The Art of Slowing Down

I first tried yoga about 9 years ago when one of my friends introduced me to it. At that time, yoga was just starting to become more popular in mainstream fitness. I had my serious doubts as to whether I would like it as I came from an athletic/dance background and the thought of sitting and "stretching" for an hour was nothing short of torture for me. At that time in my life I was also leading a very fast paced life and prided myself on being able to juggle many different things at once. I thought this made me “tough” and resilient! I even thought that yoga was for “lazy” people! It came from a lack of knowledge of what the practice of yoga actually encompassed.

One of my friends at the time had just come back from her training to become a yoga teacher and she encouraged me to try it. I was extremely reluctant but the class was free and I was always up for a challenge. So when I went for my first class, which was a vigorous vinyasa class,  I strained and forced my way through every pose just to prove that this yoga thing was too easy for me and I could master the poses without difficulty. I didn’t listen to my body, in fact I ignored it. I continued going to the Vinyasa classes with my friend because i preferred the intense and fast paced nature of them, until one day my friend and I went to a Hatha style class. I found it torturous to sit and focus on one pose for what seemed like an eternity, and I felt like I was wasting my time. I remember thinking,”I’m never going to get strong with a class like this. This is doing nothing for me!”  I couldn’t wait for the class to finish so I could jump back into my busy life. But I never gave up on the challenge and I continued going with my friend for classes until something changed in me and I actually looked forward to the classes. I slowly realized that it was “ok” to calm my mind and body, and to just surrender to being present. I realized that yoga was exactly what I needed to help me quell the need and drive to be in constant motion. I also came to realize that the reason I needed to be busy in my life was to avoid being with my inner unhappiness. I had always suffered with anxiety even from a young age and I found being busy helped me ignore my thoughts and feelings.

Today, yoga is a part of my daily life and I could not imagine life without it! If someone  would’ve told me 9 years ago that I would be teaching yoga, I would've told them that they were sorely mistaken! I find every practice is different in some way, some new challenge or feeling to experience. Yoga has, and will continue to teach me so much about my body, mind and soul!

How Yoga Changed My Life

Every mother can tell you about their long days and sleepless nights caring for their family.  We do it for the love of our family and we do it with love.  I did it too until I started to break down and break open from juggling many responsibilities with not enough nourishment for my own soul.

Eventually, I began to feel like I was dying inside. As if I was a plant with no sunshine to warm me, no water to nourish me while stuck in dark, cold, Manitoba mud.  Fifteen years ago I was over burdened with a stressful work environment, the responsibility of four children, a hobby farm and a husband that went MIA (missing in action) several nights a week.  My journey through the mud was systematic.  The plan was find out what is wrong with me. Then fix it or change it. 

It seemed to be a good plan. Except that when I began to change something about myself it did not fix anything at all.  Sometimes, it would make things worse for me at home. As I tried new ways to find out what I was feeling and what happened to my happiness, it became clear that this plan just irritated and inconvenienced my husband. His inability to support and comfort me through this time of growth (which certainly did not feel like growth at the time) was creating a chasm between us. To be fair we did the best we knew how to do for each other at the time. 

Still searching for answers to my discomfort and new ways to make life feel happier, I came across a yoga video at the local library.  I took it home and ended up renewing it throughout the entire summer; practicing daily.  It became a mission for me.  My body was getting stronger.  Muscles in my arms were becoming more defined.  I could ride my bicycle further. 

Later, that fall I was so excited to learn that a yoga class was being offered in a town close by.  Almost three years later I was able to do some amazing things with my body. Yoga was strengthening my body and practicing meditation was calming my mind.  I felt grounded and centered.  Confrontations at work were not a big deal anymore as I became the eye of the storm no longer blown into the storms.  Yoga showed me what my body needed day to day.  I began to listen.  Slowly, I began to see the truth of my life.

