Top of the Mat: What it is and why we created it!

A week ago, rockstar marketing guru (and uber-bendy yogini) Shauna Nyrose and I launched a company aimed at increasing the success of yoga instructors through mentorship.  We have named this new venture "Top of the Mat" and today I'd like to share with you my vision for this company. 

While on a yoga vacation together last year, Shauna and I came to the conclusion that the support for new yoga teachers in our community was lacking.  We both found the transition from yoga school student to successful full-time yoga instructor challenging and loaded with obstacles.  This is when we came to the conclusion that it was, in fact, not only our calling but our duty to provide instructors with the information and tools to navigate this transition as easily as possible.  The information we have to offer comes from a variety of resources: informative podcasts, marketing education, multiple teacher trainings and workshops, as well as our own trial and error.

So what are we offering yoga instructors?  Our first workshop series begins Feb. 22, 2014 with 3 consecutive weekends of training and practical application.  This is our Level 1 mentorship program and it is available to all yoga instructors no matter if you are fresh out of training or have been teaching for years and are finding yourself wanting something more out of your career.  If you are an instructor passionate about your teaching career, I truly hope you can join us; I promise that we have a lot to offer!

Visit Top of the Mat's website. 

Cheers and Namaste,

l.e. martini

3 things you need to know about yoga!

The following is an excerpt from an article I guest wrote for a friend and colleague's blog on   Castanet.net: 

Today I feature one of the many inspirational fitness leaders with whom has played a huge role in many people's journey of finding fitness, health and balance, including mine!  Meet Laura Martini of Martini Yoga. I have asked Laura what she feels everyone should know and understand about yoga!
 

• Saying that I'm too tight/stiff to go to yoga is like saying that you are too hungry to eat.

As a yoga teacher, I understand that you are embarrassed by your tight hamstrings and don't think you'll be "good" at yoga; I've heard it all.  But it is the people like you who need yoga the most.  If you feel as though your muscles are tight, chances are they will continue to get tighter unless you take the time to stretch them.  It is as simple as that! A consistent yoga practice will not only stretch your muscles, it will help you build strength, it will increase your coordination and balance, and it will help to calm your mind.  

• Yoga is the practice of compassion. Please understand that yoga was not designed to be a "workout", it is a system of self-love.

In a world where we are constantly being told that we are never enough, yoga teaches us to be gentle with our bodies and minds.  Through yoga we learn to recognize that we already have everything we need.  The physical practice of yoga gives us the opportunity to go deeper into our bodies and really take the time to understand where we should be placing our attention.  The ancient system of yoga recognized that when we take the time to love ourselves, only then will our love be able to translate to others.

• Yoga is accepting of all.

It doesn't matter if you are Christian or Buddhist, small or large, bendy like Gumby or stiff as a board, yoga can work for you.  Yoga teachers are surprisingly skilled at modifying classes to ensure they work for everyone in the room.  That being said, please ensure you read the class description before entering the class.  You will never be judged in a yoga class so know that so long as you are mindful in how you feel in each posture, you can get a lot out of any yoga practice, no matter the teacher or style.
 

Namaste,

l.e. martini

The best yoga poses for hiking.

Now that the weather has turned crisp and the leaves are crunching beneath our feet, hikers across the northern hemisphere are lacing up their shoes and heading outside.  If you are one of the many who enjoy the benefits of a brisk fall hike amidst the golden foliage, here are some yoga postures for you to enhance your hiking experience! 

Low Lunge with hands bound.

Tree Pose

Double Pigeon

1. Double Pigeon.

    Sit on your bum and stack your lower legs like fire logs.  Lean forward as far as is comfortable for you, keeping the sitz bones on the ground.  If this is not accessible for you, do regular pigeon instead.  This posture directly targets the side and back compartments of the hip and also releases tightness from the glutes.  A great posture to do after hiking.

2. Low Lunge. 

    The repetitive motion of lifting and lowering your legs will inevitably tighten the hip flexors.  Low lunges can help to stretch this part of your body out and release tension from the front of the hip.

