Shanti Yoga

Yoga. Galiano. Retreat.

2012-02-06T07:48:00.000-08:00

There's really nothing like walking through a forest on a sunny winter day, surrounded by quiet beauty and the happy chatter of new friends.
Or gathering in a circle warmed by a fire place to share a little bit of what we'd like more of — or less of — in our lives.

Top Left: Teacher Wesley Salter; student yogini Lori;
Bottom Left: our lunch Friday; a happy group of yogis.

Or doing five inspiring yoga together classes in three days.

Because yoga retreats offer up a special experience, each happy moment building up to the next — and this weekend's New Year, New You Retreat to Galiano at Bodega Ridge was especially good.

We ate well, nourished by Jesse's hospitality and a smiling cook who created healthy and delicious meals; our accommodation was comfortable and clean; and most of all, we just laughed a lot.

And made some great friends.

Here's some pics. Stay tuned for our Shanti Yoga Harvest Retreat details coming soon.

Outside the tractor at Bodega.

Every meal was an event.

Savasana was better thanks to our Half Moon
eye pillows, part of the goodie bags from Half Moon and
Tsawwassen's Natural Comfort Wellness.

Radiant yoginis. (Happy after yoga, and ready for brunch!)

A beautiful, foggy early morning walk.

Teachers Wesley Salter (above) and Chantal O'Sullivan
led five classes in three days, from flow to kundalini-power to yin.

We had time to explore Galiano on Sunday afternoon. So fun.

Wes & Chantal & one of Jesse's dogs, Gunnar; a yogini on the tractor
and below: the sign at Galiano SoapWorks

We challenged ourselves. We felt empowered.

For more information and updates on Shanti Yoga's Tswassen studio, as well as events and retreats, go to www.shantiyogabc.com or follow us on Facebook.com/shantiyogabc

Take it as it comes: good advice

2012-01-27T20:40:00.000-08:00

Take life as it comes.
One exhale at a time.

Yoga helps.

Chakra Flow: Yoga and Sound with Samantha and Trevor

2012-01-11T11:04:00.000-08:00

Come out to Shanti Yoga in South Delta this Saturday for a chakra balancing flow class with Samantha Sowassey and Trevor Grant set to live crystal song bowls, percussion and gongs.

Saturday, 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Shanti Yoga, #4 - 1363 56 Street, Tsawwassen (next to Starbucks)

$35
Go to www.shantiyogabc.com for more info and to register online. You can also pay at the door.

More info below.

No pain, no pain: Majessa gives her spin on Yin

2012-01-10T13:35:00.000-08:00

Yoga teacher Majessa Castonguay says yin encourages her to listen to her body.

It's also helped her to heal chronic back pain and to find more balance. And even though yin can be uncomfortable at times — and require us to slow down and hold for time — it's worth it, she says.

The busy new mom shares her Yin insights and yoga teachings on Tuesday nights, 7:15 p.m., at Shanti Yoga. Register online at www.shantiyogabc.com.

Here's some of her thoughts on yin.

SY: I notice in your classes you talk specifically about finding your safe edge, and not going too far. Why is this key?

Finding your first edge is important — finding a place where you feel the pose but it's not as far as you could go.

It's a place where as you sit there with time and you can slowly allow yourself to go deeper. If you go to your furthest edge right away you probably will never be able to get any deeper then that because you have stretched your muscle to the furthest it can go, so no room for expansion.

I say no pain no pain — never feeling pain but knowing the difference between pain and discomfort. Yin is kinda uncomfortable for most of us.

SY: Did you immediately like Yin?

No, I didn't like yin right away, it was rather uncomfortable and hard to sit still . But now its my favorite! A practice where I can close my eyes to listen snd feel my body a time just for me to stretch and heal.

Yin practice can really help to make you more flexible to really allow your muscles and joints to stretch out, it's also does wonders for your internal organs massaging them as we move through different poses.

Yin yoga enhances the flow of prana (energy) through your body.

SY: How has yin changed you?

I used to have chronic back pain — there was never a time that back didn't hurt. When I started practicing yoga — and especially yin — my pain started to go away.

I now do yin almost every day or every other day at home or in studio and I have a huge range of movement in my body, no more back pain.

It's also a time to check in with your body and mind, see what's needed in yourself.

My yoga makes me happy — which makes my family happy,

Our Galiano Yoga Retreat: update

2012-01-10T13:18:00.000-08:00

Here's our latest update. Send this to your friends. We've got just seven spots left.

New Year, New You: Retreat to Galiano Island, 2012

2011-11-24T19:21:00.000-08:00

Kick of 2012 with a detoxifying, recharging and rejuvenating retreat on beautiful Galiano Island, just an easy ferry ride away.

Enjoy delicious vegetarian meals and plenty of YOU time.

Retreat includes five yoga classes - including detoxifying kundalini, energizing vinyasa, relaxing restorative hatha and feel-good flow - with yoga teachers Wesley Salter and Chantal O'Sullivan.

Enjoy plenty of time for nature appreciation.

Let go. Get Away. BE.

Where: Bodega Ridge, Galiano Island

When: Feb. 3, 4, 5

Email Chantal at shantiyogabc@gmail.com to book your spot. Space is limited.

Yoga-loaded: The Vancouver Yoga Conference

2011-11-08T07:53:00.000-08:00

Yoga mats. Stretchy pants. Big smiles.
HUGE lessons.
This weekend's Vancouver Yoga Conference was amazing, from start to finish.
It was a lot to take in. A lot of incredible yoga moments.
Here's a few of my favourites.
*
Spent Friday from 9 - 4 p.m. learning from teacher Michael Stone, all about yoga, pranayama and bandhas.
And life.

Teacher Michael Stone

"The heart of your yoga practice is to be really, really intimate with your own life," he says, adding that yoga teaches us to be able to "meet what moves through us whether it's pleasurable or painful."
I love that.
If you ever have a chance to study with Stone, jump on it.
*

Teacher Seane Corn

Woke up Saturday with Seane Corn's two-hour empower flow, a hamstring butt-kick of a class that left me buzzing on my mat in savasana. As usual, she lifted up the room with her stream of wisdom, and awesome vinyasa transitions.
*

Teacher Brad Waites

Next up, Brad Waites and a class on healing the knees through Purna Yoga.
"If you have knee problems, they are most likely due to tightness in your hips," he says, pointing out that the knee is a hinge joint so doesn't have the mobility of the hip.
"Any tightness of the hip distorts the relationship of the knee to the hinge joint," he says, adding it's all about finding balance.
I loved this approach to hips and knees, especially since we did a practice sequence that creates balance and hunts down areas that aren't even.
In my own body, I found some overly flexible spots and areas that weren't as open as I suspected. Was a great class.
*

Teacher Maria Garre

Maria Garre's all-day teacher's exploratorium on Sunday moved a group of us teachers through the how-tos of stitching together a wave sequence, inspired by Shiva Rea.
A great refresher, with lots of inspiring ideas to share.
Loved it.
*

Me (left) and fellow conference volunteer in our lululemon uniforms, after a 12-hour day Friday.

Hugs, meandering, people-watching and trend-spotting.
The yoga garden and show area was a little dizzying, in a good way. There was so much to see, taste and test.
So much to take in.
The best part of it all? It was awesome to see such a big gang of yoga buddies gathered in one spot.
Yogis rock.

