There’s lots of mantra and music on the schedule this month, and one new yoga session starting up at the Meredith Centre:
Sunday, May 5, 1-2pm: Kirtan at Wishingtree Yoga (72 McClintock Way, Kanata)
Kirtan is the singing of yogic mantras, in call-and-response style. I’ve written a bit about this beautiful form of yoga practice here.
This one is led by Stewart McIsaac. Sing along with guitar and percussion. I’ll be there to share a song or two with my harmonium. More information here. Free, and open to all.
Saturday, May 11, 2-5pm: Chant-A-thon at Awaken Ottawa (1111A Bank Street, Ottawa)
This is a fundraiser for the annual Bhakti-in-the-Woods festival. Four kirtan groups will gather to lead the singing of yoga mantras. I’ll be singing with Water Way Kirtana. $20 entry, or $10 with donated snack/beverate. More details about this event here.
Saturday, May 18, 4-5pm: Kirtan at Vraie Nature Yoga (3 chemin Versant Sud, Chelsea)
I greatly look forward to these monthly kirtans at Vraie Nature! This kirtan has two parts. First, we learn and sing six mantras: the five “core mantras” and one from the “more mantras” list (the lists are posted here). Then, we chant the powerful mantra OM, 108 times. The sounds of our Tibetan singing bowls close the event, but we invite you to stay and chat over potluck snacks (vegetarian). Free, and open to all, including children; no experience required.
Friday, May 17, 9:15-10:30am: 6-week Yoga Session begins at the Meredith Centre (23 chemin Cecil, Chelsea)
A blend of classical yoga and yin yoga, this class is designed to give you a good stretch from head to toe. We also practice gentle strengthening and balancing postures. With an emphasis on deepening one’s breath and self-awareness, this class is suitable for all levels of experience. It is a great complement to the 8:00-9:00am spinning class that occurs just prior to this class. Contact the Meredith Centre (here) for more details and to register. Drop-ins are welcome.
Yoga every day
A daily yoga practice is more effective than an intermittent one. What is your yoga practice? Can you find a way to practice daily, at home? Even 3 minutes every day makes a big difference. Take one or two things you learned in class, and practice them daily at home. If you have questions at home, bring them to your yoga teacher the next time you’re in class.
One tip I can offer is to make a clear, specific and realistic plan for what, when and where you will practice. This saves a lot of time and energy in the long-run. Here are some examples of mini-practice sessions:
- Five rounds of alternate nostril breath in the bathroom, just before I get into the shower
- After my shower, sit for 3 minutes in my meditation corner, repeating my chosen mantra
- Just before bed, lie down with legs up the wall or up on a chair
- Lying in bed, practice progressive muscle relaxation and auto-suggestion to release the efforts of the day
Don’t skip a day. Keep with it! It will take effort to make this a habit, but the benefits are great. Eventually, you may find that your mini-sessions growing into longer ones!