A summer yoga practice can be a time where you find more time for practice in your schedule or less… depending on your lifestyle and family commitments.  You might attend yoga classes when you normally don’t, or attend more often. Or you may prefer to commit to a home practice.

A few ideas to help you find time for your summer yoga practice –

• Commit to attend a yoga class
• Leave your yoga mat rolled out or partially rolled out somewhere to remind you to get on the mat for even a few minutes each day
• Allow more playfulness in your yoga practice – maybe add a little rhythm or dance movement.
• Explore poses – let go of specific sequences or try different variations of specific poses. Perhaps variations of arm positions in Triangle pose. Perhaps choose just one or two poses that day to explore and notice sensations.
• Take 5 minutes to breath – practice pranayama
• Practice with friends
• Practice outside in your yard or in nature.
• Lengthen your time savasana – perhaps this becomes your whole practice for the day – a guided relaxation. 

Remember your practice can be a few minutes a day or a mini home retreat. Enjoy your practice and your summer!

Gail

REFLECT

Another year, another opportunity to reflect?

Self-reflection or Svadhyaya is the Niyama of Self-study.  The ending of one year and beginning of another is an opportune time to practice self-reflection, though it can be a more constant daily practice or journaling or meditation. Or as simple as noticing the exhalation as an invitation to let go and our inhalation a chance to begin again.  Take time to honor the previous year – lessons learned, physical or spiritual growth, relationship with self and others, where you have been and what you have done, your work, what went well and what didn’t – not congratulating or judging self, but just observing and acknowledging.  Without self-study our yoga practice can become quite empty or feel meaningless.  An asana practice can help us feel fit, strong, and supple which are wonderful, but the deeper rewards are a greater sense of ease and contentment when we realise we are not alone.  Acknowledge and honour that you are enough. Your intention need not be more than an intention to begin, to bravely step forward into the day. There is no need to over-complicate it by attaching our elaborate stories that we hold dear to. Acknowledge the story, the shadow, and step bravely forward to the new possibilities of the day.

RECHARGE

Preparation includes recharging or replenishing yourself.  Sometimes we feel all used up and need a little self-care before embarking on a brave step forward.  This may mean reviewing and adjusting your diet to healthier eating habits or eating mindfully, getting enough sleep, getting exercise to improve or maintain stability and suppleness and balance, yoga practice, breathing practices to improve respiration and focus, meditation to be more present.  It could mean finding a better life balance in work and play, spending time on relationships, or on creative or spiritual pursuits.

RENEW

To renew means to give fresh life or strength to, to revive, regenerate, revitalize, reinvigorate, rekindle, and revivify. I feel revivified already just listing those words! From the solid ground of self-reflection and replenishing we can renew or begin once again.  Every breath, every moment is a chance to begin. You might ask yourself – what do I want from my deepest heart? what can I let go of that I no longer need for this new beginning? What can I do or practice to commit to this new beginning? Your commitment may be a yoga practice, walking, getting up 15 minutes earlier, time management, 5 minutes of stillness, saving $10 a week for vacation, coffee dates with friends, calling a family member, donating your time, … the commitment is yours to know. Give fresh life or strength to the new year. Renew your intention to step forward bravely into the day.

Happy New Beginning!

Gail

This is a question I revisit every now and then.  My answer may change each time I contemplate the question depending on where I am in life at that moment.

There are many reasons we may be drawn to our first yoga practice – from wanting to touch one’s toes again, improving balance, relieving chronic pain, improving strength, and stress relief, to name a few.  Whatever the reason, we are all looking to initiate some sort of change in ourselves.

If you continued with yoga practice beyond the first few classes, over time you probably noticed more ease of movement, an improved steadiness in body, better posture, freeing of ‘tech neck’, improved breath awareness, feeling better in your body, and feeling better mentally. Though yoga is not a cure-all, a yoga practice can do all of these things, and there are some significant studies that have been done showing some very positive results of a steady yoga practice for specific types of issues.  What I love about yoga is that it does do a lot of what we come to yoga hoping it will do.  You generally leave yoga class feeling better than when you left or perhaps having learned something about yourself.  We all want and need different things from our practice.  You may only want a good stretch from yoga or a lovely savasana to de-stress and may never need to go beyond that.  Or you may continue delving into the subtler essences of yoga – lines of energy, soma, prana, vayus, mantra, meditation, philosophy, etc.   Either way – it is your yoga, your Truth.  There is a practice for you.

