Yogalife Studios 5 Year Anniversary Celebration(s!!!)
CELEBRATE 5 YEARS WITH US!
Can you believe we’ve been open in South Edmonton Common for 5 years!? We definitely can’t! But we’re ready to celebrate! Join us for a free week of classes (both locations) from May 23 – 30th.
Remember to reserve your spot ONLINE.
We’re also having a party.
May 30th | 4pm – 8pm, Yogalife Studios Edmonton SOUTH
Community, Food, Drinks, Boutique Shopping Experience, Tarot Card Reader, Photobooth, and really awesome people to come hang with.
Enter your name to win some draws!
We can't wait to celebrate with you! Thank you for your support and love.
#YogalifeLove
The Details on Smitten...
Join us this Wednesday, May 6th at Yogalife Studios South to learn more about our upcoming November 2015 retreat to Nicaragua with Graham Parsons and Caitlin Varrin! We can't wait to share our smittenness with you and yes, I think we just made up that word. Chit chat starts at 7pm!
Amongst the myriad of definitions for the word, most would likely agree that to be a Yogi is to be lovingly immersed in the craft of being alive.
On our mats, we cultivate a wise attentiveness toward the little things like the conscious grounding of our feet, the steady circulation of our breath, the alignment of our spines. Over time, off of our mats, this also manifests as an awareness of grounding into the present moment, the steady circulation of Nature, the alignment of how we may serve the well-being of those around us.We are so blessed to be able to find and cultivate these things in our own homes, our local yoga studios, our own backyards. But sometimes, we are also well served by venturing out into the wide world, seeing sunrises from new latitudes with fresh eyes, lovingly recalling in ourselves and each other what it is to be Smitten with Life.
Join Graham Parsons and Caitlin Varrin from Yogalife in a very special corner of the world, the lush southwest coast of Nicaragua, for ten days of revivification. New memories & bonds will be made, natural wonders will be seen, amazing food will be enjoyed. Two classes a day will be on offer in a diversity of styles from Yin to Rocket Ashtanga, from conscious dance to the art of Savasana. And off the mat, everything from surfing lessons in the waves on our front doorstep, to rocking contentedly in a hammock after a day well-lived. Also: dolphins.
We can't wait to practice with you, laugh & co-create with you, root down & uplift with you. Come partake of something special, and re-acquaint yourself with the wonder that's always quietly humming in the world around us. All we need to do is listen. And get smitten.
Please register at Breatheinlife.com
6 Tips For A Digital Detox
DIGITAL DETOX
Feeling overstressed and over tired are all too common in our collective work and family lives.
What are we doing wrong?
We are more connected via technology but somehow not connected to ourselves.
We have become focused on whats outside of us, what is external, instead of whats in here.
How can we connect to that inner voice and find balance?
Do you spend too much time on social media? on your phone?
Have you been out for lunch with a friend and interrupted the in person connection to check your phone, maybe more than once? Do you feel disconnected to your creative work?
Digital technology is forever changing the way we communicate, connect and develop relationships. The problem is that we have become so accustomed to instant gratification of our curiosity and our mental whims, that we have undermined our own ability to focus. The average human attention span is now less than 9 seconds, worse than that of a gold fish, we are giving ourselves ADD through our abusive relationship with technology.
Join us this Saturday, May 2 at Yogalife Studios South from 2:30 - 5:00 for the Digital Detox Workshop. This offering kicks off with a conversation led by Robindra followed by a yoga class led by Myrah (founders of the Bloom Festival), all designed to bring your attention back.
We will go through the 8 limbs of yoga to find a new balance and new relationship with technology, practise a few addiction breaking kundalini yoga kriyas, and have a group conversation about what's working and not working and come up with how we can redesign our every day lives to be free of our addiction to technology.
The digital detox is not a total technology black out, rather we will outlay a 7 day program to study ourselves, our compulsions, and to give ourselves space from technology during power times of the day.
Here are 6 quick steps to getting your digital detox started immediately, borrowed from the geniuses over at MindBodyGreen.
1. Turn the phone off or into airplane mode before bed.
2. Shower and get dressed before you check your email or social media.
3. Resist the urge to check social media during a meal, especially dinner with family and friends.
4. Buy a real newspaper or magazine and get your fingers dirty from the ink.
5. Leave your phone at home or at the office for at least one walk or errand a day.
6. Stare into space at least one minute a day, without grasping your gadget. Call it meditating or simply "spacing out." Either way, it will be productive and challenge you to loosen your grip on technology.
