Now is the time to stop seeking.

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We live in a culture of epic quests.  Perpetually unsatisfied with the present, we go on lengthy pilgrimages to discover "who we really are".  We pay hot self-help superstars thousands of dollars, we fly to remote locations, we prescribe to insane and methodical lifestyle regimes, we join new religions, all so that we can crack the code to happiness and discover once and for all the meaning of life.

Many people come to yoga for this reason; they have recognized that they are suffering and need someone/something to fix it.  Yoga will not.  This is a myth.  Nevertheless, yoga has the ability to shed light on the reality of the situation; everything you are seeking already lies within you.  Yoga can not help you avoid grief, or pain, or depression.  In fact, the core lesson of yoga is that we need to stop avoiding what we're feeling; now is the time of allowance.  We must become present to recognize that there is an inherent wisdom within each and every soul on this planet.  Here is how we do it (I credit my Kripalu teachers Harshad and Uchita Thomlinson of Tandava Yoga for this knowledge):

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1. Breathe.

2 Relax

3. Feel

4. Watch

5. Allow 

Now I can't tell you exactly what will happen when you practice these 5 steps (they work most effectively when done in this order), I can promise you that after continual practice, your reaction to stress will change and you will become more aware.  This is key.  You must become more mindful to know who you really are (and who you really are is actually pretty darn cool).

So that's it.  BRFWA.  Memorize that like your life depends on it.  Because it does.  And stop looking for the answers outside of yourself.  Get on your mat and get on your meditation cushion for the sole purpose of getting to know who you really are.  No one (no matter how intuitive) can tell you who you really are but you alone.


Oh my god. Yoga & Religion

One time, at the end of a class I had just finished teaching, a student came up to me and said, "I'm so glad you don't chant in your classes.  I'm not open to summoning the devil."  I stood there with my mouth open completely unaware of how to respond.

It is my intention in this blog post to dispel some mythology around yoga and religion.  Many readers will not agree with what I believe.  Please understand that this is okay and that we are both perfectly entitled to our own opinions.  Nevertheless, I think it is important to note that if you don't understand, please don't misunderstand.

On another note, I've just returned from a vacation in Europe which ended with Sunday Mass at the Vatican.  I was blessed by Pope Francis (along with about 2000 other people) and deeply appreciated all the time he spent driving around in his Popemobile acknowledging everyone who attended the service (I'm not being sarcastic here; he drives around in a car after the service waving at everyone for a VERY long time considering his age and the very hot temperature of the day).  It was this experience that inspired me to write this post as I believe in a world connected by love, not fear.

None of the yoga postures, Sanskrit words, or yogic stories will make you less of a Christian/Catholic/Protestant/etc.  The practice of yoga comes from ancient India.  The names of postures are often animals or legendary Indian heroes that may also be featured in Hindu and Buddhist religious practices due to the geographic nature of India.  However, the connection between the two ends there.  

Yoga does not encourage the practitioner to prescribe to a specific God or gods.  Instead, it applauds self-exploration and a belief in interconnectedness.  Much like the Ten Commandments, yoga practitioners are encouraged to practice a set of moral observances like non-violence and non-stealing, as well as truthfulness and cleanliness.  

So here's the clincher: if you already have a spiritual or religious practice, yoga will actually help to deepen this practice through the teachings of simple awareness.  The cool thing about yoga is that nothing in the modern literature goes against any religious practices (so anyone can do it without fear!).  Instead, it encourages spiritual development in any capacity and due to this, many yoga practitioners have actually come to adopt a religion like Christianity.  I have an experienced yoga teacher who, having never prescribed to any church, has recently started attending a local church simply because he feels the teachings make his yoga practice richer.  That being said, to practice yoga you do not need to prescribe to a specific spiritual belief or take on a religious doctrine.  Yoga is about having the heart of an explorer; it is about getting present to the nature of the mind and being open to wherever the mind goes.

