Playlist: "Random Rab" Rocks

I'm not 100% how I came across Random Rab. Although I am pretty positive he played at Burning Man, and I'm convinced his music is in love with Flow yoga, and Flow yoga is in love with him; They are the perfect pair.

Enjoy this feel good scramble I have compiled :)

www.randomrab.com

1) Melting Into the Sun - Random Rab

2) The Whisper - Random Rab

3) Master of Gyroscopes- Random Rab

4) Weird Fishes/Apreggi- Radiohead

5) Behind the Light- Bonobo

6) Train Wreck ( Sly & Robbie Mix)- Sarah McLachlan

7) Island, Is- Volcano Choir

8) Separator- Radiohead

9) For My Corpse- Random Rab

10) Corpse Pose- Divination

Upcoming Workshop Reminder

Merry Chistmas Yogis

This is just a quick reminder of the 2 workshops I'm holding in the next few weeks.

The first is this Wed, Dec 21st at Hot Yoga Peterborough, starting at 4:30pm, in Peterborough Ontario. Suggested $5 drop in fee which will go towards a shower for the studio. It's a 75min Power/Vinyasa workshop and we may even kick it up a notch with some invertions!

If you live in Vancouver and want to step it up a bit too, I'll be focusing on upside down poses in a 2 hour workshop, at Unity Yoga. This will take place Sun, Jan 8th, from 1:30pm-3:30pm, and the cost is $25.00

Unity Yoga is a beautiful, intimate studio that only holds 15 people, so please email info@unityyoga.ca to reserve your spot.

Bring a pen and paper, as we'll be tackling some of the emotions that are associated with inversions.

AND please take a look at my updated schedule for the New Year :)

Wishing you a cozy, homey, Christmas filled with love !!!!

Namaste all the way,

EMILY

Recommendations for Inspiration #4: Stevie Nicks

FREE BIRD

This video never gets old....

Punta Monterrey Yoga Retreat: Authentic Mexican, Authentic Yoga

Hey Guys,

Here are some more details on our upcoming yoga retreat. To keep up with weekly blogs about the adventure visit www.alexandemilysadventures.blogspot.com. Everything you need to know is also on that site, as well as more info on your guides, Alex and Emily!

We'd love to have you!

Namaste All the Way.... to Mexico ;)

Recommendations for Inspiration #3: Sleeping at Last

WHO : Sleeping at Last

WHAT: Singer/Songwriter, with a Damien Rice/Bon Iver feel

WHY: The sex scene in Twilight: Breaking Dawn was the only time I was moved, because this band was playing. I couldn't wait for the film to be over so I could go home and drool over their every detail; forget Robert Pattinson!

I stumbled upon their most recent album called, Yearbook, which contains 36 tracks of breathtaking masterpieces. The multi-instrumentalist performed most of the parts, from melodies on the piano, acoustic guitar, banjo, ukulele, right down to occasional violin parts.

The strings are full and at times too rich to digest. And this detail even goes beyond the instrumentation. Each lyric is laid perfectly to rest deep in your guts, softly in your heart, or wildly in your imagination. Every song is different, and every song leaves you with a different after taste. Even though he wrote 3 brand new songs, every month, for a year, nothing is stale or boring about this album.

Now is the perfect time to bring Sleeping at Last into your life. It screams hibernation, bubble bath, snowy/rainy walks, savasana, a winter drive down country roads, cuddles by candlelight, reading by the fire, a slow and beautiful lovemaking session..... you get the idea!

Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy

Lets Turn This Upside Down: There's Been a Booboo

Hi Yogis,

Sorry for the booboo, however the studio double booked on this day.

Instead of rocking inversions on Dec 11th, we'll be rocking Sun, Jan 8th, 2012

Same time: 1:30-3:30pm

Same place : Unity Yoga, 1672 10th Ave E (at Commercial Dr)

Email me for more info at mlemillen@yahoo.com, or call the studio to sign up 604-708-8369

Namaste all the way,

Emily

Lets Turn This Upside Down

INVERSION WORKSHOP

Want to learn to do headstand, shoulderstand, handstand and other nerve racking, sickly addicting, yummy, upside down postures?

Want to learn in a safe environment?

Want to have the time to safely break down each pose?