You can do it! See you this weekend.
A little bit about Kevin Naidoo
Yogalife Studios South is excited to welcome travelling yogi Kevin Naidoo this Sunday for a unique 3 hour workshop. Come explore a non-dogmatic, contemporary, compassionate approach to Ashtanga Yoga.
Moving slow and mindful together creating a powerful vibration as we support each others Greatness.
Includes: Pranayama, Philosophy, Asana, and Yoga Nidra
Love Light Liberation with Kevin Naidoo Yogalife Studios South Sunday, April 19, 2:30-5:30 $35
Kevin is a true yogi traveler. He hitchhiked across 50 countries, discovered yoga in the Caribbean, lived on remote islands, trekked across Africa, and bathed in the Ganges. He truly lives his life through his heart.
Through Yoga, Kevin discovered a deep mind-body connection, and an increased sense of mental clarity and purpose. He travels, practices and teaches Yoga, with the intention to spread that sense of Oneness, firmly believing that the ancient practice of Yoga is for everyone. Spreading the message of yoga to the next generation, he has also taught yoga to children, inner city youth, and children with disabilities.
Kevin teaches Hatha, Yin, and Vinyasa flow classes, inspired by positive island vibes. His classes are both creative and challenging, focusing on igniting the Prana, and finding stillness and oneness in each asana. Woven with Indian Vedic Philosophy, each class is a journey in itself, culminating in Yoga Nidra that will leave you feeling bliss as you float your way home.
Kevin completed his teacher training in Classical Hatha Yoga, at the Sivananda School in India, has completed a 200 Vinyasa TTC with Ryan Leir, and has certifications in Yin and Yoga Nidra. He continues to study, and teach yoga around the world, and teaches in a studio when at home in Canada.
Personal Progress: keeping track of YOU
If you've been around the studio lately you've probably seen our Virya Challenge poster in the hallway, chalk FULL of checkmarks. This "challenge" is intended to create accountability to a steady practice; students can see their progress and feel the benefits. When you track your progress you have a tangible account of your journey. It serves as a guide for the process, and although it's just a checkmark - or a journal entry or perhaps even a sticker! - it is a visual representation of your accomplishments.
Tuning into your progress is a huge part of achieving goals. Nothing happens overnight, especially when it comes to self-study and growth, so keeping track along the journey is helpful to stay on the path. Keep on keeping on and remember, it's never too late to join the team or create your own commitments! As per usual, the family at Yogalife Studios is mega proud of all of you and so thrilled to be a part of your progress.
Therapeutic Yoga with Gabi Weaver
Yogalife Studios North is pleased to introduce a regular Therapeutic Yoga class with Gabi Weaver, starting this Sunday, April 5, 1:00-2:15pm. Learn more about this beneficial practice below in this guest post written by Gabi.
Therapeutic Yoga
Gabi Weaver
Yoga has long been practiced with therapeutic intentions as a way of healing and awakening both the body and the mind. Therapeutic yoga is a particularly effective practice for those recovering from, or living with, injury or illness. Therapeutic Yoga blends restorative yoga (supported postures) gentle yoga, subtle strengthening exercises, breath-work, hands-on healing adjustments, and guided meditation techniques. It is excellent for those who need something gentle -yet effective for reducing pain, bringing the body into balance, opening it, strengthening it and reducing stress.
Therapeutic Yoga can be a deeply restorative experience and can help to access the deeper wisdom that resides within-to awaken our bodies’ own ability to heal itself. Therapeutic yoga differs from a regular yoga class by focusing on the needs of students instead of the student modifying to fit the class. The class is catered to benefit the needs of students. Health issues ranging from chronic pain and injury, to cancer, depression, digestive issues, heart conditions and stress-related symptoms can be effectively addressed using yogic techniques.
Healing is a process of bringing the entire being into wholeness, not just relieving symptoms. Western or allopathic medicine diagnoses and then treats the symptoms of disease, but often ignores the root cause- which may be physical (due to a lack of movement or injury) emotional, (brought on by stress or negative mind chatter) or spiritual (expressed in feelings of despondency, depression or a failure to thrive). Yoga’s broader approach reminds clients that they are not defined by their diagnosis and symptoms. It recognizes healing as a multi-faceted journey toward greater health and wellbeing. Therapeutic Yoga is not intended to be a substitute for modern medicine, but is a complementary and alternative method that enhances the healing process.
