What another amazing weekend.! Lots of yoga including an Elements class with the wonderful sounds of Trevor Grant. A kids yoga class that included a spirited version of head and shoulders, knees and toes, (seriously thought Samantha was losing it for a minute). And the most amazing Yoga Nidra (Yoga Sleep) class. I was skeptical with this class at first, but after about 15 minutes, I slipped into euphoria.
Also this weekend, we created our own Sankalpa or personal mantra. It was pretty powerful having to speak our truths out loud. Thankfully, this has become a very safe place with an amazing supportive family. It's hard to believe in one more month we will be finished. But as Samantha said today, we have created memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.
Happy Easter everyone! See you in 2 weeks. And yes, Bunny Yoga is actually a thing!
K.

So today I got to teach the warm up to the public for the first time, like a real yoga teacher!. Although there was a moment when panic set in, I was able to breathe through it and continued to speak. It felt great and I can’t wait to share yoga with others.
What a great group of students I get to share this experience with. I think that we are forming life long friendships and really appreciate all their support, on and off my mat! Today we participated in 3 yoga classes, a Kundalini class, our Karma class and finished off the day with a Yin class.
My body is so tired I think I'll probably need tomorrow to recover. Or at least that's what I'll tell myself when I sleep in and catch up on some TV. Restorative yoga...in bed...watching the Walking dead. That's a thing right?
Namaste friends!
K

Chaturanga Dandasana - Aka~Low plank or the Yoga Pushup.

Chaturanga currently is not my favourite pose! There was a time when my upper body strength could support this pose but as of late, it's more likely you'll see me come down a few inches then gracefully lower to my mat.

In my head I think that poses I don't enjoy or I'm not "good" at are the ones that will truly benefit me the most. So I keep trucking along and I figure at some point it will just come naturally or it'll get easier. But does it ever get easier or do we just get better at it with practice?

For now, I’m ok with modifying by dropping my knees and coming all the way down to my mat then rising into Cobra Pose. Although, there have been times I amaze myself and get into Up Dog from Chaturanga with ease. That happens mostly earlier in the day when I have lots of energy. But what a great feeling!

For now I'll take whatever comes. It's called a yoga practice for a reason.
K.

"The pose begins when you want to get out of it." ~Baron Baptiste

This weekend we focused on Sun Salutations or Surya Namaskar. I’ve personally taken them for granted in my own practice. I've rushed through them trying to move onto better (or easier poses). But we need them in our practice to warm up our bodies, sync our breath and stretch all our major muscle groups. Having the time to actually break down the poses and breath gave me a new appreciation for Sun Salutations. .

Or so I thought.

Then Erica guided us through a series of flows and believe me, I again was wishing for it t be over! But isn’t that what yoga is all about, pushing you outside of your comfort zone? I got through it with some modifications for my knee.

Also this weekend we had our first lesson on Holistic Nutrition and Samantha brought us in some delicious treats to try. Eating healthy with simple foods and being mindful when we eat is really not that difficult if we put some time and effort into it.

I personally like to meal prep so that I have good choices always available to me. It keeps me from getting hangry and just putting junk in my body. Something everyone can work on!

Till next weekend!
K.

I think I’ve committed and talked myself out of this training a half a dozen times in the last 2 years, because I have a chronic knee injury. I haven’t even been to a class in 8 months. Teacher training has been a dream for as long as I can remember. This was going to be the time. I wasn’t backing out.

Until the night before when I slipped on ice and felt the all familiar looseness inside my knee. The same feeling I have before every dislocation. My anxiety and fear kicked in. Could I even do this? Was my surgeon right when he said there is no way? I even emailed Samantha the night before and said I needed to try one day of the program to see if I was even able to practice.

But I could do it.. I didn’t forget the poses, I knew how to breathe and I missed it. A lot.

I walked into an amazing environment an instant kula (yoga community). .A new beginning! It was a lot of information our first weekend and we already started practice teaching. I did however, sound like a 6th grader giving a book report in front of the class, complete with a cracking voice and totally forgetting how to talk for a moment.. But I got over it and it was easier on day 2.

I'm ready for next weekend. Well, almost, I need to do my homework. .But I'm here!

K.

I know sometimes the flow yoga style can be intimidating at first. It's a faster pace, typically moving one breath per movement. If one is unfamiliar with the sun salutation sequence or vinyassa we keep coming back to throughout the class, it can be discouraging. That's why I'm offering an introduction to flow yoga every Tuesday night in July. Here is what we will cover:

July 5th: Intro to flow - A discussion on what this style is about, what to expect in a flow class, the benefits as well as the importance of breath.
July 12th: Breakdown of the poses in Sun Salutation A (the main sequence in the flow class) with modifications - Part 1.
July 19th:  Breakdown of the poses in Sun Salutation A - Part 2.
July 26th: Breakdown of other common poses found in a flow class.

There is a flow class with me from 6:15 - 7:15pm after if you wish to stay. Just note, the flow class at Now 'n Zen is not free (unless you already have a membership). Visit their website for more info: www.nownzen.ca

A new 200-hour program has started with the Maritime Yoga College. That means the teachers in training will be leading yoga classes at Now ’n Zen Wellness Centre (17 Glen Stewart Drive in Stratford). Classes are open to the public and suitable for all levels.  

Classes take place Sundays 4-5pm until May 15th, 2016 (excluding March 27th) and are by donation (min. $5/class), The proceeds go to the PEI Reach Foundation: http://peireachfoundation.ca/

Come see us and spread the karma!

I'm so excited to be joined by Ayurvedic Health Educator, Marian Curran for this supportive cleanse at Now 'n Zen Wellness Centre in Stratford. Here's how the 5 days will break down:

Sunday, March 20th - 8am - 4pm:
We'll start with a morning yoga practice and meditation with Samantha. That will be followed by detoxifying tea and an introduction to the science of Ayurveda, a 5000-year old natural healing system from India with Marian.

Discover your dosha (Ayurvedic constitution) and learn about food, yoga and other lifestyle choices most suited for you.

We'll break for a mindful lunch, which will consist of an Ayurvedic meal suitable for all doshas. This meal is called kitchari and features beans, rice and specific spices for toning the digestive system.

In the afternoon, you will be supplied with Ayurvedic cleansing tools including a neti pot, tongue scrapper, massage oil and eye wash and shown how to use them. You are now ready for the next 4 days of the cleanse.

Monday, March 21st - Thursday, March 24th - 6am - 8am:
We'll start every morning of the cleanse with a detoxifying yoga class followed by breakfast eaten mindfully together. You will leave with your kitchari for the day, the meal consumed on the cleanse. Taking part in a cleanse has never been easier! And yes, we eat FOOD on this cleanse!

Included in the Cleanse:
- Taxes
- Lunch Sunday and all meals for the 4 day cleanse (Monday - Thursday)
- Detoxifying tea for the duration of the cleanse
- The Ayurvedic cleansing tools (neti pot, tongue scrapper & massage oil)
- Yoga classes
- The knowledge and tools to be able to conduct another cleanse on your own in the future

This course is open to the public as well as for 200-hour Yoga Alliance certified instructors. For those yoga instructors working towards their next certification with MYC, this course counts for 20 hours towards the 300-hour program or continuing education credits with the Yoga Alliance. 

Register here: http://www.maritimeyoga.com/store/p11/_Ayurvedic_Spring_Cleanse.html