Crash Course on the The Bhagavad Gita

I first watched this a few months ago when I wanted to find out some more mythology and try to understand what articles I was reading was referring to.

We began discussing the history and philosophy of yoga which includes the vedas and the sutras. It is a beautiful and colourful history but it is also very complex so hard to understand.

I hadn't thought about this clip since I originally watched it, but after todays class I couldn't help but feel that having watched this and the film "Sita Sings the Blues" was a bit helpful.

I will try to recap a bit more in the next few days.

I hope you enjoy this bit of indian history.

Inspiration to be the best that you already are

Studying for my midterm test in my Yoga TT class I came across this quote that I can't remember reading before, but it hit a note with me this time around and I thought I should share it. Enjoy!


Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to so the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
~ Marianne Williamson


Nameste

Gluten-free Almond Banana Muffins

Delish!

Yields 12 large muffins or 18 medium sized muffins

1 cup      Almond flour
1 cup      Quinoa flour
2 tsp       (Gluten-Free) Baking Powder
1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp       Nutmeg
1/2 tsp    Ground Gloves
1/4 tsp    All Spice
1 cup      Brown Sugar
        *If using a syrup like agave or maple syrup as a sweetener, use 1/2 cup
3 large    Ripe Bananas
3 large    Eggs
1 tbsp     Vanilla
1/3 cup   Oil or butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit

Prepare muffin tray with muffin tray liners or coat tray with oil to make for easy removal of muffins when cooled.

Mix your dry ingredients separately from your wet ingredients.

Mash bananas, then add the eggs, vanilla and the fat. gently stir.

Once each bowl is mixed, pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir until they are thoroughly mixed together. (no dry clumps!)

Divide mixture into tray evenly.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until muffins are golden brown and a pick comes out clean.

I find these muffins are at their best once cooled and they have set. Although they are still super tasty straight out of the oven.

Tip: don't have Quinoa flour (or don't want to buy it)? but have Quinoa in your cupboard. Stick a cup's worth in your blender and watch it turn into a flour!

baking gluten free

So I am not gluten free or dairy free or really any dietary restrictions. But I am intrigued by these styles of cooking. When I eat at restaurants with these foods, they always seem to be so rich in flavour yet so healthy, all this despite a lack of traditional ingredients.

Having explored different foods I have discovered the joys of quinoa, kamut baked goods, steel cut oats (once I found an efficient method to cook them of course!), to only name a few!  My latest obsession is everything Almond flour!

Almond flour just tastes so good. For the majority of my life I always pretended to be allergic to nuts so that I wouldn't be forced to eat them. Crazy right, well I never really enjoyed their flavour with the exception of peanut butter (they tell me that's because of all the sugar Craft inserts! Surprise, not really), so it was just easier to tell someone that I was allergic then sit through someone telling me how good they are, and me trying to explain myself.  I'm still not inclined to eat nuts just as is, I like some toasted, or at the very least mixed with fruit and/or chocolate.  I know I'm strange, but I also don't like popcorn, I think its a teeth/texture/chewy thing.

So almond flour, although intuitively not the easiest to bake with but once you get used to it its a great alternative.

With my experimentations I have discovered that almond flour like most nuts has a natural fattiness.  So by cutting your fat content in a recipe is important. Depending on the recipe I might cut it in half but at the very least I would cut a quarter or the amount.

Second thing is to remember, it isn't really flour.  It is ground up almonds turned into a relatively fine powder. It won't rise, especially if it is too wet and fatty.  So in my latest almond baking attempt I did a 1 to 1 ratio of almond flour and an alternate, if you don't mind wheat go for it.  In the recipe I will post after this I put a cups worth of quinoa in the blender and created my own quinoa flour. Which was easier then I expected.

I might add here that by doing a 1 to 1 ratio you will save money not using so much Almond flour since like Almonds, it's expensive.  But Almond flour is worth its weight in gold, it really is that good!

Finally I want to say that when I bake these treats, I don't feel as bad (or guilty...), it really is easier on the digestive tract.

So I hope you enjoy my Gluten free banana muffins!

Sita Sings the Blues

I watched this film months ago.

It is a great parody on a serious story/legend/history. It is told creatively and realistically as one person wrote on youtube, "If someone stops on the street and asks you to narrate the Ramayana, this'll happen."

I hope you all enjoy just as much as I have.

This is an open source project by questioncoyright.org, so please donate and support their projects and this film.

Check out the film's site at http://www.sitasingstheblues.com/

The enlightening of our spirits (at least the pots are stirring)

So people have been wondering what my first two weekends of Teacher Training have been like.

Well, they have been the most amazing and intense experiences that could be imagined!  The best way to describe these weekends with my 23 other comrades is that they are these mini weekend therapy retreats.  You enter into the room Saturday morning look around, help set up and just settle.  Immediately you know when you see everyone's faces that it is safe; everything you have been reading, thinking about, practicing is worth it.  That devoting yourself to the now is so important and worth more then anything.