Yoga Therapy and Therapeutic yoga are only now emerging as a discipline in itself. More and more health care practitioners are starting to include yogic techniques in their approach to healing-and more yoga teachers are giving a therapeutic intention to their teaching. People who have never tried yoga before are starting to consider including yoga in their treatment plan. Yoga is beneficial for our health in ways that modern science is just beginning to understand, though it has been applied with therapeutic intention for thousands of years. More and more research is being conducted on helping science and the medical community to understand and accept the benefits of Yoga Therapy.
Laughter Yoga With Graham Parsons
If you've never partaken of a laughter yoga session, chances are you've maybe pondered already what it could entail: Do we practice belly laughing while we do headstand? Do we sit in pigeon and tell each other off-colour jokes? Maybe we just get lifted on our own manic delight & float through the universe like this crazy human:
In the end none of these three truly get close, it's more so something you have to experience for yourself. But to do so is well worth it, because in exactly the same way that we yogis strive for years to harness the subtle energies of our breath to cleanse & revivify ourselves physically, mentally & emotionally, getting deeply immersed in laughter can offer these same treasures in mere minutes.
Some tangible benefits of laughter itself:
~Tones the core - When we laugh freely we are rapidly contracting our abdominal muscles in a way that promotes stability through center
~Improves Respiratory & Cardiac Health - Ever laughed so hard as something that you felt near passing out with sheer joy? Hearty laughter quickens the breath & blood circulation, allowing more efficient circulation of oxygen throughout the body. This is why we feel that warm afterglow long after the belly laughs have ceased & we've wiped the tears from our eyes.
~Reduces Stress- The physical act of laughter naturally reduces the prevalence of hormones like cortisol and epinephrine, thus greatly reducing the state we sometimes find ourselves in of being 'wired for stress.' Reduction of these hormones has a wonderfully beneficial effect on immune system health as well
~Dissolves social conditioning - Milton Berle once said that 'the shortest distance between two souls is a shared laugh.' When we're really absorbed in a moment of mirth with someone, so much social patterning as resistance freely falls away
Graham leading the laughter at Astral Harvest Music & Arts Festival, photo by the talented Tinka Kalajzic
Now, all of these benefits and more are derived from incidental laughter as we move through our day, and this laughter usually requires a stimulus: a witty meme, an inside joke from a friend, someone letting a fart go in an elevator, etc.
But something odd & unexpected happens when a group of people get together & start laughing for no reason whatsoever: the act of laughing is mechanical at first, but the more we share the collective sound & sight of laughter around us, the more the analytical mind quiets down , the more the laughter flows freely without particular stimulus, and the more the body & mind are able to reap these benefits enduringly. Think about how good you feel when you stop to take a few deep, mindful breaths. Now think about how good you feel after a 90 minute yoga class of mindful breathing. The benefits deepens into our very cells, and patterns us toward continuing to be receptive to this same nourishment in times to come.
Laughter Yoga as a specific practice was begun by a Physician in Mumbai, India a few decades back, and since then has expanded to untold numbers of laughter gatherings and clubs all over the globe. Think of the sun just rising over a pristine, tree-filled park in India. Now think of it filled with hundreds of men, women & children, washing their hearts with laughter to start their day. It may seem ludicrous, but that is precisely why it is of such benefit.
So come join this mirthful gathering of humanity, make a joyful noise, and heal, both inwardly & outwardly. All it takes is a chuckle.
Join Graham this Saturday, January 24, at Yogalife Studios South from 2:30-5:30 for the giggle-fit of a lifetime! Register here.
Featured Yogi Of The Month: Suzanne Slocum-Gori
Suzanne Slocum-Gori is joining the YEG yoga community this Sunday to share "Architecture, Mystery & Radiance within the Subtle Body" at Yogalife Studios South. In the past few weeks I've been getting to know this woman through emails, reading her website, and chatting with fellow teachers; we are HYPED, to say the least. She holds a doctorate within Counselling Psychology, a E-RYT 500, Co-Owner of One Yoga for the People Vancouver & the SARA Foundation for Cancer Prevention. Amazing.
