6/13/14 6/13/14

Essential Cyclist Asanas

This month we are joining along in the YEG celebration of cycling! As yogis, we know how incredibly essential it is to honour our bodies with the right movement, finding balance after rigorous activity. Yoga, in all its magnificence and splendour, is the perfect compliment to pretty much anything; give me a side of asana before and/or after a long ride and I am a happy camper!

Yogi and endurance athlete Josh Schrei shares the following:

Pedalling long hours astride the saddle with the neck up shortens the spine and causes tightness in the lower back, sacrum, and hips. The neck and jaw can lock up, too. Good posture and stretching will help diminish these after-effects of serious rides.

First, look at your posture in the saddle. Focus on lengthening the spine—be conscious of keeping space between the shoulders and neck. Also, lift the navel to engage the lower abdomen. This will keep the support in your core to protect your lower back.

Second, do these four yoga postures every day to stay loose and maximize your potential on the bike.

1. Cat/Cow

Cat/Cow brings length to the spine in both the forward- and back-bends, working out stored tension from cycling.

2. Downward Facing Dog

Downward dog will not only open the lower back, it will also strengthen it, giving you structural support when you’re on the bike.

3. Chair Pose Into Forward Bend

Like Downward Dog, this pose alternately strengthens and opens the low back and hips. It also lengthens the upper spine.

4. Plow

This pose will open up the whole spine, particularly the sacrum at the base of the spine.

adapted from outsideonline.com

What are you favourite post-cycle stretches? Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Happy riding!

6/9/14 6/9/14

Deepen Your Practice With Kristin Campbell

“I am in love with my life path as a Mama, Yoga Educator, Teacher Trainer, and Mentor for Teachers. My classes are a transformative and raw-come sweat and laugh with me! Ultimately, my work is about supporting yoga-practitioners and yoga-teachers in their journey to becoming the best possible version of themselves."

We are incredibly excited to welcome back Kristin Campbell for on June 13, 2014 for two sessions: Teacher Development & Hot Master Class.

Kristin currently teaches at YYoga in Vancouver and Shala Yoga in Squamish. She is Co-Head of YHot Programming, on faculty for YYoga Teacher's College, and Gaiatri teacher trainings. Kristin is the founder/director of Tapasya Hot Yoga, an alignment-based Hot Yoga program informed and inspired by her love of Baptiste Power Yoga, Bikram and Anusara Yoga. Tapasya Hot and Tapasya Power inspired classes are now offered throughout Europe and North America.

"Once we meet, you will come to know immediately that I am passionate about teaching yoga and teaching people how to teach yoga. I am easy to connect with, I keep it real, I make it playful and I am full of moxy. I will find a common thread for us to weave our story with from a place of total authenticity and love." - Kristin Campbell, http://www.kristincampbellyoga.com/

With depth, concision, compassionate Mama energy, a buoyant personality and a knack for holding space, Kristin teaches sustainable, alignment-based yoga: freeing the strong, and strengthening the free.

Click here to register for Kristin's upcoming sessions on June 13th at Yogalife South.

6/6/14 6/6/14

Wheat Kings and Prairie Things

“Big skies, big hearts”—that’s how Rachelle and Monique, known together for their work with Prairie Yogi, describe our wide community of practitioners and the great expanse of land—of grain and grit—upon which we move. Prairie Yogi is an online magazine devoted to building connections across the prairies, uniting yogis from Edmonton all the way to Winnipeg.

Often it may feel that we’re isolated here, far north and far away from an engaged, curious community of yogis—that’s why Rachelle and Monique wanted to create an open, online forum for prairie practitioners to share their experiences, their studios, and their love for the wide expanses we call home. The idea is that we can foster a family, we can cultivate a kind of Canadian kula—and feel connected, whether linked with words on their website, or when we travel between places.

This month, Prairie Yogi is traveling from their home base of Winnipeg to officially launch their project westward—and they’ll be stopping by Edmonton next week, on June 11th. We feel so honoured that they’ve hand-picked two of our very own instructors to lead through their launch—Yogalifer and Studio Director Lindsey Park will be guiding an outdoor practice during the day at Louise McKinney Park. And in the evening, our own Myrah Penaloza, alongside Andrew Misle and Teresa Byer, will be helping teach a 75-minute class at Latitude 53—an event that involves not just yoga, but also wine, food trucks, and beats by guest DJ Robindra. (You had us at yoga!)

We chatted with Prairie Yogi to get to know these lovely ladies a little better before their big YEG debut. Here’s what they had to say.

1) Tell us about Prairie Yogi—who are you, and what do you do?

R: Prairie Yogi was created first as a print Magazine to educate + inspire yogis across the Prairies, and it has evolved into such a beautiful community over the last 2.5 years. We believe story-telling, community, and experiences and these beliefs are expressed through our digital media property prairieyogi.com and our signature style of events. I am the founder of Prairie Yogi, the editor of the website, and the one who spearheads our events and marketing strategies.

M: Prairie Yogi began as a print magazine two and a half years ago. Now it's grown into something much larger and something very special. It's an inclusive community of passionate yogis (of all levels!). We host inspiring yoga events, workshops and this September we'll be hosting Prairie Love - the prairie's first yoga and wellness festival. I created the Prairie Yogi website and have my hands in all things creative: design, photography, video- creativity makes me bust with joy!

2) What do you love about the prairies?

R: I love the four seasons, life in the extremes and its effect on our people. We're friendly and can handle pretty much anything mother nature throws our way. I'm a gypsy at heart, I never thought I'd end up here. It took me years of travel across four continents and living on a tropical island to realize just how special the prairies are and be ready to call Winnipeg the place I choose to spend life.

M: My favourite thing about the prairies is the people. The prairies will always mean home, family and community to me. Regardless of the weather (we really do endure the extremes!) prairie people always seem to embrace the temperatures with resilience and make the most of the beautiful seasons we have.

3) Have you visited Edmonton before? If so, what stands out—do you have any Edmonton stories? What did you love?