That is what it is like.

Yoga Teacher Training is about growth, it is a growth into the beautiful guiding being that will inspire others to want to dig inside and find their own beauty. (and maybe practice some yoga too!)

I can only say that if you are ready to find out more about yoga, to find out how everything in our lives tie together then do it. Anyone can do yoga, but I don't think anyone can anticipate the magnitude that teacher training has to offer.  It really is a beautiful thing!

That is the best way I think that I can sum up the four days that I have had in my program, and things are shifting.  I can not be more grateful for the two week breaks between weekends, it really allows me the time to process and implement what I have been inspired with into my life.

Hari Om

Getting ready for first day

Over the last few days I have received various emails regarding the first day.
One about our first day schedule, one about what to bring, one welcoming us to the program...

Each one helpful for my preparation, but each also helping build my excitement (mixed in with my nervousness!).

I'm just about to go to sleep but I thought I should share about how I have already packed my bag, picked my outfit, made my lunch, gotten snacks; I am leaving nothing for chance!

It reminds me of when I was in primary school and I was actually excited about going to school on the first day, of course, then it would have been my parents getting everything ready for me.

Well my fingers are crossed and my eyes are wide open!

Here is a glimpse of what my first is going to look like...how can anyone complain about this schedule:

8:30-10:30- Meet and Greet
10:30-10:45- Break
10:45-12:30- Yoga Class
12:30-1:30- Lunch
1:30-3:30- Course Overview
3:30-4:00- Tea Time
4:00-5:00- Games
5:00-6:00- Asana & Meditation

Namaste

Books for School

My new books quite literally just arrived, and I am so excited!  Who ever thought that School textbooks could ever be so exciting and not frightening! (well maybe with the exception of the anatomy books...)

I always love new books, but I always have to resist because the excitement of owning them usually wanes. So if I get too many at once they usually begin to collect dust before I have have properly enjoyed them.  Hence my yoga library is very small.  With the internet I can usually find what I need in the moment, but as with most other subjects books are so much richer for their information and the love that was poured into their creation.

The 5 books I had ordered are for my yoga teacher training that starts next week.  the books are:

1. Teaching Yoga: Exploring the Teacher-Student relationship by Donna Farhi
2. Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff
3. Ayurveda, The Science of Self Healing by Dr. Vasant Lad
4. Yoga Mind, Body and Spirit: A return to Wholeness by Donna Farhi
5. The Anatomy Coloring Book by Wynn Kapit and Lawrence M. Elson

I have every intention of reviewing all five of them as I read them and we integrate them into learning during the next 6 months (hopefully it won't take me 6 months to build an opinion)

All I have left to get and find is a yoga blanket...

I got in!!!

Yipee!

I got into my preferred program for the Yoga Teacher Training Program!
I found out last week, about 5 days after I sent my application.  I had a feeling that it might be that simple as well fast for acceptances.  But I still couldn't help but be nervous about it all.

Just over a week to go and all my remaining curiosities will be answered.

The Langara 250hr YA TTP is set over six months; starting in September and ending in February.  There are two components to the programming.  There is the core program, which is essentially every other weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, each day is 9.5 hrs long including your hour lunch. The second part is the Yoga Series which is an hour and a half every week and 12 weeks long, the first six set in September and October and the rest in January and February.

I am really excited to find out what this class means since the program hardly even mentions the yoga series.  This is the clearest description on it: "...for students to integrate and practice learned techniques and methodologies with peers." Based on this, I'm thinking that it will be a place for us to both practice yoga (take an average studio class) and as we learn to teach, it will become a safe place to teach to our peers.

I think one of my biggest fears at the moment is that we will get to the end of the program and I will not have taught any classes at all, so when I do get to the front of a class, it will still feel foreign and frightening!  I know this fear is not reasonable and one of the reason I opted for this program was that it seemed honorary as both a school and a program and it will live up to the expectations I have put on the table.

Tomorrow I will list the books that I have purchased for the program.  They should (fingers crossed!) arrive by friday or early next week. and as I read them I will be sure to review them.

I am SOOOO excited!

~peace and acceptance

Crossing my Fingers

I dropped off my application for the Yoga Teacher Training program at Langara College yesterday.

I'm biting my fingers.

On one side I feel really confident that I will be accepted, but on the other I'm really nervous that something won't be good enough. Like maybe I totally goofed on my letter or perhaps my letter of reference isn't good enough (well it wasn't my first choice of refrence-ees...). Or maybe I waited to long for my first choice to not deliver... what if so many possibilities!

I'm trying to tell myself that I should relax and take everything in stride (which I am usually pretty good at), but this program, in every way, seems perfect for me.

I feel like it could be weeks before I hear anything. Yet the program is only weeks away!

This will be a lesson in faith. Having faith in myself and in others. which will be good since lately I feel my faith in others is constantly being disappointed.