3. Any forward fold.

    Ensure you feel the stretch in the middle of the back of the thigh.

4. Tree Pose.

    Use your body to show a little nature appreciation:)  And (bonus!) cultivate a greater sense of balance while you're at it. 

5. Seated Meditation.

      I recommend taking a few minutes to pause, sit, and breathe deeply during your hike.  Focus on the beauty and spirituality inherent in nature.  Allow your heart rate to slow, and soften everywhere you can to allow for a deep sense of peace and relaxation.

   Happy Hiking and many Namastes to you! 

   Rock On, 

   l.e. martini

Amateur Review of the Wanderlust Yoga Festival by a Kelowna Yogini

Namaste!  After spending 3 full days of yoga-ing at the Wanderlust Yoga Festival in Whistler this past week, I am full of inspired teachings and free love (the non-sexual kind!!).  I went with a group of fellow yoga teachers from the Okanagan; a pilgrimage we started last summer when Wanderlust decided to add Whistler on its tour.  We came, we stretched, we flexed, we left. 

Pre Chris Chavez's epic class on the top of Whistler Mountain. 

Here are the moments I loved about Wanderlust Whistler: 

Cameron Shayne

• The floating workshop with Cameron Shayne.  So this guy I've never heard of (I took his class on a whim) walks into the room in booty shorts that are smaller than my underpants.  I instantly realized my yoga practice would initially be about non-judgement before anything else.  Well, let me tell you, his enthusiasm was instantly infectious.  I was mesmerized by his unique martial arts fusion style of yoga.  He was so damn passionate and his teachings were from a genuine place of personal practice.  I learned about a shoulder girdle placement called the "cobra hood" and I also learned the very important (but rarely taught) ways to safely fall out of a handstand.  Check out his style of yoga called Budokon.
• Moby's (yes, the internationally famous musician/rockstar) "speakeasy" on Metta Meditation may have rocked my world.  He was entertaining, funny, and terribly intelligent.  His lesson on meditation was "go easy on yourself" and find a meditation that works for you.  We learned to let the awesomeness of fresh squeezed orange juice be a meditation.  He also led us through a guided meditation on Metta (a Buddhist word for loving kindness) that encouraged us to love and feel loved.  Delicious. 
• Free concerts.  In the evening, Wanderlust hosted concerts in the park each night.  They included the absorbingly talented music and performance group Quixotic, an acoustic set by Moby, and a jam session with MC Yogi, among others.  The best thing about these concerts is that not only are they top notch quality, they are free for anyone in the area so even locals who did not want to attend 6 hours of yoga instruction a day could still check out the concerts at night.  Way to give back to the community, Wanderlust. 

Here are some of the aspects of this year's Wanderlust that I was dissaponted by: 

• Shiva Rea.  She is one of the biggest yoga rockstars in the world and our entire group was quick to sign up for at least one of her classes. Nevertheless, we all felt her teaching was lacklustre.  Perhaps our expectations were too high or we were blinded by the sheer gigantic size of her classes.  I found it was difficult to synch my breath with the very slow breathing she was encouraging us to take on as we flowed through the repetitive yoga postures.  Her voice ("begiiiinnning, miiiiiddddle, eeeennnnd") became more aggravating as she continued to repeat the same instructions over and over again.  I do not doubt the skill or quality of her experience and leadership, nevertheless, in the 2 hours class I experienced with her I was not blown away.
• Moby's DJ set.  I love Moby.  I love his music.  So why he only DJ'd music that was not his still mystifies me.   
• Although I don't expect every room used for the classes at Wanderlust to be yoga studio worthy; I did find many of the rooms to be poorly ventilated, too small, and a bit smelly (an unpleasant mix of stinky carpet and BO).  A bit distracting I must say! 

Cameron Shayne assisting us in "floating"

Overall, the festival was fantastic just as it was the previous year.  I think it is a must if you are an instructor and I highly recommend it to avid yoga practitioners!  

Lots of Love, 

l.e. martini

With Chris Chavez- his class was most definitely a highlight.