Outreach Yoga Challenge - Day 14 Side plank plonk

My first lie in since I moved here, just what my body and Yin class ordered. The sun shines and the air is brisk, the mountains are calling me so badly but I have to study all day.

I’m taking my books to Jericho beach a few blocks away, it’s the first place I came to last year when I stayed in the Jericho Hostel. The beach faces the mountains perfectly, study in nature, how lucky! The sun shines at the right times! London Fog, bike, books, beach, mountains, read, slurp. Hey London Fog has Vanilla, which is another FLAVOUR that HEALS. See previous blog J

I'll practice my yoga on the beach later tonight to kick start the final operation to get my arms working properly again.  What a great space for Yoga, on the beach staring at oceans and mountains. It's just the set up I'm looking for when I find my retreat location. A great strengthening pose that everyone can do is Side Plank Pose (Vasisthasana). Begin in plank pose, arms straight, wrists aligned to shoulder. Shift weight onto outside of right foot and onto right arm, roll to the side guiding with your hips and bring your left shoulder back, stack your feet. Bring the left arm to the ceiling and elongate through the body, making a straight line from your head to your heels, gaze up to fingertips. BREATHE! Hold for 15-30 seconds, return to plank pose and repeat on the other side.

Here are some variations of the pose below (that need improvement...work in progress!) See if you can spot and advise on some adjustments?:

I put this together for someone looking for some stress relief, and thought you might like to try it since you can do in your bedroom, living room or when the kids have gone to bed! This is preferably to be done in the evenings. Yin Yoga is the most calming and a really good aid to sleeping, and stress reduction, although I’m a firm believer that all sadhanas are great stress relievers. Examples of sadhanas are:
Yoga - all types
Meditation - Focus on breath awareness and counting
Back to Nature - Being outdoors and doing activities
Mindfulness - Be present in everything you do
Cooking - Its very nurturing and nourishing to think about the right foods, cooking, preparing, feeding others
Creativity - Sing in the shower! Do art, play an instrument, write a poem :)

A combination of all of the above will really have a positive influence on a more joyful and balanced life.

Yin Sequence
Need a mat or blanket to lie on, a towel or cushion to use as a bolster, a blanket to cover yourself with.
Dim lights, light candles, incense, maybe some relaxing music without words if that helps focus.
Yin Yoga is less asanas (poses) for longer periods and they stimulate your mind, bringing peace into your wellbeing, and greatly strengthen the body (especially if you engage engage engage). Its a great intro to Yoga too.

- start in child pose, become aware of the breath, breathing in and out, count 20 breaths
-move into a table top (on all fours), then 20 reps of cat (imagine cat hissing looking through your legs under your belly pose) cow (imagine saggy cow back with head and neck stretched up, looking up) pose breathing in with the cow, out with the cat, pulling in your core, and pushing knees and hands into the mat.
- push up to downward dog, 20 breaths, lifting hips, pushing bum up, sucking stomach in, pushing away with feet and hands
- back to childs pose, 20 breaths
- Heros pose, (sat on knees with hands on thighs) 20 breaths
- plank pose 20 breaths

- lower down to cobra pose (lie on belly, lifting head up and keeping arms bent at the side hardly using them) 20 breaths
- roll onto back, with towel/cushion under upper back to open up the heart, flop arms to sides palms up, flop knees to sides with feet together like frog, put blanket over you, Savasana. Return to normal breathing, but stay in present moment, if your mind takes you elsewhere, come back to counting your breath. Give yourself 10 mins in this pose. Its a meditation to enjoy

Let me know what you think or if you need help with pose instruction or words? I was thinking about creating some utube links too at some point so I can eliminate the camera 10 second timer get in the pose all quick job J

Should I be worried about getting this in my change from the local coffee shop???
It certainly made me laugh, I love the grammar! Am I really that cheap???

Hope you've laughed and taken some useful information, don't be shy have a voice, let me know issues you feel strongly about, lets talk! I love to communicate :)

http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=14769

Outreach Yoga Challenge - Day 13 Better than sex?

I volunteered all day at the ‘Feast of Flavour’ holistic food event which promoted whole foods, and looked at how FLAVOUR HEALS. What is Holistic Food? Its the food that hails from the past that research has now discovered has a purpose aside from being yummy. It involves an understanding that the unique flavours found in our fave foods like garlic, olive oil, blueberries, cinnamon or vanilla are the parts that heal and provide us with valuable phytonutrients. It’s the realisation that how we grow the food and prepare the food are key to maximising both the pwer of the phytonutrients and the flavours they represent. In other words, FLAVOUR HEALS.