Want to explore with a small group?

Want to celebrate your bravery with a warm cup of tea afterwards?

THEN THIS IS THE WORKSHOP FOR YOU :)

Join me at Unity Yoga,

1672 10th Ave E (at Commercial Dr)

Dec 11th from 1:30-3:30pm

$25

space is limited: 14 students max

Email me for more info at mlemillen@yahoo.com, or call the studio to sign up 604-708-8369

I'd love to have you:)

Emily

Recommendations for Inspiration #2: SARAH SLEAN

WHAT: Canadian Singer Songwriter, Poet, Painter, Actress

WHO: Sarah Slean

WHY: I fell in love with Ms. Slean during my last year of high school. A good friend had watched her play at one of our little, local venues, in Peterborough Ontario. She told a tale of this eccentric, exotic, bare foot, pianist who song like she came straight out of the 1940s.

And she plays like she's high on something really goooooddddd. If I could be like her I'd gladly take whatever drug she's hooked too. The thing is, Sarah is all natural- 100%!!!!!!!

When you see her live, she holds you so tightly in the palm of her hand. She grants you permission to be free, to live without chains, ties or limitations, and she guides you into a brand new perspective- a whole new world! And come to think of it, you do feel like The Little Mermaid: thrust up against a rock with wild waves crashing all around you. AAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Her new album, Land and Sea, is a masterpiece containing a pop/folk feel on one end, and a orchestral/euphoric feel on the other.

I can't really describe why this woman is so inspiring. SO in order to develop your own opinion you must do the follow:

1) See her in concert. She's coming to Vancouver Nov 23, at the Rio Theatre

2) Stalk her website. Its has everything on it that has to do with art, because she can do EVERYTHING that has to do with art. www.sarahslean.com

3) Watch the video, on the front page of her site, entitled Land and & Sea, Episode 9. You'll get a real feel for her depth and artistry

Listen and love xo

Recommendations for Inspiration #1: Milk

MILK

What: Movie 2008

* Biography of Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay American to be elected to public office, in California.

Who: Sean Penn & James Franco

Why: One of those movies you can't stop thinking about. One of those films where you find yourself flabbergasted at that fact you had no idea this had all occurred. Harvey Milk should be known by everyone; WHAT A HERO. I don't think gay rights would be where it is today without this man. We still have a ways to go, but the movement for change really only began 40 yrs ago!!!!! That's really not that long ago. Especially considering how brutally gays were treated before this. The horrible acts almost brought you back to segregation, or even the witch hunts.

Despite all this, Harvey Milk was a loving man, and Sean Penn portrayed him as playful, happy, a strong man even in tragic times (and I mean tragic), one who saw the good in every individual. Milk seemed to have had an ancient, wise spirit, as if he'd studied with Buddha himself. Yet, he also interacted with a new age flair, as if he'd seen The Secret or was born as an Indigo Baby. He saw the innate goodness in all, and I think that's what was most inspiring about this flick.

** Educational, Moving, Tragic, Flooring, Motivating, Powerful, Playful **

RENT IT xo

Alex & Emily's Adventures

Exciting, exciting news!

My great friend, fellow student of yoga, and fellow teacher, Alex Mazerolle, and I are leading our first retreat together.

Miss. Mazerolle is an Anusara Inspired teacher who is hungry for life. Her way of living inspires you to life just like she does: from the heart :) She recently finished up her second retreat to Bodega Ridge, on Galiano Island.

We both have had a taste for what BC has to offer it's yogis and are now ready for warmer ocean, whiter beach and HOTTER SUN!!!

So we'd like to introduce our next adventure......

Punta Monterrey Yoga Reatreat: Authentic Mexican, Authentic Yoga

Join us, at this family run oasis, Feb 11th-18th, 2011

* For the rest of the dirty details visit alexandemilysadventures.blogspot.com

* To sign up email alexandemilysadventures@gmail.com

* To view the venue see http://www.monterreybeach.com/

Lets go chase the sun:)

Namaste,

Emily xo

P.S. Here is a sneak peak of Punta Monterrey's private beach...

NO IMPACT MAN: Making a Difference One Step at a Time, One Person at a Time.