The stronger and happier I became the more jealous and resentful my husband became of me.   My journey over several years to discover myself through poetry writing, journaling, watercolour classes, yoga, meditation, Reiki and so on was getting out of hand for him.  As I was changing and letting go.  He held on tighter.  His rages began to become frantic and unpredictable.

Everything that brought me some joy brought out my husband’s jealous, nasty behaviour.  He wanted to squash this out of me; to keep me in place.  Through yoga I had made new friends with new ideas. He wanted this, too.  For a time he joined our after yoga class tea group and that went well for both of us for a while.  By the time he decided to join the yoga class, the connection between him and I was fragile.

Keenly interested in yoga and the after yoga class tea topics I was nourished. It felt like I began to awaken from a long sleep.  However, the awareness of what my life had evolved into while I grew up and slept through was not enough to save the marriage. His frustrations grew along with his verbal abuse.  The rages grew more erratic until the day I left; I knew his rage could finally destroy me. I was afraid of him that day.

Since he would not leave, I told him I would.  As quickly as I could, I grabbed a suitcase filled it with my clothes.  I wasn’t sure what he was going to do next but I knew I had to get out of there, right away.  This woman can be very fast when necessary.

By the time I had driven into the next town the realization of what had just transpired hit me.  There I was with no plan, no money, a car and a suitcase.  My bank account had $50 in it till payday and my job was about to finish for the school year.  But I was safe and I was never going back. 

The journey that followed was hell on earth for a while.  Slugging through the mud but with the help of friends, I picked up my big girl panties, found a lawyer, found an apartment, and found a summer job. Harvest Food Bank helped me for a year and a half till I was able to get on my feet.  Eventually, I went back to school became a Registered Massage Therapist and slowly built a new life for myself and my youngest child. 

Yoga and meditation were the foundations that sustained me after I left my husband.

Yes, you can say yoga changed my life.  Yoga taught me to listen to my inner guidance, stand like a mountain, bend like a willow in a storm, move forward when the time is right, stretch like a dog, cat, pigeon, cow, fish, snake, twist like an eagle and roar like a lion when necessary.  Also, to look up to the heavens, bow in prayer and rest the body and mind afterwards. The teachings of Buddha, the Jewel in the Lotus came to my awareness during this time. This is where I learned about the mud and how the beautiful lotus cannot grow unless there is mud under it.  This taught me there is much value in the mud of our journeys towards happiness and enlightenment.

In Metta,

Namaste,

DS

How doing Yoga in my PJ’s became my second career

At 5:30 a.m. everyday for over 20 years, I rolled out of bed, went into my spare room and put on a VHS tape (now DVDs) to practice yoga and meditation.  If you are not a morning person, you’re probably saying “ahhhh I’d rather just roll over and go back to sleep.” 

What possessed me to perform this practice daily? It was the fact that I had three significant surgeries within four years and two major car accidents. One accident was before the surgeries and the other was afterwards.  I wasn’t able to lift weights, play sports, or perform major household chores. It was particularly demoralizing for me. In my grade 6 P.E. class, I was introduced to the practice of yoga and fell in love with it immediately. What I loved was that it was gentle and soft yet challenging at the same time. Yoga healed me physically and allowed me to participate in the activities that I couldn’t partake in before. Then I took up the practice of meditation and that just sealed the deal for me. Meditating allowed me to complete the healing - mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Because it healed me, I added becoming a yoga teacher to my bucket list, although I thought of it as just a pipe dream. I hung onto the peace and sacredness of my private practice even though I had the desire to teach.  Then I began taking yoga classes to expose myself to different modalities and deepen my practice. Once in class, not only did I learn more but I also found a community of like-minded individuals. With lots of encouragement from my yoga teachers and friends, I overcame my fear took the plunge. .

Teaching yoga and meditation has forced me to learn a totally different language. Yoga is a language of love, a way of being. Watching students take off their layers of stress, relax into the postures, and increase their flexibility is incredibly rewarding. I’m thankfully that I have my home practice and my teaching that have helped keep me grounded through the many peaks and valleys of daily living.

