Golf Workshop with Meaghan Mielnichuk
Improve your golf swing this year by learning stretches and techniques to enhance your game. We have designed a program combing both yoga and pilates for you to take home with you and do regularly so you can add more power and precision to your golf swing.
Location: South Edmonton
Date: Jun 29th, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Price: $45.00
Why Yoga Is Dangerous For Your Mind :)
An excerpt adapted from Lindsey Lewis:
The thing about yoga is this: it’s about your soul. It’s about clearing the blocks to your ultimate freedom, joy and purpose. It’s about getting to a state of total knowing and complete release. And when we get there we release our mind.
What happens next is not just illuminating, it’s revolutionary.
Because inside our minds live our doubts, fears, insecurities, stressors and our roadblocks to our true selves. Inside our minds live the limiting beliefs that we hold firm to, that keep us held down. Inside our minds lives the belief that we are smaller, less capable, and less brilliant than we really are.
Inside our minds lives…sometimes, loads of crap (SO TRUE).
Yoga is dangerous to those limiting beliefs that don’t serve us.
The mind is a beautiful thing. It’s an exquisite tool that empowers and powers our experience. It enables us to think rationally, to figure things out, and to find the solution.
But…our thoughts create our world. And if what we’re thinking isn’t serving us, or lifting us up, or showing us our truest, unlimited selves—the n we can change that.
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.” ~Albert Einstein
Yoga gets us out of our head, and into our body.
It gets us feeling-thinking, not just thinking-thinking.
It taps us into the non-verbal part of our brain, which processes between eight to 11 million bits of information per second. Did you know the verbal part of our brain only processes about 40 bits of information per second? 40!
So all those fear-based thoughts…they’re not based on all the information. They’re not based on everything our non-verbal brain is processing. And, for most of us, they’re coming from an over-stimulated amygdala. These little almond-shaped parts of our brain are stimulated by stress hormones, and when they are, the kind of take over our show. Fear-, anger-, and negativity-based thinking become our m.o. And the part of us that knows how to operate from a different place takes a backseat.
Yoga brings that part of us into the driver’s seat again. It gets us out of fears and stress and into our peace and strength.
Yoga brings our ultimate knowing—not just thought-based thinking—on board.
Yoga brings us our self.
3 Ways to Go Beyond Fear-Based Thinking
- Move your body—consciously. Whether it’s yoga, dancing, swimming or walking, if you do it mindfully, it’ll help you amp up your physical awareness and tap you into the non-verbal part of your brain.
- Notice your thoughts. Do they lift you up, light you up, ignite and fuel your life? If not, question their veracity. Is it true?
- Turn doubt into fuel. When you spot an “I can’t do this” thought, turn it into a question. “Can I do this?” “Yes.” List at least three reasons why. Studies show that providing evidence for an affirmative response to a question like that has a much more powerful impact than empty affirmations.
Summer Solstice Meditation Workshop
Celebrate the coming summer solstice with a yoga and meditation practice! Slow the breath, calm your mind, relax and allow your body to stretch, heal and feel a sense of inner peace. Using ting-sha's and Tibetan singing bowls, Neil will guide you through a deep, healing practice.
We will gather in the Sun room for a meditation to prepare for the upcoming Solstice by joining breath, asana, and meditation to focus on one's self - Sadhana, a way to change a behavior, or add a daily practice, or focus on healing through making a choice, a commitment and aspire to create a different result in one's life. It becomes a self discipline process. It is a way to remove blockages and develop prosperity, internal strength and enjoy a deep and rewarding meditation.
Cycling Workshop
This workshop is to help people prepare their body for the cycling season. Most regular cyclists, whether recreational or competitive, will experience similar physical issues of tight hamstrings, low back issues and shoulder tightness. We will work on form on the bike, use yoga stretches to minimize these issues, engage in breath work, and head out for a short ride together, weather permitting (please bring your bike and helmet). The workshop will be fun, engaging, and informative. Riders of all abilities are welcome to come and learn how yoga can enhance your cycling experience!
Your Past Need Not Become Your Future
An excerpt adapted from Ed & Deb Shapiro:
No matter how hard we want to, there's one thing we can never do, and that's change the past. We can weep, beat our fists against the wall, eat bags of cookies to assuage our guilt, but it won't make the slightest bit of difference and won't make us feel any better. The past is gone, over, no more, finito.
So why do we continue to live in the past, either by longing for it to repeat itself, fearing it will happen again, or regretting what happened and wanting to do it all over anew? Continuing to wish that either the past would happen again or that it had been different means that we're really not here in the present. We're living in the land of what-was or what-might-have-been or if-only. And if the past was either too painful or too boring, then we switch to the future, that place of infinite potential we want to believe could be real or that place of fear of what might happen but hasn't happened yet; we live in what-could-be or what-we-hope-never-will-be.
