5 Reasons To Do More Yoga This Season

5 Reasons To Do More Yoga This Season

Cupcakes Yoga and Vino

HYA Holiday Party. Good times
xoxo

The Spirit of Giving

Holiday Season.....it is upon us once again and hopefully for most of us this is a joyous season. However, we can't turn a blind eye to the fact that for a lot of families, this season causes a lot of stress and frustration, as they try to bear the burden of coping in our materialistic, consumer driven society.Almost everywhere we go over the next month, there will be food drives asking for donations and many of us will donate our money and even our time to the cause of helping those less fortunate than us. Patanjali's 33rd sutra says "When harassed by doubt, cultivate the opposite mental attitude"  Giving to others can reverse the message of scarcity that we are telling ourselves ; as we share our good fortune, we start realising that we have more than enough and this shift helps us feel more than fulfilled.

Halfway across the world, in a society that is far from materialistic, the poverty is heartbreaking. Children walk over 5kms a day to get to school and are housed in classrooms that are built with crushed boulders packing in 150 students per room. Many children sit on the concrete floors and wear the same uniforms day in and day out. It is a story we have all heard before, the images of these children in the media have been exploited and resulted in a numbing to what the reality is. Every Sunday at HYA the Karma class funds are donated to Plan Canada to assist children in third world countries living in poverty. This Sunday I am teaching the Karma Class at Hot Yoga Aurora and all funds are being donated to Natasha Stribbell my friend and neighbour so that she can in turn donate them to a school in Tanzania which currently has no running water or roof.
I invite you to
A) Come sweat , which is always and fun, and -
B) Help children in Tanzania get an education, because education is the only way we can change the world.

Lets try and channel a Greg Mortenson.
I would love to see you there
Namaste
Candice
xoxo

Total Cleanse

Yogis and Yoginis,

You may have seen these flyers recently around the studio.....Total Cleanse is now delivering straight to Hot Yoga Aurora making it even more convenient for you to pick up your cleanse before or after your yoga practice. See my blog posts below from October 16th and October 18th which is when I did the three day energise cleanse. I definately recommend it and even more so now that you can save 15% off the cost of your cleanse by using promo #hotyogacleanse and picking up at the studio ! The juices are delicious and definately do the "detoxing job"
* that does not mean it is easy so feel free to let us know how you are doing and maybe we can give you a pep talk if need be*

Success is not a place at which one arrives but rather the spirit with which one undertakes and continues the journey.”

It has been about six months since I began the 200 hour yoga teacher training at Hot Yoga Aurora, on paper it is the process of being certified, but in reality it is a wonderful journey. The journey was life changing, eye opening , at times gruelling, but worth it.I asked my fellow yogis what they thought of the teacher training and what it did for them emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally, the responses were great and a reocurring theme throughout that resonated with me was the fear that you just wont be good enough, the feeling of inadequacy that comes with new experiences and learning new things. Here is what they had to say

One of the biggest ones for me was doubting myself. Through out the training i would feel some really big highs and some really big lows. The highs were when i felt really good about teaching and i had this confidence where i knew i was going to do really well and i felt really good about becoming a teacher. On the other hand the lows were when i felt like i didn't want to put in the effort some days, i felt like i didn't like the thought of teaching and i wouldn't be good at it. My advice is to keep up with your practice, although it might feel like the last thing you want to do after a long day of training is a yoga class on top of it all, but thats what give you that confidence that allows you to feel like you are in the right place. I find that when i miss a few classes or i just haven't been to the studio in a few days i start to lose encouragement. It is a major roller coaster ride but the "ups" far outweigh the "downs", it is extremely rewarding to be coming to the end of the training and i cant wait to become a certified teacher :)

 - ERIN WARD WILLIAMS ( On schedule at HYA and soon opening her own studio along with her sister Ashley - see below)

Major Highs
*Extreme sense of accomplishment, especially when it feels like all of that information and hard work finally starts to come together!
*Gained sense of purpose, its just feels great to know that I now have the ability to influence someone's practice, whether its a student at the studio or a friend/family member and to spread the love of yoga
*Meeting and making new friends in the YTT program, although its hard to open up at first and feel confident its amazing how supportive and non-judgmental everyone is, and it feels great to work together and support eachother!