Becoming a yoga teacher is quite an achievement for the girl who still loves doing yoga in her PJ’s!!!

My Yoga Journey

I started taking yoga classes, with a friend, a number of years ago.  My thinking at the time was it would be a good addition to my fitness regime.  Many years of running and other fitness fads had left me with very tight muscles.  Yoga would be a good way to stretch it all out!  Little did I know the path that yoga would take me on over subsequent years to the present.

I started with a very beginner series of classes at a fitness centre - it was a good way to develop both a yoga practice and a friendship as a friend and I commuted to and from class.  Once the “term” was finished, yoga disappeared from my life for a little while.  I then started another series at a local community club and another with the leisure guide.  This lead to a regular practice of hot yoga that spanned a number of years.

I quickly discovered that yoga had an immediate impact on my physical body.  I always came out feeling really good - stretched out and content.  I continued running and racing 10 k’s and half marathons and experienced very few injuries.  What I didn’t expect and what had an even greater impact, was how yoga impacted my mind.  My beginning years with yoga came at a time when I worked full time in a stressful job and was in the midst of raising teenagers - with all of their accompanying activities.  I had totally bought in to our society’s messages about busyness, having it all and the stuff “out there’ that we all need in order to be happy.

I would leave yoga classes feeling both stretched out and content.  The time on my mat gave me the space I needed to clear my mind and really think about my life and where I wanted to go.  It changed me from being a go go go type of person to taking my time and savouring life more.  it seemed that whenever I needed a little guidance, the messages that my teachers had for me combined with the movement and breathing was exactly what I needed in that moment to figure things out.  Slowly moving through the postures on my mat was and is where I go to get the space I need to ponder and the answers come in those moments of silence.   It’s hard to explain what yoga does for the mind, body and soul - it’s a little bit of mysterious magic!  Yoga helped me make a career change a few years ago and helps me in my day to day relationships.  In my day to day life, I find I am much more relaxed and don’t feel like I have to do it all or have it all.  There is a certain contentment with the little things and an appreciation for life.

The more I practiced yoga, the more I wanted to learn about it.  I read books and magazine articles.  I wanted to try and figure out the how’s and why’s of yoga magic!  This lead to a decision to deepen my practice by participating in the yoga teacher training at the Yoga Centre.  The two years of this journey has opened up my eyes to so many things about yoga, such as; theory, the chakras, alignment in poses, Sanskrit words, philosophy, great discussions with peers and teachers - all in a safe friendly environment with extremely knowledgeable, caring teachers.  It has passed me way past my comfort zone in practice teaching and in working on poses that this stiff tight old body sometime rebels against and at other times finds ease.  I’ve been able to take this stretching, learning, breathing, calmness, into my everyday life… which has been beneficial for both me and the people around me.

I sometimes wonder where I would be and how I would react to life if I didn’t have my yoga practice.  I am very thankful that I found yoga or that yoga found me just when I needed it.  It has become a very important part of my life journey, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

A Yoga Journey

"It came to me so sweetly, and the word was like cool water on my over-heated body. Just soften. I heard myself say. Soften." (excerpt from Yoga Journal)

I had dabbled in yoga on and off for several years, for the most part, taking classes in local school gymnasiums or community centers. It wasn't until I experienced a class in a lovely outdoor setting in Mexico beneath the canopy of a gorgeous tree that I began to realize the depth and breath of what yoga is. Those outdoor classes and Sunday meditation sessions shifted my thinking, practice and commitment to yoga. After my three-month winter hiatus in Mexico I returned to Winnipeg and began practicing yoga regularly at different yoga studios. I started to read about  the limbs of yoga and integrate yoga into my "off the mat life."

The decision to register for the teacher training required courage. I worried about my age, level of fitness and flexibility, ability to complete assignments and about teaching others something I knew so little about. Our first meeting time was scary...meeting new people, introducing myself and hearing the details about what I had signed up for! Slowly I began to soften and feel at ease. I was among like-minded beautiful people, all journeying in their own unique and individual way. The group was lively, inclusive, supportive and varied. I knew that my decision to take teacher training was personal - it was a way to challenge and enhance my practice and it felt great to be reading and learning about something not associated with my professional life. I didn't know where my training would take me - perhaps on to teach, perhaps not. It was up to me to practice and study with intention, to let things unfold and to trust in the path of the universe.