Of course we can learn from the past. Often the most painful experience turns out to be our best teacher; we can even be grateful for what happened, as it taught us so much.
And memories can be like comfortable old shoes we are reluctant to part with. We can certainly put them on now and then, but we don't have to hang out in them on a permanent basis. Instead, we can look at what happened with present-moment eyes. This means looking without hope, longing, regret or fear. Fully accepting that the past is irreversible and the future doesn't exist means we can actually be in the present moment. What a relief! Finally, we can just be here and now. Wow! What a revelation!
One of the greatest wonders of taking quiet time out, as in meditation, is that we quickly see that nothing is fixed, solid, or permanent.
The experience of meditation is one of being completely and utterly present, which may sound simple but is actually quite rare: Normally, we're distracted by issues hanging over from the past or anxious about issues coming up in the future. We bounce back and forth like a monkey jumping from branch to branch. Anywhere seems better than being right here. The egoic mind always needs a drama or distraction to feed on. The more awake we become the less of a job the ego has until it becomes redundant. So, to preserve itself, it thrives on confusion and chaos, constantly distracting us from being really present.
When we are present then demanding thoughts do not disturb us; even anger, resentment, hurt, or other negative emotions have no power.
When present, we awake to the potential in every moment. In meditation we see what comes and goes -- our thoughts and feelings, longings and anxieties -- and what stays, which is who we truly are within ourselves. No matter if the past was wonderful or woeful, we are freed of left over hang-ups or unfulfilled desires, of future concerns or longings, and rest in awareness.
Today is a very special day. It has never happened before and it will never happen again.
And we have no idea what will come next. What a great day just to be here. To show up now. The perfect day to let the past rest where it is and let the future take care of itself. As is every day. To experience just this moment, to pay attention to the colors, sounds, smells, and sensations, to be compassionate to your feelings, and other people's feelings. And to make this day one of beauty and tenderness, a choice we are given in every moment.
Being Happy in the Present Moment
Adapted from Omer Khan:
We all want to be happy but we also have preconceived notions or beliefs about what needs to happen in our lives before we can be happy.
Maybe we need to get that dream job. Or we need to have a million dollars in the bank. Or maybe we need to have the body of our dreams. Or we need the perfect relationship in order to be happy. The list goes on. Yes, these things may indeed make us happy. Or then again, they may not. When we set goals, we also have the tendency, once we’ve achieved them, to replace them with new goals. So you may find that you still don’t feel happy after you’ve achieved that “big goal” because you’ve just replaced it with an even bigger goal that you now need to achieve before you can be “truly happy”. But by doing this, we stack the odds against ourselves.
If we play this game in order to find our happiness, then there’s a good chance that we’ll spend the rest of our lives chasing down the dreams that may ‘one day’ make us happy. What if I told you that you don’t need any of those things in order to be happy in your life and that you can be happy today? The key to happiness is learning how to be happy right now, while you work on achieving your goals, instead of waiting until you’ve achieved those goals to be happy.
Here are 6 simple tips that you can start applying today:
1. Practice Daily Gratitude
No matter how bad we think our problems are, you can almost guarantee that there’s someone out there with much bigger problems than us. You may have heard the saying “I cried because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet”. We need to be grateful for everything we have in our lives and practicing daily gratitude is a great way to train our minds to have an attitude of gratitude. One technique for doing this is called “3 good things”, where every night, you simply write down three things that went well that day and casually reflect on why they happened.
2. Be Present Both Mentally & Physically
Whatever you’re doing, make sure that both your mind and body are present. Don’t eat dinner with your family while you’re thinking about work. Don’t do work, while you’re thinking about what you’ll do this weekend. Always be present and let your mind focus 100% on what you’re doing. Try to find at least one situation every day where you can practice being present.
3. Stop Resisting What You Can’t Control
Stop resisting the things in your life that you can’t control and aren’t the way that you want them to be. Stop worrying about what other people do or say. Start accepting things for how they are, regardless of whether you think it’s right or wrong. Accept it as a fact. You have a choice — you can keep resisting or you can accept the situation without judgement.
4. Avoid Negative People & Situations
Another cause of negative emotions and unhappiness are certain people or situations. You probably already know who those people are — they are the ones who seem to only see the negative side to every situation. They are often pessimistic, angry, critical and rarely have anything constructive to say. These people not only create unhappiness for themselves, but they also often drag down others around them by spreading this negative thinking ‘poison’. If you want to be happy, you have to avoid these people and situations as much as possible. Unfortunately, that’s not always so easy, since these people are often our friends or family members. So if you can’t completely avoid these people, then it’s worth planning ahead and deciding how you’ll deal with them in future situations.
