This is a great quote. And throw some yoga into the mix and you've got it made!

Being in control of your life and having realistic expectations about your day-to-day challenges are the keys to stress management, which is perhaps the most important ingredient to living a happy, healthy and rewarding life. 
Marilu Henner

"You time" Time for you and only you. Hope you get some.

You must have a room, or a certain hour or so a day, where you don’t know what was in the newspapers that morning, you don’t know who your friends are, you don’t know what you owe anybody, you don’t know what anybody owes to you. This is a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be. This is the place of creative incubation. At first you may find that nothing happens there. But if you have a sacred place and use it, something eventually will happen.
–Joseph Campbell

Remember to do it.

Often and on purpose.

Nothing changes your physiology faster, and its right there under your nose.

Yin Yoga with me every Thursday evening at The Roundhouse from 730-845pm

The Roundhouse is located at 181 Roundhouse Mews at the corner of Davie St @ Pacific Blvd right across the street from the Canada Line skytrain Station (Roundhouse stop)
 Get ready to feel delicious!  604-713-1800 (press 2)

Lets face it... pregnancy isn't always the most physically "comfortable" experience right?

New 5 week session of Prenatal Yoga at Mount Pleasant starts up on Wed.

The class is on Wednesday evenings from 630-745pm and the session is $52.50 to register (and that is only $9 a class) Yes! And there is currently room. OR drop in for $12.  The session runs from Nov 21-Dec 19. Go to www.mountpleasantcc.ca or call 604-257-3080 (press 2). Class is located at 7th and Kingsway (Main and Broadway basically)

Wed doesn't work for ya? Don't forget Preantal Yoga at The Roundhouse Tues and Thurs nights from 545-715pm. The number there is 604-713-1800 (press 2)

All these classes and more are ongoing. 
See you on the mat momma's!

Yoga is superior to all other forms of exercise during pregnancy (hands down).

If you came to any of my teacher workshops at the Yoga Conference last weekend I provided you with a TON of studies on yoga and its benefits to absolutely everyone. (Luckily there are hundreds of studies and I have spent weeks compiling them.) There are still lot's that I didn't include (on prenatal yoga specifically) and here are just a couple:  

our yoga room at mount pleasant. 

A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that doing yoga while pregnant increased the odds of a healthy delivery. The 335 women studied added a yoga class during their second trimester; the result was higher birth weights and lower pregnancy-induced hypertension compared to non-yoga-practicing participants. 

*Also Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have found that yoga is superior to other forms of exercise in its positive effect on mood and anxiety.

Are you trying to conceive? Trying for a baby?

While nothing is a guarantee...
Are you familiar with Yin Yoga? I just received 'another' email this morning from a SUPER happy momma-to-be who will be leaving my Yin class to attend one of my  Prenatal classes and she is convinced that it was the Yin practice that made it happen after trying all sorts of ways.. (**And it happens all the time)

While I don't believe there are any actual studies, Yin Yoga DOES target the areas primarily from the navel to the knees and opens things up and lubricates things like never before and for conception and implantation to take place we need to be open. And relaxed. The practice removes stagnation and encourages Chi (prana) into the pelvic region in particular (reproductive organs) which is VERY healthy for the organs. And again, it's VERY relaxing and gives you more time to meditate and go within and connect with yourself on a deeper level increasing your body awareness even more than a more active yoga practice. And its the same hormones that 'get baby in there' as get baby 'out of there' if you know what I mean (nudge nudge wink wink;).
I can't recommend Yin Yoga enough for all sorts of reasons but if you are trying to conceive come to class and we'll do a special fertility flow anytime you like.

A brand new session of Yin Yoga starts up on Thursday at The Roundhouse at the corner of Davie St @ Pacific Blvd. Its super casual and all you need is to bring yourself.
To register go to www.roundhouse.ca or call 604-713-1800 (press 2)

Just realized all my current sessions are wrapping up! Register today if you can!

