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.

Holiday Package Specials!!!

For the month of December, Yogalife has 5 premium packages for purchase for yourself or for a loved one (or both) for the holiday season! Purchase any one at our South or North location! All of these packages are offered at a 15% discount! Just in time for the holiday season.

1. Holiday 10-Session Pass and Mat - Regular - $183.00 - Holiday Special! - $155.55

2. Holiday Mat and Towel Package - Regular - $143.00 - Holiday Special! - $121.55

3. Holiday PROLite and Seeker Package - Regular $181.00 - Holiday Special! - $153.85

4. Holiday Restore Package- Regular - $163.00 - Holiday Special! - $138.55 - includes Halfmoon eye pillow, Love Stone Mala Beads, and Rectangular Bolster Deluxe

5. Holiday Yoga Kit - Regular - $117.00 - Holiday Special! - $99.45 - includes Manduka foam block, Manduka PROlite mat, and 10 foot Manduka yoga strap

***All mat packages include a Manduka PROlite mat***

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: 

PURCHASE A Pass for You.

Select Classes in the first drop down menu then find Holiday Passes in the second drop down menu.

PURCHASE A Gift E-Card

November's Karma Classes - A Better World

A Better World Foundation believes...

We all have an inherent need for a central role in the direction of our life, and to make valuable and impactful contributions to our lives and to something greater than ourselves.

However, meeting these needs requires inspiration and encouragement, as well as further engagement and connection, to support that direction of our life as we move forward.

As this occurs, we explore who we are, can be, and want to be. We begin to recognize that how we think and our actions affect our results, and we begin to examine our choices.

Inevitably our perspectives, approaches, and our decisions shift, moving us ever closer toward our objectives. Every shift, no matter the size, benefits us all, and inspires others.

ABWF is a catalyst… inspiring, encouraging, and accelerating individual direction and impact; supporting the opportunities you choose to positively impact your life, and, in turn, the world.

“In every moment is an opportunity… a better world begins with you”

You are essential to what happens next. Your actions and interactions affect everyone connected to you, even people you will never meet. As you value how you think and focus what you do, your impact will become profound and inspire others. We are a catalyst… inspiring, encouraging, and accelerating this process, affecting and benefiting everyone. If you want a central role in the direction and impact of your life, and our world, we will show you how.

A Better World is a Central Alberta based international development organization that is dedicated to improving the lives in developing countries. Their five main areas they strive to improve upon include education, health, water, agriculture, and income generation.

Members of the Faculty of Education at the UofA are planning various fundraisers to help support A Better World's efforts in Afghanistan and Kenya. They are planning to fundraise to purchase desks for schools in Afghanistan (each desk is $50 and seats three students), and to purchase bunk beds for a girls' dorm at a school in Kenya (70 bunk beds are needed at $200 each). These dorms in Masai Mara are incredibly important, because parents rarely allow girls to attend school beyond the eighth grade unless they have a safe place to stay near the school.

The long term goal of the program is a trip to Kenya in May where the organization is hoping to do some professional development for Kenyan teachers.

If you would like to get involved or donate, come to any of our Karma classes! Our North studio hosts a 60 minute Karma hatha class from 11-12 and our South studio hosts a 60 minute Karma hot flow from 1:30-2:30.

10 Actions That Always Bring Happiness

An excerpt from www.marcandangel.com.

It’s important to make someone happy, and it’s important to start with yourself.  Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design into the present. 

Starting today…

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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!”
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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!

VINYASA!!!

The term vinyasa may be broken down into its Sanskritic roots to assist in decoding its meaning. Nyasa denotes "to place" and vi denotes "in a special way." Like many Sanskrit words, vinyasa is a term that has many meanings, such as "breath synchronized movement."

There are four basic definitions of vinyasa: 1) the linking of body movement with breath; 2) a specific sequence of breath-synchronized movements used to transition between sustained postures; 3) setting an intention for one's personal yoga practice and taking the necessary steps toward reaching that goal; and 4) a type of yoga class.

Vinyasa is also employed as a noun to describe the sequence of poses that are performed between Adho Mukha Svanasana or Downward Facing Dog as part of a Surya Namaskara or Sun Salutation sequence. Though this is more correctly termed half-vinyasa as full-vinyasa returns to complete standing asana or positions.

