Guest Post by Caroline: New Year
January 16, 2012
This blog post was written by Caroline Elson, who teaches yoga, yoga teacher training, and meditation at Elation Centre. Caroline taught our annual New Year’s Day Yoga Class, in which $216 and two heaping baskets of food were raised for the Ottawa Food Bank.
I’m pleased to tell you that we had 19 people attending our first class of 2012. What a blessing! As an instructor, it is with gratitude and humility that I teach and it was a gift to start the year off with such great energy in the room.
The dedication of our practise was from the heart with the words of the Bhagavad Gita 4:22- Content with what is chance- obtained, transcending the opposites, without envy, the same in success and failure, through performing actions- he is not bound.
When we allow everything to just be , we are in a state of love. May we stay in our heart space and let things flow into the new year. May everyone’s year unfold with creativity, love, and peace.
Happy New Year
January 2, 2012
Welcome to 2012. May your year be filled with gratitude & peace, and may our eyes be open to the wonder around us.
We hope you enjoy this beautiful video, enjoy the time to sit and savour it.
The Great Bell Chant (The End of Suffering) from R Smittenaar on Vimeo.
New Year’s Day Yoga Class
December 15, 2011
Time: 10:00AM – 11:00AM
Teacher: Caroline Elson
Cost: Donation to the Food Bank. Non-perishable food items or minimum $5.00 donation.
Class Limit: 30 people. When we reach our limit the studio door will be closed, so come early to reserve your spot. Doors open at 9:30am
On January 1 we will be holding our annual New Year’s day class raising donations for the Ottawa Food Bank .
This year Caroline will donate her time, to offer an all-levels vinyasa class designed to foster peace of mind and awareness as we enter into the new year, we will close with a short meditation to set your intentions for 2012
Candlelight Cookies
November 8, 2011
Here are two delicious cookie served up by Robyn during our last Yoga and Fertility class, the recipes are from Finally…Food I Can Eat! by local author Shirley Plant who specializes in recipes to address food sensitivities and allergies. These cookies are loaded with healthy ingredients (flax replaces eggs), are gluten-free, dairy-free and have no added processed sugar. Honey is used as the sweetener to make this recipe 100% vegan (no animal products) you can play around with substituting agave or brown rice syrup for the honey.
These are just the kind of delicious snacks we will be serving up at our Candlelight Yoga and Pampering evening for women on November 18th, from 7pm – 9pm. Our evening will include Restorative Yoga lead by Robyn, this class will relax the nervous system and release stress. Yoga Journal describes restorative yoga poses “as having a particular ability to leave us nourished and well rested. These postures are usually deeply supported by blankets, blocks, or other props and are held for several minutes at a time.”
Along with this nurishing yoga practice we will be educated by Sylvie Lapoine of Facial Angle on facial care and natural products to nourish the skin and we will have goodie bags of products to sample, to top it off we will enjoy tea and snacks to support, nourish and heal the body from the inside out – chocolate will of course be involved.
Hope to see you on November 18th – you can register here
Carrot Haystacks
Ingredients:
- 1 cup carrots, shredded
- 2 ½ cups shredded unsweetened coconut
- 2 tbsp cold water
- 2 tbsp arrowroot powder
- 2 tbsp safflower oil
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed and 6 tbsp water (whisked together)
- 2 tbsp brown rice flour
- Pinch of salt
Directions:
- In a bowl, mix shredded carrots, sea salt, safflower oil, flour, coconut, and honey. Mix ground flaxseed in 6 tbsp of water and whisk to make an egg-like consistency; mix in carrot mixture.
- Mix water and arrowroot together and mix with other ingredients.
- Mix all together, mould into small shapes onto baking sheet and bake at 325F for 10-15 minutes or until done.
Yields 16 cookies
Carob Haystacks
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup carob or cacao powder (organic unsweetened)
- 2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
- 2 tbsp cold water
- 2 tbsp arrowroot
- 2 tbsp safflower oil
- 4 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed and 6 tbsp water (whisked together)
- Pinch of salt
Directions:
- In a bowl or food processor, mix water, arrowroot, and carob/cacao powder. Mix well so ingredients dissolve and mixture is smooth.
- Add in remaining ingredients.
- Mould into round shapes onto cookie sheet and bake at 325F for 10-15 minutes or until done.
Yields 12 cookies
Minimalist Running – is it for you?
October 28, 2011
A reminder about the Natural Running Mechanics seminar on October 29th organized by Solefit Orthotics, all proceedes to impossible2Possible, the gang at Solefit are looking to give i2P as big of a cheque as possible! It’s such a fantastic cause!
Here is some info Ryan from Solefit posted a few days ago “We are offering a great giveaway: if they can get over 150 people signed up between now and Saturday, i2P will donate another pair of Oakley sunglasses to give away (yep, the cool ones that Lance Armstrong wears). That would bring our prize total to nine pairs of shoes, technical clothing and TWO pairs of Oakley sunglasses!