Gratitude in action: Our Second annual beach clean up

2011-10-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

A bald eagle swoops down to catch a fish, and a little boy gives out a little shout of surprise at the sight, before resuming his careful scrutiny of the Boundary Bay shoreline for trash.

One of many little groups of garbage-collectors combing the beach Sunday, Oct. 9, for the second annual beach clean up, organized by Shanti Yoga in Tsawwassen.

The sun warmed us at the second annual Shanti Yoga beach clean up today, with yogis and family out for pre-Thanksgiving beach-combing.
In total, more than 30 lbs of trash were collected as people came in waves to grab a bag and drag.
About 25 people took part in this year's clean-up, coming and going, and leaving the stunning beach a little bit cleaner.

People pitching in.

This year we noticed a good deal of small plastics, everything from granola bar wrappers to plastic caps or utensils. There were also plenty of cigarette buts, as well as broken glass and plastic baggies full of dog poop.

This plastic spoon blended in with the sand.

Thank you to everyone who came out. We are so grateful for all of you, and of course, our beautiful ocean.

Yogini Cathy and her yogi pooch Dryfus came out early in the afternoon to pick up garbage. Thank you!

Namaste.

SLOW-ga: Why slowing down is so darn good, with teacher Robyn Emde

2011-10-07T10:41:00.000-07:00

Slow down more. Even on the mat?

Especially on the mat.

Shanti Yoga teacher Robyn Emde is known for her gentle hatha classes — a South Delta yogis delight, every Sunday.

And now she's bringing something new to the mix.

Yoga + Slow = Slow-ga.

We asked this inspiring yogini to share a little.

And we learned a lot.

Read. Be inspired.

And: Get on the mat for some Slowga this Sunday.

Teacher Robyn Emde, always sunny, after a gentle hatha class one morning.

Slowga eh? Why is it good to slow down your yoga?

Many of us run around through life - whether it be by choice, by necessity, or a combination of the two. As such we are used to going on autopilot, we get into a routine, because our bodies are going faster than our brains have time to really process new information.

Our bodies go fast, our minds are always going, our spirits are often forgotten - who has time?! This is stressful.

The past century has brought on a lot of physical, mental, and emotional stress – more stress than the body was designed to handle, but we do because we have kids to pick up, work to do, deadlines to meet etc.etc.etc.

As such many of us have built up a lot of tension and compensatory patterns in many areas of the body to help manage this increase in stress. These patterns can lead to tension &/or pain in the body, mind, &/or spirit.

Yoga in an opportunity to balance ourselves. To challenge our lives on autopilot and bring some awareness back. Going slow in yoga facilitates this process of unwinding the tension, the aches, the strain in the body, mind, & spirit to give ourselves the opportunity to release the stuff we don't need, that does not serve up, and enable us to heal.

Sit. Inhale. Exhale.

How do you infuse your yoga therapy background into your teaching?

My yoga therapy practice operates on the belief that the body can heal itself; we just need to get out of the way. Yoga Therapy helps to bring balance into the body, improve breathing and build strength, gently and mindfully. In my yoga therapy practice I work with my clients to assess their movement - what is moving that should be moving, and what is moving that shouldn't be moving to perform a particular action in the body.

For example, when standing and lifting the leg up for tree pose, does the pelvis shift/tilt/jiggle?

Do the shoulders lift up toward the ears? Does the breath stop? Is the stomach gripping?

This is a seemingly simple movement of leg bone in hip socket; however the tendency is for us, when we cannot move purely in a particular way/when our hips are tight (for this example), is to compensate to get the job done.

In tree pose, our intention is to find balance and strength through the legs; however, when we compensate, many side effects can show up, for example - back pain, knee pain, shoulder tension etc. The reasons for this are different for every person, however it essentially boils down to pushing past the range of motion that is available. The question I ask is "is this movement serving you?". If you are in pain, then the likely answer is "no". I work to help my clients to retrain their movement, to operate within their pain free, tension free, compensation free range of motion - this allows overworked muscles to release, and the joints to open, creating increase freedom within the body.

And?

Within my classes I operate on the same principles. We start by getting really comfortable, accessing the breath, and becoming really still. From this place we start to move within that pain free, tension free, compensation free range of motion, going slow is required because we are all very well compensated! We can move, sure, but are we moving in a way that serves us? hmmmmm, that is something to ponder.

When we go slow & practice in a therapeutic manner, we can start to access this functional movement & we can start to figure out HOW we compensate. Once we gain thist awareness, we can start to move within the range of motion that is available on any given day. This comes into the yoga practice and tends to translate into life off the mat.

Going slow allows us to HONOUR ourselves and our practice. It is an expression of love, kindness, and respect for the self (body, mind, and spirit). When we come to this point, the body will open up naturally and exponentially more in comparison to if you push yourself. It is really cool to explore and play with! My classes combine breath work, relaxation, and modified yoga postures to help us tap back into the awareness of the body, mind, & spirit.

What is quote inspires you most right now?

"A sure step toward inner peace is to learn how to guide your life by your inner sense of direction - not by external circumstances." - The Granola King

How does your granola speak to you? (We've heard rumours!)

My granola reminds me to be present. I open a bag, get my little granola blessing, and am able to use whatever wisdom comes from the bag to reflect on whatever is going on in my life at the time. When I am able to operate in the moment, my quality of life exponentially increases and I can be focused on the task at hand, I can be efficient for work and I can be free to play!

What's the most important thing about yoga to you?

Yoga has potential to heal. How amazing and exciting is that?? However, there is a caveat to this statement which comes down to awareness, honouring the body, and moving in a way that serves us. If your pelvis moves during a leg stretch and the stretch becomes strain in the back, does this serve the body? When we can be really honest and really present within ourselves and our practice, tension can be released and healing can start to occur. Yoga gives us the space for this experience, if we choose to take advantage of it.

I am excited to share all of this with you! Looking forward to seeingyou on the mat - Gentle Hatha Wednesdays @ 7:15pm & Sundays @ 10:15am, and check out my new class SLoWga on Sundays at 12noon to explore in an even more slow, precise, and therapeutic way! Please bring your mat, your blanket, and an open mind!

Looking for more information on yoga therapy, follow Robyn on her blog: www.yoga4lifeca.blogspot.com

Slow Burn in South Delta: A day with Vancouver's Ignite and Unite

2011-10-03T14:40:00.000-07:00

They came. They ignited. They united.
Ignite&Unite teachers Wesley Salter and Cameron Gilley's super awesome workshop, Slow Burn, left us Shanti Yoga-sters all feeling pretty darn amazing.

http://www.igniteandunite.com/contact.html

The three-hour vinyasa workshop Sunday covered everything from better planking to yummier downdogging, then mashed it all together with a sweaty, 75-minute "super nova flow."
Let's just say we had a blast, and we'll never question the power of slowing down, breathing deeper in a posture, and letting go.
Look forward to next workshop with this yogatastic duo.
Here's a few pics of the event.
More pics, go to facebook.com/shantiyogabc

Post-yoga glow outside our South Delta studio, at Windsor Woods in Tsawwassen

Cameron (left), Chantal (mid) and Wesley (right) with the "yoga soup" poster behind them.

What's it all about discussion before getting going. We loved it!

Yoginis just have that gorgeous glow eh?

Cameron showing us how to updog better. Legs. Bandhas. Good alignment. And yes, breath.

