When Latika Pierrette Claude stepped foot into her first yoga class in Montreal, her motive was to alleviate back pain that developed from her high-stressed job as an interior designer.
What she later realized was that she was actually seeking a deep spiritual practice; something she eventually found in yoga.
“I started taking classes twice a week. I am fortunate that I found a very good teacher,” says the 73-year-old French Canadian, now a resident of Riberas del Pilar. The classes helped alleviate her back pain and it wasn’t long before she became hooked on yoga.
When Latika finally made the decision to leave her business, she moved with her husband to the small town of Picton on the shores of Lake Ontario.
“It took me five tries before I found a yoga teacher I really liked. I still say to my students, it may take you some time. Be patient. The first teacher you find may not be your teacher.”
She eventually found her spiritual teacher in Picton and ended up studying with Jaime for five years.
“With strong roots in yogic scriptures and yoga philosophy, he incorporated meditation, chanting and yogic education – just what I was searching for,” Latika says.
To deepen her practice, she signed up for a month-long, 200-hour teacher training course at the Kripalu Center in Massachusetts, receiving her certification in June 2006. “I had the best teachers, and the school was so inspiring, so professional.”
When Latika returned to Picton, Jamie told her that she could use his home studio to teach his students during the summer, while he was away.
“I jumped at the opportunity,” says Latika, and she taught his classes until she and Ken took off to their winter home in the Mexican coastal town of Melaque.
While in Melaque, she found herself yearning to teach, so she opened a yoga studio in her home and students started to come. (She continues to teach yoga at her Melaque home, with the same, dedicated students returning each year.)
Throughout her journey on the yoga path, what continued to draw Latika was the deep spiritual side of yoga.
“I loved the mythology, I loved studying about the different gods and goddesses. I believe in Lakshmi, the goddess of riches – she has given me so much; a good life. And Ganesha, the elephant god, protector and giver, has helped guide me on my journey.”
Latika discovered Ajijic when she led a yoga retreat at Vita Bella Hotel in 2013. She continued to lead retreats for the next two years at different venues. In the fall of 2014, she and Ken turned to each other and said, “We really like this place. Why don’t we move here?” In the spring of 2015, they made Riberas del Pilar their home.
Latika soon found herself seeking a spiritual home. “I saw an ad for the Heart of Awareness Buddhist Center (HOA) in the Guadalajara Reporter and called the director, who invited me to attend an event. It wasn’t long before I became involved.”
With a desire to continue sharing her style of yoga, she presented the idea of teaching to the director, who enthusiastically gave her the green light. Latika now teaches yoga classes twice weekly at Heart of Awareness (when she is not in Melaque), and donates all the proceeds to the center.
Latika is getting ready for her fourth retreat, “Atman Kama, Pleasures of the Soul Yoga Retreat,” November 7–12 at HOA. According to Latika, the retreat will focus on the five senses. “Along with yoga and meditation, there will be trips to the local farm markets, a vegan lunch and cooking deonstration, and a soak in San Juan Cosala’s thermal waters.”
Although Latika says yoga has not cured her back pain, it has helped to alleviate it. “Over the years, yoga showed me how to take care of myself; how to relax, respect my body, my temple.”
Yoga has also brought a change to her diet. “My whole philosophy around food has totally changed since becoming a yoga teacher. I am now vegetarian. When you look at diet, when you have a philosophy behind a way of eating, it becomes easier to stay with that diet.”
Says Latika: “I have students who are over 80. It’s never too late to start. There’s always a yoga practice that will suit your body. That’s why people keep coming back to my classes; they are in all kinds of shape and they find something for themselves that’s helping them.”
For more information on the Atman Kama Yoga Retreat, contact Latika at 376-106-2131 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">.