In light of the recent Stanley Cup episode, many of us British Columbians are still left with remnants of disappointment, wondering how to go about celebrating Canada Day with our usual sense of pride. As Canadians we are typically deemed friendly and down-to-earth, making us wonder at the whirlwind of events that metastasized horribly wrong, and then cringe at the spectacle of interest it created. In my opinion, a lot of good people were swept into the ’photographing of strangeness’ which purely by happenstance, ended up increasing the mob and its desire to entertain spectators with reckless abandon. If all those good people took a moment to bring their moral values and/or yoga practice to the surface, they quite likely would have left the scene. They would have stopped, taken a breath and thought: “Does the energy in this environment feel positive? Is this safe? Am I contributing to something good?”
Our ancestors used celebrations to connect with their community and elevate their spirit as a whole. They would celebrate with music, singing, dancing and the sharing of stories! It is refreshing to know, that healthy celebrations of this type are still carried on by many cultures today. Let it be a gentle reminder for those who have forgotten how to truly celebrate.
Again this year I am linking you to the Top 10 Things to Do in Vancouver for Canada Day. Use this to stimulate wholesome ideas of celebrations with family and friends, or join us for yoga July 1st at 9:30am and 12:30pm. May every day have reason to celebrate and as Oprah said in her final show, “…you’re responsible for the energy you create for yourself, and you’re responsible for the energy that you bring to others.” Prayers for Bliss & Sunshine,
Lori Charko
Btw, there are many yoga classes at Body Harmony this weekend, but please check the website for any changes from the regular schedule…
Congratulations Tina Hopkins! It’s not often students recognize yoga practice as being integral to their journey through life, but we see that Tina does. She’s dedicated, sincere and approachable, with a focus in class that is felt and contagious (whether tackling a challenging pose or simply breathing deeper). She writes, “For the first six years of practicing yoga I was blessed with a private instructor once a week. However, last summer I felt the need to expand and deepen my practice. After taking a variety of yoga classes on the North Shore, I found Body Harmony. From the first class, I felt welcome and at ease in the serene environment of the studio, and knew my search was over. I usually attend 3-4 classes a week, of varying styles and intensities, and have felt so inspired by the care, wisdom, and skill of my instructors, and the effect these are having on my practice and life in general, that I started a journal to record the journey. I am grateful for the Body Harmony community and look forward to many years of practicing together.” We do too Tina, thank you.
Our Schoolhouse in the Sacred Valley of Peru
Calling all lovers of children and travel! Support our Kusi Kawsay School in Peru and you may WIN a magical 10 day journey for 2 to Machu Picchu, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and the Kusi Kawsay School. The founding parents of Kusi Kawsay School will host this extraordinary journey, along with Peru Cultural Journeys, Winay Taki Ayllu and the Kusi Kawsay students, teachers and parents. Each raffle ticket is $50 and all proceeds go towards school supplies, teachers’ salaries and nutritious snack for all the students. The winner will be selected by a student of Kusi Kawsay School on September 23, 2011 (the Equinox) and will be notified by email. They will also be posted on the website. For the lucky winner, the trip can be scheduled any time except the rainy season, December 10th through March 1st.
*The prize includes airfare, meals, accommodations, entrance fees to ancient sites, guides and special events as indicated on the itinerary. For trip details or to purchase a ticket go to www.kusikawsay.org/raffle.html or contact Body Harmony Yoga today.
The Marriage of Yoga and Astrology
Astrology can often be experienced as something abstract which happens up in the sky or more commonly as a curious chuckle with our coffee and the morning paper. Each individual, even if you are a twin, is born with a unique placement of planets at the time of birth. This placement acts as a blueprint of possibilities for the individual. We are also born with free will (thankfully) so how we choose to experience the placement of our birth planets is ultimately up to us. Knowing which energies, possibilities and teachings are available to us at the various stages and cycles of our life can be very impactful. It is akin to driving through life with a map or without. There are many roads available to us and seeing things from a larger perspective or in a greater context can make navigating the terrain a little easier.
This past month we have experienced two of three eclipses, the final one will take place July 1st as a partial solar eclipse with the sun and moon in cancer. A lot has been shaken up this past month and we now are invited to experience the qualities of receptivity, healing and nurturing. Cancer represents the feminine qualities, Mother, our emotional body, our heart centre, our sense of security, safety and our family. We are being gently nudged to allow our thoughts, words, actions and deeds to come from the heart. In our yoga practice we can further support this experience by including a Gentle and Yin focus to our practice this month. Asana (yoga poses) that open the chest and heart will be beneficial. Fish, Camel, and supported chest openers with the breath directed to the heart centre are a few you may wish to include.
Leah McAdie is an astrologer and yoga teacher – personal readings available by request (604.788.9358 or leah@inneressenceyoga.ca).
Rarely do we think about the amount of water we come in contact with, let alone about how it’s heated. A surprising 20% of energy consumption in a house goes towards this process, in order to make our showers warm and our dishwashers run! In the process, both gas and electricity produce toxic by products, either in our homes or at the site of the energy production. One way we can start to cut back on overuse is to simply lower the temperature of our heaters. Summer is a great time to use this method, as rarely do we need the warming up we do in winter. Another idea is to insulate the heater itself. This can be done with blankets or padding to keep the unit contained and enclosed in the process. Water in general is a commodity we take for granted, so even a few mindful practices start to make a broader impact. If you’re looking to cut back on water usage in general, a good place to start is by installing low-flow shower heads or a low pressure toilet tank. If we choose to make small choices in how we run our lives and homes, it may be a small drop in the bucket, but it’s still a drop.