10 Reasons To Do A Headstand Every Day! - An Excerpt From Lisa Mitchell
Headstand (Shirshasana) is often referred to as the king of all yoga poses. Here are 10 reasons why headstand should be practiced everyday!
1. By reversing the flow of gravity, a headstand simulates a “face lift” by letting your skin hang in the opposite direction. The inverted position of a headstand also flushes fresh nutrients and oxygen to the face, creating a glowing effect on the skin.
2. Headstands increase nutrients and blood flow to the scalp, decreasing onset of grey hair. Some yogis say that it will even convert grey hair back to its natural color!
3. Headstands stimulate and provide refreshed blood to the pituitary and hypothalamus glands.
These glands are vital to our wellbeing, and are considered the master glands that regulate all other glands in the body (thyroid, pineal, and adrenals).This includes our sexual hormones, so you can expect better sex with a consistent headstand practice.
4. When the adrenal glands are flushed and detoxified with headstands, we create more positive thought. Depression will decrease, as going upside down will almost always put a smile on your face.
5. It's great to bust out a headstand at a party. Your peers will be impressed!
6. Improved circulation occurs with a headstand practice.
Because the heart constantly has to pump blood upward to the brain, the headstand gives the heart a rest and reduces unnecessary strain. In addition, while in headstand de-oxygenated blood is able to flow more easily from the extremities to the heart.
7. Any fluid that is retained in the feet is able to drain (edema), therefore reducing the onset and prevalence of varicose veins.
8. Headstands increase digestive fire and increase body heat. The intestines are cleansed by reversing the pull of gravity, while releasing congested blood in the colon.
9. Headstands strengthen deep core muscles. To hold a straight headstand for an extended period of time, the practitioner must engage the obliques, the rectus abdominus and the transverse abdominus.To really engage and strengthen the core, pike the legs by lifting and/or lowering both legs at the same time when coming in and out of the pose.
10. Eliminate your chances of having an ischemic stroke, as scientific evidence shows that this type of stroke rarely occurs in individuals that consistently do headstands!
Although it is recommended learning headstand from a qualified teacher, its multifaceted benefits should not be ignored. Headstands can be contraindicative if you have neck injuries, extremely high blood pressure, ear and eye problems, if you are menstruating, or have acid reflux.
All About Patrick Creelman
Patrick is a Certified Anusara teacher, masterful and well versed with advanced alignment.
Through years of dedicated study he has developed a high level of personal practice and an expert eye in helping students achieve new levels in their own physical yoga practice and philosophical understanding. Patrick is widely considered as one of the most experienced and inspiring "Teacher's Teacher" in Asia. Well established throughout China and Asia, Patrick has a global community that also extends throughout Europe, North America, and South Africa. His classes include a philosophically based thematic focus, clear anatomy, and alignment for both simple and complex poses within a strong fluid practice.
From the article "Tough Guys Do Yoga" in the Asian Pacific Post
"In high school Creelman was first introduced to Yoga by his uncle who passed him a set of beautiful lecture tapes by Ram Dass. This was his first conscious step towards his spiritual path. After years of ski racing and rock climbing, Patrick took his first Hatha Yoga class in the Sivananda Tradition at Simon Fraser University in the spring of 1996 and was struck by the calm, yet powerful effect it had on his hectic college life. After an 8-week intensive, it became clear that the blending of spirituality and physical experience of Hatha Yoga was a path that had a deeper message than anything he had done before."
Patrick will be at Yogalife Studios South on February 12th.
The Master Class runs from 2-5pm (for teachers and dedicated students) and the Strength & Intelligence workshop runs from 7-9pm (open for all levels of practitioners).
Patrick doesn't post a lot of videos, but for a sneak peak at him in action, you can check out the link below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9SA6OQeAUo
For those on the 35 day challenge, Patrick's Master Class counts for 3 non-hot flow classes, and the Strength & Intelligence workshop counts for 2 non-hot flow classes.
Patrick Creelman - February 12th!
Patrick is a certified Anusara teacher, masterful and well-versed with advanced alignment. Through years of dedicated study he has developed a high level of personal practice and an expert eye in helping students achieve new levels in their own physical yoga practice and philosophical understanding.
Patrick is widely considered as one of the most experienced and inspiring "Teacher's Teacher" in Asia.
Well established throughout China and Asia, Patrick has a global community that also extends throughout Europe, North America, and South Africa. His classes include a philosophically based thematic focus, clear anatomy, and alignment for both simple and complex poses within a strong fluid practice.
