Vankleek Hill’s favourite yoga instructor
As the morning mist surrenders to sunshine, a captivating community in rural eastern Ontario comes to life.
At a local yoga and fitness studio, Hannah Hamsa helps villagers with their daily awakening.
“Hear the breath, feel the breath,” she says serenely.
The 83-year-old took her first class almost seven decades ago.
“The first lesson, my yoga teacher said this will help you with the hurried, worried world,” she smiled.
Yoga instructor Hannah Hamsa. (Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa)
Hannah’s been gifting strength and calm to students here for 35 years. Her classes are a favourite of yogis and yoginis of all ages, like 92-year-old beef farmer, Art Abbey.
“We’re very lucky to have her,” said Abbey.
“You can tell by the number that keep coming out that she’s obviously very popular.”
“She’s a great example of how to keep fit as you get older,” said Hannah’s student and friend, June Elliott.
“She’s very inspirational, very well known in the area and everyone loves Hannah,” she said with a warm smile.
Hannah loves her community.
“Everyone takes care of each other,” says the energized octogenarian with a bounce in her step.
She walks around Vankleek Hill four times a week, hoping her strides inspire others to get moving.
“When you do it a few times, you feel the benefits of it. You start to feel well, and you say, ‘Wow that’s why I feel better!’” she said.
Hannah Hamsa on one of her many walks in the community of Vankleek HIll, Ont. (Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa)
While strolling through a Vankleek Hill Park, a yoga student stops Hannah to thank her.
“When I do your class, even once a week, it saves me,” said the student.
“To see a beginner walk through the door of my yoga class, I know in my heart something is going to change for them,” Hannah said grinning.
Hannah’s been active her whole life. As a young woman, she was a long-time, baton-twirling majorette.
“With the RoughRiders. We were called the O’Keefettes,” she said.
As a younger woman, Hannah Hamsa twirled baton with the "O’Keefettes." (Supplied)
Today, Hannah’s spin is fitness. She encourages others to get strong and stay strong.
“I built muscle here (pointing to her bicep) in three weeks when I was eighty-years-old.”
As she pulled up her sleeve, she posed this question.
“Do you want to see my bicep? There it is,” she laughed, while pointing at the bulge.
83-year-old Hannah Hamsa of Vankleek Hill flexes her bicep to show the importance of staying strong. (Joel Haslam/CTV News Ottawa)
Hannah’s mantra is simple. When it comes to improving flexibility, strength, and balance, it’s never too late.
“Just keep doing your best. Your body loves attention, so treat it well.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Louis Gossett Jr., 1st Black man to win supporting actor Oscar, dies at 87
Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries 'Roots,' has died. He was 87.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
Luxury cruise line selling world cruise suite for US$1.7 million
Luxury operator Regent Seven Seas Cruises is raising their price tag to eye-watering levels, with a suite on an upcoming 140-day world voyage costing US$1.7 million.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
A Filipino villager is nailed to a cross for the 35th time on Good Friday to pray for world peace
A Filipino villager has been nailed to a wooden cross for the 35th time to reenact Jesus Christ’s suffering in a brutal Good Friday tradition he said he would devote to pray for peace in Ukraine, Gaza and the disputed South China Sea.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.