Yoga Off the Mat: Summer YITP Events

Summer for the past three years has meant Yoga in the Park! Although some issues have arisen, it's been overall a fantabulous experience - I Heart me some YITP.

This year we have two very special occasions all set up to further the Karma and bring our Yoga off the mat. I thought I'd share them with you! (If you're not an HRM Yogi(ni), maybe a little inspiration to spread the YITP love in your community?)

1. YITP for Zero Force Cycling Team (Child Soldier Initiative) July 9th
My lovely friend, Carla who's doing her PhD in International Studies, always brings the reality of what life can be like for those in other countries.. and the reality of what war causes.

In many countries, Child Soldiers are a reality of war. Children are abducted as young as 6 years of age, girls and boys, tortured, drugged, raped, beaten and forced to commit atrocities against their very own families and communities (assuring they won't be easily welcomed back). Children are sought after for their impulsive and small-quick physicality. Although difficult to determine exact numbers, 250,000 children are currently estimated to be child soldiers around the world.

Roméo Dallaire, a retired Lieutenant-General, founded the Child Soldier Initiative out of Dalhousie University. In October 2010, the Zero Force campaign was launched. Aimed at raising awareness in Canadian youth, Zero Force encourages them to take action in their own communities against the recruitment of child soldiers in a way that is meaningful to them.

The Zero Force Cycling Team (ZFCT) is made up of 4 young guys who like to cycle (as in Bicycle). Their goal is to raise 150,000 for Child Soldier Initiative by bicycling from Vancouver to Halifax this summer; a 7,500km cross country trip!

On July 9th, Yoga in the Park will support a practice where donations will be accepted to support the ZFCT and the Child Soldier Initiative. 100% of proceeds will go towards the Child Soldier Initiative. Check out the facebook event, the ZFCT or Child Soldier Initiative sites for more information.

A great 'extra' is that ZFCT and Child Soldier Initiative has received fabulous support from two specific Yoga Studios- Therapeutic Approach Yoga Studio and Sunrise Yoga Studio. Karma classes (where 100% of proceeds will go to CSI) are being held July 16th 12:30-1:45 at TAYS and August 28th 2-3:15pm (with our fabulous Helen Fong again!) at Sunrise.

2. Halifax Fusion YITP August 13th
Fusion Halifax is all helping young Haligonian professionals to create a community and inspire active citizenship while forging a path for the future of Halifax. They even have a 'Sustainability' section of their Vision Statement:

We want to make our ecological footprint as small as possible and are committed to do everything we can to make it happen. We want our recycling programs to be world-class. We want to minimize our carbon emissions and we want our businesses to be environmental role models.

Helen Fong, CYT (and 2010 Halifax Fusion Award Nominee) and most importantly and fabulous supporter of our student led Coffee and Yoga and YITP, will be leading the class:

We are collaborating with Yoga In The Park (a group of yoga enthusiasts who meet regularly on & off the mat throughout the year) to bring YOU a refreshing outdoor yoga class. Helen Fong, Certified Yoga Teacher and 2010 Fusion Halifax Go Award nominee will be leading this 45-minute Yin Yang Fusion class, which will highlight yoga poses that will Connect, Engage and Inspire. Please bring a yoga mat, pillow, blanket and a bottle of water. See you at the park!

We're so excited that our humble, student-initiated YITP will be supporting community building and activism this summer. Yoga off the mat- oh yeah!

Blessings!

article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Litha; Yoga and Paganism

Today marks an important pagan holiday- Litha- or Summer Solstice. Today is the culmination of a gradual building of energy, light and life over the past six months since Yule- or the Winter Solstice. (Opposites if you're in the Southern Hemisphere like Svasti :) ). From today onward the light diminishes and we move towards darkness. So although it's a day for celebration of Life and Light, Summer Solstice truly marks the end of growth and the yearly movement towards hibernation and rest.

Litha is a fabulous time to embrace new beginnings, especially if they're cleansing and nurturing- a sort of spiritual 'letting go'. What better way to celebrate than to practice yoga outside near the cleansing ocean? Tonight, after walking briskly home from the ferry, I hopped on Veronica (my bicycle) and pedaled over to Point Pleasant Park with friends.

We set up our mats in a circle and our group of six yogis practiced. I always find that practicing outside lends a more immediate connection with the Goddess. We usually do a lot of our practice in silence so we can enjoy and truly allow our minds and bodies to connect with Nature around us. Moving through the postures, focusing on my breath, I finally sift through the static of a busy life and work to ground and reconnect.

