6 Creative Scenes Making Thunder Bay an Arts Hotspot
Bonnie Schiedel
April 1, 2026
Just 15 minutes outside of Thunder Bay, tucked along the shores of Lake Superior, there’s a place where you can get a true northern experience that includes yoga and dipping yourself into the coldest (and deepest) of the Great Lakes. Art of Yoga’s approach is simple and grounded and doesn’t feel intimidating or overly “woo”. It’s refreshingly real and might change how you think about movement, cold, and what it means to actually slow down.
This isn’t about chasing flexibility or that perfect Tree pose— it’s about paying attention, showing up as you are, and yes, if you’ve ever said “I’m not flexible enough for yoga” (guilty as charged), with all levels welcome, this is exactly where you belong.
At Art of Yoga, the experience starts in a warm, cozy, studio that overlooks the lake, where the practice is slow and deliberate. Bodies loosen, breath deepens, and sweat does what it’s meant to do. When the class ends, there’s no rush out the door. People linger, tea is poured, and conversations stay quiet and unforced. It’s a moment to settle before what comes next (if you’re brave enough!).
Then come the bathing suits (warm robes are recommended to head outdoors) along with water shoes, and a woolly toque. From there, it’s into the sauna, where heat builds and muscles soften even further. And finally, out onto the ice of Lake Superior, where a clean hole has been cut straight through the surface. That’s when the choice becomes real.
Some people ease in slowly, stopping at the chest, others submerge completely, head and all, a few stay longer than expected, while many are in and out in seconds. Everyone emerges wide eyed, laughing, and very, very awake. It’s cold, like shock your system cold (and that’s the point).
Cold plunging isn’t a new trend, it’s ancient. For centuries, people have used cold water immersion to stimulate circulation and reset the nervous system. Paired with hot yoga and sauna heat, this plunge is entirely different. Muscles calm almost immediately, and mentally, the shift is instant and everything goes quiet. The shock demands presence, with no room for distraction, no inbox, no scrolling, no to-do list, no background noise. Just breath, cold, and awareness.
Every part of the experience, the pace of the yoga, the quiet moments after class, and the way the heat and cold are approached, is shaped by Art Fiedler, the founder and sole instructor behind Art of Yoga. He leads all the yoga sessions at Art of Yoga (with some guest teachers along the way), guiding participants through the practice with a presence that carries through from the mat to the lake.
“I started Art of Yoga because I wanted to make yoga more accessible in Thunder Bay. I wanted to create classes where real people could show up in real bodies and feel like they belonged.”
For those that have attended, they know Art’s teaching style is “no-frills”, with a direct, honest, and “not overly mystical approach”. Rather than sticking to rigid class labels, Art teaches to the room. “I look at who’s in front of me, what their bodies can do, and where they’re at mentally, and I build the practice from there. The goal isn’t to “crush” a class,“ he explained. “I want people to leave feeling more connected to themselves, physically and mentally. Like they understand their body a little better and feel more capable than when they walked in.”
For Art, the sauna and cold plunge aren’t extras, they’re intentional. “Heat softens you. Cold sharpens you. Both demand presence.” Doing it all beside Lake Superior adds another layer entirely. There’s something about practicing next to something that massive and powerful that puts things in perspective. It makes the practice feel more real, and undeniably Northern.
Art of Yoga also offers straight up yoga classes (without the plunge), and private experiences for families, friends, and groups, combining yoga, sauna sessions, cold plunges, or any mix that fits the moment. There’s even a Sunday Funday Flow for those looking to reset before the week begins. If you’re looking for an experience that actually feels like Thunder Bay, this is it. Book the class that appeals to you at artofyoga.ca.
Website developed by Firedog Communications.
CEDC © 2025. All rights reserved.
Website developed by Firedog Communications.
CEDC © 2025. All rights reserved.