Major Lows
*As already mentioned, feeling inadequate is a big challenge, trying to be confident as a beginner teacher and moving out there into the world of experenced ones, but we all have to start somewhere!! there will always be that fear of rejection
*Keeping at it while maintaining balance in your life ie. work, family, friends and keeping up with your own personal practice...major challenge for me, lots of determination, drive, planning and headaches
*For some it might not be so bad, but I know for me my nerves can really get the best of me....its mentally draining, and makes me almost feel physically ill !
But all in all it is quite the journey, and a life-changing experience!

ASHLEY WARD WILLIAMS  (On schedule at HYA)

One of the first things my Teacher in Dallas told us was that stuff was gonna come up in our life that would prevent us from graduating. He didn't know why or what would happen, but in his experience (with 8 groups of YTT), major life challenges would come to surface that could derail someone from their training completion...I'm the perfect example because I was kicked out of the United States and couldn't finish ! I find that you seem to be 'tested' at some point during your training. Maybe it's because of the emphasis on 'soul-searching'....

Rachel Cheam Gibson ( On schedule at HYA and educator at Lululemon)

My biggest challenge when entering the Yoga Teacher Training was thinking that a yoga teacher must be a yoga guru. If one is going to teach the practice, then one must have the practice mastered. I became fixated on advanced postures, practiced them every day and attended workshops - I was obsessed. During the course of my training I slowly learned the philosophy behind the yoga practice. I began to realize that yoga is not about achieving asanas and being a "show off", yoga is about finding your own edge and detaching yourself from it. I forgot about future goals, and began focusing on the present. Instead of worrying about what's next, I concentrate on what is happening now. No one ever masters yoga - everyone just keeps practicing.

LUCY GOYTISOLO

(Lucy teaches at Twisted Yoga Studio every Wednesday at 6pm !

509 Bloor St W -get off at Bathurst Subway Station!

Cost is $8 per class

Check out her website for more info: http://www.anyonecanyoga.ca/)

Before I joined the YTT program, I was a different person. I was confused, closed up, and lost. I over analyzed EVERYTHING I did, said, and thought about - including enrolling in the YTT program.On New Year ’s Day 2011, I made the decision to make some huge changes in my life, one of which meant I was going to stop thinking about it and just enroll in the program.

At first I was shocked at the amount of work and time it was going to take to become certified. Next, I was surprised to find out that there were so many cool chicks interested in the same things I was, and as eager to learn more about yoga. Next, I learned that everyone had something happen/happening in their life which led them to yoga and enrolling in the YTT program. In listening to people's stories, and watching them be so open, I too opened up and shared my story, as well as things that I hadn't told some of my closest friends. The sisterhood that came with the YTT program has definitely been my favorite part overall. Lastly, while I expected to grow as person through the training, I did not anticipate acquiring a new outlook on life and the ability to take yoga off the mat.

These elements have precipitated so many positive changes in my life that I can say now I am no longer confused or lost. I’m happy, and I have kick ass group of yogi friends.

ADRIANA CORREALE - ( On schedule at HYA )

