The End of an Era

Yoga Centre Winnipeg is approaching the end of an era.

 

As of January 1, 2022, Jan Debenham will be retiring as an owner.

 

While most people know Jan as their beloved instructor with an effusive laugh and friendly face at the front desk, few people are aware of the extent that Jan has been the pulse of the Yoga Centre Winnipeg.

For 24 years Jan has been an owner of the Yoga Centre Winnipeg. A trained accountant, with natural leadership skills and a strong sense of intention and intuition, Jan has guided the Yoga Centre Winnipeg business through multiple locations, changing yoga trends, changing owners, and a pandemic.

In 1998 Jan joined Hart Laser as co-owner of the Yoga Centre Winnipeg on Portage Avenue. 

In a time before yoga was considered mainstream, they brought yoga to all ages and all corners of Winnipeg. The Yoga Centre Winnipeg started up classes at a variety of locations including the Wellness Institute, Good Neighbors, Age & Opportunity, Kelvin High School, College Jeans Sauvé and of course, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans! Over the years the places YCW offers classes has shifted, but our outside classes are a vital part of The Yoga Centre Winnipeg to the present day.

 

As yoga started to slowly surge in popularity, The Yoga Centre Winnipeg opened two satellite studios in Winnipeg and one in Saskatoon: yoga.calm offering yoga to the downtown business community; Village Yoga in Osborne Village; and Yoga Central in Saskatoon, (with Patricia Dewar), where they travelled to offer Teacher Trainings and workshops on regular basis.

 

Under Jan’s leadership the Yoga Centre Winnipeg was considered a hub for workshops with visiting yoga teachers including Lynne Minton, Ramanand Patel, Richard Rosen, Arthur Killmurray, and many others. Most notable of these teachers was Father Joe Pereira. Jan had studied with Father Joe Pereira at a retreat in BC and convinced him to come offer a similar retreat in MooseJaw, Saskatchewan for The Yoga Centre Winnipeg. For over 20 years the annual Fr. Joe retreat has been a beloved YCW tradition and even survived the move to Zoom!

 
Jan was also instrumental in formalizing and developing the YCW Teacher Training Program.

Long before there were yoga teacher training programs on every corner, the Yoga Centre Winnipeg began a certification program for 200hrs Basic Teacher Training and expanded to create the Advanced Teacher Training Certification 300hr stream. Years later Jan was encouraged by her students to create a program called Tier 3, to insure the Advanced Certified teachers could continue their studies with her.

 

In 2004, Shauna joined the business and a few years later Hart went off in his own direction.

As yoga became more popular and what students were looking for from a studio changed, the Yoga Centre Winnipeg consolidated into one location on Grosvenor Avenue.  It was at this point the Yoga Centre deepened its commitment to being a place of community. It be came a place dedicated to to celebrating excellence, diversity, wholeness, and heartfelt living.

 

Sometime after moving to Grosvenor, Jan introduced the program Cultivating the Seeds of the Divine to help students of all levels expand their practice off the mat and into meditation and spiritual teachings. She began seeing students privately to guide them individually in applying the practice to their lives.

 

Jan and Shauna began to take the Yoga Centre Winnipeg around the globe!  Offering like-minded yoga students an opportunity to travel the world together while staying healthy and balanced. The Yoga Centre has visited many wonderful destinations including Peru, Italy, Turkey, Galapagos, Bali, Iceland and more! 

With the not so gentle nudge of the Global Pandemic, Jan helped take the Yoga Centre Winnipeg online, where students from all over Canada (and the world) participate in classes.

Under Jan’s recommendation the YCW on Grosvenor opened its doors to share its space with a variety of other teachers and programs on a rental basis, most notably it has been home to Ashtanga Yoga Winnipeg for more than 3 years. 

 

Despite her strong business acumen, Jan has maintained her love and commitment to learning and growing as a student of life, and a teacher on the yoga path. 