Teacher Wes and Cam doing some introductions. Who was a flying squirrell???

Stay tuned in to these guys through their website, igniteandunite.com and keep posted on Shanti here too at www.shantiyogabc.com

We love our oceans Tsawwassen: help us keep 'em clean

2011-10-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

Join us next Sunday, Oct. 9 for our second annual Shanti Yoga Beach Clean Up.

We'll be meeting at Centennial Beach at 1:30 p.m.

Wear comfy clothing, gloves and a tuque. We'll bring the biodegradable bags. (Click on the photo here to enlarge it.)

Bring your dog, your family, your friends, your neighbour, your yoga buddies and well, help us pick up some trash.

Because yoga doesn't stop on the mat.

Love this: yummy, local, gheecorn

2011-09-05T12:33:00.000-07:00

We just found this yummy treat in Sidney's healthy hub, Jessie's Juice Co: gheecorn.
Organic corn, coated in ghee, with sea salt.

The bag's even biodegradable.
What's not to love?

(See you Tuesday gang: Next class Tuesday's hatha with Chantal.)

Spiritual Gangster clothing: now at Shanti Yoga, Tsawwassen

2011-09-03T19:40:00.000-07:00

We love their stuff, from the cozy retro hoodies to the perfectly expressive yoga tanks.
So we're thrilled to share Spiritual Gangster with our South Delta yoga community.
Check out this video and prepare to be inspired.

And come in, stay for yoga. And shopping.

2011-08-12T13:48:00.000-07:00

YOGA FOR A GREAT CAUSE at Shanti Yoga, Tsawwassen: Sept. 24, 2011 1 - 2 p.m.

We're so, so happy to be a part of this wonderful event 1 School 1 Day. And we can't wait to share it with you, South Delta.

About 1 School 1 Day:

"On One Day this September, participants of 1s1d will come together for  an hour of motion to support education in Ethiopia. Participants will  choose where they move from a list of our health and fitness affiliates.  We will share the experience of moving together towards this cause."

WHEN:

Sept. 24
1 - 2 p.m.

Us?
Yoga teacher Chantal O'Sullivan will share a special, Feel-good FLOW, for this great cause.
Expect to: Let loose in this stretchy, energizing flow class — for a good cause— including plenty of creative sequences and alignment tips.
This is a fun and accessible class, good for all levels. Great for your karma. (And your hips!)

How?

To reserve your spot on the mat (space is limited,)
CLICK HERE or copy and paste this link in your browser and scroll down to Shanti Yoga (http://1school1day-yoga.eventbrite.com) to register.

For more info go to http://1school1day.org/

Yoga Dos and Yoga Don'ts: Some hints to help your yoga flow

2011-08-07T15:21:00.000-07:00

A yoga class can and should be wonderful.
Transformative.
Totally awesome.
Unfortunately, sometimes life happens and our mat time can be less than stellar.
Even stressful or uncomfortable.
We are human after all.
And that's kind of the whole point.

Chantal, second from the left, on a yoga playdate with buddies at Boundary Bay, Tsawwassen.

Here's a few tips for making the most out of your yoga, from a yogini to you:

1 - Arrive early. Rushing in late isn't just irritating for the other students, it's embarrassing and can leave us latesters feeling frazzled. Give yourself enough YOU time to arrive, settle in, and let go.

2 - Respect your space. Put your extra gear neatly away, and keep your props and you stuff tidy. Don't let it invade your yoga buddy's bufferzone. And whatever you do, don't park your cellphone in front of your mat — in case you get a text. Seriously.

3 - Men: please, leave your shirts on. Thank you. ('Nuff said.)

4 - Love your sweat. Sweating isn't just good for you. It's great for releasing toxins. And it indicates you're focused and enjoying the tapas of your practice. Enjoy sweating more with the help of a handy sweat towel. If you sweat a lot, bring three. (Or four.)

5 - Relax. Yes, we know you've heard this before. But seriously, yoga shouldn't stress you out. If you are worrying about what posture will come next, or how you look in crow (like a crow?) then you're missing out on something wonderful. So try to have fun with it, force a little grin. Pretty soon, you'll actually be grinning.

6 - Ask your teacher: Something isn't feeling right? Don't suffer silently. Ever. Ask your teacher for advice or clarity or an option that's just for you. We LOVE when you ask us questions. We really do.

7 - Be open-minded. Try not to say to yourself "I can't do that." Instead flip it around. "I can do that." Or even, "I'm going to try that." You might just surprise yourself with a Bird of Paradise or a Side Crow. Repeat this lesson when your yoga begins off the mat. (That's right, skip your "usual" and order something new off the menu. Why not?)

8 - Inhale. Exhale. Breathing stitches together your yoga practice. It is the pulse of a flow. It is Yoga. Focus on your breath. (And on that note, avoid heavy perfumes.)

9 - Let go. But not in that way. Passing gas in yoga happens. (It does.) But you can avoid that gassy feeling, and the resulting, er, wind, by coming to class with a nice empty stomach. Do not scarf down a pre-yoga Japa Dog or a quick veggie samosa or bean burrito. If you need some pre-planking fuel, eat something light at least an hour in advance. (A banana will do nicely.)

10 - Joy up. Bliss out. Jump in. You get out of yoga whatever you put in. You get out whatever you expect to get out. So aim for joy. Aim for bliss. Jump into the lake. And repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

See you on the mat.

~ Chantal O'Sullivan

Smooch that tree, squish your toes into the sand

2011-07-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

It's so glorious to feel summer really here, and everyone out celebrating the sun.

This poem just sums up so much, about being present, looking outside and within.

Read it. Then get outside.

A little snail, so pretty, so relaxed.

Lola, a natural born yogi...always taking time to sniff.

Kiss the Earth

Walk and touch peace every moment.
Walk and touch happiness every moment.
Each step brings a fresh breeze.
Each step makes a flower bloom.
Kiss the Earth with your feet.
Bring the Earth your love and happiness.
The Earth will be safe
when we feel safe in ourselves.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

Tsawwassen yogis: Mark your calendar

2011-07-06T22:07:00.000-07:00

We're celebrating our first year open with a yoga flash mob.
Can we call it that if it's planned? And we're telling you about it?
Probably not.
So please join us Saturday, Sept. 3rd at 3:30 p.m. for the Shanti Yoga Beach Jam.
What? An outdoor yoga celebration at Centennial Beach, Tsawwassen, South Delta.
FREE.

www.shantiyogabc.com

YOGO.TV in Tsawwassen at Shanti Yoga = extra classes, goodies & more

2011-07-05T20:41:00.000-07:00

Bring a friend in to class this Saturday.
FOR FREE.
Yep.
We're filming with YOGO.tv this weekend, kicking off with the 5:30 p.m. Friday power class, then rolling into 5 classes on Saturday.
Come in. Strike a pose. And have some fun.

Go to www.shantiyogabc.com and click on "schedule" to register online, reserve your spot on the mat.

Thank you South Delta yogis! You are awesome.

Yoga for Youth: Tsawwassen mini yogis, get on the mat!

2011-06-25T09:10:00.000-07:00

"Sssssssssss."
A room full of angry cats turns into a mess of giggles.
From there, the mini yogis try on poses ranging from camel to puppy dog.
This is a tiny snapshot of what a typical yoga class for youngsters feels/looks/sounds like.

