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Wake Up the Teacher Within – Embark on a 200 Hour Teacher Training without the pressure to teach the masses!

Wake Up the Teacher Within – Embark on a 200 Hour Teacher Training without the pressure to teach the masses!

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What is a yoga teacher?  A mentor, a guide, someone who inspires and encourages you to go beyond what you believe is possible.

Here’s a little secret about your yoga teacher – it can be found inside you.

Many yoga students search for the elusive guru: someone to lift us out of darkness and illuminate our divine selves. Without a doubt, this teacher is responsible for much guidance, but it is by our own devotion on the mat that we grow and shift. We, as students, do the work. We create the change. We uncover our shadows and reveal that we have an inner guide, who was there all along.

As the cycle unfolds, some of us get stuck along the path. Some of us get the itch to unlock new dimensions of ourselves and go deeper through a 200 Hour Teacher Training.

There’s a misconception that teacher training is only for yogis who want to teach professionally. Not so. All you need is a willingness to work hard (physically and emotionally), an awareness of your insecurities (we all have them!) and a reminder that the teacher you uncover does not need to be on display ever.  You can apply your teacher training skills for self-development, physical prowess or to inspire others until they perhaps conduct their own training one day!

Take the leap, lean into the fear and trust that you will encounter a stronger you through a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training – even if you don’t end up teaching!

Remember, this is about uncovering your inner guide, whether or not you utilize that part of yourself to inspire others.  Choose a 200 Hour program with a teacher whom you are overjoyed to spend a month with and jump in with your whole body and heart. If you give your all, you may receive more than you had ever imagined.

** Start your epic journey of Teacher Training… Come to Thailand in June 2013 with Clara Roberts Oss and Carolyn Anne Budgell for a 200 Hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training and connect to your inner teacher!  More info here: website, Twitter and Facebook.

About the Author:
Carolyn Anne Budgell (BA, ERYT 200) teaches vinyasa yoga and meditation in Vancouver, BC.  Carolyn has assisted 200-hour trainings at the Semperviva Teacher Training College, mentored at a teen girl yoga camp to increase female empowerment (Girlvana) and created free online yoga classes as an Ambassador for lululemon.

Vancouver Yoga Teacher Profile: Kat Wong

Vancouver Yoga Teacher Profile: Kat Wong

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Kat Wong has been instructing Flow, Hot & Core Yoga classes since 2008. Her students love her energy, her voice, and the experience she gives them. She keeps her students challenged with new ideas, engaging them with music, props & visualizations. They explore movements of strength while keeping the mind calm and centered. Students leave her class refreshed and ready to embrace life’s challenges.

With a strong passion in health and fitness, she found yoga as the perfect adjunct to balance her busy lifestyle.  Kat found she could connect with her inner self by coming to her place of solitude, her mat.  She has learned to understand the power of the breath as a tool to calm the mind and relax the body.  As a Nutritionist and Personal Trainer, she feels that an individual’s health is vital to enjoy life to the fullest.

Man sacrifices his health in order to make money.
Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.
And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present;
the result being that he does not live in the present or the future;
he lives as if he is never going to die,
and then dies having never really lived”
~ Dalai Lama

She hopes that her students’ journey in health and fitness will not just be for self-improvement and discovery, but will also offer them a tool for self-creation.

Email Kat Wong at trinityfitnesswithkat@gmail.com and catch a class with her at:

Book Review: Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone

Book Review: Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone

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When many of us think about the state of the environment it can feel like such an overwhelming task to create change. The book Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone is an invitation to explore how we can remain positive, replenished and active in the work to sustain the environment.

Any change process requires us to look at ourselves first and how the culture we live in perpetuates consumerism, individualistic attitudes, and creates messages that negate what is truly happening to the environment. What is called  “the business as usual strategy” that prevents positive change from happening. De-constructing this business as usual strategy is not about feeling guilty about how or what we consume rather it provides an opportunity to bring awareness to capitalism, mass consumerism and the ecological impacts in a critical and compassionate way. This awareness raising provides pathways for individual, community and global change.

As an eco-philosopher and scholar Buddhism, Joanna Macy weaves in Buddhist philosophy and eco-spirituality through the book. It is easy to forget just how integral the earth is to our survival, plants, animals and the whole eco-system. Active Hope reminds us this earth we live in something to hold with great reverence and gratitude for. We can become “active participants in bringing about what we hope for” – Active Hope provides practical tools to help us to remain energized, re-connected and inspired so that this planet earth is sustainable for future generations.