An avid reader and ardent explorer of the body, Jan learns from many outer and inner sources with focus and dedication. Her studies with Donald Moyer, Father Joe, Michal Havkin, Ken McLeod, and Francisco Kaiut have been pillars in her own practice and in the teaching she brilliantly distills and shares with others.

 

While these are all important facets as Jan's role as owner, ultimately her greatest gift has been to transmit the path of yoga with clear seeing, calm abiding and heartfelt caring. 

Fortunately for all of us, as she steps back from ownership she will continue to teach and touch the lives of others for years to come.

 

 

Thank You Jan!

 

How Yoga Changed My Life

I have always been fit and active.  Although I never really played sports in my younger years, I have been referred to as an athlete.  For decades I incorporated the gym and the pool in my lunch breaks at work, as well as roller blading and ice skating.  I was a swimming instructor and lifeguard as a young adult.  I continued to swim during my pregnancies.  Once I played hockey “Moms vs the 5 year old kids”, I was hooked.  At 40 I started playing hockey.  At 50 I started playing softball and hiking in Arizona.  At 55 I learned to curl.  I played employee organized street hockey and soccer on lunch breaks at work, I partook in exercise classes offered by my workplace during lunches – yoga, kickboxing, Zumba, whatever was offered.  I started a league to play ultimate frisbee at work over the lunch hour.  So, exercise and fitness has always been a huge part of my life.  

Then in July 2013, I started to experience odd physical symptoms of mostly inflammation, pain and stiffness in my joints. Things continued to go downhill.  I was convinced I had Lyme Disease. My tests came back negative and eventually I was diagnosed with and treated for rheumatoid arthritis.  I was prescribed stronger and stronger medication as there was never any improvement.  Throughout all of this I continued to deteriorate.  I was close to being wheelchair bound.  Some of my Family feared death was not too far down the road.  

Many of my symptoms did not align themselves with rheumatoid arthritis.  I continued to research Lyme Disease on my own and search for a Lyme literate doctor.  After hundreds of appointments with medical doctors, massage therapists, acupuncture and chiropractors, a Naturopath sent my blood to the US to be tested.  In August 2015, I was officially diagnosed with Lyme Disease and 2 other co-infections – Babesia and Bartonella. A few years later my blood was sent to Germany which confirmed the US results.  All of the drugs used to treat the rheumatoid arthritis were contra indicated for Lyme Disease.  That is, it made things worse.

I lost a lot of weight and was down to what I had weighed as a young teenager.  I had to go down the stairs backwards, going forwards was impossible.  My boyfriend had to put a ponytail in my hair, help me dress, cut my meat, roll me over in bed and lift me into some places that I could not get into on my own.  

Every system in my body from neurological, muscular, joints, hormonal, sleep, psychological…. have been impacted. 

I lost all my beautiful muscle that I has spent a lifetime building.  One of my shoulders was totally atrophied.  I had to hold up my arm as just the weight of it was painful.

None of the many traditional medical doctors I went to with my Lyme Disease results would treat me for Lyme Disease.  In January 2018 I found a Naturopath specializing in Lyme Disease in BC and began a very long process to recovery. I have had to fight every step of the way and work extremely hard to be able to function again. I was on long-term disability and eventually had to retire as I was unable to continue working.

I had always been a kickboxing kind of girl.  Yoga held no real appeal for me.  At my chiropractor’s coaxing, I finally agreed it was a starting point.  In the beginning, I spent most of the time in any posture getting up off the ground or down on the ground.  I could only participate for a small portion of the class.  It was very painful and unpleasant.  With determination and hard work, over time I was able to do more and more.  Finally, in the last few years, I have been able to participate fully in almost any yoga class.  I have done Hatha Yoga, Barre, Aqua Balance, Aqua Flexibility, Ashtanga Yoga, Gentle Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Power Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga Detox, Hot Yoga and even Zero Gravity Yoga.  Oh yeah, and Goat Yoga!  I love it all!

