August 28, 2024

"Joy is the simplest form of gratitude. "

Karl Barth

Well, here we are, that beautiful place between summer and fall. The time of year when we try to soak in the last days of summer as we prepare for the buzz of fall. It's like that moment when we are still in our warrior B, but we know triangle is coming and as we transition from one posture to the other, we are reminded that the place in between these two postures is as valuable as the posture itself. In the same manner, we wish you a smooth transition from August to September. Let's remember to see the beauty in the places in between and find the joy and gratitude in the process of whatever we are moving towards.

We are closed Monday, September 2

Our new schedule begins Monday, September 9. Please stay posted for a short newsletter Wednesday, September 4 announcing our new schedule.

Breathe. Receive. Rejuvenate.

Join us on Friday, August 30, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

for a Special Yin and Crystal Bowl Class with Glenda Rodriguez

Use your membership, class pass or drop-in fee

Featured Workshops

During Autumn, nature prepares to slow down and let go yet for many of us it is a time of busier schedules and increased activity. Taking the time to honour your own need to slow down and rest is very beneficial for your wellbeing and can equip you to take on increased activity levels from a place of calm centredness. 

This practice will help to reset your nervous system by transporting you to a state of deep relaxation starting with very slow gentle movements enabling the nervous system to unwind and rebalance itself. This is followed by a Yoga Nidra practice that will guide you further into a state of deep rest and ends with the sweet treat of the soothing sounds of the clear harmonic singing bowls.

Join certified nutritional practitioner Laura Pifer to learn about why the health of your gut is absolutely imperative to your overall health!

Food can be medicine or poison and our gut health directly relates to how (and if) the body utilizes nutrients from the foods we eat.

We'll discuss how holistic nutrition can help improve many symptoms that stem from gut imbalances. The process of digestion, role of the gut in mood and immunity, food allergies and sensitivities, toxins in foods and more will be briefly introduced.

You’ll learn some simple tips to begin improving your gut health immediately, and receive yummy recipes to support your gut & overall health.

Use your membership, class pass, or drop-in fee

Through its gentle, flowing movements, Tai Chi strengthens the body and promotes better posture and body alignment. Simultaneously, it cultivates mindfulness and enhances mental well-being. These combined benefits make Tai Chi a holistic practice that nurtures physical health, mental clarity, and overall well-being.

In this 6-week series, attention will be given to proper posture, movement and flow as well as becoming more aware and centered in each moment. At the end of each class students will be led in a short standing meditation to help integrate the cultivated subtle energy (also known as Qi or Chi, prana or life force).This course is suitable for both new and intermediate students.

Tai Chi Try-it class: New to Tai Chi and want to try it out before registering for the series? Sign up for this special class on Wednesday, September 18. 

Featured Certification Programs

Reiki is the universal life energy, called chi or prana, that exists in every living thing. As described in eastern healing practices like Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, Reiki energy travels through meridians in our body, which are essentially veins but carry energy instead of blood. If the energy gets sluggish or stuck in our meridians, this can cause stagnation in our body and mind.

As a hands-on healing approach, Reiki gently allows for the distribution and integration of energy through these meridians to increase overall well-being. With a calming effect on the nervous system, research shows that Reiki can help reduce pain, stress and fatigue. As a safe and non-invasive approach to health, Reiki is also used world-wide to assist in the healing protocol for a variety of ailments or we can simply use Reiki to rejuvenate the body and mind.

Reiki is open to everyone. There are no prerequisites.

In this Somatic Yin training, you will learn: the foundations of Somatic Yin – including:

• Chronic Muscular Tension, and its impacts, Sensory Motor Amnesia – (the source of Chronic Muscular Tension), & Pandiculation (the means whereby we dissolve Chronic Muscular Tension)
• How to address the Yin Yoga Blind-spot.
• To use 4 key Somatic Yin movement flows, that dissolve chronic muscular tension in: hamstrings, thighs, hips & back body.
•  4 techniques to explore Sensory Motor Amnesia in your body, including: “Around the Clock”, “Beads on a necklace”, “Somatic head Circles”, & “Swimming Frog”
• How to bring this integrative experience together.
• Vinyasa Krama – What to practice, when, and how.

The training includes a set of notes, and a sample class plan to help you continue exploring and building your own Somatic Yin practices.

Prerequisite:

Yin I certification

Over the next 20 years, Canada’s seniors’ population — those age 65 and older — is expected to grow by close to 70 %. As the population continues to age, it is more important than ever for seniors to take a proactive approach to their health. Falls are much more likely to occur as we get older. A regular and accessible yoga practice that not only builds strength and flexibility but also maintains and improves the body’s complex balancing systems, can contribute to a healthy quality of life in later years.

This Chair Yoga Teacher Training Certification Program is designed to provide yoga teachers, senior fitness instructors and health care professionals with the knowledge needed to offer chair yoga practices to seniors and/or those who have physical challenges, pre-existing medical conditions or who might be recovering from an injury.

Many of the principles can be translated to someone who sits at a desk all day or who is new to yoga and wants an accessible practice.

Created to meet the growing demand for chair yoga teachers this program includes yoga practice, theory (specific to ageing), a separate module on teaching balance, hands on

practical training and interactive discussion.

Prerequisite:

• 200-hour Certified yoga teachers and/or
• Wellness professionals (Massage therapists, Physiotherapists, Personal trainers, Older adults fitness leaders)