 About JoannaMacy and Chris Johnstone

Ecophilosopher Joanna Macy, PhD, is a scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory, and deep ecology. A respected voice in the movements for peace, justice, and ecology, she interweaves her scholarship with five decades of activism. As the root teacher of the Work That Reconnects, she has created a groundbreaking theoretical framework for personal and social change, as well as a powerful workshop methodology for its application.

Chris Johnstone is a medical doctor, author, and coach who worked for nearly twenty years as an addictions specialist in the UK National Health Service. Chris has been a trainer in the Work That Reconnects for more than two decades, working with Joanna on many occasions and running facilitator trainings in the United Kingdom.

About the Author: Angela Kayira teaches Yoga at Heart Centre Yoga in Burnaby. Her teaching is informed by her work as a social worker. Angela is a registered Yoga Teacher (E-500 RYT), the co-director of In Life School of Yoga and co-hosts the In Life School of Yoga Book Club.

 

Book Review: The Four Desires by Rod Stryker

Book Review: The Four Desires by Rod Stryker

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Creating a life of purpose is more than goal setting sheets and vision boards!

By Martina Bell – Co-director of In Life School of Yoga, host of the Vancouver Yoga Social Book Club and founder of ESL Yoga®

I didn’t really feel the need to read yet another book on how to find my purpose, set intentions and manifest my goals. And when I finally settled into my armchair next to my bookshelf, which presents a stately collection of self-help, yoga and other how-to-find-happiness bestsellers, I anticipated that within a few days Rod Stryker’s book would be comfortably placed up there –  that I enjoyed the read but that my life would still be pretty much the same; except with any luck “The Four Desires” would have shed a slither of light on one of life’s most profound questions: how to create a life of purpose, happiness, prosperity and freedom?

Before moving on, I would like to clarify that I’m not “unhappy” per se (actually quite the opposite is the case) or don’t see value in what how-to-set-your-intention DIY books commonly suggest: write a goal setting sheets, make vision boards and trust!

Rod Stryker’s approach

Even though the book opens with a bold Tantric promise introducing itself as “a road map to fulfilling your material and spiritual desires, both your short-term goals and the enduring longing that all human beings have […] for lasting peace and freedom.” I couldn’t help anticipating what was to come: a journaling activity asking me to listen to my heart and write out my intention in the present or past tense to create a sense of immediacy; complete a meditation visualizing the intention as manifested to create a sense of reality; and to make up a vision board followed by a promise how the universe would manifest this vision board if I only believed in it.
But as I read on, I realized that in this book, setting an intention was not even the beginning as it offers a much deeper and elegant process.

Rod Stryker offers an explanation of desire; “it precedes your every action, since before you can do, you first have to want” and of the human need for two kinds of fulfillment, fulfillment through attainment [material] and fulfillment independent of circumstances [spiritual].

Chapter three goes on to explain the four desires according to the Vedic tradition in greater detail:

The four desires

  1. Dharma – “the longing for purpose, the drive to be and to become who you are meant to be”
  2. Artha – “the means necessary to accomplish your dharma […] material resources”
  3. Kama – “the desire for pleasure of all kinds”
  4. Moksha – “the longing for liberation, true freedom”

Then the journaling activity did come. Rod Stryker calls it “The Dharma Code” which is a statement that clarifies your soul’s reason for being. To say “The Dharma Code” is a written account of one’s ideal life is a simplification, the instruction of how one’s supposed to distill one’s individual Dharma Code did echo what other books suggest:  Imagine yourself later in life and somebody you know and appreciate giving a tribute about your life and what you accomplished.

Your Dharma Code: Not just another journaling activity

Not only is Rod Stryker’s style engaging and his weaving of ancient Sanskrit with timeless teachings elegant; it is his suggestions how to proceed AFTER the Dharma Code has been distilled that offers a new level of depth in the process of manifestation. As such the Dharma Code marks the beginning, rather than the end of the journey. And this is what distinguishes “The Four Desires” from other books of this genre – after all at this point you’ll only find yourself on page 76 of 320.

How to serve your Dharma Code: Intention

Unlike a Dharma Code which signifies more a general approach to life, an Intention is much more particular and “result-oriented, aimed toward fulfilling a particular goal”, it is a combination of desire and determination and much more than a wish! To explain the seven-step process to draft your Intention (Sankalpa) here would go beyond the scope of this article. Suffice it to say that it involves a deeply revelatory meditation and journaling activity (yes!). And it is intention after all which when it serves your Dharma Code propels your life forward.

The incredibly deep and enlightening remainder of the book explains how to overcome resistance, how to free yourself from fear (including an amazingly daring meditation or “life-style” practice! Get ready for a life changing experience!) touches on the secret of success and closes with a beautiful explanation of the importance of adjustment and contentment, the two underlying principles for every step in the book.