Suzanne's teachings encourage students to dissolve barriers & to dance through an intelligent practice in order to create more intimacy with Grace.
We simply can't wait!
Architecture, Mystery & Radiance within the Subtle Body Sunday, January 18 || 1:30-3:30pm
A conversation with Suzanne:
How did you get your yogic start? Who brought you to your first class, what was that like, and where was it?
A memorable jump into yoga was when I was living in Boston and completing my Master’s Degree . I was a marathon runner. One of my running buddy’s mother recommended I attend a ‘breathing’ (pranayama) and restorative class with her. She took me to an Iyengar instructor where we primarily focused on witnessing & feeling our natural breath, developing a steady Ujjai and relaxing our muscular-skeletal system. All I can remember is I left the class feeling as if I was walking on a different planet embedded with a new atmospheric system. I was so heavily rooted yet incredibly buoyant. My senses were awakened to a point I felt I was smelling, tasting, seeing and experiencing myself and the elegance around me for the first time. I dove into the practices of yoga and all of its components from that day on.
Share a favourite teaching that inspires you.
One of my favourite teachings is to ‘look for the good or magic ~ in every situation’. We will find it if you look long and deep enough. Applying this motto requires a triggering of our cognitive functioning, and the rippled effects are immediate, soothing, uplifting and permeate into the physiological and emotional layers. An additional teaching that changed my life: ‘you need to ask in order to receive’. Our needs and longings are more likely to be nourished (satisfied) when we send out a request, prayer or intention. My little piece of advice when you send a request: be very specific.
Your favourite books, yogi-inspired and fiction.
There are too many favourite books to list…I am officially a book junky. Here are a few that have been in my hand in the last month:
- Avatar: The Last Airbender (Book Series) - Gene Luen Yang
- The Power of Myths - Joseph Campbell
- Bless the Space between Us - John O Donohue
- Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine - Dr. David Frawley
- Anghora - Dr. Robert Svoboda
- The Sacred Path of a Warrior - Chogyam Trungpa
- Take your pick of yogic texts: Upanishads, Mahabharata, Shiva Sutras, Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, etc.
What is your favourite meal to make and share with friends?
I cherish my time in the kitchen. It grounds my family, friends and myself. Preparing food creates an internal and collective cohesion. When the kids and our family unit seem to be scattered, stressed, dense or sad, I immediately pour a focused and loving attention into a curry…usually one that includes tumeric, cumin, mustard & cardamon seeds, ginger, cinnamon and coconut oil & milk. My curries most often utilize lentils or moong beans, served with squash, kale and quinoa (or rice). The mixture of ingredients slowly (at a low heat) metamorphose into aromas which provide a deep anchoring in our beings. The nourishing food enters our systems ~ creating an ignition of our innate fire and energetic centre points, which ultimately cultivate an internal magnetic force, a feeling of 'wholesomeness' and a cohesion of all of our fragmented parts. The element associated with smell (or our nose) is ‘EARTH’. The earth element is stable and medicinal, but is also incredibly rich with diversity and strength. Therefore, the aromas bring forth an abundant amount of sensation to experience from a deeply rooted & cohesive stance. The kitchen also serves as a fire place….a space for family and friends to gather and tell stories. This process often stimulates the power of healing, synthesis and even ancestry. Fire is a ceremonial element, inviting alchemy and transformation. The kitchen is my fire ground.
What's your favourite pose/sequence/area of the body to work on?
My practice prioritizes attention into my legs, hips and pelvis on a daily basis. I open and strengthen my thighs, hamstrings and hips. Mobility of my femur bones allows me to clear the pelvis, (specifically a widening of the pelvis) leading to more freedom in my low back and additional power to broaden my chest and heart. I couple this with a strengthening and activation of pelvic floor and deep core muscles with the aim of directing an energetic force up my center line (as I internalize a divine flame (or deity) rising up to the sacred space of my heart). I find these practices can be incredibly purifying as they tend to assist in eliminating energetic debris, toxins or emotional blockages and ultimately assist in healing wounds. As our channels are cleansed, prana and awareness flow more freely filling in imprints with sprinkles of the most important ingredient of all - LOVE (i.e., bliss).
Who inspires you?