My spirituality is pretty darn personal... I don't take part in any local pagan groups or even speak regularly about my Faith with anyone other than Andrew. However, a few months ago a reader asked how I connected with the Goddess during my yoga practice. It's a little tricky to describe and intensely personal, but I'll say a few words.

Yoga asana allows my body to focus, meditate and ground within itself. Especially while practicing outside, but even during my inside practice, I allow my mind and body to expand in energy and feel a sort of moving prayer to the Goddess. I'll usually send my intention or breath to a person or event I've been thinking on lately and during final meditation I'll often ground and cleanse my energy through the Earth.

During my outside practice I especially connect the Goddess and Her presence with the wind. It's like a physical manifestation of something invisible, spiritual, powerful and more.

The view on our way out of the park after practice today- I especially like the sky...



Today's practice was especially beautiful. During supta baddha konasana (reclining bound angle pose) I stared up at the clouds, so incredibly high in the blue sky and thought I couldn't remember the last time I had let myself get lost in the sky.


New beginnings, rediscovering my Spirit and my Faith.

How did you spend your Summer Solstice? Do you connect similarly to your Faith during yoga practice? (whatever that Faith may be?)

Blessings!


article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Some Music for Litha

A little music...

I've always been an eclectic music listener- I love it all. From indie, metal, classical, hip hop and jazz. Walking home from the ferry today my French podcast ran out and I was forced to listen to some music. It put a little hop in my step... LOVE.

Here are a few of my all time favs.... May they put a hop in your step.

the only reason Linkin Park was ever cool....

love love love.

Jenn Grant has such a unique and fabulous voice. This song is ridiculous.

Three beauties pour mes amis!

(PS Tomorrow is the Summer Solstice, a time for new beginnings and celebration of life: Happy Litha!)

I Reject the External Yoga Ideal; It's Time to Stop Blaming the Individual

I have a problem with "If you just try hard enough you'll be____" insert unrealistic and externally determined physical attribute. It bothered me when I became aware of the negative effects of body image and the media and it bothers me when it comes to yoga.

Yep, I am comparing the two.

 (Although this ad is 13 years old, it's still relevant today... and I heard it's making the news again recently, which is weird since it's so old...)

I'm wholeheartedly against fitting a person's physical body in a predetermined box. Our media tells us (mostly women, but also men) what the ideal body type and look should be... and we're expected to strive for this. We know, anatomically, that only 5% of the female population, even with dieting and cosmetics, will ever fit the ideal body type. And yet still we get the message: "If you only try harder, workout more, wear a certain kind of makeup/clothing/hair style you'll look better and thus be happier". Every single media advert is based on making us believe that it is OUR fault that we look the way we do (so we should buy their product to help fix it).

I've finally made a connection with why I am so uncomfortable when I hear yoga instructors tell me that someday I will reach= a certain level of flexibility/posture/strength. It's the exact same concept of: "You can't do it now because you just haven't been practicing long enough/trying hard enough/practicing often enough", a blame the individual mentality.

Oh, for the most part it's done with only the best of intentions in mind, to motivate and reassure the student that progress occurs for everyone. At the same time there is a certain extent where I've found some (not all!) yoga instructors believe that their level of flexibility/strength/stamina is achievable by ALL students. Which implies that the only reason the student isn't there yet is due to their own internal faults.

I am a prime example. I'm thin, so I find people automatically assume I should be flexible. Ummm, far from it- as I've said many times it took two full years of regular practice to be able to *just barely touch my toes*. And yes I push myself adequately, thank you very much, I've learned the difficult way just how inflexible my body can be. Due to my extremely non-gumby body, I can easily pull and tear muscles and tendons when pushing through asanas or when they're overheated (um- hot yoga is a no-no for me). Sure I've made progress, but it is completely unreasonable to assume that even after a decade of practice (which will be three years away) that I will be able to fold forward completely in standing forward fold or seated forward fold, even if I practice every.single.day.

And I'm ok with that.

I've accepted that for me, my yoga doesn't have to fit a preconceived physical notion. I also know enough about anatomy and physiology to understand that not every person's bone and muscle structures are exactly the same, and therefore neither should their asana yoga outcomes should be the same. I resent the fact when I'm made to feel like I a) haven't been practicing often/hard enough b) haven't been pushing myself enough (umm several injuries should just be ignored right?) or c) I've just been doing it plain wrong. (Can you tell I had an experience at class last night?).