5. Accept 100% Responsibility For Your Life
If we want to be happy, then we have to stop blaming others for what happens in our lives. We need to stop seeing ourselves as victims. In order to be happy, we have to take full responsibility for everything that happens in our life. When we take full responsibility, we take back control of our life and start to acknowledge that our thoughts and actions create the results in our life, not other people or situations. When we take back control of our life, we stop being victims. Instead we feel empowered to start creating a better life for ourselves. Be honest with yourself, are you accepting full responsibility for what happens in your life?
6. Be of Service To Others.
One really powerful way to increase your happiness is to focus on helping others. You can give money to charity — but there are more fulfilling ways of helping others. Instead of giving money, give your time. Get involved with a charity or donate a few hours to help with a local community project. Or just perform small random acts of kindness with no expectation of getting anything back.
So if you want to feel happier in the present moment, then start by choosing one of these 6 tips and take action today. At the same time, keep working on your goals, but don’t rely on them alone to make you happy. Choose to be happy right now.
Personal growth, change, transformation, and present moment awareness. These are all seemingly difficult things, but at the absolute very least, isn't being happy a much easier decision than holding on to anger? There's always something to contemplate :)
A Now Open Letter to My Daughters
An excerpt from Marc Middleton:
While I do not have any children myself, this letter needed to be shared. I hope parents and children alike will take the time to read a little about relationships and digital media.
This was never intended to be an open letter. I sent it as a personal note to my two college-age daughters, but with their permission and the encouragement of my co-workers at Growing Bolder, I have decided to publish it here in hopes that other parents will take the time to find the words to encourage their children.
Dear Kelsey and Quinn,
We live in a world in which communication has become easy, instantaneous and disposable. In the "old days" when long-distance phone calls were expensive and there was no such thing as Skype, emails or texts, we actually had to pull out a piece of paper and a pen and put some effort into expressing our thoughts and feelings. And because of that, we almost always wrote that which is too easily left out in a world filled with texts, 140-character tweets and 60-second phone calls.I'm afraid that I have enthusiastically embraced digital media for better and for worse.
Please forgive me for not communicating more deeply and more often, for not telling you both more frequently how much I love you and how proud I am of you.
You are both amazing young women -- very different in many ways, but very similar in ways that matter. You are able to chase different dreams while not, in any way, losing touch with who you are and what you believe in. That's not easy to do at any age. I can't begin to tell you how comforting it is to know that you have and will always have one another in your lives -- supporting, encouraging, listening and empowering. Of course, you will always have your mother and me in your corner as well. I realize that's not your ideal situation, but your worst-case scenario, your Plan B fallback option, is always a warm, loving, comfortable place to live, food to eat and two people who will do anything they can to help you. I hope that knowledge will always bring you comfort as you chase your dreams.
I can tell you that no matter how old you get, you will never stop learning, never stop dreaming and, unfortunately, never stop encountering hurdles and struggles and frustrations.
Happy people are those who recognize and appreciate the small blessings and tender mercies, but don't fret about or magnify the down days. They are part of every life and there will be many more of them but they can't steal your joy unless you let them. More than anything else, I wish you both happiness, and that can only come from within. Happiness is a choice. Learn to follow your heart. Be grateful. Be kind. Be bold. Have fun, have faith and be fearless. Take the right kind of chances. Chase your dreams, no matter how big or how small. Success isn't measured by the size of your check or by how many people know your name. It's measured by the joy in your heart and the impact you have upon others. Please don't pay too much attention to the garbage that our media and culture bombard you with. Most advertising is designed to make you feel inadequate in some way.
Be as kind to yourself as you are to others. You are both blindingly beautiful in the only way that really matters.
You are beautiful spirits and that is immediately obvious to anyone who takes even a moment to know you. I know you both already realize that you don't need a man to be happy or fulfilled. Of course, they can be nice to have around and I know you'll both find exactly what you're looking for when the time is right. Until then, remember that your worth is not determined in any way by a guy that you may or may not have.
I've learned more from both of you than I could ever hope to teach you. You are both amazing creatures and raising you has been the greatest blessing and honor of my life. I'll always treasure my role as your father but I'm equally excited about my role as your friend.
Love,
Dad
Fear - Understanding and Overcoming
Fear is about loss.
Fear is about the loss of familiar things.
We fear losing the jobs we don’t like and the people we don’t love.
This is what keeps us stuck in insanity.
We fear losing the comfort of a habit that gets in our way.
This is why we continue to numb ourselves.
We fear the loss of pleasures that we enjoy.
This is what causes us to lie, cheat or steal.
We fear losing our youth.
This is why we are deceitful about our age or try to stay forever young.
We fear losing our money or never having enough.
This is what causes us to ignore the people around us and to work an insane amount of hours.
We fear losing our status or recognition.