My mother has been the most inspiring being for me. Her ability to serve others and emanate compassion in a reliable and consistent manner is extraordinary. Her energetic system must be incredibly strong in order to hold and direct the amount of light that she does so gracefully. Light is a refined force which vibrates at a high frequency, and my mother exudes this medium as her primary pulse. Yes - she oscillates, as all humans do, but she never grasps on to any of the various energies moving through her. She always traverses back to the middle path, serving out abundant amount of
Love.
Mommy & Me
The morning sickness, achy lower back, and fatigue of pregnancy have passed. But for new mamas, a whole other different set of physical conditions often accompanies the bliss of loving your little creation. Luckily, yoga can help address the most common concerns after having your little one. And moms aren't the only ones who can benefit from yoga; a few basic moves for the wee one can make your infant more comfortable and calm.
Mommy & Me with Dawn McCorry Yogalife Studios South || January 12-February 23, 1:30-2:30, register here Yogalife Studios North || January 14-February 18, 1:15-2:15, register here
Kari Edwards at MindBodyGreen offers these tips for new yogi mamas:
1. Focus on breathing.
In the first few weeks after birth your body needs time to recover so the best thing you can do is put your asana practice aside and focus on pranayama and meditation. When you're feeding your baby or in need of a boost after a long sleepless night, practice breathing deep into your belly long and slow through your nose.
Close your eyes and focus on the feeling of the breath as it moves in and out of your body. Even if you only manage one deep breath, your body and mind will thank you. Do this as often as you need throughout the day and it will help focus and calm your mind and enjoy these special early moments.
2. Ease into your practice with forward bends.
Provided you are recovering well and had a normal birth, beginning to include a few forward bends around two weeks or so post birth can help to compress your belly and aid in returning your uterus to its pre-pregnancy position. Check with your midwife if it's OK before you begin.
Sit with your legs together straight out in front of you. (You can lie your baby on your legs or beside you if you wish.) Bend forward from the hips, remembering not to push yourself, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths here.
3. Before you begin to include asana in your daily yoga practice, wait until six weeks postnatal or until you have the OK from your doctor or midwife.
If your baby allows you to put her down, you can begin with a few rounds (or just one round) of Sun Salutations to get your body moving and stretching again. Include chest and shoulder stretches such as eagle arms to stretch out a sore back from holding the baby and nursing. If your baby just needs to be held, you can practice a few gentle lunges or some standing hip rotations while you soothe your baby.
If you are feeling steady, you can include balancing asana like tree pose while you hold your baby but remember to take things slow and not to push yourself.
The key to transitioning from a prenatal to a post natal yoga practice is to take things slow. Listen to what your body needs as it changes and remember that you don’t need to be on the mat for a 60-minute period to benefit from yoga. Little bite-sized bits of yoga in your day will help to keep you calm and centered and to enjoy the many benefits of yoga.
New Year Restore & Renew
Little Hippies At Yogalife Studios!
Yogalife Studios North is excited to host Little Hippies 50 Hour Kids Yoga Teacher Training December 12-14, 2014. Today we're sharing more about this amazing company out of Calgary that is making a difference for little yogis!
About Little Hippies
Little Hippies is a children’s yoga company that offers yoga classes to children between the ages 2 – 12, teens, and families. All Little Hippies yoga classes are integrative and open to children with Special Needs.
Little Hippies is all about encouraging the healthy development of today’s youth for a more positive, strong, and healthy future. It is no secret that our society is currently struggling with conditions such as obesity, anxiety, and depression- all of which we can reduce by taking an “upstream” approach to health. By supporting children physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally through the Little Hippies program, we hope to encourage the healthy development of children for a healthier and happier tomorrow.
Little Hippies has taken into consideration the standards outlined by yoga organizations such as Yoga Alliance, and fellow kids yoga teacher training programs. We have designed this program to go above and beyond these expectations, creating experienced and creative teachers who are not only able to provide students with an amazing yoga experience, but who can also connect with these children and their families.
By taking the Little Hippies Kids Yoga Teacher Training, you are not only becoming a “children’s yoga instructor”, you are investing in the well being of our tiny humans for future generations to come. We hope to set “the standard” for children’s yoga teacher training.
What is a Little Hippie? "Little Hippie": An infant, child, or teen who has a zest for exploring, creating, moving, and shaking! Children of all abilities are welcome in our classes.