Last evening I had an instructor inform me that I can go further in "parsvottanasana" (intense side stretch), while she pushed on my back. When I informed her that "Nope, that's as far as I go" with a follow up of "It hurts" when she insisted, she informed me that I still had a curve in my lower back. Yep, that's my slightly curved spine she pointed out, how nice of her. A few more insistent adjustments and loud suggestions ("Why aren't you doing upward dog?" to my baby cobra's followed by insisting on upward dog stating that I would be hurting my lower back more with a baby cobra than an updog), resulted in my practice becoming about letting go of disappointment and anger and fighting the impulse to push my body harder.

I've had enough injuries that way and would hate to pull my achilles tendon or have intense lower back pains from too many strenuous upward dogs and savasanas.

When I approached her afterwards to thank her for her suggestions and time during class, it was to recognize for myself that she assumed even the most basic yoga postures were achievable for everyone and only meant well. (As if one hip opener is really enough to "open up the hips" for ridiculously tight people haha).

Her response was to point out that I had a consistent lower back curve in almost all forward folds and that what was holding me back: "You just have to work on not jutting your bum out". Um... My acknowledgement of "Yes, I actually have quite a natural spinal curve to my lower back" was cut off with: "Yeah, you gotta just work on tucking your tail bone in more".

At that I just thanked her and walked away. Obviously, it had never occurred to this veteran Ashtangi that some people actually have spines that are over-curved. No over tucking my tail bone is going to change the bone structure of my spine- it's not muscle habit that I stick my ass out, it's an actual spinal formation. I resent the fact that she implied I just hadn't practiced hard enough, long enough or pushed myself enough to achieve some external "perfection" that she felt would be the penultimate experience of the yoga pose.

I'm happy with what my body has achieved in the miniscule steps it has taken over the past seven years of regular, dedicated (mostly!) physical practice. I firmly reject the idea that all yoga asana is achievable and accessible to everyone should they just try hard enough/long enough.  

Each person should not strive to achieve an "external yoga ideal" but should find what yoga looks like for them.

Blessings


article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

DIY Fudge-sicles=YUM

I love fudgesicles, and popsicles and yummy homemade DIY-sicles. Oh and chocolate. For some reason I feel like if the chocolate or sweet thing is homemade than it isn't as unhealthy. In a sense I'm right since I know exactly what went into making these sweet snacks and can purchase ingredients in a more sustainable manner.

Also- it helps to have a husband who actually LIKES baking stuff.

Andrew reads "Smitten Kitchen" (as do I) and he decided that it was time to make Fudgesicles. Yay!

 (see that blue vodka bottle? My friend Jen made home made vanilla- it tastes fantastic and was a gift!)

It involved seven ingredients (I forgot to add sugar to this list...), about 20 minutes (max) and a popsicle mold. He followed Smitten Kitchen's recipe (except sans salt since our butter was salted) and within four hours they were ready for sampling.

Ummmm..... can we just say DELICIOUS?

Affordable and potentially much more sustainable, these DIY fudgesicles are a fantastic way to treat yourself. We still have a ton of ingredients to make five-ish more batches easily. Much cheaper than buying them in the store.

Also, now that we know they taste like yummy-ness, more local sustainable ingredients can be purchased. Like using the local milk, fair trade organic chocolate chips and cocoa powder.

If you're thinking of something fun to invest in this summer- reusable popsicle molds are the way to go!

Blessings!


article and photographs copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

My Best Yoga Lesson: "Stop"

I know it sounds a bit counter-intuitive, but the best lesson I've ever learned practicing yoga was to just "stop".

It was about five years ago, I had been practicing yoga for two years and was still on my "I WILL BE GUMBY OR DIE TRYING" kick. Ashtanga or any sort of power Vinyasa based yoga was my only style and my goal was to achieve asana perfection every single time.

I was attending a yoga studio in St John, New Brunswick (did my final SLP placement there, met Andrew... all around good times!) and was a little off-put by the owner's "yoga mom" type personality. I should say, how HE catered to the yoga mom's out there, flirting, flexing his muscles and ignoring little old non yoga-mom moi. Even though I was determined to hate his class (and well hey, I never went back did I?), he did teach me one very important thing- just to let go.

During a seated forward fold he came over and started commanding that I back off, back up and stop trying so hard. To allow the asana to become the Journey instead of the destination (he didn't say exactly that, but that's my interpretation). I will admit, forward folds have forever been difficult, even after seven years of practice I barely grab my toes. I used to work SO HARD just to be able to fold, bend, push, hold on as much as possible in the first breath. Very one breath-one asana type feel.

