Pop-Up Yoga Halifax: Community Yoga at it's Best

This summer's Halifax Yoga in the Park has been phenomenal; with great regular turnout of 30+ yogis and lovely yoga teachers giving their time so that we can practice under the sun and near the ocean each week.

One such fabulous yoga teacher is Brigitte LeBlanc (a fellow francophone!). A Facebook friendship revealed that Brigitte not only gives back to her yoga community at HYITP, she helps organize something called “Pop-up Yoga Halifax”. It immediately made me think of Much Music's Pop-Up Video (all you under thirties, non Canadians are missing out, seriously), and as such I had to find out more.

The yoga world is weirdly sliding into the exhibitionist category (Tara Stiles practicing in a glass,vehicular cube around NYC, yoga selfies in dangerous shoes and clothing, yoga selfies in GENERAL). I find this sad because I like the idea of subverting “the man” (whatever that really means) or fine, just bringing something like yoga to the public sphere, but these recent “yoga selfies” trend aren't my cup of tea.

Which is why Pop-Up Yoga is perfect. The very premise of a spontaneous (yet planned enough in advance to attend!), outdoor (and public, but organized for an actual practice in beautiful spaces) and affordable yoga class in Halifax rocks. I was a bit curious on how it works, and the why so Brigitte was kind enough to answer a few questions for me (Merci!!).

If you live in Halifax, be sure to check out her Facebook Page: Pop-Up Yoga Halifax

1. What is Pop-Up Yoga Halifax? Pop-Up Yoga Halifax is an opportunity to do yoga in a non studio setting, at different locations throughout the city with an affordable cost of $5. We believe that yoga should be fun and affordable, and with the summer season upon us, it's a good way to get outdoors, breath in deeply and feel the sun be pushed away by a gentle breeze on your skin.

2. What brought you to organize Pop-Up Yoga Halifax? One day, Rebecca Blanchard (my partner in this project) and I attended a drop in class which cost us $20 for a 45 minute class. We felt like yoga had become an activity for the rich, and those who need it the most (well...everyone!) should have access to it without breaking the bank. We also thought it would be a great opportunity for both her and I to get experience teaching without being hired at a studio. I work as a massage therapist, she works as a nurse and we both love yoga and wanted to teach in our spare time. We didn't want it to feel like a job, but an offering to our community of yogis.

3. What have been the challenges in organizing Pop-Up Yoga Halifax? Just like any project, you start with a concept and you roll with it. Every step leads you to another and sometimes you need to take a step back. The vision has shifted since we began, and is progressing in ways that we are excited about. We asked two other teachers to join us, which is incredible. It’s nice to work on this as a project and have 4 teachers with different visions mix ‘em up together to get a blissed out brainchild.

4. So far, what has been your favourite moment during a Pop-Up Yoga Halifax practice? My favourite moment so far has been our first class. It was a beautiful day, we had a good group of people show up and I just really felt like a proud mother of a beautiful newborn. Although child birth is more painful then the process we went through to make this happen, but you get the symbolism, right? Perceive and conceive

5. What would you like to see Pop-Up Yoga Halifax become?

We would love to offer Yoga classes within local businesses. I see us offering classes in coffee shops, on rooftops, in art galleries, and in conference rooms. We're hoping that once the weather gets cold, that we may continue offering yoga throughout the city in fun locations. We hope to partner up with festivals, and events. Maybe even local dj's who would like to perform a set during a class, or maybe a local whole food company would offer free samples to our yogis. It's a great way to bring like minded folk together, and build a healthy and happy community, while bringing something new to the HRM.

5. We love having you lead during YITP, you have such an open and connected style. What has led you becoming a Yoga Teacher and what do you feel is important in sharing the practice of yoga? I've never been good at sports and I wasn't the athletic type growing up. Being in the health care industry, being active is something that is important to me and I feel that Yoga is suitable for anyone! It is also very complimentary to Massage Therapy since it creates body awareness. I always found myself offering stretches and strengthening postures to aid in my clients dysfunction in their body. I wanted to learn more, not only to deepen my practice, but to also empower my clients to heal. 

I like creating a mind/body connection during my classes. Where is it in your life that you can be more flexible, where is it that you require strength? Challenging yourself in these postures go way deeper then your superficial body. They translate into your relationships, your reactions, and more importantly, they encourage you to breath and be calm when faced with challenges. Yoga is a moving meditation, and in my opinion a great yoga practice should leave you feeling grounded, connected and inspired.

Body glorification has been linked to yoga, and even though this comes along with the package, and is a wonderful result of a consistent practice, there is so much more to value when it comes to yoga.

6. Besides yoga, what is/are your life passion(s)? I love gardening and plants. I feel like I need a bigger home to accommodate for the current jungle of plants that I live amongst. I love creating vegan and vegetarian meals. I love DIY projects. I am passionate about leading a life through a perspective of love. I am passionate about people. 

More then anything, I am passionate about health care and about healing, and the whole concept surrounding it. I believe in the bodies wisdom to heal. I'm passionate about helping people and assisting them in their process. I love learning about natural remedies, and encouraging optimal health through nutrition. I am constantly reading and learning about all things health care related. In September, I will be opening up a clinic called "Anatomy: A Massage and Wellness Centre" and feel like this will be a true creative expression of that which I am passionate about.

Brigitte LeBlanc

Brigitte has a lusty love affair with yoga. She began this beautiful relationship back in 2004 when she took her first yoga class in Canmore, Alberta. Even though it has been an on again and off again relationship, she is now committed to her practice and has found a soul mate for life. She has practiced in numerous locations around the world, exploring what it means to truly know herself. She took her month long, 200hr training in Guatemala. It was an unforgettable journey which led her to her bliss. Brigitte is a Registered Massage Therapist, a co-coordinator with Pop-Up Yoga Halifax and she is currently enjoying the creative process of soon opening her own clinic in the heart of Halifax. You can find out more from her website www.brigitteleblancrmt.com

2013: Halifax's Summer of Yoga in the Park

This year Halifax joined the "cities with Yoga in the Park" club. Up until this year outdoor, free or by-donation yoga was basically a Halifax Yoga in the Park one yogi club... Despite the fact that the city has over a dozen yoga studios and a population of under 400,000.

I am so excited that this summer has resulted in multiple, weekly outdoor and free yoga experiences all over the city.