A mixed-age group of youthful yogis alongside teacher Tracy Sundbo. Ommmmm it was fun!

Yoga for the younger yogis is always fun.
Always fresh.
And always a hit.
We're happy to bring back yoga teacher (and mother-of-two) Tracy Sundbo of SprigYoga.com to share her wonderful wisdom with South Delta's little ones.

Register now. If we don't get enough kids, we can't run this much-asked-for program.
Thank you!

Shanti Yoga Summer Intensive for Youngsters (15 + under)
When:
July 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
11 a.m. — 11: 45 a.m.
$10 per class (must register for all five classes.)

See us in-studio for more info or send us a note: info@shantiyogabc.com.

Listen, learn, let go

2011-06-14T15:45:00.000-07:00

I love that saying: We have two ears, one mouth.
Doesn't mean it's easy to listen. Really listen.
But when I manage to do just that — quiet down, settle in and open up my ears, my heart and my mind — I find so much peace.

I learn so much.

Stay Inspired: keep going

2011-06-09T14:14:00.000-07:00

Give yourself time.
You time.
Yoga time.

Next class: 5:30 p.m. shanti sweat; 7:15 p.m. back to basics easy flow

Treat yourself: some good-for-you goodies we love

2011-05-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

Treat yourself.

You deserve it.
Here's a few things we love.

Robyn's picks:

She loves her toe spreaders from Joy a Toes and spritzes with lavender water from Langley. Smells so good!

Chantal's pick:

Moisturize or feed your skin with this clean-scented potion." It's like savasana for my hands," says Chantal.

We love the Whistler Yoga Conference

2011-05-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

There was too much to learn, too many great teachers, and too much bliss.

And that doesn't even begin to describe the vibe at this year's Whistler Yoga Conference, held at the Fairmont.

We spun our chakras with teacher, Anodea Judith. We danced with our breath and celebrated being alive on the earth with Tina James.

We flew with Clara Roberts-Oss.

We felt our soul get a hug from Vishvaji's kundalini.

We inhaled clean air. We gazed at the mountains.

We let go of junk.

In short, it was seriously awesome.

(Here's a few pics.)

Shanti teachers Robyn Emde and Tracy Sundbo

Glowing after Vishva-ji's kundalini class Sunday

Tracy and her teacher

The Half Moon girls, stylin' yogis with big bright smiles.

Chantal practicing flight in Clara Roberts-Oss class.

Robyn grounding.

Chantal stretching.

See you in class!

www.shantiyogabc.com

Life's a beach: yoga, friends, sunny Tsawwassen

2011-05-01T17:29:00.000-07:00

We gathered up the Shanti Yoga gang today to do a yoga photo shoot at Centennial Beach.
Here's some outtakes.
And yep, we made a video too.

Join us in-studio for some awesome new, spring classes.

See you on the mat. (Or the sand!)

www.shantiyogabc.com and remember, we're on Facebook. (Way too much.)

Open Up: Our Six-Week Immersion kicks off in May

2011-04-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

See us in-studio at Shanti Yoga, Tsawwassen to register. Space is limited so don't wait.

Nibble on this South Delta yogis: Lunch time yoga is here

2011-04-18T15:05:00.000-07:00

Kicking off Wednesday, you can spend your noon hour stretching away your stresses and getting a good workout too.

Shanti Yoga teacher, Alannah, doing dancer pose in Delta.

We're kicking off our new Power Lunch class this week.
Tell your friends.
Book your space online by clicking on the Shanti Yoga schedule here.

www.shantiyogabcom.com

Deepen Your Yoga: A six-week intensive

2011-04-16T14:44:00.000-07:00

This spring we're kicking off a six workshop series, Saturday mornings at Shanti Yoga, Tsawwassen.

What?
Deepen your practice with six weekly intensives, including everything from sessions on the chakras to a workshop on fine-tuning your vinyasa.

Space is limited so come in to the studio to reserve your spot in this six-week immersion.

Cost: $120 for entire session.

Members: 10% discount if you book your spot before May 5, 2010.

Thank you Tsawwassen and South Delta yogis!

2011-04-12T10:03:00.000-07:00

3. 6. 5.

We've made it to the one-year mark. And really, it's been more fun than we could have imagined.

We're cooking up a fun celebration for spring. Stay tuned!

~ Chantal and the Shanti Yoga Team

'Trust your body and your breath,' - yogini Robyn Emde shares a little on yoga

2011-03-10T13:35:00.000-08:00

Shanti Yoga teacher Robyn Emde loves sharing yoga.
And if you're lucky enough to share some mat time with the occupational therapist yogini, you'll find her enthusiasm for downward-facing dog pretty infectious.
We asked her to share some of her thoughts on yoga — from her favourite places to practice to how yoga has changed her life —and wow, she's left us feeling pretty darn inspired.

(Photos care of Robyn's talented sister.)

What's your connection with Tsawwassen?

Tsawwassen is like a second home to me! I have spent every single summer of my life, including in the womb in Point Roberts and Tsawwassen!!

This little corner of the world is so special to me. My grandparents bought our family cabin in the 1950's and we have not been able to stay away (remember when the border guards used to know your name, welcome you, and smile?!)!!

My time spent at "the Bay" (Boundary Bay) is time where I can truly be myself. The energy of area is so loving, open, and accepting — it's like a warm hug from mom! I feel so blessed to be teaching in this home away from home, to connect with the community, and to give back to a place that has given so much to me over the years.

How has yoga changed your life?

Yoga has connected me back to my body. Yoga makes me feel strong, happy, and connected to myself and everyone around me. I love the balance and dualities of yoga: it has this grounding effect which allows me to get really quiet, to tap into my intuition, to continually re-discover the Self - Me!. At the same time, my practice is expansive and radiant!

Yoga encourages continual growth and expansion of the Self. In short, yoga makes me feel amazing, yoga makes me feel like me, yoga allows me to be in a personal space in which I can be compassionate and kind to myself so that I can genuinely pass on these qualities to others.

What's your yoga teaching philosophy?

Yoga has re-introduced me to my body, my mind, and my spirit; my teaching philosophy is to pass this on and to empower my fellow yogis to take ownership of their physical, mental, and spiritual health. I believe that we are all our own best teachers, we know our bodies the best — if we choose to listen and respond appropriately.

Trust your body and your breath: give yourself permission to listen - really listen, let go of expectations, close your eyes, and FEEL what you need.

Yoga is not a competition, yoga is not for show; the intention for my teaching is to enable my students to to peel back the layers of tension, self doubt, anxiety etc. and to experience the joy, peace, and happiness which resides deep within the Self.

Where is your favourite place to do yoga?

Airports. Ok, I love to practice outside with nature, to feel the breeze, and be one with nature - for sure, but there is just something about practicing in an airport which gives me so much joy. Airports are busy and slow, stressful and joyful, angry and happy— basically they are a large collection of every single type of person/emotion/situation you could ever wish to meet all in one building!

Finding a quiet space in an airport is an adventure, unrolling my mat along side my fellow travelers is a delight, and rocking out a down dog/cobra/tree after sitting on a 5 hour flight make me feel happy to be alive! Sure, I may get the odd look now and then, but for the most part everyone within your gaze is grateful for the energy you are exuding/giving them something a little different to look at.

I just close my eyes, feel my body and what it needs, and forget about everything that is going on around me, talk about the ultimate expression of love for yourself!