R: My first love was from Edmonton. I spent some time in the summer there with him wildly (and naively) in love, the way you can only be when you're young. My memories of the city are fond and so special. The one that sicks out in my mind is seeing the Northern Lights for the first time during a backyard sleep out. I also am a big kid and love the water park at West Edmonton Mall :)

M: The last time I was in Edmonton I think I must have been 7 years old. So as you can imagine - West Ed water park better watch out! But in all seriousness, people often say that Edmonton is Winnipeg's sister city and I'm really looking forward to experiencing the city and community. I've noticed how vibrant the yoga community is in Edmonton and I really am looking forward to connecting and making new friendships.

4) What can we expect from your events during the #YEG launch on June 11th?

R: Community, fun, and inspiration all around. We like to laugh and play and we encourage participants to bring an element of fun and lightness into their practice and community. We always have a few surprises and goodies up our sleeves as well for participants. We're had such amazing feedback from our events in Winnipeg, and we cannot wait to spread the love out West!

M: Fun, smiles, treats, and a great sense of community. My favourite thing about Prairie Yogi events is the way people really feel the love, open arms and open hearts.

5) What makes someone a prairie yogi?

R: I think it means different things to everyone. We always ask that question to our prairie yogis of the month and the answers always vary. For me it means being resilient, celebrating where you’re from, and being connected. Connection allows you to let life flow, good and bad, like it does in the big skies of vast horizon of the prairies.

M: I think being a Prairie Yogi means that a) you embrace some aspect of yoga in your life and b) you've found a home in the prairies - whether you were born here, live here, or live elsewhere.

We’d love for you to join us on June 11th as we give Prairie Yogi an open-armed, open-hearted, warm warm welcome to our city. We know we’ll be there! Daytime event is free and drop-in, tickets for the evening event are available here.

6/4/14 6/4/14

Yoga and Bikes and Parks... OH MY!

Let's take our practice outside and live every month like it's Bike Month!

It IS Bike month—and with that in mind, this June at Yogalife we're focusing on all things environment and outdoors, like the beautiful spaces and places our beloved #YEG has to offer. We're focusing on our community and the beautiful humans who choose to thrive here, within and outside of our studio walls. On our blog, we'll get cozy with some inspiring local people and places—and we invite you to join us as we play outside at some awesome events!

Stay tuned to see what the Yogalifers are up to around our beautiful city and join in on the fun. In true Edmonton fashion, let's soak up this precious season and all it has to offer!

5/29/14 5/29/14

Thank You

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

William Arthur Ward

We want to send our deepest gratitude to you, our readers, friends and fellow yogis. We love writing for you, sharing our pictures and stories and hearing yours. We are thankful for the opportunity to speak from our hearts to our community.

As we've been discussing in the past weeks, gratitude is something to cultivate, practice and share. Adopting and embodying a new attitude or skill takes practice, so remind yourself to weave these tidbits into the fabric of your life.

Be voracious in your efforts!!

Stand up for that bursting feeling of love and thanks. Spread the word and follow up with those you share with. We truly believe that this attitude of gratitude will elevate our planet to greatness.

Remember, everything starts within; being incredibly kind and gentle with your thoughts and actions towards yourself allows you to shine outward.

Stay tuned to see what's coming up next on our blog.

Looking forward to sharing with you all summer long!

5/26/14 5/26/14

Poses to Inspire Gratitude

Lately we've been sharing how and why we feel thankful. Gratitude is indeed something to practice, just like the different facets of yoga. You can infuse thankfulness into every part of your practice, from meditation and breathwork to asana. Perhaps think of your next sun salutation as a burst of thanks for life or your next balancing pose as an homage to the steady, rooted earth.

The shapes we make with our bodies can reflect a deeper reverence; an offering.

Here's 5 poses you can incorporate on your next visit to your mat. Remember, although you may do these poses every time you practice, it's the intention behind them that creates the power.

1. Balasana/Child's Pose

Balasana is a beautiful pose to not only initiate practice but to continuously come back to throughout. With your forehead rooted into the earth and your arms stretched long, you feel grounded, safe and connected. You can pour your heart into your mat; your thoughts into stillness. Your body is ready to receive and you can allow gratitude to flow through you as you either create or reflect on your intention.

2. Adho Mukha Svanasana/Downward Facing Dog

Adho Mukha Svanasana may be thought of as your home-base posture, allowing you to connect between poses and re-establish your breath and intention. You simultaneously pour your heart down as you breathe into and illuminate your back body. With hands and feet rooted to the earth, you are stable and strong. As strength and serenity play off of each other, you can channel your energy towards gratitude.

3. Virabhadrasana II/Warrior II with Variations

Our warrior postures connect our strength and softness. Whether held for longer periods of time to define and articulate the alignment or used in a radiant, dynamic flow sequence to move energy and open the long lines of your body, warrior poses allow us to swell with gratitude in their nature of balance and beauty.

Acknowledging what you’re thankful for can lead to a happier, healthier life, just like a regular yoga practice can.

Play around with infusing the two and let us know how you feel!

5/21/14 5/21/14

The Attitude of Gratitude

Today, we’ll hear a more personal share on gratitude from one of our Yogalife bloggers, Kasandra Bracken. We’re all about authenticity here, and we sure ain’t perfect—so read on for some real talk.

This weekend, I was feeling some heavy FOMO (read: Fear Of Missing Out) for not going away for the long weekend, for not joining the rest of the world at the campgrounds in the May Long tradition. And though I had plenty of time to relax and kick back, I desperately felt the need to schedule my hours tightly, planning lots of activities so I could maximize my hours of fun and friends. I was fighting so hard to “relax” in an organized, concerted manner (which, if you’ve ever tried, is not relaxing at all) that I could hardly enjoy my time off.

I was even frustrated with my partner for wanting to stay in and, god forbid, just “hang out.” Ego grabbed a hold of me—“what if I don’t do anything fun, or interesting?” I thought. “I’ll have wasted my long weekend.” Or, “there aren’t enough hours—we can’t just sit here together—we need to DO something!”

I had a serious attitude of lack. Try as I did to make up for it with busyness, whatever I did would not have been enough to please me—I had already subconsciously decided, in my mind, that I was missing out on all the fun I could have been having by not going away for the weekend.

