Blog

Student Spotlight! 

Betty is one of our most inspiring and beloved students. She is the embodiment of resilience and inner strength.

She started attending classes at the studio in 2019, joining our Friday morning Stretch & Restore class. Throughout the pandemic when the studio was closed she attended our online classes and each time we reopened she was so thrilled to be back in person with her yoga family. Over the years she has continued to explore new classes and add more variety into her weekly yoga schedule. She now attends 4 weekday morning classes each week and on the 5th day you can find her at CMH as a long-time volunteer.

Recently Betty reached a huge milestone of 700 classes with us! We are so privileged to have such an inspirational member of our community and an all-around wonderful person.

In addition to yoga she keeps active by walking everyday of the year, as well as cycling regularly in the warmer months. She has said that movement has played a huge role in maintaining her mobility. Betty has persevered through some challenging situations over the past couple years and she is a proud breast cancer survivor. 

Betty turned 81 today (July 13th) and we wish her the happiest of birthdays! 

Our Community Yoga classes are available to all in the community and are donation-based (pay what you can), with all proceeds going to a local charity.  Ability to pay is not a factor, no one is turned away.  If you are able to donate, a suggested donation is $10 (we request cash for these classes).  For those with studio memberships, donation is not a requirement.

These classes are taught by recent graduates of our Yoga Teacher Training program.  The style is a Slow Flow yoga, where we explore the connection between the breath, the body and mind.  A well-balanced practice that gently cultivates strength, flexibility, mindfulness and relaxation.  Options will be offered for all levels.  Join us in-studio (space is limited) or online.  Level 1/2.

April is synonymous with spring cleaning to me.  Clearing the clutter that invariably accumulates over the long winter months.  This tradition is especially therapeutic to me as a mother of 4.  My physical environment seems to strongly correlate with my mental and emotional state, which might also be why I prefer a more minimalist environment.  

Less clutter in my surroundings = less clutter in my mind.  Or at least that is the goal. :).  It’s also why our studio has very little visual clutter (plants being the exception!).

In yoga philosophy, the 8-limbed pathway is a guide for living harmoniously in the world.  The first pathway is the Yamas, which are guidelines for living peacefully.  Aparigraha, the 5th Yama, is the Sanskrit word for non-attachment, non-possessiveness, non-greed.  

Reducing our attachment to material things allows us to be more discerning about what we bring into our spaces.  It’s naturally eco-friendly to consider what items serve a purpose or bring us joy.

Yet aparigraha goes much deeper than material items.  It can represent anything we grasp onto (usually long past its expiration date) that perhaps no longer serves us such as limiting thoughts or beliefs, habits, goals, careers, outcomes.

We are often so attached to the end result that we forget to enjoy the journey.  Simply put, we are not present in the moment.  In the tradition of yoga, this attachment is said to be a cause of our suffering.  

Yoga invites us into the present moment.  It asks us to focus on the journey rather than the destination.  Every time we come to the mat is an opportunity to practice this Yama.  Perhaps that means letting go of an attachment to “attaining” a certain pose and instead enjoy the building blocks of the pose; releasing the need to always go to the deepest version of a posture; not comparing ourselves to others in class; letting go of competition.  

It could mean releasing the attachment we might have to a time when our body moved with more ease.  Not clinging to the way things were, but rather working with what is now. 

Understanding the impermanence of it all.  

Letting go of these attachments is liberating.  It creates more freedom and space to explore our body, mind, thoughts, breath – both on and off the mat.  It helps to reduce the clutter of the mind, allowing us to be truly present in the moment and simply honour what is.  

The Yoga Lab is a unique workshop-class hybrid, offering space to dive deeper into various yoga concepts and themes. Classes vary in length from full (60 minute) stand-alone classes to shorter, bite-sized tutorials (15/30 min) before/after another class.

We’ll explore concepts from the foundations of yoga ~

BODY – MIND – BREATH – HEART:

• Breakdown complex and/or more challenging asanas (poses) to their foundation in order to practice safely and efficiently.
• Learn about your own anatomy, biomechanics and alignment in yoga poses.
• Meditation techniques, guided mindfulness practices, breathwork and self-inquiry.
• Yoga Roots – honouring the roots of yoga by weaving history and philosophy into our asana practice to truly embody yoga.
• One Yoga – Exploring how we can take the practice of the yoga we learn on the mat out into our daily lives and create more harmony and equanimity in our lives and in our world.
• Cultivate new seeds of inspiration, depth and unity in our yoga practice through collective learning.

These classes are included in our Monthly Memberships and Class Packages and are added occasionally as pop-up classes to our schedule.

Saturday August 8th 9-10am | Riverside Park in Preston