Maybe The Only Thing We Really Need Is More Gratitude
Adapted from Joshua Becker:
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” – Cicero
It is discontent that opens up our heart to many of the unhealthy habits in our lives. Materialism is, after all, the natural behavior born out of discontent with the possessions that we own. We live in a society that breeds discontent by defining dreams as owning bigger homes, nicer cars, and fuller closets. Advertisers foster this sense of dissatisfaction by promising greater happiness with their products. And too often, we foolishly fall into their trap without realizing it.
But there are other unhealthy habits in our lives born out of discontent. For example, dishonesty is born out of discontent with the truth. Greed is born out of discontent with our current supply. Substance abuse is born out of displeasure with the current state of our lives. Even many of the feuds in our families are born out of discontent with our closest relationships.
If discontent is the cause of many of our unhealthy habits, contentment is the cure.
And if contentment is the cure, gratitude is the pathway to it. Gratitude provides proper understanding of our place in the world. Gratitude is the feeling and expression of thankfulness for the actions of others that are costly to them and beneficial to us. By definition, gratitude requires humility. It requires us to admit we have been the recipient of something we did not deserve.
And it calls us to admit there are no entirely self-made men or women. Gratitude assigns worth to those who rightly deserve it. Whether I am thanking a parent, a spouse, a veteran, a teacher, a policeman, or a mentor who has invested into my life, my response of gratitude to their action gives the praise and worth to those who rightly deserve it.
Gratitude directs attention to what we already have. Gratitude always requires our attention to be focused on the good things we already possess.
It calls us to notice our blessings and take greater appreciation of them. As a result, our eyes are turned away from the things that are fostering the discontent in our hearts. Gratitude improves our overall well-being. Scientific studies over and over again confirm what we already know to be true: Grateful people are happier people. Grateful people routinely report increased well-being, better health, healthier lifestyles, increased optimism, and a more positive outlook on life. Additionally, those who display a high level of gratitude are much more likely to have below-average levels of materialism.
Gratitude is not a result of our circumstances. I have lived my entire life inside the United States, but have led numerous groups of people to third-world countries. I can attest first-hand that gratitude is not a result of circumstances. I have met grateful people in some of the poorest neighborhoods in our world and I have met grateful people in some of the richest neighborhoods in our country. I have also met ungrateful people in both. Gratitude is a decision and a discipline–not a response.
Gratitude opens the door to contentment. Gratitude helps us better understand our place in the world.
It pushes our praise to those who rightly deserve it. It causes us to focus on the good things we already have regardless of our present circumstances. It improves our well-being in almost every regard. As a result, it is the surest pathway to contentment. And that being the case, maybe more gratitude is the only thing we really need.
Namaste.
Spicing up Yogalife Studios - The Return of Meghan Currie!
A seasoned and lightly seared body art maker from Vancouver, Canada. Meghan is charming, funny and sweet - with a little girls voice that is somehow naïve sounding and sage-like at the same time- like some sort of yoga-fairy, or better, a ninja-fairy. Rarely has one person embodied so much warmth and gentleness, yet pushed the students to the brink of collapse with more core work and hip openers than one dreamed possible.
"When you start to inquire about who you are, and why you do what you do, and you really inquire honestly, then the outcome must be transformation." - Meghan Currie
What can you expect: Come prepared to sweat, work hard, and be lovingly pushed and expanded just beyond what you may think is possible. Coaxed and encouraged to be comfortable and cozy in the raw, intense and real bits that . Classes are coated with intention, extraordinary attention to alignment, and super playful creative sequencing. Lots of focus on core strength and stability and building body intelligence so as to playfully and safely create exquisite architectural body art.
Meghan Currie will be here August 14 and 15 2013 to lead a series of practices titled "Life Exquisite": August 14: Exquisite Metamorphisis 7PM - 8:30PM August 15: Creative Genius - Master Practice 1:30Pm - 4PM & Intensely Elegant Purification 7PM - 8:30PM Register today here.
Break Up With The Scale: Forever!
Adapted from Rachel Chemerynski:
The scale and I had a pretty rocky relationship — or perhaps "toxic" is a better word to describe it. That being said, it was definitely my longest relationship. I still clearly remember when we met for the first time during my senior year of high school. I was intrigued by its mysterious demeanor, followed by my intense pain when we got too close. Soon I didn’t care so much about the pain, as every so often it made me feel skinny. I lived for those days.
“Get Off The Scale!
You are beautiful. Your beauty, just like your capacity for life, happiness, and success, is immeasurable. Day after day, countless people across the globe get on a scale in search of validation of beauty and social acceptance.
Get off the scale! I have yet to see a scale that can tell you how enchanting your eyes are. I have yet to see a scale that can show you how wonderful your hair looks when the sun shines its glorious rays on it. I have yet to see a scale that can thank you for your compassion, sense of humor, and contagious smile. Get off the scale because I have yet to see one that can admire you for your perseverance when challenged in life.
It’s true, the scale can only give you a numerical reflection of your relationship with gravity. That’s it. It cannot measure beauty, talent, purpose, life force, possibility, strength, or love. Don’t give the scale more power than it has earned. Take note of the number, then get off the scale and live your life. You are beautiful!”
