See these two?? Well I love them.

How do you feel about the HST?

Yeah I thought so...me too!

I don't know about you but I know that I don't want... my YOGA, massage therapy, airline tickets, naturopathy, concert tickets, non prescription meds, movies, bus fares, spa services, vitamins, dietary supplements, chinese medicine, movies, taxi's, home maintenance, parking, school supplies, membership fees (including the gym), hockey tickets, hair cuts, golf fees increasing in price by another 7% in tax if I can help it.

If you enjoy any of those things (which we all do) then add up what you would spend on those items/services per year and multiply it by 7% to see how much more you (and I) will be spending with the HST.

Anyways..I ran into these TRULY adorable folks directly in front of The Roundhouse this morning and if you live in Yaletown and would like to sign the Stop the HST petition these two are who you want to see!

I had a few laughs, received some words of wisdom and learned a heck of a lot! He's a ballroom dancer and has not had a sniffle in over 6 years! (he even showed me his ancient head rubbing/ ear pulling technique!) And he'll show you too! haha!

And did I mention he is 80?

And the lady is lovely. Just so incredibly lovely, sweet, vivacious, and as smart as a whip!

They really made my day ♥ And they can make yours too!

These two will be in front of my favourite place in the world.. The Roundhouse each day from 900am-11:30am.

The Roundhouse is located at the corner of Davie St @Pacific Blvd.

One of the most special days of the year is quickly approaching...

With Mothers Day approaching I am nearly at a loss for words this morning and am actually getting choked up just thinking about what to say here!

Mothers just mean so very much to me. ♥

Firstly I am just so truly blessed with such amazing examples in my life, and I am just so incredibly grateful to the many pregnant momma's, daddies & families I have worked with in the past half dozen years..

Yoga wise, I originally started off teaching exclusively prenatal & postnatal (baby & me) yoga classes.

I have always cherished my own yoga practice, and pre & post natal yoga was was a natural progression for me from working as a Doula.

My yoga practice would come and go since the 80's, and that is the wonderful thing about yoga. It is always there waiting for you regardless of the decade, or your lifestyle.

Or your hairstyle!! LOL!

To me, mothers are the most incredible humans on the planet. Truly.

I say it sooo often that it must sound cheesy after a while, but it is just so true and comes from the bottom of my heart..

Although they may not be aware of it these women are the greatest teachers in my life.

And thats whether they are expecting, are enjoying/adjusting to their first year of motherhood, have older school age, or grown children... they have all touched my life in such remarkable ways. I can not even find the words.

They are all so beautiful to me. And each has an aura of magic around them. (although they may not always feel that way themselves!! haha)

I only wish that they could see themselves through my eyes, and that I had the chance to thank the great many (no doubt thousands by now) that I have witnessed come into their mothering right before my before my eyes.

There just aren't words.(I keep searching!)

Mothers are our most valuable resource, and each one deserves a medal and for it to be Mothers day everyday.

And yeah, baby daddy's are SUPER cool too! All of this certainly takes nothing away from them.

What makes me the happiest of all of this? It's the final result.

Happy healthy children. Our future!

All I can say is that there sure are some lucky babies/children out there.

And YES, that is what makes me the happiest. ♥.♥.♥.♥.♥.♥.

I have lot's and lot's of hope for the future. For all of us. I really do.:)

Hope you plan something really special for the wonderful mothers in your life this coming Sunday.

And dad, your "day of days" is next!

Have a lovely day!

XO

Brand new Roundhouse sessions starting up all week beginning tonight! Have you registered?

There was a little confusion at last thursday evening's mixed levels class at the Roundhouse as to whether we would be changing rooms beginning this week (therefore restricting/capping class sizes for our beloved tues & thurs classes)

But with the exception of May 4 we get to keep Room B! Yay!

So if you have been coming and were worried that we may be doing one too many "sardine pose" up in multi media, hahaa..worry no more! Not only will you not be turned away, but we also have lots of glorious room in room B!

So go ahead and register! Or drop in. Whatever you choose.

I'll be there waiting for you and there will be a mat with your name all over it ♥

I still have to recommend registering though. It's cheaper, (it ensures you a spot no matter what) and it's always nice to have a consistent date with yourself and your yoga practice each week. Consistency is key with yoga.

Yoga has a multitude of benefits anytime and everytime you practice, so one yoga class per week is certainly amazing. But if you can do more than? Even better!

It's because of that I offer (with the exception of baby & me yoga) two classes per week at both The Roundhouse (if you are downtown/yaletown) and Mt.Pleasant CC (should you be in the east van/mt.pleasant areas)

And all for a special price to make doubling up affordable.

