Thanks for another great year and Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas everyone!!

So grateful for your support year after year! Can't believe it's almost 2013! Yay!

Make sure you register for yoga with me in January. I have delicious, affordable (completely non threatening/suitable for beginners) classes for everyone, from Pregnant momma's to Daytime Hatha classes to Baby and Me Yoga to evening Mixed Levels and Yin classes in Yaletown at the beautiful and historic Roundhouse AND in my own neck of the woods at Mount Pleasant CC. There also will be lot's of workshops with me in the coming year for both students and teachers alike! The biggest namaste in the world, and lots of love and peace to you over the holidays. 

Also watch for a new website coming very soon at www.yogawithlorilucas.com 

Looking forward to seeing you on the mat in Jan xoxoxoxoxox

photo by jennicahookstraphoto.com

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)

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.

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?

Hope your weekend is a little like this!

And if you missed the start of any of any of my new class sessions that started last week there is always time to register and join in anytime during a session at the lower price (or drop in)!

Costs are always prorated.

See you on the mat friends. Giv'er this weekend!

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

Thanks for another great year! Looking forward to seeing you back in class next week (in 2012)!!

Hap-hap-hap-y New Year to you!

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!

Its that time again folks. Register today for all new sessions with me!

New sessions are as follows:

Mount Pleasant Community Centre

To register click here or call 604-257-3080

Monday's

Baby and Me Yoga 10:45am-12:00pm Nov 7-Dec 19

Daytime Yoga 12:30-2:00pm Nov 7-Dec 19

Wednesday's

Daytime Yoga 12:30-2:00pm Nov 2-Dec 21

Prenatal Yoga 6:30-7:45pm Nov 2-Dec 21

Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre

To register click here or call 604-713-1800

Tuesday's

Prenatal Yoga 5:45-7:15pm Nov 1-Dec 20

Mixed Levels Hatha 7:30pm-9:00pm Nov 1-Dec 20

Thursdays

Baby and Me Yoga 12:30pm-2:00pm Nov 3-Dec 22

Prenatal Yoga 5:45pm-7:15pm Nov 3-Dec 22

Yoga for Limited Mobility 7:30pm-8:30pm Nov 3-Dec 22

An Introduction to Yin Yoga

Ever think of doing a Yoga Teacher Training?

I have been reminiscing lately and looking through a ton of pictures from various yoga training's/workshops I have done.

And as always...I'm yearning for more!!!

These are a few pics of the second one I took in Spring of 2004 through Prana Yoga and Zen Centre. It was your basic starter 200 hour program and I would highly recommend it.

Shakti knows her stuff and can teach you things (Kriyas etc) that I am sure few other people know. This training was over a 5 month period and was in Classical Hatha. I don't believe they still have the 5 month program (although I could be wrong as I haven't been on their website for ages!) but they still have the one month intensives here in town and abroad.

The truth is, there are just so many different choices out there these days! If I was starting out now I really wouldn't know where to go as virtually just about every studio has a 200 hr YTT program happening. (Which is a wonderful thing!! )

Whether you start off with Prana like I did, or go somewhere else, I just know you won't be sorry. There is just something about going back to the very beginning and breaking things down that will certainly deepen your practice like nothing else, whether you decide to teach afterwards or not.

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few."

- Shunryo Suzuki-Roshi ...

I had the pleasure of photographing Gloria Latham of Semperviva for Shanti Ugnada's website a few months back, and she too is just so lovely. I have been to many workshops at her studios (in addition to the regular classes I attend at semperviva each week) and I most recently received my certification in yin yoga with my favourite teacher in the world Bernie Clark! I loved that training very much, and learned a great deal. Semperviva has a great many workshops and teacher training's (including 200 hr+) with great teachers both local and International.

Bernie was also an integral part of my training at Prana in 2004. I'd have to say that I learned as much from him as I did Shakti. Which is A LOT! (so this is no way implies ANY disrespect to Shakti whatsoever) A group of us spent many an early morning sadhana together in those days in addition to our training's, and of course many, many hours of meditation. zen meditation. Looking back, much of it was bliss.