Brandon Jacobs' Yoga Journey
In just a short period of time, Brandon Jacobs has already garnered quite a following here at our studio. He is not only a yoga instructor, but a graduate of physical education, a massage therapist, and our official blogger for our website! After practicing different forms of yoga for a long time prior to finding Yogalife South, it just so happened that the stars lined up when we ran our first teacher training through Gaiatri Yoga. He was finally convinced by his wife to take on a teacher training, as it was obvious on the surface that this was his calling. Brandon is now known around the studio as a challenging instructor, with effective cues, notorious for his love of quotes to close a practice.
"Yoga can be really transformative. It can break you down. It can build you up. It can just strip you to very core."
-Brandon Jacobs
Being a yoga instructor has complimented his massage therapy practice allowing him to observe how physical ailments affect postures. At the same time, his knowledge of the physical body from his education has contributed to his ability to effectively cue his students, and provide them modifications for challenging postures. Brandon will soon be leading the anatomy portion of our teacher training, expanding our studentship and helping to cultivate a body of quality instructors to spread their love of yoga with the rest of the world!
If you would like to book a massage with Brandon at his massage therapy clinic, Pure Wellness Studio, you can visit their website here.
Do You Have an Unhealthy Relationship With Food?
An excerpt adapted by Pauline Hanuise:
I used to feel very confused about my relationship with food. I was never sure of what was good or not, and used to worry about the quality and nutritional value of everything I ate. Most of the time I felt guilty immediately after eating and used to overthink my choices. This was painful and totally useless! After recovering from 15 years of full-blown bulimia, I can tell you that your relation to food shouldn’t be so complicated. Now I'm able to choose easily without any concerns about what’s good for me or not. I feel perfectly comfortable around food and am not scared of eating something I'll regret. I'm not using food to fill something missing or to numb my emotions, either, and that’s the way it should be for everyone.
Food shouldn’t be a source of worry and discomfort. If it is, this is not part of your personality; it's not your destiny. This is something that can be improved, like most things in life!
Can you improve your relationship with food? Here are five questions that will help you determine whether your relationship with food is unhealthy, or if it could be improved.
1. Do you feel uncomfortable around food?
Many people tend to feel uncomfortable at social events where lots of food is available. However, it’s not a normal reaction. If you have a peaceful relation to food this shouldn’t be the case.
2. Do you lack of self-confidence regarding your food or eating choices?
Do you feel uncertain about making the right choice and experience difficulties trying to decide what’s good for you? If that’s the case, your relationship with food is definitely not as good as it could be. Being able to listen to your body's signals is vital to having a healthy relationship with food.
3. Are you controlling and over-concerned about what you eat?
Do you follow extreme rules you’ve read in books and magazines? Even if you do that to be as healthy as you can, this type of behavior will often lead to binge eating. People who try to be as healthy as possible, at any cost, often aren’t the healthiest. Being healthy is a balance.
4. Are you afraid of a certain food or food group?
Don’t worry, the food you are afraid of isn't going to eat you or make you become obese if you touch it! I used to feel this way and have this type of phobia about putting on weight, but you shouldn’t avoid certain foods or food groups for fear of getting heavier.
5. Does your relationship with food impact your social life?
This is quite sad to experience, and you shouldn’t have to. If you experience this, know that you can fix it. I did it for myself and am now successfully helping women all over the world to do the same.
Issues in your relationship with food can be very painful and destructive. Unfortunately, people don’t always know it can be improved quickly and easily with the right help and support!
This is a small follow up blog post from our compulsive exercise and body image blog from April 15th. Remember that you are not alone and if you do need help, please reach out. If you need direction or just to talk, you can always email me at brandon@yogalifestudios.ca
We've gone mobile!
Rejoice, the days of pinching your screen and squinting your eyes on your phone is over. We have officially optimized the yogalifestudios.ca website for smart phone users.
we've gone mobile
As of July 26th, you can browse through our schedule, check your account balance and profile and more. We have also optimized our blog for your mobile device to read and share with your friends on the go.
get there faster
Did you know you can add yogalifestudios.ca right onto the homescreen of your iPhone? This makes navigating to our website fast and easy, and makes our website accessible just like an app.
Step 1: Visit yogalifestudios.ca on your iPhone Step 2: Click the “share” button in the bottom navigation bar
Step 3: Choose “add to homescreen”
Step 4: A yogalife icon will show up – and you choose what to name it!
There you go. An icon will show up on your homescreen! Now you can visit our site quickly and easily from your phone.
view the schedule
Now you can view the schedule on your mobile device without pinching and zooming! Get there by clicking on the schedule link from the home page or from the menu bar (top left corner icon)
A few tips:
- Choose your location
- Change the date to view the schedule for a particular day
- Check out the class types & times and see who's teaching.
Login | Reserve a spot
You can also login from your phone, reserve a spot for class, see your account balance and profile information.
optimized blog posts
Now you can read the blog from your phone with ease!
We’ve invited you along for the ride and would love your feedback and suggestions. We have launched our beta version of our mobile web app. If you have any issues, please click on the speech bubble at the bottom of the site to send in your feedback!
Looking forward to hearing from you about what you think!
Yogalife's First Sponsored Athlete - Joe Byram
We've always outlined the benefits of yoga in many activities, such as in our Yoga Anatomy workshops with Neil where he underlies the importance of yoga as an adjunct to cycling and summer sports. Recently, one of our students has shown how yoga can be an amazing adjunct to swimming at the elite level. University of Alberta Golden Bears swimmer, Joe Byram has been a student at
Yogalife for just over a year and has already seen the benefits in his swim practice. He was introduced to the practice of yoga by the assistant coach of the Golden Bears swim team, Richard Millns, who has been a dedicated yoga practitioner at our studio for almost two years.