The superfoods and delicious samples used in the event were; lentils; vanilla; umeboshi plums; Jerusalem artichoke, quinoa; squash; kombucha; coconut; salmon; cinnamon; walnuts and most importantly the stand I was in charge of; cacao. YES THAT MEANS CHOCOLATE! I was forced to stare at my stand all day with delicious dark chocolate samples, containing acai, and goji berries and a berry I’d not heard of before called ‘seabuckthorn’ which apparently in its liquid form it’s great for healing, especially used on your skin. Dish out samples and talk about the healing qualities.

When asked to represent this stand I thought I was being teased, really??? Chocolate is good for you??? It’s a superfood???  Really, I get to be around chocolate allllllll day??? My job as a holistic nutritionist is to understand foods, where they come from, why they are good for you, and just why is it that we all love chocolate so much?? It was also my job to tell everyone who visited my stand, all about all of this too. It was time to study Chocolate like I’d never studied it before, and it didn’t involve PMS either. I also had to restrain myself from eating all of the samples...

Cocao trees were cultivated over 3000yrs ago by Olmec, Mayan, Toltecs and the Aztecs! The Mayans made a bitter brew from the bean and used it as a luxury drink for kings and nobleman. They called it ‘The Food of the Gods!’ The Aztecs used the bean as a currency aswell as for food, these facts alone tell us how valuable the qualities of the cocoa bean are. The Spanish were the first to start Cocoa plantations, which then spread to Ecuador, Peru, Jamaica, Haiti and the cocao bean was so easy and cheap to cultivate. In 1580 the first chocolate processing plant was set up in Spain, and now chocolate is available all over the world.

We have different types of chocolate milk, white and dark chocolate. Dark Chocolate is the best for you, as it contains the least amount of sugar and the highest amount of cocoa solids, which is actually what the good stuff is that we are talking about. By itself the cocoa bean is bitter more than sweet to taste, a little like coffee almost. It does have some caffeine like substances contained in the bean so it’s a mild stimulant. Yeahhhhh thats why it tastes so good! More interestingly the bean has more antioxidants contained in it than blueberries! Along with vitamins and minerals, it’s stacked with zinc and magnesium, and also iron. They are brilliant for the immune system, containing so many antioxidants, and they are an anti-depressant YEAH WE KNOW THAT!!!

The phytonutrients present are cafestrol, caffetannic acid, stigmasterol, tannins, epicatechin, and avonoids. These are the nutrients that we call the superfoods of the plant, the WHOLE of the plant, the plants immune system, that’s why they are so beneficial to us. Science is still discovering....

So we’ve all heard the saying ‘Chocolate is as good as sex’ right?? Well its actually scientifically true! The Cocoa bean is said to have neurotransmitters and mood elevators contained within it, that are the similar chemical structure to the sex hormone we release when we want SEX! Everyone who left my stand, left with a smile, and a climax J

Some ways to incorporate the raw Cocoa bean into your diet would be to simply buy some organic from your local health food store, and add to a smoothie, or sprinkle on some ice cream, or in your yoghurt, or make the brew fit for Kings! Winter is coming and everyone loves a good quality hot chocolate, so get the pan warmed with some coconut milk and sprinkle in some cocoa, FEED YOUR SOUL WITH CHOCOLATE AND LOVE.

After many climaxes it was time to collect my free stash of squashes and a mega pumpkin (which is one of the worlds healthiest foods!) and head home on the bus with a smile that brought tears to my eyes. Heart of sadness. I feel it more everyday, immense joy that brings tears, it gets confusing, better eat some more of that chocolate I stashed.

Dusk is beautiful in Vancouver, and at the end of my block is the waterfront, gazing out to the City of Glass and the mountains across the ocean inlet. I take my heart of sadness and feel a great longing for ‘something’. That something finds my way to a Yin class, and receive the kindness my body needs in the form of deep long stretches and twists with breath in a dark candlelit room. Yin Yoga is a powerful practice which gently targets joints, ligaments and fascia within the body. Each posture is held for long periods of time to encourage the slow and safe opening of connective tissues, leaving the yogi with an overall feeling of lightness, spaciousness and peace.