The term vinyāsa refers to the alignment of movement and breath, a method which turns static asanas into a dynamic flow. The length of one inhale or one exhale dictates the length of time spent transitioning between asanas. Asanas are then held for a predefined number of breaths. In effect, attention is placed on the breath and the journey between the asanas rather than solely on achieving perfect body alignment in an asana, as is emphasized in Hatha Yoga.

A standard vinyāsa consists (for example) of the flow from chaturaṅga, or plank, to chaturaṅga daṇḍāsana, or low plank, to ūrdhva mukha śvānāsana or upward-facing dog, to Adho Mukha Svanasana, or downward-facing dog.

The breathing style used in Vinyasa Yoga is Ujjayi which is a relaxed diaphragmatic style of breathing, characterized by an ocean sound which resonates in the practitioner's throat. Throughout a practice, this specific breathing style is maintained in alignment with movements. The steady cycle of inhales and exhales provides the practitioner with a calming, mental focal point. Additionally, viṅyāsa and Ujjayi together create internal heat, which leads to purification of the body through increased circulation and sweating.

This style is sometimes also called flow yoga, because of the smooth way that the poses run together and become like a dance. The breath becomes an important component because the teacher will instruct you to move from one pose to the next on an inhale or an exhale. Vinyasa is literally translated from Sanskrit as meaning "connection," and In terms of yoga asana, we can interpret this as a connection between movement and breath.Vinyasa Flow began as Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga by a Yogi named Sri Tirumala Krishnamacharya. He was given a place to teach yoga and eventually taught a young boy named Parrabhi Jois his learnings on the power of breathing. Jois then established an institute for practicing the specific form of Vinyasa yoga. Like all styles of yoga, Vinyasa has both mental and physical benefits. Physically, sweat expels toxins and re-energizes your body. Mentally, the synchronized breathing relaxes your mind and helps to release any blockage of energy flow throughout your body.

Vinyasa yoga offers much diversity. The pace can vary and there is no one particular sequence that instructors must follow. In fact, the name vinyasa can also be translated as "variations within parameters." This flexibility allows the teacher to tailor the sequences to their own philosophy. So, if one class doesn’t work for you, try another, until you find one that you are comfortable with.

It is important to remember a vinyasa is not just any sequence of actions: It is one that awakens and sustains consciousness. In this way vinyasa connects with the meditative practice of nyasa within the Tantric Yoga traditions. In nyasa practice, which is designed to awaken our inherent divine energy, practitioners bring awareness to different parts of the body and then, through mantra and visualization, awaken the inner pathways for shakti (divine force) to flow through the entire field of their being. As we bring the techniques of vinyasa to bear throughout our lives, we open similar pathways of transformation, inner and outer-step by step and breath by breath.

Here's a simple description of a vinyasa and how the breath is connected to each movement:

1. Inhale - LIFT your feet and hips off the ground (moving to high plank/high push up)
2. Exhale - 4-Limbed Staff Pose (Chaturanga)
3. Inhale - Cobra or Upward Facing Dog
4. Exhale - Downward Facing Dog

Vinyasa! Now you know. Namaste.

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.

Norman Marcelino: A Life Changing Experience

A former coworker and now friend introduced me to Yoga. At work, he demonstrated a pose that he learned but it didn't spark my interest. Why, you ask? Well, picture a man wearing a crisp dress shirt, slick dress pants and polished dress shoes positioning into a Warrior II stance! If this so-called "Yoga Practice" would make me look as foolish as he did, I was definitely making it my last priority to try it out.

When I finally decided to attend my first class, I was oozing out with confidence because I instantly felt like a true Yogi after getting a glimpse of myself in the huge mirrors as I swaggered with my matching Lululemon outfit. Since I was the only male in the studio, my ego level was off the charts! Before my head got any bigger, the confidence wore off when I noticed that I had difficulty following (mentally and physically) the flow. I learned my first lesson when the Instructor advised us to leave our egos outside the studio and only focus on what our own bodies were doing. As the Instructor commanded, I focused on my Ujjayi breath and immediately noticed a change in my state of mind and physical abilities. The advice shifted a disappointing start to an exhilarating end!

