"Yoga is a powerful tool for liberating ourselves from unwanted, ingrained patterns.” ~ B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga opens our eyes to a fresh perspective. Presumed limitations are mere obstacles manufactured by the finite potential of the mind. In shifting your patterns of thought, you will change the outcome of your destiny. If you’re not sure what those patterns are, pay attention to the flavour (themes) and content (details) of your thoughts in the course of a single day. Journal

True or false: 70 is the new 50 and 40 is the new 20? Certainly anyone approaching either of these milestones—age 70 or 50—would concur with the statement, at least in theory. But it’s not about how you look, is it? It’s about how you feel. And I think most of us would be happy with a little luck (or genetic inheritance!) on both sides. Multimedia in general and health and wellness outlets in particular are the go-to source for learning what’s in and what’s out, who’s fit and

One of the questions I receive most often from students is, "What yoga can I do from home?" Without hesitation, my answer is always one of two things: 1) Do what you love. Practice what feels good. Whatever will get you to the mat, that's what you should do. When you climb out of bed in the morning and raise your arms overhead with a deep breath in, that counts! Add a stretch to the right and to the left, then bend over towards your toes (Uttanasana) and you have a yourself a

Printed in Sweat Equity Magazine We often hear the word “balance” and think of the seemingly impossible goal of achieving that smooth transition between work, home, family, fitness, healthy eating, and so on (good luck with that!). But equally important is the simple ability to stand still on your own two feet. Many of my senior yoga students have told me that the greatest benefit they’ve received from the consistent practice of yoga is the CONFIDENCE that comes with feeling

Printed in Sweat Equity Magazine June/July Issue Utkatana Konasana This pose is said to invoke the powerful energy of the Hindu goddess, Tara. The name derives from the Sanskrit root syllable that means “protection,” thereby designating Goddess Tara as being “one who protects.” Physically, Utkatana Konasana is an accessible pose that offers tremendous health benefits, especially for women. The obvious hip-opening effects of this wide-legged squat can help to prepare women for

Last Friday a student in my seniors’ class asked if yoga could help prevent osteoporosis. I’d researched this subject before, so I didn’t hesitate to respond: The answer is both yes and no. Let me explain. Osteoporosis Defined Osteoporosis is a medical condition that causes bone tissue to deteriorate, resulting in brittle and fragile bones (not to be confused with osteoarthritis, which affects the surrounding joints and tissues). The increase of fractures escalates dramatical

Those of us who have been doing yoga for some time don’t need ongoing encouragement to keep coming back to the mat. We’ve tried it; we loved it, and we have a hard time understanding anyone who doesn’t agree. After all, it’s been around for 5,000 years. If nothing else, the longevity speaks to its timeless capacity to improve health and well-being. But for those of you on the cusp, who remain undecided about whether to take a walk on the bright side of life, where people tot

Published in Sweat Equity Magazine, Special Edition 2016 Yoga postures are typically named after objects or life forms found in nature (think Vrksasana [Tree] and Bhujangasana [Cobra]); sacred animals (“go” is Sanskrit for “cow,” which is holy in Hindu religions); and legendary saints, heroes, or warriors who were celebrated for their unique skill or supernatural power (think Virabhadrasana 1, 2, and 3 [the Warrior poses]). Matsyendrasana falls into the lattermost category an

Published in the February/ March 2016 issue of Sweat Equity Magazine. Nobody can argue the benefits of a consistent yoga practice. Increased strength and flexibility, peace of mind and mental calm, and less angst over the “little things” that once were so bothersome are just a few. The more people that experience what yoga has to offer, the more mainstream it becomes. The more mainstream it becomes, the larger the class sizes and (quite often) the less personal attention avai

Published in Sweat Equity Magazine August/September 2016 Last Friday a student in my seniors’ class asked if yoga could help prevent osteoporosis. I’d researched this subject before, so I didn’t hesitate to respond: The answer is both yes and no. Let me explain. Osteoporosis Defined Osteoporosis is a medical condition that causes bone tissue to deteriorate, resulting in brittle and fragile bones (not to be confused with osteoarthritis, which affects the surrounding joints and

