New Yoga Pics

Anyone need pictures for websites, headshots, posters, whatever?

Ellie Ericson is your gal!

We took a lazy, rainy afternoon to try and capture the essence of yoga. Pretty hard, but thanks to Ellie we came close:)

Seriously though, Ellie was professional but fun, technical but crazy creative, with a clear eye and bendy body to get the perfect angle.

Check out her site at www.ellieericson.com.

Here a few more from our shoot.

Enjoy xo

New classes for the New Year

I'm very excited to announce that Yoga At My Place, will be starting up again Jan 5th, 2011.

Every Wed please join me for a sweat, cleanse, and a good breathe, in my loft abode, from 7-8:20pm. Cost is $10, and please bring a mat.

Email me if you're interested and I'll give you the rest of the details.

All I can say is magical things happen here. I don't know what it is, the people, the view, the asana... things just happen.

Hope to see you:)

Also beginning in the New Year, I'll be teaching at Yoga for the People. This studio is one of the most breathtaking spaces in Vancouver, AND it's all by donation (suggested $10).

My first real "home studio" was a donation based space in Santa Monica, CA. The Kula (community) basically ran the place. We held it's walls up, with what we offered every class. It allowed you to feel more involved, and it made it more intimate. And because of this, there was a deeper understanding between the students. Yoga for the People holds this same family feel.

I really encourage you to check it out.

I'll be teaching a Hatha Flow class there Mondays at 4pm.

So come support the studio, your teachers and yourself!

yogaforthepeople.ca

It's been SOOOOO Long!

Hey All,

Wow I haven't blogged in so long. Thats what summer does to you I guess. Mmmmm what's new. * Enjoyed two weeks at my family cabin, in Ontario! It's actually a "cottage", but I gotta translate for the BCers!

* Ray LaMontagne has a new CD out. It's very mellow, but is perfect to play after a hard days work. Light some candles, cook a fragrant supper, put on your comfy cozies and play this album.

* Check out my new sched for the fall. I'm subbing in between, so if you're interested in those times email me.

* So many ppl around me are pregnant. What is with that?

* My older sister got engaged. She's the first one to go out of the 4 kids. We're growing up. We shed some tears :(

* FINALLY GOT INTO FULL LOTUS. This is huge for me, as I'm the "tight hip girl" and I LOVED hanging onto my "bad knee story". Guess that has been shed. My body is changing. Thank you yoga. I love you...

* Still loving my camera, so let me know if you want to do a photo shoot cheap!

That's it for now.

Just like as the kids are buckling down for school and a schedule, I'm doing the same with my blogging. Although fall equals a lot of yummy things, it does mean back to work.

Till next time,

Namaste, and see you on the mat!

OM

Just after my teacher training, in Dec, I got the "Om" symbol tattooed on my wrist. I wanted something to remind me of this recent journey, and something to keep me grounded, for future adventures.

At the time, this sacred symbol solely reminded me of my love for yoga. But as my research continues, as I chant it more and more, like it's history, it's meaning runs deeper.

Om is commonly known for the prayer/awkward sing song, at the beginning of a yoga class. It can be a stressful and embarrassing time for many :) But with meaning behind the vibrations, it might take you out of your head/ego!

Om is made up of three letters and sounds: A U M. The vibrations they create can be felt, or heard, in anything. There has been times in class when we begin to Om right when a motorcycle zooms by, or a car alarm goes off. You can hear the Universal sound in both, in all things, if you listen!

It's believed that this sound was first heard, when the Divine (or God, or Allah, or Universe, etc), made himself unified with everything else-undivided. Which is why it's so wonderful to sing at the beginning of class. It brings all together, before we share such personal work as a one.

Broken down, it can mean many things:

A- symbolizes the waking state, the absence of desire, asana

U- symbolizes the dream sates, absence of fear, pranayama

M- symbolizes the dreamless state of the mind and spirit, absence of anger, pratyahara

And the entire symbol transcends all (samadhi).

I thought this was neat... Pranava is another name for Om, which is derived from the prefix "pra" meaning DENOTING SUPERIORITY! So no separation, only unity.

Om stands for the living spirit, for divinity, and realization of man's divinity within himself.

Liberation of human spirit form the confines of his body, mind, intellect and ego, is another wonderful translation! The list goes on.......

So long story short, it's more then just a chant, its more then just a bumper sticker, its more then a singing competition, and it's more then just a tattoo.

Om shanti shanti

Photography

I've discovered a new love: Photography!!!

Actually, my obsessions change monthly. May was all about making my own soap.

But this one is a keeper.

I've done a few shoots with local yoga teachers, for websites, promotions, etc .

My camera is wonderful, and we work fantastically together.

So, if you need some new pictures for anything, shoot me an email.

Here are some teasers!

Enjoy

Why Yoga Continues to Blow My Mind!

Trying to teach yourself anatomy is really impossible. However, my "Key Poses of Hatha Yoga" book makes it easy... and this is starting to sound like a commercial. No but really, it's actually making me excited about bones and muscles.

Look what I learned today!

If a muscle is first used, at a really early age, (ex. the psoas is first used, when an 8 month old sits up, for the first time) the brain recognizes that the muscle will be used a lot in life. Therefore, it labels it as an '"unconscious muscle", to conserve energy.

Yoga however, works to place new demands on the body and brain. By performing asana, these once unconscious, almost numb, muscles are brought back to awareness. This new consciousness eventually creates a stronger inner knowing, and body clairvoyance.

Don't lose me, there's more.

Ok, so the nervous system assigns and divides brain power based on need. For example, the hands and feet have a higher representation in the brain, because it needs a higher level of conscious movement. The amount of power set aside to the thumb is greater then the entire pelvic region. Makes sense, as this area (2rd chakra) can feel foreign and hard to access. Neurons can't be increased for muscle groups, but can be moved around! This is where yoga steps in, to bring movement, body consciousness, deep meditation and awakening!

Is this cool, or am I just a HUGE loser?

Please feel free to shed more light on the topic

VERY FIRST BLOG ENTRY

Hi Friends,

Ok, so I've just created another distraction for myself, because facebook, my website, email, etc. isn't enough :) Twitter hasn't got me yet, thank goodness. However, this new addition might turn into my favourite gadget.

This blogspot is going to make life a lot easier for you and me! It'll provide you with my teaching sched, news, fees and thoughts, all with one click. Nice and direct!

All you have to do it subscribe to my blog, at the bottom of the page, to receive all the juicy details.

Thanks for coming, and stay tuned.

Namaste all the way !!!!!!!!!!!!