I could go on and on about this documentary. It's about a man and his family, leaving no carbon footprint, or harmful impact on the environment for one year. AND they live in New York City, which would make the task even more impossible.

Colin Beaven, the driving force behind this project, keeps things very realistic throughout, which I really appreciated. He wasn't an extremest, and he wasn't a know it all. He knew that his family would have to ease into it, so they swallowed one thing at a time. They started with no consuming, then graduated to eating a local, vegetarian diet. They then moved onto clothe diapers, ZERO GARBAGE, no TV, no toilet paper, and finished off with NO ELECTRICITY. They biked for a year, didn't take planes, and his wife even walked up twenty some flights of stairs to work - elevators were forbidden!!! This made me question why I waited sometimes 15 minutes for our lift, when I could simply walk up 4 floors in 5min.

You battle this way throughout the whole movie . You naturally begin comparing your experience with theirs. You began to picture your life without this and that, experimenting with the thought of following in their footsteps. Once they lift the veil of environmental ignorance, changing certain things become no brainers. But some changes would be very drastic and dramatic; Some changes could even causes breakups with your live in companion.

Personally, my spouse would never want to give up his precious TV, and I'd have to give up coffee which would probably drive our relationship into the ground!!! The wife in the flick would have my back on that one:)

I took away two major things from the movie.

1) I am now much more aware of how and what I consume. I'm aware of how I am affecting this planet. I'm going to begin to incorporate small changes into the way I live. For example:

GOALS

a) Every Saturday I'm going to hit up our local farmers market. You know where your food is coming from, you can ask how its grown, and it frankly tastes better. Less emissions are transported in the shipping of food as well.

b) My cleaning products will all be changed to lemon, Borax (natural laundry detergent) and vinegar

c) I will not use a single plastic bag (see movie for tips)!

d) I'm going to invest in a worm compost to cut down on my garbage

e) I will use as little electricity as possible, right down to leaving things plugged in when I'm not using them.

f) paper towels suck! Wash clothes all the way

g) If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down! Plus I'm bringing back my camps skills and will drip dry by shaking my bum vigorously :)

Starting with that and we'll see how it goes.

Here is the other thing that really moved me-> At first Colin was doing this project to write a new novel that would give back to society and the planet. The experiment seemed to almost act as a new adventure at first. He seemed to like the idea of devolving, and camping out. However as the movie evolved, and when the media became more and more involved, he began to see that his actions would only make an impact if he a) inspired others to make small, maybe less extreme changes, and b) volunteered his time to local environmental organizations.

Throughout the movie I kept thinking, "this is all great, but he is such a small percent of the population. We all are aware of our waste but chose to stay ignorant to what happens after we take the trash out. How would this make a positive change if Colin was doing the project just to see if he could do it?" This is where realization A steps in, for two main reasons...

Obviously the first is to bleed the information out to the rest of the world, starting with our loved ones. The second is that we need to start believing in the power of our individual actions; No matter how small we feel.

My mind immediately wanders to a vivid memory of my childhood camp director reciting this story:

“While wandering a deserted beach at dawn, stagnant in my work, I saw a man in the distance bending and throwing as he walked the endless stretch toward me. As he came near, I could see that he was throwing starfish, abandoned on the sand by the tide, back into the sea. When he was close enough I asked him why he was working so hard at this strange task. He said that the sun would dry the starfish and they would die. I said to him that I thought he was foolish. there were thousands of starfish on miles and miles of beach. One man alone could never make a difference. He smiled as he picked up the next starfish. Hurling it far into the sea he said, "It makes a difference for this one." I abandoned my writing and spent the morning throwing starfish.”
― Loren Eiseley

LETS BE THE CHANGE, ONE STEP AT A TIME, ONE PERSON AT A TIME, ONE DRIP DRY AT A TIME xo

African Bum Shaking Playlist

I really enjoy doing asana to African Beats! It gets you into your body, it grounds you into your legs, and it definitely makes you shake your bum bum- that takes care of the hips!!!!

If you'd like a beautiful African themed album, check out the soundtrack from The Constant Gardener. Watching the movie will give you a greater appreciation of the music too.

You can get most of these songs off itunes!