*2X's per week-Mixed Levels Hatha classes are-Tues & Thurs at the Roundhouse-7:30pm-9:00pm

To register: http://www.roundhouse.ca/ or 604-713-1800

*2X's per week-Daytime Yoga-(mixed levels)classes are- Monday & Wednesday Daytimes at Mt.Pleasant CC from 12:30-2:00pm

To register: http://www.mountpleasantcc.ca or 604-257-3080

*2X's per week-Prenatal Yoga -Roundhouse Tues & Thurs from 5:45-7:15pm

To register: http://www.roundhouse.ca/

And in addition to those I have a Wednesday evening Prenatal Yoga class at Mount Pleasant CC as well from 6:30pm-7:45pm, (but just the one evening per week.) This class is always full, although I always leave a few spots open for drop in's!

I know that price can be a factor for me in my own yoga practice (as far as getting out to group classes etc.) It's just reality. Yoga isn't cheap.

And now with the HST on top of it...*sigh. (insert long Ujjayi breath here!)

Anyways, although I can't control the HST I am so lucky that I can still keep my classes affordable in spite of it.

Just remember you can not overdo yoga. There is no such thing as too much time on your mat. And the benefits of a home practice can't be overstated..

If you have never thought of rolling out your mat in your living room, give it a go!

Or now that spring is here (well, almost here!) grab a patch of grass at the park, your backyard, the beach...and just go for it!

Just remember that with yoga you are training your mind, body and breath. (whether you are in a group setting or not!)

You are practicing self care in every sense of the word.

And Self Care is where it's at in this hectic world.

We can't control what life throws at us but I think all of us with a strong yoga practice knows just how truly valuable it is to our every day life.

It's impossible for your yoga practice to not spill over into your own life in various wonderous ways. If you are a stranger to yoga I can't encourage you enough to find a class near you and get started.

I have never met a single soul who has regretted time spent on their mat. It is sometimes hard to find the discipline to get to class, but you are never sorry you did. You are always glad that you took the time for your yoga practice. Whether it's 15 minutes or 90.

And if this post is beginning to sound a little too esoteric..

Yoga has some other wonderful benefits/side effects too (such as slowing down the aging process, stress reduction, it gives you a great behind etc.) haha..I feel funny even typing that, but it's true!

But heck, whatever is going to bring you to yoga! And often it is these outer side effects that bring one to yoga in the first place and that is perfectly ok! I mean, who doesn't want to look good and feel good?

Heck, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't enjoy the benefits of yoga on my physique.

You not only feel great, but yeah you look pretty good too!

Yoga works virtually ever system of your body, and those benefits are well documented and undisputed. To me yoga is like a trip to the chiropractor, the massage therapist, the physio, and the shrink all in one!

For me each and every yoga class is like a day at the spa that I have given myself.

Of course it is always best to have various body workers/health practitioners/caregivers on hand in this life of course, as yoga can never completely take the place of conventional medicine.

You will never hear me say that. Ever.

So for that reason it is always best to have a Doctors ok should you be pregnant or suffering from any health issues/injuries before starting a yoga practice, or any other form of exercise.

In short: If you are injured, DO NOT come to yoga. Allow yourself to heal first.

Anyways, I am going to fly for now as it is day two of sunshine! (and sadly we never know how long it's going to last this time of year in these parts, so I best take advantage!)

Hope you get a chance to enjoy some of it yourself!

Have a really lovely day!

Hope to see you soon.♥

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

See this little place? Well, talk about a healing sanctuary. And located right in my glorious hood! I am no stranger to acupuncture, but this is acupuncture in a group setting. Everyone together creates this healing space.

Much like a yoga class really.

The space is very quiet, lights are dimmed, essential oils are burning, soft music playing...it is just too wonderful for words, and deeply healing on every level. (acupuncture helps with literally whatever ails you)

The chairs are extremely comfy and you are left to meditate, relax, even drift off until you 'intuitively' feel done. The needles are removed and voila, you are free to leave and enjoy your day. (You can also stay for a specific amount of time too of course, and they'll let you know when your times up if you have to be somewhere etc.)

What is HUGELY amazing as well is that they have a 'sliding scale' to separate the issues of money and treatment. (and you can still submit your receipts should you have any extended health insurance as acupuncture is covered by most plans)

Treatments are $20-$40 a session so you can come as often as you wish, and not only get better, but stay better! (the first session is an extra $10 due to the paperwork etc)

I really can not say enough about this place! (And yes these are licensed Acupuncturists, not to worry)

The place is called Poke Community Acupuncture and it's located at Main St@ Kingsway right next to my fav little neighborhood coffee shop, Our Town.

