Roadblocks, Fears, and Misconceptions About Yoga

I often hear from people that they "can't" do yoga.  A common one is "I'm not flexible", but there are many other misconceptions, fears, and legitimate concerns out there holding people back. The main practice of yoga is breathing (and if you're reading this you must be breathing - see you can do yoga!)  It doesn't help that we are inundated by media representations of the physical postures (most often models).  I just came across a great blog post about our roadblocks.  Finding the right teacher and venue for yoga can be the key you need to unlock the world of yoga. (we're not all cut out for power-yoga group classes!)

Ayurveda: Science That I Can Dig

            I am currently studying to be a holistic health practioner and am bound to study many interesting subjects throughout the next few years.  My most recent class, Ayurveda, spoke volumes to me.  Our teacher, Dr.Nitin Shah, clarified on our first day that we would not become experts in this introductory course.  After studying Ayurveda full time for 10 years he still considers himself a beginner.  I know I have just dipped my toe into the sea of Ayurvedic knowledge, and I look forward to the continued journey.            

  Here are some of the basics: Ayurveda is the 5000 year old “science of life” that originated in India.  It is a holistic philosophy that believes mind, body & spirit are all factors in our health, as is living in harmony with nature. This science places an emphasis on understanding and accepting your own nature, also known as your dosha. You are born with a particular dosha, and when your dosha is in balance you are healthy.  Many factors contribute to imbalance throughout your lifetime, such as diet, climate, emotions, experiences, etc. Understanding your individual constitution will help to guide you in maintaining the balance of your dosha, and therefore your health. “One size does not fit all” was one of Nitin’s favorite quotes.  Ayurveda rejects nothing, and promotes diversity. It includes food, herbs, yoga, massage, meditation, and lifestyle in its approach to both preventative healthcare and healing. You can get an idea of your constitution/dosha by trying this quiz. Answer the questions based on how you have been primarily throughout your lifetime, not just your recent attributes.

            Once I figured out my dosha, and those of my family and close friends, I was able to digest the science of Ayurveda better, and also gain a deeper understanding of my relationship with myself, others, and the world.  It is fairly impossible to sum up Ayurveda into a short blog post, but I’m hoping this will pique your interest, and perhaps encourage you to dip your own toe into this sea of knowledge. If I haven't caught your interest yet maybe these last Ayurvedic gems will speak to you: "Let your kitchen cabinet be your medicine cabinet" and "No breath = no life.  Know breath = Know life."

HTAP Yoga

I'm teaching free yoga classes for the amazing HTA Program, 519 Community Centre. Fridays 5:30-6:30 p.m, April 13- May 4, 2012.  More info below:

Healthy TransActions is a drop-in program for trans-identified, gender queer and gender questioning youth. You will have the opportunity to explore the fun and fascinating world of active healthy living – sport, social recreation, nutrition and education. This is your chance to get active, enjoy a meal, learn about good food, and share ideas and experiences in a space which is welcoming and tailored to your needs. Join us at The 519 and on our many field trips as we explore indoor and outdoor recreation and nutrition spaces in and around the Greater Toronto Area.
Healthy TransActions welcomes youth of all abilities. Instructors will be on-hand to teach you basic skills and to lead fun non-intimidating games.
Healthy TransActions will provide all sport specific equipment. Come dressed comfortably for fun and ready to participate. Private change room facilities are at all programming locations.
This group is open to anyone age 27 and under who is trans, gender queer or gender questioning and runs every Friday night 5-9.
Healthy TransActions is a drop-in program, so there is no need to sign-up ahead of time.
If you would like more information about Healthy TransActions, have any suggestions for future programming, or would like to sign up:
Barb Besharat
Healthy TransActions Project Coordinator
416-392-6878 x. 4044
Blog Link: http://www.the519.org/blog/2010/11/05/healthy-transactions/
bbesharat@the519.org

Yogic Journeys By An Array Of Awesome Folks

Yoga at 92 with Ms.Porchon Lynch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gip5sjGy8pM

Trans journeys supported by yoga
http://www.originalplumbing.com/index.php/the-basics/interviews/item/731-an-interview-with-a-trans-yogi
http://www.originalplumbing.com/2011/10/04/yoga-anyone/

Musings of a queer yogi
http://www.originalplumbing.com/2011/05/23/nickblog-musings-of-a-queer-yogi/

Inspiring Instructors - Monica Cordes

I recently attended a weekend training with Monica Cordes on providing Yoga to Seniors and was very inspired by her knowledge of and care for this population.  She works tirelessly in the seniors' community providing yoga where there is little to be found, and has developed a curriculum and trained fellow instructors in how they too can lead seniors safely through a yoga practice at all ages and abilities.

You have a passion for sharing yoga with seniors that is infectious when you train other teachers. How did this passion begin, and continue to grow for you?

I began teaching yoga to seniors about 15 years ago, and began by adapting traditional yoga poses using a chair, either to sit on or as an aid to balancing. At first it was intimidating to deal with a group where there were so many health challenges, but the feedback was so positive that I persevered and started to see how much they were getting out of the practice. Five years ago I was looking around for specialized training and found, to my surprise, that there were very few yoga programs geared toward certifying yoga teachers to instruct seniors—only one in all of Canada! I found this quite appalling. Here was a large segment of the population with special needs may span 40+ years of a person’s life and yoga geared specifically to them was almost non-existent. I decided to take all the courses offered, mostly in the United States, and then design a training of my own. This path has proved to be most rewarding for me. I continue to be inspired both by the senior students I teach and the yoga teachers I certify to teach them.

 For the rest of the interview click here.

Yoga at Durham College

Thanks to Sam, Colin, and Barb of the LGBTQ Centre at Durham College for inviting me to come out and lead a queer yoga class.  Being there reminded me of the privileges that as a Toronto queer I may take for granted in terms of services and safety, even though Toronto is by no means perfect in this regard yet either - but given the short distance between Oshawa and Toronto the disparity felt big in this respect.  It was fantastic to work with the students there, many of whom were trying yoga for the first time.  It's lovely to look into a sea of faces grinning through the tricky moments, and to see eyes flickering to a close as relaxation sets in.  Offering and participating in classes for a community where there is an identified commonality, amongst differences, creates a space that is a wonderful opportunity to work within.
Check out a video about the event

Inspiring Instructors - Elisa Hatton

Meet Elisa Hatton, a yoga teacher, community development worker, and artist. One of her most recent projects was coordinating and teaching yoga with an innovative yoga based HIV/AIDS prevention program for youth, called Mate Masie at The Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP), a non-profit organization in Toronto.
Please share with us the Mate Masie philosophy and the objectives and framework of this program.
Mate Masie is represented by an Adrinka symbol, which is a visual symbol originally created by the Akan people of Ghana and the Gyaman of Cote d’Ivoire that represents concepts or aphorisms. The implied meaning of the phrase Mate Masie is "What I Hear, I Keep" or “I understand.” Understanding means wisdom and knowledge, and also represents the importance of taking into consideration what another person has said. It also means placing a high value on self-reflection versus the stereotypes and myths that are perpetuated by our families, cultures, religion, media, and society at large.

for the rest of the interview go to:  http://torontobodymind.ca/blogs/heather-douglas/inspiring-instructors-part-iii-elisa-hatton