I'm not sure what happened, maybe it's a combination of the right new yoga teacher grads passionate to share with their city, or perhaps it's HYITP's growing popularity... Or maybe it's just happy circumstance that studios all around the city saw the benefit if sharing a yoga class under the big open sky.

This past weekend, for the first time in years, we saw the collaboration of multiple yoga studios for one massive free, all day community yoga event: YOGA Switch Up, a part of Switch! Open street Halifax. Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend (sad, I was hugely disappointed, but sometimes yoga is about balance and not asana), but from all accounts it was a huge success, and most likely this is (if not wholly, but partially) thanks to one amazing community minded yogini: Sarah M. She rocks.
Check out the amazing photos by Currie Photography: http://www.currieyogagraphy.ca/p544395564

Halifax Yoga in the Park also saw some fun, exciting changes this summer. We had four yoga instructors donate their time to lead practices over the summer. It was inspiring, heartening and I feel so blessed to have shared me practice under the sun and beside the ocean with them. Numbers in the Facebook group are growing, we were featured in Chatelaine and in a local Halifax magazine: The Southend!!! Crazy eh? Our classes have also grown to sometimes have more than 20 yogis each week, practicing together under the wide open sky.

My own personal yoga practice has benefited hugely from this summer and I'm hopeful we can get another few weekends in before autumn really kicks in.

Halifax yogis have spoken loud and clear: Free Yoga in the Park is wanted and here to stay.

A Call Out To HRM Yoga Instructors: Sharing Your Practice with Community

My Haligonian Yoga Peeps: Yoga in the Park is upon us!!

This weekend it has finally felt like Spring has a glimmer of hope of arriving in Halifax. (Even though this coming week it's giving a possibility of snow...) With this glimmer comes the realization that as soon as it's above 15 degrees (C) on a Saturday we will be practicing yoga near the ocean once again!

This summer will mark our fourth summer practicing yoga in Point Pleasant Park. The fourth summer where anyone who is interested may pop in and practice yoga amidst the sun, atlantic ocean and wind with absolutely no charge, without even the slightest suggestion, implication or pressure to pay (ie 100% free, no donation necessary).

I am so proud to say that throughout discussions, space change and a few dramas, we have kept YITP to equate the opportunity for all to practice surrounded by nature in a public place free of charge. 

Practicing yoga outside makes me happy, and the purpose of YITP is to simply share that moment with others... practicing yoga while listening to the waves of the ocean as a community.

(YITP 2010 at Point Pleasant Park)

This summer, I would like to send out a call for any Yoga Instructor who would love to share this practice and their sequence with us. 

What sharing your practice and love with the YITP community would look like:

• Choosing a Saturday morning this summer that works for you and committing to this morning.
• Either: 
• Leading the practice simultaneously while you practice (talking through your practice)
• Or, "teaching" a class in the formal sense- it is completely your discretion.
• Practicing with other yogis in a casual, safe and informal atmosphere.
• Sharing the joy of your yoga practice with others in the beautiful setting of ocean, wind and forest. 

If you are a yoga instructor and you are interested please email me at earthyogini (at) gmail (dot) com with any questions, concerns or even dates you'd like to share your practice.

If you are a HRM yogi (or instructor) who would love to simply attend and enjoy your practice with Halifax YITP this summer the BEST way to keep up with times and dates would be joining our facebook group: "Halifax Yoga in the Park". 

Happy Spring!!

Finding Lightness and Growing Up: Rachel and Yoga Chicky

I love this blogging community.

Today my heart has swelled to a million times it's size: kinda like the Grinch, only I have a heart to begin with.

In response to my blog post about feeling heavy with age, both Rachel and Amanda from Yoga Chicky wrote beautiful and insightful responses. They are fantastic reads, and if you felt the same way I did I encourage you to go check them out.

Both responses are sharing life experiences that do not fit the "traditional" women life path. Something I find extremely valuable for my own journey.

Yoga Chicky: On crow's feet and finding the lightness

Rachel: refusing to grow up

Thank you ladies!!!

An Honest Gander at the Rising Cost of Yoga Classes

"I am getting my butt back into a yoga class."
That was my plan end of December... I could feel the need to learn something new, and since I don't have it in my budget to attend weekly in studio classes, my hope was to find a class that was meaningful. That would add to my yoga skillz.

And then I had a quick peek at drop in class prices... "Holy crap! They've gone up"... In Halifax a drop in class is 20$ at most studios.

I think it's time we had an honest discussion about the cost of yoga.

Typically there are two camps in this (long suffering) debate: a) those who rail against the hypocrisy of costly classes that pander to an increasingly exclusive class of yogis and b) those who defensively justify the rising costs of running a studio and the offensive suggestion that yoga teachers give away their time and skill set.

Neither camps are very productive, both have points and finally, neither are good at examining the issue objectively.

The reality remains, regardless of your 'camp' : yoga is getting prohibitively expensive. By raising class prices, no matter the legitimate justifications, has consequences... Mainly that those who are able to access yoga in reputable studios by qualified teachers are those who can afford to drop over 100$ a month on yoga.

Oh, often studios wax poetic about the alternatives and flexibility of pricing... And perhaps we need to look a bit more closely at the options.

1. Karma classes: often, if a studio offers karma classes, they are at a limited time (typically not convenient for people's work and life schedules) and often times by teacher trainees. It's not very conducive to growing a yoga practice if you have limited choice in time and quality for your learning.  Let's be honest, the message is clear: if you can't afford a regular class, you can't complain with the time, quality or even style of yoga we give you.

I need something more than a random yoga class at this stage in my practice, and karma classes definitely leave quite a lot to be desired for my practice.

Lululemon offers community classes- but who wants to practice in a giant commercial on a Sunday morning?

2. Energy exchange: I've done this. For about six months, while working a full time, emotionally exhausting job, I spent one full afternoon cleaning a yoga studio in exchange, hour-hour for yoga classes. I eventually had to quit, since after four hours in that studio I no longer had the energy or desire to be there any other time during the week. I wanted yoga, not another physically demanding job.

Honestly, I think energy exchange yoga to be a bit of a cop-out. Firstly, the assumption that I had time in my busy, working full time schedule, to then work more for two classes of yoga a week was laughable. Do we really believe that people who can't afford yoga have spare time to take on another part-time job? Further, the 'energy exchange' isn't really a bartering system- as it typically only applies to cleaning or reception. I put together a proposal for exchanging a teacher training workshop on providing yoga classes for people with communication difficulties (children with special needs, adults with hearing loss) and was met with a big nothing.

