I love my community.

Today I am off to a garden party/potluck at my community garden. Its where my fellow gardeners (neighbors/people from the community/folks from all walks of life) get caught up, clean up, work together planting, pulling weeds, etc... We just basically work together doing whatever projects that need to be done. And we visit, get caught up with each other, and make new connections. Its really nice. Even in the pouring rain its nice.

It just just got me thinking about community this morning and the sheer importance of it, especially in this day and age. Whatever you choose to get involved in not only benefits you but it benefits the whole community. Children of all ages can get involved in community/volunteer projects as well, and they can learn a lot of great skills while they're at it. And its so fun and rewarding.

Heres a great quote by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. on community;

"What should young people do with their lives today? many things obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured."

It sure is a beautiful world we live in. Its important to make connections and be there for each other. Namaste.

Let's be extra kind today because heck, why not?

This made me cry! haha.. (yeah, i'm a sap)

I love this and its so true..

Happy September everybody!

Can't believe it's September already! No wonder I awoke with the above tune in my head!

(not kidding, I really did. I really was around when that song came out haha).

It's time for transitions of all kinds. Hectic schedules, cooler temperatures and shorter days are on the way for all of us.

Feels strange having the rest of the week off as we transition from our Summer sessions to Fall. I hope you'll remember to include your own self care in your fall plans/scheduling.

Fall is a time to turn inward, and you can not be available to anyone else in a healthy way if your needs aren't meant. Don't forget precious "you" time whether that includes a Yoga practice or something else.

Yoga-wise I have classes for absolutely everybody of every age and ability. Both during the day and in the evening starting next week at the Roundhouse and the following week at Mount Pleasant.

At The Roundhouse Arts and Community Centre-604-713-1800

Tues Sept 6 - Prenatal Yoga 5:45-7:15pm & Mixed Levels 7:30pm-9:00pm

Thurs Sept 8 - Baby and Me Yoga 12:30-2:00pm , Prenatal Yoga 5:45-715pm and *new* Yoga for Limited Mobility 7:30-8:30pm

At Mount Pleasant Community Centre -604-257-3080

Mon Sept 12- Baby and me Yoga 1045am-1215 and Daytime Yoga 1230-2pm

Wed Sept 14- Daytime Yoga 12:30-2:00pm and Prenatal Yoga 6:30-7:45pm

Thanks for a great summer!

Wishing you energy, vitality and health this fall & hope to see you on the mat!

(My Facebook Page Yoga with Lori Lucas can be found here and is updated daily as well).

Namaste xx

Don't know of any better birth preparation than yoga

The practice involves not just exercise but mindfulness as well, opening both your body and mind to what lies ahead. A study of 74 first-time mothers in Thailand found that those who did prenatal yoga experienced less pain and a shorter labour.

Whether you believed in his politics, or not...

Jack Layton was greatly loved by Canadians. RIP Jack Layton. 1950-2011

This past Saturday (less than 48 hours before he died), Jack Layton penned a very moving two page letter to Canadians. The letter can be found here.

Politics aside here are a just a couple of excerpts:

“Unfortunately, my treatment has not worked out as I hoped,” he wrote. “So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.”

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world." -August 20 2011-Jack Layton 1950-2011

“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.