Well everyone, cross your fingers for me... just in case!

yogaslackers - a weird middle between climbing and yoga

Allow for Peace and Provide Forgiveness

Generally speaking when I get onto my mat to begin a class I often allow my intention to be focus, strength and courage.  Sometimes the teacher will put an intention on the table which I borrow if it suits me.  Whatever it might be I mash it up through my breathing, through my movement, and I witness how this idea might weave throughout my life.

Every once in a while I get onto my mat and I make my intention to simply quiet my mind and let go.  That is to let go of any anger, frustration and hurt that I might be holding inside.  This always works while I am on the mat, yet it is never permanent.  I quickly forget, and shortly after a practice my mind start racing again with my thoughts and ideas.  So that peace and acceptance gained is always partially lost.

The other morning, I entered my practice with such frustration and such anger; feelings I have been feeling on and off for well over a year now.  It was interesting, because they were not the normal lingering thoughts, they didn't trail in behind me, they were a culmination of all my negative feelings.  I realized I was holding onto something big as we started the class. The feeling was intense while we were preparing our bodies for our OMs.   When the teacher invited us to choose our intention I immediately knew I could not simply "let go".  This was larger than anything I had felt before. It shook my body.

So my intention was peace and forgiveness.

It took me three tries to successfully centre myself.  Three times!

Each time I realized my thoughts were running, my anger was coursing.  I was playing it over in my mind, rolling it around.  Physically, I felt my eyes, they were violently chatting to the tune of my feelings.  Every time, I would remind myself of where I was, what I was doing and why I needed to breath. Allow for peace and provide forgiveness.

Conveniently after class I was hit with a bombshell, which I think any practiced yogi could be forgiven for letting her intention go.

Thinking about my day right now, some of my conversations, I remember, I felt that same familiar anger and frustration.  Yesterday too.  So now I remember my intention:

Allow for peace and provide forgiveness.

This is what I need to carry on my sleeve, not my anger and frustration.

and after the last few days I think I can start.

Ocean Holidays

I recently got to take a little holiday... sort of.

It's kind of strange, it was four days off work, but it was a work related activity.  I think this is why I love working at Mountain Equipment Co-op.

I got to attend a lightweight backpacking trip along the Juan de Fuca Trail which is along the south west side of Vancouver Island.  It's 45km in length, traveling just beyond Jordan River at China Beach all the way to Botanical Beach just before Port Renfrew.  Although not as nice as the West Coast Trail, it was still a nice trail.

The one thing I have noticed about myself is that every time I am next to the water all I want to do is practice yoga.  No matter what is going on within my body or outside of it, yoga for me is so centred that  nothing matters and it just feels so good.   To regulate your breath to flow with movement to feel your body find a new depth within itself.  So much so it helps take everything into perspective and make it that much more real.

My two favourite spots to practice were at Sombrio Beach (what a great beach!) and on the pier in Port Renfrew where all of the fishermen come and go.  Although the latter was busy and provided many interruptions, each Vinyasa was fuelled by the beauty and the energy of the place.

I even found inspiration in the setting sun on the ferry back to Vancouver.

But there is one thing about wind, sand and a rocking boat, it is really difficult to balance.  But I suppose if you could master this external force you should hopefully be able to rock your balance poses in a classroom!  I did realize how much stronger my left leg is when I was in dancers pose on the boat in comparison to my right.  As I think most people favour certain sides of their bodies, and I know I do so in my arms, but I always had figured my legs were mostly balanced.  But I could barely even get into dancers pose on the rocking boat.

I've always thought how nice would it be to go on a retreat on a sail boat around france and practice yoga on the ocean... now I am not so certain, a sail boat would be even more rocky I imagine.

I will stick to my beach retreats for now!

Free Outdoor Yoga by Kits Beach

Looking for some great free outdoor yoga for this summer?  Well Eoin Finn is going to be teaching at the Kitsilano Showboat stage. (at Kits pool between Balsam and Vine on Cornwall Avenue)

Starting on July 6th, and continuing throughout the summer, Eoin will be hosting his free classes every Tuesday and Thursday ("days that start with a T") starting at 6 and every Saturday and Sunday ("days that start with S") starting at 9am.

The classes are a first come first serve, but are not restricted to just the stage, so sardine yourself in for some great summer yoga by the beach!

Now for a little history about why the showboat is even there!

According to its website it "was founded in 1935 as a community project and so was placed where entertainers could display their talents."

Looking at the schedule, there are numerous events throughout the summer. Lots of music and dance shows along with some other different and more informative shows like the Otesha project, which is definitely worth looking up or even swinging by MEC for their book.

Have a great summer!

Choosing to go to Yoga Teacher Training

I recently read this article at yogajournal.com titled "How to choose a Yoga Teacher Training Program".  Back a few months ago I remember going through similar feelings of deciding what my expectations of becoming a yoga instructor were and what the different schools had to offer me in terms of scheduling and in the type of program they offered.