I could use that kind of discipline now! haha!

And then there are my lovely old friends Georgina and Hogan of Open Door Yoga. They too have an amazing Yoga Teacher Training program.....♥....and the list goes on!

If you do want to teach, you need a minimum 200hr certification recognized by the Yoga Alliance ( to obtain insurance etc.) The Yoga Alliance maintains a registry of Yoga Schools that comply with their standards for yoga teacher training programs of 200-500 hours. It would be a good idea to check on their list of schools before choosing a Teacher training program. (*just my opinion)

The Yoga Alliance is the internationally recognized governing body that regulates the highest standards for yoga teachers all over.

Weekend workshops are amazing whether you are a student deepening your practice, or if you want to build on your certification/knowledge/grow as a teacher etc. (but beware of any fly by night "get certified to teach in a single weekend" type of deals. Sadly there are a great many scams out there.)

Not a week passes that I am not asked my opinion on this topic so I thought I'd make a little posting on it. (I sure wish I had more to offer though!) Truth is, I am way out of the loop yoga teacher training wise these days. Thankfully for us choices abound!

Vancouver is certainly Yoga land! And for that we can be grateful:)

One last thing..

Never EVER feel shy about asking a Teacher about his/her teaching credentials. If a Teacher does not possess a minimum of a 200 hr certification and is teaching yoga, then walk away.

Enjoy the journey,

Namaste,

Lori

Gil Hedley's "Fuzz Speech" (real human cadaver, not for the faint of heart)

Use it or 'in-fact' lose it. Those words couldn't be more true. All you have to do is wake up in the morning to notice how we are all a little stiffer. And as we age? Well, countless things begin to happen and thats what makes a yoga practice so incredibly important. Yoga, massage, body work of all forms. Just plain movement!

Gil Hedley Ph.D, the anatomy teacher in this video (whom I would give anything to one day study with), really couldn't put it any simpler. We are continually being covered over with fuzz and need to break through it or well...

We won't be able to move! seriously!

Energy won't flow, we'll feel like crap, we'll be in pain, depressed and eventually become ill. Lack of movement, believe it or not, can actually cause joints to fuse together! That means the joint is gone and is no longer a joint!

Talk about frightening...

I don't speak very often about an accident I was in once, but I know all about being unable to move, atrophy (muscle wasting), trauma, healing, and yes...being absolutely covered in fuzz! I'm talking about a three year recovery here...life support, the works. (but enough about me. I really couldn't feel better!)

Thought I'd share this video just in case you know someone who was 'debating' going to a Yoga class...don't debate, just get on your mat!

Forget the mat just get on the floor! Get inside your body. Really inside. Life is just too short to not connect with yourself and break through the fuzz.

And while you're at it you'll be receiving countless other benefits. The benefits of a regular yoga practice are literally endless and on many levels. Whether you come to yoga on a Doctors suggestion, or to increase flexibility, improve athletic performance, get strong, ditch stress, meditate, heal from trauma... or even just to look great in that new bikini. (haha)

Yoga is for everyone.

I think I can speak for all of us in saying that we all want to feel as vibrant and healthy and vital as we possibly can while we are here.

So let's get moving. Let's do it up and enjoy life to the fullest!

Take that first step and find yourself a yoga class near you and get started. Our beautiful city is brimming with yoga venues of all kinds and some of the greatest teachers anywhere.

And a special thanks to my most cherished teacher in this city Bernie Clark for bringing Dr.Hedley to my awareness and for sharing so much of his incredible knowledge, wit and wisdom over the years (most recently in my Yin Yoga Teacher training). Bernie is the man. In my opinion Bernie Clark makes the yoga scene in Vancouver what it is. To find out more about Bernie, yin yoga and what he does for this incredible planet of ours go to... www.yinyoga.com and www.mindtheplanet.org