If we were honest, those who do energy exchange are usually young, without children and often university students...

I will admit there are a few yoga classes in the city, generally ashtanga, that are a 10$ drop in fee. I've attended a few and they're usually in community centres or at the Y. They're fabulous, and most likely work because the teachers aren't offering the classes out of hugely swanky studios that have to pay expensive rent. However, if I want another style of yoga, it's not that straightforward to find and I have limited choice on teacher and level of class.

And maybe that is the solution... perhaps it's time to recognize that, although the aesthetics of our western studio are lovely, it's not conducive to offering affordable yoga.

Or, perhaps there is another solution that keeps the integrity of the yoga offered while paying a fair wage to the teachers. What are your thoughts or ideas?

Eco Yoga Mats Don't Suck

A little birdie over on another yoga blog site created some discussion regarding the usefulness of investing in an 'eco' yoga mat. The perspective was really two-fold: that eco yoga mats are of poor quality compared to pvc and thus won't last long and that owning an eco yoga mat is an empty eco-gesture.

I claim false on both accounts.

Let's take a closer look shall we?

Myth 1: Eco Yoga mats are of lesser quality than pvc.


Firstly, I'd have to say that those yogis who report cycling through their 'eco' yoga mats within a few months or under a year of practice have a few things they should elaborate. Stating what type of 'eco' mat is important. There are some poor quality rubber mats out there (just like there are some crappy pvc mats). Also, exposing your rubber mat to the sun will further increase the breakdown of the rubber. TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) yoga mats aren't even truly 'eco' (check out 'My mat is made of copolymers' for more deets on TPE greenwashing), also accelerated flaking from sun exposure and are of lesser quality.

However, Jade Harmony (and my prAna revolution mat) are both higher quality and if cared for properly should last the length of your yoga practice.

Further, for the most part they're yoga instructors who partake in a full daily practice (or even several times of day). Hold up your hand if you practice a vigorous, hand gripping, foot sliding and body jumping asana 5 to 7 days a week (or more). Keep your hand up if you're a yoga instructor. Although becoming a yoga instructor is becoming the new 'it' thing, they remain a small percentage of yogi practitioners and do NOT represent the typical yogi.

The slippery complaint really just has to do with the first few practices and use. It fades away and I only ever notice a bit more 'slip' after I wash my mat- it goes away after the first post-wash practice.

Myth 2: Eco Yoga Mats are an empty environmental gesture and don't really make a difference.

According to different sources (most recently npr) between twenty and thirty MILLION people practice yoga in the United States alone. If we're conservative and add another 10 million for Canada, maybe another 10 million globally and take the lower USA number- that's 40 million people with a yoga mat. 40 MILLION YOGA MATS. (and that doesn't include studio mats and those people who have two, or three mats)

The Manduka black mat weighs 7lbs.

That's 280 million pounds or 127 005 metric tonnes of PVC. 

Polyvinyl chloride (pvc) yoga mats last forever because of just that- plastic lasts FOREVER. By this I mean not one piece of plastic ever created that hasn't been burned (releasing toxic flames into the air we breathe) since the 1960's has yet to disappear from this world. Every single piece of plastic is still in existence, either in complete original form leaching chemicals into the soil where it rests, off gassing into the inhabitant's home or has been transformed into tiny plastic bubbles (nurdles) that are being ingested by aquatic life and thus eventually humans (The World Without Us, Alan Weisman).

Since as far as we can tell plastic will last forever, and pvc is one of the most difficult plastics to recycle (Greenpeace) many pvc mats will end up in the landfill. Often landfills catch on fire, and once pvc burns it releases an extremely toxic chemical called dioxins. These chemicals have been found to be extremely dangerous to humans (known carcinogen) and bioaccumulate- discovered in the majority of American women's breast milk (wiki and Ecoholic 2006).

Your pvc yoga mat will continue to pollute this earth after you and your yoga practice move on to the next part of your spirit journey.

During her amazing lecture at Dalhousie University on Monday, Dr. Vandana Shiva spoke of the social culture of 'individual vs community' in response to the question: "How can we make a difference?". She answered that the competitiveness and corporate culture of the western world has encouraged the false belief that we are alone. That we are individuals.

This isn't true. We are not single individuals; as a social being we interact, we communicate, we create change. We are part of a community of ever increasing circles in this pond we call our home.

280 million pounds of toxic pvc isn't insignificant. Making the decision to bring your yoga practice into alignment with ahimsa (non-harming) of our planet and our health isn't insignificant.

Instead of fostering a feeling of helplessness, or isolation, we need to start recognizing our amazing ability to connect and foster change. 

And that's why Eco Yoga Mats Don't Suck.

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

Local Eco-Studio Love: ALL YOGA

As prices for yoga are skyrocketing I was surprised and excited to learn that a fabulous yoga studio across the harbour in Dartmouth was promoting the opposite: a lower price for yoga. Since it spread it's pretty yoga wings a few years ago, ALL YOGA has been one of the most supportive and truly community based studios in HRM. Truly listening to it's student base and initiating an open communication with other yogis in the community. Recently they've begun offering not only karma classes, but seva classes- FREE, no donation accepted.

To top it all off, one of the pioneers of having their electricity from Bullfrog Power in Nova Scotia, this studio was constructed with environmental materials, from the paint to the non-toxic glue in the flooring this studio is easy on the toxins and the planet.

ALL YOGA's Mandate: "We honour the tradition of Yoga and offer sanctuary for ALL people to develop a personal practice for the health of their body, their mind and their spirit." I love the inclusivity and acceptance.

It only took me a whole year to get my butt over to the studio (it's a bit of a drive from my downtown Halifax apartment) but the experience was worth it! After a fabulous class with the owner, Kim, she kindly agreed to share a few more pieces of her Story with you!

1. Owning and running a yoga studio is a big step in a person's life. What brought you to this decision in your Yoga Life?

 I was originally asked to open a studio by a friend who had a yoga franchise.  I wasn't even a yoga teacher yet but she needed someone to open in Dartmouth.  I originally said no as I found out I was pregnant but when I went to my teacher training program (with my 3 week old in tow), I was asked again if I was interested.  I thought that working for myself would really suit my life with 3 kids and a husband to care for.   I love Yoga so it was a natural transition.

2. While building your studio, you made the decision to invest in environmentally-friendly and non-toxic materials. What prompted that decision? Were there challenging aspects to eco-building?