The perfect antidote to stress and a great counterbalance to more active styles of yoga. All of tonight’s Yin class was done from the floor, lying down and seated positions. It was great practice to focus on the breath and escape my mind, after class I cycled home amongst the dark trees and remembered how grateful I was. For everything, what are you grateful for? Ask yourself this very question and remember to smile, and just for today keep reminding yourself.

Thanks for following the challenge, let me know if you're enjoying, and if you want something specific I'm happy to follow up! If you're feeling flush, you could also leave a couple bucks donation for Outreach which is an organisation that works with people suffering. I don't need to say much more than that really, I'd like to help end suffering, wouldn't you?

http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=14769

Outreach Yoga Challenge - Day 12 Summertime

Vancouver Rains. Gotta love the rain, it replenishes our reservoirs and gives the Earth life! Just can’t see through the drops hitting my sleep face cycling up the hill at 8.30am to catch a Kundalini class... I promise I’m smiling with gratitude! I’m grateful for stealing my ex-boyfriends camouflage raincoat and bringing my mud splattered wellies over to Canada. Happily soaked, I meet Erica’s big smile at Semperviva for Gloria’s Kundalini class, the room is dark, lit by candles only, its cosy and safe. I like it a lot. After finding the breathe and coming to focus, we do this amazing stretch that hunky Cameron also uses and calls the Rice Crispy because of all the snap, crackles and pops that it release J Come into plank pose and then drop your knees, and push your hips over to the left side and lean towards the left, then pushing hips back to feet in childs pose, keeping arms stretched, and pulling them around the right side and then lowering them and twisting your body how its needs, repeat on the other side, feel free to moan and groan its good to sigh it out, hear your breath, hear your lifeline!

Playing out to our Rice Crispy stretching is ‘Summertime’ the Louis Armstrong version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIDOEsQL7lA Oh my god, when that starting playing, and the rain is 'lashing' down outside, and the room is full of grateful yogini’s all feeling fantastic from stretching and popping and cracking, it makes me wanna shout YYEAAAAAHHHHH! Instead I dig my roots good, and smile so hard and pass my energy around, I can feel Erica smiling too without even looking. Music and movement is so good for the spirit, whatever your flavour or preference. Its Friday so get your favourite tunes on LOUD and dance, move, sing, wobble, stretch,  kick your legs high, tap your toes, wiggle your hips, did I say MOVE already?? J

As usual the class involves a zillion squats with breath, if you’d like a good thigh stretch and burn. Stand in the shape of a star and make small circles your arms at the same time, slowly lowering yourself into a squat at the bottom, do four more circles here, rise up again circling the arms for four. Repeat. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. See past the burn, breathe into it. YOU CAN DO IT! The class goes wild for Enrique, with the signature go crazy song 'I like how it feels!' PLEASE have an open mind, I'm no Enrique fan but this song does summit to me man!!!. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klk8QPcfFYQ&ob=av2e  Start to spin and circle the arms like a propeller whilst jogging or kicking or bouncing or whatever your dancing legs feel like doing. Close your eyes, and feel the good energy zip through your body bringing you alive. I FEEL GOOD!  I LIKE HOW IT FEELS!! I let out my YYYYEEEAAAHHHHHHSSSSS and WOOOOOOPPPPPSSS finally and Erica and I dance around our yoga mats and suddenly everything else is forgotten. School exams, the rain, my cellulite, this blog, hunks, last nights delicious raw food class, saving the world...all of it...doesn’t matter! Always live your present moment and enjoy it J

Last night I took a Raw Food Foundation Culinary Arts Institute course to learn; what a raw and living food diet is; how the keys to optimum health are provided in nature; how to create delicious raw food; nutritional basics of ingredients; best sources of calcium; how digestion affects performance; how to have more energy; flavour and taste balancing; how to transform basic dishes into global cuisine experience; impact of common dangers in foods, on our bodies and environment; how to be excited about raw food; how to look and feel fantastic! If any of this interests you, more classes are available, including the festive raw desserts, guilt free gourmet OINK and can be found www.rawfoundation.ca.  Janice the instructor is the warmest loveliest happiest person ever, and has a wicked sense of humour. I was a little phased by how nice she was at first, being a sceptic Brit (and prolly my diet!), but soon warmed (not cooked though we’re taking raw food here!) to her smile and immense knowledge of food and how we can live a healthy life, free from filling our insides with glue. Yes I’m talking about bread and pasta folks...Sorry but you probably know this already, its flour and water, it makes glue!!! It takes 6 months to get these foods out of your body, go gluten free, change your diet for your health, and doing a cleanse can help, I will post some cleanses later on in blogs. Did you know pumpkin is one of the healthiest foods in the world!