Personally, I have ended up placing less emphasis on who my lead instructor is and more on the who the school is and the time frame that the program is set in. I decided I wanted to stay away from more corporate programs that allegedly teach primarily for the money.

Having a few friends who just recently went through teacher training at different studios and each having completely different experiences to tell about, I was sure to listen closely to their experiences and how they felt at the end of their programs.  To say that a studio that has a four week intensive program is not a worthy program is unfair.  I think these studios should be considered more closely since to solidify the tools needed to be successful in your future goals need to be taught well but in a very short time period.

Knowing that as a learner I need more time to be able to memorize things and make them a natural part of my life and vocabulary, I knew that a four week training program would not be a successful experience for me.  So that left me with three schools to consider in the Vancouver area which I could consider to be consistently respectable in their Teacher Training Programs.

Choosing Langara College has always felt very natural for multiple reasons.  First I respect the school itself since its primary purpose is meant as a teaching vessel; to provide its students with the skills needed to succeed on their paths through life.  I felt that they as a school will cater to different learners and already has the resources to support its students outside the program itself.  Also, I have never heard anything but praise from students of Langara, including the one student I happened to meet who couldn't stop praising the school's Yoga program (this was my introduction to Langara in fact!)  Finally I have heard that the school consistently attracts instructors from multiple studios as guest instructors.  The final and the most major factor is the schools program schedule.  The program is set over six months on the weekends, but only every other weekend. To me, this means I don't need to stop working and will also mean that I will still have free time to go on trips, to go skiing, to do what I want.  And that means a lot to me.

I have no expectations that this program, or any program will be the one stop solution to becoming a successful teacher right out of graduation.  Any teacher out there has had to go through many years of learning and experiences and they are all still continuing to learn and develop.

My favourite quote taken in the article is quoted from Marla Apt, the president of the BKS Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States. She says, "Just because you've gone through the training doesn't mean your training is over... We are always student."

Namaste my friends!

Book Review - The Athlete's Guide to Yoga

The Athlete's Guide to Yoga was the first book I bought for myself to help deepen my yoga practice.  I constantly would hear of programs like yoga for climbers and yoga for surfers, not being either at the time I always felt a little left out. I hiked, I paddled and most of all I biked, but those sports and yoga were not known to be synonymous.  This book is perfect for everyone else that don't get that set guide to complement yoga to your sport.

One thing to remember is that this book is written and designed by a a woman is a triathlete, I would take this book as a round practice guide that is more of an introduction to yoga than a strong and experienced yogi who doesn't necessarily feel the need for a book to guide them through their practice.  Near the end of the book their is a list of activities that help determine the best kind of the practice to complement your activity, there is a very detailed description for runners and triathletes but there is a sections for "active persons" which gives an example of activity and style of yoga for each day of the week.

The book has a fairly extensive introduction which covers everything to the basics of yoga including the 8 limbs, giving a short description outlining each limb, a list of what type of props one might want to have, and even what to expect at a studio and what each style of yoga offers.
Then the majority of the book gives descriptions of different asanas one might want to practice to improve their stability, strength and agility.  This includes pictures, different variations and even some what not to do photos.  This part of the book is broken into opening and warm-ups, balance, standing, sun salutations and flow, shoulders, backbends and chest openers, core, floor work, twists and inversions, relaxation and closing poses.

The final two sections of the book include some other aspects that one can incorporate in their training including meditation, breathing exercises and even some mantras.  My favourite part of the book is the final chapter which has different routines, although they are usually short and not fluid, it helps for the person who might be new to yoga or at least new to home practice and wants to design their own practice.

Also included with the book is a 15 minute dvd which has a practice on it. I have never used the DVD so I can not comment on it.

I would give this book an 8 out of 10.

Enjoy

जीवन - Jiivana

Jiivana is the sanskrit word for Life or even more Giving Life.  In our western culture I have come across it as being applied to prenatal yoga. But for me I translate it into more. It is my life, the energy around me and  that which fills our cups when we wake up in the morning.  It is the life I try to nurture in my plants and more often than not forget about. It is the past, the present, and the future.


Life is a complicated topic. But remember one thing, life is in all of us. Life will always come in the future and lost in our past.  


Jiivana is within us all and surrounds us. So use it.  Be strong.


जीवन


Lots of love.

Inversions

I have become obsessed with inversions.  At home I am constantly practicing my kick-up and dolphin and any arm/shoulder strengtheners and openers.  I think that to accomplish a handstand and maybe a headstand one day will prove my spine wrong. I can in fact do anything, and unlike the spine surgeon I won't have to wait for my disks to seize to be pain free.

Actually the thought of allowing the disks in my neck to seize is the most unpleasant concept.  The idea of spending the better part of my life not being able to move my upper body defeats everything I love to do.  I have images of me in my 50s walking down the street with my back hunched over a walker and having to tip my entire body to the side so that I can look up and forward. A human version of the leaning tower of pisa.