Daytime Yoga (Mixed levels) Mon & Wed 1230-2pm at Mount Pleasant

Mixed Levels Yoga Tues 730-9pm at The Roundhouse

Prenatal Yoga Wed 630-745pm at Mount Pleasant

Prenatal Yoga Tues & Thurs 545-715pm at The Roundhouse 

Baby and Me Yoga Mon 1045-12pm at Mount Pleasant

Baby and Me Yoga Thurs 1230-2pm at The Roundhouse
Yin Yoga Thursdays 730-845pm (generally goes til 9pm) at The Roundhouse

Mount Pleasant 604-257-3080 (press 2) 

Roundhouse 604-713-1800 (press 2)

life stressing you out? feeling stiff and achy? looking for balance?

A sweet student of mine had an article published and she is a really great writer.

The article is by By Lisa Marie Sterr and it's on Page 7 of the Fall issue of the Networker

Lisa Marie is really talented and lovely and open and honest and I cherish our relationship very much. We go way back have shared many a yoga class together. She inspires me. She wrote this one evening after a yoga class with me and I am glad she shared it with me. I can certainly relate in a huge way to much of what she says. 

It’s nice that yoga is always there for us through challenging times AND happy times. *All we have to do it show up. 

It isn't always easy, but we always feel better for it on every level. That’s the promise of yoga.

Here it is: Sometimes help comes from the most unexpected places. I’ve been feeling so tormented lately; full of raw emotions. About an hour before leaving for my yoga class, I have the most intense cry. I am so sad. Yet somehow I manage to eat, put on my yoga clothes, and head out the door.

Entering the classroom, I notice the soft lighting. My yoga teacher says hi to me by name, and I feel like she’s happy to see me. I settle on a mat. As the class begins, I focus on breathing. Still, it is a struggle to stay present, since I’ve been floating away from my body so much lately. I tell myself it will be a victory if I can have even moments of being grounded.

In the quiet room, all I can hear is my teacher’s voice, the yoga music and the sound of people breathing. Everything else falls away. I focus on my body and on following the poses. My neglected body, so alienated and uninhabited, is now moving and stretching. I feel it freeze, as it has been doing so often lately. I take a moment to notice it, then start moving again.

In the “downward dog” pose, I push all my tension, all my feelings of being trapped, into my arms. In “warrior,” I stand tall and feel my feet rooting down. My vision sharpens and I am present in the room, for the first time in weeks. I twist and bend, feeling the rawness in my joints, the heat rushing through my body.

And then the reward: relaxation.

I relax into my teacher’s voice – a pleasant melody soothing all the discordant notes inside me; into the supports under my head and knees and the cushioning of the yoga mat beneath me. The floor is smooth and cool under my hands. It is safe here. For the first time in weeks, I can rest.

Fluid, juicy sensations float through me as I leave the class. I’m melty, like the most exquisite piece of chocolate, and also warm and tingly, like feeling really close to someone. My body has been craving this sooth- ing – which I found, not in a bag of cookies or in my therapy group, but at yoga. I found it inside my body, where I’ve been feeling so much torment. I don’t know how long it will last; the anguish may come flooding back tomorrow. But for now I revel, and rest, in the relief.

Nothing bonds women quite like pregnancy and new babies

My yoga classes (pre and post natal in particular) are very much about community building and thats what makes my life and my profession so very rich and rewarding. I get to witness first hand, new friendships among moms be formed in every single class. And many of these connections will be lifelong. Some of my sweet moms have a great meet up group going on and they all seem to be enjoying it greatly. 

If it interests you go to www.meetup.com and search "Vancouver moms to be". Click on the b&w pregnant belly (if its your first time you may have to make a free profile -only takes a sec). Some examples of meet up's are: Saturday morning social breakfast, Sunday a seawall walk and Monday a Thai lunch downtown.  One mom told me "I have found this group has answered a lot of questions for me and given me the added confidence to accept that my changes are normal and average …nothing to worry about."

Cute video filmed at my favourite Yoga studio! Exhale Center for Sacred Movement in Venice!