Tantra means to touch, allowing your heart to be touched   

Unlike the other self-help books I’ve lovingly read, the Four Desires hasn’t made it onto my now crowded bookshelf – and for now at least it won’t.  This book has touched my heart and it is a book that I keep close to my bed side, my sofa and my Puja. This book is so rich in teachings that reading it only once does not suffice. I also open it to inspire my meditations or contemplations. It is to my – admittedly very limited – knowledge not only one of the most applicable books, but also one of the rare ones that give practical instruction as to how create a life of purpose, happiness, prosperity and freedom which work, because now my life is actually not quite the same.

About the Author: Martina Bell is the co-director of In Life School of Yoga, host of the Vancouver Yoga Social Book Club and founder of ESL Yoga®.

 

Broga For Downward Facing Dudes

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What is Broga (bro+yoga)? Broga is a yoga class geared for men. Strong, energetic,and challenging, it uses traditional yoga postures and fitness movements for an amazing workout. Broga’s mission is to offer men real tools for coping with daily stresses and demands through an accessible yoga-based fitness program taught from a man’s point of view. Broga is for every “body,” from the beginner yogi to the professional athlete.

Cofounders Adam O’Neill and Robert Sidoti created the Broga yoga program devised to attract hesitant men to the world of yoga by “getting into the bro-zone’’. “This is not a dumbed down version of yoga. There’s a lot of movement linking the postures, but adding push-ups and variations of squats. People see the name ‘Broga’ and they think it’s just a bunch of idiots. But there’s integrity,’’ says “Brogi” Sidoti. Sidoti even sends out dude-friendly tweets like: “Get with the Bro-gram’’ and “Stop bro-crastinating.’’ Visit www.brogayoga.com for more information, and watch the following video:

Yoga Vs. Regular Exercise

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What’s better for your body, yoga or regular exercise? Often a highly debated subject, but Naturopath SR Jindal believes yogic exercise is the better option. He feels that the benefits of yogasanas far outweigh regular forms of exercise and that they score over strenuous physical exertion.

Asanas are “sthiram sukam asanam”, meaning a body position that is “steady, calm and comfortable”. Physical exercise, on the other hand is an activity that works muscles and requires energy. It is different from yoga asana. Here’s an except discussing the top 10 differences:

  1. Physical exercise consumes more oxygen than yogasanas
  2. The heart has to work harder during physical exercise, but BP and heart rate decrease when you practise asanas
  3. Physical exercise can overwork joints and even cause rheumatism and stiffness later in life. But asanas encourage flexibility and build stamina
  4. Physical exercise builds up toxins in the body while asanas eliminate them […]

To read the rest of this list, visit timeswellness.com.

10 Reasons To Start Pregnancy Yoga

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Have you recently become pregnant and are now thinking about getting into yoga in Vancouver? MindfulMum — an online magazine for health conscious moms — created a list of the top ten reasons you should start prenatal yoga. Not only can yoga during pregnancy help you maintain your flexibility and health, it can also help you to become positive about birth and parenting. View the list here of the ten reasons to begin pregnancy yoga.

Vancouver’s Smiling Yogi Laughter Club

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Have you heard about laughter yoga and laughter clubs? Laughter Yoga is a series of playful, interactive exercises designed to stimulate laughter. It provides an opportunity for adults to be playful and to explore and express joy. And a Laughter Club is a non-profit group that practices Laughter Yoga on a weekly basis. Laughter Clubs are run on a drop-in, by donation basis and are intended to fulfill the mission of the Laughter Yoga Movement: “Joy, Health, and World Peace through Laughter.”

Vancouver’s most popular Laughter Club is the Smiling Yogi Laughter Club!

WHEN: Sundays 3-4pm

WHERE: OPEN DOOR YOGA — 1111 Commercial Drive (near Veneables) *enter from back alley

COST: $5 suggested donation

FYI: No need for any special clothing, or yoga mat. Just bring an open mind, a positive attitude, and your biggest smile!

MORE INFO: For a full listing of Laughter Clubs in Metro Vancouver, visit: laughteryoga.ca. For additional information about the Smiling Yogi Laughter Club, contact Farah.

Look Up Yoga DVD Series For Kids

Look Up Yoga DVD Series For Kids

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Certified yoga instructor, Susie Lopez, strives to enhance the lives of inner-city students across New York City through Bent on Learning. The organization goes into public schools and teaches students how to reduce stress, increase concentration, boost their self-esteem, and improve their overall health. Bent on Learning, which caters to students from pre-kindergarten through the 12th grade, also offers teachers simple workshops which teach them how to incorporate simple yoga techniques into to their curriculum.