"Through his intelligent application of practice and his deep work ethic and commitment, [Joe] has been able to make some great improvements in his strength, technique and stamina. He's going to be someone to watch out for in the national and international scene for the next three years." - Richard Millns
Their favorite classes to attend are the most challenging, and one of the instructors that comes to mind is Sara Cueva's. Sara Cueva's Hot Flow was the first class that Joe could recall attending, and admitted to feeling destroyed following the session. However the difficulty of the practice did not deter Joe, but hardened his resolve to continue to do something that he knew internally was beneficial for him and his swim practice.
"What I did notice was Joe's dedication, commitment and strength of spirit. The first day is challenging for everybody, but he just brushed it off, and said 'it's okay' because he knew he was there for a good reason, and so he kept going." -Sara Cueva
Watch Joe compete in the 200m backstroke at the Canada Games August 2-17 in Sherbrooke Quebec. Check out the event's official website here. Above is a video we recorded of Joe introducing himself to the Yogalife community as its first sponsored athlete, along with the support of Richard and Sara.
The Fruits of Falling - Both ON and OFF the Mat
An excerpt adapted from Jennifer Radhika Lung
I remember the first time I fell out of the Feathered Peacock Pose, known to Sanskrit junkies as Pincha Mayurasana.
It was a calm and beautiful sunny morning and the dew on the grass in my protected and fenced backyard was starting to evaporate due to the brilliant rays of sunlight. On many different occasions, I had seen countless yogis effortlessly float their way into this forearm balance (or insert any other pose you have noticed someone move into, while you thought... wtf?). And on my own, with absolutely no one to witness the glory of me “striking the pose,” I went for it. I went for it bad. I kicked up one leg, the other followed, and the momentum—or perhaps it was the sudden gust of wind (yeah, right)—threw me flat on my back, like a pancake. I was stunned to say the least. The brunt of the fall was physically felt in my neck, but I think the most damage was felt in my mind. Fear. Failure. The fear of falling on my back again, perhaps leading to a neck injury, which would result in paralysis and confinement to a wheelchair, and then no one would love me anymore—so on and so forth.
That’s the funny thing about fears: I could keep feeding this or any other fear, and more fears—most of which were irrational—would develop.
Following this incident, I babied this pose against the wall for about two more years. My yogini sister kept telling me, “You’re ready to do Pincha without the wall.” “But…!” fear would say, so I listened and glued my mind and body to the wall. However, as I delved into the intermediate second series of Ashtanga Yoga, I knew it would only be a matter of time before I would need to face the pose head on. On a fateful day in a yoga studio, once again alone and without witness, I confronted fear and the possibility of failure. I very carefully set up the foundation of the pose as I always had, with one exception—no wall.
I tapped into the essence and core of my being, mustered inner strength while watching the ebb and flow of my breath, and then went for it. Ta-da! I felt so free and liberated, a certain level of giddiness welled up inside me!
Yes!
I fell, but did not fail. I fell with grace and control, landing softly on my feet.
I got up and tried again, not with the heaviness or fear of falling, but with lightness and liberation of knowing I could fall and get back up—over and over again. So the next time I have fear of falling, or perhaps even failing, both on off the mat, I know I have the inner strength to get back up and try and try again.
Repeat as necessary.
Lindsey Park's Yoga Journey
She's notorious around the studio for having a challenging practice as well as a powerful presence. Often described by students as an amazing instructor, and wise beyond her years of teaching, one of Yogalife's original instructors, as well as its studio director decided to share with us her yoga journey.
"When I first came into the practice, there was a lot of resistance at first... Then I finally gave it a go and loved it..."
After sustaining a life-changing injury from a skydiving accident, Lindsey was able to focus on other aspects outside of asana in her yoga practice, such as meditation and pranayama; this accident ended up being a blessing in disguise, as it allowed her to deepen her practice by focusing on other aspects of yoga.
"I knew that I had to be a teacher, and that was my calling. A teacher training was where I needed to go."
Yogalife Summer Photo Challenge!
This summer we're launching our first ever Summer Photo Challenge! Whether you're in an exotic location, or just practicing somewhere close to home, send us a picture of yourself doing fun yoga poses in interesting places! Submission deadline to the contest is August 14, 2013. We will post the pictures on August 15, and they will have until September 1 to get as many likes as possible. Those with the most likes will receive some fantastic prizes! So once your picture is posted, show it off! Get friends and family to "like" the original picture on the page. Prizes are as follows:
1st Place: A 25 Class Pass. ($275 value) 2nd Place: A Manduka Prolite Mat in the colour of your choosing! ($85.00 value) 3rd Place: A yogitoes mat towel in the colour of your choosing! ($58.00 value)
We will only allow one submission per person. If you submit multiple photos, you MUST let us know which one you'd like to be displayed on our Facebook page; if you do not inform us, we will post the first photo you submitted. If there are multiple yogis in the picture, the prize will remain the same (e.g. if there are 5 of you posing in the winning picture, the group will receive the 25 class pass, not each individual in the photo). Which members get to use the prize will be determined amongst yourselves. By submitting a photo you grant Yogalife Studios permission to post it on our PUBLIC Facebook page, and use in promotional media for the studio. Prizes cannot be returned for cash value.
Forgiveness - 4 Ways to Let Go of Resentment
Adapted from Ashley Turner from wanderlustfestival.com
Thank you to my lovely wife for providing this article!