Their Story Co-owners Chloe Dusser and Jenna Galloway are two great friends who decided to put their heart & soul into a company designed to encourage healthy development in kids and provide a supportive & fun community for families.
Their Vision
Our company Little Hippies is all about giving back. For every yoga class purchased, we provide a FREE yoga class to a child in need.
Little Hippies provides a very inclusive environment, creating a place for each child in our yoga classes- regardless of ability. We ensure that children have a safe and welcoming space to practice in, where they are supported and given the opportunity to learn, thrive, and belong. All the lessons and skills learned during our classes are important tools for living harmoniously at home, at school, and in the community.
Our main goal is to encourage every child to explore their creativity, express their unique personalities through physical movement, and build an awesome little yoga community where kids feel supported.
Our teachers care deeply about children and share in the fresh and optimistic outlook they have towards life as they are growing. Each day, we witness the powerful and unique ability of yoga to bring out the best in our students. From fostering imaginations and creativity, to developing motor skills and promoting healthy bodies, we believe that play and yoga are critical parts of childhood.
Visit Little Hippies online at www.littlehippieskidsyoga.com or on Facebook
Learn more about the upcoming training here!
Make Your Heart Sing
We have a few tasty holiday offerings to make your heart SING! Whether you're looking for the perfect gift for a special yogi, getting into yoga yourself, or just looking for a great deal, we have some amazing offerings to share with you.
The Beginner's Journey
$179. Help someone start their Yoga journey for Christmas. Get them a three month unlimited pass to start their New Year off, and receive a Yogalife Journal to gift to them with their Yoga Pass.
Available starting December 1st.
The Yogi Starter Kit
Receive 20% OFF a Manduka Mat and a 4 Week Unlimited Pass, and you'll also get a Yogalife Journal. This is a great gift for someone you know who would enjoy starting yoga in the New Year.
Available in studio to purchase December 1st - 25th.
And just a little sneak peak into 2015, to prepare you for the new year, we'd like to offer you our 2015 New Year's Resolution.
The Resolution Yogi
A one year pass, a Goal Setting Session and a Yogalife Journal for only $790. Start your 2015 off with the best of intentions and plan to watch yourself succeed. Available to purchase January 1st - 31st, 2015. Limited number of passes available.
Acro Yoga Fundamentals
Meet Luc Felicidade, Gaiatri Yoga Training grad and acro yoga LOVER, amongst other things! Luc is joining us at Yogalife Studios South to offer Acro Yoga Fundamentals, a playful workshop to learn the basics of acro yoga. This is a great opportunity to learn new skills and deepen the ones you may already have.
In AcroYoga Fundamentals, not only will you learn the 7 fundamentals of AcroYoga, you will learn how to safely practice at home with friends. AcroYoga Fundamentals will take the foundations of yoga into the air in a fun and playful way. This interactive workshop will include foundational postures including therapeutics.
If you have been thinking about giving AcroYoga a try, this is your chance.
All levels of yoga and fitness are encouraged to attend as you explore partner yoga poses and take flight in AcroYoga!
No partner required. Only a desire to have fun with others in your community.
If you are registering with a partner, there is a discount!
Acro Yoga Fundamentals Yogalife Studios South November 8, 2014 2:30-5pm register here!
Ayurveda with Ian Hayward
Ayur = life, Veda = science or knowledge
Ayurveda is the traditional system of Hindu medicine that is rooted in the idea of balancing the body, mind and spirit to maintain health. The wisdom in this science of life is drawn from an understanding of the laws and rhythms of nature rhythms and laws, based around the five elements of ether, air, fire, water, and earth.
The following article comes to us from Ian Hayward. Ian was first introduced to Vedic knowledge in 1984 as he searched for alternatives to Western medicine to aid his health. He was initially instructed in the practice of Vedic mantra meditation. The profound effects of this effortless technique propelled him to learn more about this ancient health system. Over the next ten years Ian attended countless Meditation Retreats and Vedic Science Courses at home and abroad. He learned and regularly practiced Advanced Meditation Techniques including the Siddhi Yoga Sutras and eventually, in the summer of 1993, emerged from the Maharishi Vedic University in Valkenburg, Holland (Deepak Chopra’s training was in the same lineage) fully trained as a Panchakarma therapist offering an extensive range of bodyworks and elimination therapies and as an Ayurvedic Wellness Consultant offering pulse diagnosis and lifestyle solutions.
http://elementallifesolutions.com/pages/ian-hayward
Fall season is now well under way and this can be an excellent time to do a cleansing program. However any cleanse must be approached with a realistic attitude or the results could lead to a destabilization not just to the physical but to the mental & emotional levels as well. When you remove a physical toxin you also disturb the mental and emotional pattern that was involved in the forming of that toxin. This is why the experience of detoxification can be a roller coaster of thoughts and emotions.