Patrick will be at Yogalife Studios South on February 12th. The Master Class runs from 2-5pm (for teachers and dedicated students) and the Strength & Intelligence workshop runs from 7-9pm (open for all levels of practitioners). Click here to register!
Patrick doesn't post a lot of videos, but here's a sneak peak of him in action!
5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Going Deeper: An Excerpt From the Yoga Journal
You may have heard the saying:
Before you speak, ask yourself: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
I’ve always felt this is a great guideline that helps me practice compassionate communication in line with the yogic principle of ahimsa, or non-harming.
It’s a great way to keep myself in check when I want to express myself, and it’s also something I come back to when I notice my thoughts taking a turn for the negative.
Practicing ahimsa toward myself is loads more challenging than practicing it toward others.
I have a list that keeps me in check when I’m on the yoga mat, too. Before I take a deeper variation of a pose, I ask myself the following questions:
1. Is it safe? Is there a greater possibility of causing harm to myself by going deeper in the pose?
2. Is there more room in my body? Does going into a deeper expression of the pose make my body feel better?
3. Can I keep a smooth, deep, and easy breath pattern if I go deeper?
4. Will going deeper compromise the integrity of the pose? Will it compromise my personal integrity? Would I be able to tell if it did?
5. Am I doing it for the right reasons? Will taking a different expression of the pose help me understand something about myself? Or am I doing it to impress someone or feed my ego?
The most common injuries (both internally and externally) come from some form of point 5. You may often hear an instructor remind you to "check your ego at the door." This is always something to come back to when you are practicing.
It's called a "practice" because it is always changing, and you are always changing.
Remind yourself of the reason(s) you are practicing and ask and answer honestly. It is the practitioner that listens to their body and takes child's pose when needed, instead of deeper in a pose, that has gone the deepest within themselves.
Cultivating Willpower: An excerpt from Jaky Astik
There are two aspects of your life:
You are either happy or you are trying to be happy.
When we are happy, we wonder less about the truths and psychologies and why stuff works the way it works. We let the flow keep. However, when things aren’t going too well, our energies deplete. It’s how long you can survive in the face of those depleting energies that define your success or failure.
And your ability to survive that state of mind is willpower.
But, before we can learn how to cultivate willpower, we should rightfully try to figure out what diminishes it in the first place. Primarily, consider your subconscious mind as a huge hard disk that stores large amounts of data, in fact it stores every moment of your life and organizes them to form beliefs and behavioral patterns. It stores everything you experience and the emotion that’s attached to that source. Lack of willpower indicates prolonged programming of your subconscious using negative notifications.
“They can conquer who believe they can. He has not learned the first lesson is life who does not every day surmount a fear.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Procrastination at work, loss in relationships, lack of exercise, unhealthy diet, being fired, divorce, non-cooperation in the family, misconceptions. Every trauma a person passes through decreases his power to control. He loses willpower with every experience that reminds him of his underachievement.
“In the absence of willpower the most complete collection of virtues and talents is wholly worthless.”
– Aleister Crowley
Cultivating willpower is the most important thing you can do to achieve something worthy. It is the very foundation of your success and ability to strive for greatness. But, how do you do it?
Here are the 4 simplified steps to generate willpower.
1. Distract yourself
Most researchers of the 20th century claimed that willpower was flexible. The famous Marshmallow Experiment by Walter Michel explains this just right. The researchers conducted a study with kids as to how the minds of children reacted to a greater reward if they were to abstain from having something, in this case, another marshmallow.
Results? It was found that kids who had high willpower to keep themselves from giving in used simple distractions like singing, patting the table and keep themselves busy doing thing so that their minds could wait a little longer until the time expired and they received a another marshmallow as reward.
Your willpower diminishes with every thought of the instant gratification.
If you are looking for a greater reward, keep yourself distracted from the immediate achievement. 2. Use consequences to power your actions
There are two aspects to this. Many psychologists have an opinion that thinking about the negative outcomes might actually strengthen willpower and some others claim that positive outcomes actually help you push a little more.
Fortunately, both are valid. You just need to know when to use what. If you are in bad mood, low energy, and your goals look blurred, use the positive consequences to boost and motivate yourself. On the other hand, when you’re in good mood, full of energy and yet lacking willpower, try convincing yourself using the negative method. This works because our minds tend to move from one energy point to another.
3. Make the climb, without the rope
Remember that scene from The Dark Knight Rises when that doctor advises Bruce Wayne to climb the pit without the rope? That’s what you need to try to strengthen your willpower. After graduation, I was very fearful about finding a new job. I would frequently get anxious and overwhelmed at the thought of it. I would keep searching classified but apply for none. I found that my willpower diminished every time I put off applying for an interview.