Enjoy xo

Guramayle- Gigi (female artist from Ethiopia. Her album Gold & Wax is amazing)

Gati Bongo- Orchestre Baka De Gbine

Sangi Sangy- African Guitar Summit II

Morena Wotetea- Gigi

Nigeria What? - Debruit (just discovered this guy-great beats! DJ instrumentalist from Paris)

Kula- Al Gromer Khan

Kaira- Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate

Mali Sadio- Toumani Diabate

Homeless- Rarities, B Sides vol.2- Sarah McLachlan

Kothbiro- Constant Gardener Soundtrack- Ayub Ogada

2011 Fall Harvest Retreat

This yoga retreat made top 5 experiences of my life!!!!

When I approached Alex Altheron to help me plant the seeds to one day lead a yoga retreat, I as thinking 5 years down the road. Little did I know he came prepared with a business proposal and a manifestation strength to be reckoned with.

5 months after this, we'd find ourselves on a ferry leading 15 people to Stowel Lake Farms, on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. Now here I am, two days after our magical weekend and I'm still pinching myself. I'm so grateful for Alex's faith in me, and for the special individuals who decided to nurture not only themselves for the 48 hrs, but my dream as well!

Arriving on the 125+ acre farm set the majestic theme which was continuous. The long lane way opened up to 3 beautiful barn like structures, yurts, ponds surrounded by a detailed gardens, numerous greenhouses, and lots and lots of green, wide open space. The land put our city energy to rest and let our imaginations run wild. I personally had feelings of being Anne of Green Gables as I walked amongst the apple trees. In the kitchen (see above) I was taken away to an Old English Country home in the 1800s. It was fun for all of us to play the "could I live here?" game. For Diana, I doubt she could think this far into the future as she was basking in each minute's discovery; this was her first time on a farm EVER!!!!

We all learned a lot about farming, as each meal was organic and grown on location... something you don't get everyday. The food was outstanding and our bodies thanked us. I've never felt so light, healthy and cleansed after a HUGE, HEAPING plate of seconds:) Alex and I had never been to Stowel Lake Farms before, and some thought we were nuts for trusting that the food would be good. Food can really make or break a trip! Horseshoes up our ass on that one !!!! How professional:)

Although way better food than Camp Tawingo's, the farm did remind me of summer camp. The whole experience did, right down to the labeled mugs and moccasins. It was the way 17 complete strangers came together free of ego, and free of awkward, surface conversations. Unusual surroundings and events bring this on. I was so amazed at how much effort everyone put into getting to know each person individually. We all were so different, such characters, ranging in age and backgrounds, yet I felt no judgement or categorizing. Sometimes it takes stepping out of the daily grind to re-connect to the Sri, or innate goodness and beauty that is naturally in us all.

After extraordinary experiences like these, traveling included, the toughest part is to bring it back to your "regular life". How long can you make the high last? How can you integrate the potion into your life, and make sure it lasts? Will you recognize when it runs out, and will you take the time to replenish yourself again?

This notion of nurturing your highest self, was completely new to one of our guests. She'd done just a few classes of yoga before, but something inside told her she needed this trip. After our first class on Friday night, she pulled me aside. She explained that after savasana, she sat up for meditation and felt an overwhelming rush of emotion. Following the class she went into her room and bawled. Expressing that she wasn't particularly troubled by anything, she wondered what had gotten over her. Yoga got into her! Hearing this reaffirmed my love for this practice.

Yoga has a way of clearing away your ignorance of your Divine Self. You sweat, move, and breath more then usual which often digs up stuffed emotions, memories, relationships, etc. Its like peeling off a tough layer, layers that often muscle us through our days.

Recently I read an excerpt from the book "Jivamukti", which describes this exact thing:

The intention underlying all our practices must be clear. The motivation under the yoga practices must be Yoga- union with the Divine Self. For any practice to be a yoga practice one must consciously and continuously cultivate a desire for self-realization.

There were many special moments of laughter, tears, debates, and even moments of silence. The fact that we could reach this place in a weekend can be accredited to our pure surroundings, the openness of it's owners, and the safety net that was naturally built by our gracious group.

I think the biggest lesson I learned from this experience was to never say no to yourself and the visions you have for your life. Each one of us heard a little voice to nurture and feed our spirits. We took a risk, we ignored our logic and found trust. AND I'M SO GLAD WE DID!!!