My boyfriend may be more gym rat than yogi, but he can still be pretty insightful. Given my poor attitude, he interjected—“Didn’t you just post about gratitude this weekend? What’s wrong with what’s happening right now?”

Why, yes. I had quite literally just posted on this exact same situation. I was feeling miserable, and failing miserably at putting my own advice into practice. But that’s just it—gratitude is a PRACTICE. Just like yoga or meditation.

You may not always wake up and feel excited to get on our mat, just as in the same way you may not naturally look around you and feel showered in blessings with each moment. But gratitude is a choice.

After feeling just a little more self-pity (hey, habits take time to change!), I took a second and turned my eyes to the window. The sun was shining, I had nothing that I had to do, and here was my partner in front of me, doling out advice and hoping only to spend some time together. There was absolutely nothing wrong in that exact moment—in fact, I had plenty to be thankful for.

Have you ever heard the phrase “attitude of gratitude”? It really is just that—a mindset, a way of thinking. Gratitude doesn’t mean you need to buy a new shirt, plan an extravagant vacation, or go to a yoga class so that you have something to be thankful for (although you can certainly be thankful for those things!)—gratitude simply means making the choice to take a look around and genuinely appreciate what’s already there.

No matter how much or what we have, we can always feel in a state of lack if we are constantly focusing on our needs and wants. Rather than feeling lack, or that you need something else to make any moment complete, accept what already is with gratitude.

And maybe, with this outlook, you’ll be better equipped to relax and enjoy exactly where you are at right now. Shifting your perception from “lack” to “abundance” is a powerful way to soften yourself into the present—just in the way I was eventually able to accept and enjoy my long weekend for what it was.

If you’re feeling a sense of lack in your life, or feeling unwilling to accept gratitude, try this affirmation:

“Gratitude turns what I have into enough.”

Look around, or close your eyes and think of five things you can be grateful for, right now. Often even this subtle exercise can make a significant shift in your outlook. Give it a try!

What makes it easy for you to feel gratitude? When is it tough? Let us know by sharing on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

5/19/14 5/19/14

YEG Highlight: Louise McKinney Riverfront Park

We've probably all been lapping up the sunshine in the past few weeks, and rightfully so! Whether it's a stroll in the river valley or a good stretch or book read in the park, Edmontonians get right to it when the opportunity presents. Over the summer on the Yogalife Studios blog we will be sharing our favourite outdoor hotspots. Patios, outdoor yoga spots, art and culture showcases and festivals - all things summer YEG!

Follow along and get involved outside the studio as we soak up our community all summer long.

All photos by Paul Swanson

http://www.paulswanson.me/

Louise McKinney Riverfront Park

As soon as the snow melts, it seems that this place is constantly buzzing with Edmontonians getting their outdoor fix. Revered as the gateway park to the rest of the park system, Louise McKinney Park is a hub to connect through our beautiful river valley. The amenities within the park are perfect. Loads of benches, stairs, and grass to read a book, stretch, conduct a bootcamp or acro yoga session. Maybe hula hooping is your thing! Or just tossing a frisbee after a picnic lunch.

The Chinese Garden is beautiful to walk through or maybe pose for some cool pictures! Hang out on the bridge, rub the stone lions, or meditate in the surrounding grass. It is a truly serene place, right near the water. The gazebo has power outlets and is available for event rentals. You can find dance and music events hosted here throughout the summer.

"This park is the front door to the river valley parks system and a gateway to trails throughout the city. It is a vibrant venue for special events and river-based activities."

- www.edmonton.ca

The promenade along the river hosts a floating dock for small boats and canoes and there is a cafe and activity-rental place to maximize adventures through the trails. You can find washrooms and water fountains down here as well.

Take your next free afternoon down to the heart of YEG at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park. We love hanging out down there and practicing yoga all over every bit this beautiful place has to offer! Learn more about the park on the City of Edmonton website and stay connected with us through the blog to see more updates on our city.

Share your outdoor yoga photos with us on Facebook and Instagram (yogalifestudios) and you could be featured on our blog! We love yoga photos and YOU!

5/14/14 5/14/14

Zoran Speaks On His Science

Check out what Zoran had to share with us and what he intends to share with you this weekend at The Science of Vinyasa Workshop.

This Saturday, May 17, 2:30-6:00, Yogalife Studios South

The Science of Vinyasa from Yogalife Studios on Vimeo.

Stay in tune with all our offerings here!

5/14/14 5/14/14

The Soul Garden

Quick, think of something or someone that waters your soul in this garden of life. Now tell them.

Tell everyone.

Ahhh, that's better.

Grow your garden with gratitude.

Grow your life with love.

Shower, share, repeat!

5/12/14 5/12/14

The Science Of Vinyasa

The following is an article from Zoran Glamoclija, the man offering The Science of Vinyasa this weekend at Yogalife Studios South. Zoran will share Learn how to utilize the energy that is constantly emanating from the nervous systems. Advance through your practice and direct the flow of energy towards greater awareness and progress!

The Science of Vinyasa: Re-Structure and Re-define

1. Adopting beliefs, personality traits, and behaviours through absorption while growing into adulthood

Do you remember, as a child, when you couldn’t help but repeat all the silly things you heard from your parents/television? At the time, it was all so innocent. It was all so seemingly harmless to mimic the voices and styles of our favourite characters on TV, and to repeat swear words with a huge grin when father hurt himself repairing something. This kind of adoption is natural; it’s the way we all learn to absorb information so that we can understand concepts. This understanding indubitably leads to developing certain behavioural and personality traits. And, over time, after we have practiced rehearsing how it is to be “cool” in front of the mirror, all of those moments of practice turn into habits; creating sub-conscious tendencies.

2. Recognizing the process of absorption

We continue our lives for quite a period of time not really recognizing how we have set ourselves up for future decisions and reactions to circumstances. We usually think the way we respond is based on our own personality and unique method of inquiry to whatever dares to be confrontational, or inquisitive. However, let’s take a look a little closer with what has been stated above.