Who inspires you most?

My students - from beginner to advanced, inspire me. In any class I teach, I marvel at the commitment that my fellow yogis make to themselves to practice.

I learn so much every class, each student has a different background, different history of past injuries, and different series of events which have led them onto the mat; as such, each student practices a little differently — it is beautiful!.

I love how unique every student is, this inspires me to continually reflect on how difference should be celebrated on and off the mat, how important it is to love my own differences, and how important it is to share and communicate the beauty of diversity with others.

Anything else?

I truly believe that yoga is for everyone. Get on your mat, get quiet, and let your body flow the way it knows how to. Beautiful!!

Being a yoga teacher is the best time ever — to be able to support any fellow yogi in their own journey into the Self is a true privilege. Thank you!!

Thank you Robyn.

Robyn teaches at Shanti Yoga in Tsawwassen (near Windsor Woods) on Wednesday nights, 7:15 p.m. gentle hatha and on Sundays, a fun 8:30 a.m. shanti sweat (better than a latte) and her very popular 10:15 a.m. gentle hatha too (better than waffles.)

Wow, isn't life amazing? A freedom workshop with Andrea Klein

2011-02-28T07:28:00.000-08:00

We laughed. We stomped. We danced. We let go.

We got inspired by the words of teacher Andrea Klein, then swept away by Will Blunderfield's heartfelt songs.

Yep: We were free.

In case you missed Sunday's two-hour long celebration, here's a few photos from class and a short clip of one of three songs Will performed during Andrea's class.

What a treat.

(Next workshop: Yin Yoga for Athletes with Tracy Sundbo. A must-do for a Friday night in South Delta, 7 - 9 p.m. on March 12. CLICK HERE to register.)

Sip on this: A smoothie, with protein, that actually tastes good?

2011-02-24T14:10:00.000-08:00

Protein powders and I don't mix.

Usually.

Something about the gritty-but-good-for-me texture, combined with the inevitable uck factor, activates a strong urge to gag.

I just don't like them.

Until now.

A health-savvy pal - - - country singer Jessie Farrell, who also runs Vancouver Island's best kept healthy secret, Jessie's Juice Co in Sidney - - - recommended I try the tropical smoothie powder from Vega.

"Seriously. It's actually good!" she urged.

It is.

Me? I mix two scoops with a banana, a handful of organic blueberries, a handful of frozen mango chunks, a scoop of plain yogurt and a cup of OJ.

It's honestly pretty yummy.

And better still, Vega products are formulated by North Vancouver-raised ultra athlete and all-around nice guy, Brendan Brazier.

Not convinced?

According to their Vega website, one serving has:

Two servings of veggies
2500 mg Omega-3-6-9
11 g complete protein
Only 100 calories
1 billion probiotics cultures

Yoga makes everything better: including your off-the-mat stuff

2011-02-18T13:57:00.000-08:00

Yin yoga is yummy yoga.
It's hip-loving, joint-hugging, body-stretching, mind-clearing, healing yoga that really does a body good.
Did we mention we love it?
And so does Shanti Yoga teacher Tracy Sundbo, who really loves sharing the slower-stretchier-deeper-side of yoga with students through yin.
Join her for a two-hour workshop — a seriously awesome way to spend a Friday evening in Tsawwassen — for her must-do, Yin: Yoga for Athletes.
Space is limited so come in, see us and book your spot on the mat.

You'll be a yinster before you know it.

Why do Yin Yoga?

"Recently Yin Yoga has been "re-discovered", and more and more students of yoga are adding this challenging form of practice to their regular sadhana. Years of a dedicated asana practice will make anyone healthier, stronger, and more flexible, but at some point the muscles will have reached their limit of flexibility. New depths in postures, deeper ranges of motion, or an increased flow of energy may only be achievable by focusing on the deeper tissues of the body. This is why so many students are finding Yin Yoga to be the perfect compliment and balance to their more active, yang practices."

— from Yin teacher, Bernie Clark, on yinyoga.com

Who: Teacher Tracy Sundbo, a yin enthusiast and a wonderful, engaging yoga teacher
What: Yin: Yoga for Athletes
When: March 11, 7 - 9 p.m.
Cost: $35
Where: Shanti Yoga, #4 - 1363 56th Street, South Delta, Tsawwassen
More?
www.shantiyogabc.com

(Next class today: The oh-so-awesome 5:30 p.m. Shanti Sweat with Chantal.)

We miss Wes: Yogi on the go update

2011-02-03T14:18:00.000-08:00

So you've asked. We've listened. Since we all miss Wesley, we asked him to send us a quick update on his travels.

As he would say: "Awesomeness."

Where is Wesley?

On my honeymoon in Goa, India :)

What type of yoga are you doing?

We're doing hatha, iyengar & vinyasa power flow classes

What's it like?

Stunning an beautiful. Everywhere you look something is happening. Amazing! Big smiles, amazingly kind people and delicious food.....with sunsets that are 1 of a kind.

We hear you've found a new, furry, humpy yoga buddy?

Found a few yogi 'beach friends'-check out my blog at http://www.wesleyoga.com/ to see some pictures.

And?

Back in the spring. :) Misses and big fat high 5's

Right back at you Wes!

Freedom February: Free Your Body, Your Mind and More - with Andrea Klein

2011-02-03T14:07:00.000-08:00

We loved Andrea's last workshop so much, she's bring us another one.

Here's how she describes the event:

"FREE YOUR BODY AND FREE YOUR MIND

A Freedom workshop with Andrea Klein

In this 2 hour workshop you will:

Move through a yoga practice designed to free your body from tension, toxins and limiting beliefs. You will move through an inspiring, energizing class designed to help you feel inner and outer strength.

Your body will experience FREEDOM, STRENGTH and LIGHTNESS.

You will:

Take part in a powerful meditation on accepting and loving your body. You will learn inspiring meditation techniques to clear judgements, limiting beliefs and heavy thoughts.

Your mind will experience FREEDOM, INNER STRENGTH and CLARITY!

Free you body and Free your mind so you can get inspired to move forward in your amazing life with joy, gratitude and bliss! "

Sounds good?

Click here to register. Space is limited! Last one sold out.

Yoga For Youth: Shanti Yoga's after-school program kicks off this month

2011-02-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

Join radiant-child certified yoga teacher, Tracy Sundbo, this month and next, in her after-school yoga for youth program.

Space is limited.

Click here to register.

Sweetheart Sale: On today and Tomorrow @ Shanti Yoga, Tsawwassen

2011-02-03T13:59:00.000-08:00

Love. Bliss. Peace.

We know how fun it is to give a little lovin' to your sweetheart. So we're offering 10% off today and tomorrow on all our new, Satya Jewelry, Half Moon clothing and goodies, and our glass Life Factory water bottles too.

I Release. . . I Am. . .

2011-01-23T19:32:00.000-08:00

"Anything is possible."

— Andrea Klein, today at her New Year; New You: Yoga for A Transformational 2011 workshop, Shanti Yoga, Tsawwassen

We let go. We visualized. We danced. We learned new mantras.
We felt inspired.

It was a beautiful day at the studio, thanks to some inspiring teaching by Andrea and all the great energy from the students.

Thank you!