This is what causes us to pretend to be someone we’re not.
We fear death or losing our health.
This is what causes us to ignore and neglect the elderly population.
We fear losing our children.
This is why they can't talk to strangers or play in the front yard.
We fear losing our sense of identity.
This is why we worship our degrees, titles and live in cubicle prison.
We fear losing our sense of safety.
This is why have stuff packed in storage units and supplies stockpiled for doomsday.
We fear feeling unlovable and being unloved.
This is why we become people-pleasers and lose our souls in the process.
Fear sucks.
The only way to get around this nonsense is to understand that we really don’t have any of these things to begin with. Every thing is subject to change and alteration. Safety is an illusion.
The only thing that we can count on is the present moment. Notice that you are safe right now and get on with what you need to do!
Get rid of fear, love others and yourself, play, be authentic, take risks, show gratitude. You have today and this present moment. You are trading a piece of your time that you can never get back for this exact moment. Let that moment be something good.
Is Curiosity Proportional to Creativity on the Mat?
“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
Signs You're in a Toxic Relationship
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:
- It’s all about the other person — your needs, wants and desires don't rate.
- You feel tired, drained or exhausted being around this person.
- You're always in trouble or are “wrong.”
- You're afraid to express your opinions, thoughts or feelings.
- The person mocks your looks, occupation, activities, mannerisms, family and friends.
- You constantly feel unhappy or complain about the relationship to others.
- You often play the parent or therapist role — even if it's for your parents!
- You compromise yourself to maintain the relationship.
- The person attempts to control aspects of your life like activities, finances, schedule, social outlets and friends.
- You lack trust or you feel unsafe.
- The other person takes out his or her bad moods on you.
- Abuse, be it physical, emotional, sexual or financial (this is NEVER acceptable).
Are Your Expectations Setting You up for Disappointment?
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.
A Weekend With Christine Price Clark
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!
8 Things to Fight for Every Day
Loosely Adapted From www.marcandangel.com...
As always, there is some tough truth in here. Number two sure brings up some stuff for me personally. Living a fully authentic life can be a struggle. But number seven. Oh, number seven. How thankful I am to be lucky enough to have that. My wish for you all. - Brandon Jacobs
Because everything in life worth having is worth fighting for…
1. Personal greatness.
Easy goals don’t exist. A goal is a point of achievement that requires effort and sacrifice. There are no esteemed ventures worth participating in that don’t require some level of effort and struggle.
Decades from now when you’re resting on your deathbed, you will not remember the days that were easy, you will cherish the moments when you rose above your difficulties and conquered goals of magnitude. You will dream of the strength you found within yourself that allowed you to achieve what once seemed impossible. Don’t do what’s easy, do what you're capable of. Astound yourself with your own greatness.
2. Honesty and truth.
Personal transformation and growth can be remarkably rewarding, but only when the process of change is based on honesty and truth. When you’re not being authentic somewhere in your life or with someone in your life, any attempt at transformation eventually leads to anger and frustration. The truth always creeps back up on you; it does not cease to exist when you ignore it. Being fake about any aspect of your existence slowly digs a dark void in your soul. Life will simply not work for you if you don’t show up as YOU. The truth may not be easy to deal with, but it will always set you free in the end.
3. A mind free of envy and jealously.
Envy and jealousy are costly diseases; you simply can’t be yourself within their confines. When you give in to them, the price you pay is steep – a bad mood, an unproductive mind, an inferiority complex, and a chronic migraine headache. Being envious of what someone else has is like drinking poison and waiting for it to somehow improve your situation. Likewise, tearing someone else down in your jealous mind only tears you down in real life. Rather than devastating yourself with contemplations of things you don’t have or don’t want to happen, think for a second about what you do have, what you do want going forward, and what you can do right now to make progress with realities you face.
4. Positive change.
The simple realization that you need to make a change can be a great source of motivation, but in order for this motivation to create positive change, you must apply it toward creating things of value. Don’t fight against what you don’t want; create what you do want. Don’t punish those who have caused you pain; let go and focus on something new that soothes your pain. Don’t focus on what you are running away from; give your attention to the great things you want to create in your life.
5. A willingness to learn from mistakes.
One mistake does not have to rule your entire life, and it can’t unless you let it. This hour is a brand new hour with no faults in it yet. Think about your mistakes and learn from them, but don’t attempt to carry their weight around with you. It's ALWAYS a heavy load to carry. The road to success is littered with mistakes. Avoiding them is impossible. The thing that will ultimately define your success or failure will not be how many mistakes you make, but how you handle them. The bottom line is that all mistakes die quickly, but you can’t live beyond what you know today if you aren’t willing to make mistakes and forgive yourself for them. Read The Untethered Soul
6. Persistence and patience.
Before you give up, think about how unfortunate it would be if the results you have worked to achieve required just a tiny dose of additional effort. How disheartening would it be if the train you’ve been waiting for arrived five minutes after you walked out of the station? Not only does success require diligent effort, it requires persistence and patience. Rest when you are tired, but don’t quit. You never know what’s just around the corner. It could be everything you’ve been working for, or it might be just another mile marker on your journey.
