I just added a testimonial link to the right of this post

Just spent the morning reading testimonials that people had written about time spent with me practicing yoga. Needless to say, I have a box of kleenex beside me! *sniff*

Testimonials from people from all different walks of life. Some of them momma's (pre and post natal), some of them dads, some athletes, grandparents, folks with limited mobility, children... and even peers and other teachers I admire greatly.

And the truth is... I didn't even know where to start I have so many!

I know that I am very vocal in telling people I care about "just what they mean to me" on a regular basis, but I want to tell you again.

You will never (in a million years) know what you all add to my life.

You ALL mean the world. To those I still see regularly, and to those of you who have moved on...I still think of you all the time.

*Yoga is still waiting for you if you have been on a break (nudge nudge wink wink)

I am so blessed to have known (and to still know) so many of you.

YOU have made my life more rich than I can ever say. Thank YOU so very much.

I must admit...

I am thoroughly and wholeheartedly blown away by the number of emails I have received since teaching my workshops this past weekend at The Yoga Conference and Show. I am really glad they were so well received. 

Its only because of all of YOU for coming and and sharing yourselves!

I learned so much from ALL of you and hope to be attending all of YOUR workshops soon as well! We all have so much to share. I love my yoga community. It was fun meeting and sharing with people from far and wide. You all rule. Never go a' changin' xo

I'm STOKED!

Projector? Check.

Pelvis and Baby Model? Check.

Yoga gear? Check.

Tons of studies backing up much of what you are going to learn from me this weekend? Check. 

I am all ready for the Yoga Conference and its is going to be fantastic because it always is. I feel so blessed and honoured to be sharing my knowledge on my two absolute favourite topics in this life.Yoga and Pregnancy/Birth. 

Today (Friday) is a very short workshop (Introduction) from 6pm-8pm and Sunday promises to be way more in-depth as we meet from 11:30am-6:30pm. 

Get ready to laugh, (maybe cry) and have LOADS of fun with me this weekend! Theres still room! I'm stoked. There is something for everyone at The Yoga Conference including a HUGE show floor that you can attend for free! Scroll down a few posts and you'll see free passes for the show. Just print them off. Hope to see you there xo

Have you registered yet? catch the early bird prices!

**Only $160 for 8 hrs of classes when you register before Sept 30!** 
Please join us on November 9-11 2012 for the Vancouver Yoga Conference and Show! 
at the Vancouver Convention Centre (under the sails)!

**I'm truly honoured to be presenting two workshops of my own as well on Prenatal Yoga.
They can be found on Page #10.  To register go to: 
http://www.theyogaconference.com/vancouver/
Hope to see you there! 

Our loyalties must include the whole human community, the entire planet Earth

Parabola Magazines Facebook status update today:
Human history can be viewed as a slowly dawning awareness that we are members of a larger group. Initially our loyalties were to ourselves and our immediate family, next, to bands of wandering hunter-gatherers, then to tribes, small settlements, city-states, nations.

We have broadened the circle of those we love. We have now organized what are modestly described as super-powers, which include groups of people from divergent ethnic and cultural backgrounds working in some sense together — surely a humanizing and character building experience. If we are to survive, our loyalties must be broadened further, to include the whole human community, the entire planet Earth. 

Many of those who run the nations will find this idea unpleasant. They will fear the loss of power. We will hear much about treason and disloyalty. Rich nation-states will have to share their wealth with poor ones. But the choice, as H. G. Wells once said in a different context, is clearly the universe or nothing.

–Carl Sagan, "Cosmos," Random House, 1980, p. 339

We really need to listen to each other. Even the boring bits.

What a brilliant talk this is. I love technology and am as hooked as the next person (maybe even more!) but I am also really glad I know how to have a conversation. For lot's of reasons I am really glad I wasn't a child growing up in this computer age. What she says is so true. "It's when we stumble, hesitate, or lose our words that we reveal ourselves to each other" I love that line.

Loving kindness. Community. Practice.

"It is possible that the next Buddha will not take the form of an individual. The next Buddha may take the form of a community, a community practicing understanding and loving kindness, a community practicing mindful living. This may be the most important thing we can do for the survival of the earth." --Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist now based in France.

See these kids? I know them all as well as their incredible parents.

They are all some of the bravest and coolest (and most fun) people I know! They are local brain tumour fighter/survivors and their parents and I am really fond of each and every one of them (and they are all doing well right now too I am happy to add).