If the innocent and naïve practices of our youth have become sub-conscious habits, that means that we are operating from beliefs and traits that really aren’t ours, without even knowing it.

They are given to us at a time when we are in a mode of absorption. So, what does that say about our unique personality and behaviours? It means, it is a construct that we, personally, have not consciously constructed through awareness. Thus, once such awareness is exercised, the nature of our energy is revealed; namely that, scientifically speaking, we must have a negative polarity which draws ideas, concepts, beliefs, etc. inward so that we can practice outwardly expressing what it is the external world is composed of. And as we know, some parts of society love expressing that ‘the world is our oyster’. At this point in a child’s life, when he/she is steadily growing into a teen and young adult, absorption begins to slowly decline while outward expression increases. Remember earlier about the idea of not really recognizing how we set ourselves up for the future? Well, when we believe that we are confident with how well we grasp ideas and concepts, naivety continues to operate, bringing us into a future that sometimes seems to have happened without us wanting it to. This time our outward expression becomes the practice and we add to our beliefs, behaviours, and personality traits of what it means to be active in a community. Thus, as our beginning stages were to absorb traits, our later childhood/teen/young adult stages are adding traits to what we have absorbed without bringing awareness to the fact that the first traits were not ours to begin with.

3. Yoga and the process of re-structuring and re-defining

What can be done about all the habits that have been created from childhood that now operate sub-consciously? How can the imbalance between all that has been absorbed and all that has been expressed equalize? What am I even talking about?

The answer to all of those questions is Yoga. There is a literal re-wiring that occurs when yoga is practiced regularly.

Remember that one time in pigeon pose when suddenly you got this ridiculous rush of frustration, anger, sadness, and glimpses of moments of your childhood? Yeah, I don’t really either, because really no one wants to remember traumatic experiences. Well, in case you have, those ‘emotional releases’ are coming from your nervous system. When we target areas of our body, a sensation arises, which we classify as pain or discomfort, but what is actually happening is that the muscles have been torn in micro-segments which allows for the nerve endings to release whatever energy was stored in that area. Because our brains are fantastic machines, they pick up the energy signals and interpret them. Each one of us is different, so we will interpret the sensation in multiple ways. I know I’ve been told repeatedly to focus on a rhythmic breath, but why? Here is why.

When you consciously control your breath in a rhythmic rate you active the parasympathetic nervous system. This increases serotonin and begins to calm the brain during fight of flight mode/the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. So, as energy is leaving the nervous system through whatever area of muscles are targeted, simultaneously new nerves are being created to support the higher levels of serotonin that are produced from the conscious breathing.

As the restructuring is occurring from releasing pent up energies with happy fresh energies, it is also necessary to redefine how it is you operate with your body. Instead of not knowing the impact the adopted beliefs will have, you can fully know and be aware what impact a yoga practice can have on your entire being because the balance between energetic release and circulation pulls your mind to focus in on what is occurring during the yoga practice.

4. Acute awareness and dynamic forces, absorbing and emitting consciously

The more yoga is practiced, the more re-wiring occurs. As you turn every muscle that once was tense and tight into flexible happy strings of goodness, your brain also completely re-wires. This occurs because where ever there are nerve networks in your legs, for example, there are neurological pathways that correlate in your brain. So think about it.

As you release every muscle from the grip of tension and toxins into openness and serotonin filled, your whole body operates on the higher vibes that you consciously restructured into your being. As you practice conscious control and awareness, you will naturally begin to observe how your body operates and switches between positive and negative fields of energy.

Just as the planet has a negative and positive pole, and like the sun, and like the galaxy, we also have negative and positive poles. However, our poles flip much more frequently than our celestial hosts. Tracing back for a moment, when we transitioned from childhood to teen/young adult, we weren’t aware of the pole flips. When you bring awareness to the pole flips, you realize how to utilize the energy of the dynamic forces. Thus, you begin to absorb and emit energy consciously. For example, after a period of time practicing yoga and bringing awareness to the nature of energy from your body/mind/emotions, you find that when someone is acting rude or negative in some way, you don’t react to it. Instead you listen and contemplate, and absorb consciously the way that person was standing, the tone of voice they used, and the nature of language used. Then, you consciously choose to use the energy that was absorbed to inspire a change of heart so to speak, so you express yourself in a way that will aid in their pole flip to embody a more positive outlook. That is the process of having an acute awareness to absorb and emit energy consciously through the faculties of the body.

5. Unity consciousness and functioning subconsciously as a whole being

Just as we all practiced absorbing and emitting ideas, beliefs, and tendencies that turned into sub-conscious tendencies and habits, when we consciously re-write and re-wire those tendencies through the practice of Yoga, we begin to operate from a unified state of consciousness sub-consciously. After all, Yoga does literally mean Unity. That means, that the body will maintain a balance between absorption and emission. This not only occurs with the body, it includes the fluctuating energy in the mind and emotions. Furthermore, when all of these are unified and in balance, wholeness ensues.

At this point it is now up to you to do the work. Practice yoga, and don’t just sit there day dreaming. Focus on the breath, make it rhythmic, and talk to your body. Tell your body that changes are being made for the better. Tell your body to relax and allow the old patterned energies to release to make way for fresh new high vibe charged pathways.

Observe the sounds the body makes, and the movements that occur. The more awareness the better! This way, you learn from a form of existence that holds all the knowledge you need to truly know of yourself.

That’s enough out of me for now! Hope you enjoyed the read, and see you on May 17^th for The Science of Vinyasa!

Click here to register, space is limited.

5/9/14 5/9/14

5 Reasons Why Gratitude Is Good For Your Health

Adapted from MindBodyGreen

Gratitude: An intentional appreciation of what and who you have; an acceptance and explicit acknowledgment of what life brings you.

When the power of the mind and the power of the heart join forces, the positive results are inevitable. This is gratitude. Using your love and intention to simply acknowledge your abundance. Not only does it feel good to express gratitude, scientific studies show the emotional and physical benefits of adopting the attitude of gratitude. Everybody wins!

The following is a list written by Dr. Lawrence Rosen sharing the health benefits you can experience from practicing gratitude. The original article includes links to all the studies that back up these facts. Pretty amazing stuff. Enjoy!

