Elimination Diet: Prelude

Herein begins the tale of a 3-week odyssey into an….(bum bum bum) elimination diet! Ever since a trip to India awhile back, my digestion has been plagued by inconsistency.  I’ve tried being vegan, omnivorous, seen two naturopaths, seen an acupuncturist, done the antibiotic route….and still had a grumpy gut.  Having spent the last while happily […]

Going Vegan: the end

The issue of poo Ever since I went to India, my digestion has been…shall we say, “off.”  Ummmm, for those of you who like better descriptors, shall we say…”fuzzy.”  Or ill-formed.  Or goopy.  Or how about let’s just say that my body is not producing the perfect, soft, firm poo that we all aspire to. […]

Going Vegan, Ep. 23: The Blue Front

More distressing news from the Blue Front. Colbert had a guest on this show named Captain Charles Moore, who discovered (or rather, did not discover, but talked about) the giant floating patch of garbage that can be found in the Pacific Ocean between Asia and North America.  He brought in a tub of plastic bits that […]

Going Vegan, Ep. 22: A Buddhist’s take on vegetarianism

I went with my friend Vicki to see Reginald Ray speak at the Vancouver Public Library.  Ray is in his sixties, has a doctorate in religious studies and is currently meditation instructor in the tradition of vajrayana Buddhism (tantric).  The founder of Dharma Ocean, a retreat center in Colorado, he spoke of intimacy and really […]

What yoga has to do with time management (answer: everything)

We’ve all said it, “There are not enough hours in the day.” I berate myself: why can’t I fit in a yoga practice, a jog, personal study, long walks with my boyfriend, getting a pedicure, making a home cooked meal, and blog writing all into one day? Oh, oh, wait, while working my full-time job?  […]

When to say “no” to a yoga job

Still from “Office Space,” very funny movie involving spectacularly bad management. I recently received  an email from a former student.  As a newer teacher, we are obviously excited about teaching and eager to take advantage of opportunities when they arrive.  However, they may not always be the right opportunities!  Here’s what she wrote: “I do […]

How to choose your perfect mentor

In my role as the Director of the YYoga Teachers’ College, I have frequently been asked by recent training graduates, “Now, how do I choose my mentor?”  For yoga students, this is akin to asking the question, “How do I choose my teacher?” First, it’s important define exactly a mentor is.  From Greek mythology, “Mentor” […]

Cirque de Soleil. And your yoga teacher.

In the furor to “get noticed” and have street cred, yoga instructors are often expected to display Cirque de Soleil like physical prowess. Can you do a crazy pose? Do you have mad, unusual flexibility? Then I am impressed and you are suitable to be my teacher! While I have great respect for dedicated yogis who […]

Sauca: transcending body image

A little context About two thousand years ago, a guy named Patanjali compiled a series of pithy aphorisms called the yoga sutras.  These cryptic sayings contain clues on how to escape suffering and ultimately reach samadhi (meditation/ bliss).  In his compilation, he describes a series of steps called ashtanga yoga, where he offers some helpful […]

Here Be Tigers

Cast your mind back about a thousand years. You’re in India, walking in the jungle.  Suddenly – a tiger! Your heart races, your adrenaline pumps, you fun as fast as your legs can carry you in the opposite direction. And you’re safe.   Now, fast forward ahead to now. You’re at your desk.  You open […]

Squeeze your Ass-ana

  Okay, okay, we’ve all heard it in yoga class: “Don’t squeeze your glutes,” or “Relax your buttocks,” or something poetic like, “Allow the tissue of your ahem, buttocks flesh, to melt and soften…” However you’ve heard it, the message is the same: don’t squeeze your ass.   Where “don’t squeeze your butt” started Now […]

Reflections from the River Styx: Near death experience.

I asked my Dad what is was like to come back from the dead. “Well, it was just dark and peaceful,” he said.  My Dad looks a little like Clint Eastwood. He’s got the same kind of squint and no nonsense style.  (And he spends most of his time operating heavy machinery on a farm.  […]

Wheel: Strap assist for spinal traction yumminess

Here is a two person partner assist for Full Wheel (Urdhva Dhanurasana).  This assist is perfect for those needing more space and stability through their lower back. Tips: place the straps at the bra line and sacrum line guard your own body position (hinge at your hips, not your low back) pull the straps diagonally […]

How not “doing it all” makes your Muppets happy

I have this fantasy.  Involving many muppets. I attended an anatomy workshop last weekend with Diane Lee and LJ Lee.  Also attending was a constellation of health practitioners: chiropractors, physios, massage therapists, Pilates teachers… The muppets in my brain went something like this: Kermit: “I did not know that, that is amazing!” Janice:  “Wow – […]

Looking out the window

I went skiing in Whistler last weekend. Now, I am not the best skier. I can barely get beyond pizza-french fries with my skis, and I spend lots of time with an inner narrative something like, “Tailbone down!  Now edges..edges..EDGES…turn, phew, keep your body downhill, core…engage your CORE, now turn..OH EDGES!” You can imagine a […]

Single life and Valentine’s Day

A long time ago, I liked Valentine’s Day. Back in kindergarten and grade school, Valentine’s Day was a fun opportunity to tell everyone we knew how much we liked them.  We spent hours making valentines for schoolmates, teachers, family members, even pets.  All topped off with the little sugar valentine hearts and copious amounts of […]

Sweet potato soup in 5 minutes

My first Vitamix Soup!  Should be called, “fly by the seat of your pants” soup.  Thank you Vitamix, for making my inchoate food choppings into something yummy. Ingredients for sweet potato soup Ingredients: 1.5 sweet potatoes, chopped into large chunks (skins and all) 2 cloves garlic chunk of ginger (not too big, add small pieces […]

Going Vegan, Ep. 21: The Racket

I found Alan in the kitchen, whipping up a batch of my vegan superdrink. “You’re eating all my vegan stuff.” “I’ll buy the next one,” he said.  “I used to drink this kind of stuff all the time.  Here, I’ll make yours for you.” “That’s $89 bucks per tub,” I pointed out, watching him dole […]

Going Vegan, Ep. 20: What to feed a vegan

My dedicated omnivore friend, Liz, had invited me over for a vegan lunch.  Now, Liz is one of the best cooks I know.  She is spectacular.  To watch her throw ingredients together in the kitchen is to watch a form of art. This was the first time I’ve seen her since the cyber-fight with Steph […]