Although I can never look forward to my disk being completely healed, but if I can keep myself limber and neck juicy and strong then I will happy.  This will mean that pain is infrequent and that I will always be able to do what I love.  Inversions here I come!

This is my latest inversion "coach".  This video is from Yoga Journal's podcast videos by Katherine Budig.  It provides a good warm up with a little shoulder opening and back strengthening and then a great progression of kicks and different inverted stands. ( Headstand I, Tripod Headstand, and Handstand)


Enjoy!

"What Style or Lineage of Yoga do you Practice?"

I practice Hatha yoga, yet I rarely ever go to a "Hatha" class.  Hatha is at the heart of all styles and lineages of yoga.   I am particularly drawn towards Anusara and Vinyasa Flow.  For years past I always practiced Hot and Bikrams classes, but I enjoy enjoy Anusara and Vinyasa so much more these days.  In these classes I always feel I work harder to sweat and I feel more challenged to expand and grow my practice.  In Anusara, I find the spirit and beauty of yoga; Vinyasa, the flow and rhythm built within the sequences that develop and challenge my practice.  Within both, there is a strong emphasis of playfulness and of a heart-centred practice that I constantly find myself yearning for.  I still love the occasional hot class, but mostly for its detoxifying sweat that always feels so refreshing.  I love yoga, so no matter what style I might be practicing, I am happy to be on my mat and practicing Hatha yoga.

**I'm curious why do you practice what you practice?**

"How Long Have You Been Practicing Yoga?"

I will always remember my first class, it was a hot class. I actually had no idea what I was getting into; though I never would have admitted it at the time.  My sister was visiting and she dragged me completely across the city of Toronto just so we could take a hot class at this one studio simply because they had a cheap first visit prices.

Today I will admit that it was at least another year before I would step into a class.  I think it took that long for me to forgot the pain and suffering I felt during that first class.  What I did remember later and what always draws me back to the mat is the peace and meditation that develops in a class, a moving kind of meditation.

Although that first class was well over 7 years ago, those first few years were sporadic and widely spaced but yoga always made its way back into my life.  For the last three years I have developed a consistent practice for myself.  I don't remember exactly where or why that turning point happened, but I think I realized that I had developed this not so secret love affair that needed some consistency, just like any other relationship.

YTT application Questions

I have decided to commit myself to Yoga Teacher Training in the fall and I have 98% (school always make me nervous) decided that I will do this with Langara College. I have chosen Langara for multiple reasons, the three most important to me being the timeframe it provides, that it is a reputable college, and its teaching body seems well rounded and reliable.


To ensure myself a placement in the school I want to complete and submit my application form in the near future despite its due date of August 20th.


So over the next weeks it is my goal to answer the following questions which will then be compiled into an essay for my application.


• How long have you been practicing yoga? 
• What style or lineage of yoga do you practice? 
• Do you have a meditation practice? 
• Why are you interested in teaching yoga? 
• What do you hope to receive from this program? 
• How do you plan to use your teacher training in practice?  


I've decided to publish my answers as a way for me to ensure my answers are honest and not flakey.  Also I find that the blog is actually a great tool for editing.  I have a nasty habit of not thoroughly editing essays for school and when I look back at them I always see flaws.  It's the same with this site, I try to fix most of the mistakes before I allow anyone to read.  But I will always come back hours later and find more edits.  Truth be told I do not have any false ideas of being published beyond this blog.  For that I can never expect my writing to be completely flawless, but I will always strive to try to improve. (and continue to prove my school teachers wrong!)


Fingers crossed that I will manage with success.  And at the end find myself forming a comprehensive essay to submit with my application.


Oh, did I mention the length is only a page... I think my already drafted answer to the first question is already half of a page...ouch.

Dolphin Pose not Dolphin Plank Pose

In my quest to master a "yoga" handstand and in the future headstand I learnt something today about dolphin pose.

For a year now, I have been doing Dolphin Pose completely wrong. This I don't *think* is a fault of my own.  Either that or I really never pay attention to people around me!  When an instructor asks us students to take Dolphin Pose during ground work I, like everyone around me, go into what would be called Dolphin Plank Pose. As far as I can tell is great for our core muscles, and for that, I do love it.

But actual Dolphin pose is set up the same but is more similar to Downward Dog in composition.

1. To start, go into table top pose with your arms directly below your shoulders, one by one bend your elbows keeping your elbows below your shoulder. Do a check by touching your hands to your elbows.

2. Once that is set up, loosely clasp your hands in front of you so to create the peak of a triangle.

This is where it gets different...

3. Without moving your knees, tuck your toes under your feet and slowly raise your hips to the ceiling.

4. Do not allow your head to touch the floor rather allow your spine to remain neutral and as straight as possible (looking somewhere just past your elbows).

