Yesterday, I sent my Grandma an article from Harvard Medical School about some new research touting the merits of a protein from a plant-based diet. As someone who has run the spectrum between carnivore and vegan, I was rather cheekily lamenting my recent departure from the ranks of vegetarian. Here’s her reply, which just goes […]
Sit your ass down, already…and other thoughts on meditation
Today, or this morning rather, I was eating piece toast with cashew butter (homemade, even, dee-lightful). And I decided to make a little agreement with myself. To self: I will eat this toast with homemade cashew butter, and endeavor to do just that, and only that. No checking email, no reading the paper. Just simply […]
“How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body”: A Response
The New York Times recently ran an article, “How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body,”that has a rather sensational and silly title and a fairly simple point: doing yoga can cause injuries. The article, citing the musings of yoga teacher Glenn Black, references the medley of yoga injuries that have been developing through the West over […]
“Age and Happiness: The U-Bend”, from the Economist
A thought provoking happiness article from The Economist. A lovely, and spirit-lifting, read! Why, beyond middle age, people get happier as they get older Dec 16th 2010 | from the print edition ASK people how they feel about getting older, and they will probably reply in the same vein as Maurice Chevalier: “Old age isn’t […]
Why everyone should do a yoga teacher training
By Rachel Scott From YYoga’s blog You catch sight of it out of the corner of your eye. There’s a perky little splash of red on one of the YYoga Events Boards. You look closer. It’s the announcement for an information session for the upcoming 200-hour teacher training. Something inside of you starts buzzing. Teacher […]
Slough off your Winter Funk and get ready for summer!
As appears in YYoga’s Blog: Off the Mat It’s that time of year again, the time that we emerge bleary eyed from a winter of gray rain and step blinking into the growing Vancouver sunlight. The warming weather reminds of last year when, was it possible? We actually went outside! It’s time to slough off […]
Run for One Planet: Inspirational video
Watch this and be INSPIRED!!!! My friend and YYoga co-worker Steph Tait runs 11,000 miles in one year with her running partner Matt Hill to generate environmental awareness. An astonishing journey!!!! Message from Steph: In celebration of Earth Day 2011, commit to one new action for Earth. Small steps add up. 1. Eat local & […]
Feel more. Do less.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of taking a therapeutics training with Susi Hately Aldous. On the basis of that training, I want to propose a crazy idea. Work less. Rather than working our way into poses that “look right,” how about we invite your bodies into pure movement…and leave it at that? […]
Why skiing and yoga are the same
Last weekend I went skiing in Whistler. Now, I am not what you’d call a great skiier. Last time I was on the mountain was three years ago, before that, it had been a decade. So let’s just say that I was shocked to find out that good skis aren’t straight and that it’s now […]
YYoga’s listen to understand, vol. 1
In the fall of 2010, I initiated a project where the community of YYoga joined together to create a cd called “listen to understand, vol.1”. This remarkable endeavor features the original music of our teachers, guest experience team, base camp team, and wellness practitioners. And every last cent is donated to Vancouver’s Children’s Hospital. To […]
Vinyasa Krama – bring the present into practice
“Vi” = in a special way “nyasa” = to place “krama” = step by step Change is challenging. When confronted with change, it’s easy to get swept up in anxiety, discomfort, depression, or panic. We distract ourselves, or seethe as we create a million contingency plans. We cling to our “creature comforts” – those small […]
The Hard Work of Letting Go – call out to Kali!
Why is it so hard to let go? Of habits, relationships (healthy or toxic), of expectations, of dreams? Even when we know we’re hurting ourselves by hanging on, what drives the compulsion to keep gripping? What do we do when old behavioral patterns no longer serve our life? First of all, don’t beat yourself up. […]
Spring Cleaning!
When I went traveling to India this last month with my mom, I packed everything in a small backpack, determined to be a minimalist. It was an experiment to see if I could really get away with traveling light. “Aren’t you impressed,” I asked my boyfriend. “I got everything into here!” I brandished my backpack […]
Why Bell Mobility is good for my Yoga
I got disconnected three times. Three times. In a row. “Just hold one moment while we transfer you to confirm,” they’d say sweetly, just before I heard a strange sound. The sound of silence. The vacuum of a disconnected phone line. The sound of my impotent, mediocre frustration growing to a boiling point of irrational, […]
Remembering How to See
Last Thursday evening, I attended a talk by Reginald Ray, founder of Dharma Ocean and tantric buddhist practitioner. He spoke about the intimacy and the power (and terror) of really Seeing another person. What is Seeing? It’s when we strip away the filters through which we most often see the world and take the time […]
The problems with resolutions
So it’s New Years. So you made a resolution. What is it this year? I’ll share my typical checklist: -lose five pounds -go to yoga EVERY DAY -finish writing book -resolve all unresolved psychological issues -do something really important that will make everyone love me Hmmmmm. Lofty, anyone? Resolutions are excellent. They invite us to […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 9: Farting
Alan had taken to telling our friends a story about how I have farted myself awake. Deeeelightful. Yes, the flatulence had continued. Robust and tangy, my flatulence knew no end. I suppose since he had to cope with the Dutch oven after effects of my vegan diet, he was entitled to reap some momentary joy […]
Yoga For Stiff Old Guys – 20 minutes
Are you a stiff old guy? You know, tight hamstrings, tight lower back? You like lifting weights but now you can’t touch your toes? Never fear, Yoga For Old Stiff Guys can help. All you need is a wall. Great for younger guys on their way to becoming stiff oldies. Take twenty minutes and start […]
Yoga For Waking Up – 10 minutes
Start your day on the right foot. Here’s ten minutes to work out the kinks, focus your mind, and make your body happy. If you’re a grouch in the AM, take ten minutes to reset your mood. Great as an afternoon pick-me-up, too. Your co-workers will thank you. Yoga for Waking Up with music. If […]
Work Break – five minutes
Take Five! Just five minutes can go a long ways to undoing the repetitive stress of your desk job. Open your shoulders, protect your wrists, take a couple breath, and stop the slouching. Do five, feel better. Includes some sassy music. Take Five with music. If you like your work break straight up, Take Five […]