I truly hope this helps to dispel any myths that my (and your) community may have.  Remember, love before fear.  And if you don't understand, please don't misunderstand.

rock on,

l.e. martini

 

Vinyasa and Hatha Yoga Playlists

Cheers and Namaste!  As yoga instructors, it is almost a bit embarrassing to confess to the power of the playlist.  As much as we'd like to think that the quality of our classes depend on our skill, experience, charisma, and compassion, our playlist has the serious ability to effect the tone, or "bhava" of our class.  Here is my current Vinyasa playlist which I use for my Power and Happy Medium Yoga classes, as well as a Hatha playlist which I use for my Easy and Yin Yoga classes.  The playlists are around 1 hour in length.

Vinyasa Playlist:

Hatha Playlist:

A therapeutic approach to advancing your physical yoga practice

So you've been practicing yoga for a few years now but you can't seem to get into a headstand, or your shoulders hurt in downward dog, or you wish you could deepen your backbends, or your SI joint irritates you in lunges, etc.  Private yoga classes are expensive and you're not sure if your bubbly yoga instructor really knows that much about anatomy and physiology (fair enough).  You want to take your practice to the next level but you're not sure what the next step is.

Enter the Yoga Integration.

For a year now I have been working (and learning…so…much) with a registered physiotherapist to help yoga students like yourself overcome obstacles in their practice.  Your session includes a 45min assessment by a physiotherapist, followed by a private 30min yoga session specifically tailored to your needs.  The wisdom of the physio, followed by skill of the yoga educator is basically a match made in heaven.  And the entire session is covered here in Canada by medical benefits (can I get a hell ya).  The best part is that you don't have to be "injured" to take a Yoga Integration.  You can just be curious; maybe you want more insight into your practice, or maybe you just need some private attention to really help lock down your Sun Salutations.  Whatever the reason, I am super stoked to be able to put my newfound knowledge to work!  To book, please call Neumovement in Kelowna.  Here is what an integration student had to say about her experience:

“I am writing to describe why I have been choosing to do Yoga Integrations and what they mean to my body and me. I am not dealing with pain in my body (after working very hard at Pilates). I am, however, working towards some goal postures in yoga and my body seems to limit me and not let me completely go into these poses. I found myself trying repeatedly to stretch or focus on the key spots I felt restricted me. After a while, I started to wonder if there were things going on that I couldn’t see or work through on my own. This is when I decided to work in tandem with my yoga instructor and physiotherapist! By treating my alignment and working on the tightness in my body from a more global set of eyes, I have been able to get my body healthily into postures I had only dreamed about such as wheel pose! I would highly recommend Yoga Integrations to any person looking to advance their practice or work on growing their practice.

”
— Kate W.

Hope to see you soon!

Rock on,

l.e. martini

SUP Yoga Kelowna

Here is the info for Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga in Kelowna for the summer of 2015!!

Classes are running from July 1- Aug 30 on Fridays from 7-8:30am at the Kelowna Paddle Centre (at the foot of Cedar Ave).  

  • How do I register? You must pre-register through the City of Kelowna 

    There are three easy ways to register – online, in person and by phone.

    1. Online at Kelowna.ca/recreation - You will require a Client  Barcode and Account PIN.  Please call 250 469-8800 to obtain this information.

    2. In person - Where: Parkinson Recreation Centre

    When: Mon–Fri 7:30 am–9:00 pm; Sat & Sun 8 am–4 pm

    3. By Phone: 250 469-8800 - Mon-Fri 7:30 am–9:00 pm; Sat-Sun 8:00 am-:400pm

  • How much does it cost?  One class is $45 including your paddle board rental, lifejacket rental, yoga lesson, quick paddle, and SUP orientation.

  • What should I bring?  Please wear comfortable clothing you don't mind getting wet.  Please leave all your valuables in your car.  No shoes required.  

  • I've never been on a stand up paddle board before/never done yoga before?  No worries!  Do your best, laugh lots, and don't be afraid to get wet!