Every 5 minutes it seems there's another study touting the effects of yoga..

The most recent one is yoga and happiness ♥

Researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine investigated whether yoga or walking made people happier and the answer was Yoga.

People who practiced Yoga 2-3 times per week reported being happier and much less anxious than those who walked for the same length of time. And the science backed them up completely. The yogi's had much higher levels of mood boosting chemicals in their brains too.

Those of us who practice yoga regularly always find these studies entertaining. We feel the effects of our yoga. I'm thrilled that medical science is discovering what we have all known for years (and the ancient yogi's have known for literally thousands of years). It is nice that it can all be confirmed in a lab or by a fMRI machine these days. And it is really lovely the way that yoga is moving more and more into a clinical setting as well. That makes me so very happy as yoga truly is self care of so many levels.

I love my yoga and I do love my walking too. I recommend the best of both worlds. Walk to yoga!

P.S. registration is on for both The Roundhouse and Mt Pleasant classes so let's do it up!

Do you volunteer?

Do you volunteer? Over the holiday season or throughout the year?

Pretty much everywhere you go this time of year you can see people giving of their most valuable commodity. Time.

Speaking as somebody who has volunteered pretty much my whole life I can tell you that everybody wins. Not only the person/people you are giving the time to, but you too benefit. Hugely. I'm not exaggerating in saying that it might just be one of the most valuable experiences of your life.

If you give of yourself, good on ya!

And if you don't you should do yourself and the folks in your community a favour by giving of yourself. There is only one you. And the world needs us! All of us.

We all have causes we believe in and topics that interest us. And we all have skills and ways of helping unique to us. Everyone can benefit! I almost feel guilty volunteering. Nothing makes you feel better! It adds such a richness to your life. I believe it releases endorphins too. And from a karmic stand point you can't go wrong. We will all need help in this life and thats a fact. So why not help?

I have an array of organizations I love to help but the two biggest are The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada (website here), including their BrainWAVE Program ( website here), and the one and only Shanti Uganda Society (website here). *Both of which are always looking for volunteers!

If you ever had any questions for me or wanted to be pointed in the right direction feel free to contact me, anytime at yoginilori@gmail.com I'd really love to help you get started. You will not regret it!

Happy holidays and namaste xo

Did you know?

The winner of the 2007 NYC marathon was the mother of a 9 month old baby.

Isn't that amazing? I heard it mentioned the other day and it is just so inspiring.

All you moms inspire me so. You are all so truly amazing.

Thanks for being in my life. xo

take some time to get quiet and don't be afraid to be who you really are

Every day we slaughter our finest impulses. That is why we get a heart-ache when we read those lines written by the hand of a master and recognize them as our own, as the tender shoots which we stifled because we lacked the faith to believe in our own powers, our own criterion of truth and beauty. Every man, when he gets quiet, when he becomes desperately honest with himself, is capable of uttering profound truths. We all derive from the same source. There is no mystery about the origin of things. We are all part of creation, all kings, all poets, all musicians; we have only to open up, to discover what is already there. ~Henry Miller

snow withdrawal

I'm going through a little snow withdrawal now that it's gone. Was it something we said?

Todays the day! Bring a clean blanket on your commute!

*Bring a blanket on your way to work/school/yoga Friday Nov 26!

Click here for more info

Let's join Gregory and his young son help keep the homeless warm this winter!

Qi

The character for Qi (pronounced chee) represents steam rising from rice, meaning the air of life, a symbol for effortless sustenance.