Fortunately, I learned to get out of my comfort zone and face the fear.
It is, of course, not always that simple, but if you can convince yourself for a short span of time that there’s nothing else you can do but get the job done, your willpower will build quickly.
Willpower is the resource you plug into when most of the external circumstances needed to sooth you are missing. 4. Keep reminding yourself about your willpower
What will you get if you show a little more courage right now? Your mind needs its share of motivation. What is it that makes this work worth doing? Remind yourself about the rewards and you’ll be much more positive when approaching your goals.
There’s a willpower equation which says:
Willpower = Motivation + Reward – Pain.
So, if your pain is more than your level of your motivation + reward, you’ll find your willpower diminishing, it might even get to the point at which you would want to give up. Kelly Mcgonigle, the author of “The Willpower Instinct,” suggests that simple actions like brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand or a simple good night’s sleep can help boost your willpower. These activities somehow send a reminder about your raw abilities to your subconscious, which helps stimulate your willpower.
Here’s what you can do. Write down a list of activities or chores you’ve been avoiding. Choose the easiest items on it and do them. It will instantly make you feel better. Remind yourself about your willpower using tiny achievements.
5. List one small achievement every day
The process of cultivating your willpower needs practice. Here’s what you can do about it. Every day, make it a routine to get done one of the many things you’ve been avoiding in the past. It could be as simple as organizing your closet. Gradually, build your willpower by using tiny achievement and then moving on to bigger ones.
Your PSOAS - What it is and Why You Should Care!
An excerpt adapted from Hope Zvara:- Back pain
- Hip socket tension
- Leg length discrepancies
- Knee and ankle problems
- Groin pain
- Sleep issues
- Jaw pain
- Shoulder pain
- Difficulty walking or standing
- Excessive muscle tension
- Referred back and sciatic pain
- Prolonged sitting can easily deplete over vital energy as well as tighten up this pesky muscle.
- Cause compression on the intervertebral disc and facet joints leading us to thinner, degenerating disc. (While degeneration is a natural process, we can lessen the effects.)
- Dragging the rib cage forward creating short breathing patterns and limited thoracic breathing.
- Digestive concerns in which the upper portion of the psoas is tight and restrictive.
- Breathing problems, as pressure is put on the diaphragm.
Supine Single Leg Lift
Constructive Rest Pose
Yogalife's Staff Christmas Party
Having a good time at our staff Christmas Party. Thanks to Dean for being our resident yogi photographer that evening.
12 Things to Stop Doing in the Next 12 Months (Here's to an Amazing 2013)
Let’s fast forward: You are on your death bed, wondering and imagining what you could have done. You could have pursued that passion, opened that business, or spent more time with your loved ones. But that time has long passed, and the only thing you can do now is think about what is done – what is set in stone. Oh, what you would do to get those moments back and live your life the right way – to repaint the past, take chances, spit in the face of your fears, share your love, and live with no regrets.
Close your eyes and think about it – envision yourself lying there in your final moments feeling like this. Now open your eyes. What do you see? Life and opportunity. You still have a chance. What are you waiting for?
Below you will find twelve bad habits to stop in the next twelve months. Because sometimes the smartest way to get ahead, is to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.
- Stop settling for the same old routine. – So many people live daily with unhappy circumstances, and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation. They somehow believe that conforming to their current circumstances will eventually lead to a life of comfort, security, and peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to their spirit. The very basic core of the human spirit is a natural passion for exploration and growth. This growth comes directly from our encounters with new experiences; and hence there is no greater destination in life than to have an endlessly changing horizon – for each day to have a new and different sun. Read A New Earth
(it will blow your mind about the new thinking of consciousness, especially as we move through December 21st)
- Stop ignoring your education. – Love it or hate it, being in school makes personal growth easy. You learn things that you never would have taught yourself otherwise. You are put in situations designed specifically to challenge your mind. But once your school days are over and the assignments have stopped, no one is forcing you to learn anymore. It is so easy to stall without the rituals of active schooling, and gradually slip into a pattern of educational idleness – many people do. As adults there is no curriculum to follow, except the goals we set for ourselves. Even though no one is actively challenging you, you must still choose to challenge yourself EVERY DAY.
- Stop trying to transform the people around you. – The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated as is. Sometimes we try to be sculptors, constantly carving out of others the image of what we want them to be – what we think we need, love, or desire. But these actions and perceptions are against reality, against their benefit and ours, and always end in disappointment – because it does not fit them. The beginning of love is to let those we care about be perfectly themselves, and not to distort them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.
