|
Challenge Yourself, Improve Your Health, Enhance Your Life! |
"It is certain that an atom of goodness on the path of faith is never lost"
-Rumi
| |
| MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM BIKRAM YOGA WEST EDMONTON!!!
| |
|
Christmas Holiday Hours |
|
Dec. 24th
6:00 am
9:15 am
3:30 pm
Dec. 25th
Closed
Merry Christmas!! Eat, drink, and be MERRY!
Dec. 26th
10:15 am
Cleanse,detoxify, sweat it out!!
Dec. 27th-Dec 30th
Full regular Schedule
Dec. 31st
6:00 am
9:15 am
3:30 pm
Jan 1st, 2010
Closed
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
January 2nd
Full schedule resumes | |
|
|
Food Bank Donations |
Throughout the month of December, we will have a box in the lobby for the Edmonton Food Bank. Please take a moment to donate a food or clothing item for someone less fortunate than ourselves...
Food, clothing, toys, warm socks ... The ability to give and share is our greatest gift ever - lets take extra time to use this gift during the holiday season!
Thank you kindly for your generosity.
|
| Weekend Posture Clinic with Ida Ripley |
Bikram Yoga West Edmonton is thrilled to be hosting Ida Ripley for a Weekend Seminar December 11th - December 13th, 2009.
Please note that to accomodate this seminar, the following 2 classes will be cancelled. All other weekend classes will run as per the regular schedule!
Friday December 11th 5:30 pm - Cancelled
Saturday December 12th 3:30 pm - Cancelled
Although the seminar quickly sold out, we have a waiting list and would be more than happy to put your name down! Thanks to everyone who expressed such terrific interest. It is your enthusiasm, interest, and participation that allows us to bring different yogis and seminars to the studio! It is a wonderful way to deepen your yoga practice.Thank you.
Ida Ripley is the 5 time Western Canadian Hatha Yoga Champion and currently the silver medalist in the International Bishnu Charan Ghosh Cup Yoga Asana Championship. Through her years of competition, training and teaching, Ida has worked closely with Bikram and many of his respected teachers. She has gained much experience and expertise and is considered by Bikram as one of his senior teachers. Ida brings energy and enthusiasm to her seminars and classes. She hopes to inspire students to delve deeper into the practice of yoga and learn, as she has, that anything is possible.
|
|
Welcome home to Leanne and Sharon!! |
|
Bikram West congratulates and welcomes home Leanne Tomanek and Sharon Kyrzyk from Bikram Yoga Teacher Training Fall 2009. Both Sharon and Leanne studied with Bikram and senior teachers for 9 weeks, practicing 2 classes per day. 300 teacher trainees participated in training! Please keep your eyes open for Sharon and Leanne on the Bikram West schedule. It is great to have a pair of new Bikram Teachers to share their knowledge and experiences.
|
| Congratulations to 30/60 Day Challengers!! |
|
"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." - Francis of Assisi
A huge congratulations to all of the yogis who completed the 30/60 Day Challenge. Participating in a yoga challenge requires much strength, depth, determination, compassion and discipline.
Bikram West has 5 BRAVE AND DETERMINED "60 Day Challengers" who completed all 60 days of yoga, a huge accomplishment! We are pleased to give the following 60 Day Yoga "Peaceful Warriors" a One Month Unlimited Yoga Membership for December. Rumor has it that one or two of these challengers may infact continue their challenge past 60 days!
Congratulations to Trisha Barranoik,Lesa Patermann, Doug Garwasiuk, Michelle Patterson-Nipp, and Joelle Hutton..... 60 MINUTES of Bikram yoga can be a huge challenge let alone 60 days - Way to go!
|
|
"A Stocking Full of Sanskrit" - Wishes for a Happy Holiday |
|
We often practice our Hatha yoga day in and day out, never having the opportunity to enjoy many of the Sanskrit terms that so richly describe the yoga practice. As the year draws to a close, it seems fitting to wish each other health and happiness for the present moment and for the year to come. Enjoy this traditional "Peace mantra" in the Sanskrit language of Yoga and its translation to follow! Namaste.
Sahanavavatu (Peace Mantra Greeting)
This ancient peace mantra is often used as a "universal " message of peace and prosperity, and harmony amongst teacher(s) and student(s).