1. Gratitude reduces depression.

In eight different studies, gratitude was shown to reduce feelings of depression. It worked best when people chose to think optimistically and reframe events and situations in a positive way.

2. Gratitude can help you feel peaceful.

It lessens anxiety, and can be helpful for those suffering from severe conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

3. Gratitude can help you get your zzzs.

It improves sleep, which in turn has a positive impact on mood. And anxiety. And just about everything.

4. Gratitude is great for your heart.

It improves overall cardiac health, both indirectly through improving mood and attention to positive health behaviours like fitness and nutrition, as well as directly through reduction in inflammation.

5. Gratitude is a brain booster.

It strengthens memory. For elderly adults, practicing gratitude was shown to improve their overall sense of well-being and quality of life.

How do you practice gratitude? Connect with us on Facebook!

5/7/14 5/7/14

Featured Yogi Of The Month: Brandon Jacobs

This month we're sharing a slice of Brandon Jacobs' life. You can find this guy leading classes, helping with the upcoming Yogalife Studios teacher training, facilitating Warriors of Change and The Art of Yoga and Massage workshops, and writing for our blog. Whew! Oh, and he's a massage therapist and was recently published in Elephant Journal.

To keep up with Brandon, follow his Facebook page!

I was basically pulled in and drawn to come to Yogalife. I had practiced at a couple of different studios in the city, but in all reality, had been searching for a "home." Yogalife has become just that for me.

My normal schedule is:

Mondays - SOUTH STUDIO - 12:00pm Hot Flow, 1:30pm Warm Flow, 5:00pm Hot Flow, 7:00pm Mindful Vinyasa Flow

Saturdays - SOUTH STUDIO - 7:30am Hot Flow, 9:00am Hot Flow, 10:30am Beginner's Hot Flow

I have been a part of Yogalife since September 2012. I finished my Teacher Training at Yogalife in August of 2012, and started out writing blogs and helping with the media team. And it eventually transformed into what it is now!

Share a favourite quote, lesson, or teaching that inspires you.

- I have just too any quotes to pick just one. That would be impossible! One of the greatest lessons I learned was from Patrick Creelman. He once said that if you truly want to become innately aware of your body and truly transform it, you need to find teachers who cue very succinctly and precisely, and then do absolutely everything they say, without compromise. This has helped me not only as a practitioner, but also as a teacher.

What's your favourite music to practice to (or do you prefer silence!?)

- I practice to a lot of different music, so I definitely cannot pick anything in particular. Mostly electronic, if I had to put it into a genre! I steal a lot of people's music! It's really just anything with a pretty solid beat. I rarely notice words!

Biggie or Tupac? haha

- Tupac

Your favourite books, yogi-inspired and fiction.

- Yoga and the Path to the True Self, The Great Work of Your Life, Way of the Superior Man. I would say that those three have influenced me the most.

Where's your favourite vacation spot?

- It's really anywhere my wife is, but we seem to lead towards Nicaragua.

What is your favourite meal to make and share with friends?

- Anywhere where good friends are where we can have a real conversation. Without cell phones. If I had to choose food, it would be sushi. Every time.

What's your favourite pose/sequence/area of the body to work on?

- Ustrasana (camel) is one of my favorite postures, simply based on the fact that it can be very emotionally opening. I suppose that makes me a bit crazy. I am a sucker for any inversions or arm balances and am constantly in search of new transitions. It's pretty amazing what our bodies are capable of once we figure it out!

Who inspires you?

- My mom and dad have always inspired me. Always. I have always looked at my dad as my hero. My wife inspires me to continually just be authentic. She believes in me even when I doubt myself, and it's truly the greatest gift. Her desire to learn anything and everything is something I greatly admire.

Share your favourite self-healing practice.

- Honestly, it's just yoga. Yoga is what has always helped me to heal and it continues to do so. It's my calm in any storm. It is one place where I can shut off everything and just breathe. I can't remember the last time I practiced and noticed much of anything besides my own mat and sweat.

Share one of your life goals.

- I simply just want to leave some sort of legacy. I understand that isn't necessarily "simple" but I believe that we all have the power to affect some sort of change. That we can help and influence people, even when we don't think people are listening or watching. We don't ever really know the ripple effect we may put into motion by the way we act, the words we say, or the thoughts we consciously or unconsciously think. I don't know where or what this legacy looks like, and it's not something I will "try" to do. I just think that by being real, honest, authentic, and loving, that I am somehow capable to doing that.

Do you have a favourite teacher you'd like to see featured on here? Let us know at info@yogalifestudios.ca or connect with us on Facebook!

5/5/14 5/5/14

Dipping In: The Art of Seeing

I had no idea what to expect from a blindfolded yoga class. I assumed that I would love it, which I did, but the assumption came more from the silliness of the idea: the group giggle factor and how clumsy and childlike it would be... which it was.

What I found under the blindfold (within the first 90 seconds or so) was a whole new playing field that I hadn't touched in with for some time; simply forgotten. As a yoga instructor and general enthusiast of self-exploration, I am constantly reminding myself and those around me: look within.

KNOW THYSELF! Dip in! Get into you! It's all in there.

Under the blindfold I became totally aware of how inherently programmed we are as humans to rely on our senses and how far you can actually dip without just one of them. Even standing in tadasana or moving into a childs pose took so much inner detail and refinement because I couldn't just "go there". And that's where the fun began...

The giggles I was seeking were there in that room; trust that 35 people wobbling and fumbling around on their mats is a good time. The sense of community in the room was heightened because, although you are constantly surrounded by community in a yoga class, this time we all shared a common challenge. The sense of realization was awakened. The new understanding. There was no opportunity for comparison or latching onto stories of why other people are better at some poses than you. Not once did I think "I wonder if lululemon has those tights she's wearing in stock... I should pop in after yoga... blah blah blah."

It became clear to me how much visual information facilitated my personal process. Yes, the physical practice of yoga may be easier when you can see what you're doing at times, but in the darkness of the blindfold I really had to check in constantly and remain radically present to let the practice flow.