- Stop numbing yourself. – ‘Numbing’ is any activity that you use to desensitize your feelings so that you don’t experience vulnerability or hurt. But by numbing yourself to vulnerability, you also numb yourself to love, belonging, creativity, and empathy. Remember, love is scary. Love is risky. Love is unsafe. Love isn’t for the faint of heart. Love takes courage. And most importantly, love and fear can’t coexist. Love means giving someone the opportunity to break your heart, but trusting them not to.
- Stop belittling your potential. – You are a victim of the rules and beliefs you live by. But you are what you choose today, not what you have chosen before. So let today be the day you love yourself enough to no longer just dream of a better life; let today be the day you create it. Don’t hope for an easy way out. Look inside yourself for the strength you need to achieve your dreams, and then take action. Read The Road Less Traveled
.
- Stop wasting time. – You are customer of bank called TIME. Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as a loss, whatever remainder you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you with the same deposit of 86,400 seconds. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the tomorrow. You must live in the present on today’s deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success. You’re making withdrawals right this second; make them count.
- Stop disregarding your own significance. – You are one person out of seven billion people, on one planet out of eight, in one star system out of a hundred billion, in one galaxy out of another hundred billion. And you are enormously significant! Why? Because out of a hundred billion galaxies existing in a hundred billion star systems, out of seven billion people, you have your own unique genetic makeup. Your thumbprint and thoughts are yours alone. You can craft art, solve scientific problems, and create life through your love and passion. And you are depended on by others who love you. You are enormously significant.
- Stop getting sucked into needless drama. – No matter how badly people treat you, never drop down to their level; just know you’re better off without their negativity and walk away. If you attach yourself to their negative behavior it brings you down to their level. There honestly comes a time when you have to let go of all the pointless drama and people who create it, and surround yourself with people who make you smile so big that you forget the bad, and focus solely on good. Life truly is too short for anything less.
- Stop being so quick to judge. – No matter how strong a person is, they have weak points. And sometimes all they really need is a listening ear from a compassionate friend. You must consider their circumstances with love rather than judgment. You must move into the right here, right now, with an open heart and a willingness to be supportive, unconditionally.
- Stop focusing on the negative. – Anyone can see that it’s imperfect; it takes a wise person to see how it’s perfect. Anyone can describe how it’s getting worse; it takes a wise person to describe how it can be joyfully improved. Anyone can feel overwhelmed and give up; it takes a wise person to take compassionate, persistent and committed action every day. Wisdom is this simple. So start being wise with your perspective. Read The Tao of Pooh
.
- Stop treating change as a bad thing. – In life, loss is inevitable. The death of a loved one, the loss of a job, and so forth, is hard to accept. But everything around you – your body, your possessions, your relationships – is impermanent. Everything around you changes, so you must seek an understanding within yourself which remains forever. You don’t have control over every little thing that happens to you, but you do have control over how you decide to internalize it. One of the keys to happiness is to pay as much attention to the changes that are working positively in your life as you do to those changes that are giving you trouble.
- Stop stressing over what could have been. – Because the chances are if it should have been, it would have been. Change happens. Happiness is about trusting that what has happened has long-term positive rather than negative results. Trust that life is happening for you, not to you. This “inverse paranoia” of believing everything is for the greater good helps the human spirit face and welcome life’s changes cheerfully. Give it a try; it makes all the difference.
Yogitoes!
We have a wide variety of yogitoes (skidless yoga towel) here at Yogalife! They are our number one seller and we have over 20 colors in stock! They are the perfect gift for any yogi in your life. For sale for only $58 (less in one of our aforementioned packages).
The Yogitoes Vision:
With a deep-seated passion for sustainability that influences every aspect of our business practices, yogitoes was referred to by Susy Borlido, Business Greening Program Director for Sustainable Works, as the greenest office on Main Street, the Santa Monica Green Light District.
Committed to using recycled content in 100% of our yoga line by 2013, yogitoes has already rescued nearly 900,000 plastic bottles from our oceans and landfills. Continuously pushing the creative envelope in sustainability, yogitoes launched rYoga Collection, a full line of yoga tools made with recycled and repurposed materials, such as recycled plastic bottles, recycled rubber and rice husk, a by-product of rice grain production that normally goes to landfills or gets burned. The "r" stands for recycled and for our collective responsibility to make a difference in the health of our planet.