It's been a year and half since I attended my first class. I incorporate the Ujjayi breath to help me stay calm during difficult situations at work and in my personal life. Also, being aware of my ego is allowing me to think more clearly and rationally when realizing whether it's my "ego-self" or my "true-self" that's making daily decisions. Most importantly, I'm more connected to my spiritual being in a way that opens my heart and mind to seek a deeper purpose in life.

Last week, a profound moment occurred in Yoga class when an epiphany helped me see the difficult poses I avoided (because of how uncomfortable my mind and body felt), were metaphors in my life for the challenges I avoided to face and the changes I resisted to accept! My little arm hairs stood up and I felt chills running up my spine because of that moment. I truly appreciate that even after attending more than 200 hours of class, I can still learn new things from the thoughts and emotions that I experience during a Yoga practice. I recommend all types of Yoga to everyone who is looking for a new way to workout, explore their mental capabilities and connect with their spirituality. For me, it helps to have an open mind/heart because sometimes, unexpected thoughts/emotions reveal itself to allow me to have an awakening. Other times, I only feel the heat, humidity and sore muscles but that's a cool feeling too!

We are all students of life. When we accept that all the trials and triumphs we face on a daily basis are lessons to teach us how to become better people, the energy we exude into the Universe and the energy returned to us will be that much stronger!

Namaste.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture comes from a complete system of medicine and healing known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM has been practiced for over 5,000 years and has been selected by the World Health Organization for worldwide propagation to meet the health care needs of people around the world into the 21st century. Acupuncture is one of 4 bodies which make up Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the others including Moxabustion, Tui Na Chinese Massage and Chinese Herbal Medicinals. Acupuncture is the insertion of very fine, sterile needles into specific points to promote healing and stop pain. In Chinese Medicine, acupuncture helps to active "Qi" or the body's energy to harmonize and optimize the functions of the internal organs and the entire body.

The Chinese art of acupuncture dates back over 2000 years.

Acupuncture was first introduced into Europe in the 17th Century, but up until the recent twentieth century, much of the world knew little about it, its origins and its capacity to promote and maintain good health.

One of the most important concepts of Chinese medicine is that of natural balance - yin and yang. When such a proper balance of forces exists, the body has achieved a healthy circulation of the life force qi (roughly pronounced "chee").

Qi is said to travel the body along channels called "meridians". Qi flows constantly up and down these pathways and when the flow of qi is insufficient, unbalanced, or interrupted, yin and yang become unbalanced and illness may occur.

An understanding of the relationship between the body, yin and yang, and qi is necessary to understand the utility of acupuncture.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into the skin (sometimes in combination with electrical stimulus or with heat produced by burning specific herbs, called Moxibustion) at specific points in order to influence the functioning of the body.

Traditionally, there are 365 acupoints on the body, most of which have a specific energetic function. Because the needles are so fine only a slight discomfort may be felt. Alternatively, the acupuncturist may apply pressure (acupressure) rather than inserting needles.

Acupuncture can be used to boost the body's natural healing energy in order to promote health and long life, or to treat specific physical and psychological illnesses or complaints.

Modern research shows that acupuncture can affect most of the body's systems - the nervous system, muscle tone, hormone outputs, circulation, antibody production and allergic responses, as well as the respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems.

Acupuncture also stimulates the nerves in skin and muscle and increases the body's release of natural painkiller - endorphin and serotonin.

Acupuncture can help to treat such conditions as: Pain - including migraines, period pains, backache, trapped nerves, frozen shoulder and other kinds of arthritic and rheumatic pain. It can also be useful in relieving post-operative and post injury pain, such as following sports injuries. Allergic reactions - such as asthma, hayfever and eczema Depression - including stress and anxiety Sinus problems - and chronic catarrh Skin problems - such as mouth ulcers, dermatitis, pruitus (itching) and excessive sweating Nausea and vomiting Abdominal and bowel problems Giving up smoking Eating disorders and drug addiction Insomnia High blood pressure Withdrawal from alcohol Menstrual problems Menopause

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!

Don Wong: My Yoga Journey

I've been physically active all my life. I had a laundry list of activities to keep myself busy such as running, sprinting, weight training, roller blading, cycling, and skiing to name a few. Stretching was not even apart of my vocabulary let alone yoga.