Its Halloween so go get yourself a massive pumpkin, have some fun with it and make a nourishing soup! You can find out the worlds healthiest foods from www.worldshealthiestfoods.com Why not every Sunday pick one and dedicate your week to incorporating into your diet. To eat Raw, you need some good blenders of sorts, we were recommended VitaMix, and juicers and a Spirula for making courgette pasta! Keeping your oven below 118 degrees won’t change the structure of food and therefore is classified as raw. When you cook your food over this temperature, 50% of the protein is lost and upto 80% of the vitamins and nutrients disappear too. Some Vitamins like Vit C disappear completely L Some good books out there are ‘Enzyme Nutrition – Dr Edward Howell’ and ‘Raw Food – Life Force Energy – Natalie Rose’

Make all your food with LOVE and it will love you back!!!

I know we talked about Goji berries already, but here’s another amazing fact, they produce the human growth hormone, yes that’s right they can help you make healthy new DNA!!! Try adding some goji’s with strawberries to a jugs of freshly filtered water and watch how the water is absorbed into the fruits expanding them to a juicy size and flavouring the water with nutrients and taste to make your taste buds zing!!

Date Nut Torte was my favourite dish of the evening, its fudgy creamy and sweet, and here is how to make it! Base of Tort: 2 cups raisins, 2 cups of walnuts. Frosting: 1 cup of dates, pitted and soaked, ½ lemon juiced (approx 3 tbsp). You could also add cinnamon which brings down the blood sugar levels, and absorbs nutrients better by slowing digestion down.

For the base: In a food processor, combine raisin and walnuts, process until well blended and moist, (this will take a few minutes and you may see it forming into a ball. Just make sure the raisins come out looking like a fudgy mixture and not still grainy.) Remove from processor and mold onto a plate in a round circle about 2 inches thick (could use a baking tin). For frosting: Combine the dates and lemon juice in the food processor until smooth and creamy. Spread frosting on top of torte. You can serve at room temperature as the frosting and torte are still sticky, but for a firmer texture that’s easier to slice, refrigerate it for a few hours. STUFF WHOLE THING IN MOUTH AT ONCE. (Remember to chew). You can make little cinnamon balls, and jams too with same ingredients!

I took a bone density test for osteoporosis, more of an elimination process for me to clear my mind and move forwards from the accident that broke both my arms. It came back all clear, I have perfectly healthy and strong bones, and they took the test on the bone that had been broken too, so I feel great knowing that I have good bones! The test is done with an ultrasound around the distal radius and it’s done on average for your age group, and sex. Taking a supplement of calcium that contains Vitamin D which is needed to absorb the calcium, and magnesium, helps keeps bones strong. If you want to move away from supplements, you can easily find Calcium from good diet, more specifically from good quality organic/raw dairy products. If you’re not a huge dairy fan, other sources of calcium are found in these delicious wholefoods; bok choy; artichoke; turnip greens; sardines with bones; salmon; trout; dried seaweed; almonds; fish sauce; tofu; orange juice! Calcium is so important for healthy bone growth and maintenance, our bones provide support, protection, movement, storage and form blood cells.  A small amount of calcium in its ion form (Ca2+) must be present in the blood at all times for the nervous system to transmit messages, for muscle contraction, and for blood to clot. It’s really important to get a good source! Good exercise like yoga and weight bearing exercises with help muscles grow and support the health of good bones.

 A great film recommended to me by my brother ‘The Network’ filled my head with many questions they were asking 30 years ago, it’s a must see dark comedy and toe curling reality of the relentless, capitalist driven, blood hungry media that is powering ahead often driving this world to its insanity.

 ‘I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO STAND FOR IT ANYMORE!!!’

Turn off your TV. Do Yoga. Eat quality wholefoods. LOVE :)

http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=14769

Outreach Yoga Challenge - Day 11 Bedspring

With some muscles that were definately 'awake' this morning,  I sprung out of bed and had a big YEEAAHHHHHHHHHH!!! Try it I dare you!
I cycled up to Meghans Vinyasa Flow class. She asked what flavour we'd like the class, spicy or authentic. I knew it was going to be tasty either way, her classes are advanced and challenging, but full of grace, beauty and flow.
If I had thought Cameron was hot, Meghan has preceeded all levels of the crush factor, she is one amazing Yogini and instructor. You can see her in full graceful action here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eNoO4LkXimY

The way she moves is mesmorising and something to aspire to whilst of course remembering everybody is different, and its YOU that matters nobody else. Be grateful for where you body took you today, I keep punishing myself for being unfortunate in breaking both arms, why do we make ourselves suffer?? This leads me to todays practice pose with variations:

Yoga posture - Chaturanga Dandasana

Translation: Four Limb Staff Pose

Keeping the spine as straight as possible with your arms in the fully extended position shoulder width apart, lower yourself slowly to the mat until the elbows line up horizontally with the spine.