Less than 10% of recyclable materials actually gets recycled. It is vital for the health of our planet and our children that we find creative ways to reuse and repurpose these materials, and yogitoes is excited to be part of that solution.
Transcending beyond green product, yogitoes renovated its offices and rExperience Lab to LEED standards, and has Green Business Certification. rExperience Lab opened as part of yogitoes’ headquarters in August 2012, to engage the community in sustainability of mind, body, spirit and mother earth, and serve as a gallery for mindful organizations. This creative space also serves as a retail showroom and R&D lab, where we share our products while educating on green living and inspiring involvement.
Yogitoes supports environmental organizations like 5 Gyres and Kurmalliance, along with organizations devoted to human wellness, in giving 1% of annual sales. The relationship between environmental and human health is deeply linked, and yogitoes’ culture is rooted in helping both to thrive.
Come by to one of our locations to support this creative green movement!
Food Bank Donations
For the entire month of December, Yogalife Studios will be taking food bank donations. Feel free to bring any non-perishable items down to either location!
Edmonton Food Bank Mission:
To be stewards in the collection of surplus and donated food for the effective distribution, free of charge, to people in need in our community while seeking solutions to the causes of hunger.
Each month, more than 15,000 people receive hampers from Edmonton’s Food Bank or one of the over 190 agencies, churches or food depots with which we are affiliated. The Food Bank also distributes food to more than 300,000 meals and snacks each month. Approximately 40% of clients served are children under 18. When individuals call the Food Bank looking for assistance, they are asked questions about their situation such as their name, address, family size, source of income, and what has happened that has left them short of money and food. During this process, the individual may be provided with information on other helping agencies or groups such as low-cost housing, collective kitchens, free meals, free or low-cost household goods or clothing, a food co-op, employment information (resumes, access to fax and phone), Health For Two (pre-natal health connection), emergency shelters and immigrant services.
Information on Edmonton’s Food Bank
Fast Facts 2011 - Works collaboratively with more than 200 agencies, churches and food depots throughout Edmonton, such as the Salvation Army, Operation Friendship, The Mustard Seed, Our House Addiction Recovery and the George Spady Centre. These agencies receive food from our warehouse to assist their clients. - Serves approximately 15,000 people per month through our hamper programs. - In addition, over 350,000 meals and snacks are provided monthly through our affiliated agencies. - Provides special festive meals to the community. - Supports community events such as Edmonton’s bi-annual Homeless Connect. - More than 1,100 events are coordinated each year in the community to raise food, funds and awareness for the Food Bank. - Collected, sorted, repackaged, and redistributed 3.1 million kilograms of food in 2011. The approximate value of this food is over $17,000,000. - For the last three years, Edmonton’s Food Bank has been named one of Canada’s recommended charities by Charity Intelligence (www.charityintelligence.ca). - Recipient of a Human Rights Award by the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights in 2011. Volunteers
In 2011, more than 40,800 volunteer hours were contributed.
- Volunteers assist in warehouse duties such as sorting, repackaging food and packing food hampers. They also act as ambassadors for the Food Bank at special events and fundraisers.We rely on your donations to continue our work.
***Although they are funded through the United Way they do not receive funding from any level of government. SO, you can also donate online, in-person and by mail or phone –780.425.2133.
If you can't make it into one of the studios, you do have options to donate!
Client Services: 780.425.4190
Location: 11508 120 ST NW Edmonton, Alberta T5G 2Y2
Administration Line: 780.425.2133 Fax Line: 780.426.1590
Mailing Address PO Box 62061 Edmonton, Alberta T5M 4B5
The warehouse is open Monday through Friday 8:30am-4:30pm
Thank you for consideration being a part of our cause!
The Beauty of Yoga
An excerpt from Karen Carrasco:
Yoga is one of the most phenomenal spiritual connections to the self. Some individuals call it exercising, while others simply practice it to relax their body and minds. While it is proven to reduce stress and be an exercise of it’s own, it is something greater than that. Yoga is a union, a more harmonious union of the self, breath, body and soul.
The beauty of yoga is that you don’t have to be B.K.S. Iyengar to practice yoga well. What makes yoga practice perfect is practicing often and always being willing to learn new things. Being open-minded is a virtue and talent. In addition to that, subconsciously or unconsciously, your chakras and kundalini will be awakened in their due time. Chakras and the kundalini are simply the energy systems for spiritual awareness. Many people worry that yoga is a religion, but it is not. It is just an awareness of yourself and the universe. Whether or not that is your purpose, it brings a calming sensation to your being, physically, mentally and spiritually.