I like to think that it was this grounding and mindfulness that kept me somewhat upright, not the sneaky wall spot I snagged for the workshop...! I swear I only grabbed onto it during 7 poses.

To dip inside your vessel and really sink into your underground is an illuminating and important place to be. We all practice yoga for different reasons with the underlying desire of calming the mind. When it's just you in there, no help nor distraction from the outside world, you are connecting with your source.

I truly believe that is yoga.

So eventually the blindfold comes off and we all blink a few times and just sit. I wiped away a few tears of joy and really just sat there, looking at my hands. Ah, those hands!

And then we all gathered round and talked about it. Hearing everyone's sensations with this process was humbling and exciting.

The experience was so unique I feel we could have talked all night.

International photographer and crazy eye ninja, Pete Longworth, showed us his view that night. His art of seeing. After we took that time within, totally void of sight, we re-entered back into the visual field with a new wonderment. Pete explained this as his art. This can be all of our art. To revel in the beauty of everything just by paying a little closer attention, that is the Art of Seeing.

Here's a lovely video recap of the last Art of Seeing event at the studio.

The Art of Seeing + Blindfolded Yoga from Pete Longworth on Vimeo.

We are ecstatic to have Pete back in the building this Friday, May 9th joined by Myrah Penaloza to lead us through this experience. Click here to register for the second instalment of The Art of Seeing.

For more information please email info@yogalifestudios or connect with us on Facebook.

5/2/14 5/2/14

May: Sharing Gratitude

As we move into May, the team at Yogalife Studios is focusing on the ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE!

We will share tips on bringing gratitude into your life, sharing it with others, using a gratitude practice to deepen your connection with yourself and your community, and simply living happier! As yogis, we understand the importance and nourishing qualities of being grateful, so let's allow this month to serve as a beautiful reminder!

We look forward to sharing our thoughts with you and are grateful for your attention and feedback. Stay tuned!

Thank you and Namaste!

4/30/14 4/30/14

Step Into Spring With a Clean Mind

We’ve been talking quite a bit about spring cleaning up here on the Yogalife Studios Blog. Clearing and cleaning out the old to gently make space for the fresh and new. So far we’ve talked about cleaning out the body with yoga and nutrition. Today, we’ll move on to clearing room in our headspace. While cleaning out our bodies with regular yoga practice and proper nutrition will help prepare our heads to be clear and calm, we should also be aware of what thoughts we are bringing into our mind.

There is a great quote Yogalife instructor Brandon Jacobs likes to share—“Be careful how you are talking to yourself, because you are listening” (originally by Lisa M. Hayes).

Have you ever felt “sick to your stomach” with worry, or had your “tummy tied in knots” with anxiety over an upcoming event? Our thought processes are so powerful—they have the ability to make us feel healthy or sick, regardless of what state our physical body is in. In the same way that continually telling ourselves that we are beautiful, healthy, and strong helps us to adopt that belief, when we feed ourselves with negative thoughts of criticism, self-doubt, and fear, those ideas may very well come true.

The majority of the thoughts we have each day are the same ones we had yesterday.

Some of those thoughts will serve you, like giving yourself a mental pat on the back for something good you’ve done, or feeling content in a moment. But at the same time, maybe you repeatedly think to yourself “I hate my stomach,” or “I’m so bad at this pose,” or “I’ll be single forever.”

Negative thoughts—especially those ones that arise day after day—sap our energy and distract us from the present moment—other than the conscious moments of pointed reflection and constructive self-criticism, these cyclical thoughts don’t serve us—they don’t make us better, they make us worse.

So help yourself get out of the habit by spring-cleaning your brain— try consciously stepping out of the cycle of the “monkey mind.” For three days, keep a simple thoughts journal. Notice what negative thoughts pop into your mind throughout the day, and each hour, try to jot them down. It’s not important that you get every single thought—but try to make note of the reoccurring themes. By the end of the three days it’s likely that you’ll see a pattern—perhaps there’s a trigger that sends your thoughts spiralling into negativity, or maybe your days are more affected by a certain fixation than you’d previously realized.

Of the reoccurring negative thoughts, pick one that you truly and sincerely want to erase from your life, and try your darndest to catch yourself each time that thought pops up. And then, rather than judging yourself for thinking that same thought again, replace the negative thought with a positive affirmation.

So, instead of “I wish I was more _______,” try “I accept myself exactly as I am.” Replace “my life sucks right now” with “I’m learning and growing so much from this current challenge.” It doesn’t matter if you believe it yet, but the age-old adage holds true—you can fake it ‘till you make it.

We absorb what we tell ourselves we are, and eventually that is what we become.

So why not become something more positive? Try trading in your thoughts for one month—the amount of time it takes to create a habit—and see how greatly this one small change can change your outlook on life.

What negative thought pattern do you want to clean out this spring? Let us know on Facebook or chat with your instructors in the studios. We love to hear from you!

4/28/14 4/28/14

Yogalife Family Story: Emerald Lutz

The following is a post from Yogalife Studios member Emerald Lutz. When she came to us with the following words and the hopes we would share it was an obvious choice to do just that! We are truly grateful and honoured to be a part of Emerald's journey. Thank you for sharing! Namaste.

I am a firm believer that life has a way of giving you exactly what you need and when you need it. This belief is only emphasized by my journey into yoga.

When I was fifteen years old, I was in a very difficult place in my life. I had spent the last two years struggling with anorexia. My desperate need to be perfect had literally begun to control my life, my eating and exercise habits and even the way I saw myself. My self-esteem was at an all-time low. When I found out a new yoga studio had opened in town, I decided to give it a try.

Hot yoga seemed like an excellent way to burn some calories. And so I went optimistically into my first class, ready to exercise and maybe even relax a bit. What I found was just so much more.

Four years later, I am practicing yoga every day, if not more. Yoga has become my passion in life, my guiding light, my inspiration. Yoga has taught me that a body’s beauty is not measured by its size, shape or appearance.

A body is beautiful because of the miracles it preforms everyday – breathing, moving, growing, living. My self-esteem issues are deep rooted and may never completely fade, but each day, through yoga, I am able to prove to myself that I AM beautiful.