Yoga teacher profile: Charles Pentland is 'always learning and growing'

2011-01-11T09:44:00.000-08:00

'A class without breathing is like a guitar without strings'
— Yogi profile: Vancouver teacher Charles Pentland

*

We asked Pentland five questions about his yoga practice, including what inspires him and his teaching.
The result? We can't wait to take his class.
Here's what he had to say.

Yoga teacher Charles Pentland. Submitted Photo.

What's your favourite thing about yoga?

I'm addicted to learning.

I had no idea this was the case growing up as a skater, I just went out every day and focused on skating and learning new tricks.

I would be inside my head and body, figuring out how I could make subtle changes to my alignment or stance that would result in more fluid and successful skateboarding.

I'd sit a look at the steps of a building or a handrail for hours wondering what it would take for me to such and such a trick there.

Yoga has me learning and healing in this same way.
I can now listen to what my body has to tell me, and apply this feedback in a healing way in my yoga practice.

I'm always learning and growing — both as a student and a leader.

The infinite possibilities of our own intelligence coupled with the accumulated knowledge of yogis throughout lifetimes of practice is what makes yoga a living breathing art and science.

What inspires you?

Breathing. It blows me away, ujaii breath.

A class without the breathing is like a guitar without strings.

If you were looking in from the street at a yoga class and the class wasn't breathing, it might look right, but when you go inside, you see that the experience isn't there without the breath: It's what ties the class together, it's what makes vinyasa, it's the string.

Favourite yoga quote (right now) is . . .

"The yogi realizes that his life and all its activities are part of the divine action of nature, manifesting and operating in the form of man.
In the beating of his pulse and the rhythm of his respiration, he recognizes the flow of the seasons and the throbbing of universal life."
— B.K.S. Iyengar

How do you describe your classes?

Forrest Yoga is an intense sequence of asanas, well thought out, and led in a compassionate way. I lead my classes in a mindful way, and challenge my students to be fully present.

If you could be anywhere doing anything today, where would you be & what would you be doing?

Currently I'm doing just that: I'm beyond happy with where I am.

I'm walking my path, in the footsteps of my future self.

*

Check out www.forrestyoga.com & www.aranyayoga.wordpress.com

Thank you Charles!

(Inspired? We are too. Now let's get yoga-ing. Charles Pentland is guest teaching tonight at Shanti Yoga, Tsawwassen: 5:30 p.m. shanti sweat; 7:15 p.m. hatha restorative. Go to www.shantiyogabc.com to reserve your spot on the mat. Thank you!)

Dwell in Possibility: And smile more

2011-01-06T14:37:00.000-08:00

We're constantly presented with opportunities to challenge ourselves.
Someone cuts you off in traffic.
A bird poops on your head.
Your latte spills on your new hoodie. (This one is especially familiar.)
This is when our yoga kicks in. When we have the chance to inhale. To exhale.
To shake it off.
(Literally.)

We still have spots free in Andrea's workshop. Come in to register & get your member's discount!

As we roll into a new decade, take time to set your intention for 2011. To set a goal (or three) and to embrace a feeling of expansiveness.
Anything is possible.
Change is constant.
And that's a good thing.

(Our next class is today at 5:30 p.m. www.shantiyogabc.com)

Everything good, everything bright

2010-12-25T10:17:00.000-08:00

"The Healthiest Response to life is Laughter.

There is always a reason to be grateful.

You belong in the scheme of the universe. There's nothing to be afraid of. You are Safe.

Your soul cherishes every aspect of your life.

There is a Plan, and your soul knows what it is.

Ecstasy is the energy of spirit. When life flows, ecstasy is natural.

There is a creative solution to every problem. Every possibility holds the promise of abundance.

Obstacles are Opportunities in disguise.

Evolution leads the way through desire.

Freedom is Letting Go."

— Deepak Chopra

Freedom is letting go.

Happy holidays! See you Monday on the mat.

www.shantiyogabc.com

Make Way for Change, Transformation: BLISS

2010-12-10T11:57:00.000-08:00

We're so excited for this one.
Mark your calendars. Register quick.
There's only space for 20 or so (tops) in this exciting new workshop by inspiring teacher, Andrea Klein.

Here's just a quick hit of some of what Andrea says participants can expect to experience:

"Move through a fun, inspiring yoga practice designed to detox and release your past to create space for a new year, transforming what you desire into reality."

"Master techniques in becoming clear on exactly what you want, and how you can expect to manifest into your life with ease and inspiration."

"Learn a meditation designed to eliminate doubt and questions and move you into a place of confidence."

Why?
This is the year to make it happen, says Klein.

"Discover freedom, joy and inspiration inside yourself and connect to your personal power to create your life!"

How?
Join Andrea and a community of like-minded yogis ready to embrace life and 2011 with open hearts and inspired minds!

CLICK HERE to register. Space is limited.

About Andrea?
Andrea Klein is a RYT (registered yoga teacher) certified through Open Door Yoga, who has trained with everyone from Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra and David Simon (in meditation and the Spiritual Laws of Success) to training with Erickson College in Neuro Linguistic Programming and Life.

"There's no time like now to TRANSFORM your desire into reality," says Klein.

Oh, and all levels are welcome. Yes, that means you.

Holiday Mingler: This Weekend

2010-11-30T21:55:00.000-08:00

Make sure to come in this weekend for a cup of tea, a treat and some chit-chat.
Oh, and we're marking down our in-studio store — including our Half Moon and Life Factory goodies — to help you get in some gift-getting sooner, rather than later.

www.shantiyogabc.com

Look Up. Be inspired. Look Around. Be.

2010-11-29T07:25:00.000-08:00

For many of us, we head to a yoga class to enjoy the lift we get from being part of a yoga kula, or community.
Yes, we can and should practice our downdogs on our own.
But somehow it's easier (and more fun, in my opinion) to learn and practice in a group.
To feel the collective energy or tremor we experience in an group asana practice and to understand that we are not alone.

Photo: Daniel O'Sullivan, Boundary Bay, B.C.

*
Which makes me think of this reading from one of my favourite teachers, Gurmukh.
Read this.
Smile.
Pass it on.
And then look up. Look around. Be inspired.

*

THE STORY OF THE GEESE

(from teacher Gurmukh's Favorite Poems collection, compiled on the Golden Bridge website. These are things she reads in classes. And I remember her reading this once during a class I attended in Vancouver. It sticks with you and gives you a new appreciation for the life in the sky. And below.)

In the fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter, flying
along in a "V" formation, you might be interested in knowing what
science has discovered about why they fly that way.

It has been learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift
for the bird immediately following. By flying in a "V" formation, the
whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird
flew on its own. Similarly, people who are part of a team and share a
common direction get where they are going faster and easier because
they are traveling on the trust of one another and lifting each other up
along the way.

Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and
resistance of trying to go through it alone and quickly gets back into
formation to take advantage of the power of the flock. If we have as
much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation and share
information with those who are headed in the same way that we are
going.

When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wings and
another goose takes over the formation. It pays to share leadership
and take turns doing hard jobs.

The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep their
speed. Words of support and inspiration help energize those on the
frontline, helping them to keep pace in spite of the day-to-day
pressures and fatigue. It is important that our honking be
encouraging, otherwise it's just, well... honking.

Finally, when a goose gets sick or wounded and falls out, two geese
fall out of the formation and follow the injured one down to help and
protect him. . They stay with him until he either dies or is able to fly.
Then they launch out with another formation to catch up with their
group.