If you asked me what yoga was 5 years ago I would have said “it’s a workout”. I despised the gym or any aerobics classes because I felt self conscious – to me going to the gym or a class meant I had to lose the weight and be fit before going just so that I could blend in with the rest of the crowd. Isn’t that ironic? My then 19-year-old sister took me to my first hot yoga class – 90 minutes later I was in love. I went religiously, not only because it made me feel good about myself, but people that were practicing with me were in the same boat. This was my sanctuary! After a long day at work dealing with at most times miserable people (nobody wants to buy gas, they have to – and with gas prices today, you can imagine who their target was for anger) I went to yoga to get fit but also to relax, get out of my head and just have a 60-90 minute of quiet and peaceful time. I must have written the following in my personal essay for Melissa’s exam - after having my son (Daniel) my world completely changed. Life had a completely different meaning. I decided to make a drastic career change. Sold my businesses and signed up for the YTT program. I felt really good about making this decision – I enjoyed all the workshops, classes and meetings. Met amazing girls that inspire me! And then came a point where I felt I made the biggest mistake of my life. I realized that I’m terrified of disappointing others, which in turn meant that I was terrified of teaching. It took Melissa a month if not longer to finally throw me into the class and give me no choice but to teach. With tears in my eyes and a sick feeling in my throat I begged (and attempted to bribe) other teachers to take my place, with no luck I had to face my fears. To this day I still get the nervous butterflies in my stomach but I feel amazing leaving the class even without physically participating. To quickly add another point, I was always a closed off person – sharing feelings and being emotional was a sign of weakness to me. Yoga has allowed me to open up my emotional side and see deeper within myself.

MARIA LITVAK -VASERBAKH ( On schedule at HYA )

We know that practicing yoga and teaching yoga are two greatly distanced opposite ends of the spectrum. As we move through our teacher training we learn about the physiological benefits of yoga - and we are reeling! Yoga not only has an effect on our physical body but also on our emotions and our overall mental health??

But I thought Doctor's were only able to identify possible mental health issues????? We start teaching and we see that our class style has a vast effect on our students. We miss verbal cues for our beginners and we see both beginners and advanced students leaving the room, fidgeting in their postures, eyes wide open looking around the room. This frustrates us to no end! Stay on your mat, do the pose and internalize. Oh, we wish it were easier!!!!!! We come to see people struggling in life and this has the greatest effect on us of all. We want to 'fix' them, to make them yogis in only a few classes.


But the truth is that class is a PRACTICE. Students have to keep coming back to absorb the benefits of yoga. We need to cultivate our knowledge and instruct our class at the most basic level. Teaching a class beyond our realm of experience (ie. Intense forward bends or inversions) can cause our students serious harm and/or send them back out into the world not able to identify with the experience they just had. Students either leave relaxed, centered and focused....or spaced out/angry/upset/depressed.

Yoga brings a lot of baggage with it. We never know how deep someone's emotions are strangling their joints and body, let alone their mind, and because of this we need to be careful. For me, it was very tough to teach and try to connect to students subtle bodies, to their energy on the mat. We are too involved with finding the flow of our words to truly identify with students as well.

As we progress from the basics, we learn to keep our eyes and subtle body open to give and receive energy with our students, and eventually our followers. If we push ourselves too hard by trying to do the 'mostintense sequence' or a 'deep chakra meditation' before we really even know how to use our words to teach - we will feel like failures - like frauds. And I did for quite some time.

Finding ourselves is important to finding our style. We judge ourselves because we don't feel like we're progressing fast enough. It is important to take the time to study for practice(class), but it is even more important to take time for self-study. Find who you are, be confident in who you are, and you will connect with your students.

I wanted to be Melissa overnight I think, and now I realize that I am years away from even being the 'Heather' that I know students will love and connect to. But I am patient.

Heather O'Neill (On schedule at HYA)

 

Thanks to all of you for sharing and thank you to Melissa for being the guru she is, as well as to Naz for her kindness and patience, and the rest of the teachers at HYA. Come check out our classes, visit http://www.hotyogaaurora.com/ for scheduling info or http://www.anyonecanyoga.ca/

NAMASTE

Good food, good people, good yoga !