Before you contemplate the level of detox you want to achieve take a realistic look at your present toxin level. If you are new to cleansing or have not been living a particularly pure lifestyle then you need to start gently. If you release too many toxins at once you can feel like you are being poisoned, this is disheartening, destabilizing and can set up a negative pattern towards purification. It is much more effective and positive experience to cleanse at a rate that leaves you feeling fresh and clean rather than sick and unstable.
It is also important to do a cleansing program that is right for your Elemental body type and dosha. Click here for more information and specific cleansing guidelines for different doshas.
Ian Hayward, Elemental Life Solutions Inc.
Join Ian at Yogalife Studios North on Saturday, October 18 from 11am to 6:30pm for 'Elemental Intro to Ayurveda', the first instalment of workshops geared towards building the key concepts of the Ayurvedic approach to health and wellness.
Register here and contact us (info@yogalifestudios.ca) with any questions!
Rock Your Bliss!
Are You Ready To Rock Your Bliss Edmonton?
www.rockyourblissmovement.com/
Rock Your Bliss debuts in Edmonton on OCTOBER 3rd at Yogalife Studios South. It is a co-designed program — one part yoga and one part life coaching — where retreaters will discover how to “live a radical life rooted in choice, personal power, and sweat” using yoga, goal-setting, music, and laughter.
“Come in vulnerable,” LaRue says. “Be ready to show your underbelly, sing karaoke, and drink margaritas!” The goal is for retreaters to leave the workshop feeling empowered, sweaty, connected, ambitious, blissful, and maybe a little tipsy. They should come expecting “everything and nothing,” Carr says.
So, what does it mean to “Rock Your Bliss,” and where did such a concept derive? The movement is actually in its infancy. Carr and LaRue met through various work at lululemon athletica. While on a Wanderlust trip in February 2013, Carr, a life coach, and LaRue, a yoga instructor, found themselves sitting on a beach discussing the serendipitous relationship between their two fields. A week later, while back home in Venice Beach, Rock Your Bliss was born, and it’s been on a fast track ever since. In February 2014, Carr and LaRue took 22 yogis to Mexico for an “insanely magical” retreat.
However, while on a mission to help others unleash their potential, these two blisscrafting trailblazers have been on a self-discovery mission of their own, all fueled by their travels, encounters, and experiences. For LaRue, creating Rock Your Bliss has helped her discover her own vulnerability. “Learning to speak your truths so it doesn’t build up is the most important thing [to do] while collaborating with another person,” she says. “You have to hold yourself more accountable. You have to show up even when you don’t feel like it.”
For Carr, Rock Your Bliss has been about developing trust. “The art of collaboration is like being in a relationship,” Carr says. “It’s all about unraveling your ego and admitting that you can’t do everything yourself. We created this business in such a rapid way, so it was a huge leap of faith to learn how to open my mind and body to trusting Mary Beth. We leaned on each other, and it all just happened beautifully.”
Read more here: http://whirlmagazine.com/ready-rock-bliss-pittsburgh/
Rock Your Bliss || Yogalife Studios South || Friday, October 3, 7-9pm register here!
Embrace the Spirit from Within: Yogalife's Fall Retreat 2014
***We have had ONE LAST SPOT open up for a Teepee on this upcoming retreat! Please let us know if you'd like to fill it—who knows, it could completely alter the course of your life... ;) Next week, Sean Forchuk, Keia Dreger, and an eager group of Yogalifers will be making their way west to Golden, B.C. for this year's fall retreat. As we've been referencing on the blog this month, fall is such an awesome time to slow down, stay still, and re-connect with your roots—and what better opportunity to do so than amongst the great tall trees and majestic mountains on our own soil?! The five glorious days of this retreat will be spent immersed in yogic philosophy, asana practice, hiking, raw-chocolate-making... even fire walking! Plus Sean and Keia promise to entertain with their antics—if you haven't gotten to know these two already in their classes, this video has everything you need to know...
