Journey into Yoga Therapy Day 2 of 10

Journey into Yoga Therapy Day 2 of 10

Woke up to a wet, drizzly Calgary morning. It was a little cool however the temperature was perfect for our 5km walk to class. We stopped at Starbucks as usual so that we had a warm drink for the walk. Today started with a Yoga Therapy practice for an hour and fifteen minutes....yummy, always feels so good. Today we explored the relationship between the ribcage and pelvis. We explored the connection from pelvic floor to solar plexus. We looked at the chakras, muscles and fascia that come into play with this area of the body. We explored the breath, with movement and with straw breathing observing the sensations in our bodies. It was a day full of great information but it is going to take a few more days to integrate this into my own body. I love the fact that no matter how much we know there is always more we can learn.

Journey into Yoga Therapy Day 1 of 10

Journey into Yoga Therapy Day 1 of 10

I am in Calgary for 10 days of Therapeutic Yoga Teacher training. I am in the final phase of a very long journey. This time I am coming into the program with a high level of competence and expertise. I feel far more relaxed and confident and I am excited to learn more and deepen my skills.

The day started with an early flight out of Toronto with 3 of my Therapeutic training pals. It was a pretty bumpy flight and I came off the plane feeling car sick, a few sips of ginger ale while waiting for my bags and all was well again. When we landed I got a text from my hubby welcoming me to Calgary (he is working here for 2 months). He flew out to Toronto later that day so I did not get to see him. We arrived by taxi at the house only to be locked out for over an hour. We made ourselves comfortable on the front porch and dived into our suitcases which were full of food for lunch. Once settled we headed off for a walk and shopping at Community, the local organic grocery store. Later that evening one of our colleagues, Carrie, drove in from Ferny, BC. We went out to dinner at the hippest, most famous vegetarian restaurant in Calgary called the Coup. The food was very expensive and pretty good but Sandi Stiel's (Thestuffedpantry.com) recipes are just soooo much better. Carrie and I stayed up until midnight talking Therapeutic Yoga. It was so great to have an opportunity to exchange ideas and share experiences. There are only a handful of us in Canada that are trained by Susi Hately (Functional Synergy) so opportunities like this are to be savoured

Nicole in Calgary: Last Day

Last day in Calgary. We have a morning session to wrap up then it is off to the airport. I will be back in TO by 9 pm and I am so excited!!!! The plan after 12 intense, challenging and incredible days of learning: rest, relax hang out with my family and get my hair cut (finally, my hair is out of control).

Nicole in Calgary: Day 8 & 9

Friday we wrapped up our sessions on Anxiety and Depression. We learned how to use Pranayam, Yoga Postures and Meditation as tools to help individuals suffering from Anxiety and Depression. We learned, discussed and danced, it was so much fun. In the evening we hung out at our house for a while, enjoyed a glass of wine and then went out for Thai dinner. It was delicious and we had leftovers for lunch the next day...yummy. As the night drew to a close we sat in our living room on our Lazy Boy Recliners sipping honey, ginger, lemon with hot water and let our dinner digest.

Saturday was an incredible day of learning about Anatomy, Biomechanics and Kinesiology as it relates to getting people out of pain. Many concepts were reinforced and I learned so many new things. Every moment I spend doing this work is further confirmation that I am in the right place and that being a Yoga Therapist is not my job, it is my calling in life, it is my passion. I get so excited about the potential people I can help with this ground breaking work. This form of Yoga Therapy is unique and extremely effective at getting people out of pain, I can't wait to get home and begin sharing all that I have learned with everyone at East Village.

Nicole in Calgary: Day 7

Yesterday and today have been long full days packed full with information. Yesterday we focused on exercises and case studies. Today and tomorrow we are focusing on anxiety and depression. Our facilitator for today and tomorrow is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is a Yoga Therapist in the Mental Health Department at the University of Pittsburg Medical Centre. In addition she specializes in working with people who are in prison, or youth detention centres teaching Pranayam (breath exercises) and yoga. What an incredible day we had today, it is was an honour to learn from such a committed and inspiring person. She gave us a glimpse of a yoga class she would teach to her teenage clients suffering from anxiety and depression; we practised to the song Halo by Beyonce. It was so cool. Tonight is jammies and tv as we unwind from a full day.

Nicole in Calgary: Day 5

The day started early with a 3 kn walk to our training. It was beautiful, not too cold and the sound of snow crunching beneath our boots. We began with a 45 minute yoga therapy practice. The majority of the day was spent reviewing the work of the last six months, dissecting poses, and discussing cases. The cold snap has lifted and it turned out to be an exquisite day today, the sun was shining. At the end of the day we visited a local yoga studio for a Hatha Class. It was very nice but I prefer the Teachers at East Village. I know, I know I co-own the place and that makes me biased but I really do prefer the incredibly talented Teachers at East Village.

Nicole in Calgary: Day 4

This morning my roommate, Fortunata and I checked out of our hotel and into a lovely little row house just off the main drag downtown. Our colleague Patricia flew in today from Toronto and she will also be sharing the house with us. We spent the day getting settled, picked up some groceries and hung about chatting a drinking ginger tea. Later in the evening Fortunata and I headed out to a yoga class. We basically walked the block, and then another, and then another until we finally came to the realization that we were not going to find the studio. Was it 10 st and 14 ave or 10 ave and 14st, so confusing. Turned out that the address was in the NW and we were looking in SW. We will try again tomorrow.