For many of us, the emotions that hold the tightest grip on our hearts are disappointment, resentment, blame and anger. They place a stranglehold on our happiness and the only person who can release them is YOU! Although forgiving someone (or ourselves) can happen in an instant, my experience is that it is usually a much more lengthy process requiring great patience, trust, persistence and prayer.
How do you know if you still need to forgive someone?
If you still feel a 'charge' or get 'triggered' when you talk or think about a person or incident, if you feel constricted, tight, feel a flush of anger (even subtly) or a surge of energy physically - it probably means there is some unresolved emotional material for you to continue processing and letting go of. Forgiveness and compassion are associated with the heart chakra; it's quite possible that you will feel a tightness in the upper back, between the shoulders, have a sunken chest, have difficulty taking a deep breath and feel deflated or low energy.
Here are 4 steps to help you forgive:
1. Understand why someone acts the way they do.
Perhaps, the most important tool and first step in forgiveness is to understand "WHY" someone acted the way they did. What are they trying to protect? What are they afraid of? Reframe by building a new cognitive framework as to WHY someone might act the way they do. We are all doing the best we can with the skills and awareness we have. Beginning to ask different questions and understand WHY breeds compassion and helps loosen the ties that bind us to blame.
2. Feel. Express your emotions.
This may mean digging up long held or buried emotions from the past, your childhood or right now. Until we fully release the emotions held in our bodies, they will continue to affect our current mindset - creating tension in the body-mind and even leading to illness.Do Anger Work. Find ways to primally release anger, rage and blame. Go into nature to yell or scream, cry, weep, hit something (pillow, tennis racket on couch cushions, boxing class) – let it out! Ask yourself: - How does this feel in my body? - What does it feel like to be abandoned/betrayed/rageful? - What are the sensations? Write the person (or yourself) a letter. You don't have to send it, but getting our emotions out on paper gives them a place to live outside of yourself and your body. Talk to the person (if possible). This is only helpful if it is safe for you to speak with the person AND if you are in a calm, centered state of mind. It is not usually effective to speak with the other person when you are angry or until you have processed your emotions significantly on your own. You can also do this even if the person is not physically present or has died. Sit quietly. Close your eyes and call in the other person, their spirit and energy. Imagine them sitting across from you, how they look, how you feel. Tell them out loud what you are feeling, imagine a dialogue between you. When you are finished, thank them for listening and release them in gratitude.
3. Rebuild safety.
Once you have adequately expressed your emotions, create new boundaries for yourself within the relationship. This may mean that you no longer see the person, end the relationship or establish new guidelines. In the future, you may be able to reestablish a friendship but your psyche and emotions need time to heal.
4. Let go.
Fully letting go of a past transgression and completely forgiving may take many months or years. You may have a phase of feeling better and then realize that you are still grieving or angry. This is natural. The soul does not heal on linear time. Give yourself space and time, ask for help, get quiet, mindful + pray. In order to fully release, you have to change your version of the story and how you identify with it. This is the meaning of the myth of reincarnation. You are born anew.
Here's a sample forgiveness prayer: "I ask help in releasing this.... (person, event, etc). I feel..... God/Universe/Spirit/Higher Self, please help me release and let go. Help me forgive. I cannot do this alone and need your support, guidance, strength and love. I ask you to enter my heart now and help me let go. Guide my actions and thoughts today. Thank you."
If you are looking for an incredible book, try and grab "The Aladdin Factor."
- Brandon
Brittany Discusses Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: Chapters 3 & 4
The third and final video in our three-part introduction to the yoga sutras brings us to Chapter 3, Vibhuti Pada and Chapter 4, Kaivalya Pada. Brittany gives us a background as to how she found herself "scratching the surface" of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Chapter 3, describes the psychic powers a yogi obtains through practice. These are an advanced level of practice, and provide an interesting read. Chapter 4, is described the chapter of Freedom. Patanjali goes into detail about how those who have achieved high levels of practice can share their gifts to benefit the world.
“It is through your body that you realize you are a spark of divinity.” -B.K.S.Iyengar
8 Ways You're Driving Yourself CRAZY! Part II
A continuation and conclusion of our the previous post 8 ways you're driving yourself CRAZY! Part I.
5. The maintenance of lies.
What’s the best part of telling the truth? You don’t have to keep track of everything you’ve said. Quite simply, the truth doesn’t cease to exist just because you ignore it. It takes constant care and maintenance to hide reality behind a lie. The truth may be hard to deal with, it may irritate you, but it will always set you free. In the end someone is going to tell the truth anyway. The only question is: Who do you want to tell it, you or them?
6. Procrastinating until there’s an emergency.
To resist at the beginning is always the easiest choice to make, and it’s also the only choice that guarantees you will never reach the end result you desire. The thing we all do best to drive ourselves crazy is to do nothing when something needs to get done. The way to counteract this is simple: engage deeply in work that needs to be completed. Your time is now. There’s no price too great for feeling accomplished. There’s no price too great for feeling alive. And if you don’t do it now, you probably never will. You know the thing you’ve been putting off the longest? That thing you’ve been procrastinating on for the last several weeks? That’s the thing you need to start doing today. That’s the thing you need to start before going to bed tonight. The time to start is not when the crap hits the fan. The time to start is now. Period.
7. Focusing on what you don’t like.
What you focus on grows stronger in your life. When you focus on a person’s wonderful qualities, you have a wonderful relationship with them. When you focus on a person’s not so wonderful qualities, you have a not so wonderful relationship with them. When you focus on benefits of a situation, you get to take advantage of them. When you focus on the drawbacks, you gain nothing but a frown.
