You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt.-Author Unknown

I wrote the little little story below for the Roundhouse recreation guide last fall and feel every bit as excited, thrilled and inspired to be getting back to the garden now. If you've been thinking about starting a garden, just do it!

Honestly, If I can do it anybody can..♥

If someone told me a year and a half ago that I would be growing my own food, I would never have believed it.The thought had honestly never occurred to me. Not once. Nobody in my family grew plants. I actually don’t recall seeing a single houseplant during my entire childhood!

At one of the yoga classes I teach, a participant (and now friend and garden buddy!) mentioned that she was getting on a list for a plot at a community garden in our neighborhood, and I found myself a little intrigued…

I decided to attend a garden meeting to find out what it was all about, and couldn’t believe that I got a plot right away! I was both scared and excited. I didn’t know a single thing about gardening. But you know what? It doesn’t matter! Having a garden is one of best things I have ever done. I couldn’t recommend it more highly, and the food couldn’t be more delicious! I am saving money, eating the most delicious organic food, and lightening my carbon footprint. I am also greatly enjoying being more involved in my community.

I am literally brimming with happiness over my garden.

The therapeutic benefits of gardening are absolutely endless, and well documented. Studies have shown that simply looking at a plant can reduce stress, and lower blood pressure. You get to engage all your senses, while getting out into the open air. It is also a mindful practice in which we are reminded about the cycle of life.

You could grow vegetables, flowers, herbs, or a combination of things. You could garden in your community with others, or you could garden on your window ledge, in containers, on your fire escape, rooftop, or even other people’s backyards.

I cannot recommend enough, growing your own food. There is such an incredible satisfaction in watching your garden grow.

And for children, the benefits are truly endless. Studies have shown that once kids see where their food comes from, they will make healthier food choices, while learning patience, self-sufficiency, self-esteem and environmental awareness.

There are countless resources out there for getting started, and people who know how to garden love to help and share their wisdom, and even they will admit that sometimes things don’t grow, or they die.

Oh well…just plant something else!

For me it’s all one big, fun, tasty experiment in which I get to play in the dirt and connect with the earth.

And the harvest? Now, That’s the best part!

a few pics of yaletown this past week.

Brand spankin' new daytime class starts tomorrow at Mt.Pleasant! Yeeeaaahhh....:)

Looking forward to an additional Daytime Hatha Yoga class starting up at Mt.Pleasant tomorrow! There is now a class on Monday and Wednesday from 1230-2oopm.

And there's still room!

(you can register or drop in for this class)

www.mountpleasantcc.ca

See ya there!

Mt.Pleasant update! Classes added for next week!

Goooood morning peeps!

I am in bliss as the sun is streaming in my window. And well... it is just plain lovely. (especially after all of yesterdays "moisture" and cloud cover haha.. )

Anyways...Just wanted to give you a heads up that YES there will in fact be Yoga next week at Mt.Pleasant between our regular sessions so feel free to drop by!

I asked and we received! Yay!

These 4 classes are drop in only as they are during our week off between sessions. (I believe they are all $12 to drop into as well)

Registration is on for all sessions beginning the first week of April and I recommend registering soon to ensure a spot. (for all classes)

A couple of things to note mt.pleasant-wise is that I have added an additional daytime Hatha class on Wednedays now at 1230. (just like the Mondays class) So now those of you who have been asking to be able to double up, can! And I kept it seriously reasonable too. It is a huge savings to register for both days. Oh, and I've upped the class time from 75 minutes to a full 90.

Soooo...register away! All sessions for all classes start the first week of April.

Here are the classes I've added for next week:

Monday March 29- Baby & Me Yoga from 1045am -1215pm

Monday March 29-Daytime Hatha from 1230pm-200pm

Wednesday March 31-Daytime Hatha from 1230pm-200pm

Wednesday March 31-Prenatal Yoga from 630pm-745pm

Have a really wonderful day! I'm off to my Kid's yoga class now to do a lot of barking and meowing and jumping around. (don't worry I don't make any animal sounds in the above classes!) But you always can if the feeling strikes!