Instead of practicing safely, the one-breath per "asana is a destination" type practice can be scarily dangerous. Popping in and out of a posture can push our muscles beyond what they should achieve, resulting in overstretching or even pulling and tearing of muscle tissue.

 (pre-yoga class a few years ago out at Hubbard's studio)

After that yoga class, combined with a few other insights over the years, I take most asanas one breath at a time. This means that I don't even try for "my" full version of the posture on the first breath, ever. I'll stop before I go as far as I think I can, take a breath allowing my body to settle and accept that my body will gradually make it there. From downward dog, cobra, upward dog... you name it.

It allows me to practice more mindfully and safely.

A few thoughts to consider:

• With every inhale lengthen your spine, moving outward and upward
• With every exhale relax, let go into the posture- one millimetre more. 

What is the most important yoga lesson you've ever learned?

Blessings!

article and photograph copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Eco Sparklies!

Ok after some eco failures I thought I'd post some really cute and fantabulous eco-successes!

Did I say I was like a crow? I think I've mentioned it. Sparkly things? Yes please!

You can totally purchase ridiculously cute and funky jewelery that is hand made and sustainable while keeping within your budget. Cases in point:

 My latest fun sparkly finds!

 The birch necklace is handmade and handcrafted by Jasmine Virani in Ottawa (Canada). It is so beautiful and is stunning once on. I fell in love. It's also pretty darn reasonable of a price. (I bought mine at Love Me Boutique, if you live or are visiting Halifax, it's the perfect place to find handmade, funky pieces!)

 These little beauties are the cutest hand made rose earrings ever. You can actually see the fingerprint ridges where the artist hand pasted the roses together. Handmade by "Larque" I can't seem to find her online anywhere. I found mine at LoveMe Boutique for 20$, there's a whole selection of pretty colours.

 

 These funky felted leaves are handmade by a Montreal artist with recycled copper. Also a ridiculously affordable price, they definitely make a statement. I found these at Katrin Leblond.

The charm bracelet you're all wondering about here is an original. Yep, pure vintage- it was my mom's in the 1970s. The little "hibou" (owl) you see here is my favourite, but what makes this charm bracelet truly amazing is that I have a story for each charm. Like that shovel? Dad gave it to mom while they were dating... it says "I dig you the most" hahahaha. Awesome.

So there ya go! Have any funky new sparklies to share?

Blessings!

article and photographs copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Searching for Yummy Smelling 'Eco' Lotions

After our "What does Sustainable Healthcare Mean to You?" I was reminded how prevalent cancer and illness are in Nova Scotia (higher rates than any other province in Canada). We may leave in a country with "free" healthcare, except for when most cancer medications aren't covered by medicare.

When my uncle, a lobster fisherman, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was informed that the life prolonging drugs were not covered by medicare, his options were... die sooner.

When we find out that products we slather all over our skin, products plural, contain cancer causing toxic chemicals... why would we continue to choose these products?

I've found we continue to choose those products because it's just so darn difficult to find comparable alternatives that are truly "clean" of chemicals and similar in price. That works.

For example, my latest attempt to find a yummy smelling body lotion that is equally moisturizing that it is clean... AND smells like summer.

THE YUMMY SMELLING TOXIC LOTION
Alba's Kukui nut lotion. Although Alba is sold in health food stores and in the "natural" section, it most certainly is far from free of chemicals. Having a little statement that says it has 100% Vegetarian ingredients really doesn't mean much, especially when you have the following ingredients:

polysorbate 60, dimethicone, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, fragrance.

The scariest of the above five? The "fragrance" which of course is one of my favourite parts. According to David Suzuki, "fragrance" or "parfum" is one of the "Dirty Dozen" cosmetic toxic ingredients to avoid at all costs and can hide any of 3000 chemicals. Many of these are triggers for migraines, asthma and allergies. Some ingredients have even been linked to cancer causing agents and neurotoxins. (p. 8 of David Suzuki's Dirty Dozen Backgrounder).

THE WINTER WINNER CHICKEN LOTION
Ok, all winter I have been using Green Beaver's Après Ski lotion which is clean of chemicals and works like a dream, no residue and moisturizes all day. It's just... after I apply this stuff I smell like a well roasted chicken. Now, although Andrew thinks it's pretty hilarious and yummy, I'm really kinda tired of smelling like a thanskgiving turkey. (It's the rosemary).