When one of us is down, it's up to the others to stand by us in our
time of trouble. If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by
each other when things get rough. We will stay in formation with
those headed where we want to go.

The next time you see a
formation of geese, remember their message that it is indeed a
reward, a challenge and a privilege to be a contributing member of a
team.

Happy BlissBliss! Celebrate the holidays with your Shanti Yoga kula, Tsawwassen

2010-11-18T14:05:00.000-08:00

Happy. Bliss. Bliss!

It's that time of the year.... Well, almost.

We're inviting you — and your friends, family and more — to come in and share some festive joy with us at Shanti Yoga.

When:

Sunday, Dec. 5th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

What:

Have a cup of tea, exchange yoga chit chat, enter to win a lululemon gift pack from your friends at Oakridge, shop for Satya, and sit back and relax.

More details to come.

Stay tuned in by logging on to our Facebook page or following us on twitter at @shantiyogabc.

Ho. Ho. Ho. Om.

(Next classes today: Wesley will be in the studio for a double tonight. And our UGI fit class starts at 4 p.m.)

Wake Up. Stretch. Celebrate. Be.

2010-11-18T13:54:00.000-08:00

Read this. Then read it again. :)

A Precious Human Life

Every day think as you wake up,

Today I am fortunate to have woken up,

I am alive; I have a precious human life,

I am not going to waste it,

I am going to use it.

All my energies to develop myself
To expand my heart out to others.

To achieve enlightenment for
The benefit of all beings,

I am going to have kind
Thoughts towards others,

I am not going to get angry,
Or think badly about others,

I am going to benefit others
As much as I can.

H.H. the XIV Dalai Lama

Let go: Exhale more

2010-11-15T15:04:00.000-08:00

"Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway. "

— Mary Kay Ash

A friend reminded me of this quote the other day, right after a yoga class exploring deep back bending postures.
(The posture kapotasana, or king pigeon pose.)
It's tough to be vulnerable. To let go.
And often the biggest challenge is the voice in our head.
The voice that spreads doubt.
"I can't," it says.
Amazing how taking a deep inhale — a deep exhale — and letting go can help.
Amazing how it always feels better when we try to fly.

**Next class at Shanti Yoga in Tsawwassen: 5:30 p.m. flow; 7:15 p.m. shanti sweat.)

(p.s. A shout-out in The Delta Optimist about the beach clean-up.)

30-Day Illumination: Brighten Up Your Life

2010-11-03T16:12:00.000-07:00

The weather is chillier. The days shorter. The sky less blue. (Yes, even in South Delta!)
It's a great time to jump into your practice, to work on shining from the inside out.

We hear you.
And we'd like to invite you to join us for Shanti Yoga's first-ever 30-Day Illumination, free for all unlimited yoga pass holders (one-monthers, 3-monthers or 12-monthers.)

We love this pic of yoga teacher Wes, who shares his illuminating practice on Thursday night's in South Delta at Shanti Yoga. Join in!

Not a member?
Join in the fun by signing up before Nov.14.

And get illuminated.

Here's the scoop:

WHEN:
Kicks off Monday, November 15

WHAT:
30-Day Illumination: Yoga, meditation, readings and more.

HOW:
Sign Up in-studio for this fun, guided yoga intensive - a must for anyone who wants to deepen their practice, learn a little more, and feel a little better.

Participants must:

do 3 yoga classes weekly (any class type)
1 assigned reading weekly (*we'll provide these to you at the start of each week by e-mail)
Journaling/feedback/special excercises. (*don't worry! this is going to fun stuff.)

AND:

If you make it, you'll not only feel great, you'll be entered to win great prizes too!

(More on that to come.)

ARE YOU IN?

E-mail usl at shantiyogabc@gmail.com to join in. And click on our Facebook to "attend," then "share" it with your yoga buddies. THANK YOU! The Shanti Yoga gang.

Prizes, loot and pretty stuff: Run Inn to Shanti

2010-11-02T14:10:00.000-07:00

"I love this jacket," says one of our happy students, filling in an entry form this morning for a chance to win a $255 prize package from Tsawwassen's The Run Inn.

The Adidas Yoga Wear ensemble - - - boot-cut yogi pants, a pretty yoga top and a stylish raspberry jacket - - - is on disply in the studio next to the entry box.

And there's plenty more ready-for-the-mat looks at The Run Inn. Go and shop. Stay for a run.

Kate at The Run Inn, showing off this great yoga-meets-life Adidas jacket. You can win in!

(p.s. Here's a few pics. Though they don't do this look justice. We tried!)

Beach Clean Up: thank you!

2010-10-25T15:27:00.000-07:00

The first wave of cleaner-uppers to come out on Saturday. So many great people! Thanks.

We came. We cleaned.
We had a great time.
And in the end, even though the shoreline of Centennial Beach and Boundary Bay was pretty tidy, we picked up about 50 lbs of trash.

Way more trash on the shoreline than we expected. Looks clean until you really start looking.

This morning one of our students came in smiling. She was one of the 20 or so who came out Saturday for our first clean up.

"It felt so good," she said, before unrolling her mat. "I really enjoyed it."

We collected about 50 lbs of trash, including lots of bits of plastic. Thanks again!

So did we.

Thank you everyone who came out, including the gang from lululemon oakridge, Shanti Yoga students and teachers, the families and tykes we met for the first time, and some of the local kiters and windsurfers who showed up too.

You guys are all so awesome!

(Yoga today? Shanti Yoga's 5:30 p.m. Monday flow; 7:15 p.m. Shanti Sweat with Autumn. Both are awesome.)

Design huddle at lululemon lab

2010-10-19T13:30:00.000-07:00

What happens when you get together a gang of local yoginis — like Vancouver vinyasa teacher Clara Roberts-Oss — to chat about fashion and function at the lululemon lab?

Well nothing is off limits. We chatted about everything from suggestions to add "more cotton in the crotch" to tackling bra-talk to brainstorming over some of the inspiring words we'd love to wear.

lululemon labbers listened and took notes, inspiring us with their good style

Vancouver vinyasa teacher Clara Roberts-Oss holds up one of her favourite shirts during our show-and-tell time.

Read about our previous visit exploring the lululemon lab — the open-concept design and retail hub on Broadway and Cambie — by clicking HERE.

At a glance, here's the quick scoop on the lab, including their events calendar. (Yes, they offer free yoga and more! Such a great space. Did we mention the high ceilings?)
THE LAB:

it's a design studio & a retail space in one.

new designs are sketched, sampled & sold in the lab.

stand out and 'Build Your Own Groove Pants' (for real)

complimentary hemming available on CLEAN lululemon athletica product.

Sip smarter: Lifefactory Water bottles at Shanti Yoga for fall

2010-10-18T13:39:00.000-07:00

Chug-a-lug Tsawwassen.

Look what's coming to Shanti Yoga for your post-pre-during yoga slurping pleasure.

We love Life Factory's BPA-free pretty glass water bottles, a safer and yummier way to gulp, or sip, your H20.

Good for hot or cold water.
Easy to clean.

pic: courtesy Life Factory

Cute as a button.

BPA-free, safe, simple, smart.

(Next yoga class at Shanti Yoga: 5:30 p.m. flow; 7:15 p.m. shanti sweat)

Groove with Sparrow: Oct.30 at lululemon Oakridge

2010-10-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

We love her teaching.
We love her pipes.
We love her inspiring words.
*
Mark this on your calendar South Delta yogis. And tell your friends!

