I
have been practicing yoga for over 20 years now and I’m delighted to see how so
many people in the West have taken to yoga over the past few years. I’m also always on the search for an
authentic Yoga Teacher who conducts a class out of love and passion for something
that can be so beneficial at it’s simplest state. To me, this person is Lori Lucas.
Lori
is compassionate and caring and yet well educated in the authenticity of yoga.
She reads her participants well and provides a program that is perfectly suited
for each and every individual in the room.
I
don’t have children myself, but I have recommended Lori’s Prenatal Class to
friends who are pregnant and they’ve all mentioned how easy going and yet
professional Lori is, and how patient and understanding she is of the different
levels of stress the body and emotions go through during pregnancy.
Lori
is not only bubbly and approachable; she is also professional and well
educated. Someone who works with people
in the depth that Lori does, needs to be well rounded and well grounded. There doesn’t seem to be an opportunity that
Lori doesn’t take on, her skills as a Doula & Yoga Practitioner and her
outgoing personality are incredible assets.
Because
of her outgoing personality and different teachings, Lori seems to take on
every aspect of being self employed to its fullest. From, volunteering,
blogging, social networking and more, she still commits to each and every class
with 100% of her energy and enthusiasm, resulting in a fabulous class and happy
participants.
In
2009 and I spent 6 months doing yoga in India, when I returned, I wanted to
find someone who had great respect for the ancient teachings and who delivered
them in a simple and non-flaky way – that’s when I met Lori! In my eyes, she’s
absolutely fabulous!- Marnie Grey
I’ve been a student of Lori’s Hatha yoga classes for nearly four years. I’ve taken part in her “Mixed Levels Yoga”, “Prenatal Yoga” and her “Baby & Me Yoga” classes at the Roundhouse Community Centre. Lori is an incredibly warm and welcoming individual and her classes were reflective of her amazing character. Lori managed to teach her Hatha yoga principals to all levels and ages, challenging those who were more experienced while guiding and positively correcting beginners and novices.
Besides all of the positive health benefits (fitness, stretching
to avoid injury in sport, pain management, faster recuperation from pregnancy),
I found Lori’s classes to be relaxing and soothing which was one of my main
incentives for attending. I truly enjoyed the atmosphere she created by using
tools such as music, aromatherapy and a quiet warmly lit space. Lori had to be
very inventive and resourceful to create such an environment given the space
she has to work with in the rooms at the community center where she was based.
I was further impressed with Lori’s ability to be so sensitive, reassuring and gentle with expecting mothers in her prenatal classes. Her knowledge of the health concerns and issues of pregnancy was likely due to her experience as a seasoned doula and labor coach. Finally in the Baby & Me classes I was again impressed with her ability to work with new mothers. Lori has such incredible patience and created a quiet and welcoming space that all of us sleep-deprived and sometimes fragile new mothers so needed. She was always there to listen to our stories, complaints and issues and was always positive and caring putting her students’ needs first. Lori also offered any resources and recommendations she could to her students going above and beyond her duties as an instructor. I continue to attend Lori’s classes and to recommend her classes to friends and acquaintances.- Andrea Gesner
I have been taking part in Lori's Mixed Levels yoga class at The Roundhouse Community Centre, and have been very pleased with the experience.
Lori has a very pleasant and cheerful personality, and everyone is sincerely welcome in her class. Lori is very professional and is always well prepared and organised for class and creates a tranquil setting for us. Lori is clearly very skilled as a yoga practitioner and as a teacher. The mixed levels class I attend is mixed in every sense of the word ~ gender, age, and ability level ~ with the added challenge of drop in students. Not many instructors could handle those demands, but Lori certainly can! Lori always begins class by asking if anyone is experiencing any problems or concerns and, in response, she incorporates suitable poses into our class. Lori clearly demonstrates each pose and provides options so each person can fully participate at their level.
I was so pleased with Mixed Levels yoga, that I've added Lori's Yin yoga to my routine. I've had the opportunity to practise yoga in Turkey, Montréal and two other community centres in Vancouver, and I must say, Lori is by far the best yoga teacher I've had to date. It is my pleasure to recommend Lori Lucas as a yoga instructor or presenter. -Eva
I have had the privilege of assisting Lori Lucas in her Limited Mobility
Yoga Class that was running at the Roundhouse Community Centre from
approximately September 2011 to March 2012.
In that time, her passion and knowledge for teaching really was
evident. Her compassion for the students
and myself that she brought with her every class made the space a place of
acceptance, safeness and personal growth.
Whether it be conquering a yoga position that one’s body didn’t allow
last class, or finally accepting one’s limitations and embracing them, Lori was
there for each student with empathy, support and always a smile.
She always started the class asking how everybody was doing, and took
the time to really listen to the students.
