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.

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! 

Think of your body being wrapped in a fishnet hose, both internally and externally. It is and it's called fascia.

If you come to my classes I speak a great deal about fascia and we work to get rid of impediments and imbalances in every class. Working with the fascia through yoga and/or massage therapy will change your life. And thats a promise. Below, Dr. Frank Lipton speaks on your yoga practice and fascia. Enjoy!

Dr. Frank Lipman: Why Yoga Works from MindBodyGreen on Vimeo.

Love "your" tree. Its beautiful♥

Just spent the weekend studying with the one and only Judith Lasater and she recommended we watch this video, and I just did. So amazing. BTW, if you ever get a chance to do a workshop/training/bask in Judith's wisdom a while (in any city) I highly recommend taking advantage. I am full of gratitude.

She is coming back to Vancouver in September for a Restorative Yoga Teacher training. For more info go to www.judithlasater.com OR you can go to www.soulspringwellness.ca or email Christina directly at christina@soulspringwellness.ca. *A heads up that this woman has never had a workshop that hasn't sold out in record time.*

Enjoy the video. Thank you Judith Hanson Lasater for all you gave us this weekend.

Beryl Bender Birch

Beryl Bender Birch "Transformation Happens" from Omega Institute on Vimeo.

Its a horrifying topic but I am feeling compelled to share.

Just got in from a TRULY amazing day at The Vancouver Yoga Conference, and believe me...YOU want to go! (For more info click here)! It goes on all weekend long and maybe i'll see ya there? Makes me feel grateful to live in Vancouver.

Anyways, upon arriving home while checking my Facebook I saw this item on strokes and really felt the need to share. I am copying word for word the post I read and here it is courtesy of Biomechanist Katy Bowman, MS of Aligned and Well.

She has some VERY interesting things on her website and Facebook page by the way!

Anyways, I am copying this post word for word from her and here it is:

This is a quick must-read for everyone. Strokes, if they are caught soon enough can be a much-less significant event. Learn the signs...

You can Save someone's life by sharing this.

STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters... S.T..R ...
My friend sent this to me ...and encouraged me to post it and spread the word. I agree. If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks.

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:
During a party, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. (they offered to call ambulance)

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm , Ingrid passed away.)
She had suffered a stroke at the party . Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.

Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead. It only takes a minute to read this...

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Remember the '3' steps, STR . Read and Learn!
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster.
The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions :

S * Ask the individual to SMILE ..
T * = TALK. Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (eg 'It is sunny out today').
R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS .

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call the ambulance and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

NOTE : Another 'sign' of a stroke is
1. Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue.
2. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.

A prominent cardiologist says if everyone who gets this status shares it; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

What's on your nightstand?

Its Raise -a-Reader Day!

This is my nightstand right now (although I tidied it up and took away the magazines.) And this is 'just' the nightstand which doesn't include the overflowing bookcases or the stacks of books everywhere that won't fit in the bookcases.

I ♥ books and always have! And some magazines too. Never been a fan of fiction, but I love learning, reading and holding, and flipping through the pages of a book. Love the computer too of course, but I certainly hope that books (and libraries) never go out of style. They sure won't at this house.

Support the Raise-a-Reader Campaign today to help increase awareness and raise money to fund children and family literacy programs in BC!

Click HERE to find out all about Raise a Reader!

hurtin' for cash now that christmas is over?

Don't forget your local library. There are so many to choose from and the library has so much more than books. And it belongs to you and me! Sheer peace and enjoyment I always find at the library.

I spend a chunk out of each day studying, and personally I find there is no better place to do it than the library.

Came across this quote this morning and love it so thought I'd share.

"Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries"-Anne Herbert

To find a location near you, or to see what's shakin' at a particular branch click here

Ever hear of Kriyas?