Look forward or down trying to keep a straight line in the spine and the legs. Engage the core abdominal muscles by tucking the navel in and up and and tuck the tailbone in to prevent a collapse in the lower back.

Use the bicep muscles a little by pushing down on the thumbs. Increase the use of the inner arm muscles further by tucking the elbows into the sides of the body and rotating the shoulders externally.

TipsGlance down and back at the chest feet and navel. A quick glance can reveal so much about alignment. Make adjustments to correct posture.

BenefitsThis pose increases strength, balance and stability by developing many muscles, including the triceps and biceps, pectoralis major in the chest, the abdominal muscles, deltoids muscles, the scapular muscles and rotator cuffs.

"Keep the element of space between the wrists and forearms by using the element of fire."This is done by engaging forearm muscles and tendon endings to create a slight lift in the wrists. 

Variations

I started in 3 legged downward dog pose lifting the leg straight up 'trying' to keep hips square to the floor. Slowly lower to the floor still in 3 legged pose into plank, and then to Chaturanga. This is were for me I collapse into the pose instead of moving gracefully and slowly using the arms muscles to lower, but it will happen one day! Coming up to cobra or upward dog, look up and lift your knees off the floor, hand directly under shoulders.

Are you breathing??? :)

Pushing back to upward dog lifting the same leg up and over your body bending the knee  and stacking your hips, feel the cracks and relief and pull a funny face?? SMILE :)

Continue to tilt and twist the body over until the foot reaches the floor and take 'rock star' pose. After watching Meghans routine, I have a lot of alignment and adjustments I'm looking forward to practicing and exploring.Everyone wants to be a rockstar!!!!

I'm back to my head in the books for today, I'm also taking a 'Raw Foods Chef Level 1' course tonight, so will be able to share some amazing recipes soon.


New name for my blog perhaps...
Chelle's Raw Yogi diet!
Not just inclusive to food ;-)


Thanks for following and please share your thoughts, comments, ideas, it would be great to hear from you, kinda all on my own out here you know! Show some LOVE!

Pura Luz
http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=14769

Outreach Yoga Challenge - Day 10 Meditation tips

Can I get an OOOuuummMMMMM???????

The Logic of Placing the Mind on the Breath can be confusing if you are new to meditation or are just wanting to find some stillness in your everyday life, and quieten the monkey mind.  You will find will simple practice the benefits of quietening the mind are so valuable. Shambhala gives these tips and handy tools for practicing:

-          The mind is always meditating and placing itself on something, have you ever tried juggling and trying to think about something else? Its easy to focus on one thing, try it!

-          Usually we take ‘me’ (habitual, discursive mind) as the object, the ego always tries to butt in

-          In Meditation we rest mind in the present by placing it on the breath, simply breathe and count the breath in your head if necessary

-          We can notice our thoughts, but let them go, and continually return to the breathing

-          It does not matter if the thoughts are good or bad, just don’t get caught up in them

-          We switch allegiance from the bewildered mind to the stable, clear, and strong mind

-          We learn to rest in peace, and we can become familiar with basic goodness

Advice: Create a decent time and space for practice that will work in your life. Decide how long you are going to practice for and stick to that period of time Be realistic and honest, and know that there will be periods of time that are more or less busy in your life. Don’t lose heart! The key to a successful practice is consistency. if you are practicing Yoga you can combine these together in one practice session, I find this much more efficient and you can start with 5 minutes before your yoga practice and end with 5 minutes. The way to be consistent is to enjoy the practice J

Mindfulness in everything we do, eat with mindfulness, practice yoga with mindfulness, be present with your mind in everything you do. You can practice by walking up your stairs or brushing your teeth and consciously feeling every step up the stairs realising which foot you lift me how your toes hit the carpet and then heel, just try being mindful in everything you do and see what happens.

