5 Yamas That the World Needs
The guidebook of classical, raja (royal) yoga, otherwise known as the Yoga Sutra, outlines the eight limbs of yoga. These so-called "limbs" are guidelines for leading a life of meaning and purpose. Pantanjali was the sage whom compiled these 195 truths nearly 1700 years ago. These yamas serve as the moral, ethical and societal guideline for the practicing yogi. And quite frankly, I believe that these mantras are relevant and powerful even beyond the realm of yoga. We can all take something from these incredible lessons. Each yama is expressed in the positive, and serve to inspire one's behavior
Sundays…
Every Sunday at around four o'clock a sinking feeling hits all of us in the stomach- the weekend has come to an end. You begin to mentally prepare for your early morning Monday commute and the long day ahead of you. Resist the urge of curling onto the couch and turning on Netflix. Outsmart your Monday blues right before going to bed because you deserve to enjoy the remainder of the weekend. Begin with doing something active instead of passive. Close your TV and and pick an activity that will allow your mind and body to be involved in-
Raw Chocolate Balls recipe
Here is a recipe for raw chocolate balls that has been passed down to us today. It looked so good we just had to share it with you guys! You will need: Raw chocolate paste, or Raw cacao butter & Raw cacao powder (handful - or 200g total - 125 : 75) Maple syrup Dried fig Nuts & seeds (walnuts, almonds, cashews, sesame seeds, chia..etc.) a pinch of sea salt a couple of pinch of Grounded chai spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger... a drop of Orange essential oil (edible/medical grade) 1) Melt chocolate paste, or butter and powder combined
Why Do We Offer “Opening Hips & Hamstrings”?
This is a fair question. I've yet to find a yoga studio that offers something along these lines, or something that is dedicated to the pelvic floor. Before I took this class I really didn't even know what this term meant, or that I should've been taking care of it. I think we tend to overlook just how detrimental our hips and hamstrings are to our day to day lives both in the present, but also long-term. What is the pelvic floor? The pelvic floor is the muscular base of the abdomen, attached to the pelvis. The Continence Foundation
The Brain vs. Contemporary Living
The brain is an organ, just like our intestines, our liver, our pancreas, or our heart. We often attempt to detox or cleanse different organs within the body, and tend to forget that the brain is our central communication hub and NEEDS rejuvenation. Recent growing research has shown a direct correlation between an optimal, healthy brain and exercise and meditation. And if you practice yoga, I think you can vouch for this. Since I began consistently practicing yoga, I've noticed my short-term memory has sharpened, my anxiety has eased, and my overall state of mind is more peaceful than
‘You Just Love Until You and the Beloved One Become One’
With a new week approaching, I always like to focus in on what it is that I want to emulate going into the week ahead, or what I need to more consciously focus on in my life. What has been shown to me through others this past week? What has given me insight? How can I enlighten the people around me? In what ways can I be a source of joy for others? How can I ease their suffering and offer them something greater? How can I provide light to those feeling their way through the dark? As I
Did You Remember to Bring Your Ego?
Do you ever walk into a yoga class, you've got your new Lulus on, you show up wearing some fresh Nikes and let's be honest you think you look pretty damn good. We've all been there, and this isn't to shame showing up to yoga class with confidence by no means- but when vanity and ego start appearing in our practice, we are not being authentic in our body n'or mind, not to mention we are doing a big disservice to ourselves. We are stopping ourselves from gaining the optimal benefit of our practice before we even step foot
Ack! I’m too stressed to practice!
My aptitude to being late is a running joke with my friends. I admit, I am late for most appointments and plans, and they get a great laugh out of my frantic hustle. For me, the truly funny moment happened a number of years ago. I decided to sit in a meditation class on my walk home. I had to hustle to get to the class, and I was getting more and more anxious as the minutes ticked on and I still had a few blocks to go. I passed a neighbour on the street, and yelped in
Sunday Wisdom From B.K.S. Inyengar
As a painter and visual artist, I find myself constantly developing ideas to strengthen that creative muscle. It’s about knowing where I’m currently at creatively in my abilities, and constantly finding new ways to evolve- which also happens to be parallel within the practice of yoga. Creation of art involves so many different processes and facets of the brain- from an inner mental image, an internal or external impulse, and a control over materials and our bodies to produce an authentic, truly unique object and emotion. When I’m getting creative vibrations I get into a meditative headspace, where I
Shedding Life’s Stresses Through the Art of Yoga
Anxiety affects nearly 12% of our Canadian population- and that's only those that have been medically diagnosed- beyond this statistic, we are all on some level confronting our own anxieties and stressors on a daily basis. There has been a history of poorly executed studies on the correlation between yoga and stress. Typically, research has been conducted on small groups of people, until more recent decades that have progressed towards randomized controlled trials; which have since become the most rigorous standard for proving effectiveness. There are countless reviews and studies available on a variety of yoga practices, that prove