7. True love.
There is no soul mate out there who will solve all your problems. There is no love at first sight that lasts without work and commitment. But there is someone out there worth fighting for. Not because they’re perfect, but because they’re imperfect in all the ways that are right for you. You compliment each other’s flaws in a way that allows your two spirits to unite and operate more efficiently as one. You will know when you meet this person, when through them you meet the very best in yourself.
8. Goodwill.
There is no greatness or peace of mind where there is betrayal of your own goodwill. Always aim at complete sincerity of your thoughts, words and deeds. If it is wrong, don’t do it. If it is untrue, don’t repeat it. Do what you do because you believe it’s the right thing to do. Do the right thing even when nobody is looking. Be one of the people who make a true difference in the world by leaving it a little better and more wholesome than you found it.
New Pricing and Package Pricing!
As of April 1st, we have changed some of our pricing and options for purchasing classes. We have done this to add more value to you, or amazing practitioners! Please let us know if you have any questions at all!
Session Passes: We are no longer offering a 5 or 50 class pass The 10 Pass will stay the same at $140 NEW - 25 Session Pass for $275
Unlimited Passes: We have eliminated the 1 and 3 month memberships. The auto-renew will now be $79/month no commitment required (a credit card will still be needed on file to purchase this account, and we will charge a cancellation fee of $25 when/if you decide to cancel.) For those of you who prefer to pay up front, we will be offering a 1 year up-front payment of $805 (15% off the monthly price). You can also add the plus package for $255 (also 15% off).
Plus Package (Mat & Towel Service): $25 add on to any package or per month with the auto-renew
Again, please let us know if you do have any questions! Looking forward to seeing you in the studio and on the mat!
7 Reasons You're Not as Successful as You Could Be.
An excerpt from www.marcandangel.com. It's worth the read!
The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will. –Vince Lombardi
Feeling down about your forward progress lately? Do you feel like you’re running in place? Need some motivation and tough love to help you reinvigorate your success rate? Well, here you go – seven reasons you’re not the great success story you could be:
1. You do a lot of thinking without acting. Too often we think without acting. We do nothing with our ideas. Everyone who has ever taken a long, hot shower has had many great ideas. I’m sure you can relate. But you will only make a difference in this world if you get out of the shower, dry off and do something with them. The only way to conquer your dreams and doubts is with action. Wondering about them will not get anything done. Avoiding challenges will only make them grow bigger. If you wait until all conditions are perfect, you will spend the rest of your life waiting.
Great achievements are made by starting from exactly where you are right now with exactly what you have right now. Stop wondering and start doing. Once you’ve made a little progress you’ll always know, without a doubt, that you can make even more progress if you try. Read 1,000 Little Things.
2. Your creative mind is completely unfocused. Constraints nurture productive side of the creative mind. At first it might seem as though complete freedom makes all creative ventures more attainable, but this isn’t the truth. Complete freedom makes the possibilities endless, but keeps your efforts scattered and unfocused. Often, self-imposed constraints, or boundaries, force you to think differently about challenges, leading to more practical ideas and innovations. Instead of thinking ‘outside the box’ and looking in every possible direction, get inside onebox – a specific problem that needs a resolution, a smaller space where big changes can be made, etc. – and focus your creative attention on making a difference. Over time, as you test these boundaries by pushing against them, you figure out which ones can be broken and expanded, and which ones need to remain fixed in place.
3. You are focusing too much on fears and defeats. Your problems are really your blessings if you use them to grow stronger. Never quit just because you feel temporarily defeated. You have not been beaten – this is not a competition. Keep working to be the best you can be. It doesn’t matter how slow you go so long as you don’t give up on yourself.
In the long run, it usually isn’t what you have or where you are or what you’ve been through that makes or breaks you; it’s how you think about it all and what you do next. Focus your conscious mind on things you desire, not your fears and defeats. Doing so brings dreams to life. Read Awaken the Giant Within
4. Your expectations are crushing you. Drop the needless expectations. Appreciate what is. It doesn’t matter if your glass is half empty or half full. Just be thankful that you have a glass and that there’s something in it. Choosing to be positive and having an appreciative attitude influences everything you do. The magnitude of your happiness and success will be directly proportional to the magnitude of your thoughts and how you choose to think about things.
