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JOIN OUR LIST
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PRIZE DRAW SURVEY RESULTS
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Thank you to the 350 people who filled out the Yoga Studio South online survey. That is an incredible response! I am delighted that as many as 93 per cent of you are satisfied with us, and of those more than two thirds are "highly satisfied." Nonetheless there was important feedback on how we could do things better. While more than half of you said the switch to drop-in classes has been positive and given you more choices, some of you said you missed the discipline of having to come to registered classes. We are listening and many classes in January will be both registered and drop in. It is particularly important for beginners to have a structured, progressive experience before they start dropping in. So we'll be encouraging those new to Iyengar Yoga to come to registered classes in January. For details and online registration click here. Cherie Ratte won the draw for filling in the survey. She receives a one month unlimited or 10 time pass. Congratulations! Ten others win 2 buddy passes each. |
PROUD SUPPORTERS
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TEACHER NEWS
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Many of Yoga Studio South teachers continunally upgrade their skills to keep their teaching fresh and to deepen their knowledge. Here Joann Kalantzis gets instruction in Ustrasana (Camel) at a recent workshop in Victoria with senior U.S. Iyengar Teacher Chris Saudek. The workshop was also attended by Isabel Oliveira and Rob Walker
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YOGA FUND RAISER
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The Yoga Studios are proud to have supported on November 16, a 108-minute yoga event to raise money to help end extreme poverty. Organizer, OneYoga, brought together 225 participants at the Telus Convention Centre. Led by certified yoga instructors, the event catered to yoga practitioners of all skill levels and ranges of experience.
Participants collected cash sponsorship, and also utilized an online pledging site provided by ChristmasFuture, to raise funds for holistic and sustainable development projects. In the first annual event, $15,620 was raised in support.
"OneYoga was an enormous success. It was powerful to see how the yoga community came together to change the world," says Leif Baradoy, the OneYoga event planner.
"Everyone involved had a great experience and many people were keen to know more details about OneYoga 2009. This year's event has set the stage for continued excellence in coming years," says Baradoy.
All the funds raised through OneYoga go to projects, such as a project aimed at ending child labour in the mines of Potosi, Bolivia or a project educating children in Sierra Leone. For details go to www.christmasfuture.org/dt/projects
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CLASS CHANGES
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Some class changes you may want to make a note of:
JCC: Wednesday 7.50 pm canceled until January when it will be taught be Isabel Oliveira.
Wellington Square:
Thursday Evenings: Starting in January there will be two classes only, Level 1 at 5.45 pm and Discover at 7.30 pm. both taught by Joann Kalantzis.
Friday: Starting in January there will not be a Karma Class on Friday at 6 pm.
Monday at 9.15 am will be taught by Sandy Martino starting in January. Welcome back Sandy!
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Greetings!
It is incredible the speed with which the current world recession has overtaken us and we have not seen the worst of it yet. At times like this  it is important to invest in ourselves and our sanity.Yoga is more important to us now than ever. The physical yoga helps to ground us and leave us feeling more peaceful, and the secular philosophy of yoga asks us to do our absolute best in life and then surrender to the outcome of our efforts as beyond our control. Those Yoga Studio students who do yoga at home or in class three times a week report enormous personal benefits to their physical, mental and spiritual health. Student of the month Tyler Wadell puts it well in another part of this newsletter.  I hope yoga helps you enjoy the festive season without being overwhelmed by the stresses of seasonal and economic pressures. Sincerely, 
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"The Michaelangelo of Yoga." - BBC TV
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BKS Iyengar's 90th Birthday
This month sees the 90th birthday of yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar, who is the main influence on the teaching at Yoga Studio South.