Embrace the Spirit from Within will run this September 24th-28th. Retreat-goers, we wish you safe travels, and a balanced mix of craziness and calm!
Meditation 101 (Guided Meditation Audio Included!)
Starting a meditation practice can be daunting - where do you start? How do you sit? What exactly does it mean to be "in meditation" anyhow? How can you navigate through your inner landscapes with more depth and authenticity? Who am I, beneath all these layers of body and mind? This workshop with experienced yoga & meditation practitioner and instructor, Amanda Ings, provides a space for you to explore each of these questions, and much more. A simple, easily approachable 4-step meditation will be shared and broken down, both in practice and in discussion, step by step. Exactly what we are doing in each step and why, how it works in the body-mind-energy-consciousness field, and how each step can be integrated into your daily life to bring more presence, power, and stillness, in yourself and your relationships with others. This workshop is appropriate for everyone; those wishing to deepen their current practices (in yoga or meditation), and those completely new to meditation and/or yoga. Everyone always takes away exactly what they need.
Amanda will be leading the first workshop of a 2-part series, Meditation 101 this coming Sunday at our North location. Find out more here!
Bonus—for a sample of what you'll learn this weekend, try out one of Amanda's guided meditations here: Guided Meditation with Amanda Ings
Learn to Fly: This Saturday with Sara Cueva
This weekend, Yogalife Instructor and Karma Coordinator (and co-host of our current Instagram challenge!) Sara Cueva is leading her popular Arm Balances and Inversions workshop at Yogalife South. Check out the video we shot with Sara last year to learn a little more about why she's so passionate about taking flight within yoga practice—and gain some insight into the goodies you'll learn in Saturday's class!
Arm balances and inversions with Sara from Yogalife Studios on Vimeo.
Learn to Fly with Sara Cueva runs this Saturday, September 6th at Yogalife South from 2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Sign up here.
Festival City: Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
Festival City: Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
FRINGE: not part of the mainstream; unconventional, peripheral, or extreme (aka something you want to check out!!!)
This year marks the 33rd Edmonton International Fringe Festival, an 11-day event anchored in Edmonton’s Old Strathcona district. The Fringe showcases a variety of independent theatre performances from more than 1,200 local, national and international artists. Purchase a program guide from these retailers to plan out your Fringe experience. Many shows sell out, so buy your tickets in advance!
Along with the Festival’s diverse theatre offerings, the festival features an abundance of outdoor fun. The offerings are comprised of theatre performances, indoor and outdoor shows, street performers and buskers, vendors and beer gardens. Check out the full line-up of festival events here!
A street performer entertaining Edmontonians gathered in Old Strathcona.
Bring your little ones to Kidsfringe, a fun and FREE area for ‘little fringers’ ages 0 – 12 and their caregivers found on the North end of the Fringe site. Experience plays, music, storytelling and more on the KidStage, hear a story at the Book Nook or get creative at the Craft Corner!
Let us know your Fringe highlights! Know someone performing? Favourite venue? We'd love to hear from you! Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter!
Happy Fringing!
Brandon's Final Words
Brandon's final classes were today, Saturday, August 16, 2014. He felt compelled to write one last thank-you to the Yogalife community.
Gratitude.
I am thankful that Yogalife was the very first studio that I was able to teach at. It’s actually the only studio I have taught at so far. I am thankful that a chance was taken on me, even though I was very early in my teaching career. I am thankful for you, all of the students, who have generously allowed me to guide you, share with you, and grow with you. Even share a quote or two. I am thankful for all of the knowledge I have gained over the past two years.
I am thankful for all of your support.
For attending my classes so diligently. For following me to the North Studio when I would teach there. For coming to my Warriors of Change and Art of Massage Workshops. For joining my wife and I in Nicaragua.
I am thankful for your trust.
Thank you for trusting me enough to feel as though I had something to offer you. My hope is that I have helped even one of you in your journey through yoga and life. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be even a small part in all of it.
I poured my heart and soul into this studio and everything I was involved in, and I promise to continue to do that for the yoga community.
If you want to connect with me, or find out where I end up and what I am up to, please follow me on Facebook at Brandon Jacobs Yoga.
“Letting go and moving on means to come to the realization that some people and some places are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny.”
Highest Regards,
Brandon
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