Keep your eyes peeled for the next retreat, and until then keep feeding your souls, keep sharing your essence.

Namaste All The Way,

Emily xo

For Lovers Only

Sunday night I was in the mood for a sappy romance and stumbled upon this on itunes:

For Lovers Only! It did the trick:)

Despite it's slow pace, the film holds your attention through its beautiful cinematography. I've never witnessed so many close up shots in my life, but it was necessary. The lead actress had features of a 1950's classical dame. You felt a part of each embrace she shared with the only other star in the film. Their chemistry made you painfully long for that same intensity in your own relationship. Thank goodness some scenes were quite over exaggerated, reminding you that THIS IS NOT REALITY!

It was fun to escape into a black and white world though. The past lovers themselves gallivanted around France, retreating from their married lives back home. It makes you ponder your own time line. It makes you ponder how much you should leave up to fate or how much you should be in the drivers seat. How long can we follow our hearts without hurting those around us? Yet how long can we live in our heads without hurting ourselves? The film sways back and forth between these two struggles.

All in all, this flick is about pure, intense, bright rouge romance, love and compatibility. It's beautiful, it's creative, and its appealing for the eyes and heart.

Do watch if you're feeling gushy or if you need of some art in your life.

BUT BEWARE: IT'S FOR LOVERS ONLY!!!!!!

Enjoy xo

Hipp Trip Travel Interview

Hi Hi,

Check out an interview I did for Hipp Trip Travel. This brilliant website was created by a good friend, Alyx Kottmeier. If you're wondering where to do yoga in the world, where to eat, where to stay, etc visit this site.

Enjoy xo

http://hipptrip.com/spiritual-gangsters/emily-millen/

The Sound of Sri

This is one of my favourite playlists yet! In class today, I read from "The Ringing Cedars" book series. The paragraph explains beautifully that when we become still enough, sensitive enough, to our surroundings we become one with it all. We connect, and are reminded of the Oneness. The pores on our skin open, the ears expand, our nostrils pulsate, and we the Universe moves through us. This is when we're fully aligned with the cosmos, natural, each other and ourselves. This is when we feel most at home.

I wanted to create a playlist to go along with this euphoric experience. Hopefully the arrangement of tunes will sweep you away to your special place in nature. You may discover a deserted beach paradise, find yourself lying in the middle of a wheat field, floating face up down a river, flying high above the ocean, or standing tall on the highest hill!

Enjoy xo

1) Aqueous Transmission- Incubus

2) Separator- Radiohead

3) Look Up - Zero 7

4) Brand New Day- Sting

5) Road To Somewhere- Goldfrapp

6) Porcelain- Moby

7) Guramayle- Gigi

8) Holocene- Bon Iver

9) Hourglass- Garth Stevenson

10) Give Up The Ghost- Radiohead

"Do you hear my heart beating? Now I shall increase the tempo of my heartbeat and you listen to see what happens all around."

Anastasia's heartbeat increased in frequency, and right away the rhythm of sounds I could hear around me joined in with a heightened tonality.

"Everything-absolutely everything: a little blade of grass, a big tree, even the bugs- they all react to any change in the rhythm of my heart. The trees accelerate their inner processes, and work harder to produce oxygen. I shall tune the rhythm of my heartbeat to yours, and you will feel it."

Little by little her heat adjusted its tuning and began beating in the same rhythm as mine. And something more amazing happened: I felt an unusually pleasant sensation, as though my mother and my relatives were right beside me. A sense of softness and good health came over my body, and my heart was filled with joy, freedom and a whole new sense of creation.

The range of surrounding sounds caressed me and communicated the truth- not a truth comprehensible in all it's detail, just something I felt intuitively. I had the impression that all the pleasing and joyous feelings I had ever experienced in my life were now merging into a single and wonderful sensation. Perhaps it is the sensation that is called happiness. ~ Anastasia- The Ringing Cedars Series

CASE CLOSED CD Release

My band and I are finally releasing out first CD after 2 years. A lot of love and sweat went into it as our bass player, Greg Monforton, recorded and produced the entire thing,

The release party is Sunday, Aug 7th at 130pm. It will be held at St. James Hall, 3214 W. 10th Ave. Mimosas, Bailey's coffee, tea and treats will be served, so make a Sunday out of it and wear your best afternoon dress.