Student’s suggestions were always listened to and incorporated into the
class, whether it be working on certain body parts or a slower paced class for
students wanting a more mellow class. Lori always accommodated happily. Her teaching style was refreshing to listen
to. She would incorporate real life
facts and situations into her class that made it feel more personal and not
just “get into this position or that”.
It was apparent that all the students felt comfortable and loved coming
to Lori’s class, as they all left looking forward to next week’s session.
I have learned so much from assisting Lori in her Limited Mobility Class
that the experience was priceless, and would jump at the chance again to learn
from this remarkable woman. Her experience, knowledge and passion for yoga are
things that I hope I have the great pleasure of acquiring in my life time.- Courtney Juke
I met Lori when I was just 15 weeks pregnant with my first
baby. I had never been to yoga before and was not sure what to expect, but
practicing yoga with Lori made me feel so good and relaxed that I soon found
myself completely hooked on Yoga and of course Lori! She makes you feel safe
and secure and by practicing gentle prenatal yoga I also felt totally prepared
for birth, all my aches disappeared and I felt energetic and soooo relaxed.
After the birth of my baby, I (of course) went to “baby and me yoga” with Lori
and later when my daughter was getting too big for baby yoga I practiced
regular Yoga with Lori. Lori has such a big heart and she makes you feel loved.
I am very happy that I can call her my friend.
I would (and do) recommend Lori Lucas to any pregnant and
non-pregnant woman I know. - Caroline de Vos
I
have the amazing privilege of having Lori as my yoga instructor since March of
2009. I met Lori a few week's after I had my daughter at one of her mummy and
baby yoga classes. We instantly hit it off, and I was amazed at her skills not
only as an instructor but also with her ability of creating a
comfortable, calm and easy environment to practice yoga in. I continued
to take Lori's class weekly. After a few weeks had passed my daughter started
showing signs of a colicky baby. Lori was amazing at helping me with my
daughter through her classes that I was able to get some much needed rest and
exercise in her classes. She'd bounce my daughter on an exercise ball for the
majority of the class while instructing by voice. It changed my life, I
was able to relax and give back to myself. Then in June when I was in a
car accident and started having back trouble Lori was once again to my rescue.
Since I was nursing constantly, I couldn't do other forms of rehabilitation as
I couldn't be away from my daughter, but since I could bring my daughter and
I trust Lori, I was able to start working on regaining my strength back.
Lori is an extremely amazing person who always gives everything to those around
her. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her as a yoga instructor (or friend) to
anyone. My life is truly enriched having her in it. - Naomi Morrison
In the past five years, I have benefitted immensely from
being a client of Lori Lucas’s. I have
enrolled in various offerings of her classes at our local community centre:
prenatal yoga, baby and me yoga, and mixed levels Hatha yoga.
I first met Lori at a mutual acquaintance’s baby
shower. Lori immediately impressed me
with her spirit, knowledge, and enthusiasm.
I made a mental note to join her class as soon as I became pregnant and
my life has been richer for it.
Lori’s prenatal yoga class, which I participated in for both
my pregnancies, was beneficial to me in so many ways. Physically, it provided an invaluable program
of stretching, strengthening, and relaxation that kept my body fit and strong
throughout my pregnancies. Emotionally,
I felt secure and cared for in her class.
Mentally, the class provided an outlet to release stress, worries, and
focus on my health and happiness.
If I had to describe Lori’s style of yoga instruction in one
word, it would be: supportive. Like most
women, I was particularly concerned with my health and the health of my baby
during my pregnancies. Given Lori’s
supportive style of teaching and her experience as a doula, I trusted her
completely with my physical health. Her
philosophy is one of mindfulness, responsiveness, and autonomy. She would often begin the class by informing
clients, “This is your yoga
practice. If something doesn’t feel
right, don’t do it. Listen to your
body. Modify. This is your
time.”
In Lori’s prenatal yoga class, she offered many variations to
each pose to ensure that each client was comfortable and safe. She emphasized breathing techniques, which I
personally found invaluable during my labours.
She explained many of the physical changes that take place in the body
during pregnancy to help clients understand what they might be feeling and what
they were capable of (or not). She
offered personal assistance if a client had a particular challenge. She also offered techniques to relieve many
common discomforts brought on by pregnancy, such as heartburn and
sciatica.
Lori’s supportive style of instruction is consistent with
all her classes. In her baby and me yoga
class, she offers modifications and insight to new mothers and even brings
playthings for the little ones. In her
mixed level Hatha class, she consistently ensures that all clients feel safe
and unpressured to perform or compete with others in her class.
I would absolutely recommend that Lori’s immense knowledge
and experience be shared with other instructors to the benefit of women
everywhere.- Kim Steger
I met Lori two years
ago in Pre Natal Yoga. I was very nervous on going at first because I
have never done Yoga. Pre Natal yoga with Lori was very uplifting, not
only was i stretching and getting my body ready to give birth. Lori
put my mind at ease and made me feel less nervous with what was going to happen
in 20 weeks. . Lori taught me to breathe relax and forget all my
troubles. I had a terrific birth and I must say it had a lot to do with
Lori.