Nothing ever works out exactly the way you want it to. Hope for the best, but expect less. Appreciate reality, don’t fight it. Don’t let what you expected to happen blind you from all the goodness happening around. Even if it doesn’t work out at all, it’s still worth it if it made you feel something new, and if it taught you something new.
5. You have become distracted from your core goals. People might tell you it’s impossible, but it’s not. Though the challenges may be great, you can make things happen. The odds may not seem to be in your favor right now, but you can change the odds. When something difficult you want to achieve connects deeply with your purpose, it becomes possible. When you are driven and committed and persistent, you will get yourself there step by step.
So look within yourself and unearth the values and goals that you most earnestly feel a deep connection with. In the end, it’s the things that are genuinely important to you that will power your greatest achievements. Read The 52-Week Life Passion Project
6. You are playing it too safe. Pain is a pesky part of being human but it’s vitally important. It strengthens the mind, heart and body. You can’t grow strong, brave, or successful in this world if you’ve only had good things happen to you within the safe boundaries of your own little comfort bubble. You need real life experiences, and nothing ever becomes real until you experience it firsthand. No matter how long you train yourself to be strong, brave, or proficient at something, you never know if you are or not until something real happens to you. So get real, experience life and let it teach you what you need to know to conquer your wildest dreams.
7. You have been resisting forgiveness. Alexander Pope once said, “To err is human, to forgive, divine.” Nothing could be closer to the truth. Your willingness to forgive yourself and others is the greatest sign of your emotional and spiritual maturity. It’s a process of acceptance and understanding that allows you to let go of a situation that’s over so you can move on with your life. The key is to be thankful for every experience – positive or negative. It’s taking a step back and saying, “Thank you for the lesson.”
Take a moment and imagine if every person (including yourself) who owed you an apology apologized today, and imagine if you accepted these apologies. What a weight lifted. Now imagine if everyone, everywhere did this. How many problems in the world would evaporate?
Namaste.
Salt Spring Island 2013
Salt Spring Island Retreat 2013
The video and images below were all captured by an amazing attendee of our latest retreat to Salt Spring Island, Sarah Taylor. If this doesn't make you want to come on one of our amazing retreats, we don't know what will! To everyone who came out and made our retreat so special and fun, we send a huge thank-you. To our fabulous hosts, the always lovely Melissa Perret, and the super fun Michelle Chung, who helped organize fun events and outings, while keeping every day fresh with some Yoga we send so much gratitude for taking our students on an amazing retreat.
"Adventure is worthwhile in itself"
- Amelia Earhart
Salt Spring Island was a great getaway from the snow in Edmonton. We enjoyed the best lacto-vegeterian food and explored the farmer's market in Ganges, where I happened to stumble upon plum thai chilli vinegar. The greatest part about the trip was getting to know everyone- sharing many laughs, stories, as well as space for asana practice.
-Vlady Peychoff
Smooth Moves with Cole Williston
Join us Saturday, April 27th from 2:30-5:30 for a Vinyasa/Acro Yoga Experience!
Learn to move smoothly through postures and challenges with guided breath. Within this workshop, you
will develop integral strength for each individual and we will expand your individual practice into
a shared group practice.
Cole Williston has been instructing for seven years, and is home to Edmonton. His training is in Chakra
Yoga and his style of guidance reflects aspects of Iyengar, Hatha, Vinyasa, and Pranayama. Cole is
passionate about building community and creating evolutionary group experiences. He organizes yoga
adventures through his company PLANit Adventure.
To learn more about Cole, you can check out his blog.
Or you can look at his full bio here.
The Yoga Code - With Jackie Dumaine
What is The Yoga Code™? An incredible and thorough description is below.
Yoga is so much more than looking good in a pair of black stretchy pants!
The 10 Sacred Principles of The Yoga Code™ are based on the ancient wisdom found in The Yoga Sutras an ancient yogic text written approximately 2000 years ago by the Indian sage Patanjali. They have absolutely nothing to do with the physical postures.
REPEAT: They have absolutely nothing to do with the physical postures.
In our body-obsessed Western world, we seem to simply focus on the postures, neglecting the true transformative powers of the yoga tradition. The 10 Sacred Principles are known as The Yamas & Niyamas in yoga philosophy and serve as the absolute foundation for the practice of living a yogic lifestyle.
Pantajali believed that before you even step foot on a yoga mat, these principles should by studied, practiced and applied into your daily life. Each principle is not independent of one another but rather weave together to form a beautiful tapestry.
“Even as education in the primary school level is important, since it paves the way for one’s further mental build, the Yamas and Niyamas are the rock-bottom of Yoga.
The tonic of Yamas & Niyamas will provide the power and courage needed to face all obstacles. The Yama-Niyama process constitutes the instructions in yoga psychology, which should give us sufficient warning on the path and make us vigilant pilgrims on the spiritual journey. ~ Sri Swami Krishnananda. What are the 10 Sacred Principles? Here is a brief overview for you in both traditional Sanskrit language and translated into the Western meaning.