As part of the yoga teacher training program we are required to attend a yoga retreat for a full weekend. This past weekend we went to Ajalila Gardens located 50 minutes north of Toronto on beautiful grounds with very cozy accommodations where we were immersed in the yogi lifestyle. Ashely, Erin and I attended for the day since we completed our retreat requirement in the Spring, Erin and I taught our first classes and our nerves were buzzing all morning. We started off the day at 8am with a Hatha Class followed by a vegetarian brunch of scrambled tofu and oatmeal. After lunch we went for a walk in the cedar forest and took a few pics (see below), the weather was good and we were spared from any rain for the day. I taught at 12pm and Erin taught at 1pm,  both our classes went well and luckily we taught earlier in the day so the pressure was off and we were free to enjoy the rest of the program set up for us by the retreat. Around 3.30pm we watched a cooking demonstration where we learned how to make carrot cake, dahl soup, and spinach pie which were to be had for dinner. We then went to a Kirtan class led by Madhavendra, the owner of the retreat, who has been teaching yoga for over 25 years and teaching meditation for over 15 years. Following the Kirtan class we sat down for dinner and indulged! Luckily the final class for the day was restorative as I don’t think any of us were up for anything vigorous after our delicious meal. The class was incredibly relaxing and the aura in the studio was beautiful. Everyone was glowing at the end of the day and who wouldn’t be after good food, good yoga and a day with good people. The retreat is an invaluable experience and there is so much to be learned, I cant wait to attend the next one ( the pond at Ajalila looks pretty inviting for summer ) Thank You to Melissa and Naz for your wonderful organizational skills! Thank You to Madhavendra and Allan for sharing your space with us.

Namaste ….and Happy Monday, have a wonderful week. 

Ajalila Gardens Yoga Retreat

"juicin"

Last night I finished my juice cleanse package from Total Cleanse and my energy levels are through the roof. Here is a quick summary of the  Energise Cleanse ( one of a few options )  and how it works :

There are four juices that are to be consumed in numbered order for a total of six juices a day they are:

Green Energy – Cucumber, celery, kale , lettuces, parsley, lemon, apply ( very filling )

Lemonade- lemon, cayenne, maple syrup, filtered water ( refreshing )

Very Berry – Strawberry , pineapply blueberry apple and lemon ( my favourite )

Creamy Cashew – Cashew nuts, vanilla, honey and filtered water.  ( delicious and perfect for bed time )

And this is the order they go in………

Green Energy

Lemonade

Green Energy

Very Berry

Lemonade

Creamy Cashew

Day 1 – I started off the day with a herbal tea then went to a hot flow class before having my first juice. The green energy juice is very filling and gave me the energy I needed for the rest of the day, I drank the rest of the juices in their numbered order and relaxed at home. The first day is definitely tough and that is why I chose a Saturday to start so that I could stay at home without any obligations!

Day 2 - I had to go to a teacher trainee workshop which involved teaching yoga for one hour and practicing for two hours. I was worried about my energy levels since the workshop started at 5pm and ended at 8pm. By the time I started I was on my second lemonade of the day and felt fine, I was not weak or tired and after the workshop I had my lovely creamy cashew to look forward too before bed.

Day­ 3- This was a tough one…..being a Monday I was surrounded by people at work who for some reason seemed to eating the most delicious smelling and looking foods I have ever seen ……I ended up having a handful of nuts as I simply needed to chew!!! The rest of the day went well and I am glad to say that I finished the cleanse !

Overall I feel a lot lighter and more energized. Unlike I imagined I did not spend today pigging out and the urges for junk food are gone. Detoxing is definitely a mind over matter task and at times it will be trying but the benefits are amazing. If done properly juice cleanses leave you feeling less bloated, boost the immune system and yes you will lose some weight ! I will be running a two session detox workshop at Hot Yoga Aurora where you will have the option of ordering your own juice cleanse from Total Cleanse so watch this space for more info.