After my son was born I
attended mommy and me yoga. It was perfect, It was somewhere I go to attend to
my baby if I needed too and also talk with the other moms who are going through
the same stresses
Lori's class was great,
again stretching and breathing helped me through a lot of my baby blues.
Lori is more then just
a yoga instructor, she is also a great friend. She has been there for me
during pregnancy and after. She is a very sweet caring and understanding
person. Her Yoga is amazing. She is a very good instructor and lets
you go at your own pace. She never judges and is always there to guide
you through one of her classes.
Lori has
introduced me to the world of yoga and as for that I thank her.
-Carmen Mann
-Carmen Mann
Thank
you so much for your superb teaching, great sense of humor, compassion,
generosity. You're so real and such an urban yogi. Your guidance helped me feel
"open to grace" again. That means a lot to me. I'll always remember
these times with gratitude. It's an amazing treat every single week. -Mana Shirazi-Kia
Lori Lucas has been my yoga instructor
since March 2010. i had just come back from three months of backpacking
and my back was in a mess, due to a back injury from a car accident years ago.
i have been taking Lori's classes continuous since then at least once a week,
mostly twice a week when i can. i have noticed a huge improvement in my
practice and my back no longer bothers me. my body is stronger, my mind
is calmer and Lori has guided my journey with compassion and friendship.
i have been taking yoga classes on and
off for the last 10 years and Lori is my favorite teacher i have ever
had. she is a credit to her profession.
-Justine
Greer
When I first found out that there was a
program dedicated to prenatal yoga, I was relieved. Then I found Lori's class
and could not wait to begin. When I met Lori for the first time, I felt
welcomed and comfortable. She beamed a light of positive energy. That's
important when dealing with a room full of hormone filled pregnant women.
She made every class different and
catered to our individual needs depending on whatever stage we were at in our
pregnancy. She made me feel like my individuality was important, by reminding
me that every woman, pregnancy and yoga practice is different. She helped me by
giving me poses to do at home, catered to my specific needs. I then knew she
cared about me and my health and my baby's health.
I am so thankful to have found Lori's
class during my pregnancy. It helped me sleep, it helped me stay calm and
connected within and to my baby.
I
continue to take Lori's class with my baby and will continue to take her class.
I would absolutely recommend Lori's class for every pregnant woman and anyone
for that matter.
-Lyren Cherlet
Lori is simply a wonderful yoga
teacher. I began taking her prenatal classes in 2007, when pregnant with my
first child. Since then I have taken many terms of classes with her – Mum and
Baby yoga, Hatha yoga, and Prenatal yoga again when pregnant with my second
child – both at Mount Pleasant Community Centre, and at The Roundhouse
Community Centre in Vancouver. I keep going back to Lori’s classes because of
the wonderfully warm and supportive environment she provides for the practise
of yoga. When I first attended I did not know a single pose. She teaches
in a way that is accessible to everyone and allows everyone in the room to
develop confidence and move at their own pace and in accordance with the
potential of their own bodies. Her instructions are very succinct and clear,
and she regularly checks people’s poses without being invasive. She always
offers both less and more challenging poses for those who need them. She picks
up on the energy levels of her students on different days and modifies the
class routine to fit. She speaks just enough – generating a very positive yet
meditative energy in the room.
As a prenatal and postnatal yoga
teacher, Lori is very careful to explain the poses that should or should not be
tried in different stages of pregnancy, and by those with varying birth
experiences or pregnancy conditions. She offers lots of gentle modifications
and encourages deep rest as well as exertion. Her prenatal classes really
are amazing. I think a class with her would be a wonderful opportunity for
teachers unfamiliar with prenatal yoga.
The very best thing about Lori’s
classes though is Lori herself. She is one of the most positive, generous,
genuine, and energising people I have ever met. She is deeply passionate about
yoga, and she is a natural healer. Everyone leaves her classes suffused with
this incredible energy, revitalised, and with renewed strength.
-Heather Walmsley
" 'In June of 2010 I suffered
serious injury which severely impacted my mobility. After a year of
fairly intense rehab where my recovery was good, but stalled, I
decided to try rehabilitative yoga as a means of increasing fluidity of
movement and lessening pain. I was fortunate to meet Lori who brought
both a superior knowledge of yoga's restorative potential as well as a
surprising degree of empathy regarding the effects of traumatic injury. I
can fully attest to Lori's personal compassion and patience. When
combined with her deep understanding of yoga, particularly with respect to
managing regular practice within the limits of one's personal
condition, these qualities have made Lori the ideal instructor for this
stage of my own recovery. I would not hesitate to recommend Lori's
classes for anyone whose aspiration is to increase personal well being within a
framework of a supporting environment and thoughtful encouragement.'
Byron B.,
Brain Hemorrhage Survivor"
