Kid’s Yoga…Who is Really the Teacher?

I have been truly blessed with the teaching opportunities I have been offered. New teaching challenges are something I find almost impossible to turn down. As with teaching any group, you are never certain what the experience is going to be, you leave yourself open to the universe and take it from there! So when asked to teach two classes back to back for a youth swim team, I happily agreed. Nothing could prepare me however for the challenge, inspiration, frustration, laughter and wealth of information these kids…excuse me…athletes, freely offer me. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s a New Day

A new day has come, well actually, that new day was yesterday. Barack Obama is now the President of the United States, and what a wonderfully inspiring, joyful event that is. I actually do not live in the United States but rather in a country where the approval rating for Barack is a heart warming 95%. We think he’s a darn good guy! I watched all the coverage yesterday with tears in my eyes and a huge smile on my face. It was hard to pull myself away but I had a 4:30 yoga class to teach and was very much looking forward to hear the impressions of the day from my students. Read the rest of this entry »

Human Behaviour…

Each time I teach a yoga class I have the distinct honor of observing human behaviour up close and personal.  When I first began teaching I would be delighted, offended, confused, elated, bemused, and many more emotions about my student’s reactions and actions in class. As the years have passed and the number of students I have worked with has increased I no longer take alot of these reactions so deeply to heart. Read the rest of this entry »

Resolutions or Intentions?

 As we bring in a New Year many people take a moment to firmly resolve to make a change in their lives. Of course the usual suspects appear, weight loss, stop smoking, an so on. Quite often, the success of these resolutions wanes after just a few days….leaving the previously resolute person feeling let down and disappointed with themselves. Not a healthy scenerio and ultimately damaging for our self worth. We tell ourselves it doesn’t matter, and in effect we are telling ourselves we don’t matter. Read the rest of this entry »

Winter Slow Down

As the weather cools down we may find that our yoga practice cools down also. With all the distractions of the holiday season, shopping, decorating, cooking, entertaining….well you get it….there doesn’t seem to be space or time for ourselves. This is when being mindful can really help us to center ourselves and find a peaceful moment. When you are rushing to and fro trying to get things done have you missed the scenery entirely? Have you arrived at your destination and realized you didn’t take the time to look around? When we begin to practise mindfulness, in effect our lives become meditation in movement. Buddha says, “Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future. Concentrate the mind on the present moment.” Mindfulness is the center or core of your yoga practice, allowing you to become aware of the present moment, right now. Give yourself the gift of time….time to focus on one thing at a time. Allow thoughts to enter your mind…acknowledge those thoughts and allow them to fade away with no judgement. Become neutral. Watch your breath come and go..listen to the sound of your breath…become calm and still. Gradually you will be able to watch distractions from afar and they will not affect you. So, in effect, you can still practice yoga even when you are in the car, wrapping gifts, or cooking that holiday feast. Become mindful of your breath and as the saying goes, “Those who are awake live in a state of amazement.”

The light and love in me, bows to the light and love in you. Namaste.