauling iron ore, road salt, and coal to factories along the banks of the Great Lakes. Maybe that's why Captain Andy now takes such delight in whizzing past idyllic islands at 45 mph in the newest addition to his fleet, a Wildcat catamaran. Though an adrenalin rush accounts for some of the Wildcat's appeal, Captain Andy is most pleased that the boat's speeds can help him expose passengers to even more island attractions during his informative and entertaining tours.

A native Ontarian, Captain Andy touts the Brockville waterfront as one of the most accessible and diverse in the world, and happily points out his favourite waterfront parks for picnicking and fishing during his trips. In the same vein, his cruising company offers seven diverse tours that incorporate adventure, theatre performances, and local sightseeing to help riders experience all the wonders of the area by water. The seasoned sailor also recognizes the advantage of helming his smaller ships; their compact size not only ensures more intimate tours and more time with passengers, but allows them to duck into the region's narrow channels where larger boats and determined icebergs can't follow.