Yoga has infiltrated all aspects of my busy life. I am a school teacher with a hectic unrelenting pace. I am also a part of the "sandwich generation" where I have adult children and grandchildren, one child living at home and an elderly mother with many needs. Yoga helps me to stay well. It reminds me to look after myself and to maintain balance. Dedicating time to teacher training and to attending classes is not selfish, rather nurturing. I have learned to approach life's challenges with a softer heart. A big learning piece for me is to recognize that I am not responsible for other people's thoughts, actions and behaviours. My approach and reaction to potentially difficult or uncomfortable situations has softened. Learning to look inward and to connect to my inner experience and to investigate, without judgement what is happening with my breath, body and mind has been life changing.

That once scary, intimidating yoga studio has become a place of refuge. As I sit or lie on my mat I am enveloped by a sense of calmness, caring and warmth. I can access that place of calmness and contentedness wherever and whenever I choose. One of the greatest joys on my yoga journey is sharing my insights and learning with friends, family and colleagues. After all, everyone needs some yoga in their life! Soon I will retire from the teaching profession. Perhaps my teaching skills, wanderlust and love for yoga will unite in this next section of my life.

Namaste,

Sue

Finding Heartland

My very first yoga class was in 1999 at a studio named Heartland Yoga. Heartland no longer exists, but my yoga practice has flourished as a result of that beginning. In fact, those first yoga classes sit in my mind like a beautiful photograph. When I’m struggling in my current practice, I remember those early days and I lean into those joyful moments when hope was cultivated deep within my spirit.

At that time in my life I was on the hazardous detour of perfectionism. I was chronically self-critical, constantly striving for more in my life and never giving myself the break that I needed. While I thought I was only investing in the health of my body, my mind, heart and spirit began to grow.

Yoga helped me to cultivate the courage to be vulnerable, imperfect and self-compassionate. It started me on the path of becoming real. What I mean by “real” is that I started to become more authentic, genuine, more in touch with my…self. Instead of thinking that I am what I accomplish and how well I accomplish it, I realized that just being me was good enough.

I was a farm girl who very abruptly made the shift to city life as a young adult. It was shocking. At that time, I simply thought that if I looked perfect and did everything perfectly, that I would avoid any painful feelings associated with others judgment. It was a self-destructive and unattainable goal.

Yoga allowed me to see that I was enough just the way I was. It gave me the capacity to be warm and understanding towards myself during times of great difficulty. It also allowed me to see that these thoughts were part of a collective mindset and that I was not alone. Most importantly, yoga helped me to be mindful and not get caught up in my thoughts.

Most of us are wading through uncertainty, self-doubt and self-criticism. Yoga has provided me with resilience in the face of this relentless “never enough” cultural message that we are all bombarded with on a daily basis. I am living and loving now with my whole heart.

I suppose the name of the studio where I first practiced was accurate. I discovered my “heart land” in yoga.

~ Jennifer ~

Ashtanga invocation and closing chant

Shivaun Berg our Ashtanga teacher at the Yoga Centre Winnipeg, wanted to share some information about the chants and invocations used in the Ashtanga Practice.

We thought this would make a great blog post, and a handy place for people to access this information.

ASHTANGA INVOCATION AND CLOSING CHANT

Before beginning any ritualistic practice or endeavour such as asana, meditation or pranayama practice, studying, etc., it is traditional to state your intention (sankalpa), what you are about to do and why. Chanting focuses the mind and helps to remove any obstacles to the task to be undertaken. The production of sound and vibrations within the body has a calming and peaceful effect. The meaning of the words is secondary and simply feeds back into the vibration so that the sound itself becomes sacred and mysterious. Chanting gathers the mind and brings it closer to the immediate experience. 
Richard Freeman says the best part of chanting is the residue that remains when the sound stops. Chanting is an energetic form. After the chant, take a deep breath, sit in the form and bask in the residue.
 