One thing I love most about being a writer/editor for Sweat Equity Magazine is that I have the opportunity to work with some of the most inspiring men and women in the field. Seane Corn is definitely top on my list of inspirational yogis. In the September/October issue of the mag, she provides us with "7 Poses for Personal Power." This one, Eka Pada Utkatasana, "builds strength and self-confidence while creating space in the hips." Try it out! Printed in Sweat Equity Magazine

Published in Sweat Equity Magazine August/September 2016 issue Upward Facing Dog is one of the most common yoga postures. You will find it within every Sun Salutation and it’s practiced dozens if not more times in any Power, Ashtanga, or Vinyasa Yoga class. These reasons alone make proper alignment and modifying as needed in Up Dog of great importance. You’ll recognize Upward Facing Dog as the transition point from Chaturanga (low push-up) through to Adho Mukha Svanasana (Dow

Published in Sweat Equity Magazine November Issue Bakasana is often translated as Crow Pose, but baka is actually the Sanskrit word for crane and kak for crow. While the two are used interchangeably in many yoga classes, some yogis consider Bakasana the bent-arm variation, while Kakasana has the arms straight. To keep it simple, we’ll go with the more commonly cited Parsva Bakasana, for our Side Crow Pose. Surprisingly, the twisting variation of Bakasana is not necessarily th

Printed in Sweat Equity Magazine Dec/Jan 2018 As challenging and refreshing as it is to enjoy classes offered at a studio, the benefits of establishing a home practice are unmatched. For me, what strengthened the spiritual bent of this ancient art form was rolling out the mat at home. That’s not to say it doesn’t come without effort! Even as a seasoned student and teacher, mustering up the energy to get moving can be easier said than done. In this article, I hope to inspire y

“Letting go is the hardest asana.” Anonymous Recently I was asked why I do yoga. The obvious reasons came to mind: it keeps me strong and flexible. It’s challenging, relaxing, and anything else you need it to be. It quenches my thirst for philosophy, language, anatomy, and spirituality. But in reeling off those reasons, I realized none of them capture the real essence of what brings me to the mat, day after day. There are many ways to get strong, toned, and flexible and ma

Printed in Sweat Equity Magazine June / July Issue Commonly called ‘Compass Pose,’ the English translation of Parivrtta Surya Yantrasana is Revolved (parivrtta) Sun (surya) Instrument (yantra) Pose (asana). This is an advanced yoga posture requiring a good amount of both strength and flexibility. If you’re navigating your way through this complex pose for the first time, a roadmap can be useful for guidance along the way. It’s a good idea to warm up your muscles and move your

Alongside Padmasana (Lotus Pose) Headstand may be considered the exemplar archetype of yoga. Perhaps it seemed simple and even “fun”when you were a kid, but a graceful entry into and exit from this dignified pose might prove to be more challenging than expected. However, it’s well worth practicing, so stick with it! A headstand practice (or any inverted posture) should be a routine part of your practice. Here five reasons why: 1. Reversing the flow of blood by raising the

I challenge you to bring a new perspective to your mat today. (If you'd like some group support and inspiration for a daily practice-one Sun Salutation a day-come find me on Facebook.) The ultimate goal of yoga is to reduce and eventually eliminate suffering. Ancient yogis believed the Eight-Fold Path of Astanga Yoga was the best means to achieve this state of deep and infinite joy. Because the mind is the source of ALL frustration and hardship, if we can still the mind, we w

Published in Sweat Equity Magazine June/July 2017 Issue Madonna Louise Ciccone was born on August 16, 1958, christened with the birth name of her late mother. Donning the various titles of Queen of Pop, Queen of Re-Invention, Queen of Fashion, and more, she is the epitome of ‘cutting edge’ and ‘controversial.’ And although fishnet tights, super-sized crucifixes, and pointed cone bras made a darn loud fashion statement, her views on women, sexuality, and female power spoke eve

Avoidance of pain is one obstacle to the spiritual freedom of yoga. Naturally we do everything we can to avoid pain—or our sanity could rightly be called into question! But when this avoidance overwhelms our willingness to experience life (we’re scared to enter a new relationship based on old baggage) then we limit our potential for happiness by obstructing our view of the truth. The film, “What the Bleep Do We Know” explores this concept of living our life on “autopilot.” To