It was important to me to be true to what I believe and as sincerely as possible to practice what I preach.  Simple as that.  How can I ask people to take care of the environment and then use paint and floor glue that is bad for them and for the earth?  Just doesn't work for me.  Thou shalt not lie.

3. Recently your studio has announced some fairly drastic changes in pricing. Free classes, significantly lower pass and monthly/yearly pass prices. We, as students, are often told that high prices of yoga classes reflect the true cost of running a studio and can't be helped. What prompted you to make these changes? 

Because I originally started as something else my prices reflected that.  I have no business training but when I looked at the prices of yoga passes and memberships at my studio and realized that I couldn't afford to practice here it was a rude awakening.  Just because everyone else is doing something a certain way doesn't mean that I have to.  I am very interested in more people, just like me, coming to my studio.  If that means that I need to lower my prices so that they can come then that is what is necessary to continue to breathe life into my space.

  

I do have to make a living and pay the bills and it is VERY expensive to run a studio,  The way I see it,  if I only have a handful of people paying A LOT we will not survive as a studio, if I have many people paying less, then we have a fighting chance in the world of international franchises moving into town.  Price does not reflect quality, it reflects value and exhibits concerns for the budgets of our clients.  

4. With the recent drama surrounding the Western Yoga community on the blogosphere (commercialization of yoga, the Equinox video and NYT article) how are you finding the balance between living and Living Yoga?

Nothing has changed for me.  There is and always will be drama in life and ALL life is YOGA as our motto says.  My practice allows me to view what is going on in the world from a place of equanimity and interest.  I don't see it as two things, "living and Living Yoga"...I just live.

(Kim- center with short black hair and beige scarf- and her lovely teacher peeps!)

Thank you very much Kim for sharing your thoughts and Journey! If you live or are visiting the Halifax-Dartmouth area, ALL YOGA is a fantastic space to practice. 

article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Thoughts on Lululemon and Their 'Bottom Line'

The beginning of 'Salutation Nation'- the International 'Ohm' Lululemon sponsored yoga event this Saturday, the ambassador leading the class intro'd with a little speech about Lululemon.

This speech, although I was strangely surprised (I shouldn't have been, Lulu was hosting it), brought up some interesting points of consideration. Many of which I do not agree with... even though I was there and took part in the event, since it was free.

Our first spot w Miss Veronica and Andrew's bike, Mr Manelli (he's not very original). Unfortunately, softball games were everywhere and a ball actually flew into the crowd almost hitting a yogi... so we moved. The second spot was actually better :)

Firstly, before I get into the good stuff, here are some positives of Salutation Nation:
- It did bring over 200 yogis, practicing together. Although mostly university aged students, there were mothers and their children as well as some guys and a few 'post-university' yogis.
- Practicing with that many people outside was pretty darn neat to see!
- Everyone was pretty positive, the overall message was positive (if not somewhat 'foofy').
- It provided an opportunity to practice yoga for free- woot!

- While over 200 yogis were lying down for savasana, I stuck out like a sore thumb in my seated meditation. I made sure to take off my sunglasses to make it more obvious that I was meditating and not just being difficult. I was SO nervous- I knew the ambassador could see me... sitting up amidst a sea of corpses. I closed my eyes and just tried to breathe, mentally preparing for when a helper instructor would come up and ask some questions. Instead- I felt a leg against my back and an instructor's hands opening my shoulders as if I were in savasana. Such a moment of honest and open acceptance brought a few tears to my eyes. I was (am!) so grateful to that instructor that I actually said 'Thank you' out loud (without opening my eyes) after she finished.  

Our final practicing space- those empty green spots quickly filled in!

Alright, the points of contention. 
The ambassador's opening speech went something like this: 'Lululemon is a fantastic company that does so much for our communities across the globe. They're manifesto is 'Elevating the world from mediocrity to greatness' (this is their 'vision statement' actually)...' and continue onward with 'Yay Lululemon is so great and wonderful' speech with how their main purpose is to bring together community and a healthy lifestyle. It was a serious 3-5min of gushing, an 'Ode to Lululemon'.

I get that as an ambassador OF Lululemon, at an event that is hosted by Lululemon would begin by thanking the company for organizing and sponsoring the event. I expected a short something thanking them.

However. To imply that Lululemon's *main purpose* is to support community is ridiculous. Lululemon, a company with CEOs, lawyers, accountants and PR-planning committees, has as it's main goal to make money and sell clothing. That is the ultimate goal. Sure, they have many 'community' based events (for the most part in their store- where participants can see all the wonderful products waiting to be bought), but this isn't Lululemon's bottom line. We all know this. Lululemon doesn't set up shop in the most impoverished and in-need neighbourhoods, countries and cultures globally. They have stores, set up to sell costly clothing (not even made in that country) to upper middle and upper class women and men. The community events aren't geared for the homeless, or the impoverished, but to the market of people who could potentially purchase their clothing.

Cynical? Perhaps a bit, but I'd be surprised if the upper circle of the company thought differently.

What would make them a truly inspirational company?

- If they invested some of that time, energy and money into creating and manufacturing all their clothing from environmentally sustainable fabrics in low or ZERO carbon footprint and pollution factories.

- If they manufactured their clothing IN the country they sold them, instead of factories located in impoverished countries with lower health, environmental and work policies as well as workers that made a pay we'd find unacceptably low.

- By investing in local, Canadian (or American) factories, they'd lower the carbon footprint created by the huge container ships they need to use to ship the clothing, as well as *truly* be investing and supporting local communities and economies.

- Instead of community events in their store, wouldn't it be beautiful if they sponsored health and yoga events for those who are actually in need; such as the homeless, women's shelters, those who struggle with mental health or illness. (Supposedly each store has 'charitable giving' that the consumer's choose local charities to 'give back'- when I searched the Halifax store site there was no information. I have never ever heard of Lulu hosting a charitable event in Halifax, Montréal or Kelowna- where I've lived. If they do, it's the exception and not the rule).

Hey, I own some Lulu clothing and obviously am willing to take advantage of a free yoga class they've organized. However, I'm not going to pretend that this Business's bottom line is something other than making money and selling clothing.

There are so many other local companies that invest and actually do give back to our communities (like LoveMe Boutique who sells only Canadian Hand Made products, or Bhavana who offers Canadian and American, sustainably made yoga clothing) who truly have more than 'selling clothes' as their bottom line.

I am not 'Anti-Lulu', I'm more of a 'let's be real' kinda yogini.

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

What Does Sustainable Healthcare Really Mean?

