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

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)

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 ;)

I've been back for two weeks already and the time is flyin' by!

Here are just a few pics of Venice Beach and some fellow Yogi's I love at Exhale Center for Sacred Movement in Venice Los Angeles. Sure missed all of you while I was away though! Its truly so great to be back. Missed our yoga so very much. I'll post some more pics very soon that we took from the road, the Getty Museum, The Oregon Coast, The Redwoods, Orange County and the VW Classic etc. I highly recommend taking a road trip down to Southern California. It so great and the weather can't be beat. 

*Oh, and registration is on for summer classes with me so register asap! I'd love to see you xo 

me and Erich Schiffmann

Venice beach

Venice beach

Venice beach

Hala Khouri and me. 

Venice beach

Venice beach

my partner and the car we drove to southern california in

Venice beach skateboard park rules

 some dude gettin' lots of air!

                                     

 me in bliss as we head to yoga in LA 

                                      

 Exhale in Venice   

                 

               
                                               

Venice beach

                                       

Venice beach

Venice beach

Venice beach

Venice beach

It's official! I'm on vacation until June 18!

I'll be Yoga-ing it up in Southern California but will be back soon (you'll barely even notice I'm gone). Just make sure you do your homework. The practice happens whenever you think of it, wherever you are. *Oh, and be sure to register for the class (s) of your choice. I want to see you as soon as I get back! I'll miss you. I'll still be visiting my Facebook Page while I am away and it's here. Take Care & Namaste xo 

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. 

Your mind is like a living room.

Sometimes guests arrive and sit down. Sometimes you realize that you don’t like them, that you don’t enjoy their company. Eventually they leave. And you vow to be more careful about the people you invite. Learning whom to invite is an art. —Thich Nhat Hanh

Did you know that yoga actually makes your brain more flexible as well as your body?

I think we all know by now thanks to fMRI's etc. that we can continue to mold and change our brains as we age and there's not much better news than that!

There has just been so much research on the plasticity "changeability" of the brain in recent years and there is absolutely no denying it. It is just so thrilling that we can continue to expand pathways in our brain, and adapt and learn as we age. And many folks are living sooo much longer these days (interestingly, I just read that there are "48,000" centenarians living in the United States alone right now surprisingly).

And although none of us knows how long we are going to live I do know one thing for sure... as long as I live I really hope and pray I can take care of myself and "think" up until the end whenever that may be.

Yoga is brilliant in so many ways:

Did you know that stem cells that form new neurons in the brain come from the bone? (the marrow of our bones)

When we practice yoga we are "literally" creating the stem cells that form new neurons in our brains. We are stimulating the brain to grow so we can have more available pathways.

Its truly fascinating, and too amazing for words.

And combine that with all the other brain benefits of meditation? Its just so incredibly huge. (Almost too much to wrap my brain around haha)

So remember, even if/when we're elderly our brains can keep rewiring themselves protecting against cognitive decline both structurally AND functionally, and thats wonderful news!

See you on the mat friends! Namaste.

If you come to my classes you know about fascia (and likely have rolled a tennis ball under your foot etc).

Just beneath your skin lies a complex network of connective tissue called fascia. It helps you move well, stand straight and play hard. Keeping it healthy might be one of the fastest — and most overlooked — ways to improve your health and fitness.

The below link is a great article on fascia.

The Web of Life

"Meditation practice isn't about trying to throw ourselves away or become something better. It's about befriending who we are already." - Pema Chodron

Need a chuckle this fine Monday morning?

My friend Angie posted this on her Facebook page this morning and I had to repost!

hahaha...Its HIGHlarious! I think we've all been here :)

Beryl Bender Birch

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

Only the man who learns to relax is able to create, and for him ideas reach the mind like lightening. Cicero

Day after day...

Let the yogi practice harmony of soul: in a secret place, in deep solitude, master of his mind, hoping for nothing, desiring nothing. Bhagavad Gita

Pay it forward and change the world.

“In meditation, effort must be applied in a direction opposite to what we are used to. Our ‘effort’ must be to relax ever more deeply. We must ultimately release the tension from both our muscles and our thoughts. When we relax so deeply that we are able to internalize the energy of the senses, the mind becomes focused and a tremendous flow of energy is awakened. Meditation is a continuous process, and can be said to have three stages: relaxation, interiorization, and expansion.” – John Novak, Lessons in Meditation.

allow yourself to just breathe and let go..

According to yoga scriptures, the heart center can be opened indirectly to cultivating compassion and kindness, calmness and dispassion, or directly through the focused practice of pranayama, or both. -Beryl Bender Birch

Qigong, Yoga and Tai Chi have a great many similarities.

All three practices attempt to heal the body by unblocking energy restrictions.

I like when he says "You will feel different because you are different."

I think that any of us with a practice can attest to that.

Roger Jahnke "Health Patriot" from Omega Institute on Vimeo.

How do you deal with difficult people?

Sometimes taking the high road is very difficult lets face it. It isn't always easy to get through sticky situations with peace and grace.We're human and each one of us is so different.

We are all a work in progress and none of us are getting out of here alive. I'd like to believe that each of us is basically good. Relationships can still be tricky though. Very tricky. Not to mention painful.

We may never understand another's behavior, ever. And we may not have any other choice but to deal with it, and ultimately relationships can sometimes be a source of very real pain.

Sometimes you may wind up feeling used, tricked, or that you were never loved at all.That hurts. Big time :(

It is in those moments we may lose track of our higher selves (especially if we should feel an urge to protect ourselves or others, when being attacked). None of this crap is any fun. Maybe we ourselves are viewed as the difficult party at times?

Do you turn to your mat or meditation cushion during these times?

Yoga, meditation and pranayama are powerful tools.

Meditation shows us that we are so much more then those hurt feelings and thoughts running through our heads. It can really help you to move past the pain. I am also a fan of good 'ol fashioned Psychotherapy. There is professional help out there should you need it. Never feel ashamed! Its nobody's business and life can get very complicated at times for the best of us.Find a friend to listen, get on your mat, sit with the pain, (order some pecan pie like I did last night haha) have a good cry, go for a run...do what ever it takes. Just unload.

It might be something that takes a long time to heal from.

Give yourself the time to heal and remember that you are never alone. Chances are the person who hurt you is suffering at some very deep level themselves. Or maybe they are afraid? Afraid of what, you may never know. Sadly some deeply unhappy people want to bring you down emotionally so they aren't alone. Us humans act in strange ways sometimes. Lets face it we all do.

Relationship conflict and stress have been shown to have a clear negative impact on health, affecting blood pressure, contributing to heart disease, and correlating with other conditions. That’s why it’s in your best interest to minimize (or sometimes sadly) eliminate negative relationships in your life. We aren't going to change anyone. We can sometimes "influence" another person but in the end we can only change ourselves.

Be good to yourself and to the good people in your life and remember that line that rings so true..

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

And always remember that there is help out there and you are never alone.

And people do love you, just as you are ♥

Marilyn's been known for a lot of things..

A Sex symbol, a pop and cultural icon...

ahem- [clears throat-shhh..] her connection with the Kennedys. But maybe she connected her mind with her body as well on occasion? These pics have been floating around on the web so I thought I'd share. RIP Marilyn & Namaste ♥