When I have my moments of doubt now, of crisis where I think I’m not good enough, I just think back to the improvements I’ve made in my practice, and even to poses that I never thought I’d ever be able to do. I remember how strong and capable I am, and it helps me immensely.

Yoga has taught me that there is no such thing as “perfect” – something I tried so hard for so long to achieve.

No matter how much you practice, how good you are at one pose, there is always something new that will come along and knock you back to ground level. It has also shown me to let go of my ego, to simply enjoy the practice without comparing myself to others around me.

Because of the amazing impact yoga has had on me over the last few years, I have signed aboard Yogalife’s teacher training this year. My hope, by intensifying my practice and learning to teach, is to be able to spread my love of yoga to all. I truly believe that yoga gives its practitioners exactly what they’re looking for, and for that reason, it can and should be practiced by all.

Yoga changed my life. I only hope that by sharing my story, my journey and my love that it can change a few more lives around me.

Namaste and much love,

Emerald

Share your yoga journey with us at info@yogalifestudios.ca

4/23/14 4/23/14

5 Tips To Survive Your Juice Cleanse

You may have noticed a bit of a theme on the Yogalife blog this season—this spring is all about cleansing, detoxifying, and removing what no longer serves you to make way for what does. Spring cleaning might take place in your home, your heart, or, as we’re focusing on today—your body.

Juice cleanses are an especially great way to scrub your insides clean, scouring out all the heaviness from winter and making room for the lightness of the coming summer.

That said, they’re not always a piece of cake (wait, cake? Where’s the cake?!)—so here are our tips and tricks to peacefully get you through your juice fast, from the brain of one of our elixir-sipping yogis.

Avoid a feast before the fast

Many of us may feel the need to have a grandiose “last supper” before starting a cleanse—reveling in a plate of nachos, wine, or chocolate at 11:59 p.m. the day prior. Although it may be tempting, a night of negligent noshing sets us up for a rough day ahead—there’s more to cleanse! Think of quitting smoking—a gradual wean off is far more attainable than going cold turkey—it’s much easier on the body to make a slight transition and avoid throwing your body into shock. If you can make time, try to focus on smoothies and salads—especially those including lots of raw fruits and veggies—the day or two prior, likewise for the day or two after. The cleaner your diet is already, the easier the transition will generally be.

Plan, plan, plan

Avoid scheduling your juice cleanse on a night where you’ll be out socializing at an event with food—or worse—when you have dinner plans. You’ll spend all of your time gazily hangrily at your friends’ or colleagues’ plates rather than their faces. See if you can instead set aside some time to relax and read a book, go for a gentle walk, or spend a few hours curled up with Netflix. Better yet, find a buddy to juice with—you can support each other and maybe even go out for the wholesome kind of liquid lunch. At all costs, avoid hanging out in the kitchen (unless you have a padlock handy for your fridge).

Arm yourself

Spend time in the morning prepping all of your precious nectars, and have them on hand throughout the day if you can. Keep a cooler in your car or carry a few juices in your purse with an ice pack—plans can change, meetings can be delayed, traffic might have you sitting with nothing to think about but your rumbly tummy. When hunger strikes (and it will—oh, it will), it’s best to find yourself prepared with a healthy beverage in hand—not running to the nearest all-you-can-eat buffet.

4. Sip mindfully

Though midway through the day you may be tempted to start chugging back your liquid goods like it’s college all over again, remember that our bodies digest and absorb best when we take things slow. So prepare your body for the meal it’s about to take in—sit down, take a few deep breaths, and sip. You can even “chew” your juice to get your salivary amylase (that’s your mouth’s own digestive juice) going. Just like you might bless a meal, appreciate and be grateful for the liquid provisions you’ve had rather than cursing yourself—and your body—for signing up for this in the first place.

5. Know when to stop

You there. Yes, you—the one with the eyes and the nose and stuff. Is this your first juice cleanse? Well first off, hat’s off to ya—we love that you’re working on you! But a thought, if we may. If this is your first liquid rodeo, you don’t have to do a 3, 5, 7-day or longer juice cleanse. Try a day. See how you feel. Maybe try incorporating some raw foods (they’ll taste like heaven) or a simple smoothie—after all, we’re here to make positive changes in our lifestyles, not restrict to the extent that all we want to do is lay in bed hugging a tray of lasagna for dear life. A few days of clean eating in addition to juices is going to help you feel great, too.

Your body is a powerful teacher—so listen up!

We hope our humble advice can help have you feeling light all the way through your juice cleansing-experience. So what about you—have you done a juice fast? What was your experience? Do you have any tips or suggestions for newbies?

4/21/14 4/21/14

Wring Out the Winter

You may have noticed a little twist in your yoga practice here at Yogalife lately. It is by no mere coincidence that many of our instructors have been focusing on twisting poses in practice—as the seasons turn, so should our bodies.

Spring is an excellent time for detoxification and cleansing, clearing out the old to make room for the new.

Just as we might spring clean our houses—scrubbing out the dust bunnies and packing the warm, thick layers away—it is also important to spring clean our bodies, removing the heaviness and slowness of winter to make room for the lightness of the warmer months (and since we claim residency in Edmonton—home of the long winter—we have plenty of work to do!).

In yoga, a great way to aid and promote cleansing the body is through twisting postures. Similarly to the way you might wring out a wet washcloth to squeeze out all the water, twisting our bodies helps to “wring out” our internal organs, facilitating a more efficient cleansing process.

Here’s how:

Twists temporarily restrict the flow of blood throughout the body. When we release a twist, our now freshly oxygenated blood floods through our veins. This enhanced circulation helps bring fresh nutrients and oxygen to our internal organs and provides them with the tools they need to do their job optimally. Spring is the best time to support the liver, as it is our body’s main vehicle for detoxification. If you subscribe to traditional Chinese medicine, this is the time of year where the liver is the most sensitive—prime time for us to focus on keeping it clean and working like a champ.