We'll be selling our album, entitled "Four Years Apart". We conjured up the title, as there is exactly four years between each of us. The theme is expressed through the artwork, hence the lifelines of the tree trunk, and the "height tracker" penciled on a door frame (seen on the back of the CD tracking our song list).

Since we all sing and play various instruments, our sound is difficult to explain. Although we have been compared to Bob Dylan, The Barenaked Ladies, and Joni Mitchell!

Have a listen and you decide!

Email me if you'd like to buy a copy of "Four Years Apart", for $12 mlemillen@yahoo.com.

Namaste and Music All The Way,

Emily

AYA FALL HARVEST YOGA RETREAT

Hi All,

Exciting news: Alex Atherton and I are hosting out first yoga retreat!!!! It will be held at Stowel Lake Organic Farm, on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.

Fall is my favourite season, so we'll really be milking the harvest theme throughout. The weekend will include 2 daily yoga classes, journaling, a candlelit mediation, campfire jams, organic meals, field hikes and GREAT COMPANY :)

Below is more info, but if you have any questions, email info@anandayogaadventures.org

NAMASTE,

Emily

WHEN: Fri Sept, 20th/11 to Sun Oct, 2nd/11

Arrival Time: Option to leave on the 10:10am ferry (arriving at 1:10pm) or 8:25pm (arriving at 10:15pm)
* We strongly recommend taking the earlier ferry so you arrive for orientation.
Departure Time: 3:30pm ferry back to Vancouver for 6:30pm

COST:
Register Now, Space is Limited! $488 per person
Early Bird Special: First 10 to register: $398 per person
** Single Accom Upgrades available on request.**

INCLUSIONS:
2 nights: beautiful and comfortable boutique accommodation
6 Healthy and Organic meals (Fri-Dinner, Sat, Breaky, Lunch, Dinner, Sun-Breaky, Lunch)
7 Blissful Yoga Classes
Forest Meditation Walk, Evening Candlelit Meditation, and Journaling
Complimentary Shiatsu Massage Treatment
Saltspring Village Field Trip

YOGA: Alex and Emily are both Anusara trained, and will offer heart oriented classes with clear alignment, and deep movement for all level of students. All classes will have themes that help student to reflect, move closer to the source of inspiration and essence of self (sahaja). Morning classes will be energetic, and powerful vinyasa-flow. Afternoon classes will be balanced Hatha style classes, with long hold for amazing opening, and Evening classes will be Restorative/ Candlelight Meditation classes.

ACCOM:
Standard Accomodation is shared, funky boutique-rustic (luxury in nature).
Private rooms are available at an additional cost, please ask us!
Stowel Lake Farm is an established organic farm
located in the south end of Salt Spring Island.
The accommodation on Stowel Lake Farm is
comfortable and charming. Most of the rooms sleep two people with a few that sleep three people. The Gatehouse, the yoga and meditation space, has
large windows that allow panoramic views of the
stunning farm and natural environment. The
building itself is warm, light and beautifully
handcrafted by local woodworkers.

FOOD:
The staff at Stowel lake work with several experienced and talented
caterers to provide delicious and healthy meals for
retreats. The emphasis is fresh, organic and locally
produced food infused with LOVE. Vegetables grown
on the farm is used whenever possible.
Where do we eat? The Barn!
The Barn, a post and beam structure, was built in the early 1970’s using Douglas fir trees from the property. It was first used as a sheep barn and housed over 100 ewes (the sheep have left).

Yoga Makes Me Feel Like Charlie in the Chocolate Factory

After finding the golden ticket, Charlie experienced many magical things. He went from one extreme to the other. Living in a dull and ratty shack, his life was a gray blanket of grief and forever lost opportunities. It's funny, once you decide this is your reality, it's hard to see anything else. You get too comfortable, becoming blind to the holes that exist in the sheath- light trying to push through.

Deep down there is a little voice who is praying for you to have that epiphany, that life changing experience, or for Charlie's sake that stroke of luck.