Fall Cleansing

Last winter I read about a company in NYC called Ritual Cleanse that was offering a customised cleanse package that would be delivered to your door in the form of bottles of juice that were ready to drink - no work required. What struck me about this idea was the fact that it catered to those of us that have a lot on our plate. I am currently working full time, doing the yoga teacher training and completing an additional qualification to teach special needs students. Translation: I do not have time to make my own juices but really enjoy the benefits of cleansing.I was thrilled to find out that a company based in Toronto was offering the same experience. Total Cleanse developed by Rebecca Malen who is also the co-founder of NimDiet.com will deliver juices straight to your door. They juice and you cleanse! There are a few different options for cleansing packages such as energise, revitalise, refresh and purify, each one including a different combination of juices that should be consumed in a specific order depending on the desired outcome. There is even a Bridal Package!!! Yesterday I started the energise clease which is a three day cleanse that includes 6 bottles of juice a day. The juices are Green Energy, Very Berry, Lemonade and Creamy Cashew. These juices are very tasty as well as filling, two days in and I feel great. I have tried other cleanses in the past that have left me feeling sluggish but the amount of nutrients packed into these juices really prevents that from happening. I did a hot flow class yesterday and plan to do one again today , taking it easy and listening to the body. So far so good and I look forward to my last day of cleansing tomorrow. Thank You Rebecca Malen !!!

Check out totalcleanse.ca for more information and if you want to pick up your cleanse at Hot Yoga Aurora please note that this is now an option and you will get a discount !!
xox

HAPPY OCTOBER !!!

With the change in weather a lot of people are starting to come down with different strains of cold and flu, which of course, is part and parcel of the season. I came down with something myself this past week which reminded me how important it is to keep the immune system healthy and strong especially during the colder months of the year. I am opposed to the flu shot and therefore more “natural” preventative measures must prevail.  I have stocked up on Echinacea and after Thanksgiving I plan on doing a detox. During the colder months we tend to eat a little more and are a little less active. Detoxing at this time of year means ridding the body of chemically treated and processed foods, pollution and waste, and boosting the immune system. Essentially, cleaning us out. Once we are all “detoxified” and cleaned out we can stick to a healthy diet with ease (until around Christmas ) and incorporate germ fighting super foods to prevent illness. Here are some foods that will boost the immune system and are rich in Vitamins A, C, E, plus zinc and selenium:

Vitamin C- Sweet Potatoes, Red Bell Peppers, Tomatoes Broccoli, Citrus

Minerals- Mushrooms, Garbanzo Beans, Squash, Greens

That being said, I often find that there are so many articles in newspapers and magazines as well as online this time of year giving the same information offered above. What is often missing is a solid way to put this into play in your day to day life.  Here is a super easy recipe that incorporates one of the best foods ever- sweet potatoes- and is chock a block full of vitamin C:

Sweet Potatoe Soup:

1 tablespoon of olive oil

2 medium yellow onions, chopped

3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped

½ inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped

6 cups of low sodium vegetable broth

Fresh thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Sauté onions in saucepan with oil until golden brown .
2. Add the vegetable broth and bring to a boil, add sweet potatoes and ginger then reduce to medium heat until sweet potatoes are easily penetrated with a fork.
3. Puree soup in a blender, or use a hand blender until smooth.
4. Garnish with thyme

Watch this space for more info on detoxing with Total Cleanse, Canada’s premiere juice delivery service. Again with detoxing, there are so many articles dedicated to it but very few offer solid plans. Total Cleanse not only offers a solid detox plan, but will actually deliver a pre packaged cleanse to your doorstep. The juices look delicious and I can not wait to start mine on October 14^th – for more info check out http://www.totalcleanse.ca/.

Falling into Bliss

I look forward to the lazy days of summer all year long. Life slows down which is often welcomed and everyone seems to be relaxed and rested wandering around in flip flops......the fruits are brighter and juicier, vacations are the order of the day and there is a street festival happing in our beautiful city almost every weekend. What is not to love?? Whether or not this is truly how summer is, or I am fantasising because the weather is already cooling down I am not sure. What I do know is that as fall approaches, life becomes a little bit more serious. A lot of us are getting back into the full swing of school and work which often signifies new beginnings and the vibe in the air kind of reminds me of a very long Monday morning. Here are my 5 top reasons to love fall despite the fact that it means the end of my favourite season and it precedes my least favourite:


HOT YOGA- as the weather cools down you can always warm up and get toasty in a hot yoga class.It seems that much easier to get into a studio when a pool is not calling your name. In keeping with new beginnings try a new class out, if you always do a flow class try a ying yang class or vice versa. There are so many options.