Sustainable healthcare. You'd think that with how much we Canadians like to go on about our 'free' healthcare that we have it all figured out. Unfortunately it's definitely far from the truth. Although I never have to worry about how much it will cost when I go to the hospital (for an emergency, to give birth... whatever), my healthcare definitely costs me money. And I'm not talking taxes.

Medications and pharmaceuticals that are often essential for treatment of diseases like cancer and diabetes (type I) aren't free under our medicare system. If we don't have an insurance plan with our job we have to pay ourselves... and our insurance doesn't cover everything. Last year my uncle was diagnosed with cancer. Sadly the drugs he needed to prolong his life are not covered under medicare. As a self employed fisherman, my uncle had no insurance and no means to cover thousands of dollars for medications.

Instead of being with his family and loved ones for longer, he passed away within months.

A few months ago, we had a special 'Coffee and Yoga' to chat about what Sustainable Healthcare means to us with the local representatives of Capital Health. It was very interesting and although didn't result in any real 'solutions', it truly was meant to begin the dialogue between a massive organizational beast (Capital Health) and the regular citizen shareholders.

The biggest message was that in order to have a sustainable healthcare system we need to take more preventative measures. The healthier our population the lower the cost on healthcare. The discussion had some nifty stats on disease, for instance 70% of cancers are preventable through lifestyle and diet. That's a whopper.

It seems foolish to invest only in a reactionary system as opposed to a preventative model.

It's difficult to see the end-picture and encourage government and shareholders to invest in programs that have negative effects: i.e. they work if people 'don't' get sick. It's difficult to measure- would that person have become a demand on the system if they didn't eat healthy?

 local sustainably harvested blue mussels at the Blue Mussel Café in PEI -YUM

 Locally caught haddock and local potatoes and veggies at Blue Mussel Café, best meal of the trip!

The trick is to make healthy eating, healthy physical lifestyle accessible to all. Lets be honest, healthy food (organic, sustainable, local) costs more than junk processed food. Eco-friendly products that are toxin and chemical free can be costly. Making your home sustainable can be costly (solar panels, geothermal heating, upcycled and sustainable building supplies).

Yoga classes are costly.

If we're going to be serious about a sustainable healthcare, making healthy food, chemical-light homes and clean air to breathe a priority is a nice place to start.

Many of these issues are larger than us to address. At the same time, we can all do small bits to help the whole. Calling your political representative and making your thoughts and views known. Start eating healthy and getting active yourself.

Give back to your yoga community and offer free, accessible (i.e. not during work-week hours) yoga classes.

What ideas do you have to make your health and healthcare system sustainable?

article copyright EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Yoga Safely with Sunscreen: A Badger Review

Being the daughter of a red head means that I've thought about skin cancer. A bunch. 

Practicing yoga outside and skin cancer kinda go together now... Don't get me wrong, I used to lay out on a tanning bed when I was a young-un (ok, 17-18yrs old) and the thought of actively exposing my delicate skin to Ultraviolet rays makes me feel a little nauseous. Unfortunately, unlike my red headed dad (and my pale pale husband) I tan *very* well and easily. 

Weirdly, the UV index has been extremely high in the past few weeks... I never thought about it before, but it seems it's just permanently set to '9-Extremely High'. Didn't there use to be lower UV numbers? 

According to the World Health Organization, there's been a marked increase in skin cancers worldwide, and although we've made great strides in eliminating ozone depleting chemicals we're still exposed to high levels of UV radiation. Exposure to Ultraviolet radiation is the cause of 20% of 12 to 15 billion global cases of blindness, 130,000 malignant skin cancers and has been linked to suppressing cell-mediated immunity; limiting the efficacy of vaccinations (WHO). According to this article in National Geographic, the ozone layer was thinner this spring- awesome. (check out this fantastic post at Balance Blog for a more in depth look at sunscreens!)

For a successful Yoga in the Park, a Yogi(ni) MUST wear sunblock (and have a 'YITP friendly' mat- a cloth  mat or old mat that won't break down from the sun). 

Of course, sunscreen has some pretty nasty chemicals that seep right into your skin. EEP. Oxybenzone; a weak hormone disruptor found in 95% of 6-8yr old girls' urine and found in our soil and waterways, estrogenic octinoxate, hormone disruptor homosalate and possible carcinogen enzulizole all are found in common sunscreens (Ecoholic 2007).

So- This year I was determined to find a fabulous eco-friendly sunblock for my staple weekend Yoga in the Park.

I thought Badger SPF 30 was the winner. Non-nano with certified organic ingredients and made the Environmental Working Group's best sunscreen list for 2011.

Too bad it was an epic fail as a sunscreen. (sorry no pics of the actual sunscreen, it was thrown out in a fit of anger).

The Review:

Smell: Yummy, like shea butter. mmmm...

Look and texture: icky white oily paste that is difficult to rub in. 

Casual walk around the city test: 

Both of our arms turned pink and my arms tanned while his face pinkened.

Yoga in the Park between 10h30-12pm Saturday:

Despite both of us slathering the stuff on, we both burned to a crisp. Sadly, Andrew burned even worse as he doesn't acquire base tans. It was honestly as if we hadn't been wearing sunscreen at all. In fact, Andrew's non-sunscreened legs (yep he forgot) burned *just* as badly as his supposedly 'protected' face, arms and neck. 

Andrew's lovely legs- TWO days post Yoga in the Park. Saturday evening he was crowned 'Lobster Man'. Only a very supportive husband would let me post pics of his legs on my blog... lol

Lesson- Avoid Badger Sunscreen. As it's late in the season and we're not risking any more skin cancer or cataracts, we bit the chemical bullet and bought regular sunblock. Eff-it, we'll try again next year.

Any environmentally friendly sunscreens that actually work? 

Yoga Safely- wear sunblock!

article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

YITP Peep's Goals for the Summer- Help Pls!

Last year, as a fluke, our Coffee and Yoga crew created a yoga goal: Bakasana by the end of the summer. Each yoga practice involved asanas that helped prepare and strengthen for crow and we problem solved together different ways to get in and out of the posture. It was surprisingly fun and the crew decided to give it another try this summer.

A slight glitch is that our Yoga in the Park group is pretty varied when it comes to experience... so we decided to each choose our own personal goals.There are a few challenges with this decision, the biggest one being that we can't all work together through common prep asana's and sequences. So I'll have to think of sequences that include some prep for (hopefully) the majority of my peeps goals.

