I have been wanting to attend a Yoga class in Ottawa though I'm quite happy with my self-practice. But since the re-opening after the pandemic shutdown, studios have increased their fees by huge amounts. I've seen upward of $60/class in Toronto last fall. Here most places seemed to have settled around $30. Add $7.50 for transit and I'm looking at close to $40. This was too pricey for classes that were likely "less difficult" that my home practice.
But Astanga Ottawa was keeping their old prices. Along with free transit in December (to win back riders from months of LRT problems), this made for an affordable option. So on Tuesday, I headed downtown to Bank and Laurier for an early evening class. It was a good practice with an attentive teacher though I'm not a fan of working through the Primary Series. I prefer more flow and custom sequencing. It was also a hard practice for most people: even the vinyasas between postures can be physically challenging with so many repetitions. So I didn't like watching some of my fellow yogis, who really should be taking slower classes focusing on proper alignment, struggle.
Afterwards, I went across the street to check out Roast 'n' Curries. This small Indian eatery had several tables with diners (friends in their 20s, a couple on a date). After looking at the menu, I opted for the Matter Paneer Combo ($17.69). The curry came on a bed of basmati rice with salad, samosa, and a drink. Overall, it was mediocre food. First, I still can't get over Ottawa's tendency to include salad with dressing for Indian meals. Second, the curry was acceptable but mostly bland. Finally, the naan was pretty bad. They do offer tandoori dishes like chicken here (the "Roast" part of the name?) but I don't think they actually have a tandoor oven. It was closer to a Middle-Eastern flatbread than a soft and fluffy naan. Its' dense texture and hard crust was not fun to eat even with big dollops of curry.
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