Poke Community Acupuncture

(225 E Broadway) 604-568-7322

info@pokecommunityacupuncture.ca

Anyways, gotta fly!

Happy healing and Namaste♥

A quick little heads up..

Just on my way out the door and thought I'd give you a heads up that many of my Roundhouse sessions are ending this week (they will all be starting up again next week of course, as all classes are ongoing)

To ensure a spot this time around I would recommend registering sooner rather than later! (for the Tues and Thurs evenings Mixed Levels classes in particular)

I may soon have to cap the participant level for these classes, so if you have been dropping in you may want to register this time around, just to make sure you get a spot!

Have yourself a glorious day ♥

Lori

I took my pranayama practice to stanley park today and it turned my whole day around. sometimes thats all it takes!

I took loads of shots today and thought that maybe sharing a few on here would pretty up my blog. Not sure why I resist updating this blog but I do. (Too busy on facebook maybe? haha)

I have been feeling introspective and a tad out of balance lately yet things couldn't really be too much better. My classes are packed, I have the greatest boyfriend in the world, wonderful friends, a ton of interests, and most of all vibrant health. No matter what life throws my way there is never a shortage of things for me to feel grateful for. Especially good health. I've been on both sides of the fence and no matter what is happening in my outer world, inside I am filled with gratitude even on my darkest days. I truly find that there aren't enough hours in the day for all the things I'd like to do.

(Hate to get morbid on ya but it could all be over tomorrow! Thats just a fact.)

Anyways, I do have my challenges just like everyone else.

And thats where my yoga practice comes in. ♥

Life brings us challenges. We never know what is waiting around the next corner. If you come to my classes then you know that I am a big fan of 5 minute yoga breaks throughout the day. Anything thats going to get you through I always say!

We live in a fast paced world and if we are just waiting until we have a spare 90 minutes to get on our mat and practice our yoga well, we may not get to practice all that often. I know I sure wouldn't! I'd be lying if I said that I have a full 90 minute personal asana practice each day. Of course I don't.

On a good day yes. But everyday? No.

Thats why I try and live my yoga more and more as the years roll on.

At the very least.. and most importantly?

remember to breathe.

My breath truly and absolutely is my best friend. Lately I have been full-on with my pranayama practice and kriyas.

Breathwork is very powerful on so many levels. I can think of nothing more remarkable really. If I could teach the world one thing it would be how to breathe.

It will change your life.

It's like I tell the kid's in my kid's class, it's free, it's portable, and it's always there when you need it.

And it's going to be there with you your entire life!

(as long as you are blessed with good health of course, and have no breathing restrictions etc.) And you can do it anywhere, anytime! And you can feel better almost instantly from whatever ails you! Even if you are ill, in pain etc.

Whether you are mad, sad, scared, tired, frazzled, can't focus, can't sleep, can't stay awake...doesn't matter, there is a pranayama technique for you.

And that goes for us adults too. I love that we can change our whole physiology simply by changing our breath.

(sometimes just remembering to breathe can be the hardest part!)

Yes there are very advanced techniques you shouldn't ever attempt alone without the guidance of an experienced teacher, yet you can begin today to breathe fully and deeply using your diaphragm. If you can breathe, it isn't difficult to do. (you can always google diaphragmatic breathing/full complete breathing/3 part Dirgha breath etc.)

Just remember nothing too advanced without a teacher on hand to show you the ropes. And always listen to your body, don't force, and any dizziness/pain/uncomfortable frame of mind... STOP.

Just yesterday I was pleasantly reminded of breath I had left by the wayside for a very long time. I had the very good fortune of having a yin class with one of my favourite teachers in town, the lovely Diana Batts. (I so love her, and she is just a wonderful human being in every sense of the word as well!)

The breath is called Bhramari/Humming Breath or Bee Breath. It was exactly what I needed, and I was amazed at how well it fit with our yin practice yesterday. It honestly would have not occured to me on my own to incorporate that breath into that practice, and it was wonderful.

Anyways...for someone who has trouble updating her blog I sure have been rambling on here! (or humming along! hah!)

I just really wanted to give a breathing reminder to anyone who may pass by here.

If you practice yoga, you already know what I am talking about and if you don't, get yourself to a yoga class whether mine or somebody else's!

Take Care of yourself and remember to breathe. Make every breath count. Sometimes it's all you need, and the results are immediate. ♥

"When in doubt, breathe in breathe out" :):)