This video makes me want to get back to Southern California! 
I've done lot's of squats in that very room and love that studio so much! It's just steps from Venice beach. If you find yourself in L.A. get yourself to 245 South Main St, and wherever you are squat! It's not a new thing. It's our modern lifestyles and furniture that is to blame for many of our aches and pains. Protect your spine and don't lose that lumbar curve! Squat, squat and squat some more ;)

Colicy baby? This is well worth a watch.

"The affairs of the world will go on forever. Do not delay the practice of meditation." -Milarepa

In a group, alone, while eating, while walking...make friends with yourself.

Get out and play!

The opposite of play is not work. It’s depression. Brian Sutton-Smith  

A reminder to get out and play! Or stay in and play. Just include a little play in your life day to day if you can. 


Get giddy, be wacky, and have fun! There's lot's of research to support the benefit of play. 
It gives our immune system a boost, gives us vitality and clarity, releases endorphins, and is HUGE for stress reduction. Its a great investment for our well being much like yoga. And remember: "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." There is truth to that old saying. Happy Spring! Giddy up and play! And by doing so you may even encourage others to do the same. its sort of contageous ;=) Namaste.

I know I've been a lazy blogger these past weeks...

posting lots of you tube video's and quotes and not much more but...here's another one! haha! I couldn't resist. A huge thank you to a long time student of mine I cherish beyond words Carol for bringing this video to my attention. I thought I'd share too. Miracles happen in yoga class every single day and yoga really is for e-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y. It's all in finding the right class and practice for "you". Us yoga teachers get to see students blossom  in every single class, and thats what keeps us doing what we do (it sure isn't the money)! 


It's better than money. So much better than money. The only thing this video is missing is a scan of the guys brain. I'd love to see it. Weight loss completely aside, this guy got his life back. Yoga is self care in the highest sense of the word. Send yourself and the people you love to yoga. There's no reason to wait. 

How do you experience Meditation and quietude?

The entire series (7 shorts) by Milo Savic can be found here

It's Spring at The Roundhouse! New sessions start tonight and its going to be grand. To register go to www.roundhouse.ca

Come and practice your self care with me.

Tuesday's its Prenatal Yoga from 545-715pm

Mixed levels Hatha from 730-9pm

Thursday's it's Baby and Me Yoga 1230-2pm and

Prenatal Yoga 545-715pm

And starting next week **starting April 5** it's Yin Yoga from 730-845pm

To register, go to www.roundhouse.ca or call 604-713-1800 (press 2)

See you on the mat xx

Is pain a part of your life? It can help to understand it. This vid is 5 minutes long. And remember to keep breathing.

Changing our relationship to pain.

New Mount Pleasant sessions with me start tomorrow and Wednesday!

So register away!

Mondays

Baby and Me Yoga 1045am-12pm

Daytime Yoga 1230-2pm

Wednesdays

Daytime Yoga 1230-2pm

Prenatal Yoga 630pm-745pm

Call 604-257-3080

Or go to www.mountpleasantcc.ca to register online.

See you on the mat!

Oh..I have the most exciting weekends haha.

I took a test this weekend that I didn't have to study for. One that apparently only 32% of Canadians take. The test is for people over 50 (generally), and although I'm not there yet age-wise I have had food sensitivities and some stomach issues (and even colonoscopies) so they thought I might as well take this test a little early.

I'm not worried about the results. And I don't want you to worry!

Its just that this test is soooo easy it's ridiculous and according to The Canadian Cancer Society 8,900 Canadians will die this year from colorectal cancer and 22,000 more will be diagnosed while only 32% of people over 50 take this test!

I'm here to tell you how easy it is after doing it. It was literally nothing. (and don't worry, you don't have to handle anybody else's poop!) It literally takes 5 minutes and is completely painless in every regard. You just take a "teeny tiny sample" and put it on a slide and voila! Its done. Drop it in the mail or take it to your Doctors office (depending on whether your Doc wants it directly etc.)

And lets face it..We all love somebody over the age of 50. AND we live in Canada so its available to all of us, so there's no reason to not take this test.

Caught early enough the survival rates are better than some cancers, such as lung cancer, according to the CCS.