Yoga studios across Canada held classes in memory of a friend and colleague on Saturday.
Three Halifax-based yoga studios participated in "A Yogi's Legacy," a national event in memory of Kristin Johnston.
"The idea behind this initiative is that it's going to be an annual thing that we hope to grow as part of Kristin's legacy, because one of the most important things that she lived for was helping all of her friends, giving back and she was super passionate about yoga and it's healing potential," says Johnston's friend Lisa Abramowicz.
Johnston owned and operated Bikram Yoga Halifax. Her body was discovered on the morning of March 26 in the home she owned on Oceanview Drive in Halifax.
The event was held on what would have been Johnston's 33rd birthday and organized by her older sister Kim Johnston, and friend Jennifer Hazard.
"For the people who loved her, it's a way for us to shift the grief, you know it's always going be incredibily difficult, but this is about celebrating her life," says Abramowicz.
At least a dozen studios in six different provinces across Canada participated. In Halifax, Rio Yoga, Moksha Yoga and Halifax Yoga all held classes focusing on the “Bikram” style yoga that Johnston taught.
"People can practice anywhere, it doesn't have to be at the chosen studios, you can do it in the forest, you can do it on the beach, it's just about celebrating her birthday and her life," says Abramowicz.
The event hopes to raise enough donations to sponsor a woman to attend “The Haven Come Alive” program in British Columbia, a program which Kristin Johnston had wanted to attend this year.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Allan April