1. Ahimsa
Kindness and Compassion
Non-Harming towards all living things. In thoughts, in actions, in words. This must first begin with ourselves in the form of self-love. Practice loving kindess towards yourself first and the energy of those around you becomes more gentle and kind.
2. Satya
Truthfulness
Living in integrity. Speaking your truth and living an authentic life without trying to be something or someone that isn't in alignment with your values. Not lying to yourself or others. Acknowledging that truth is not rigid, it flows and changes just as you do.
3. Asteya
Non-Stealing
Taking only what is yours. In a world addicted to consuming, we often take more than what we require which takes away from others who lack basic needs. It also can lead to a negative effect on our environment. Not stealing opportunities from yourself or others by not living up to your full potential.
4. Brahmacharya
Non-Excess or Moderation
Embracing life’s pleasures without reckless abandon. Seeing the Divine in everything. It allows you to indulge in the pleasures of life but having the awareness to know when you've had "enough". By seeing the Divine in everything we can appreciate what we have and will experience unlimited abundance.
5. Aparigraha
Non-attachment, Non-Greed
Letting go of the need to control thoughts, people, situations and outcomes. When you let go of things/people/circumstances that hold you down, you create space for lightness and unlimited opportunity. In this non-attachment, you are also asked to not define yourself by your possessions. If you attach your identity to your "stuff" who will you be if your "stuff" goes away?
6. Saucha
Purity and Simplicity
In all things: Body, Mind, Spirit & Surroundings. Simplify the way you nourish your body, the way you consume information, the roles and responsibilities you take on, the way you live your life. Declutter your home and create a sacred space. Become friends with silence and stillness to purify the mind and spirit.
7. Santosha
Contentment
Find true joy and happiness with where you are regardless of the external circumstance or challenge. Become fully accountable (and thus empowered) for where you are in your life. Practice gratitude for what you have and embrace each moment exactly the way it is. Stop wishing things were different than what they are.
8. Tapas
Burning Commitment, Self-Discipline
The determination to go on when faced with obstacles and challenges and welcoming the struggles that lead to growth and expansion. Understand that the mind likes to give up before our spirit does. Follow through with responsibilities and keep the commitments and agreements you've made to yourself and to others.
9. Svadhyaya
Self-Study
Observe your actions, your ego and continuously seek out opportunities to learn about your Self. Live in a state of awareness to notice and question all of your decisions and behaviours (both positive and negative). Read spiritual texts to continuously learn and grow while you develop the skill of self-inquiry and self-reflection.
10. Ishvara Pranidhana
Surrender
Acknowledge that there is a Divine force at work and have faith that it will lead you on the right path. Learn to live in the “Flow” of life rather than fight against the current. Surrender isn't about giving up or quitting, it's about the powerful freedom that comes with knowing we are all part of a bigger plan.
To learn more about The Yoga Code™ you can visit Jackie's page here
Compulsive Exercise and Eating Disorders
Very loosely adapted and modified from Barbara Mader:
Controversial topic alert. But a topic that needs to be addressed. PLEASE take the time to read. This may help you, or a loved one. Trust me. This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. A topic I have seen first hand in many people and areas of my life. Compulsive exercise. Negative body image. Trying to find "the secret." Unhappiness with an unattainable body type.
Did you know that only 2-5% of the world's population has the GENETICS to look like some people do on magazine covers? I realize and understand that many people KNOW or are aware of some of these things, but as we move into summer season (bathing suits, short shorts, etc.) I feel a responsibility to address this potentially sensitive, but very real topic. Within the yoga environment, and any other one for that matter, it is easy to get caught up in thoughts of "weight loss" or body image/body dysmorphia. It's easy to be disappointed with the perceived lack of your progress when it comes to your goals.
In my opinion, the most important goal when it comes to exercise should be how you feel.
How you feel is most important. Inside and out. How you feel, not how you look. Easier said than done. I understand and appreciate that. What I also know is people are beautiful. You are beautiful. There is beauty everywhere, and a number on the scale does not define you or your beauty. Please, please remember this always. Please. You are you and you are beautiful. Please take care of yourself.
"If you can't see anything beautiful about yourself, I strongly urge you to get a better mirror."
Compulsive Exercise and Exercise Anorexia:
Professionals specializing in the treatment of men, women and children with eating disorders re observing a growing trend among their patients, who are increasingly engaging in compulsive exercise Exercise anorexia is recently accounting for 40% of all eating disorders (excessive exercise, with very little to no eating). “Compulsive exercise is obligatory in nature, and it doesn’t have to be a certain type of exercise or be performed for a minimum duration,” explains Jennifer Lombardi, MFT, executive director of Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program, a partner program of Eating Recovery Center.