-          Familiarity – we know what the breath is and can mindfully breathe

-          Remember – we remember the breath, just like we remember our own face. Remember the fullness of the breath, the simplicity of the present

-          Non-distraction – even though thoughts arise, we stay with the breathing in a gentle fluid way

Awareness: Here, awareness means, ‘presently knowing’ We know what is happening in our present experience. We know when we wander, and we know when we are present.  Awareness simply notices and reminds us to apply mindfulness.

Obstacles and Antidotes:

-          Laziness, and this can be ordinary laziness, or speedy busy-ness and procrastination, or disheartenment. ANTIDOTES: Trust, aspiration, effort, suppleness. Do some Yoga, have a cuppa tea, open the window and breathe the fresh air, take a walk in nature.

-          Forgetting the instructions. ANTIDOTES: Remember the instructions! Breathe, count your breath, sit on a cushion crossed legged, or in a comfy seated pose, back straight. Clear your thoughts and be present.

-          Laxity: mind is sunken in, or Elation: mind is agitated and moving out. ANTIDOTES: Not too tight, not too loose. Apply awareness, ENJOY YOUR LIFE!

Using meditation in everyday life can bring calm and love back to your full life, connecting with our inherently open mind. When a person interrupts us, we can be patient instead of angry. When something doesn’t go the way planned, can we entertain equanimity instead of self pity and disappointment? Instead of manipulating a situation to work out for ‘me’ can we be generous, and see the bigger picture? Can we let strength, beauty, compassion, and inconceivable sharpness of mind rise to the top of our day instead of always having the last word?

When we encounter other people, we can let our ‘Buddha’ qualities shine though, instead of complaining and crying, we can laugh and offer kind words. Everytime we employ the qualities of generosity, patience and equanimity, we are making our mind bigger and convincing ourselves of our own ‘buddhahood’. That may be driving the car, getting a cuppa, shaking hands with strangers, at your next yoga class.

Wherever we are and whatever we are doing, we can let our light shine through.

School today was its usual FULL ON MEGA INTENSE INFORMATION. I just love every second of it, and even though I’m having to learn every muscle membrane in the body along with each bone and organ and cell and receptors, and how we make energy with ATP molecules binding with protein to contract myofilaments along the sacrolemmas.... whhaaaaaaatttt? I have exams next week, so I'm study whoring all week. Our body is so clever and amazing, I’m overwhelmed each second and blown away by the science that is nature of the human being. All boils down to one thing folks, LOOK AFTER YOURSELF. The key points in today’s class that aside from nutrition, exercise is vital to keep our bodies working in an efficient framework enabling bones and muscles to stay active and keep the internal processes in a building state, otherwise we can see muscles and bones degenerate. It’s never too late to introduce Yoga into your life J

Tonight I took a Hatha class with the lovely Erica from school check out where she cooks http://www.meatandbread.ca/  We grabbed sushi from a great place on Broadway that has really fresh fish called Temaki. Check it out, grab a seat at the bar watching the chef’s create their art, it really is an art, they’re also really cool guys too and will chat with you whilst slicing up the octopus to make a rose garden of fish. Sounds weird but looks amazing, and the fish is really fresh non fishy fish too! Cameron takes the evening Hatha class, and it poses the question ‘Is a hot yoga teacher better for practice?’ Firstly you definitely try harder with a cute instructor, but does that mean you are trying to show off? Secondly, its hard to stay in the present moment when you catch some of your own drool on your mat from staring at Camerons tattooed forearms in plank pose (MEGA fetish for forearms, especially hairy ones). Cameron pushes a tough class, with lots of the poses done to one side of the body at a time before moving across. I learnt a new pose he called  the dancing warrior 3 which was a challenge. I say learnt, but I really meant frowned at and wobbled like a jelly, and smiled of course. I struggle with balancing poses that start from the ground pushing the strength upwards, its something to figure out why and enjoy learning, especially with a hot instructor to guide you right?

Bring your weight forward into your front foot as you gently kick up your back leg, fingertips on the floor in front of you. At the same time, bring the torso forward until it is parallel to the floor. Keep the neck relaxed, as if it's the natural extension of the spine. Bend the knee to touch the forhead, keeping your fingertips on the floor. Keep both hips pointing toward the floor as you bring the back leg in line with your body. Flex the raised foot and keep the muscles of the raised leg actively engaged. Bring the arms back along your sides, or ahead of you like a T shape. Repeat on the other side.
Beginners: Do the pose at the wall. You can either face the wall and bring your arms outstretched in front of you with your hands on the wall or turn around and bring the lifted back foot onto the wall.