Along with supporting i2P, our goal for the evening is to present some of the current research (pros and cons) around running technique and barefoot running and explain what it means for us (runners). We have Neil Rosenthal and Ryan Grant speaking from SoleFit Orthotics, Ray Zahab (a really fantastic speaker!) from i2P, and Francine Eastwood speaking from PSI Runners Clinic. Should be a fun afternoon!”
Tell your friends, family, coworkers, and running buddies! We hope to see you there! For more information check out the facebook page Click Here , to registrater with Events Online Click Here
To give you a bit more information on Barefoot and Minimalist running (all of which will be covered at the Saturday seminar, here is a guest post by Melinda Neufeld, Elation Centre member who loves her minimalist shoes – even in the winter! She wrote this for us last winter as we trained for the National Capital Race Weekend, I’ve been holding onto the info and now seems a perfect time to post it, thanks Melinda
“Ah, winter. The bittersweet, love-hate relationship that I have with winter precedes my running career and has only intensified over the past blistery months of snowy winter runs. As a relatively new (about a year now) minimalist footwear runner, I have come to embrace the hardship of running nearly barefoot in my Vibram FiveFinger Flows in the snow and cold. In general, running in FiveFingers is great fun. Let’s be honest, I definitely prefer running on clear, dry roads in my favorite FiveFingers model, FiveFinger Sprints. The Sprints bring me as close as I can get to running barefoot with the added benefit of some sole protection. The feeling of the road or path beneath my feet is amazing; I’d even go as far as to say that it feels like I’m running naked—or at least what I imagine that would feel like. But let’s come back to reality and back to winter running in my Flows. This model features less of a barefoot feel than the Sprints because the upper part of the toe shoe is made from Neoprene, a material commonly used to make wetsuits. This material helps keep my feet relatively warm, but it also gives a stiffer feel to the toe shoe. The Flows are not waterproof, and after a run in slush and snow, my feet are definitely wet. You would think that my toes would freeze right off, but as long as I keep moving, my feet stay warm. Usually, it takes the first five minutes of a run for my toes to warm up. After that, I don’t even notice the cold or wetness. According to the official FiveFingers Web site the sole on the Flow model is made with Idrogrip performance rubber for added slip resistance. As of yet, I have managed to remain vertical during all of my winter runs!
Running in FiveFingers throughout the winter might seems a bit crazy, but I didn’t want to counteract all of the progress that I made over the summer learning to run nearly barefoot. Running in minimalist footwear or barefoot requires a change of running form. Typically, runners to tend to forefoot strike as opposed to heel strike. Daniel Lieberman, Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, has conducted research on barefoot running and theorizes that a heel strike may be the cause of various common injuries suffered by runners, and that a forefoot strike naturally strengthens feet and leg muscles. This can prevent common injuries and eliminates the need for a shoe that compensates for weak feet and leg muscles. Personally, as a runner who was used to running with a heel strike, adjusting to a forefoot strike took time and patience. It was a slow, gradual learning process. But I am happy to say that I have avoided all injuries to date. I am an avid runner and a strong believer in the benefits of minimalist footwear.
The minimalist footwear trend continues to grow and many different shoes brands are coming out with their own minimalist shoe line. While not quite as odd-looking as Vibram FiveFingers, other models are appearing in stores (e.g., Merrell Barefoot shoe line), and my goal is to eventually switch all of my footwear to shoes with a “zero drop”, a.k.a. no drop from heel to toe. So, here’s to natural running! “
Celebrating Transitions
September 13, 2011
Join us for an evening of celebration on Friday, September 23rd, with a meditation lead by Sylvie Gouin and a Vegan Pot Luck. You are invited to attend one or both events.
This is a wonderful opportunity to meet up with friends old and new and join us in wishing Sylvie all the best on her new adventures. We will have a lovely journal for you to record your thoughts and wishes for Sylvie.
Here are the details:
- A 31-minute Antar Naad Mantra meditation (the “sa re sa sa” chant) will be starting at 6:15PM. Please arrive at 6:00PM to ensure you are ready to start promptly! It’s easy to pick up and such a blissful experience. No meditation experience necessary
- A Vegan Pot Luck will be held between 7:00PM and 9:00PM. Stay for a few minutes or stay for the evening. Please bring a plate, cup, cutlery, and list of ingredients in your dish.
Chakra Workshop
September 11, 2011
Please join Sylvie for one last workshop before she leaves Elation!
We will begin with a short talk to explain the process of the class, move into Shavasana and then flow using asana, mantra, pranayama, and affirmations to awaken to our inner energy.