The bottom line is that you see only what you want to see, and what you see determines where you wander in life. Your attitude is a little thing that makes a massive difference. Don’t be one of the crazy ones who makes it a point not to smile.
8. Your expectations.
Life will never live up to your expectations, unless your expectations are simply to embrace life as it unfolds and make the very best of it. You have to lower your expectations and increase your appreciation to improve your happiness. Know that everything is in impeccable order whether you understand it or not. How you react determines how good it turns out for you.
Something that is really difficult, but totally worth it, is giving up on how you thought it was ‘supposed to be.’ The most beautiful part of this practice is simply returning to the peaceful feeling of being and working with what’s available to you in the moment. This peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you had expected.
So embrace life’s surprises. Smile and realize that it’s far better to be pleasantly surprised than hopelessly disappointed.
Brittany Discusses Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: Chapter 1 & 2
The second video in our three-part introduction to the yoga sutras brings us to Chapter 1, Samadhi Pada and Chapter 2, Sadhana Pada. The first chapter goes right into an advanced practice, and can be applicable to people who have retained their practice from previous lives. Brittany also goes through the connection between the second chapter to the 8-limb path, and its connections to Ashtanga yoga. Brittany also discusses the origin of Patanjali, and the deeper meaning of his name. It's a great little video!
“It is only when the correct practice is followed for a long time, without interruptions and with a quality of positive attitude and eagerness, that it can succeed.” -Patanjali, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
If you are interested in learning more about The Yoga Sutras visit Brittany's website here. Brittany will also be hosting a workshop at our studio titled "Exploring the Yoga Sutras: A Satsang" at Yogalife Studios Edmonton South. Register here today!
8 Ways You're Driving Yourself CRAZY! Part I
Adapted from www.marcandangel.com
I sat there in her living room staring at her through teary eyes. “I feel crazy,” I said. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
“Why do you feel crazy?” she asked.
“Because I’m neurotic and self-conscious and regretful, and so much more all at once,” I said.
“And you don’t think everyone feels like this at times?” she asked.
“Not like this,” I replied under my breath.
“Well you’re wrong,” she said. “If you think you know someone who never feels a bit crazy and off-center, you just don’t know enough about them."
Every one of us contains a measure of ‘crazy’ that moves us in strange, often perplexing ways.
"This side of us is necessary; it’s part of our human ability to think, adapt and grow. It’s part of being intelligent,” she said.
I sat silently for a moment. My eyes gazed from her eyes to the ground and back to her eyes again. “So you’re saying I should want to feel like this?”
“To an extent,” she said. “Let me put it this way: Taking all your feelings seriously all the time is a waste of your spirit. You have to know that sometimes what you feel simply won’t align with what you want; it’s just your subconscious mind’s way of helping you look at things from a different perspective. These feelings will come and go quickly as long as you let them go… as long as you consciously push past them.”
We shared another moment of silence, then my lips curled up slightly and I cracked a smile, “Thank you, Grandma,” I said.
Over the course of the next few hours we discussed the following – some ways we unnecessarily drive ourselves crazy:
1. Should haves, would haves and could haves…
As Thich Nhat Hanh so perfectly said, “People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.” In many cases you stay stuck in your old routines for no other reason than that they are familiar to you. In other words, you’re afraid of change and the unknown. You continually put your dreams and goals off until tomorrow, and you pass on great opportunities simply because they have the potential to lead you out of your comfort zone.
You start using excuses to justify your lack of backbone: “Someday when I have more money,” or “when I’m older,” or the over-abused “I’ll get to it as soon as I have more time.” This is a vicious cycle that leads to a deeply unsatisfying life – a way of thinking that eventually sends you to your grave with immense regret. Regret that you didn’t follow your heart. Regret that you always put everyone else’s needs before your own. Regret that you didn’t do what you could have done when you had the chance.
So how do you prevent regretting all the potential should haves, would haves and could haves? Simple. Forget the past. Forget what you can’t change. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. From this point on, let there be no excuses, no explanations and no regrets. Start from where you are right now, break free from your cage of comfort and take a bold step forward.
2. Love driven addictions.
It happens to all of us at some point – suffering from the consequences of love-driven obsession and addiction. Your desire for someone bestows upon you an intoxicating, mind-altering dose of feelings you never dared to admit you wanted. It’s an emotional bender, perhaps, of reckless love and roaring excitement.
When the subject of your desire is even slightly withheld from you, you promptly spiral out of control, feeling crazy and depleted, as if a drug you rely on is being dangled in front of you just out of your reach. And then you become resentful of your dealer – the subject of your desire – who you believe encouraged your addiction in the first place, but now refuses to tender the good stuff you have come to rely on… even though you’re certain they have it, darn it, because they used to give it to you all the time free of charge.
Meanwhile, of course, this person has become more and more appalled by your junkie ways. They look at you no longer as an equal, but as a dependent who relies on them. They don’t see the person they cared for; they see the mess you’ve become. But if you stop and think about it, how can you blame them? Your addictive obsession has devalued your own self-esteem and self-worth; and it’s hard to love and respect those who don’t love and respect themselves.
3. Competing with everyone else.
If you compete with others, you will become bitter. If you compete with a previous version of yourself, you will become better. It’s as simple as that. You are not in competition with anybody except yourself; plan to outdo your past not other people.
