Earth Hour Candlelight Restorative yoga: Proceeds to Habitat for Humanity

 Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome's Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour. If you are unfamiliar with Earth Hour you can go to www.earthhour.org  for more details.

During this special candlelit class  we'll explore restorative asana (postures), pranayama (breathwork) and a seated meditation. It is suitable for all levels.

All proceeds will go to support Habitat for Humanity. One of our yoginis, Helena, is part of a local team that will be travelling to South America in April to build homes for families who do not have safe and sanitary places to live. This year on earth day allow your body and mind  to restore as we give that same gift to the earth AND help provide safe housing for families in need at the same time. I can't think of a better way to spend one hour of your life!

For the comfort and safety of everyone participating in this lights-out class we will not be admitting latecomers. The studio doors will be locked at 8:30pm as we turn out the lights. Thank you in advance for your understanding and see you there as we support the earth and all it's citizens together!

Date: Sat, Mar 31st, Time: 8:30-9:30pm Cost: $14 +tax *Pre-registration is required. Click here to register and pay online.

Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Helena Butler & Family

About the Habitat for Humanity Project: Here is some information provided by Helena on the Habitat for Humanity volunteers and project.

Our team is made up of 12 local family members and friends and we will be travelling to La Matanza, Argentina in April to work on two homes. This is an ongoing project in an area of the city which is unfortunately overwhelmed with families living in unsafe, inadequate housing without proper sewage and is one of the poorest municipalities surrounding Buenos Aires. Waste management in this area is a serious problem as the area lacks its own waste collection program which has turned part of the neighbourhood literally into a garbage dump. Potable water for family consumption is also limited and difficult to access due to limited road infrastructure and no public transportation. Our first project will be to put the finishing touches on one family's home by sanding and painting the final product. Our second project will be to dig the foundation of a new home and then mix, by hand, the cement for the foundation in addition to preparing the rebar for the foundation.

Restorative Yoga Workshop & Teacher Training

Shakti Teacher Highlight: Robin Penny & Heart Flow Yoga

Inspired Fitness 

Submitted by yogini and yoga teacher trainee, Mel Squarey

I've been inspired. Really, I've been motivated - toward a new goal. After dealing with a few body issues in the past and currently with a particular injury, I've had to shift my whole paradigm of what I think yoga is. Actually, my definitions of yoga may change from day to day at will, kind of like a cannon on loose fire with no direct target. Firing at will sir! Honestly, I love that about myself. I don't hold too strictly about what yoga is or how it should be. That's not the point. 

I'm not the average lady, not in size, shape, or fitness. In the past, I often got caught up in those facts, being insecure about them. I think average is a little boring, and to be honest I think that most people are far from even regarding themselves as average. I got called "fit" today, by a medical professional who's helping me with some physical issues. She caught me by surprise when she said "You're healing so fast because you're so fit. It's good to see in patients."  My brain deep-fried. I have never really considered myself fit. Fit? Are you really serious? My brain was on that well-known track of self-discrimination.    

I was stopped at a red light in my car when it hit me. I guess I am pretty fit. I've committed myself to daily practice for about 3 months now. I'm aware of my body in space. I can hike a 20km round-trip in the back-country. I can climb up a rock face at the edge of the ocean. The actual issue here is that my mind tends to compare me with those magazine people when I think about physical achievement.      

The way that I do my yoga, the way that I look, they're really just unimportant. I'm actually quite healthy and if I make these unrealistic comparisons then I'm not practicing yoga at all, am I?     Sometimes my hips are tight and sometimes I have to do a pose in variation, but as my teacher Bobby always says "You're still getting the same benefits". One of my other teachers, Meaghan, always talks to the class about their poses being beautiful. I really appreciate and find gratitude in that.    

In the moment, when I feel like my pose is actually beautiful, I get brought back to the point of my yoga. To find that moving meditation that's life-changing and self-promoting. I get to use my body in the shape and size that it is in. I can't make comparisons to other people's yoga because that's not mine. We are part of the same circle and what looks one way when I do it, is equal to the way that those people in the magazine do it. I am fit. I am practicing my yoga in my way, everyday. I am grateful for that opportunity and the opportunity that my body and my teachers give me each time I approach the mat. 

If you are a student of yoga and would like to share an inspiring moment, favourite pose, yoga travel experience or anything else related to living your yoga you can send your piece (one to three paragraphs) to bobby@shaktiyogastudio.ca.

Celebrate St. Patricks Day this year with this Green Energy Healing soup (a much healthier alternative to celebrating with green beer) As you skim the ingredients you will easily see how it got it's name. This is a tried and true recipe of Helena Butler, a beautiful yogini and also a Shakti yoga teacher trainee. If you are like her and would like to pay homage to any British roots you can also add a heaping dollop of Marmite for flavour at the very end. 

Ingredients:

Veggie Stock or water

2 Large Potatoes

2 Medium Onions

6 cloves of garlic

1 bag of Spinach

1/2 head of Cabbage

1 Bunch of Broccoli

1 Carrot

1 Zuchini

6 stalks of celery

1/2 head of fennel if available

1 tsp. of Sea Salt

Optional seasonings thyme, rosemary or dill.

Instructions:

Use all organic vegetables. prefereably

Saute in olive oil the potatoes, onions, and garlic.

Add spinach, cabbage, broccoli, carrot, zuchini, celery and fennel.

Add stock until vegetables are covered. 1 tsp of Celtic Sea Salt or salt to taste. Simmer until vegetables are soft and then puree mixture.

Top with croutons, sour cream, and/or crumble with fried onions and enjoy!