We will wrap up the sequence with a 20 minute Shavasana practice and an 11 minute meditation. Then we set our Sankalpa (intention) using mantra and mudra. We will close the workshop with another short talk.
Workshop participants must have a regular vinyasa practice.
Date: Saturday, September 17th
Time: 4:30-7:30PM
Cost: $35.00
Hope to see you there! Register using our Online Registration System or at the studio.
Love Your Backbends
September 1, 2011
Holiday Monday - Special Yoga Class
Date: Monday September 5th
Time: 5:30-7:00PM
Cost: $20.00 cash
Join us for an invigorating unfolding of the body. Class will close with an 11 minuted seated meditation.
This class is suitable for experienced students only. You must have a regular vinyasa practise for more then one year.
No Pre-registration required.
Shavasana Commitment
July 20, 2011
40-Day Shavasana Commitment begins August 1st 2011.
Shava-asana (corpse posture) our final posture at the end of every yoga class “ also known mrita-asana ( dead-posture) and preta-asana ( ghost-posture)” is the most beneficial posture for restoration and therefore health as a whole. In Sanskrit the word for health is Swastha and is defined as: established in the (S)elf. In English the word health has the same root as the words integrity and integration meaning wholeness. We can see that although the absence of dis-ease is something to be greatful for health is much more then that.
We know from experience that when our breath is short shallow and fragmented it impacts our thoughts and concentration is impossible. The distraction on the mental level creates the same type of unsettled energy in our body; fidgeting, tapping of the feet, looking around everywhere, humming, swaying and so forth anything but stillness. All of this takes its toll on our nervous system, creating fatigue, impatience and irritability.
It’s not uncommon to subconsciously confuse productivity (which is highly valued in our culture) with living in a manic or in a panic. Consciously we know that productive energy is not manic, it’s actually quite clear and stable. The daily practise of Shavasana is one of the best tools to experience this type of energy.
But don’t take our word for it. Give it a try. Commit. For the next 40 days spend time is Shavasana. How long? Anywhere between 5 and 30 minutes, the longer the better, but being regular is more valuable then not practicing.
To join our 40-Day Commitment:
Sign up at the Centre. Then pick your time and practise.
Technique:
Lie on your back feet hips with apart; allow the legs to relax which means the feet will point in opposite directions. Adjust the shoulders by moving the scapulas away from each other, arms by your side palms turned up. If you are uncomfortable place a pillow under your knees. Your body will then represent shavasana. As for the mind, we all have a way, a certain language that we use to talk to ourself. There is a voice a thinking-pattern that we use which we buy into. We trust that voice. To prepare for Shavasana use that voice in your favor. Set an intention that will remind you to let go. Remember that you must be willing to let go exactly the way things are. There can be no but(s), if(s) or when(s). Also remind yourself that there is no such thing as a bad shavasana. Some days you will be at peace other days you may feel edgy, wanting to move, to get out of there. Watch, respond, do not react, simply commit to your time.
At the end of the 40 days we would love to hear from you. Send us an email. Let us know ( 2 or 3 sentences) how the experience impacted your everyday life. With your permission we will post your comments and inspire others to give it a try.
Lessons from Yoga in Rwanda
June 30, 2011
Guest Post by Martha Judd, senior Yoga Teacher
On Sunday June 23rd, I was fortunate enough to attend the Yoga in Rwanda fundraiser at Elation Centre with Annie Berube, a dedicated and grounded yoga teacher, from Ottawa, currently teaching Yoga with Project Air in Rwanda.
She lead us through an inspirational Ashtanga Yoga class which she taught in many languages and as a Yoga teacher and student myself, I feel I was given a gift from the women of Rwanda through Annie. I was reminded of how a yoga asana practice can be many things. It can be in a quiet studio in Ottawa wearing comfortable clothes, accompanied by soft music, surrounded by incredibly inspirational students and teachers, and it can be on a small porch in Rwanda with the voices of many, laughter, sadness, strength, wearing whatever shirts are available that day and surrounded by incredibly inspirational students and teachers. I learned about Project Air from the inside out. Annie described her students, their difficult life situations, their trauma, their work, their laughter, their inspiration and their extreme dedication to the practice of yoga. Yoga is bringing physical and mental health benefits to the women of Rwanda and the women of Ottawa without a doubt. From my perspective of safety in life I choose to support the practice of Yoga for the women of Rwanda as a tool for life in an environment where safe moments of exploration both mentally and physically are not often available. Annie’s group of women come to Yoga classes 3-4 times a week and have been for 4 years. This type of dedication is rare in a healthy, safe, comfortable Yoga student in our culture. I suggest we acknowledge this dedication and commitment by supporting Project Air as a tool for life.
Thank you so much to our members and friends who attended this amazing class and gave donations to support Project Air and Annie’s efforts with these truly inspirational women
Namaste