Rather than compete against others, work with them on a common goal. Use your combined insights and talents to achieve what none of you can alone. Real personal growth and learning occurs through relationships, when the competitive spirit is replaced with a collaborative one.
4. Complaints backed by lack of action.
Complaining is a draining waste of time. We all have a finite amount of time and energy. Any amount of it you spend whining and complaining is a total loss; do something useful instead.
Take the next 24 hours and every time you start to complain, realize it, admit it and stop it. How often do you complain and harp on negative thoughts? It may be more often than you think. Know that bringing awareness to this unproductive habit is the first step to overcoming it.
Bottom line: You are not allowed to complain about something unless you’re going to do something about it.
Brittany Introduces The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Watch Brittany's first video introducing the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali! The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are an ancient body of work used to govern our practice of yoga to help us attain a state of enlightenment through our practice. Within the yoga sutras are 4 chapters describing how we take our practice beyond just the physical movements, and go deeper to discover ourselves and how to be bringers of light to our world. Check out Brittany's dialogue on the sutras below!
“Yoga is the cessation of the movements of the mind. Then there is abiding in the Seer's own form.”
-Patanjali, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
If you are interested in learning more about The Yoga Sutras visit Brittany's website here. Brittany will also be hosting a workshop at our studio titled "Exploring the Yoga Sutras: A Satsang" at Yogalife Studios Edmonton South. Register here today!
Overcoming Mental Blocks for the Upcoming Running Season
- "Focus on the true satisfaction of running the way you want to run"
From www.runnersworld.com
With the upcoming running season ahead, here is some really great information on how to overcome some of those mental blocks! At Yogalife we definitely promote balance, and while running may not be the best balance for yoga, yoga is a wonderful way to balance out your running! Runners often gravitate to our Hot Yin classes, or even our yoga for athletes/runners that usually runs in the summer. And if you haven't trained properly, your concerns are valid. But other worries–especially those triggered by outside influences–can create a self-defeating sense of intimidation. These doubts go deeper and are rooted in negative emotions, says Windee Weiss, Ph.D., a sports psychologist who is an associate professor at the University of Northern Iowa School of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services.
"Realism accepts that a demand may be tough but doesn't place a judgment on it," she says. "Intimidation assumes you won't have the goods to meet the demand."
Failure-oriented stress can cause a host of problems. It can tighten muscles so that they fatigue faster, hamper coordination so you can't find your stride, distract you from your goals, and undermine mental toughness. Here's how to get past common sources of intimidation and run your best, without doubt.
Faster runners
They're everywhere–at the starting line, on the road, among your running buddies. Don't just stew over others' times–tap their achievements for inspiration. Catherine Andrews of Washington, D.C., felt fast among friends but recently joined a running group of six-minute-milers knowing she'd be a laggard. "I joined to be more motivated," she says. Andrews soon stepped up to tempo work and speed running. "It made a difference within weeks," she says. If you can't embrace a faster group, at least quit comparing. "Focus on the true satisfaction of running the way you want to run," Weiss says.
A tough course
When Beth Strickland of Brooklyn completed her first marathon at Walt Disney World in 6:33, friends prodded her toward the San Francisco Marathon. "It has a six-hour time limit and many hills," she says. "If I tried and didn't make it, I'm not sure I'd attempt another." While Strickland decided to tackle one or two flatter courses first, sports psychologist Cindra Kamphoff, Ph.D., cautions against getting derailed by general impressions. Instead, prepare. Use online street-view maps to review a course's geography. If hills are the issue, make them part of your weekly training. Practice mantras to keep your inner dialogue positive.
People who train more
Banish guilt over your presumed lack of dedication by acknowledging that your training reflects your life, not someone else's. What's more, training needs are different depending on one's goals. If you're truly not satisfied with your results, you'll have to change your training. "No amount of confidence-building will improve your performance above what you've trained to do," says Doug Hankes, Ph.D., a sports psychologist for the athletic department at Auburn University.
The idea of a first race
"A first-time 5-K can be more daunting for a beginner than a marquee marathon is for an experienced runner," Hankes says. "There are many more unknowns." So take comfort in your courage to sign up in the first place. Talk to seasoned runners about their experiences. "Ask what they think would have been helpful, looking back," Hankes says. But keep the stakes low and focus on having fun. On race day, try running with a friend. "Tying your pace to someone else's takes pressure off," Weiss says.
Entering a mega-race
TV cameras, elite athletes, mobs of people, online tracking, mythic features (think Boston's Heartbreak Hill)–they're all distractions. "The essence of mental training is getting your head out of the way and letting your body do what it's trained for," Hankes says. Build a routine that makes every race feel familiar, honing elements like the amount of socializing before the race, your music playlist, and mantras geared to different sections of the course. Defuse pressure to perform by imagining life a week later. "Don't make the race more than it is," he says.
Saying "I'm a runner"
Even after running her first half-marathon last fall, Beth Probst of Iron River, Wisconsin, says she feels uncomfortable calling herself a runner. "I like to be good at what I do," she says. "If I'm not trying to be a runner, I don't have to justify being mediocre at it." Runners of all levels often equate the phrase with speed. But in reality the words represent a lifestyle. Probst should embrace her new identity, says Kamphoff, of The Runner's Edge in Mankato, Minnesota. Acknowledging one's effort has benefits: "You start eating better, boosting core strength, telling people about running," she says. "That's what makes you a 'real' runner."
Rewire your brain
Fears and doubts are natural. But dwelling on them–or ignoring them–can prevent you from improving, says sports psychologist Doug Hankes. Be on the lookout for the following warning signs that your fears are holding you back.