Have a lovely day & see ya soon. XO

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

The Roundhouse is back! The Roundhouse is back!

This is going to be the shortest blog post in the world because I am running late here, but I feel like screaming it from the rooftops I love this place so much! lol!

I will be forever grateful to Lilli Q' Cafe and Playhouse as well for allowing me to hold my Roundhouse classes there during the Olympic Hiatus and I can't recommend enough checking out Lilli'Q. (1268 Pacific Blvd-right next door to the roundhouse!)

It is a lovely cafe and play spot for babies and tot's & momma's and families.

And the owner is the momma of a 1 year old herself!

Anyways, gotta fly! headed there now. Yay!

Registration is on right now by the way for both the Roundhouse and Mt.Pleasant!

(see schedule for links & info and such!)

Love, Lori XO

My wish is for everyone to find their yoga.

We are just so lucky. I mean really...

Does it get any better than this?

To those who know me I know I may seem a little "over the top" (maybe even "irritatingly" happy a lot of the time) haha.. but I'm human and believe it or not, I have my dark days as well.

I know very well that we are all experiencing our own reality in every moment and that things are continually changing and evolving. We don't always feel like celebrating and aren't "always" overflowing with bliss ( because well, quite frankly, shitty things sometimes happen to us at times!) Life is truly so uncertain and none of us ever know what is around the corner.

But all in all....It is a such beautiful world and there is never a shortage of things for me to feel incredibly and deeply grateful for. For instance teaching yoga is a continual source of joy and inspiration to me. I would recommend it to anyone, anytime, any day of the week because Yoga is for everybody. As long as you can breathe you can practice yoga.♥

It's no secret that I teach weekly Yoga classes to everyone from pregnant mom's to babies, (post-natal) to kid's, and to all- levels and ages of adult's. This isn't by accident. Sure, it's more study time for me and more prep time each day (keeping things fresh and new) but I love it. I really really do.:)

And the best part?

(short of owning my own yoga studio that is) I have full control of my class pricing! (aside from applicable taxes of course.) I get to keep my classes affordable. That truly is a luxury. There aren't many places you can teach and set your own price structure. I feel very blessed to be able to do this and for as long as I can continue to.. that is what I'll be doing. So far it has been 6 years. I make my own prices and schedule and feel really good about keeping yoga accessible to people. My classes are $12 to a maximum of $14 to drop into and even cheaper if you register. (most are 90 minute classes)

My Yoga practice is one of the biggest things in my life, right up there with my partner and loved ones. My love for yoga just keeps growing and I feel a richness, inner peace and gratitude for my practice that I have difficulty putting into words.

Yoga means many things to many people. There are so many facets of yoga. It is just so profound. And yet your yoga practice can be whatever you want it to be!

Simple. Thats what my practice is. And it becomes even more simple the longer I practice and teach. And thats the beauty of it. It is your own practice and yours alone. For me a yoga class is time for me. A rare chance to pause and reflect and breathe. To be in my body. To let go of the past, the to-do list, whatever is going on tomorrow. Yoga really helps keep my life and my body in balance. It's a chance to draw in and nourish myself. To recharge.

Whether it's Ashtanga, Kundalini, Iyengar, Yin (although I believe everyone would most certainly benefit from some yin- it's delicious!!) Whatever it is... find the style for you. If you don't resonate with a certain teacher or venue or style, try another one!

Maybe Yoga for some people is golf, or tennis or running? I truly believe that the more people who practice some form of yoga, the more love and peace there will be in the world. And the benefits are absolutely countless and undisputed.

Hope to see you in a class soon!

My classes are super casual with lot's of variations for everyone. This is my full time job and all I do.

I hope to see you on the mat soon :)