6/23/14 6/23/14

Featured Yogi Of The Month: Neil Haggard

This month we caught up with Neil Haggard, Yogalife's resident adventure yogi who has been with us right from the start! When Neil's not travelling, you can find him leading classes and workshops or riding his bike. What a perfect ambassador for Bike Month! Neil is an active cyclist, hiker and climber and is inspired by how Yoga builds strength and flexibility to support and enhance so many outdoor activities.

Neil shares a bit about his upcoming Yoga for Summer Athletes workshop, Sunday, June 29 3:30-5pm:

Click here to register!

I am excited to offer this fun yoga workshop to active summer yogis! Runners, recreational cyclists, walkers and hikers will benefit from an invigorating Yoga Asana practice to build flexibility for hips, hamstrings and develop a strong core! This workshop will be fun and challenging, for anyone active in summer activities who wish to enhance their fitness, strength, flexibility and knowledge of anatomy! We will work with breath techniques, experience stress relief and learn ways to develop a deeper sense of health and well-being! Come and join with other like minded yogis, as you deepen your practice, and give your body the support it needs to continue with the outdoor activities that you love!

How did you get your yogic start? Who brought you to your first class, what was that like, and where was it? My start in yoga was 17 years ago as a runner with tight hips, hamstrings and a sore back. I found yoga helpful in stretching my body and savasana was so helpful in dealing. I learned to breathe, started cycling and found it really helped me when I was racing road bikes and doing time trials. I had a wonderful Korean senior teacher (Julie Jeong) at the YMCA who inspired me to continue and eventually join the Yoga Association of Alberta where I became a certified YAA teacher. I have been teaching for 11 years and enjoy teaching Hatha, Yin, hot and warm flow, and core to all levels and abilities. I am now an intermediate teacher with the YAA and was one of the original yogis who started with Yogalife a few months before we opened the South studio! I teach morning Hatha on Mondays and 7 pm Foundations and 8:30pm Warm Flow on Thursday evenings as well as various workshops throughout the year (Tibetan Singing bowl meditations, Yoga for Cyclists, Anatomy for Yoga, etc) I am excited to offer a workshop for Summer Athletes on Sunday, June 29 3:30-5pm - a strong, fun practice to enhance all summer activities!!

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

There is do, or not do...there is no try - Yoda

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

Karunesh (~compassion) has some amazing music to practice with, and I use their music while teaching. Gandalf also has some incredible music for asana and meditation!

Your favourite books, yogi-inspired or fiction.

Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar and Judith Lasater's Living Your Yoga are two favorites

Tell us about your first teacher training.

A River Lodge yoga retreat with the Yoga Association of Alberta where we each had to teach 2-3 poses to other teachers. It was incredible how much we learned from each other and the senior teachers.

Where's your favourite vacation spot?

Nepal - I lead Yoga & Culture tours and treks to Nepal each year and when I return this October, it will be my 13th time there! I keep a Nepal blog - www.neilinnepal.blogspot.com. I have just returned from nearly a month cycling in Norway (my 4th time there so I guess it is also a fave)

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

Seafood and a nice California or Australian wine!

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

I actually have 2 favourite asanas - Kapotasana - my piriformus always needs a stretch and Warrior II for strength

Who inspires you?

Gandhi and Iyengar

Share your favourite self-healing practice.

I breathe, meditate, enjoy stillness and nature while cycling solo Jasper to Lake Louise, which I do for 3-4 days each year! Very restorative. I climb rock, XC ski and Ice climb as well as do some mountaineering which I find meditational to be in the mountains and notice the stillness, clear my mind and enjoy this amazing earth!

Where's the next place you want to travel?

Central and South America are waiting - Patagonia, Machhu Pichhu, Ecuador!

Share one of your life goals.

A life goal would be to move to a country in Asia to live, steep in the culture and become fluent in the language. I plan to fly around the world in 2-3

years!

Namaste Neil! Thank you for sharing.

6/20/14 6/20/14

Big Love For Prairie Yogi

photos by Jenn Crebas Photography

Ahhh, sunshine, music, friends, and yoga. What more could you want out of life?! Last week, the elusive Edmonton sun beamed out its welcoming warmth and rays— a wonderful way to greet Prairie Yogi as they stopped over in our city. After reading and loving the online magazine and community they’ve created, we finally had the pleasure of meeting Rachelle and Monique (a.k.a. Prairie Yogi) in-person at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park.

Together, we saluted the beaming sun as Noah Krol of Peg City Yoga guided us through an open-air karma practice, the river and pyramids our drishti. Post-savasana popsicles from our friends at Lululemon made the whole afternoon feel a treat as we sat in the grass to chat.

And as if the daytime yoga wasn’t enough bliss, we stepped into Latitude 53—an art gallery repurposed as practice space—for the official PY YEG Launch Party, the tone set with soft incense and some sweet, funky musical stylings from Robhindra Muse-ic. Our heart-opening practice was guided with the warm hands of Edmonton’s own, with gracious adjustments from Myrah Penaloza and Teresa Byer, as Andrew Misle led us through a strong back body sequence.