The are part of an program I love called BrainWAVE. BrainWAVE is a support program for families with a child (19 years old or younger) with a brain tumour and it is comprised of four separate but related components: events, parent support, information sharing and education. If you are looking for a way to provide fun and support for your child and family as you face the journey with a pediatric brain tumour, consider joining BrainWAVE.

Several times a year, BrainWAVE families have the opportunity to meet and relax through fun activities such as trips to sports events, historical sites and other family attractions. These FREE events give all members of the immediate family a welcome break from treatments and doctors' visits. Our next event is March 4 and I can't wait!

For more information on BrainWAVE and Brain Tumour Foundation click the links. If you have been affected by a brain tumour you are NEVER alone and there is ALWAYS hope and Brain Tumour Foundation is a wonderful resource with Education days, Support and Loads of information whether you are a child or an adult, have a brain tumour, or love somebody with one.

The 2012 Spring Sprint is coming up as well on May 27 click here for more info on that. Its a wonderful time for everybody. Namaste.

Heres what the new year is looking like for me so far!

You really must click the image to enlarge (due to my lack of computer skills haha..)

I haven't updated my winter schedule on here quite yet but heres a quick look at when classes are and where! Mount Pleasant's classes start up again on Dec 26 (Mon) and Dec 28 (Wed) and ALL my Roundhouse classes start up the following week (first week of Jan.)

Hope everybody is having a really stellar weekend. Thanks for all your support over the years and sharing your practice with me. Can't believe 2012 will be number 8!

I love the ripple effect.

It takes very little to create real change. Love this little video. Glad I came across it this morning. Goes perfect with that morning coffee :)

This is beautiful. Occupy love.

Have you had a C-section recently?

Free Postnatal massage- A small group of BC registered massage therapists who study under Paula Jaspar (also an RMT and mentor), will be studying/ practicing massage therapy care of women “after birthing by C-section” Sunday Nov 20^th from 2-3pm if you are interested. Must be 6 weeks post-partum.

Baby is welcome to come too of course! Each mother will receive treatment by one massage therapist for one hour, free of cost. (Under the guidance of Paula Jaspar).

For more info or contact regarding this : Marie Arcand, RMT at 604 732 7272

P.S. You will love Marie! She is a fellow gardener from my community garden and a wonderful RMT!

Love and Shadow at OCCUPY Vancouver-with Michael Stone

Two days ago Michael Stone took a stroll down to Occupy Vancouver and had this to say.

Whether you are for or against Occupy Vancouver...

Michael Stone (click here) will be giving a 20 minute talk there TODAY (Sunday Nov 6) at noon at Occupy Vancouver, followed by a discussion- "the next stage of the occupy movement will be dealing with conflict. What can we do?"

Have you planted your garlic yet? Its the easiest thing in the world.

And you can keep those vampires away this Halloween ;)

I love my community.

Today I am off to a garden party/potluck at my community garden. Its where my fellow gardeners (neighbors/people from the community/folks from all walks of life) get caught up, clean up, work together planting, pulling weeds, etc... We just basically work together doing whatever projects that need to be done. And we visit, get caught up with each other, and make new connections. Its really nice. Even in the pouring rain its nice.

It just just got me thinking about community this morning and the sheer importance of it, especially in this day and age. Whatever you choose to get involved in not only benefits you but it benefits the whole community. Children of all ages can get involved in community/volunteer projects as well, and they can learn a lot of great skills while they're at it. And its so fun and rewarding.

Heres a great quote by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. on community;

"What should young people do with their lives today? many things obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured."

It sure is a beautiful world we live in. Its important to make connections and be there for each other. Namaste.

Let's be extra kind today because heck, why not?

This made me cry! haha.. (yeah, i'm a sap)

Goin' to Main St Car free day?

If you do, make sure you stop by The Fab Fair at Heritage Hall to say hello to me while you're there! Good times all around, and a great way to celebrate all those incredible baby daddies out there!

(just leave the car at home). Namaste xo

Like roadtrips?

My partner Silas and I went on a wonderful "too beautiful for words" adventure last weekend called The Spring Thaw. 60 cars. All different people from different walks of life coming together for an amazing adventure. If you like roadtrips, wind in your hair, good people from all over, super scenery and twistie roads...this trip is something that is so fun and exciting that none of us ever want it to end. This year we went from Squamish to 108 Mile House to Sunpeaks to Hope. Can't wait til next year!

A nice reminder about what's really important by Vancouver's own Eoin Finn.

Eoin Finn's website is here