Yoga is one of those experiences that can save your life from being sucked deeper and deeper in the wrong direction. Instead, through asana, meditation and pranayama, yoga takes you deeper and deeper to your dharma (your purpose and truth).

I remember my good friend Jodi describing her yoga haze after class. I was just getting into yoga at the time, and her stories infatuated me. Post yoga class feels kinda like this: You leave class feeling light as a feather, feeling nude and completely fine with it. Your eyes are no longer dusty, the blinders have been removed, and you're ready to make contact with anyone. You feel more like yourself, connected and completely morphed from when you first walked in. YOU SEE BEAUTY-ALL AROUND!!!!!

Think Pleasantville, when the black and white town discovers colour, or a good mushroom trip (so I've heard), or when Charlie steps into Wonka's magic land.

What I love about the movie, the lessons of yoga, and the tantric philosophy is that as you discover abundant beauty all around, you realize that what you had before is also beautiful.

Opening yourself up to the magic of every stage, experience, conversation, relationship, etc provides a lot of peace and self acceptance. As long as you are observant, and as long as you know when it's time to pull off those "beer goggles", you'll realize that it's all part of the bigger plan; Its all a contribution to your dharma.

Jodi always reminds me that Beauty attracts Beauty. I love that!

If you feel yourself slipping, look at something beautiful. Take in it's colour, its pattern, and energy. Notice the shift in yourself. Hit the mat and see if you can stay present to your sublime breath, shapes, body parts, colours in the room, and to the other beings in the room. I like to reflect on someone or something in my life that exudes loveliness. Use this as your intention, to find clarity, to re-discover life and the perfection in life itself. But who knows, maybe the hiccups are beautiful too!! ;)

The following words have inspired me to write this entry. Enjoy xo

"Yoga teaches that beauty is everywhere if one can learn to see it, and that complete concentration upon a beautiful thought, scene or object will result in relaxation of the mind and achievement of tranquility" ~ Nancy Phelan and Michael Volin

"Do what the Native Americans call seeing in Beauty. Beauty is fires and floods and scorching sun and the patterns on a rattlesnake's skin. To feel real Beauty on this earth-the struggles as well as the lovely surfaces and depths-is the most amazing thing"~Ana Forrest

P.S. 1st picture I took in Delhi, India

Rainbow was taken at my cottage in Ontario

Girl is my bestest Rachel!

Interviews of Fellow Teachers Kickoff!

Every month, I've decided to interview a different yoga teacher, in the Vancouver community. This idea came to me after reading an article in The Yoga Journal. World renown yoga teacher, Seane Corn talks about mentoring Los Angeles teacher, Kathryn Budig. As yoga teachers are popping up everywhere, Corn stressed how important it is to shake of the competitive vibe, teaches how to turn the insecurities around.

"Seane really inspired me not only to not worry about how I'm doing but also to help others. It takes much more energy to be competitive with someone than it does to embrace them, nurture them, " Kathryn recalls.

Read these interviews! Even if you're not into yoga, I suggest it! We have so many breathtaking teachers in our kula (community), so who wouldn't want to get into their ingenious minds. I bet you won't be able to shake these wise beings. They have a way of staying with you, either in your brain, under your skin or in your hearts!

Carolyn Anne Budgell: Teacher of Honesty

~May/22 /11 Interview ~

THE BASICS

1) How old were you when you took your first yoga class? Explain your first impressions.

I was 19 years old when I took my first yoga class (it was a two month sessional in Whistler) with Leslie Young. What I remember most fondly was farting in Trikonasana. I don’t think that has happened in a class since.

I have no idea how or why I chose Leslie Young and why I chose to commit to a two-month introduction instead of just a drop-in class but I tend to jump right in to ventures and activities.

I was completely unaware at the time, but the precise way in which she taught the basics of asana with a focus on alignment eventually propelled me into this style of teaching.

Beginning my practice surrounded by the Cascade Mountains created a ripe environment for yoga to also become very sacred. A quiet solitude envelops much of the Sea to Sky Region and yoga helped me tap into this peace while living in such a transient town during an emotional time in my life.

2) How long did it take for you to realize that yoga might be a forever thing? Describe what it was about yoga that first drew you in?