Yoga became a major component of my healing journey.  I am a true believer in the virtues of yoga and am completely hooked.  My Daughter and I even bought a yoga paddle board for the lake.

Since making Yoga a part of my life, I have completely eliminated the need for therapeutic massages and chiropractic visits.

My current major ailment is my cognitive abilities.  I struggle with these on a daily basis and am working very hard on trying to resolve these issues.  My Daughter  is a Certified Hypnotherapist.  Hypnosis became a part of my quest for pain relief, healing and stress relief.  I found this profound guided meditation to be very helpful.  And so now, I have also added meditation to my daily routine.  

So, thank you yoga for being such a huge part of my journey back to health and to the new ME.

My yoga journey throughout the pandemic

 

 Yoga for me is something I enjoy doing in a group. I love being around people and sharing my practice with others. I do not practice alone and I love to take classes. When I decided to do the yoga teacher training, I was excited to meet other like-minded people and learn how to lead a class so I could share this with my high school students.

 

When COVID-19 hit, I was thinking it was going to last a couple of weeks and then life would go back to normal. 18 months later, it is still not over. I haven’t done a whole lot of yoga over this past year. I did try an on-line class but I missed being with other people. That said, my on-line teacher training has been surprisingly enjoyable. Through break-out rooms on Zoom, I have been able to meet and collaborate with others.

 

Although, this year I have not done a lot of yoga, I look forward to taking a lot of in-person classes this month and fall. One thing this pandemic has taught me is that for me yoga really is a group activity and I need to be with others to practice.

Yoga is My Medicine

As life throws us curveballs we are left feeling overworked, stressed about what we can’t control and left with feelings of anxiousness and worry. Our mind suffers, our body suffers and everyday seems like a struggle.   

I suffered over 20 years of chronic pain from 3 herniated discs, then anxiety and depression from all the pain.  

I then found yoga and meditation.

It was a process but I didn’t realize where it would take me.  I came to Yoga Centre Winnipeg for my first class and haven’t stopped in 5 yrs. 

I found the instructors to have such compassion and understanding. They guided me gently through restorative yoga for months which allowed me to feel safe and release some long time built-up tension. 

My knowledge and interest grew and I began some meditation. I felt the positive change. My anxieties diminished, my thoughts felt calm and no longer overwhelming and my body felt no pain.  I could move in ways I never thought was possible again for me.  

I knew so many people that were suffering and felt I could set an example by becoming a yoga instructor to inspire others that they too can get past the pain, regain flexibility, strength and confidence to do what they love in life.   

Yoga is for anyone…learning to listen to your body, calm your mind with breath and find yourself once again is an experience like no other.  

The Yoga Centre Teacher training program was as much an inspiration and it is a well developed and thorough program.  My future is brighter, I am healthier and stronger than ever. And I now ride the wave of life instead of resisting it!!   

Yoga is my medicine…thanks to Yoga Centre Winnipeg!

Audrey D.

Savasana

Over the past strange and unsettling year, I’ve felt that my yoga practice is teaching me: love what is dying.

 

Love this warming earth home, in her broken-hearted changing.

Love her in the inevitability of her decline.

Love her even as she hurts you in her hurting.

Love her tender, powerful vibrating hereness. 

Love the assuredness of her presence, even as she lets go of who she has been.

Love this ever-loving moment of creation.

Love the fleeting nothingness of this life,

the expansive allness of what it rests in.

 

When we dig deep within, there is a strength: we have done this before. As our bodies unfold into pose after pose, we rediscover the familiar, and remember that there is no story untold. My dust-body knows what this love is; they have seen, heard and know the way birds sing bravely into the rising, warming sun, here for it.

Always here for it. 

 

Are living and dying the same, then?

Savasana: the yes, the let go, the love for the ending, uncertain unknown? 

I’ve learned not to love something unless/until it is assured, but that cannot be life. This past year has shown me that nothing is assured, and yoga has reminded me that nothing ever was.