ASHTANGA INVOCATION

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois chanted the Ashtanga Invocation/Opening Chant before asana practice. The first half, the opening of the Yoga Taravalia by Shankaracharya, was taught to Guruji by his teacher Krishnamacharya. It states our intention to bow or surrender, for our own benefit, to the feet of the guru/the teachings. And then expresses our wish that this practice will ease our worldly suffering (samsara) and ignorance/not knowing (moha). 
The second half is a tribute to and description of Patanjali, the ascribed author of the Yoga Sutras, and is often recited separately at the beginning of study of this text. 

Transliteration

OM
vande gurunam charanaravinde
sandarshita swatma sukhavabodhe
nihshreyase jangalikayamane
samsara halahala mohashantyai

abahu purushakaram
shankacakrasi dharinam
sahasra shirasam swetam
pranamami patanjalim
OM

English Translation

OM
I bow to the lotus feet of all gurus.
The awakening happiness of one's own Self revealed.
Beyond better acting like the jungle physician,
pacifying delusion, the poison of Samsara.

In the form of a man to the shoulders,
holding a conch, a discus, and a sword,
with thousands of white heads,
to Patanjali I salute.

OM


MANGALA MANTRAM/PEACE CHANT

The Mangala Mantra is a very old chant from the Rig Veda. It is traditionally chanted at the end of practice, sealing in the work of our practice and bringing it to a peaceful close. The closing chant wishes peace and happiness to the world and offers up whatever benefits or merits we gain from our practice to those who need them. 
Shanti (peace) is chanted three times at the end. The first shanti is for peace from personal suffering, physical or mental aches and pains. The second shanti is for peace from suffering caused by other sentient beings. The third shanti is for peace from suffering caused by universal events that affect us all, like weather and the environment.  

Transliteration

OM
swasthi praja bhyah
pari pala yantam
nya yena margena
mahim mahishaha
go brahmane bhyah
shubhamastu nityam
lokah samasthah
sukhino bhavanthu
OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTIH

English Translation

OM
May all be well with humankind.
May the leaders of the earth protect in every way by keeping to the right path.
May there be goodness for those who hold the earth sacred.
May all the worlds be happy.
May this country be free from disturbances, and may the righteous be free from fear.
OM PEACE PEACE PEACE

one family

This blog is a copy of a recent post on Facebook......

Recently i was asked by a journalist about students who come to our yoga centre..... She wanted to hear from students who, were not young, beautiful, able-able bodied, middle class women...while i deeply respected the intention of her article..... This was my response...... (It did not make the article, but it speaks strongly to the truth of the yoga centre winnipeg...those who teach there and those who practice there alike!

The people who come to the yoga centre winnipeg range from ages 8-85. However the practice of yoga (not just asana, but also meditation, and self study), helps people connect with their true nature which is ageless. In that respect, all our students are young. 

At the Yoga Centre Winnipeg, practitioners come in all shapes and sizes. But to us beauty shines from within, awakened through the practice of yoga and accepting oneself unconditionally. So, all our students are beautiful. 

Our classes cater to both men and women, but as we relate to finding balance within, we all learn to embrace our inner feminine and masculine energies.

While most students fit the category of "able bodied" yoga helps individuals relate to themselves through the union of the body mind and spirit. Yoga students learn to make friends with their physical bodies, accept limitations, and experience themselves as whole. 

I cannot say the socio-economic status of our students but, the people we teach say the benefits of yoga are invaluable. What is learned can be taken home and practiced for a lifetime.

Most ethnic groups and cultures are represented at the Yoga Centre Winnipeg. However, we are committed to relating to students at the level of the heart and not the colour of their skin. To us, we are all one family.