Can you see my sloppy parts for improvement? My focus should be on the pose rather than the instructor, as my hips have popped out to the side, and it should be squared to the floor, creating one long line from toe to finger tip. My head isn't relaxed and my raised foot isnt flexed towards the floor. Its a great improvement from eating the mat though and Im grateful for my body to getting me here! Yeah and I'm grateful for hot yoga teachers too! Just don't let your mind control you, and be able to move past the thought, and then focus on Yoga with a spring in your step!

You can sponsor a great cause by clicking on this simple link:

http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=14769

Outreach Yoga Challenge - Day 9 Breath of Fire

‘Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realise there is nothing lacking the whole world belongs to you’ – Lao Tzu

It’s a lesson that I’m still learning, still travelling and trying to find out where I’m meant to be in this life, are you content?  For those that don’t know me, my end goal is to set up a holistic homestead retreat in the mountains, with views to the ocean, where people come and do yoga, eat good food from my organic garden, cook, play music, hike and be in nature, make art, read, write, share, sing, chill out in hammocks around a fire pit smoking sheshka bongs loving life watching the stars J I’d like some small livestock animals, maybe a small farm for people to come and trade on, come help me crop the veggies and stay for a week and practice yoga with me enjoying life. I want to cut off from the system living sustainably in my ecobuild ranch, living off the land and never shaving again! (well maybe for special occasions with Frenchmen) So this is what finally brought me to Vancouver after leaving my job in December 2009 and travelling the world exploring for the right location. My toes touched the waters in Greece, Italy, Barbados, New Zealand (a few times), Australia, USA, Canada, Hawaii, Fiji, Costa Rica and now back in Vancouver. I’ve been filling the tool box along the way meeting amazing people, taking a Yoga Teacher training course in Costa Rica, WOOFing in New Zealand, surfing in Tofino, eating in Italy, smashing plates in Greece, hiking in USA, and many more ‘edited’ adventures, I’m so grateful for the experience. ‘Never Stop Exploring’ – Edmund Hillary.

I’m now studying Holistic nutrition amongst other things here in Vancouver for the next year.  I volunteer Yoga Teaching as much as possible, sharing my passion for Yoga and also hope to be accepted by the Big Sisters to volunteer some time to a child in need of a positive influence in their life, oh and a whole lot of love too! You can be a Big Sister or Brother, its a fulfilling experience to give back in life, and its just a few hours a week, check out their website if this interests you for further details http://www.bigsisters.bc.ca/en/Home/default.aspx

It’s all about the location for the homestead, and there is so much natural beauty in this world its hard to decide. Beauty comes with destruction by man, looking more at Canada regions I was exposed to the massive issue happening in Alberta with the tar sands. http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/campaigns/tarsands/ Capitalism ripping up nature at a massive expense to Mother Earth, the greed for oil continues.... New Zealand holds a big piece of my heart, and something tells me I’ll go back and explore further, the kiwis are fantastic people, and so ahead of the game when it comes going green and looking after our planet, yet it gets hit with so many natural disasters like quakes it’s ironic. The Pacific Ring of fire is a grid of quakes waiting to happen, unsure on investing my life living on the edge of the next one.  BUT the positives of living in ‘Gods country’ (not in the religious sense) far outways the negatives, with its breathtaking mountain ranges of Mount Cook, the coastal hiking at Abel Tasman, hippy communes in Golden Bay ‘Rainbow Belly’ and the warm love of the kiwis keep the place one of the gems of this world. Lets continue to try and look after our amazing planet J

Kundalini Yoga this morning to start my day of studying with some firey dance, love and cleansing breaths.  The music today was some amazing southern drawl deep deep south materials, with a hint of western and a whole lot of LOVEEEE. I kept looking around the class, and every single person was smiling their ass off. You can't beat that feeling!