Although it looks chilly, it was warm in the mist at the beach that morning...

Weirdly enough, I'm kinda excited for the challenge.

As I'm blessed with many yoga teacher readers, I was wondering if there'd be some tips, thoughts, suggestions to help us on our yoga journey this summer. :) Following are the goals, my ideas and what I've read. I'd love to hear any feedback or thoughts from you. Also, if you haven't tried creating a Yoga Goal, give it some thought- summer and outdoor yoga is the perfect setting to try something a bit adventurous.

Yoga in the Park Personal Adventure 2011:

Lisa's Goal: Halfmoon (Ardha Chandrasana). 

Oh I have been working on this one for YEARS. What I need to work on is forward folds, triangles (side stretching) and hips hips hips. My challenge is opening my hip and getting enough lift from my leg.

Jen's Goal: Lowering from plank-chaturanga

She's almost there, I've seen her! I'm thinking core to take some of the edge off the arms and shoulders and as her legs are uber strong, some arm and shoulder strengthening (such as Dolphin plank, side plank and downdogs). 

Tips on correct placement:

From plank, keeping the elbows in, slowly lower until a few feet from the floor. Keep neck extended, shoulders open and tailbone tucked in (no dipping the belly or butt popping up).

Andrew's Goal: Wheel

He's succeeded in lifting up twice (maybe he says, when he was going to the gym every day...). I'm excited that with regular practice it'll be something fun to witness. Lots of Bridges, cobras and upward facing dogs. I'm also thinking Cow Face Pose (sans hips) and lots of chest openings (like forward folds with arms interlaced behind his back, fish pose) would be good to open up his chest-arms.

Chris's Goal: Handstand

Chris has fabulous upper body strength and has always loved the more adventurous postures. If anyone can do this he can! All descriptions that I've heard of learning handstand has involved a lot of up against the wall ideas and partner work. Now partnering can happen at YITP, but as there aren't any walls in the great outdoors, Chris may need to practice this one at home as well. 

Tips involve regular hop ups, strengthening poses like planks, down dogs and crow and I'm also thinking core core core. I've heard the trick is to lift from your core and not from your arms.

Heather's Goal: Practice without shoulder pain

This one's tricky. Heather has a beautiful, strong frame but her shoulders have taken a lot from playing ball hockey and ice hockey (she rocks). Postures like downward dog and plank hurt her shoulders, but I'm also wondering if concurrently she could focus intensely on her core. Strengthening her may lessen the weight on her shoulders... She may also want to slowly build up her tolerance, taking a slightly opposite route from Jen and step back to using her knees for chaturanga dandasana. 

Kevin's Goal: Reconnecting with Yoga

A few years ago Kevin and Heather were practicing with us regularly once and sometimes twice a week. Life has gotten in the way and now they're super busy with hockey, soft ball and ball hockey. Yoga can be challenging for tight hamstrings and hips and a busy mind (I have all these too, so I can  totally relate). Kevin will work on finding just enough push instead of giving up the posture without hurting himself. That in of itself is a challenge.

Lori's Goal: Crow Pose

She can totally pull this one off. She's definitely a ridiculous yogini ready to take off. I never hear a peep or a complaint from her, which is more than I can say for myself. This one is another shoulder strengthener and we'll be working on core (and more core) for the lift needed, arm strengthening and malasana. I've always tried it by positioning, lifting up my core, sucking in my navel and leaning forward. Jen, last year, was successful by widening her stance and placing her knees on the outside of her arms. As each body is different we'll sure be trying a bunch of options (and a pillow in the park will be a must!).

Carla's Goal: Jumping to the front from downdog

One of the most open, honest and fierce yoginis in our group, Carla definitely will achieve this one. Of course, it's yet another core posture (geez, is there a theme here?). Jumping to the front generally involves a bunch of practice, sucking in your navel, looking forward, bending your knees and making that leap. A pillow can help and I think the soft grass will also help her confidence (although I've found it trickier to actually make a jump). We'll be practicing during apartment yoga too!

Any tips that may work for my peeps? 

Got any personal adventures planned for this summer?

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

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

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!

How to meet your neighbours without looking like a dork

The concept of community and connection really does change depending on where you live. Since moving out, I have lived in apartments; either little square boxes in big huge buildings or basement apartments. It's pretty darn difficult to forge a community in an apartment building, especially compared to just how easy it can be in a rural setting. (I haven't ever lived in the suburbs, so no experience to compare there).

Something that often doesn't get discussed is the importance that community should play in helping us live a sustainable, Planet friendly life. During the mostly rant-forward talk last week on permaculture, Alex the Farmer had one truly insightful observation: cooperation and community.

Of course, as we all know, consumerism and our incessant need for stuff isn't sustainable and is one of THE reasons we have this climate change, planet destruction issue. Why do we need to own everything? Have you considered Sharing as the new "green"?

If we had communities of people sharing resources, tools and expertise there'd be less waste, more communication and connection.

Acro Yoga at our old apartment a few years ago! (that is not me flying, I'm clapping in the background lol)

 

This is especially important if you've already started to consider how to lower your environmental footprint, because a lot of "next steps" involve DIY, homemade, reusing and ultimately fixing. Things like canning and bread making go better if they come with certain kitchen gadgets. Except, who has the money for a food processor? Or room for a complete canning set up? And who has a root cellar to store all this crap?

Either we don't have any of the tools, or we each own one of everything ourselves. Which is a little silly, why do we each need to own something we use infrequently?

A more efficient (and money saving) idea would be to cooperate with other people and share our tools and resources. Some fabulous ideas on how to share resources and skills:

A tool/gadget sharing system

You want to make some bread but don't have a stand mixer? I want to make some sort of pesto but don't have a food processor? How about a trade! Trading and sharing could go as far as sewing machines, drills, building tools, gardening tools... for gadgets that we don't use every day, sharing can be an excellent money and space saving solution.

A product/tool bartering system

This is something that our group of friends does already. Our friends have a food processor and make basil pesto (frozen in individual containers) every year. This week Andrew made four loaves of bread with the stand mixer and we traded pesto for bread. It doesn't always work on an immediate 1:1 level. If you're pretty confident in the eventual exchange, you could always drop off your goods when they're done. We also lend out our electric drill to friends and have used their caulking doodad for the tub.

