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.