I haven’t yet stopped thinking about the book I read over the holidays: The Surrender Experiment: My journey into life’s perfection, by Michael A. Singer (New York: Harmony Books, 2015). The Surrender Experiment is the story of Michael Singer’s life and his search for lasting inner peace. It all started when he suddenly (and most … [Read more…]
Hello! This month, you will find me at the Meredith Centre in Chelsea, QC, on Tuesdays 1:15-2:30pm, teaching Restorative Yoga / Yoga Régénérateur. This is a gentle yoga class. The first half hour warms up the body and builds stability and balance. The second half focuses on loosening and relaxing the body through supported yoga postures; … [Read more…]
Have you ever met Ganesh? In yoga centres, or Indian restaurants and stores, you will likely find this Hindu deity in the form of a statue or painting, with his proud elephant head and beautiful round belly. Who is Ganesh? What does all this have to do with yoga? After all, yoga is not … [Read more…]
The Gayatri Mantra is one of the most ancient, sacred and revered mantras in the yogic tradition. Coming to us from the Rig Veda, one of the ancient scriptures of India (written ~1500BC), it is an affirmation of the Divine Light that permeates all things and gives life to all things; it is also a … [Read more…]
This weekend, I will be leading a kirtan with my friend and fellow yoga teacher Brendalee Wilson. I have participated in many kirtans, but this will be my first time taking lead. I am excited! It will take place on Saturday, December 1st, from 5-6pm, at Vraie Nature Yoga in Chelsea, QC. This is a … [Read more…]
One of my very first yoga teachers encouraged me to take my yoga practice off the mat and into my daily life. She specifically suggested that I bring more attention to my feet on the floor. And so I began noticing my feet throughout the day – spreading my weight more evenly through the feet, … [Read more…]
October’s theme is “detachment,” and our affirmation this month is “I view my life/my situation from a new perspective.” I have two young children. Sometimes, when things are not going their way, they will say something like, “This is the worst day ever!” or “Mom, you have ruined my day!” From my perspective, their troubles … [Read more…]
September’s affirmation is: “I surrender to the cosmic will.” Now, compare this to August’s affirmation: “My will is all-powerful.” (These monthly affirmations are from the book “Yoga: Your home practice companion” by the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre.) So, how to make sense of these seeming opposites? Yogic teachings urge us to exercise and strengthen our … [Read more…]
This evening, as I tucked my little ones in, my youngest asked, “Mama, what cup is that you’re holding?” I responded, “You know, my cup – my favourite one.” And she replied, “Well, you know, it’s not really your cup, it’s the one that you like to use.” And I thought to myself, yes, how … [Read more…]
As promised, here is a brief explanation of what is meant by the term “Sivananda yoga.” First of all, it is not a different style of yoga. It is traditional hatha yoga, as taught by Swami Sivananda (1887-1963) and his disciple Swami Vishnudevananda (1927-1993). As a physical practice, it is a set sequence of: opening … [Read more…]