An important lesson to always remember is that one is in control of his or her own body and life. Amazingly enough, yoga falls under the category of Alternative Medicine. This basically means that the practice of yoga has the healing effects of medicine, but in a more natural way. It’s one of those old wives tales that say if you do yoga, you eliminate stress. With stress being one of the major causes of modern medical issues, yoga does a great job in relieving tensions from the everyday obstacles in life. Practicing yoga helps you have a better mood and supplies you with good physical activity, leaving you with a healthier life.
That’s the beauty of yoga.
30% OFF Session Passes ends December 24th!
If you haven't checked out our passes that on sale. Here's your chance! We've only got a few days left before the end of our Promotion! Be prepared for the New Year! Or give someone a Holiday Pass as a gift this Xmas!
30% OFF on all of our Regular Session Passes
Our PLUS Session Packages are also available to be purchased with a 30% discount.
5 Class Pass = $75 now $52.50
10 Class Pass = $140 now $98
20 Class Pass = $240 now $168
50 Class Pass = $550 now $385
Replenish your account:
Select Classes in the first drop down menu then find Holiday Passes in the second drop down menu.
10 Actions That Always Bring Happiness
An excerpt from www.marcandangel.com.
Starting today…
- Appreciate what you have. – If we counted our blessings instead of our money, we would all be a lot richer. Happiness is there if you want it to be. You just have to see that it’s wrapped in beauty and hidden delicately between the seconds of your life. If you never stop for a minute to notice, you might miss it. Read The Happiness Project.
- Focus on things that truly matter. – The simple fact that you are even here, alive, on this planet is a divine miracle, and you should not spend the time you have being busy, being miserable. Every moment you get is a gift, so stop focusing on unhappy things, and spend your moments on things that truly matter to your heart.
- Define your own meaning of life, and pursue it. – What is the meaning of life? Whatever you want it to be. Don’t fear failure; fear alifetime of mediocrity due to lack of effort and commitment. There are so many people out there who will tell you that you CAN’T. What you need to do is turn around and say, “Watch me!”
- Embrace life’s challenges. – You may think that taking a detour in life is a waste of time and energy, but you can also see the detour as a means of learning more about who you are and where you are heading in your life. Being off the beaten path may be disorienting and confusing at times, yet it challenges your creative spirit to discover new ways to build a stronger YOU. In the end, it’s usually the tough situations that feel like your tomb that actually become your cocoon. Hang in there. You’re coming out of this stronger and wiser.
- Find the balance that allows you to be who you truly are. – Your worst battle is between what you know and what you feel. One of the hardest decisions you will ever have to make is when to stay put and try harder or when to just take your memories and move on. Sometimes you have to step outside of the person you’ve been, and remember the person you were meant to be, the person you are capable of being, and the person you truly are.
- Love your body enough to take care of it. – You’re beautiful; but keep in mind that not everyone is going to see that. Never be ashamed of yourself because you are born into one skin. You can scar it, stretch it, burn it, mark it, tan it, and peel it. But you are always in it, so you might as well take care of it and learn to love it. Read The 4-Hour Body.
- Limit your time with negative people. – You can’t make positive choices for the rest of your life without an environment that makes those choices easy, natural, and enjoyable. So protect your spirit and potential from contamination by limiting your time with negative people.
- Treat others the way you want to be treated. – Be conscious of your attitude and your actions. You may be on top of the world right now – feeling untouchable. You may have all the tools at your disposal to do and say whatever you want. But remember, life is a circle – what goes around, comes around eventually.
- Set a good example. – If you want to empower others in your life, you need to start living the most empowered version of yourself first. You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. Believe in what you want so much that it has no choice but to become your reality. And don’t ever compare yourself to anyone else; stay focused on your own journey and leave footprints behind. Read The Four Agreements.
- Accept what is, and live for the possibilities that lie ahead. – Never waste your time wondering about what might have been. Get busy thinking about what still might be, and trusting that however it plays out, it will leave you glad that what might have been, never came to be.
Happiness. What an idea!
Yogalife's Second Retreat!
From April 11th-15th, 2013, Yogalife will be hosting it's second retreat! This year it will be at the Salt Spring Centre for Yoga, located on Salt Spring Island, BC. This incredible location is a cozy turn-of-the-century farmhouse and studio building and sits amid 70 acres of meadows, forest and organic gardens.
The retreat will be led by two of Yogalife's incredible instructors (yet to be announced), and will consist of two yoga classes a day, three fresh, organic meals a day, as well as a silent meditation walk, Kirtan, spa treatments, and an amazing sauna experience.