Namaste

💕Shauna 

My Yoga Journey

“Mom. If you can breathe you can participate in a Relax Deeply class.” Holding on to these words, spoken by my son, I began my yoga journey at Yoga Centre Winnipeg in 2009.

At the time of that conversation I was struggling with the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. I had difficulty holding a pen; signing my name was very excrutiating. I was unable to raise my hands up over my head. I hobbled up and down stairs clutching on to handrails. The touch of fabric on my skin was painful and I was unable to tolerate the wearing of jewelry. I was exhausted all of the time.

I knew that I my path to well being was going to be a long one but I was prepared to give myself time. The Relax Deeply classes focus upon deepening the breath and allowing gravity to do the work as participants relax into well supported poses.

From the moment I rolled out my mat for the first time I found yoga to be a very private, personal experience. Each class is comprised of people of all ages and of many levels of yoga experience and expertise. Instructions are clear and options are given for adaptations or for ways in which to deepen the challenges of the poses. Participants bring their attention inward as the poses and the breathing help to create spaces for our bodies, minds and spirits to relax and to open.

Over the last several years I have expanded my yoga experience to include, at various times, Yin, Kripalu, Vinyasa and Beginner classes. Without fail I always learn something new about myself and about the yoga experience in every class that I attend. It is wondrous and I am so thankful for these opportunities.

I am also deeply grateful for the quality of the teaching at the Yoga Centre. All of the teachers have taken an extensive teacher education program. The evidence of the high standards can be found in the consistent manner in which all classes are conducted. Classes are extremely well planned and professionally taught. Teachers are eagle eyed and provide subtle assistance or direction to individuals as required. Humour and kindness unto ourselves are qualities that are encouraged!

To conclude my own story... In the autumn of 2014 my daughter decided to run for the position of school trustee in the civic election. Over the course of 6 weeks she and I walked to over 7000 homes on her campaign trail. It felt wonderful! Of course I continue to be challenged by issues related to the rheumatoid arthritis. However, my yoga practice has given me the strength and the freedom to live an active and healthy life. Namaste!

Betty A.

Yoga Centre Love

I've been attending The Yoga Centre regularly for over 2 years, and after trying a few other yoga studios, found that the Yoga Centre has a variety of classes that are accommodating to my needs. And in the past when I was looking for more physically challenging classes, the Yoga Centre also had what I needed then. But most importantly The Yoga Centre is a place that combines quality, expert instruction with what yoga means to me.

The Yoga Centre is a place that is large enough to offer a wide range of classes in different styles and at different levels, and in a variety of times to suit my schedule and needs. But it is small enough to have a warm feeling of a welcoming community. I feel that the teachers are aware of, and attentive to, my particular needs and strengths, which may not be the case in a larger studio. And the friendly, warm front desk staff add to that feeling from the moment you arrive.

The instructors at the Yoga Centre have an incredible breadth and depth of knowledge, and are always adding to this knowledge with ongoing training and upgrading. Many of the instructors have decades of experience. I love that there is always an emphasis on deep awareness - of breath, mind and body, in all the classes. The master yoga teachers have helped me immensely, to deepen and expand my own practice, in a way that I could not have done on my own. The detailed and expert instructions repeat and reinforce skills and habits, and also introduce new and different ways of expanding my practice with every class I attend. The instructors help to create a feeling of ease and comfort along with this expertise. I feel safe and at peace as I am moving through the poses and growing my practice.

I've also been attending Jan's monthly Yoga Philosophy class for a few years, and love the insights and the inquiry that she leads me to with her teachings. While I read and study yoga on my own, the instructions, discussion and guidance from these classes help me to connect asana to philosophy in new and challenging ways. These teachings help me to connect body, mind and spirit in class and in life, and to better understand what yoga truly is.

I love that you can start at the Yoga Centre at any time, and do not need to wait for the next session to begin if you need to be away for awhile. And the prices are excellent. It would be hard to find such good value for such top-notch, quality instruction anywhere else!

The Yoga Centre really is a place that for me, is the heart and soul of yoga

Karen G