 

I’ve begun to wonder if faith is not believing in what we cannot see, but the courage to believe in what we can. The courage to believe in the reality of a virus, and still take deep, long breaths. To believe the science on climate change, and still wake up the next morning. 

Which are ways of saying: yes to the end, yes to a life of letting go.

 

Yes, I love – even when told I cannot. If love is productive, merely a way of ensuring linear growth and clinging to the myth of legacy, then love says no to endings. No the possibility that production and preservation are not what we’re here for.

 

This is the song of my body: yes to this moment. Yes to this isolated, frustrated, terrifying moment.

This reckless love isn’t chaos. It just is.

 

Savasana is a way of bringing this love into my body, of yessing the way death is interwoven into my life. Savasana asks me to let go of creating myself.

There, I say yes to vibrations. The bottom of my feet shimmer, my lower intestines groan, my pectoralis minor muscles spin through the cycle of tension and release. It is good here, where nothing comes of anything.

 

Here, on a shattering planet, amongst immense collective trauma, yoga is teaching me: healing is not about getting further from death, for we cannot get further from death without getting further from life. Healing is not about becoming productive, or preserving ourselves, extending our clinging.

Healing is learning to live in the yes to what is,

beginning to see that endings are just an exhale,

remembering that dying is not a chaos that must be contained.

May we fight for livability because it’s what we know to do,

and may the fight not contradict what the trees already know:

that being,

exactly what these vibrating cells can never not do,

has always been enough. 

 

 

 Kayla Drudge 

 

How Yoga Teacher Training Changed my Life

Yoga teacher training has been on my bucket list for many years. When I enrolled in the course, I was looking to expand my yoga knowledge and continue my yoga journey. I decided to join the Yoga Centre WinnipegTeacher Training (YCWTT) program because it has an excellent reputation as a Yoga teacher training centre, it is locally owned and operated and the course fits into my busy schedule.

The YCWTT exceeded my expectations. My top 5 takeaways...

1. Slow down, enjoy the journey.

The power of the breath to calm the body and still the mind. I learned a variety of mediations and breathwork techniques that allow me to better handle the obstacles and increased stress of the Pandemic. Breathe - just breathe

2. Perfectly imperfect is perfect

Many people strive to do everything right or perfectly. That’s a lot of pressure we are putting on ourselves. Obviously there are instances where we need perfection, surgery for example. But in our day to day life, I learned to recogize what tasks require a little more attention and what I can let go. Reducing this constant pressure placed upon myself, allows me to enjoy more moments and to be more present in my life.

3. Use props!

Somewhere I picked up the notion that using props during yoga wasn’t really doing yoga. You weren’t doing it correctly. As I gained skills in using props and the importance of props, I just can’t imagine doing yoga without them. With a long term hip restriction injury, using props allowed my body to access the yoga poses and provide support to my body.

4. What do you notice? What do you feel? A part of the YCTT requirement is to observe and take notes of senior teachers/classes at the Yoga Centre. Not only did we have the opportunity to learn a variety of sequencing, observe cueing techniques/phrases but more interestingly, we were able to see how seasoned instructors communicate and engage their students to go inward and feel how the yoga asanas feel in their body. Yoga isn’t just the asanas, it’s noticing how the asanas make your body feel.

5. Sense of Community

There are many online yoga courses or weekend/ one day workshops to learn yoga. However, for me, this sense of community was the game changer. I really appreciated the nudging and encouragement of a yoga teacher to take me through the entire yoga 200 learning journey. In a busy world it is nice to be seen. It’s nice to know that someone cares about you and your yoga experience. Shauna has this unique gift to serve each of us and provide us with the support we need to succeed. Lasting friendships. A group of all ages, of all abilities, of varying backgrounds, coming together to learn and grow. Finally, a special thank you to the Yoga Centre staff for allowing the teacher trainees to observe, participate and learn from them and their classes.