The gardens not only yield healthy, organic, nutritious fruit, vegetables and herbs, but also provide an inspiring and restful place to sit quietly or stroll amid the flowers. There is also a scenic woodland trail that runs along Blackburn Creek as it winds down the west side of the valley to Blackburn Lake. Bordered by majestic cedars, firs and maples, the Centre land is strikingly beautiful in all seasons.
This location has an absolutely INCREDIBLE diet based on their organic farm. They follow the sattvic diet advised for yoga practitioners which consists of pure foods that are calming to the mind and body, and avoids stimulating foods. This aids meditation by reducing mental and emotional disturbances of the mind. In keeping with these principles, their diet is lacto-vegetarian; they incorporate dairy products in moderate amounts, but do not use eggs, fish or meat of any kind. Also, in keeping with the yogic prescription for a sattvic diet that does not overstimulate the mind, they avoid onions and garlic. The staff are often told that their meals are the highlight of guests' stays!
The Centre also offers many massage and spa treatments (extra charge). There are massages, facials, reiki, as well as a herbal steam (different from the sauna experience that is included). They also offer a variety of Ayurvedic treatments (more information on that to come as well).
Registration, pricing, and other further details will be available soon! Please contact Yogalife Studios directly for booking and check the blog over the next 10 days for all of the other information!
Consultations
New to yoga? Come in for a one-on-one consultation with one of our extremely qualified instructors. This session will include the experience you can expect from our yoga studio, as well as an in depth look at what you are seeking from yoga as a whole. You will be taken through some basic poses, focusing on foundational cues, to ensure that you start off on the right foot. A solid foundation is at the heart of any yoga practitioner.
We will cover any and all questions that you have, as well as discuss modifications if you come with injuries or imbalances. These are available at both of our locations, so to book an appointment, look online, or call us! You can get any and all information you need at www.yogalifestudios.ca.
Consultations | 30 minutes booking time | $15.00 | Subject to Availability
Post Natal Yoga
The focus in a post-natal yoga class is not only to bond with other new mothers, but also to create a supportive, encouraging and non-judgemental environment where babies can thrive in unfamiliar surroudings and connect to each other through yoga asana (postures) pranayama (breathing) and mantras (healing sounds). This is an incredible environment for mothers to bond in a new way with their babies.
New mothers can be plagued with tightness and lack of strength in the lower back and abdominal region as well, stiffness in the shoulders, upper back and chest from nursing. Overall fatigue and weakness is still prevalent at 6 weeks so it's important to locate an instructor who has the appropriate training in post-natal yoga for a safe practice. Classes are designed to go deeper into the healing and recovery process for women after delivery. The class focuses on strengthening the pelvic floor, the transverse abdominals, and the lower back as well as providing release to the shoulders, neck and chest.
Benefits of post-natal Yoga:
- Strenghtens the abdominal muscles.
- Helps the uterus to return to it's normal size.
- Releases tension in the shoulders.
- Balances hormonal levels.
- Promotes better and deeper sleep.
- Reduces stress, anxiety and fears of being a new mother.
- Creates a healthy and supported environment.
- Strenghtens the pelvic floor muscles.
- Bonding and connecting with babies.
Common Questions:
Q: When can I start post-natal yoga?
A: When you're received the ok from your OBGYN, usually after the 6th week (vaginal birth) or 12th week (cesasean birth). 12 weeks post-partum is generally recommended as mothers are usually more rested and babies have a bit more of a routine.
Q: What do I need to bring to class?
A: Your yoga mat, a water bottle, a blanket for baby and small hand toys. You may wish to bring a baby carrier for some standing poses.
Q: What age are the babies?
A: The ages are 6 weeks up to a crawling age.
Teacher Training
We wanted to share with you the outcome of our very first teacher training held at our South studio. Please enjoy!!
Sugar was taking over my life, so I decided to cleanse..
I love sugar. Especially during the fall. I would have a pumpkin spice latte every single day if my body wouldn't hate me for it.
That said, I decided it was time to change with the seasons and take on a cleanse. It's time to get serious with our work toward clearer bodies and minds.
I had success with the Wild Rose cleanse in the spring, and figured I would give it another whirl. It's really simple. I take 6 herb pills and 2 squeezes of a tincture with breakfast and dinner for 12 days. It's a food friendly cleanse, but there are very specific things that you're told to avoid. Any tropical fruits, sugar, flour of any grains, or basically anything that's been processed.
