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Challenge Yourself, Improve Your Health, Enhance Your Life! |
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International Day of Peace
September 21, 2009
"Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at the goal"
-Martin Luther King Jr.
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Additional Classes |
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Effective October 1st, we will be adding the following class times:
We always welcome and encourage feedback on class scheduling and times. |
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Yoga Clothing |
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Bikram West is excited to offer two lines of yoga apparel. Please take a look at our new display!
The "Shakti Yoga Wear" has started to arrive and we look forward to recieving the "LP Studio Line" (Lisa Pelzer's performance-driven yoga wear) into the studio over the next few weeks.
Feedback regarding styles, preferences, sizing, comfort and any other requests help us to order the clothing that accomodates you and your yoga practice. | |
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| Bikram West Client Appreciation Sale - ONE DAY ONLY! |
20% Off - 12 Month Unlimited Membership
Bikram West will be having a Client Appreciation Sale on Saturday September 26th for ONE DAY ONLY (rumour has it that the accountant is out of town golfing on this Saturday only - so no exceptions can be made to this one day only sale!).
Regular Annual Membership - Sale Price $800
If you practice 3 times per week = $5.38 / practice
If you practice 4 times per week = $4.04 / practice
If you practice 5 times per week = $3.30 / practice
Student Annual Membership - Sale Price $720
If you practice 3 times per week = $4.85 / practice
If you practice 4 times per week = $3.63 / practice
If you practice 5 times per week = $3.00 / practice
The studio will be open with front desk staff from 7:45 am - 5:30 pm. Please come in anytime during the day to take advantage of this opportunity. Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support and presence at the studio. We appreciate you very much and hope that this shows you our gratitude.
Note - GST will be added to prices and this offer can not be combined with any other promotional offer.
Please also note that this annual pass will be activated once your current monthly or class pass has expired.
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Welcome to Amanda Pruden |
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Bikram West would like to welcome Amanda Pruden to our teaching team. Amanda joins us from Kamloops, having completed her teacher training in Palm Desert. Please check out our website for Amanda's teaching profile. Take a moment to introduce yourself to Amanda the next time you are in to practice!
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| 30/60 Day Challenge Beginning SOON! |
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Complete a 60 Day Bikram Challenge and the NEXT MONTH IS ON US!!
Take Bikram Yoga West Edmonton's 30/60 Day Challenge and experience for yourself the amazing physical, mental and spiritual benefits of a daily Bikram Yoga practice. Doing Bikram Yoga everyday will test you, heal you, and challenge you!
This is the FIRST time Bikram West has offered a 60 Day Challenge opportunity. Chose from either a 30 day or 60 day challenge with both commencing October 1st, 2009.
Register now as spots are limited and they will fill up fast! We are happy to put your class packages and memberships on hold during the challenge. Is this your first challenge? Questions? A little apprehensive or nervous to try it out? PLEASE ask us your questions! We have all been there! Be willing to "dive into the challenge". We are all so much stronger than we give ourselves credit for.
Date: Begins on October 1st, 2009, lasts 30 or 60 days
Cost: 30 Day Challenge $99.00
60 Day Challenge $198.00 (December is free upon full completion of challenge!!)
"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." - Francis of Assisi
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Karma Class Saturday October 3rd -"The Support Network" |
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Please join us on Saturday October 3rd to practice a "Karma Yoga Class" in support of "The Support Network Edmonton".
"The Support Network, Edmonton's Crisis and 211 Centre, is a safe place to contact when life hurts. We are a charitable organization whose mandate is to strengthen and support individuals and families seeking community supports and resources for themselves or a family member, and/or experiencing distress or crisis."
"Every 8 minutes someone reaches out to the Support Network. Every 8 minutes we provide the support and information a person may need to build an action plan for the future. Building hope... one person at a time." (The Support Network - Home Page)
The practice of Karma Yoga is "the yoga of action". Please come out and assist a very worthy organization that exists to help others that are in need!
Cost - By donation only ($5.00 minimum, class passes not in effect)
Date - Saturday October 3rd 8:15 am class (full 90 minute Bikram class)
This is a great opportunity to bring a new friend to try out Bikram Yoga, see the studio and support a great cause. Thank you for your support!