1. You're focused on potential race outcomes, and not the process of improving.
Sure, there's a chance you won't set a PR in a race. But your training time is better spent focusing on confidence-building workouts like tempo and long runs rather than worrying about "what if's."
2. You're ruminating about the source of your intimidation.
Performance anxieties need to be dealt with before race day. ID your trouble zone and practice ways to conquer doubts. For example, if in past events you've slowed down in the final stretch, finish the last mile or two of each workout fast.
3. You're questioning your commitment to your sport. Sounds like you've forgotten or misplaced the joy of running that once motivated you. Temporarily set aside any time goals and spend your next few workouts having fun. Do whatever you can to ditch the stress of "performing."
Use Your Heart as a Wall: Make It Stronger Instead of Shutting Down
We have all felt it - heartbreak. Ugh. What an ugly word. Maybe it was from a significant other, a spouse, a friend, a business partner, etc. Whatever and whoever it was, it likely wasn't easy. This article is just a story on some insight of an experience the author had. Ultimately, the purpose of all of the hurt ends up working the muscle of your heart, and making it stronger. But only if you're open to it. What I do want to share, is that perhaps you are reading this article, and there is someone you know going through this. If, so, PLEASE remember this...“Sometimes people put up walls not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.” - Brandon
Adapted from Stewart Snyder.
“The pain you feel today will be the strength you feel tomorrow.” -Unknown
“I’m done here. It’s time for me to move on,” she spoke softly as if unsure herself. For a moment, I swore she said “I’m not done here,” but she didn’t. She was leaving me.
The poison in the words numbed my body and my soul. All of a sudden, there seemed to be a big hole where my heart used to be. Survival mode kicked in and I started protecting that “empty” space. For me, it was isolating myself from social situations, even work. I sunk myself into spiritual reading, grasping for any words that might fill the hole. This was the first time I had felt it. Heartbreak. This was my first experience feeling something so painful that I fell into the cycle we all do.
In Your Own Defense
That sense of an empty heart is something all of us are familiar with. When we are hurt, we immediately want to protect ourselves. We change some behavior to act as a defense mechanism for the “next time.” These mechanisms compound to build a thicker and thicker wall “protecting” our heart. For me, it took forever. The pain began to have breaks, yet came back with the same intensity. After more forever, the breaks became longer until the pain began to be only spikes during memories. Finally, the pain began to slowly subside in intensity. Leaving only emptiness...
What About the Emptiness?
It turns out that emptiness is atrophy. When there is no love in the heart, it is like a precisely tuned machine with nothing to produce. It just sits there and begins to rust. So, I, as do many of us, waited for the pain to subside behind the walls built from heartbreak. All the while, my heart sat rusting. Hmmm. Now I’ve got a rusted heart and a bunch of walls to break through. There’s got to be a better way…and there is.
A Different Kind of Wall
It is said that there are two ways to deal with pain. One is to shut your heart off so it won’t be hurt; the other is to open it bigger to allow more love to find it. These are odd phrases, you know? Your heart is a muscle. It has inherent strength that can be made stronger, like every other muscle, by using it.
Choose to use your heart as the wall to protect you.
Even when hurt, continue to build the heart muscle from use. Yes, it’s weakened by the sting, but it’s still capable of all the strength it had before. A strong, loving heart is more prepared to absorb hurtful blows than weak attempts to hide it from the world. Even a broken heart continues to feed the body. Grow your heart by learning from the pain and continuing on. Continue on as before, loving as deeply as you can. The more you love, the more strength your heart retains and builds.
Love. Learn. Love more.
Imagine your heart as a castle. When something approaches, let it in just as a castle’s drawbridge lets in its guests. Let your still loving heart’s strength protect you from emotional attacks, catapulting letdowns, and poisonous relationships, like the stone walls of those castles. You see, walls are built stone by stone. Let your stones be loving acts both given and received, instead of compounding defense mechanisms. Give and be grateful for receiving each piece of strength to your wall, knowing there’s still a drawbridge.
Un-loving Is Impossible
I loved “her” dearly, you know? No matter how much it hurt, though, I couldn’t un-know that love. The pain subsided, but the love was just as strong—just still there. Those that I meet now that approach my castle are greeted and welcomed with the love I learned from her. Sure, some may aim to hurt, or do so unintentionally, but they have no idea the strength they’re up against. Love after love, my heart becomes stronger. With each loss, a new layer of muscle rebuilds over the last. With a stronger a heart, a stronger love, and a new, different, more beautiful cycle is born.
Of Nothing
So, what was the point of the defense mechanism walls? Nothing. They only served to contain, block, and otherwise stifle the beautiful strength the heart could build. The more you compound your defenses, the more you stifle your heart. The longer you wait to love, the more your heart rusts. Conversely, the more you simply love, the stronger your heart-wall becomes and the more able you are to absorb the hurt and build again.
Crazy In Love
The pain still comes, soft and far between. My eyes still tear. But now, it’s for the memory of that time we shared, the gratitude for the biggest lesson, for the little piece of my heart that tells her it’s okay when she’s staring at the ceiling in the middle of the night. Crazy, isn’t it? I left a piece of my heart with her. My heart shouldn’t be as strong as it was, let alone stronger. But it is, because the heart, like any other muscle, gets strong with use. Build your heart. Love with every opportunity. Be readily prepared to open that left ventricle when the charming knight or beautiful princess arrives.