We loved practicing alongside familiar faces, and some we haven’t seen before—it was incredible to share space and so much good-hearted energy with all kinds of YEG yogis! Edmonton’s yogis are truly rockin’ their practices—and this whole day of yoga immersion with the community served as such a sweet reminder of all the good vibes floating across our city, within and without our studio walls.

We hope you felt the love too, Prairie Yogi—please come back and hang anytime!

Prairie Yogi toured Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta to promote their upcoming Prairie Love festival which takes place in Winnipeg this September. Check it out!

Stay Connected! Join our Facebook Group.

Yogalife Team 6/19/14 Yogalife Team 6/19/14

Virya Yoga Challenge

Virya means diligence, effort and enthusiasm

Join us for the next 3 months to build a more balanced and consistent yoga practice in your life this summer.

Yoga is an inward journey for all of us so allow yourself the time and space to develop your own personal practice.

THE DETAILS

A minimum of 3 practices per week from March 1st until May 31st.

There are a total of 13 weeks plus 4 days in that time.

You will receive a journal upon registration to keep track of your weeks and practices as well as marking your weeks in-studio.

This challenge is meant to help build consistency in your week to week, month to month lifestyle. To commit to yourself to practice every week, three times per week means to consistently build discipline in your practice. Extra classes in one week will not count towards the next. This practice is about consistency and how you can maintain a healthy happy body each week.

If you can’t make it to the studio or you plan to go on vacation, bring us with you!

Show us how you’ve kept up with your practice during that week. Here is an option:

Tag us @yogalifestudios and Hashtag #YogalifeViryaPractice with your preferred social media to let us know your progress, or let us know in your own creative way how you’ve been keeping up with your practice.

Join our Facebook Group to be motivated and to motivate others during the challenge.

6/18/14 6/18/14

108 Sun Salutations

What is 108?

It is an auspicious number that has so many meanings, but the one that resonates the most with this workshop, is that there are 108 energy lines that converge on the heart chakra (Anahata). Interesting that this is a place of love and peaceful sharing.

The vision is to share a room full of caring yogis, fill that room with breath, prana, peace and let that resonate to the world this summer solstice. You will be guided through 108 sun salutations and a whole lot of fun on June 21st, in hopes to raise money for a charity dear to your guide, Melissa's heart called "Women for Afghan Women".

A while back, I was reading a National Geographic story called "Afghan Women". For the first time in a long time, I wept uncontrollably. We are so blessed to live in a place where we can express our freedom, can come and go as we please and travel the world on our own.

The women of Afghanistan can't even go to the market on their own, and generally are not allowed the opportunity to know anyone outside from their family. Abuse amongst many women is almost at 80% nationwide, which is an astonishing fact.

The stories out there are horrific, yet their fierce spirit has helped them persevere. Such amazing and inspiring souls. Women for Afghan Women has now built 7 women shelters in Afghanistan, and they help to remove women and children from life threatening situations, provide safe shelter and educate them in hopes of a better future.

This organization and the stories of the women they help struck a heart cord with me and I felt compelled to take part since I have been so grateful to have travelled the majority of the world, even to central Asia, and was met with whole hearted kindness where ever I went. It is now my turn in life to try and reciprocate.

I would love to have you all join me in this solstice for peace and blessings to the less fortunate. We are all trying to build a better future for the world! Click here to register!

-Melissa

108 Sun Salutations for Peace with Melissa Perret Saturday, June 21 // 2:30-5:00 pm Yogalife Studios South Minimum donation is $25

6/16/14 6/16/14

So Fresh And So Clean!

Although many yoga students learn asana practice first, the ocean of Yoga has many teachings to offer. Pantajali's classical Eightfold Path places yama and niyama before asana; more teachings are categorized within these limbs as well (yogi's love their lists!).

These offerings may not be a common theme in a typical yoga class, yet it is important to understand the information and apply it to our practice.

The niyamas include 5 observances: Saucha (cleanliness of thought, mind and body), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (spiritual effort), Svādhyāya (self-study), and Ishvarapranidhana (surrender to God). Today we will touch on the first niyama, Saucha.

As yogis we understand the importance of clean thoughts and intentions; our limiting words and judgements are a nasty byproduct of the ego. Committing to cleaning up your thoughts, words and actions cleans up your energy, your life. With less clutter we can flow through life with greater ease and clarity. With this cleanliness everything becomes easier.

Purity IS health! We can think of this quite literally, finding that perfect cleanse, keeping our homes clean, and caring for ourselves properly.

When we step onto our mats alongside perhaps 40 or 50 other sweaty yogis, saucha is incredibly important to maintain the respect and comfortability of the room. Honour yourself and your fellow yogi by keeping your props tidy, your mat lined up, and above all your personal hygiene tended to. Just as we expect a fragrance-free studio space, we ask that you come with an awareness of your personal saucha. Obviously things are going to get sweaty, that's the point!! But ensuring that you are coming in decently showered and such will keep the space enjoyable for all.

Friendly etiquette reminder and philosophy lesson wrapped into one! Thank you and namaste.

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!

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