RETREATS- as the weather cools down we all love to fantasise about a return to the heat. Yoga retreats offer a great excuse and one is being offered through Hot Yoga Aurora to the Bahamas in February 2012 – start saving/put it in your calendar now ! If you practice regularly starting now your bikini bod will be ready to go by then. (Payments due December 23rd)

PUMPKIN SPICE SOY LATTES at Starbucks are back!!

TV SHOWS!  Your favourite tv shows are back and most of them are premiering this week

FALL FOOD -With every season comes a new vegetable or fruit that is at its best and easy to find in most stores. My favourite is definitely pumpkin and there are so many ways to enjoy it , get into the kitchen and experiment!

Take a moment to remember why change is good and embrace it. (FYI - you can make this the centre of your next yoga practice). New beginnings mean new and exciting things, this fall my 200 hour yoga teacher training will come to an end (although the learning will not stop) and along with Ashley and Erin Ward Williams we will be teaching our first classes. That’s definitely something to be excited about. Watch this space for more info !

Namaste




Namaste

A picture is worth a thousand words



A picture is worth a thousand words



"ROCK YOUR VINYASA"

Music has long been an integral part of human existence. Whether we create it, listen for pleasure or use it to evoke a mood, it is deeply rooted in our society. Music and yoga have always had an intimate relationship but it has recently been taken to a new level with the onset of live DJ’s spinning during yoga practices, something that is now common in cutting edge studios found in major cities around the world. Come out and enjoy this dynamic experience at Hot Yoga Aurora this Sunday August 14^th from 2.30pm – 4.30pm with the combination of an amazing instructor and a DJ who spins to the rhythm of the class. Melissa Williams will be leading a core vinyasa flow class while Ian Hyman a.k.a DJ HyFI spins. DJ HyFI is both a DJ and a yoga instructor himself,  so there is no doubt that he knows how to create an energising atmosphere. The investment is $30 plus HST and you can call Hot Yoga Aurora at 905 503-1011 to register but make sure you do so ASAP as spaces are filling and you do not want to miss this one! It will be a great way to end off the weekend, if I have not yet convinced you, sample the sounds of DJ HyFi at http://yoganonymous.org/dj-hyfi/ and i will no doubt see you there.

Namaste

Summer Reads

Yoga, an ancient but perfect science, deals with the evolution of humanity.  This evolution includes all aspects of one's being, from bodily health to self-realization.  Yoga means union - the union of body with consciousness and consciousness with the soul.  Yoga cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day-to-day life and endows skill in the performance of one's actions

B.K.S Iyengar

We are already half way through the summer and if you have not yet had a chance to read a good book then I would definately suggest “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and David Relin. It is one of those books that leaves you feeling inspired and will more than likely bring a tear (or two ) to your eye, so be prepared. To summarise, the story centres on Greg Mortenson, who started out on a mission to climb one of the world’s largest mountains, “K2” , in order to honour the memory of his younger sister.

When Mortenson got lost in the remote mountain areas surrounding “K2”, he ended up in a village called Korphe , where he made a promise to the children and the village elders of Korphe that he would one day return and build them a school. He was by no means wealthy, but when he returned to his home in the United States he remained committed to his promise. He sold his belongings and mailed out letters to people he thought might be important, in an effort to raise money. The obstacles he faced were endless, the situations he found himself in were gruelling, but his determination to build a school resulted in the establishment of the Central Asia Institute which is now responsible for funding schools in that region and educating women. A promise to build one school in 1992 has resulted in the creation of over 100 schools  throughout the surrounding regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan as well as the education of over 68 000 children.

Not all of us can be like Mother Theresa, Greg Mortenson or the Dalai Lama, but the point is that we can all learn something from these amazing people. Recently, there has been a controversy over the publication of the book whereby critics have stated that Mortenson’s story is not entirely true and that many of the schools are not functioning as they should be. Even if Greg Mortenson educated one child, or built one school, he still made a difference and these are the positive things that we should focus on. To me this is a story of endurance. If you can remain committed to something despite the obstacles you face, the results will be like nothing you have ever imagined, both on the mat and off the mat.