From her success with Bent On Learning with public school children, Susie Lopez, has created the Look Up Yoga DVD series for all youths, anywhere in the world, to use in their homes. Look Up gives kids a fresh way to get moving, learning, and growing, both emotionally and physically, in a fun and entertaining way.

Susie just launched her website www.lookupyoga.com were you can watch a trailer of her Look Up DVD, and it will soon be available on iTunes. For more information about Susie and her endeavors, visit www.bentonlearning.org, and www.fiveforkids.org – which helps children foster healthy relationships with food and empowers them to make positive choices.

Worldwide Release Of Alan Clements New Book: A Future To Believe In

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Semperviva Yoga is hosting the worldwide release of Alan Clements‘ visionary new book titled A Future To Believe In–Awakening a World Dharma. 108 Reflections on The Art and Activism of Freedom. A Handbook for Empowerment, Everyday Revolution and The Universal Right To Be Free. Join them for this special Friday evening presentation and book signing.

Learn more about Alan Clements:

Alan Clements is a visionary author, spoken word artist, activist and Dharma teacher. One of the first Westerners to become a Buddhist monk in Burma,  he is now a spiritual maverick working for global human rights and his contemporary understanding of liberation. Clements has been prominent in bringing Burma’s non-violent “revolution of the spirit” to the world. He co-authored The Voice of Hope, Conversations With Aung San Suu Kyi, 1991 Nobel Peace laureate. www.WorldDharma.com.

When: Friday, September 30th, 7:30pm-9:00pm

Where: Semperviva Kits Beach Studio

Cost: By donation (to World Dharma)

For more information and registration, visit Semperviva.com.

Renowned Yoga Teacher Returns To YYoga For Workshop

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World renowned yoga teacher, Sadie Nardini, will return to Vancouver’s YYoga to conduct a workshop at the end of September. Unfamiliar with Sadie Nardini? Here’s some background details about this awesome instructor:

Her accessible teaching style, down-to-earth yoga tips and centered-living tools are regularly covered by the national media including Elle, Glamour, Self, the New York Times, CNN, Yoga Journal. She’s a regular blogger and columnist for national magazines like Yoga Journal, Martha Stewart’s Whole Living Magazine, the Huffington Post and the Elephant Journal. Sadie is also the author of the life-shifting book, “The Road Trip Guide to the Soul” (Wiley, 2008) which is currently being produced as a TV show […]

For more information about Sadie, visit her website www.sadienardini.com. And for additional info regarding her upcoming workshop and to register for the event, visit YYoga.ca.

Mula Bandha Power Flow with Sadie Nardini
When: Sep. 30, 2011, 19:00 — 21:00
Where: YYoga South Granville
Price: $50

Vancouver Yoga Pants To Blame?

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MSN created a list of the Worst-Dressed Cities In The World. Guess who made #3 on the list? That’s right, beautiful Vancouver, BC. The offending reason being that Vancouver is the birthplace of Lululemon Athletica yoga pants – although they don’t specify the company outright, they do allude the famous brand name.

Here’s an excerpt:

There is one reason, and one reason only, why we’ve decided to include Vancouver on this list of the sartorially damned: yoga pants. We blame you, Vancouver, birthplace of a certain, insanely popular yoga gear brand which will go unnamed, for spawning a street trend dreaded by all women with wobbly bits and fat deposits in the wrong places. Really, what gives with the whole wearing of bum hugging workout gear to every other place except the gym? On behalf of women with hips and thighs everywhere, who like their pants to have buttons and zippers thank you very much, and who are of the opinion that yoga pants are a ruse worn by lazy pseudo-fashionistas, we beseech you: unless you plan to do a downward dog within the hour, spare us the yoga pants and put on some real trousers.

What do you think of this list, and the fact that Vancouver’s on it? Let us know in the comments below!

Positive Effect Of Yoga On Type 2 Diabetes

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A study, conducted on 60 patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes, revealed that performing yoga can help control the disease. Researchers found that practicing yoga controlled patients’ blood sugar levels, resulted in weight loss, and the participants reduced their body mass index from 25.9 to 25.4. The study also showed that yoga reduced the level of oxidative stress levels in the body, which occurred due to the increase of reactive oxygen in patients’ bodies. (Rise in oxidative stress can result in other various health disorders). Science is proving what yogis have known for ages – yoga has a positive effect on health!

[source: frenchtribune.com]

 

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