Even if you hadn't' heard of Iyengar it would be hard to escape his influence on the practice of yoga worldwide. Time Magazine recognized him as among the "100 most influential people in the world." Many of his innovations have become standard features in yoga classes: He changed the way we think about alignment and developed anatomically precise terms to convey it; pioneered the use of props as learning tools; and taught how to minimize esoteric Hindu trappings without sacrificing the classic quest for union of body, mind, and soul. One of his most significant gifts, however, has been the use of yoga as a therapeutic tool. His discoveries have provided evidence of yoga's power to deal with  a host of maladies, and the results of his work have raised the credibility of yoga in the scientific and medical communities - and provided a springboard for Eastern and Western healers to find ways to harness yoga's power to alleviate suffering. Happy Birthday Guruji (guru friend).
Some of Calgary Iyengar Teachers and Trainees
celebrate Iyengar's Birthday
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Students of the Month
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Tyler Waddell and Linda To
I chose Tyler Waddell as one of the two students of the month for December because several teachers remarked on his enthusiasm and commitment to yoga since he began the practice a few months ago. Relatively new to the world of Iyengar Yoga, Tyler waxes lyrically about the benefits:
"I was looking for a new direction to help me better manage the stresses in my life. Since September I have noticed subtle and more pronounced changes. Pranayama (breathing exercises) and asanas (poses) have allowed me to catch up to my heart and mind, enabling me to make better, more informed life choices.
"I am able to check in with myself more. I have become more trusting with myself and the universe.
I am sleeping better and I'm less nervous about the future. I trust that things will be all right no matter which road is traveled." Congratulations Tyler!
No one has come to Yoga Studio South more over the past seven years  than Health for Life store owner Linda To, who is the other December Student of the Month. She describes her experience of Iyengar Yoga:
"After a year of running my business as a health store owner I thought if I want to be a stronger and healthier I need do something about it. It was 7 years ago when I found Yoga Studio South close to my store. I had no idea about yoga but I wanted to try it anyway. I had been suffering from a lot of pain in my knees, shoulder, neck, wrist and lower back. Now I am feeling a lot better. I love Yoga so much now it is part of my healthy routine that includes exercise, supplements and a good diet." Congratulations Linda!
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Margot Kitchen's workshop
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A Great Success!
More than 40 participants from as far afield as Medicine Hat and Edmonton were inspired by Margot's knowledge, compassion and humor in a 10-hour asana and pranayama workshop at Wellington Square last weekend. Margot will be back for three mini workshops January 24, February 7 and May 2. Click here for details and to register.
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Pose of the Month
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Downward Facing Dog on the Ropes
Doing Adho Mukha Svanasana or Downward Facing Dog using ropes coming from the wall is a fabulous way to get many of the benefits from this pose without taking so much of the strain in the wrists, arms and shoulders. Normal Downward Dog is hard if you have a wrist injury or very tight shoulders. Attaching a rope from the wall to your waist relieves that and allows you to really focus on stretching the upper body away from the hips. If you don't have wall ropes attach a strap or rope around both sides of a door handle with the door open and stretch away from that. For extra relaxation rest the forehead at the hairline on a wood block. Enjoy! Ahh!
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Teacher of the Month
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Trish Robbins
Trish Robbins is one of the most humble yoga teachers, rarely drawing attention to herself, but her quiet determination and clear instruction make her one of the most popular and capable teachers at the Yoga Studios. Never letting her skills slip, she recently completed a year of additional training in the Iyengar Yoga Teacher Training Program and more recently was awarded an international certification with the Iyengar Yoga Association of Canada. Congratulations to Trish, who this weekend teaches a wonderful workshop entitled Relax and Renew. Sounds like something we should all take in at this time of the year!
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OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU - EMPOWER YOUR BEST
At
Yoga Studio South we are working hard to Empower Your Best in Yoga. Our
warm, friendly studios are staffed by encouraging, supportive
teachers who will safely guide you through small classes designed for
every level and expectation -- gently empowering you to become the best
possible version of yourself.This is the true gift of yoga -- and when
you experience it, you'll
feel better and shine more brightly than you ever have.
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