Today is day 3. Started relatively easy. I made a delicious breakfast of eggs with fresh basil, morroccan mint, and rosemary, with a blueberry kale smoothie on the side. I continued my day by running around doing errands for hours. Which is normally fine, but when you don't prepare your foods before your adventure, the world isn't typically a cleanse friendly place. I could feel myself getting tired and losing energy; especially next to my very high energy partner.
Of course, we (society in general) make sure we get everything done before we allow ourselves a chance to sit down and properly nourish our bodies. After snacking on 3 cucumbers, I continued to run errands. When I finally came home, I was ravenous.
I created a raw vegan salad using kelp noodles, avocado and chopped bell peppers. Soooo tasty. I felt somewhat satisfied with my meal, but there was just one thing missing: sugar. I decided to be a little bit sneaky and whip up a pumpkin pie milkshake. If I can't have the latte, I'm going to find a way to treat myself to something pumpkin flavored. It turned out wonderfully, and included agave nectar (not necessarily something I should be putting in my body). Now I'm just curious how it would be if I were to warm it up...
I've heard that during cleanses, you'll crave what your body is ridding itself of most, and if that's the case, I must be composed of sugar. I'm finding the first few days to be really tricky, but that seems to be the case with anything. Once we give ourselves permission to make a few mistakes along the way, we find a little well of strength inside that encourages us to finish whatever it is we've started, and face those first few bumps that may initially deter us. I've decided to use these little sugar cravings as a way of reminding myself of my dedication to creating higher potential for my body, and the neverending search for deeper clarity. Even if I may have given in to tasting a new beer at dinner last night.....
Without further ado, the pumpkin pie milkshake....
**vegan, gluten free, nut free
1/2 can of puree pumpkin (I used the Farmer's market brand at Planet Organic)
2 cups coconut milk
1 tbsp nutmeg
2 tbsp ground chia seeds
1 tsp fresh ground ginger
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
2 tbsp raw agave nectar
Add all ingredients to blender, whip it up & enjoy!!
With love,
Brittany
Wake up your body in bed
It's already Monday! The weekend flew by and now your alarm is going off and it's time to get up and get to work. Don't stress. Before rushing to get dressed, brushing your teeth, and finding your way out the door. Set your alarm about 15 minutes earlier than you normally would and take that extra 15 minutes to do a few yoga poses while you're still laying in bed. Help your body wake up.
1. Lie on your back in Savasana, and come into Supta Badha Konasana (Reclined Butterfly).
Bring your foot soles to touch and allow your knees to fall open to either sides of the bed. You can keep your eyes closed and stretch your fingertips up towards the sky and allow them to gracefully fall behind your head. Take 10 deep breaths here to start waking up the body and the brain.
2. Supine Twist is next. So draw your knees back together, wrap your arms around your shins or thighs and give it a good squeeze. Then allow your knees to fall to the right, your right hand can rest on your knees and left hand reaches to the left. Gaze can go left if that is comfortable for your neck. Take 5 or more deep breaths here and then switch to the other side.
3. Now, it's time to sit up. Paschimottanasana (Forward fold) with both feet in front. Allow this forward fold to be passive and allow your head to be heavy. This helps calm the mind and improves concentration. Then slowly with as much ease as you can, begin to draw yourself back up stacking vertebrae upon vertebrae until you're fully upright. Then open your eyes, roll your head from side to side, and place your feet on the floor and get ready to start your day!
Let's Fly.
Arm balances are great for building strength and cultivating body awareness and focus. Our Power Upside Down Yogi, Lindsey, is a huge advocate for doing anything that require balancing on your hands. Take a look at Lindsey's awesome Crow Pose. Notice how strong and focused this Yoginis is!
HOW TO get into Crow: 1) Take your feet mat width apart and come into a squat. 2) Plant your palms firmly into the earth right underneath your shoulders. 3) Bend your elbows and find Chaturanga Arms. 4) Place your knees high up into your triceps and hug your knees into the midline. 5) Start to shift your balance forward into your hands as you take one foot off the floor and then the other. 6) Squeeze your feet together to find strength in your legs and stability in balance. 7) Allow your gaze to be in front of you to maintain stability.
Tips: 1) Your core strength is the most important! Building the strength in your core will help you go a long way when it comes to arm balances. 2) Chaturanga arms are crucial to Crow pose as well as many other Arm Balances. 3) Keep your knees hugging tightly into your body rather than allowing them to rest on your arms. This helps balance the weight between your legs and your arms 4) Keep squeezing your feet together to engage the muscles in your legs. This will help strengthen your core.
Tell us what your favourite arm balance is!
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