5. After you feel as though your back is not rounded and your shoulders are open and on your back, you are ready to further strengthen your arms, shoulders, and core muscles.

6. Without moving your feet or your elbows you can then push forward with your hips and go into a semi-plank position. Due to your feet being so close to your elbows you will not be able to completely straighten your body.

7. When ready push your hips back into dolphin pose, and hold.

Repeat
When you feel tired, do two more ;)

And just wait, one day you too will be able to a headstand!

Outdoor Yoga

There is something that is so inspiring about practicing yoga outdoors. With the beautiful weather we have been having in Vancouver over the last week I have found myself spontaneously doing a few rounds of sun salutations wherever I might be.

This weekend my partner and I were up in Squamish climbing and I was at the base of a crag waiting for him to set the rope up and the sun was shining on me and well, it was perfect. The only thing was that the crag we were at is close to residences so there is a lot of broken glass on the ground. Because of this  I only did one full round before stopping for fear I might cut myself.

Then later that day we were at the beach and yet again, it was perfect. I would like to say one thing though; sand is not the greatest surface to be trying to hold your balance! It brings a whole new meaning to slippery.

Because the sand was so malleable I thought that maybe the sand would be a good medium to attempt a headstand.  This actually was not as great of an idea as I had thought.  Having a spine injury, placing undue pressure onto the disks (specifically my neck) is something I avoid, which means doing headstands is something I shouldn't consider (outside of using a "headstand helper").  I immediately felt the pressure pinching my neck with a little bit of discomfort, but happily three days later I am still pain free!  So hopefully if I take it slowly and continue to build strength I might actually be able to do a headstand again one day!

Then on Sunday I "ran" the Sun Run, a 51, 419 person run!  I don't run, I have never run, I have never enjoyed it, it is just something that my brain does not understand.  So when I managed to complete a 10Km run in 1 hour and 24 minutes, saying I was a little surprised is a bit of an understatement.  I managed to run somewhere around half of the race and speed walked the rest.  Keep in mind though, this is with zero training, outside of yoga.  awesome eh?  I am still paying for it two days later, oh man the pain will not let out, my ankles are the worst.

Surprisingly as my partner, myself and two other friends were walking home Mark remarked that we should stretch!  This is the man that it feels like I have to drag kicking and screaming onto a mat.

Of the three locals, this was my favourite.  the lush green grass, Falls Creek beside us, Science World at the end of the paths and of course the view of the city behind us.  Although my muscles were pretty tired I also felt strong.  I actually got into Crane pose! three times!  The first time I hadn't even realize, it wasn't until one of my friends commented on how cool it was whatever it was I was doing.  so I showed them crow pose and then showed them the difference of two.  I'm waiting until my muscles juice up again before I even attempt crane since I can hardly walk at the moment (so sad!)

 I quickly realized I had two willing participants and mark was getting excited about it too, so we showed them "the backpack" and a shoulder opening partner pose. and then I had them doing the downward dog backbend that I loved so much from the acro yoga workshop along with attempting to fly one of them.

And that was my amazing weekend in a very small nutshell!

Yogis Anonymous

Like Yoga to the People in New York, San Francisco, and Berkley, and Yoga for the People in Vancouver, Yogis Anonymous is Los Angeles' Donation Based Yoga Studio.  I came across Yogis Anonymous from Joni's Blog, The Accidental Yogist who is a fabulous resource for Los Angeles Studios, different great yoga blogs around the world, videos and podcasts, other reading resources, as well as locals for all your yoga shopping needs.

It was her Say Cheese post where she explains her earlier life fear of being on the receiving end of a camera and her recent surprise to find herself being recognized for her blog and for her involvement with Yogis Anonymous and their film initiatives (live casting classes and amongst other spontaneity). I was so impressed by what she wrote about them, I shared the Yogis Anonymous facebook video (you need to have a facebook account to view) on my own profile and joined their fan page.

Now to get to the reason of this post (sorry for the lengthy lead in...)

Over the next week Yogis Anonymous will be hosting four live broadcast classes that you can stream from home. If you can not make them at the time when they are streaming live I believe they are saving and posting them on their events page just as they have done for their previous broadcasts since March. I don't know that they will be available right after the live stream or if they will be added shortly after (a day or two). Either way, having partially watched three of the already available classes, they look like they are all very talented instructors and we all are very fortunate to have this resource being donated to us as yogis. The classes are all mostly full 90 minute classes and be prepared to sweat!

Bring it on!

The Broadcasts are as follows...
You will stream straight from this link http://yogisanonymous.com/live_test_viewer.htm, and at the bottom you will find all past broadcasts.

Sunday May 2 12:00PM with Charlie Samos - All Levels

Monday May 3 9:00AM with Krista Cahill - Levels 2/3

Tuesday May 4 6:30PM with Brock Cahill - Levels 3/4

Sunday May 9 12:00PM with Ally Hamilton & Tracey Bleier - All Levels

Although I'm not certain I am strong enough for the level 2/3 or the 3/4 classes, I plan on trying to keep up. If anything, it will make me stronger! I'll be sure to let you know how it goes...