The compression of internal organs through twisting helps to move along stagnated digestion and bloating, promoting the cleansing of our digestive tract for a happier, healthier belly. For anyone who has struggled with digestive upset, twists—alongside strong pranayama, or breath—can help to ease discomfort and facilitate better digestion and absorption.

In addition, deep breathing has a cleansing effect, as we are able to bring in the new—fresh oxygen—while releasing the old—stale, depleted carbon dioxide. In combination with deep twists, long inhales and exhales further aid the body in its gentle purging process. In whichever variation of a twist you might practice, try using your inhales to lengthen your spine and broaden your chest, and your exhales to gently bring yourself into a deeper expression of the pose.

Alongside their detoxifying effect, twists can also aid in properly aligning the spine, releasing the muscles and pain or discomfort through the spine all the way down into the hamstrings, increasing or maintaining range of motion in the back body, toning the abdominal muscles, and helping to release tension, stress, and anxiety stored in the chest, shoulders, and back.

You might twist from your feet, the floor, atop a bolster, or even balancing on your hands—different poses and variations make twists accessible to every body. Do you have a favourite twisting pose? Do you have any spring rituals or routines for cleansing the body? Let us know!

4/18/14 4/18/14

I AM.

Written by Brandon Jacobs for Elephant Journal

I have always tried to fit into a mold of expectations and perceived perfectionism.

I have lived in a world of judgment and criticism. I suppose I still do. A life of caring what others thought of me, and feeling crippled by not being everything to everyone. I struggled in silence for too many years. I have since reached out, but I know there are people out there who haven’t.

We feel alone. We hide behind masks. Behind fear. Behind our truths. But we are not alone. The words, “me too” have become extremely comforting to many people struggling to open up.

Then there are the two words, “I am.” Those words are very powerful. They may be the most influential and important words you can put together, because there is this massive, powerful, conscious choice of what we choose to put after them.

I run a workshop series called Warriors of Change. It is based on healing from the inside out. It is about not feeling victimized. The studio I teach at has us write out our intentions and visions for each workshop. Here is a bit of what mine looks like:

“I was inspired to create this workshop series to help people find empowerment in their past experiences, struggles, and wounds. We are not victims, and we are not alone. I am passionate about creating an extremely safe space and environment to allow people to move through whatever they may need. Small or big steps, we are all here together, in support of one another.”

“My attempt is to aid people in opening to the possibility of moving towards a higher version of themselves. Through the power of asana, and deep self-awareness, we can become raw and unmasked. We can truly see ourselves, forgive ourselves, and learn to love ourselves. Through acceptance, transformation becomes possible.”

But, I am only able to share such a workshop due to some very significant occurrences in my life. Very vivid moments helped to create this. My “I am” used to be very different.

To back up. I am 34. I guide yoga classes and workshops. I am a co-facilitator of a Teacher Training school. I also work as a massage therapist (which is really more like a body-work healer in my eyes), as well as a personal trainer. Prior to all of that, I was a K-12 Physical Education and Health teacher. I hold Bachelors in both Education and Physical Education.

Within all of this, I developed exercise anorexia. Moving from 195 pounds to 125 pounds in less than a year was viewed as “looking healthy.” I suffered alone from the devastating three words uttered to me: ”You got fat.” Death. That is how I felt in that moment. A long road ahead from that day in 1998.

But as a man, we are often told not to let things like this bother us. We are still trained not to show emotion. If we are, we are probably gay. If we are sensitive, we are probably the same. Of course there is nothing wrong with that, but still, why the label? Who cares what I am if I am sensitive?

I can tell you, I enjoy a good cry. I have a lot of emotions. I just do. I care. And I love. And I want the best for people. Has that made me “weird” in the eyes of others? Always. Have I been called a few other choice words? Absolutely. I have honed it in, in order to be very stoic for my students, but that has come with very conscious choices.

Aside from an eating disorder, I come from two abusive relationships and one abusive and demeaning business partnership. Amidst all of this, I felt like I was a “victim.” Belittled, tormented, spoken down to, hit, sworn at, etc. I have also been recently diagnosed with an extremely rare digestive disorder. No need to get deep into that yet, but it’s been a 20-year battle to have just one person believe me. One person to listen to me and believe me.

Within all of this, I found yoga. Or yoga found me. Or both. What matters is this—yoga saved me. Well, that’s what I used to say. And think. Yoga saved me. But the more I started to say that, the more I realized (and was reminded by a very smart person), that “I” saved me.

Me. I did that. I used yoga, but I saved me. This is not an egocentric statement. Not in the least.

The point is that I did the work. Me. The deep, hard, gritty, shitty, raw work.

Many of us are told to watch our thoughts, for they become words, and these words become actions. Which is not true. It is a very conscious choice to act on your thoughts and words. I chose not to be a victim. I chose to be strong and do the work.

My amazing and supportive wife has always told me, “Feel free to use yoga as much as you need. But promise me, once it has opened you up enough, that you will deal with your shit.” Brilliant.

The other gift she gave me? She didn’t try to fix me. Not at all. Did she push me? Yes. Too far, too soon? Almost. But she didn’t try to fix me. She gave me something much more powerful. She loved me while I fixed myself. Or rather, loves me, while I continue to do the work.

I saved me. How truly powerful is that? Me. I did that. I read, meditate, practice, guide, study, and work, work, work on myself. I feel a duty to give back to yoga what it has helped me to find. It has helped me to find me.

I am most free when practicing all alone to whatever music is moving me at the time. I am more open and raw when I practice than any other time. I have spent many an hour crying on my mat, sometimes for no reason, sometimes uncontrollably. But it has helped me to be real. Completely real. Uncomfortably authentic. It has helped me to be better. Better at everything. I am simply better. I. Am. Better.

So, there are these two words, “I am.” What you put after them shapes your reality and empowers you. Me? I am a lot of things. But what I am not is a victim.

One of my brilliant teachers always reminded me that the phrase, “this too shall pass” isn’t necessarily true. It’s more like, “this is passing.” You may never really forget, but you have a choice as to how much your past controls you.

We are powerful, conscious, creating beings.

So, what am I? Simply and humbly, I am me.

GET SOCIAL