“Anyone can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple”

– Charles Mingus

Since childhood, we’ve been encouraged to ask questions using the five basic W’s and H (who, what, where, when, why and how). These questions can be simple in nature, but become complicated when impatience, discouragement and embarrassment constantly overwhelm the mind.  Questions are tools for guidance not hindrance. Regardless of the question, the answer provided fosters a new learning experience. According to Amanda Lang in “The Power of Why,” curiosity inspires creativity. However, a creative blockage ensues when parameters and expectations cannot be questioned in a safe environment.  Creative outlets and development thrive on the ability of self-discovery, thereby underscoring the need to try, question, and listen.

Now how does this relate to creativity on the mat?

In a yoga practice, whether it be a heated or a non-heated class, the possibility to creatively deepen your practice begins by listening to your body.  Self-discovery in yoga coincides with body awareness. One aspect of body awareness considers the different muscle groups that are activated for different postures and sequences.

Curiosity plays an integral role in this particular aspect of body awareness.

How? For example, when the instructor says, “scissor your inner thighs together” in a lunging series, questioning and attempting the cue not only begins to create muscle memory, but acknowledges the muscle group. This can now be used in another posture. This acknowledgment enables the potential to ease into another unfamiliar or challenging posture in a safe learning environment that the mat can bring.

Here are some other suggestions to venture into creativity on the mat:

- try a yoga self-practice at home (this gives you the opportunity and time to explore the muscular engagement in different sequences, series and asanas)

- read some yoga articles and watch some yoga videos (inspiration can stem from new information and motivation by actions of others)

- Vlady Peychoff

Adapted from Victoria Kasunic:

Many of us have been there. It may be a spouse, an employer or employee, a trainer or mentor, or worse still, yourself. Sometimes it’s hard to know whether you are in good, mutually supportive relationships with your partner, friends and family. Some of these ring extremely true for me, and I am thankful that I have removed all of them, grown, learned, moved on, and flourished.

If you’re worried about what kind of relationship you’re in, here are 12 telltale signs it could be toxic:

Adapted from: Amanda Christian

“Waking up to who you are requires letting go of who you imagine yourself to be.”

-Alan Watts

Do you find that you walk into the yoga room and “expect” something from yourself? From your teacher? From a sequence or a pose? How often does a teacher remind you to, “listen to the cues” but you find yourself doing something habitually, instead of HEARING what is happening. Intstead of embracing change in your body and in your patterns. It can be difficult, but change can start anywhere. Why not on your mat? A lot of these expectations, you may find, are self-imposed…

The following are some tips and lessons you can use while making the transition from expectation overload to the lightness of exploration. 

Less Expectation, More Exploration And Trust

When expectations rule our lives, we set ourselves up for disappointment. Then guess what? We judge ourselves harshly for it. The most important thing you may learn is to release your expectations about how you think your life should go, and approach life from a place of exploration.

This opens you up to experiencing things that are beyond your wildest dreams.

It’s okay to have goals, but make sure to leave room for something even greater to come along. Maybe the most peaceful and quickest way to achieve something is a way you haven’t thought of yet. Be willing to go with the flow. Explore through life knowing deep down that you are always guided to exactly where you need to be. Plus, doesn’t exploring sound like more fun than expecting?

Look Beyond Your Distractions

A lot of us want external things because of the way we think they will make us feel. We want a skinnier body because we thought it would make us feel happy and loved. I want a successful career because we think we would feel fulfilled. We want a relationship because we think it will relieve our loneliness.

These things can distract us from looking within ourselves for answers. When they fail to do what we want, we feel disappointed and angry. In order to release this cycle of disappointment, we need to release the belief that they will save us.

If you want to experience more love, start giving more love. If you don’t want to feel lonely, then start healing the belief that you are alone. If you want to feel like you’re worth something, start treating yourself like you are worth something, because you most definitely are. 

When you heal the beliefs that run wild in your mind, you can still enjoy the externals, but you’re no longer trying to get something from them. You know you’re already fulfilled, happy, and complete, so if your circumstances change, you can maintain your joy.

Relax More, Judge Yourself Less

I’ve learned that the loving voice within, also known as our inner guide, has a bigger plan for us than we have for ourselves. The only thing you need to do in order to follow the path of your inner guidance is listen to it by releasing your judgments about what you think is happening. You don’t have to have everything figured out right now.

Get quiet and listen for guidance about what to do in this moment. Any advice coming from love will be something you can do now. The thought of doing it will make you feel lighter and excited.

Change Your Thoughts

If you are feeling disappointed, it’s because of the thoughts you have about the situation. So if you don’t want to feel disappointed, change your thoughts. Step into your power. Everything happens for you, not to you.

You’ll be amazed at the shifts in perception that occur when you become willing to release fear and see love instead. When you focus on releasing the thoughts about how you imagined your life to be, your most loving, truthful self can come forward and guide you. There is nothing to figure out. Namaste.

There are four equally impactful, but uniquely different workshops you can attend:

Evolution by Involution: Easy. Accessible, Exquisite Journeys Inside 

Friday May 24th – 7PM-9:30PM  

This workshop is for all levels and no experience is required. This will be an exploration of meditation, mantra, and
pranayama that can be easily woven into everyday life. This is a lighter practice, with light asana, in preparation for sitting and meditation.

Notes from the Underworld

Saturday May 25th – 11AM-1:30PM 

For the intermediate/advanced student (students must be able to kick up into handstand, unassisted at the wall, as well as perform full backbend (wheel) with straight arms. Students should have no major injuries – This class will be inspired by the darker elements of Hindu mythology. A deep and dynamic practice, unearthing the more rare and often unexplored poses.

Goddess Rising: A Practice for Women

Saturday May 25th – 2:30PM-5:00PM

This is a full spectrum practice for all levels, that will include not only asana, but chanting, meditation, and pranayama. This practice will be guided by the symbolism and stories of Kali, Lakshmi, and Saraswati, and is supported by our fellow sisters, mothers, daughters, divas, and queens.

Embodies Teaching: A Teacher Development Session

Sunday May 26th – 11:00AM-1:30PM

This class will be geared towards class planning and sequencing strategies for classes that are MORE than classes – full-flavoured feasts of heart/mind, and body.

Christine’s teaching reflects a deep embrace of the heart and a playful delight for the body. Her classes are an artful blend of strong, rhythmic adana and purposeful creative sequencing.

She is a proud mentor to a growing number of phenomenal teachers and is extremely excited and honoured to be teaching at Wanderlust Whistler 2013. Currently living in Vancouver with her husband and two little girls, she is known throughout the city and beyond as an empowering mentor and teacher’s teacher who keeps it relevant, reverent, and real.

If you want to know even more about Christine, you can check her out here.

Sessions are being individually offered for $45 in advance and $50 drop in. You can also purchase all four sessions for $150. You don’t want to miss this!