I took the sessionals with a girlfriend who had expressed to me throughout that she wasn’t really feeling yoga as a fun pastime nor form of exercise. And this shocked me because it felt so natural that I couldn’t consider any other reaction than to be curious about future classes and experiences.

This was the summer of 1999 in Whistler and I used to ride a longboard skateboard daily. Thus, skateboarding was where I first noticed a huge change in my balance. Not only is skateboarding down long hills a thrilling time, but realizing that yoga created huge shifts to improve my balance and the ride was amazing!

3) How long did you practice for before getting the teaching itch? Who inspired you to be a teacher?

I think I realized 4 years into my practice that I wanted to teach. And then 10 years in, I completed my 200 hr YTT. I knew I had a lot of things I wanted to finish before I started teaching yoga-my BA at SFU, but mostly I wanted to spend a lot of time in a personal practice before I could even think of guiding others.

I’ve never thought about who inspired me to be a teacher. I have focused more gratitude and thoughts towards those who have inspired me to be a better human. But for teaching, perhaps it was Cathy High (who gave me the opportunity to take care of her children and listen to her yoga music CD’s while she traveled the world to train heehee). Perhaps it was Alli Warnyca who (in response to my statement “I think I’m too messed up to start teaching”) encouraged “Carolyn, you grow with your students as you teach. Work through your fears and emotions by teaching. No teacher is perfect.”

4) Did you ever in a million years see yourself as a yoga teacher? What did u used to want to be when you grew up?

I have always wanted to teach, whether it be to sweet little babes in daycare, piano lessons, to community members on how to rehabilitate and preserve the environment or teaching yoga – all of which I have done. I have always wanted to teach. And I have this Type A personality quirk, which pushes me to always try and get what I want.

YOGA TID BITS

1) Where have you traveled to train? If you could do a sun salutation, right now, anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I have traveled to California, across BC for various retreats and workshops, Paris to study with Elena Brower, New York City to study with Ana Forrest, David Life and Sharon Gannon, Seattle to study with Ana Forrest. I would like to salute the sun in Norway or New Zealand or Japan.

2)What is the funniest/weirdest thing you've said while teaching?

Last week I said “If a little baby walked into the room right now, would it cry because your face looks so scary and mean?” Laughter is great medicine while in balancing poses.

3) What's your fav yoga book at the moment?

I have many favourites. But right now I’m reading Eastern Body, Western Mind by Anodea Judith. Anything written by Georg Feuerstein is right up my alley, an academic at heart.

4)Name one thing your students don't know about you. Like if you announced it in class, they'd be surprised!

I’m extremely blunt, honest and open while I teach. My greatest inspiration for this method of teaching is Ana Forrest. She reminds us to be in the moment and raw while teaching, as the emotions our students work through are certainly not always flowery and sparkling. I feel that my regular students wouldn’t be surprised by much that I might say.

5) What do you do while your students are in savasana?

I silently thank God and the yogis in the room that we all rose to the occasion and showed up to class.

6) If you could invite anyone to your class, who would it be?

My whole family in the same class.

GOING DEEP

1) What is something you're working on right now on your journey?

I’m trying to cook more, waste less of everything and travel more. Yoga is a part of all these things.

2) What does yoga mean to you?

To me yoga is mastery over the breath. The asana and movement is simply a means to that end. Humans are capable of greatness but the creations of our society are often a hindrance and a distraction to our success and our ability to love others. So to me, yoga is having a good time, sweating, transforming our bodies, peeling away layers of negative self-esteem, fears, doubts, anger, ego, meeting new friends, listening to sweet music and in the end, we are able to sit. We become able to observe the breath. We are able to find compassion when your friend or a complete stranger is hurting inside or hurting you. The breath truly brings us into these moments with a presence that is strong, adaptable and loving.

And as yoga continues to grow as a path towards truth for many beings, there are those who see it only as a work out, or for financial gains. So we must remember, why do we do this? And if it all changed and disappeared tomorrow, what would remain?

PLAYFUL POINTS

1) Viewed any good flicks lately? Heard any good tunes lately?

I have a new secret agent man who provides me with good music. I just listened to Pomplamousse and I have yet another female voice to obsess over.

2) Where can we find out more about you and your teaching sched, so we can feed our yoga crush on you! Haha

www.opentoyoga.wordpress.org