Namaste,
We have certainly had a busy Winter at the Yoga House, most recently playing to host to a national Iyengar Yoga teacher's assessment. We could not have done it without you! A big thank you to all of the volunteers and students who contributed to a seamless weekend event. There are a lot of interesting offerings coming this Spring, so take a look at the events listed below.
Our spring session begins the week of April 10, following the Easter weekend. Follow this link to our Spring schedule of classes! Sincerely, |
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Upcoming Events
Movie Nights
Friday, March 23, 7:00pm Yoga Unveiled Part Two
Friday, April 20, 7:30pm Our Breath is Like Our Life
Friday, May 18, 7:00pm 10 Questions for the Dalai Lama
Bring along your yoga buddies and munch on some popcorn as you enjoy this movie offered at Yoga House! Free for members, non-members $2.
Free Community Classes
Saturday, March 24 from 11:15am-12:45pm
Saturday, April 21 from 11:15am-12:45pm
Bring a friend for a free sample of Iyengar Yoga. No need to pre-register. Bring a mat if you have one, or use ours!
Ajahn Sona
Friday, April 27 : Public Talk at 7:00pm
Saturday, April 28 : A Day with Ajahn Sona Meditation Retreat
from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
If attending the retreat day, please bring a potluck item to share for lunch. Admission to these events are by dana (donation). For further information, contact Laurie at 250-764-1022.
Neck and Shoulders Workshop
May 27 from 9:30am to 12:30pm
If you have tightness, injuries or challenges in these areas, come and learn some strategies for working with them.
$40 Contact Krisna or sign up at KYH.
Workshop with Linda Shevloff
June 8 to 10
Linda Shevloff is a senior Canadian Iyengar yoga teacher, who has lived in Hong Kong since 1994. She currently heads the Teacher Training and Assessment program for the Iyengar Yoga Association of South East and East Asia (IYASEEA).
Fees: Up to May 11, 2012: KYHS members: $200 Non-members: $215. After May 11, 2012 all workshop fees increase by $50.
To Register: Sign up on registration sheet at Kelowna Yoga House; mail registration and waiver form with cash or cheque, payable to Kelowna Yoga House Society; or telephone register with VISA, MC or Debit.
Margo McLoughlin
Friday, June 16, 7:00-9:00pm
Jataka Tales (Buddhist tales of transformation)
Saturday, June 17, 9:00am to 4:00pm
One day meditation retreat
See the "Events"section on the website for further information on any of the above events!
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Practicing Patience
by Melissa Perehudoff
I don't know about you but even the slow lane is too fast for me sometimes. During my travels in India, the big Island of Hawaii or to visit my parents in the Kootenays (yes, I have been blessed) I notice that other cultures have lots of time to WAIT. Waiting at the temple, waiting at the train station, waiting for the waves to recede or waiting for the snow to melt builds patience and tolerance. When I am patient, my mind is more settled and my inner love and joy can radiate out. Our urban North American culture seems to be addicted to speed, adrenaline, caffeine and intensity. These addictions place stress on our nervous system, adrenal system, relationships and connection to our higher self. When I notice myself losing my temper with a service person on the phone, a loved one or my cat it's a sign to slow down and practice patience. You never know what unexpected surprise may occur while you are waiting!
Ways to practice patience:
1. Hang out with someone under 3 years of age.
2. Hang out with someone over 80 years of age.
3. Learn something new and give yourself permission to make as many mistakes as possible.
4. Drive in the slow lane at the speed limit.
5. Don't interrupt the person you are talking with. Let them finish each thought.
6. Travel in a country where you don't know the language.
7. Stand in Tadasana in the bank or grocery store line-up. Smile at everyone as you take slow, quiet inhalations & exhalations.
8. Stand in the longest line up at the bank or grocery store and practice #7.
9. Be extra kind to anyone who asks you to "wait just a minute".
10 . If you feel frustrated when doing something challenging, smile, take a breath and say outloud, "This is easy."
11. Learn to meditate.
12. Practice yoga.
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Go Deeper: Kelowna Yoga House
1272 St. Paul Street, Kelowna, British Columbia V1Y 2C9
250-862-4906
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HOW A FOUR YEAR OLD AVATAR INSPIRED MY PRACTICE
by Swami Sawdust
I'm at Canadian Tire getting stuff. On the other side of the aisle, a woman with a shopping cart is searching the shelves. In the cart, sits a little, four year old girl. She is deep in practice, reciting her mantra with all her heart. "WONDERFUL, WO-O-NDERFUL, WO-O-ONDERFUL!"
Wow! This kid is on to something.
Onomatopoeia is a word that says its own meaning. That is what gives WONDERFUL its power to be a mood altering practice. Pronouncing WONDER lifts the chest and opens the heart. The FUL syllable brings a softness and surrender.
Recently, I challenged myself by asking, "How soon after awakening can I recite WONDERFUL?" I was shocked that I actually observed my awakening and wonderful was my first thought. This demonstrates to me the power of suggestion on the mind.
Be WONDERFUL!
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WINTER SADHANA
by Carol Grant
Winter Sadhana was a rejuvenating experience that illuminated and reinforced the importance of daily yoga practice. On a personal level it was an opportunity to begin the new year with tranquility and equanimity and to bring light back into my practice during the cold winter months.
Each evening for five days in early January, thirty yogis gathered together bringing their unique rhythms and differences, yet each working towards their spiritual endeavors. As the week progressed, our connection deepened as we shared the common experience of daily practice. We not only practiced asanas, but we also learned about yamas and niyamas (the ten precepts) and the importance of incorporating spiritual practice into the asanas.
As is common in Deborah's classes, we enjoyed humorous moments as we were reminded that yogis should not take themselves too seriously. For me the highlight occurred on our final evening together when we wrote down one word representing something we wanted to let go of in 2012. At the end of the evening we sat in a large circle, meditating and chanting 'Om Namah Shivaya' during the fire burning ceremony. Deborah lit a candle which represented the light burning within each of us and we focused on the light burning in our third eye. We passed around a pot, each of us cutting up the paper on which we'd written what we wished to let go of and putting the scraps inside the pot. Afterwards we went outside to set fire to the contents of the pot. Deborah was standing barefoot in the snow, but assured us that she was warmed by the light burning in her third eye. We all left that evening with our inner light glowing a little brighter.
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Student Testimonials
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Congratulations!
Tracy Forsythe received her Introductory II certification in Robert's Creek in March!
Krisna Zawaduk received her Intermediate Junior II certification in Calgary at the end of January.
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