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Featured Students - "The Tomanek Trio" |
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Bikram Yoga West Edmonton would like to introduce and thank the "Tomanek Trio" for agreeing to be our featured students in the Fall newsletter! This vibrant yogini trio is composed of Shauna, Leanne, and mom Jill. Shauna (right) is one of our teachers at Bikram West. She's likely known by you for her "Shauna Savasana Funny Stories"!. Leanne (left), her sister, works on the front desk and is leaving for Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in October. Jill (center), a.k.a. "mom", rounds off the trio and is a yoga teacher herself. She regularily shows her kids a thing or two in the yoga room bringing years of experience to share with us all. Shauna is well known for her "20 Dollars to Leave the Room Rule". The BIG question is ... will sister Leanne up the ante to "30 Bucks to Bolt" when she starts to teach!?
Thanks to these 3 amazing yoginis, from the "inside-out" and from "the bones to the skin", for their presence, humour and dedication to Bikram West. Please stop by the community board at the studio to enjoy these ladies' bios / stories.
A picture is worth a thousand words...
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BYWE - Wishing our Teacher Trainees Good Luck |
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Everyone at Bikram West would like to wish Leanne Tomanek and Sharon Kyrzyk the best of luck at Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in Las Vegas. Training takes place from October 4th - December 5th. Trainees practice 2 full Bikram classes daily (with only one day off per week! - in total 12 yoga classes per week!) Each day is packed with seminars and demonstrations of yoga asana, anatomy, yoga philosophy, posture clinics, and much much more!
If you have any interest in reading more about Bikram Yoga Teacher training and just what the gals will learn and experience, please visit the Bikram Headquarters website @ www.bikramyoga.com.
We look forward to having them guide us through the series when they get back home.
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| The Same 26 Postures and NEVER THE SAME CLASS TWICE!!! |
A question that gets asked at the yoga studio is "Why the same 26 postures and verbal consistency within each class? Will I get bored with the postures and will they continue to challenge me physically, mentally, and emotionally?"
If you have practiced Bikram Yoga overtime, you will likely appreciate the fact that there is never the same class experience twice. As you continue to grow in your practice, the postures grow along with you, as well as their subtly and potential for exploring increasing levels of difficulty. Please read below for some of the important reasons why the Bikram Series is designed with such precision.
1. The Science of Bikram Yoga - The Bikram series is a highly organized, progressive, and scientific series. Each posture prepares the body in all aspects (physically, mentally, emotionally) for the next posture to come. One posture "prepares and unfolds the body for the next" (ie. similar to the "unpeeling" of the layers of an onion) The results of the specific order of the Bikram series are remarkable. This is due to the intellegence of the series design and order, and maintaining this in its purity.
2. Recognizing and Appreciating the Nature of Impermance - This is the idea that "We can never stand in the same river twice" (author unknown). One of the premises of a yoga practice is that there is always movement and change in the body and the mind. Observe this natural movement and change within a consistent series of postures. We learn to let go of holding on to the same "expected" experience every day. "Some people think its holding on that makes one strong; sometimes it's letting go" (Sylvia Robinson).
3. A "Control" in the Experiment - As we practice Bikram Yoga, we realize tremendous change over time, in all aspects of our life. The Hatha Yogi uses his body, asana (postures) and pranayama (breath) to create transformation "inside-out, bones to the skin, fingertips to the toes" (Bikram Choudhury). With posture consistency, we can look back in an objective fashion at our progress and growth over time, recognizing our sincere effort and transformation!
4. The Moving Meditation - The consistency in the ordering of posture facilitates the aspect of a "moving meditation". Once we become familiar with the series, our focus can turn to the breath, the flow, and the subtler aspects of our yoga experience. Through this repetition we are able to take a non-judgemental "observer" role within our practice.
5. Limitless Depth and Possibilities - Within the postures, there is limitless possibilities for growth. The belief that the yoga posture is finite is only a limitation created by our own mind. Practice with a beginners mind to open the body and the mind to limitless growth!
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Feature Posture - Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Janushirasana |
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Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Janushirasana
Standing Separate Leg to Knee Pose
Benefits:
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Stimulates the thyroid gland to improve metabolism
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Good for depression
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Brings blood through the brain - good for memory loss
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Good for diabetic conditions
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Assists in regulating pancreas and kidneys
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Creates extension of the joints and spine
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Helps conditions of constipation, colitis, low blood pressure, appendicitis and menstrual disorders
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Helps rheumatism of the lower spine
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Strengthens legs
Tips:
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Setup is very important - as you go into the posture be aware of keeping the back leg thigh turned forward and the hips in one line
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Look at your belly button throughout the posture to create a deeper compression of the thyroid
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If the neck becomes sore in the posture, focus on caving the chest inwards
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Eventually both legs are straight with flexed thighs
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Priority is always placed on keeping the forehead touching the knee, it is OK to bend the knee and bring it to the forehead | |
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