Toronto Shambhala Centre

I love going to the Shambhala Centre!
I use to live in the neighborhood, in the 90’s and started going cause it was so close to home. I received basic meditation instruction for free on my first visit and went to the open meditation evening intermittently over the years. I always felt it was an open and welcoming place. January’s there is more intensive sitting for a week, you can pop in and out when the timing works for you and this really resonated with me. I enjoy group meditation and being able to sit for longer periods.
This past year I have started attending the centre with more regularity and find it to be a wonderful community of people who are very open and welcoming. Every Tues and Wed evening there is a group sit and tea and cookies after if you feel like chatting. There is also often some kind of discussion or video that you can stay for if you want to connect more with the Shambhala teachings.
I recently have done some weekend workshops and a week-​long retreat and i would certainly recommend both! So many great teachers and people involved with the community. here is a link to the calendar which shows all the events happening.
I would highly recommend the centre to those those that are curious and new to meditating and also to those who have an established meditation practice and would like to sit with a group.

one of my FAV things about this city. Glad a new lease and fix up (décor) occurred.
A great location, wish I could get there more often (one downside; drop in hours are very limited). Taken 4 levels, really enjoyed the experience…

HELLO, BRAIN? BE QUIET!
If I could find the switch to shut off that running commentary in my head on a regular basis, I’d have the power to move mountains. Unfortunately, this rarely happens, so assistance from yoga and meditation sometimes helps.
I used to go to the Shambhala Centre’s open meditation sessions in Vancouver: it was a pleasant, not culty, no pressure experience. Exactly what forced me to come to the branch in Toronto.
Unfortunately, the Toronto location is a little less comfortable and, because of its location on Bloor Street, is exposed to a lot of noise and traffic hum. I noticed that you have to pay for more of the post-​meditation discussions here. And the people who come here seem involved for the whole package/​lifestyle. I really didn’t see this much bowing and leg-​folding in Vancouver. Maybe that’s just a Toronto thing? I don’t know.
Anyway, for a first-​time zone-​outer, it may be a little off-​putting, but of all the meditation places, this is one of the few that isn’t strongly tied to religion, which is perfect if you’re just there to clear your mind for personal reasons.