Have fun everyone!

Love - "Prema"

I spotted a woman's tattoo on her foot today, it looked like this...

...Beautiful!

Truth - "Sat" (in Sanskirt)

What is Truth?

Well according to the Dictionary truth is: 

“3. a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like

  4. the state or character of being true.

  5. actuality or actual existence.

  7. honesty; Integrity; truthfulness

10. accuracy, as of position or adjustment.”

The last few classes I have attended the instructors have presented “Truth” as the moto for the class.  

Tonights class had me thinking about it a little more.  For truth to come, honesty needs to be walking along side. This honesty needs to be to both yourself and towards others.  With truth and honest, freedom will arrive.

Have you ever noticed when you have been keeping a secret or a thought to yourself or even away from yourself, a denial, you feel heavy inside?  But when you finally admit to it and allow the truth to come forward, there is always relief?  That is the freedom being provided.

If we could always be honest and truthful, think how light we all would feel!  It would feel maybe as though we were floating through our lives with ease.

Its funny thinking about this. I always think of excuses as to why I might not be completely honest. Although I strive to always be truthful, sometimes I catch myself not always being so to myself and I know it doesn’t give me freedom, but I can’t always be ready to let everything go. I don’t always feel strong enough.

The other part of being true and honest is through your actions and with your life.  To be true to yourself you need to treat your body as though it was a sanctuary. Keep yourself healthy, keep your mind happy and strong, keep your eyes open and your heart warm.  By doing this you will also feel the best you can be, and by this you will hold the strength to be honest in your life and follow your heart so that you can keep truth in your life.

Is there one thing that you can let go of and allow truth and honesty in? 

AcroYoga

I think how people come to different styles of yoga is always different but the one thing that can be uniform is a passion that is discovered, which is what makes them come back for more.  Jaqui Wan from London was hosting a AcroYoga Workshop this past weekend at Moksana in Victoria. Jaqui mentioned that she uniformly hears from people that the reason they fall in love with Acro Yoga is its playfulness and the excitement that builds up inside when practicing, while still being very relaxing.  This I would say is true, Acro Yoga allows for everyone’s inner child to be freed and without fail it brings a whole new dimension of possibilities for your everyday practice.  I don’t know that Acro Yoga would fit everyones individual personality but I do believe that everyone can benefit from a bit of Acro Yoga in their practice.

I am a rag doll, I can be touched, I can be bent (if physically permitting), and I am always willing to try something.  And the beautiful thing with Acro Yoga is that if you have the correct balance it really is not difficult.  So truly the only thing that should hold people back is a nervousness of touching others.  If you asked me a year ago I probably would have said that yoga happens on the mat only and my mat is my sanctuary; my own personal bubble.  But I love it when an instructor comes and moves me to where I should be or when there is a body worker to come and give my back a quick massage (that has to be the best! although a bit distracting cause all I can think is when will it be my turn!!!).

The other beautiful thing with AcroYoga, which I really felt I benefited from, is that by having another person doing the pose literally with you, the deepness of the pose really goes that much further!  You get to places you might not have gotten to without that bit of assistance.

AcroYoga began in 2004 in San Francisco by Jenny and Jason, originally being called ContactYoga.  It was not until April 2005 that it was named AcroYoga.  To date there are upwards of 120 Certified AcroYoga Teachers worldwide, with none in Canada.  Emelia Fedy who was assisting our class at Moksana in Victoria, has just been accepted to do her 200 hours to become an instructor through Jenny and James’s school.  She will become our resident BC instructor, but more specifically Vancouver.  I am extremely excited for her and will be keeping an eye out for her classes late this fall or winter.   (so excited!)

Similar to Anusara Training to become a certified instructor you need to have accumulated so much experience and have attended certain workshops or conferences before being allowed to take the training.  for now I will not aspire to become an instructor in AcroYoga but I will continue it has a hobby until maybe one day I will add it to my repertoire of teachables, of course once I am a certified instructor!

If their is anyone out there who is looking for a willing partner drop me a line.  I’m working on my Boyfriend, but he’s just not biting the bait! 


Next Step, get the pose guide and DVD!

Contact Partner Yoga

Today my partner and I had the pleasure to experience Contact Partner Yoga.  I am half bendy and very willing and well simply put this was my partner’s first yoga class, not including my attempts to have him “stretch” with me.  The class was held at the Yyoga Yaletown location with Chris Brandt and Marita Wieser from SOL Yoga Center (http://www.solyogaadventures.com/home).

I felt that this would be a great way to introduce yoga to Mark while also taking the benefit of cementing trust in our relationship while getting a bit of touchy feely-ness out of it too. There was a very nice progression of poses.  We started simply with our backs against each other and then progressing to some arm wrap shoulder opening and then some co-ordinating twists and push up chair poses.  Then the first trust exercise.  