Sharing a community space

This could be a garden or a root cellar. This would involve having a group of people meet, agree upon a shared space and splitting the cost and upkeep together. I'd say it involves a bit more organization and commitment as well as a certain level of relationship with members. It would also be a bit more difficult to organize and get together in a city, unless you have friends who have space for a garden or root cellar.

A resource/tool library

I really like this idea, although I do think it would be the most time and organizational intensive activity. Splitting the responsibility of care between community members can get a little hairy, as most people will expect one person to take on the lead role here. Some ideas to make it work: either having the tools in one spot (like a garage or shed with a special code to access) and sign out sheet, or having an online list of tools and contact info for the group.

All these ideas are fab, but you need to be able to actually connect with your neighbours in order for cooperation and sharing to be even a possibility. How many of us actually know our neighbours? Alex's suggestions were a little bit much, as he recommended that a person hand out flyers door to door for a "block" resource library meeting. I'm not sure about you, but I know if I went door to door even in my own building handing out little paper invitations, my neighbours would think I was a bonkers hippie.

If this idea of community, connection and sharing interests you but you have absolutely no compunction to be handing out recycled paper invitations to complete strangers, here are some alternatives:

How to build a community in a city:

1. Introduce yourself to your neighbours. Seriously. I know it feels weird and we all live separately in our small little square boxes next to each other, but it's time to make life interconnected. While living in Montreal my roommate (colloc!) at the time strongly warned me against introducing myself to my neighbours ("They could be crazy! Montreal is filled with crazy people, do NOT introduce yourself!). So for two years I didn't even meet my neighbours. If I were dying of something I wouldn't even be able to knock on their doors for help.

Some ideas for introducing yourself to your neighbours without appearing like a complete weirdo:
- If you just moved in, bake something and bring a few of them over. I know it's kinda cliche'd, but people like cookies and often respond positively to baked goods. Also, just moving in is a perfectly acceptable reason to introduce yourself. It also is a great way to assure that if your neighbour's have complaints (noise, or people over) they'll come to you before complaining to the landlord. (yes I am smart).
- Even if you've lived there for a million years, bake stuff and bring it over. Yes, still will be slightly weird, but like I said people really like cookies.
- don't bake? Buy some local baked goods and bring them over. Fake it.
- At a holiday, get cards and maybe a few chocolates for your neighbours. Ya know, nothing too weird, but enough to give you a reason to knock and say "hi"!

2. Recognize that community and relationships take time, especially with a group of people you don't intend to befriend or make an immediate full fledged friendship (unless you plan on stalking them, which would be creepy).

3. When you do see your neighbours, say "hi", ask them how it's going... ya know- CONNECT.

4. Join a local community book club or hobby activity. Mostly likely these people will live near you and share some of your interests, making it easier to connect with them and build in ideas.

5. Once you have a baseline, start inviting your neighbours to events. BBQ-ing (or "Grilling" as I was informed while staying in Florida years ago)? Invite a few neighbours over. Going to Yoga in the Park and you know your neighbour practices? Invite them along. Baked a whole crap ton of cookies? Bring over the extras. It starts the idea of sharing and will help you determine who might be more open to the idea.

6. Planting a garden on your balcony? Let your neighbours know. With the person below you, it can be the excuse that you wanted to let them know in case you ever water onto their balcony by accident. You could casually throw in a "if you ever need any extra _insert copiously grown vegetable_ just let me know!".

We're attempting to guerrilla garden (once it stops raining) on our roof, which equals climbing up the emergency fire escape. Today I asked our upstairs neighbour if he minded, and made sure to mention that if he ever wanted some lettuce to just help himself.

7. If you feel fairly secure in your neighbour connections, but haven't considered how to broach the idea of a resource sharing concept: why not knock on doors (or email) and ask if you could all meet up and chat about it.

8. This could easily work in a yoga studio. Bartering is already often used with regards to cleaning, but what about other means of yoga class-skill exchange. It's also the perfect space to organize and create community meetings and meetups to chat about sustainable practices, resource sharing and forge new yoga-munity connections among the students.

Living isolating, parallel lives has been eroding our feeling of responsibility, social connection and support networks that we need in order to feel empowered.

Cooperation and community=Yoga.

article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Debunking Meditation in my Practice

Meditation has never been 'ma force' to say the least. I'm the yogini who for the first two years during savanasa (when it wasn't painful) was painfully anxious the entire time. I've now at least moved to being able to sit with my eyes closed during savasana, but let's just say I'm very vata-pita, high strung and not quite able to slow down.

I've often wondered, over the past 6 years of my yoga journey, if I should be meditating more. It's a limb on that eight fold ashtanga yoga path (I think? lol) and I'm pretty sure kinda an important aspect of a yoga practice in general. At least, that's what they tell me ('they' being intense yoga-types). Needless to say, yin has been the closest I've come to slowing down during my yoga practice. Typically a slower practice makes me anxious... which is counter-intuitive.

Last week, friends (who meditate weekly) invited me to attend a free Moksha Halifax meditation workshop. Free. I really can't pass that up. Especially after all that griping recently about how expensive yoga was.

I was fairly prepared to be extremely uncomfortable and fail miserably at the entire workshop... Sad that I walked into the studio predetermined to fail. Thank goodness the self-fulfilling prophecy (go Psych degree!) didn't pan out!

The co-owner of the studio ran the workshop. She was very sweet and open to questions. I struggled a bit with turning of my newly acquired 'yoga-cynicism' at her comments about yoga being 10 000 years old (umm... that could be contested) or how her 6 years of practicing yoga and now she co-owns a studio and has an iphone (do all yoga teachers have iphones now?) was bugging me. I was on serious cynic high gear that day. I managed to tell Ms. Cynic to shut the eff up and tune into the learning experience of the day.

We practiced four types of meditation, each 5 minutes long with a 10 minute final who-hah, let-er rip finale.

1. Guided meditation: I found this meditation-type to be the most difficult. Instead of focusing on my own breath and turning myself inward I was constantly being distracted by her voice and her suggestions. I will admit that I adore guided *relaxation*, as the goal is to help relax each muscle and not clearing my mind.

2. Mantra repetitions: I'm really not comfortable choosing a sanskrit mantra. Mostly because I always feel fake or like a weird poser repeating something that I have no cultural, historical or religious ties. Instead I decided to focus on 'inhale, exhale' which wasn't too 'fouffy'. It was interesting that she recommended we don't time our breath with our mantra as our meditation would become too breath dependent. I understand the idea, but I guess the clearing of my mind really is very closely tied to my breath. It's possible this changes with time and practice.