AUM saha navavatu, saha nau bhunaktu
Saha veeryam karvaavahai
Tejasvi naa vadhita mastu
maa vid vishaa va hai
AUM shaantih, shaantih, shaantih
Meaning - Let us together be protected and let us together be nourished. Let us together join our mental forces in strength for the benefit of humanity. Let our efforts at learning be luminous and filled with joy, and endowed with the force of purpose. Let us never be poisoned with the seeds of hatred for anyone. Let there be peace and serenity in the three universes.
Namaste "Nama" = bow / "as" = I / "te" = to you
"I bow to you"
The highest in me honours the highest in you. A manner to greet those by showing respect and honour, reverance.
Namaste,
Bikram Yoga West Edmonton
|
|
Featured Student - Candice Chow "The Silent Yogi!" |
|
Candice Chow is the December Feature Student. a.k.a. "The Silent Yogi #007"!! Candice usually "sneaks" quietly past us at the front desk and into the yoga room. Her practice definately speaks for itself. Candice has a beautiful yoga practice. Aside from the practice of yoga, Candice is a wonderful photographer. Please read more about Candice and enjoy a few lovely pictures! Thanks for practicing with Bikram West (and also for cutting and styling Jules and Jan's hair!!!) Candice is a superb hair stylist! A yogi of many gifts. Enjoy reading about Candice and her Bikram practice...
I began practicing Bikram in January 2009 and since then it's all I can talk about and I have been addicted to it ever since!! I was shocked and amazed at how different I felt after only a week in the studio and soon realized that I needed to feel this amazing all the time! Bikram Yoga has inspired and enriched my life in so many ways. I feel like a new person, a better person, someone who is in control of my life and my body and I love it. I now schedule my life around feeling this good and make sure that Bikram is a part of my daily routine.
Who would have thought that breathing was so difficult? After just a few classes I became aware that I don't breath. Well, not properly at least. Learning to breath correctly was one of the biggest hurdles to overcome and it has become the greatest tool I have taken from Bikram. That one, simple technique has help me become a completely different person today. My lack of patience and the frustrations of dealing with everyday stresses in my life are a thing of the past as long as I remember to B R E A T H!
I love the physical, mental and emotional challenge I get during the class. I have never felt so strong and confident! Ten years ago, I was in an accident and compressed my lower spine. I was forced to rely on constant massage and chiropractor treatments to help me feel better but it never lasted. I needed something to change, I needed to be in charge of how I felt, and I needed it NOW! "When the Student is Ready the Teacher Will Appear" It was time, and I found it! I love that it's my hard work that is making me feel great, I am in the best shape of my life and Bikram keeps me coming back for more.
After just 11 months, I am no longer holding my breath for results. It just happens and everything is falling (or lifting) into place. Whether you are in the room or out in the world you can accomplish whatever it is that you put your mind to and I owe it all to Bikram. I look at life differently now, I have and continue to gain so much from every class, it's like I have a new lease on life and I can't wait to see what's next!
All that being said, I don't know if I would be in the place I am today if I hadn't found this particular Bikram studio. I have been to other studios and have never found a place that even comes close to level of caring and support that I experience here. It really is my home away from home and I cannot thank my new Bikram family for all they have helped me achieve.
The best thing I have ever done for myself is starting yoga. My friends and family see the changes in me too!
Namaste
|
|
Feedback - Addition of New Class Times |
|
We are looking into the New Year with the intention of adding additional class times to accomodate for your schedule. We would appreciate your feedback with regards to potential practice times. We have been asked about adding a lunch hour class time option. The class time would be 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Prior to adding this time, we would like to know if there are numbers and/or interest to sustain this class. Please let us know if this class time would interest you. |
| Enjoy giving the "Gift of Yoga" |
We would love to provide you with Bikram West personalized gift cards for yoga and/or yoga wear of any denomination or combination to help fit your Christmas/Holiday gift needs. Please call or email Jan@bikramyogawestedmonton.ca with any holiday gift requests that we might assist you in creating!
|
|
Feature Posture - Tadasana |
|
Benefits:
- Calms the nervous system in preparation for the floor Savasana
- Assists in correcting bad posture
- Increases hip and knee mobility
- Stretches the spine
- Releases abdominal tension
- Relieves lower back pain
- Strengthens oblique muscles to prevent hernia
- Good for circulatory problems, arthritis and rheumatism
Tips:
-
As with other standing one legged postures, the standing leg remains flexed with the knee cap lifted.
-
Imagine gravity rooting the body from the hips down through the floor while feeling a sense of anti-gravity from the waist through the top of the head.
-
Flex both buttocks on the side of the bent knee.
-
Keep the lower back flat (Sometimes a sway back occurs) while lifting the abdomen | |
|
|
|
|
|