Nicole in Calgary: Day 3

Day 3 - Yoga Therapy Teacher Certification

I am back in my hotel room sharing a bottle of wine and snacks with my roommate Fortunata and watching the Golden Globe awards. The weather here has not improved at all, it is still frickin frackin freezin. Thank goodness for fleece thermal underwear, long down filled coats, warm hats and mitts and most of all my cozy leg warmers that my fav business partner knitted for me. Thanks Christina!!!! We had a great day today. The focus for today was on business building. Setting and making detailed plans for the execution of very specific objectives, now I know what I need to do and how to execute them. I am so excited to share what I have learned with Christina. Tomorrow is a day off and then on Tuesday I begin 10 grueling days of training. I am thinking about you all and I hope all is well...send me positive energy as I embark on a very challenging journey.

Nicole in Calgary: Day 2

Day 2 in Calgary doing my Yoga Therapy Teacher Certification. I woke up at the crack of dawn this morning to a dark and cold Calgary morning. The temperature was minus 22 with a wind chill of minus 34 degrees. Day one of a two day business training course for Yoga Teachers began at 7:30am. The day was spent distilling down my core values. I was given a list of 108 values and had to distill it down to 5 core values. My core values were as follows: humor, integrity, love, loyalty and family. The point of the exercise was to determine if my daily life truly reflected my core values. I am proud to say that yes, my daily life absolutely reflected my 5 core values. In addition, the exercises we did today illuminated what I already knew. That is, every moment I spend in my business at East Village brings me great joy and happiness and East Village in turn supports my core values of humor, integrity, love, loyalty and family. It was reassuring to realize that the balance I seek I have already have

Nicole in Calgary: Day 1

It was an early morning this morning. My flight was slightly delayed but it was a great flight on Air Canada. I arrived safely in Calgary to -22 degrees with a -30 wind chill factor. During a quick trip to the grocery store my nostril hairs and eyelashes froze and my earlobes nearly fell off. I looked like the Michelin Man with all the layers I needed to protect myself from the bitterly cold wind. Right now I am on the 21st floor of the Sandman Hotel in Downtown Calgary. It is dusk, my room has a huge window overlooking the city, I can see smoke billowing out the chimneys of the highrises, the buildings are illuminated, there is traffic in the streets down below. The city is emptying for the night.

New Year's Detox

Why Detox? Why Not! Most of us spent at least some part of 2010 putting toxins in our bodies. Why not spend 3 days flushing those toxins out. Feel lighter, fresher, cleaner and more energized. See the menu plan below and corresponding recipes. We are all Detoxing from Jan 5-7 inclusive. Join us and post your experiences, questions, concerns, successes and triumphs here on our blog or on our fan page (see the link on the right hand margin to be a fan of East Village: Yoga Pilates Wellness on facebook)

Menu

Day 1
Master Cleanse
Breakfast - Good Morning Smoothie
Master Cleanse
Lunch – Carrot & Orange Soup
Master Cleanse
Dinner– Watermelon & Mango Salad

Day 2
Master Cleanse
Breakfast – Morning Calm Juice
Master Cleanse
Lunch - Carrot Soup
Master Cleanse
Dinner – Marinated Tofu Salad

Day 3
Master Cleanse
Breakfast – Grape Shake
Master Cleanse
Lunch – Carrot Soup
Master Cleanse
Dinner – Basil, Orange, Peach Salad

Recipes

Master Cleanse
2 Tbs. freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1/10 tsp cayenne pepper
1 cup of Spring Water

Good Morning Smoothie
½ cup pineapple
½ cup blueberries
Put in a blender and blend, add soy, almond, or rice milk to desired consistency

Carrot & Orange Soup (makes 3-4 servings)
1 Tbs. Olive oil
2 leeks, thinly sliced
6 large carrots, sliced
2 Tbs. Curry powder
1 Tbs. Grated lemon rind
1 cup organic orange juice
1 ½ cups of coconut milk
2 cups vegetable stick
Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat
Add leeks and sauté for 5 minutes until golden
Add carrots, curry powder, lemon rind, orange juice and stock
Bring to a boil, simmer for 10 min.
Cool slightly, puree soup with hand blender until smooth then add coconut milk, heat for another 5 min.
Morning Calm Juice
2 cucumbers
8 stalks of celery
8 kale leaves (stalk and leaf)
¼ inch piece of ginger
Place all ingredients in a juicer and drink

Marinated Tofu Salad
1 cup of tofu, cut into cubes
¼ head of lettuce, leaves separated
1 tomato cut into wedges
¼ cup of bean sprouts
1 carrot sliced
1tsp of sesame seeds, toasted
Marinate with 1 tbs. of bragg liquid amino, ½ tsp olive oil, ¼ tsp. chopped fresh ginger, 1 tsp lemon juice
Grape Shake
1 medium bunch of red grapes
2 cups of watermelon with rind
1 Orange
2 mint leaves
Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth



Watermelon & Mango Salad
5 cups of watermelon, seeded and cubed
1 ½ cups of mango, cubed
3 Tbs. Orange juice, fresh
2 tsp. Lime juice
2 tsp. Maple syrup
6 mint leaves, sliced
Basil, Orange, Peach Salad
¼ cup basil
2 oranges, peeled and sliced
1 peach, peeled and sliced
¼ red onion, sliced
Apple and Garlic dressing
1tsp garlic crushed
1tsp apple cider vinegar
1tsp safflower oil

Good Luck Everyone!!!