Thanks to Jim and Darlene Nicholson for lending this book to me!

Namaste

Mindful about Mats

I have been using the same bright purple mat that I got at Winners since I started practicing yoga some years ago and I have become quite attached to it despite its worn in smell and loss of colour.

 I definately needed a new mat but the idea of breaking it in was not appealing to me as I envisioned myself slipping and sliding around in my own puddles of sweat during a hot yoga class .

 When I came to realise that the mat I had been using was sending bad toxins into the environment this gave me the push I needed to get a new one. What most of us don’t realise is that many mats are made with PVC (polyvinyl chloride) which unfortunately is as bad as it sounds and has negative effects on both the body and the environment. In particular, the nasty toxins it releases effect the endocrine system. One of the reasons that many of the mats we see today are made from PVC is for the stickiness that this material provides.


 Naturally, we like to feel secure from slipping on our mats and PVC provides this security for a reasonable price. However, the long term effects of PVC will undoubtedly make most of us think twice about what type of mat we are practicing on.

This information influenced my decision to purchase a Jade Yoga Mat, made completely from natural rubber and containing absolutely no PVC. I am now sporting a pretty sleek black harmony professional mat from the Jade range and I couldn’t be happier, its non-slip, light weight and I don’t even need to use it with a non slip towel. using it for the first time required no breaking in and there was no slipping and sliding taking place.


As yogis and yoginis we must remember our relationship to living things around us and respect the earth. The last thing we want is to hurt the environment and ourselves through the practice of yoga.While there are other eco friendly mats available the deciding factor for me was that Jade will plant a tree for every mat purchased, I love this idea almost as much as I love TOMS shoes who will give a child in need a pair of shoes for every pair purchased. You absolutely have to love companies with type of philosophy. Jade mats can be purchased at numerous studios around the GTA or ordered online. Happy Thursday and Namaste !!!!!


http://www.jadeyoga.com/

Remaining Objective

There is something about the idea of starting fresh that mentally prepares you for what is to come. Whether it is starting a diet, a new job, or a new project, we usually want to begin with a clear mind. I decided I would start entries for this blog on a Monday for the same reasons and as I opened Monday mornings Globe and Mail I came across an article titled “Thinking of trying Hot Yoga?...Read this first” By Dakshana Bascaramurty.

Essentially, this article cites the ill effects of hot yoga describing numerous cases of fainting and injuries that have occurred as a result of practicing yoga in heated temperatures. The article also questions whether practicing yoga in the heat really does get rid of toxins or if the effect is minimal.

 Yoga has recently had a surge in popularity in Western society and in Toronto, studios are accessible at almost every subway station and it is not uncommon to see people lugging their yoga mats around as they go to or from a class at one of these studios. While it may be something fairly new to Western society, it has been practiced for thousands of years by our friends in the East. I can’t help but wonder if it is because of its novelty and surge in popularity that the critics have started to spring up left, right and centre?  

Like any sport or physical activity, it is essential to monitor how your body feels and respond appropriately. Make sure you stay hydrated throughout the day leading up to your  yoga class, do not eat a heavy meal prior to class and if you feel tired or dizzy, rest. I am yet to see articles in my daily newspaper on the ill effects of running, soccer, swimming , spinning or any other sports that we are “more” familiar with.  Practice caution with any form of physical activity and figure out what is right for you and what is not. Some people love running some people hate it. Some people love yoga and some people hate it. A knee injury can occur from pushing yourself to train for a marathon the same way a neck injury can occur when incorrectly attempting a head stand. (Sirshasana ). Moral of Monday's story ? Listen to your body regardless of what your are doing to keep fit.

For the full article visit

 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/fitness/exercise/fitness-trends/thinking-of-trying-hot-yoga-read-this-first/article2065903/

Namaste