Kriyas are ancient purification exercises called the Shat (six) Karmas (actions) or Kriyas.There are 6 purification practices were mentioned in many ancient yogic texts. They are meant to purify the whole body, as well as open the energy pathways of the body which are called nadi's. These practices are very powerful and advanced and should not be attempted without an experienced Teacher. Originally kriyas were all taught as part of The Hatha Yoga tradition, but unfortunately they are rarely part of a Yoga Teacher Training program here in the west. I have been blessed to have studied and practiced at great lengths with some very knowledgable teachers here in town (Shakti Mhi and Bernie Clark). I learned first hand (and through much practice), how to safely practice them, and safety is key. The few that I do quite regularly are: Neti-(nasal cleansing), Nauli- (abdominal massage), and as some of you practice with me, Kapalabhati (purification of frontal lobes and lungs). Kapalabhati is a kriya as well as pranayam technique. Some kriyas I wouldn't even try personally (no matter how much instruction I had and no matter who the Teacher was) but for the most part, some of these kriyas may change your life. You may find yourself feeling better, with more vitality than you have in years! Neti in particular is worth trying and is safe for most folks. *Check with your Doctor* Neti pots are for sale literally everywhere these days. When I was taught neti it wasn't with a neti pot. It was with a full cup of saline using both nostrils at the same time. I was basically drinking (sucking) a full cup of saltwater up both nostrils at the same time as it poured out from my mouth. I know, it sounds so strange, and gross! hahaha.. But it really isn't bad at all (as long as you have the salt water ratio down) *and the technique was being passed down to me by my teacher*. Neti has been used by practitioners of yoga and Ayurveda in India for hundreds, if not thousands of years. And like so many other yoga practices it has gone mainstream with Doctors widely recommending it to their patients for nasal issues, allergies and colds, sinusitis etc. I've never really had any ongoing nasal issues (other than the common yearly cold) but I love how it makes me feel. Purification is a central theme in yoga, and from an energy standpoint the practice cleanses the energy channels and helps to balance the right and left hemispheres much like nadi shodana.

There are more advanced techniques using various herbs and oils, but the simplest technique known, is jala neti. Jala neti uses water (jala) for the cleansing process. Above is a pic of my neti pot I snapped this morning before embarking on my morning neti. Neti isn't part of my daily routine but I do it a few times per month (and it is best to lubricate your nostrils with sesame oil after doing neti as it can dry out the nasal passages). With all the dust, pollen and other irritants we breathe in we can get really clogged up and not even realize it. Neti is a good place to start kriya-wise. And with cold/flu season being here it is an inexpensive, holistic and drug free way to breathe freely. Like anything, you should do your research and speak to your caregiver, and as far as any of the other kriyas out there. Only practice under the guidance of a VERY qualified teacher. After all, we are playing with the energy body and that is powerful stuff. Namaste.

Call me weird

hahaha..Call me weird but I love to learn, study and practice (Yoga that is)!

And I am forever grateful that I found yoga as there will never ever be a shortage of things to learn, thats for sure! I am and will always be a student of yoga.

Do you have something in your life that you love so much that you could study and practice all day and night and never tire of? I hope you do. I didn't use to. Just because I attended my first yoga class twenty-something years ago doesn't mean that I was a committed yogi back then. Not at all! Thank goodness yoga is always there waiting for you. My lifestyle was so not yogic. In fact I was hurting myself in all sorts of ways. Yoga to me (for years) didn't really have much depth. I didn't meditate at all. I didn't get the mind/body connection, and making the perfect yoga pose was pretty much all I cared about.

My mind was always racing as I went through the asanas (poses) and my thoughts were always wandering to where the next party was, what guy I was seeing at the time...ahhh..the drama! As much as I wouldn't change my past I am happy for the now.

I still love drama, but high drama. And being 46 I'd be pretty haggard if I continued on that path til now and didn't slow down. I actually feel better than I did in my 20's and credit my yoga practice to no end for that.

I have been so blessed to have studied with some true Master Teachers from far and wide over the years.

This year alone it's been Cyndi Lee, Martin Kirk, Margot McKinnon, Nischala Joy Devi, Seane Corn...and honestly the list goes on. This year I received my Yin Yoga certification through one of my first and most respected teachers Bernie Clark, and I am currently immersed in Teacher Training with Sadie Nardini whom I have done quite a few workshops with in the past, and like very much. Come January I am thrilled to be spending more time with Michael Stone (and I really, REALLY can't wait for that one).

With yoga the learning never ends. And for that I am so grateful. I can't recommend enough finding something that turns you on and becoming a student of "it", whatever it is. I truly believe you will never get old. Find something you love and learn everything you can about it.

When I go to sleep I can't wait to wake up each morning, and I wish the same for you. Namaste XO

Have you registered for your workshops/classes yet?

The Vancouver Yoga Conference is coming again!

Yeeeaaahh!

It's from Thursday Sept 30-Sun Oct 3 and it does not disappoint!

It's truly fabulous.

