Yoga Grooves and Tabla Workshop with Diane Bruni and Rakkatak

PULSE: Bring in the New Year!

Be moved by a yoga class which links breath to rhythm and movement. This will be followed by an Introduction To Tabla workshop.

11am – 12pm: Yoga sequences lead by Jen Helland, music by Rakkatak

12:15pm – 1:15pm: Introduction to Tabla workshop lead by Anita Katakkar

Yoga Grooves $10
Tabla workshop $10
Both classes $15
(December 19th event info here)


Yoga Grooves (11am – 12pm)

Be moved by rhythms and melodies linked to breath with yoga instructor Jennifer Helland. The musical accompaniment will honour the need for space while also trying to capture the mood exuding from the class. When accompanying yoga, Anita brings her tabla and her laptop with a plethora of sounds including drones, beats and melodic samples. Rakkatak has released two 'Yoga Trax' albums featuring music that link breath to movement.

Introduction to Tabla Workshop (12:15pm – 1:15pm)

Within an introductory workshop, Anita covers concepts such as: the language of tabla, the history of Indian classical music, the construction of a set of tabla, the concept of taal (North Indian rhythmic system) as well as important tabla terminology and concepts. Each participant will get hands on experience playing tabla with drums provided in the workshop. In addition Anita will talk about the benefits of a daily practice. No drums or experience necessary!


Jen Helland

Jennifer discovered yoga as a dancer in her young twenties. At her very first yoga class, the experience resonated so deeply within that she knew then how meaningful and important yoga was going to become in her life.

As a teacher, Jennifer encourages her students to listen in, practice from a place of abundance, open their hearts, and understand that there is no finish line. She first studied at Downward Dog Yoga Centre, completing their training program in 2004, and has been joyously teaching in Toronto and abroad ever since. In 2013, she completed Octopus Garden’s 300-hour teacher training program.

Jennifer feels blessed for all that she continues to learn as a yoga teacher. Her newest teachers are her children, Oslo, and Lille. They keep her in the present moment, riding the waves of life and embracing it all, from the most challenging to the most joyous times.


Anita Katakkar

Anita Katakkar (a.k.a. "Rakkatak") has developed music to accompany a moving yoga practice, through collaborating with yoga instructors. Anita Katakkar has studied tabla in the Lucknow tradition since 1995 with Toronto composer Ritesh Das and living legend Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri in California and India. She began accompanying yoga classes in 2005 when encouraged to do so by Toronto yoga instructor and mentor Jeannine Woodall. She had no idea that this was the beginning of a journey where she would become aware of the power of breathing. Anita provides rhythms that can be used to gauge the breath in a class setting. In addition, her music reflects the intensity of the class's vinyasa. Anita honours the need for space while also trying to capture the mood exuding from the class. When accompanying yoga, she brings her tabla and her laptop with a plethora of sounds including drones, beats and melodic samples. She has released two 'Yoga Trax' albums featuring music that link breath to movement. Anita also continues to perform, compose and produce for her collaborative music collective Rakkatak.