A great cleansing breath used is called ‘breath of fire’ and it’s done in varied poses, some quite restricting after a zillion squats. Breath of fire breathing incorporates a rhythmic pumping action upwards in the abdominals to exhale, exhaling and inhaling through your nostrils quickly, slightly pushing the exhale making a sound like a panting dog! Begin by loosening your abdominals, and then fill your diaphragm with air. Then, push the air out of your belly upwards in a quick explosive exhale. The inhalation automatically follows, your belly snaps back in and out with each exhale. This strengthens the diaphragm, restores energy and cleanses the respiratory system and your zings your brain. Great exercise that can be done anywhere, and is useful to clear your head ready for a full day of study, a presentation, meeting the parents (although maybe don’t do this in front of them on your first visit). You may feel a bit funny as a panting dog, but Yoginis don’t judge remember, and laugh at yourself if that helps. It’s good to hear our breath, its your lifeline so listen to it, be aware of it, let out a big sigh, and smile J To practice this breath, start in easy pose, or full lotus (Padmasana). If you are attempting full lotus its great to do the hip openers on the previous blog beforehand, you could start with half lotus just placing one foot on the upper thigh in crossed legged position. Full lotus should be done with a straight neutral spine, you could even place a folded blanket beneath your hips to elevate your hips above your knees. Avoid straining the knees, if you experience any discomfort than practice half lotus (arha padmasana) and alternate the legs until your hips are flexible enough to practice the full lotus. Always alternate the legs to keep a balance in your body.

Thanks to Del and her husband Neil for donating some of their lovely furniture, and more recycled bits that needed a good home, and making a stranger to this city feel at home. Acts of kindness set off serotonin in the body, it’s a feel good chemical to be shared, and passed on. I aim to pass on this kindness, start the reciprocal vibe!

Look at the cute puuuuuupppppyyyyyy! PUPPY SNUFFLEEEEEEEE! My sister loves me to chew her ears like a puppy, and snuffle her neck, try it, see what happens. NOOOOO not on MY sister, use your own!

Woof woof woof pant pant pant, thanks for reading the challenge. If you’d like to make a donation great, if you’re skint that’s cool, maybe try and take some information you found interesting and apply it to your life and share with me by leaving a comment or joining up.

http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=14769

Outreach Yoga Challenge - Day 8 Backbends

Backbends are stimulating and energising postures, they strengthen the spinal muscles while opening the chest, belly and groins. Simple prone backbends are often used as warm up poses linked into Sun Salutations while deeper backbends will generally be placed in the middle section of a class as they require greater strength and opening. Deep backbends should be preceded by thigh stretches, twists and shoulder openers and are generally followed by inversions or seated postures as a way of grounding energy and releasing the spinal muscles.  Upward-facing bow pose, or wheel, or the crab (Urdhva Dhanurasana) should follow bridge pose. Lift up and extend through your shoulders, spine and quads, being careful not to put all the extension on your lower back. Keep your knees close together during the duration of the posture making sure they don’t separate more than the width of your knees. Keep your feet facing straight and not outwards, and avoid splaying your elbows out to the sides to push up the pose. Hold for 5 to 30 seconds, exhale as you bend your arms and slower lower yourself to the floor. You can also raise each leg separately, for a more advanced practice using your core muscles to extend the leg higher.

I’m still studying Anatomy and Physiology in school, and its getting quite intense with lots of scientific and latin words to remember. Class today looked mainly at skins functions and the bone groups and functions. Our body is capable of so many amazing things, healing, remodelling, building and strengthening. A good nutritious diet, aswell as genetics and exercise is very important for both of these structures to maintain health. After I broke both arms last year, it was difficult to practice yoga as I couldn’t support any weight in my arms whatsoever, and this is essential for the production of new bone growth and muscle. Calcium is taken from other bones to rebuild growth, and so its vital to ensure enough absorption and Vitamin D to support this, a supplement can be taken. Yoga has been a great healer physically for myself aswell as emotionally becoming connected with my mind, body and spirit. I’m slowly getting stronger in my arms, remodelling the bones, and although I still click in places I shouldn’t, and have lumps of bone where I shouldn’t I know that through a good diet and listening to my body when it comes to my yoga practice will ensure a healthy recovery. As we get older, our bodies take longer to regenerate and grow bones, and skin back to health, it can be in a remodelling phase for years before they are back to normal again, so be kind on yourself!

This week is dedicated to fulltime study mode, so my nose will be buried deep in books and bones and membranes and muscles, along with Yoga to keep me balanced of course. I have a final class at Shambhala meditation school this evening, and so will be able to take my stillness and use it in everyday life. Ever just sat and watched the clouds without thinking, or smiled at the stars? This group were meditating at the Occupy Vancouver movement, gotta love them for trying right? I felt calmness instantly looking at the light coming from the blonde girl.

Thanks for following Day 8 friends, leave me a comment or if you can afford a few bucks for a donation, its all going to an amazing cause, to help those suffering, show love to a child, not just through the power of Yoga.

http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=14769

Nameste J