Is it just me...or do any of you still get a little nervous in the moments before a first class taught by a new-to-you teacher? Perhaps living with chronic pain and a neurological movement disorder makes me especially wary of being led in a movement practice by someone unknown. Or maybe I've just gotten so comfy guiding my own practice at home. Yet I know a crucial facet of being an impactful … [Read more...]
In a world where technology is advancing so rapidly that computing power doubles every two years and a new, more powerful iPhone is released every autumn, we have grown to expect our own personal transformation will occur just as swiftly. Wanna-be wellness entrepreneurs are promised that, with this or that expensive program, we can build a highly profitable health or life coaching business in just … [Read more...]
When what to wear while doing yoga, my number one concern is comfort. If yoga pants or shorts grip my gut too tightly, they limit my range of motion in forward folds, and if they are riding up my crotch or straining against my thighs, it impedes my extension in lunges and splits. Breathability of the material is my second big concern. When I flow through a very active yoga practice, I definitely … [Read more...]
After a steamy past several days here in Connecticut, this rainy Monday is welcome relief. One of my favorite ways to enjoy a drenched day is immersing myself in a book that tells an irresistible story. Rachel Brathen’s Yoga Girl is a perfect read for a day of staying in as it provides a perfect escape into a tropical, charmed lifestyle of embracing one’s passion and life purpose. What makes it … [Read more...]
If you are a student of yoga who has always dreamed of attending a yoga conference but lacked the time or finances to spend days learning from your favorite teachers, YOGA IS brings the action directly to you. This weekend, virtually attend the largest online yoga conference from the convenience of your own home. YOGA IS kicks off Thursday, April 30, and continues through May 3. Participate in the … [Read more...]
Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’m barely treading a rising tide of roiling waters. I’m just emerging from almost two months of being shut in due to a nasty respiratory infection that wouldn’t quit and to relentless storms leaving several feet of snow that refused to melt in persistently freezing temperatures. Yet the cloudiness of sinus pressure and brain fog lingers, and dystonic episodes … [Read more...]
Poetry in Motion for World Poetry Day The Journey By Mary Oliver One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice-- though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles. "Mend my life!" each voice cried. But you didn't stop. You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers at the … [Read more...]
You must brave being the odd one out Before you can find your way on the less-travelled path You must leap without a safety net Before you can feel firmly grounded on your feet You must dare to roll in the mud Before you can carve out a life of true beauty You must risk the missteps, tumbles and falls Before you can finally arise steady, strong and tall © 2015 Renee L. Canada … [Read more...]
Winding down my last yoga session on the last night of being age 36, as I surrendered at last into a peaceful savasana, I felt as if I were giving birth to a new stage in my practice and a new chapter in my life. In the past, I have greatly resisted this asana. While the body is meant to soften, I could never fully sink down into the pose. My pelvis rested unevenly on the mat. My forearms gently … [Read more...]
"Threading The Needle" by Renée Canada I thread the needle Through tight angles And strained filaments. I look out and through the space That grows and slows with breath And settles from stillness to peace. The battle to control the resistance Overcome by love and acceptance Of my limitations and imperfections. … [Read more...]