All that changed when a car, failing to stop at a red light, rear ended me. Sending my vehicle into the car in front of me and in turn sending that vehicle into the car in front of him. After the melee was over, my car was positioned into oncoming traffic. Fortunately the traffic lights were red.

After about 6 months of acupuncture, physiotherapy and chiropractic adjustments, I was not healing. Activities I use to do I was not able to do due to lower back pains, neck pains, and migraines.

I procrastinated about going to yoga for 2 months. Then one day my physiotherapist convinced me to try it out by coming along with me. She literally had to drag me in with a little kicking and screaming.And this is where my yoga journey begins.

After the first class I fell in love. I started attending classes 6 days a week, sometimes 2 to 3 times a day. It’s been little over a year now and I can’t see my life without yoga. Yoga has helped me cope with my lower back and neck pains and has also help alleviate a lot of the migraines. It has helped me become more in tune with my physical body and my mental state of mind causing a shift in my eating habits coupled with a daily practice, it has helped me shed 30 lbs off my frame and I have become more flexible than I could have ever imagined.

Yoga has made a profound change to my life, helping me attain a deeper understanding of myself, enabling me to find inner peace. I am now actively looking into becoming a yoga instructor, to gain a deeper understanding and to maybe one day share what I’ve learned.

Namaste Don Wong

What is Yoga to me?

In a conversation with a friend I once described love as “water”. As we all know, water takes the shape of its container, and in my metaphor, I essentially explained that love takes the shape of the relationship you have with another person; so whether your relationship with another is intimate, or merely a friendship, love is still present, but in a different form.  I know you’re asking the question in your head, “well what does this have to do with yoga?”  

Relax... I’m getting there.

I’ve only been on this yoga journey, on and off, for 2 years but it has had a significant impact on how I deal with the world around me. Three years ago, I found myself stressing out over my first year of university. In the present day, I still stress out over school; it’s just that now, when I find myself lacking drive or energy, I’ll do a few sun salutations to get me back on track. Essentially, I use yoga to cleanse myself of things that are unnecessarily cluttering my mind. It was during a strong practice recently, that I realized the link between this mental de-cluttering and my (somewhat clever) analogy of love.

Yoga, to me, is a river. Like a river, yoga can be gentle enough to smooth the rough edges of a pebble, but powerful enough to carve an entire landscape; in other words, it can help us get through the little issues (like school stress) that come in everyday life, or it can truly change your entire outlook as a person.

Just like a river, in a yoga class we’re constantly active; whether it is the actual physical movement of a flow, or the constant stream of thoughts moving through our minds while we’re trying to keep our tree pose still, we’re always dynamic. While some try to suppress this mental movement, I’ve realized now that the only way to get through a class smoothly is to embrace these thoughts, acknowledge them, and move on.

Most importantly, yoga and rivers share the same endpoint. While rivers are always running, they will, at some point, end in a larger body of water, like an ocean. Relative to the river, these larger bodies of water are quite still, and although they do move, they move on a larger, more profound scale.

In yoga, while we may not be able to completely detach ourselves from the happenings that occur off the mat, the eventual destination is a place of stillness that is deeper than the shallow, and sometimes rocky movement of our practice; the endpoint is the ocean to our river. The changes that occur when we reach that stillness, like the waves of an ocean, are much more profound and have a greater impact on who we are, compared to the small waves of thought that may occur during our practice. In my mind, this is why instructors always say that savasana is the hardest, but most important pose of that entire hour, despite its simplicity. While no two classes are ever the same, having this understanding of where I’m trying to end up adds some consistency to my entire practice. On the larger scale, I will always be seeking stillness.

"Your innermost sense of self, of who you are, is inseparable from stillness. This is the I Am that is deeper than name and form." - Eckhart Tolle

In spite of this long-winded explanation, all this talk of rivers, love and yoga can be illustrated in a simple equation.

Love = Water.

Yoga = Moving Water.

Therefore Yoga = Moving Love.

That’s exactly what yoga is to me. It’s a moving expression of our affection for ourselves, which allows us the opportunity of real transformation. It’s an hour to shape our proverbial container and create a relationship with ourselves, so that we can fully express our love in a way that is uniquely contoured to who we are. It’s a set of postures and breaths that are all trying to move us towards stillness. When we reach that point, even if it’s only for a brief moment, we realize that it is in stillness that real changes happen.