Simple really, they had us stand back to back with our legs a bit wider then our hips, adjusting width according to height.  Then we were to reach back and grab onto each others hips, bend over, then one hand at a time attach between our legs (left to left hand).  Once this part is settled and balance is found, each party can lean back and feel the stretch in the shoulders and the hamstrings, its great!  When ready reverse actions to get back up.

Shortly after this we began the flying poses.  What a ride!  I’m not even going to try to explain this to you for fear you might try it without someone to spot you.  Mark and I had issues with these, partially due to arms not being steady and legs not getting straight.  I would say though I made a good base!  

The final flying pose they had us try was a reverse flying pose.  You balance on your bases feet while they hold onto your ankles and lift you up. The first time Mark literally bucked me off and I nearly fell onto the couple behind us!  Then Chris came and spotted me and helped Mark get proper alignment in the pose and I got up there and it was such a splendid feeling.

The final most relaxing and giving part of the workshop was the massaging we gave to our partners starting at the feel and legs then the shoulders and head.  What a treat!

I would say for 20 dollars a person this was an excellent experience and one I wouldn’t mind exploring a bit more with my partner, but also with someone who might know a bit more then me or at least someone comfortable at yoga and enjoys a bit of contact. Any takers?

I would check them out, they host regular workshops both family and partner at their home studio in Whiterock. In the city though there is a contact family workshop on May 9th and a contact partner workshop on May 30th at Semperviva. Also June 9 Yyoga Yaletown will host them for another workshop.  Find a friend, convince a partner, or even ask me, I would be happy to join you on your journey!

Namaste

Doga - The next generation of Yogis

I stumbled across this on YouTube last night, a cross between crazy and sheer genius... I just don't know.

Salute to the Sun

As my little friend to the left is kindly demonstrating, the most basic and heart warming sequence is the sun salutation, in my humble opinion of course. Learning the sun salutation is a great base for expanding any practice. Also its simplicity and ease is a great way to start your day to energize yourself and help the blood begin to flow. Doing a few rounds of the basic sun salutation is a great alternative when you are pressed for time and just need a quickie between errands.

I learned the sun salutation series shortly after I moved to Vancouver and had discovered that a single yoga class was considerably more expensive then back home, along with everything else in this city. I wasn't going to let yoga completely fall to the way side, so I needed to develop my own abilities and devote time to my mat that wasn't going to take food off the table. The sun salutations turned out to be the perfect base for my growth.

When I begin an unguided practice I will often start with one or two rounds before adding different variations of poses depending on how I felt that day. Now for the lesson...

The sun salutation is a series of twelve postures that are coordinated to your breath in a flow of movement. How long you hold each pose is up to you, what pace you choose can decide the pace and intensity of your practice.

Get out your mat and let’s begin...

1. Come to the top of your mat and stand in tadasana, or mountain pose. This can be with hands by your side or at hearts centre. Start by taking a few deep breaths creating an even rhythm in and out.

2. On your next breath sweep your arms straight up above your head like you are exalting to the skies above.  Lift and open your chest while taking a deep breath in as you lean back ever so slightly.

3. On your exhale sweep your arms to the ground into Utanasana, bend your knees as you need to and bring your stomach to your thighs and hands tented on the ground.

4. On your inhale step your right leg back into a lunge.

5. Exhale and step your left leg back. Now you are in plank pose. Your hands should be shoulder width apart and fairly directly below your shoulders. Be sure not to cramp your wrists, you should feel like you are pushing your body back and your toes resisting, this will make the next transitions more graceful. Breathe in as you hold this pose.

6. On your exhale lower yourself into chataranga dadasana. Here your stomach is not quite on the ground, you are just holding yourself arms bent and just above the ground.

7. As you inhale roll your toes under and place your weight onto the tops of your feet and straighten your arms to Upward Facing Dog. Lift your heart up and gently look up without compressing your spine. If you do feel any compression or pinching in this pose enter into sphinx pose instead.

8. Without moving your hands push your toes back under your feet and as you breathe out move into Downward Facing Dog. Here you can walk your legs (bend your left and then your right knee as needed) to stretch your calves.

9. As you inhale step your left leg forward into lunge.

10. Now bring your right leg forward as you enter into downward fold. Remember to breathe out, don't hold it in.

11. With a refreshing breath in sweep your arms up above your head once again, and with a slight back bend.

12. Finally as you exhale lower your arms back to hearts centre or to either side of your body.





You have now completed a sun salutation. As you repeat this pose switch legs and as you become more familiar and more comfortable you begin adding other poses or sequences to the sun salutation like exalted warrior.

Sun salutation's mould-ability is what makes it such a great sequence and the perfect tool for both beginner and seasoned yogis alike.

Namaste



*All photos are curtosy of http://www.yogajournal.com/* Thank you!