Sadly, the other Green Beaver options just aren't as moisturizing... so I went in search of something else.

THE REPLACEMENT FAIL
I found Dr Bonner's Magic 'All-One' lotion. Yes.... I know, 'Magic All-One' lotion?? Who NAMES these products??? I picture a smokey, sweet haze and some tie dyed shirts. Seriously though.

Anyhoo, the ingredient list is fantastic. It smells like yummy peppermint... and even though I KNOW peppermint can be drying, it was that or an icky orange or patchouli type. I really just didn't want to smell like sandalwood patchouli. Ya know?

As you can seen, I'm leading up to something. The lotion feels greasy and sticky going on. It smells very strongly of peppermint and I feel nervous eating anything after having the stuff on my hands. Eventually the greasy feeling does go away, but after a few hours my legs are itchy, flaky and dry and my arms are red.

The price was right, the ingredients were perfect, even the post-consumer recycled packaging was great. Sadly the actual lotion lacked in awesomeness.

Ah well... the search continues...

Blessings!


article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Special Coffee and Yoga Meetup!

Coffee and Yoga Update!

Yoga and Healthcare? Here in the Canada, healthcare for all isn't always as evident and with the recent cuts to healthcare funding in Nova Scotia figuring out a sustainable system can involve us all. Often we think of Yoga as being an "alternative" to healthcare, but I truly believe there is a way to merge both western and eastern medicine and traditions to find an ideal balance.
 This month is a special Coffee and Yoga. We're so fortunate to have Susan Dunn, Coordinator for Capital Health's "My Health. Our Community" facilitate our Coffee and Yoga meet Tuesday.

1. What does sustainable healthcare mean  to you?
2. How does your health make a difference?
3. What do you need to know to use the healthcare system to the greatest benefit?

Tuesday evening we'll be considering these questions, where does Yoga fit in and how can we make a difference.

Like all Coffee and Yoga meetups, everyone is welcome and it's free! This will be the last "My Health. Our Community" chats until the Fall, so please come on out and join in the discussion!

Details:

Date: June 7th (Tuesday)

Time: 7pm

Location: Uncommon Grounds South Park St

Free!

"The Planet Can Suck It" Yoga Class

You know they're out there... sippin' starbucks out of their disposable cups...

Costume: Lululemon (made in China, shipped to North America or the UK)
Eco-reality:
Shipping products across oceans make up 3% of global carbon emissions. The ships endanger marine wildlife and pollute our oceans. Non-organic cotton uses 10% of the world's pesticides and 25% of it's insecticides (Ecoholic 2006) and whole crap load of water (256 cubic gigameters a year). That stretchy yoga feel? Yep, plenty of petroleum (ahem oil), water, water and more carbon.

The Gear: PVC Yoga Mat with a fancy synthetic bag.
Eco-reality:
PVC is what Greenpeace calls one of the most harmful plastics on the planet. The water, energy and carbon emissions required to create this polyvinyl chloride beauty is ridiculous all on it's own. Did you check to see where it was made? Shipping is a b*tch. Slap that plastic polluted mat into a fancy shiny nylon (aka petroleum based) mat bag and we're good to go.

The Ride: "Um, my car?"
Eco-reality: 
Driving= carbon emissions. "Nuff said.

The studio/class: Heated yoga (yep I'm including Moksha here, despite offsets)
Eco-reality:
The energy required to heat a room to 95-102 degrees F all day long is ridiculous. That "cleansing" sweat yogis rave about sure isn't cleansing our planet. Generating that much heat means a huge amount of carbon emissions are being spewed out into our atmosphere. You're skin may feel "cleansed" but your lungs, health and planet sure don't.

The Perks: Foam yoga blocks, packaged yoga mat cleaners, accessories and cute trendy clothing, bottled water for purchase.
Eco-reality: Foam blocks may be cushy, but they're made from synthetic petroleum based products, require more water and energy and spew out climate changing carbon. Ick. We also really don't need to be spraying our mats with chemical enhanced yoga mat cleaners when water and vinegar will do just fine. Water is a fundamental human right and shouldn't be bought or sold. A water cooler should do just fine (especially if you reuse the jug and refill it from your filtered tap at home).

Most of us are a bit beyond the "Planet can suck it" phase when it comes to yoga, but sometimes we can convince ourselves that our little ole yoga practice can't be *that* harmful... can it?


article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com