And in my opinion? It's the best thing to happen in Vancouver all year long! (of course I am biased!) And if you are into Pilates there is loads of Pilates stuff too. (did a workshop with Margot McKinnon last year that was incredible and she's there again this year)

$15 buys your 3 day show admission (from Friday-Sunday) and that includes everything that happens on the show floor. That includes 37 floor yoga garden classes and your admission to over 100 exhibits, demonstrations, live entertainment, and the list goes on.

As for me? I am pretty much booked up with workshops the entire time and love every second of it!

You can study or just practice (take classes) with some of the greatest! (I'm talking Seane Corne, Sadie Nardini, Martin Kirk, Maria Garre...and our very own Lou Lynn for kid's yoga)!

I even did workshops with Rodney Yee last year!

Lectures, classes, immersions, literally whatever turns you on yoga-wise. Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned yogi you will love it. Those classes are priced separately and if you register before the 28th are a steal at $19.99 per hr.

To register or see this years line up click here

I love this Conference and wait all year for it. I cancel my classes for the entire 4 days, months in advance (and thats a big deal as I am not one to even sub my classes if I can help it).

I literally camp out the entire 4 days and soak up as much of it as I can.

If you couldn't make it for some reason but were interested in deepening your practice at any other point during the year, luckily we have some wonderful yoga studios throughout town that do a wonderful job in bringing in some master teachers from all over.

Namely Semperviva. Click here

I believe Shiva Rea is coming in December, as well as upcoming workshops with Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, MarkWhitwell, Max Strom... just to name just a few.

We sure are lucky living here in Yoga-land!

Maybe I'll see ya at the Conference! They may still be looking for volunteers as well should that be something you'd be interested in.

Namaste,XO

My wish is for everyone to find their yoga.

We are just so lucky. I mean really...

Does it get any better than this?

To those who know me I know I may seem a little "over the top" (maybe even "irritatingly" happy a lot of the time) haha.. but I'm human and believe it or not, I have my dark days as well.

I know very well that we are all experiencing our own reality in every moment and that things are continually changing and evolving. We don't always feel like celebrating and aren't "always" overflowing with bliss ( because well, quite frankly, shitty things sometimes happen to us at times!) Life is truly so uncertain and none of us ever know what is around the corner.

But all in all....It is a such beautiful world and there is never a shortage of things for me to feel incredibly and deeply grateful for. For instance teaching yoga is a continual source of joy and inspiration to me. I would recommend it to anyone, anytime, any day of the week because Yoga is for everybody. As long as you can breathe you can practice yoga.♥

It's no secret that I teach weekly Yoga classes to everyone from pregnant mom's to babies, (post-natal) to kid's, and to all- levels and ages of adult's. This isn't by accident. Sure, it's more study time for me and more prep time each day (keeping things fresh and new) but I love it. I really really do.:)

And the best part?

(short of owning my own yoga studio that is) I have full control of my class pricing! (aside from applicable taxes of course.) I get to keep my classes affordable. That truly is a luxury. There aren't many places you can teach and set your own price structure. I feel very blessed to be able to do this and for as long as I can continue to.. that is what I'll be doing. So far it has been 6 years. I make my own prices and schedule and feel really good about keeping yoga accessible to people. My classes are $12 to a maximum of $14 to drop into and even cheaper if you register. (most are 90 minute classes)

My Yoga practice is one of the biggest things in my life, right up there with my partner and loved ones. My love for yoga just keeps growing and I feel a richness, inner peace and gratitude for my practice that I have difficulty putting into words.

Yoga means many things to many people. There are so many facets of yoga. It is just so profound. And yet your yoga practice can be whatever you want it to be!

Simple. Thats what my practice is. And it becomes even more simple the longer I practice and teach. And thats the beauty of it. It is your own practice and yours alone. For me a yoga class is time for me. A rare chance to pause and reflect and breathe. To be in my body. To let go of the past, the to-do list, whatever is going on tomorrow. Yoga really helps keep my life and my body in balance. It's a chance to draw in and nourish myself. To recharge.

Whether it's Ashtanga, Kundalini, Iyengar, Yin (although I believe everyone would most certainly benefit from some yin- it's delicious!!) Whatever it is... find the style for you. If you don't resonate with a certain teacher or venue or style, try another one!

Maybe Yoga for some people is golf, or tennis or running? I truly believe that the more people who practice some form of yoga, the more love and peace there will be in the world. And the benefits are absolutely countless and undisputed.

Hope to see you in a class soon!

My classes are super casual with lot's of variations for everyone. This is my full time job and all I do.

I hope to see you on the mat soon :)