Simply be love.
Avoiding Mental Blocks in Running
As cliché as it sounds, if you were to tell me one year ago that I would be running a marathon this august, I would have never believed you. I've never really been a runner before; I was big into soccer when I was younger but that was about it when it came to cardio. Going on a run outdoors was never something I would think to do or ever enjoy doing. It’s funny how things change like that.
I am still unable to recall why I made the decision to start running in the first place; all I recall is going online and searching for beginner running plans. From there I started with a whopping 6 minute walk and 1 minute jog, repeated 3 times, 3-4 days a week. Jogging for that full 60 seconds was, in all honesty, challenging, and all I remember saying to myself was "wow I am so out of shape." But, I kept up with the plan and by the end of week 8 I was jogging for a full 20 minutes without having to catch my breath.
A few weeks later, my dad informed me that the Ironman, which is originally in Penticton, BC, was cancelled and instead replaced by a German triathlon company called the Challenge. Originally the ironman is an event which can only be done by one individual, but the great thing about the Challenge triathlon is that it still has that feature, but also includes doing the ironman distance as a team. My dad and brother (who have both completed Ironman's before) asked if I wanted to sign up with them. Seeing that the Challenge was a year away, my response was almost an organic one, agreeing without hesitation. My dad will start us off with a 4.2km swim, then my brother doing a 180km bike ride, and myself finishing off the day with a 42.2km run this August.
I’m not going to sugar coat it: running is not always easy, nor is it always fun. Unless you are a person who absolutely loves running, you will encounter road blocks along the way. One of the most prevalent being mental blocks. Running is largely a mental game; you can be in the best shape of your life but if your head isn’t into it, you won’t make it very far. So, how does one win this mental game? Here are some of the strategies that have worked for me:
· Amp yourself up:
Before any of my long runs, I set a timer on my phone for 5 minutes, find a quiet space, sit comfortably on my yoga mat, and somewhat meditate for that time. I put a timer on my phone so that I don’t get distracted by how short, or how long a time I’ve been sitting. I just close my eyes and listen to the voice in my head. Most often I say things like “you can do this,” “I’m a runner,” “just breathe,” etc. It doesn’t really matter what you say, as long as it’s positive for you. Then when that timer ends, you can start your run in a really positive mindset.
· Make yourself accountable:
If you are running with a goal of weight loss for example, it can be really hard to keep yourself motivated. Find a few friends and sign up for a race. When you know you have a deadline, and have committed to something, it makes it a lot easier to get off your couch and be active.
· Understand the difference between ‘pain’ and ‘hurt:’
Hurt is that feeling where your body is trying to tell you to stop and not push yourself further, but you aren't in a situation injure yourself or cause permanent damage if you continue. Pain is when you have gone too far and are at risk for injury and/or permanent damage. The funny thing about the human body is that your mind will tell you to stop way before you really reach your breaking point. Your mind tries to stop you because it knows that if you keep pushing yourself; your body will start to change. This is one of the many things that I have learnt from yoga and am able to incorporate in running. When you are in class, and holding a pose that is challenging, your mind tries to tell you to ease out of it or stop completely. But then you hear your instructor tell you there are only a couple more breaths and then that’s it. And suddenly it's not that hard to hold that pose anymore; that even though it may hurt, your body is still supporting you and not letting go. It's the same with running; you always see these people who look like they cannot take anymore, but then with one hundred meters to go, they suddenly have this new found energy and find the strength within themselves to push forward. When you think you've got nothing left, there’s always a little bit more.
· Assign yourself a mantra:
One of my personal favorites is telling myself that the voice in my head telling me that I can’t do this, is a big fat liar. It sounds pretty cliché, but it works for me. And this is something that extends beyond running too into everyday life. Find a mantra that clicks with you, and repeat it to yourself when you find yourself wanting to stop.
· Change it up:
If you run the same course every time, after a while you start to remember where each km is on the course. If I know exactly where the 3km mark is on a 5km run, I start to gauge my energy and find it harder to keep my pace because I know exactly how much is left to go. Keep a general goal in mind of where you want to run, but don’t lock it down. Just run wherever you feel like going. When this happens, you aren’t aware of where each km is and it makes it way easier. Then when you get home, track where you went online if you don’t have a running watch with a GPS that records your route.
There will be days when you don’t feel motivated or find yourself making up excuses. And if you are stuck in that mindset, just remember that the moment right before you start is the scariest. Once that run is done, you will feel ten times better than when you started and you’ll be proud of what you just accomplished. The only workout you regret is the one you didn’t do. Simply put, through all this, what I'm really trying to tell you is that even though something may be challenging, and if you just don’t feel motivated, that if you stick with it, you will start to see a change. Nine months ago I could barely jog for a full minute, and now I find myself running for over two hours with very little breaks. I am still floored that this has become reality. Combining yoga with my training has kept me grounded and still continues to teach me things that can apply to running, and in everyday life.
There are times when I'm running, and I am reminded of how far I've come, and I cannot help but smile and laugh a little about the whole thing. I probably look a little silly, and maybe even seem a little strange, but it's what keeps me going, and it’s going to carry me all the way through to race day and beyond it.
- Taylor Nystad
Golf Workshop with Meaghan Mielnichuk
Improve your golf swing this year by learning stretches and techniques to enhance your game. We have designed a program combing both yoga and pilates for you to take home with you and do regularly so you can add more power and precision to your golf swing.
Location: South Edmonton
Date: Jun 29th, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Price: $45.00
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