What I have come to understand so far in my yoga practice and study, is that it is a practice of self-awareness – progressively learning to tune into the subtler levels of awareness.  Listening with the inner ear and seeing with the inner eye.  Tuning in with beginner mind.

Namaste, Gail

Just a quick note regarding January yoga classes before I head out of town…

Hatha Yoga (Intermediate) – Mondays:  starting January 12th 
5 – 6:30 pm, Creston Yoga & Movement Studio on 15th Ave.

Hatha Yoga – mostly floor! (all levels – moderate) – Wednesdays:   January 14th
5 – 6:15 pm, Creston Yoga & Movement Studio on 15th Ave.

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Interested in learning more about yoga and yoga philosophy?  SOYA YOGA TEACHER TRAINING – 200 HOUR

SOYA YOGA TEACHER TRAINING IS FLEXIBLE, ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE! SOYA HAS BEEN TRAINING YOGA
TEACHERS AT INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR 20 YEARS!

Feb 28-June 21, 2015 in Creston at the CV Yoga & Movement Studio.  Weekend meetings twice a month.
Lead Trainer – Gail Thompson.  For more information check out my website below or the SOYA website. SOYA

My wholehearted wish for your to have a lovely holiday season and a heart brimming full of love and joy,
Namaste to you,
Gail

Hatha Yoga, Intermediate level -Mondays:  through Dec 15  from 5 – 6:30 pm
Moderately advanced to challenge your body and improve mental focus. Evolve and grow while understanding your body’s adaptations to the deeper layers of asana and pranayama practices.   Classes will incorporate flow/vinyasa, sustained holds, intermediate variations of poses and of pranayama, meditation, kriya, mantra and yoga nidra.
Previous yoga experience recommended. (not appropriate for new beginners)

Hatha Yoga, Moderate level  – Wednesdays:   through Dec 17 from 5 – 6:15 pm
A balanced practice to stretch and strengthen the body and the mind with slow flow, sustained holds, more mat work, and yoga nidra. Emphasis on breath and mindfulness.
All levels welcome. This practice is more accessible for those dealing with wrist or shoulder pain/injury.

*Pose variations and modifications offered to suit student needs whether for beginners, injury/illness or to challenge.
If you are unsure whether a class will serve you, please contact me.

CLASSES HELD AT THE CRESTON VALLEY YOGA & MOVEMENT STUDIO on 15th Avenue in Creston.

You can purchase Fall passes at class –
$55 – 5 class pass
$95 – 10 class pass
$12  – drop-in per class
Passes apply for both of my classes. ***Expiration date for Fall passes – Dec 31, 2014***

Intermediate Yoga – Mondays, 4:45 – 6:15 p.m. 

January 14 – March 25, 2013  – 10 classes (excluding Family Day,  Monday Feb 11th)

A comprehensive class for those wishing to deepen their practice. Moderately advanced to challenge your body and improve mental focus. Vinyasa/Hatha Flow and sustained holds with intermediate variations in poses and pranayama. May also include kriya and mantra. Previous yoga experience recommended.

All Levels Yoga – Wednesdays, 4:45 – 6:15 p.m. 

January 16 – April 3, 2013 – 12 classes

A balanced practice that will explore mind-body awareness, action & ease, building strength, increasing flexibility, and improving steadiness of body and mind.  Some Hatha Flow and sustained holds.

Pose variations and modifications offered to suit student needs whether for beginners, injury/illness or to challenge.  If you are unsure whether a class will serve you, please contact Gail.

Classes held at Creston Valley Yoga Studio, 1017 Canyon St., Creston, BC.  For more information or to register for a session, please email Gail Thompson, Certified Yoga Instructor (SOYA,eRYT,IYTA) at smilingheartyoga@wynndel.ca