This was a particularly challenging time to complete a Yoga 200hr due to Pandemic restrictions and the flip to online learning. But that’s the beauty of yoga. Yoga builds our physical and internal strength to carry forward in difficult circumstances. Yoga gives us tools to overcome anxiety and fears. Yoga helps us to find calm with the breath so we can continue our journey in this world.

Whether you plan to share yoga with others or just expand your personal practice, teacher training at the Yoga Centre could be your next step on your yoga path.

Kerri Swanson

The Journey So Far

 

When I began attending Yoga Centre Winnipeg a few years ago, I had only practiced yoga a handful of times. I had recently sustained a hand injury and a physiotherapist recommended a regular yoga practice. I started with a trauma sensitive yoga program at YCW and gradually over the next few weeks and months my hand was feeling much better. Over time I made a full recovery, and I believe this was due in part to the fact that I had increased the amount of exercise I had been doing. Yoga is more accessible to me than jogging or weight training for instance. Plus, I like the breath focus and meditation that yoga practice offers.

Feeling more limber and stronger than I had in some years, I began taking beginner classes. Over the next weeks and months, I saw that my balance improved along with my energy level, digestion, and sleep. As I practiced, I became more confident, and curious, so I tried the various yoga styles that YCW offers. I was guided by the studio’s very helpful and knowledgeable staff to attend classes based on my experience.  Over the next year I attended various workshops offered by YCW, including meditation classes, a workshop focusing on hips, and a restorative practice workshop. I was feeling better and learning how to feel better.

Yoga brought me to notice how my body was responding – to the yoga poses, to foods, to the weather, to stress, to everything, and the more connected I became to how I was feeling and to my breathing, the more interested I became in learning more. I then embarked on YCW’s two-year (200-hour) teacher training program and I haven’t looked back!

When I reflect on this past year since the start of the pandemic, I think of how YCW yoga classes have been the only activity for me that hasn’t been disrupted! When the closures first began, my skepticism of how I would feel about online classes quickly turned into gratitude. I’ve been able to continue my learning, work towards my teacher training certification, and keep active while being at home so much more. 

Now, The Teachings of Yoga...

  I had been contemplating taking a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training program for a few years before I began attending Yoga Center Winnipeg but was unsure as to where and how this journey would unfold. However, once I was introduced to YCW, I knew that I had found the yoga community I was searching for and was finally ready to take the leap and commit. And as the saying goes, I have no regrets!The Teacher Training Program at YCW has far exceeded my expectations. The incredible breadth of knowledge and understanding of the practice, as well as the wisdom and guidance of Shauna has provided me with a profoundly transformative experience.

Yoga offers many gifts, and I am extremely thankful for having Yoga in my life! For me, Yoga has been key in maintaining a sense of grounding and presence, which has been especially helpful during all the change and uncertainty of the pandemic. It also helps to quiet my mind, instilling in me a feeling of inner calm and peace.

Chitta Vritti Nirodhah...

Another gift that Yoga offers is a sense of connection. It has given me an opportunity to connect with and develop a deeper understanding of myself. And even with the social distancing and isolation in the pandemic, I have still felt connected to my Yoga community.

Yoga teaches us to adapt, and we have certainly had to adapt during the pandemic! I am so appreciative of the courage, grace and commitment of Shauna and Jan to evolve with these challenging times. The online offerings have been a real gift! I have especially enjoyed the Sadhana experience. It has led me to finally be able to develop a consistent home practice!

In closing, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the experience of the YCW Teacher Training Program and the amazing and life changing opportunity to explore and embrace the practice of yoga.

Karen Hopko 

 

My North Star

 I have been interested in fitness from an early age and bought my first gym membership at the age of 19. I was a “gym rat” for most of my 20’s and 30’s gravitating to hot yoga when it first became popular in Winnipeg in the early 2000’s. Part of my interest was due to the appeal of being in a warm room for 90 minutes in the winter months, but I quickly grew to love practicing the same set of postures and challenging myself to improve. I enjoyed the group aspect paired with the individual focus on proper breathing and technique. I practiced Bikram exclusively for 10 years and then started branching out into other styles as well as exploring meditation.

