Don't Panic

Let's Welcome February into our Lives!

Here we are at the end of the first month of the year and entering into what most provinces know as the most difficult month to survive due to the harshest and coldest weather that typically visits this month.


This past week for me was a hard one, in fact only these last 3 days were really all that tiresome, and why is that? Well my usual excuse is due to the crappy grey weather that Vancouver treats us to, but really because I hadn't practiced yoga for the three days prior to that.  When I keep up my practice I always feel fresher and more vibrant, I feel like I can handle what the day throws at me, even if that day is grey, rainy, and cold.


So join me as I celebrate some of the great things of February.

• As of February 1st we will have already gained a full hour of daylight since Christmas!
• At the end of February our days will be just a minute short of 11 hours!
• Valentine's Day.  I know this might seem weird, but Valentine's isn't just for those with a partner, it is the day of love, or as I prefer, connections.  I like to celebrate all of my friends and my family, each and every loved one that I might cross paths with. And to be clear I don't necessarily mean chocolates and flowers and commercial stuff, I mean acknowledging their worth in my life.
• In Vancouver with longer days usually means a little less rain and best of all...
• Blossoms! In fact I have heard rumours about some cherry blossoms already downtown.

It's official!

I am officially not only a certified yoga instructor, but I am now a registered with the Yoga Alliance. Get that registered! really what does that mean, after reading blogs and deciding if I would register with yoga alliance or the BC Yoga Alliance, which is a very active alliance with a lot of involvement with its members. So why didn't I choose them? Well I figured it made more sense to register with an alliance that no matter where my life takes me I can keep that same registration with me. If I eventually can afford to register with both or feel a need to register with both maybe we will go down that road, but for now I'm going to keep it simple, maybe even try to provide some help with the alliance to make them better and keep them accountable. But for now I need to take care of me and those around me. What's next? the insurance, one step at a time, right?

Update: Insure is had I have my registration number all that's left is some more paying yoga classes.

Aging with Grace and Beauty

There have been so many responses and rebuttals to the New York Times publishing of the Yoga can Wreck your Body excerpt.  I still stand by what I wrote while also respecting and considering others opinions.
Although the article completely missed the whole point of practicing yoga as well the beauty it can provide if practiced properly and wholesomely. I suppose that only means that we all just need to read the book once it's published and get the entire picture of what the exact message this author is trying to send.

I have been itching to find something, an article or a video that shows the complete other side of the story. And I got it! The below video is a woman who although doesn't practice yoga per say, she has practiced that yogic lifestyle and movements her entire life and it's beautiful to watch.  This is what the whole envelope of "Yoga" can do for you when you listen to everything it has to teach.

Make it simple... and enjoy!

My friend Maia from julia warr on Vimeo.

My Resume

Should We Be Practicing Yoga?

So there was this great article that was written 2 days ago in the New York Times.  It's a really good read.  It's possible you've read it already, I recently saw it floating around on facebook.  "How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body" by William J. Broad.  The article toys with the idea that maybe we, in society, need to revaluate the need to practice yoga.    He even claims to have stopped practicing due to an injury he had sustained years ago, but it would seem that he does still practice outside of this article (and I would hope) with more awareness. Please go and read it here.

My response to the article is something akin to ...well, duh!  But it is, as most things are, actually a little more complex than that.

While I don't disagree that as we practice more, collectively we are all going to injure ourselves more, with also more concerning injuries popping up.  And, I think this goes without saying, the reason why we are attracted to the yogic practice is because of the awesome affect that it has on us.  From our flexibility to our subtle systems and how we can make adjustments in our lives that our western minds have a hard time understanding. These are only some of the broader reasons that we find yoga so attractive and keeps us coming back for more.  But the problem is, as the author states, our egos are too big, they are too much in control.  Which is kind of ironic, because a true devote yogi would have seen this blaring siren and say "you need to back off. You shouldn't practice asana, you might just want to meditate until you have that under check".

But in our modern, western world, it is increasingly difficult to be able to stop and recognize that, or even to seriously tell someone.  Heck even the Yogi, Glenn Black of Manhattan's Sankalapah admitted that most people should not be practicing yoga, and this is the same guy who teaches other prestigious instructors after they have injured themselves. And to make it even juicier, at the end of the article, William reveals that this same yogi has just had spinal surgery to fuse several vertebrae in his lower spine.  All due to practicing too many deep back bends.

When it comes to sports in general, we often take the mentality of, "no pain, no gain" (what kind of slogan is that to live by?) but we also perhaps bring it to an extreme that goes a little to far.  But it is because of this mentality that we become injured or strained in our other sports and so then we go see physiotherapist, massage therapists, chiropractors, and now yoga instructors. Each to help resolve or at least relieve some of that pain. Although there is an estimated 20 million americans practicing yoga, many of these people are practicing yoga to complement their other lifestyle choices, whether it be hockey, football, figure skating, cycling, running, and even golf.  And people are doing this, because they get injured in their other activities.

But this brings us full circle to our western minds; are we ever going to be able to listen to our bodies and allow ourselves to enjoy the slow and winding path filled with gentle poses, adjustments and modifications to accommodate the needs of our different bodies?  If we as a society could slow down and actually listen to ALL of the lessons that Yoga has to teach us, I don't think so many injuries would occur, but I also think that yoga wouldn't attract the same following.

So the lesson to be learned is not to stop practicing yoga; we need it mentally just as much as we need it physically.  Remember, that if you don't listen to your senses you are most likely going to cause injury. It could be a slow and steady injury or one that happens in a matter of seconds.  And if you don't listen, be prepared for the repercussions. When you are playing with your subtle body (it IS "subtle" for a reason!) and manipulating parts of your system you never thought possible, if you overdo it you just might go to far! Like blocking off a blood valve due to overextension or excessive stretching of the ligaments before the muscles are even ready to budge.  The article is filled with examples of people who are doing just this and each suffers the consequence.  Im sure you might know someone who has done this, even outside of yoga but in their own sports.

So please remember, work at your own pace not the person lying beside you.

Yoga Journal's 21 day challenge in January

Yoga Journal is hosting a 21 day challenge beginning January 9th.  There is the option for those just starting out or beginners or those who are "ready" or intermediate.  Whichever track that you sign up for, you will receive daily newsletters in your inbox including daily video, weekly meditations, and daily newsletters with practice tips and recipes. Along with this, you have the chance to set goals and track your progress over the 21 days. The goals that they have set for you is pretty simple and easy enough to meet.
Your three goals will be:
1. 15 minutes of meditation a day
2. 1 vegetarian meal a day
3. 1 yoga practice

Pretty simple and easy to meet.  There are already over 2500 participants signed up, so there will be lots of support and others exploring the same journey as you.

Detox with Clara Roberts-Oss

Clara is who I did my Vinyasa Teacher Training with in the summer. I hadn't practiced with her since then.   In fact, I had forgotten how inspirational she can be.  Welcome this New Year in with this fabulous practice. Detox a little of last night out of your system and start this promising Year with vigour and freshness!