When evaluating if exercise is compulsive in nature, it’s important to look at the intention behind the movement, if there is a sense of urgency or agitation when individuals can’t engage in the exercise behavior, there is likely an issue (please note that this is not the same as feeling like you need yoga. Sometimes you just need to make it to Yogalife and breathe and move and be amongst our community. Just evaluate if it is a compulsion). It’s also important to consider exercise in the larger context of an individual’s eating and body image history; exercise is one of those behaviors that means something different to people struggling with eating disorders due to their temperament and brain chemistry.
Some eating disordered individuals abuse exercise as a compensatory behavior following a bingeing session or to give themselves “permission” to eat.
This can include rewarding yourself with food for exercise, or the "all or nothing view" where even if you "cheat" on one meal, you feel as though the entire day or week is ruined. Others may begin to engage in excessive exercise as what they believe to be a “healthy” part of eating disorders recovery. What these individuals do not realize, is that the frequency and volume of their exercise has taken the place of other eating disordered behaviors as an anxiety management tool and poses significant health complications, including joint injuries, stress fractures, muscle tears, tendonitis, fatigue and dehydration.
Eating Recovery Center encourages families, friends and healthcare professionals to be mindful of five common warning signs of compulsive exercise behaviors, including:
1. Exercising excessively “just because” as opposed to intentional exercise in preparation for a competition or to simply feel good. 2. Refusing to miss a workout, regardless of weather or injury. 3. Exercising takes precedence over all other activities, including work, school and spending time with friends and family. 4. Experiencing a heightened level of anxiety if unable to engage in exercise. 5. Displaying an elevated rigidity and perfectionism with regard to exercise behaviors.
I love practicing yoga and engaging in activity just as much as anyone else. I understand your love for Yogalife, for the practice, art, and expression of your yoga asana. But what I do ask of you, is to evaluate your relationship with yoga and yourself. Numbers on the scale, inches lost, etc. can be just a bonus of activity. When you reach that point and realization, you are able to engage in physical activity because you want to, not because you feel you have to. Join us at Yogalife because you love you and love how yoga makes you feel.
If you are interested in being led in a heart opening and freeing practice, where we release and let go of some of these thoughts and feelings around compulsive exercise, please email info@yogalifestudios.ca or directly to me at brandon@yogalifestudios.ca.
If you are interested in working through some emotions in a completely safe, nonjudgmental space, please let us know, and I will find time to run a workshop to explore, emote, let go, and transform. Thank you for taking the time to read. I understand this is a sensitive topic, but I am trying to create awareness and to offer help. I truly hope this has opened your heart and mind to realize you are not alone. Namaste.
- Brandon R. Jacobs
Massage Therapy FAQ's!
Adapted and written by Brandon Jacobs
“Will the treatment be painful?”
The best answer is that with a good therapist, any discomfort during treatment will be at a level tolerated by the client. We communicate continuously with our clients to ensure they are able to stay relaxed. My philosophy is that when I am giving a therapeutic treatment, the depth of pressure should be challenging, but not acutely painful. This is very important so that post treatment soreness can be kept to a minimum, and progress toward recovery is as smooth as possible.
“How do I find a therapist who can use a lot of pressure?”
This is a frequent concern for clients with a high pain tolerance and chronic pain. It can be difficult to find a massage therapist who is trained well enough to use deep pressure with confidence. Firstly, it's important to ask for what you want when you book your appointment so you can be placed with an appropriate practitioner. Most clinics (ie. Pure Wellness Studio, where I work as a RMT) have therapists who prefer working lighter, and we have therapists who prefer working with deep tissue techniques. Secondly, go with a referral from friends and colleagues! Most of my clientele is referred to me by a friend who is an existing client (many practitioners and staff at Yogalife frequent our clinic)
“How often should I get a massage therapy treatment?”
When a client comes for their first massage, we set them up with a treatment plan that makes sense for their condition. Changing the condition of the muscles and fascia is a process that usually takes a few treatments close together. My typical client will come for a treatment every week or two for three or four treatments. We can make steady progress with frequent visits, and as soon as it makes sense, spread the treatments apart, usually to 3-4 week increments. Most often, my goal is to reduce the tension in the body so the muscles are able to work properly, efficiently, and independently. At this point, our training staff is able to take over the main role and teach clients how to strengthen and balance their bodies. Given the knowledge to keep their bodies strong, our clients need fewer massage therapy treatments to maintain quality of life and performance.
Join Brandon and Lindsey for a Massage & Yoga combination workshop Saturday, April 20th from 1-4pm to learn more about proper treatment and body work along with mindful alignment in your asana practice!
To read more on Brandon, click here.
To read more on Lindsey, click here.
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