Yoga and meditation have become my north star; they always point me in the right direction no matter what is going on in my life. The ability to center myself allows me to react to situations from a place of peace and mindfulness. This skill has completely changed how I interact with my family, friends, and colleagues.  Now that we are living through year 2 of a global pandemic, it has become clear that practicing yoga is really the perfect pastime for me, with so many well-documented positives. The first is obviously that you can do it anywhere, even trapped at home under lockdown measures. Plus it’s absolutely free. Yes, you can download fancy yoga apps and buy expensive tights at lululemon if you so desire, but you can also watch free YouTube videos and wear your grubbiest clothes if you wish. No judgment!

A physical, mental, and spiritual practice that allows you to
open your heart and mind, while strengthening and toning your body at the same time. It really covers all the bases because while you are working on moving into the poses, combined with deep breathing, naturally leads to relaxation and meditation with very little effort. Yoga can help to relieve anxiety by focusing on being present in the moment, and decrease stress by lowering cortisol levels. It can also aid in recovering from injuries and provide relief from bone, joint, and muscle related pain. So many scientific studies prove that yoga can benefit anyone, it makes me wonder why more schools don’t have daily yoga and mediation practices for students. Maybe we’ll get there one day. In the meantime, I’ll continue to enjoy the many benefits of yoga for years to come.     

Comfortable with Uncertainty

I recently assigned my current group of students in the Yoga Centre Winnipeg Teacher Training Program the task of writing a blog about how yoga has changed their life, especially during the Pandemic. I realized that I should start it off with my own experience.

Over a year into the Global Pandemic Pema Chodron’s book title (not to mention her many teachings) “Comfortable with Uncertainty” has become a regular mantra and practice. It is something my yoga and meditation practice teaches me daily. Whether resting with sensations in Sukhasana, struggling to find ease in a Shoulderstand, or bringing my mind back to the breath in meditation, the practice reminds me that things are always changing. A pose that is a struggle one day leaves me feeling strong and embodied another. Too much of what I am comfortable with and I stop paying attention. So it is with life.

The pandemic has had a significant impact on the Yoga Centre Winnipeg. Like so many we have had to face the disappointment and devastation of lengthy and unpredictable closures. Classes and programs cut with no indication when they will resume. Long time friends, students and colleagues once seen regularly are now “likes” on Instagram or screen names on Zoom.

Yet, each closure has brought with it surprise blessings: the amazing support from angels in the community; the unexpected feeling of connection and success of online classes; more time for practice; and deeper appreciation for teaching and life.

In so many ways the Taoist/Buddhist story of the old farmer rings true:

One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically. "May be," the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "May be," replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. "May be," answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. "May be," said the farmer.

We just do not know.

 In some moments we have the grace to see the blessings amongst the suffering, but generally when we are in the fire of our suffering those blessings seem out of our grasp.

Yoga has taught me that before I can appreciate the blessings mixed in with my struggles, I must fully feel my discomfort and make friends with it.

Of course, this is easier said than done.  Like most people, when I encounter pain, uncertainty, or anything remotely unpleasant, I want to fix it or escape it. Yoga trains me to stay, to be with what is happening in this moment exactly as it is and to be comfortable with myself exactly as I am.

Maybe that sounds like fluff, but it works. Like anything it takes time and practice. It starts with pausing and feeling my whole body as I take a breath in and out.  When I take this pause, I find that everything really is ok in that moment. If it is okay in that one moment, it can be okay in the next.

As simple as this sounds it is one of the most profound practices there is. Yet I forget it regularly, especially when things get tough. For me, the yoga mat is an opportunity to cultivate presence and have fun doing it. The more I build this capacity on the mat, the more available it is in my daily life.

As this practice gets integrated into my life, it allows me to the opportunity to see not just what is happening in the moment, but that what happens in the moment is part of a much larger collection of moments, and that each moment is both personal and universal.