3. Visualization: Oh how I despised this type of meditation. I really didn't want to visualize a flame; all I could think about was how Tuvoc meditates with a flame- go Vulcans!, or try to recreate some sort of energy ball or whatever so I tried to think about the field of energy that surrounds us all (very pagan). As I kept trying to force something that purposefully became external I just became more annoyed and angry. When that little ding on her iphone went off I couldn't have been happier. Stupid energy field.

4. Passively watching our thoughts pass by: she described this technique as watching your thoughts run by like on a piece of tape (ummm) and passively accept them without judgment or attachment. She admitted that this was very difficult for her and not her favourite. I would say that the 'thoughts on tape' analogy actually got in the way of how I generally accept and let go of my thoughts during meditation. As soon as I stopped trying to see a tape, it wasn't that difficult. 

The final 10 minute meditation was on whatever technique we wanted. Which I chose to be to focus on my breath and clear my mind... and I realized immediately that I have been meditating at least once if not three or more times a week for the past six years. I have spent all this time avoiding meditation specific workshops worried that meditation would just be too difficult for me, that I needed to do something really special, when what I do during each savanasa has been meditation all along.

Me meditating during savasana in my hotel in Cape Breton. Without even knowing it!

Since I am so not a fan of relaxation in public surrounded by people, every savasana has been spent focusing my mind, my breath and grounding with the Earth's energy. I've used pagan techniques with regards to grounding for circle casting and energy clearing, yogic techniques of breathing and quieting the mind.

Holy Goddess, I am a Meditatrice!

Article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com

Is Yoga Really Accessible to Everyone in HRM?

Yoga classes are expensive. Let's just say it. (Unless of course you live near Babs, who charges 5$ a class... for ALL classes- so amazing!).

I believe that home practice is essential, I learn a lot about my practice when I'm flowing through postures without direction, without someone else telling me what to do next. At the same time, home practice can create stagnation and that's where studio practice is also so valuable.

I want to know, who can afford regular classes? In the city, an average class goes for 16-18$ per class. In a month at only one class a week that's around 72$, in a year that's over 800$. Even class passes of 10 classes for 100$ the yogi(ni) has to fork over 100$ upfront... which I don't know about you, but I really don't have that kind of cash.

The solution to finding affordable yoga classes has always been community or karma classes. Sadly, in Halifax, these classes aren't typically high quality. They're usually cramped with limited teacher-student feedback, some studios have their students "practice" teaching these classes and the student rarely gets yoga style choice.

Still, if you're looking for affordable yoga in Halifax, here's a current breakdown of the community/karma class scene:

Monday: nothing
Tuesday: nothing
Wednesday:
Lululemon typically has free classes at 6pm


Thursday: nothing

Friday:
Moksha Halifax Karma- 9pm,
Moksha Dartmouth Karma- 8:30pm

Saturday:
(Yoga in the Park-Free once warmer weather arrives!)
108 Yoga by donation- 9:40am
Halifax Yoga to the People (taught by teacher trainees)- 1:00pm
The Shala Karma-1pm

Sunday:
Lululemon typically has free classes-10:30am
Halifax Yoga Karma+meditation-7pm
The Shala Karma-7pm
Sunrise- last Sunday of every month
Halifax Moksha Karma- 6pm
Breathing Space Tantallon Karma- 3pm (once month)

As you can quickly gather, studios are packing their less profitable classes all on less popular days of the week- Saturday and Sunday.

It's not that I don't think an instructor's time isn't valuable- it is. However, I can't ignore the fact that for many yogi(ni)s (or potential yoginis) in HRM,  quality yoga classes just aren't that accessible or affordable.

Ah well- thank goodness for "Yogaglo"!

How to Create a Community Yoga Group...

Over a year into our Coffee and Yoga community yoga endeavour and here is the short form of our journey so far... with a few suggestions.

Realize your city yoga community is clique-ish, difficult to get into if you're a) not a yoga teacher or b) not "in" at a specific studio and wish deeply for an open all inclusive yoga community group.

Have a flash of genius lightening in your brain that *YOU*, the non-studio specific, kinda yoga jaded and decidedly not vying to be a yoga instructor yogini are the person to finally break through your city's long history of anti-yoga community.

Bravely (ok naively) march your little bum over to every single studio (especially after repeated emails and phone calls result in non-committal responses or even plain out ignoring) with a huge hopeful smile pasted to your face. 

Keep that smile on your face even after you realize studio owners really aren't interested after they realize it won't benefit their studio directly.

Lose all hope and deflate completely.

Find *ONE* amazing yoga instructor (Helen Fong!) who will support and triumph your idea to her utmost ability.

Create a twitter account with her prompting for that very purpose. Against all logic, become enamoured with twitter (coffeeandyoga !).

Make a website that you really have a hard time keeping up. One blog really is quite a bit of work, let alone two!

"Flash mob" smaller local studios as the "Coffee and Yoga Crew". (Upcoming studio hop coming up!)

Invite all who attend Coffee and Yoga to "Friend Yoga" sessions at your apartment... then worry that everyone won't fit... then worry about cats and clean like a crazy person before they arrive, then have an awesome Friend Yoga experience where everything just works out. Realize that you are anal and crazy.

After a few somewhat successful meets, have a renewed sense of gun-ho and attempt emailing studios again.

March over with new posters and beautiful speals and a huge yogic smile (yes it was yogic, as in epic-yoga style).

Keep that smile pasted to your face when it is apparent yet again that local studios just aren't into coffee, especially when combined with yoga.

Become absolutely and utterly amazed by what fantastic and supportive friends that you have and how they trudge through snow and rain to be there at each and every Coffee and Yoga meeting.

Make a few new friends who you value dearly through the group.

 
Let go of all expectations on "how many people will show up" and enjoy your hang out time with friends.

(Make sure you remember to book the space at the coffee shop though, or you'll end up stuck all squished downstairs annoying the poor baristas... Also, having a sign is a really good idea).

Look forward to the insightful, honest and non-fouffy yoga discussions that can take place with a group of non-yoga obsessed.

Decide that Coffee and Yoga has remained true to what you wanted it to be all along: A place for all and any yogi(ni)s to meet and chat in an open, honest and supportive environment. Without pretentiousness or studio-specific agenda. Just a bunch of Yogi(ni)s chatting about yoga, sipping coffee/tea and enjoying being Present.

Blessings!


Article copyright of EcoYogini at ecoyogini.blogspot.com