Go for the music. Stay to plump up your fall fitness wardrobe.

Make sure you say hi!

(Note: Next class today - 5:30 p.m. Shanti Sweat. Go to www.shantiyogabc.com for more updates)

Out with the Old, In with the Bliss

2010-10-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

The first time I heard about the second niyama of saucha — cleanliness or purity — I remember thinking: "I better work on this one."
At that point, years ago, I focused on the physical aspect of cleanliness — something that my closet still struggles with — and showing up to yoga freshly showered.

I'd work on cleaning my mat well and leaving the yoga space tidy, my props arranged neatly and so on.
And while this physical cleanliness is one part of what saucha is about, and an important part of it, it's not just about doing your dishes or donating those '80s acid washed jeans to the charity thrift shop.

Saucha to me should encompass the spiritual, emotional and the physical.

To help us let go of what is holding us back.

To create space for something new.

And since this isn't just something to think about on the mat, in the studio, we're inviting you to come out and join us for our first Boundary Bay Beach Clean Up.

Here's the poster, created by my friend Colette — even though she's busy, she donated some time to this (thank you!.)

Please pass it on. Help us spread the word and make this a fun, beach-combing coupla hours!

And stay tuned on the event's Facebook page for updates. CLICK HERE.

Thank you!

The Shanti Yoga gang

(p.s. Next class: 12 p.m. flow with Autumn; followed by Tracy's new 4 p.m. Weekend Bender. www.shantiyogabc.com/schedule for updates.)

Twister blisser: Vancouver Yoga Conference

2010-10-04T16:39:00.000-07:00

"Your yoga is never going to leave you," says New York teacher Cyndy Lee, standing in front of a dozen or so of us yogis at her Opening The Gates workshop Thursday.

"Our practice is in there. It's in ourselves. It's in our bones."

And it was in the air too, all weekend long in downtown Vancouver.

The Yoga Garden at the Vancouver Convention Centre: lots of warriors.

This was the second yoga conference I've volunteered at, monitoring classes for some yoga masters and helping out with the show too.

Spent six hours with Lee on Thursday before heading into Tina James's Jivamukti master class that night. Friday was an eight-hour yoga "excavation" with Seane Corn — the amazingly cathartic Detox Flow day — and Saturday back with Lee for a workshop on grounding.

Sunday?

Natasha Rizopoulos, and a fun look at surya namaskar.

Me and yoga teacher Cyndy Lee after class.

Here's a few highlights:

Lee's definition of yoga: "Integration." She likens yoga to an ocean. "Sometimes I think of yoga as the union of opposites." She demonstrates this by clasping the fingers of both hands together.

Whistler yoga teacher Tina James's class used a video loop of the ocean on a projector, bringing our attention, or intentions, to the environment. "When we begin the asana practice, we begin questioning everything we do."

Corn's frank approach to yoga leaves little wiggle room for excuses, especially when she tackles toxins as in her Detox Flow. It's never too late to be healthier, she says. "Give up sugar, give up caffeine. It might take a few months but you will see major changes." The three hour vinyasa practice focused on "decompressing vital organs" then compressing them, then twisting.

Of a holistic detoxification, mind/body/soul: "This is a spirit gain process." And boy, it felt great.
"Why does any of this matter?" she asks. "For me detoxification is simply a process so I can show up in my life in a more integrated way."

Rizopoulos on traveling with her yoga and her "must-do" posture. "Under all circumstances I always do a five-minute downward dog," she says, before moving into an enviable inverted-V pose. "It really is a wonderful pose."

On planking and what to do with one's pelvis/core: "Tadasana is the easiest plank you'll ever do," she says.

Rizopoulos doing her 5-min downdog warm-up before a class Sunday.

Vancouver teacher Gloria Latham: Didn't do a class with her but bumped into her — one of my favourite teachers and the owner of Semperviva — on the way to the conference show floor for a good hug and some chitchat. Just one of the warm fuzzy moments from the weekend, including plenty of good times with Shanti Yoga teachers Tracy, Autumn and Robyn.

Shanti teacher Autumn and I working on goodie bags for conference attendees on Sunday.

(Inspired to yoga? Next class at Shanti Yoga, Tsawwassen is at 5:30 p.m., followed by the 7:15 p.m. shanti sweat. See you on the mat South Delta. Go to www.shantiyogabc.com and log in now.)

Shanti Yoga, Tsawwassen: New Fall Schedule Update

2010-09-27T14:11:00.000-07:00

Hey gang,
We're rolling out our new, fall Shanti Yoga schedule starting October 1st.
New classes:

Thursday night's 7:15 back to basics easy flow
Saturday 4 p.m. Weekend Bender (kicks off Oct.9th)

Also, notice some shuffling too, like the early morning class on Wednesdays. Happy hump day!


Here's our new schedule (attached) with two new classes added & a few schedule tweaks: Yes, we're trying the 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday mornings again. Can you make it?

NOTE: Tracy's "weekend bender" kicks off October 9th at 4 p.m. It's a shanti sweat class with plenty of 'tude. We can't wait. And if you missed last week's Wesley party on Thursday, make sure you clear your schedule. It's a blast.

Book online by clicking here.

Satya now at Shanti in Tsawwassen

2010-09-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

We've been huge fans of New York-based Satya Jewelry since we first spotted it at a little shop in Hood River, Oregon a few years ago.
Simple designs of silver and gold mixed with precious stones come wrapped in yoga-inspired sentiments, with plenty of lotus and om references to make us smile.

Moonstone Om bracelet: Moonstone, the stone of fertility, nurtures wisdom and promotes positive feminine health. Gold stimulates the body's natural energies.

A jade bracelet sits next a silver blossoming lotus ring.

Silver hoops: "The angled surfaces capture the light and subdue it with their matte finish for a satisfying glow. Sterling silver hand-cast pendants and hand-formed wire supports with a hand-brushed matte finish. Ear hooks are sterling silver with shiny finish to wipe clean easily."

WE love this ruby lotus necklace on gold.

Delicate but bold enough to earn some compliments too.

Our new display case.

And did we mention how pretty it all is?
Since pictures sometimes say more than words, we just snapped a few pics from our new display case.
Swooning yet?
We are too.
(Oh, and we already sold two pieces this morning — our first day! — so hop in to Shanti Yoga and check out the selection. And tell your friends!)

*** Next class: Come to Shanti Yoga, Tsawwassen - 5:30 p.m. flow; 7:15 p.m. shanti sweat. Mmmmmmondays rock with a little yoga right? Mmmmmmm.****

Slammin' on the breaks

2010-09-17T15:42:00.000-07:00

Ever had that feeling where you just know you're going too fast?
Weeks blur.
You can't quite remember exactly how you spent the Monday before last — and you really couldn't find the time to try. Or care.
We've all had busy spurts. That's okay.
But when life is chronically speeding past, and you're just barely keeping up, it's time to put on the breaks.
You don't have slam them.
But start taking measures to slow down.
Like right now.
Go and make yourself a cup of tea.

(Better heh?)

A few tips to help:

* Wake up and get out of bed: Schedule in "you time." This means turning off your mobile phone and simply giving yourself time to Be.

* Spend more time sitting on a piece of driftwood, staring at the sea.

* Do yoga. Seriously, it will have a profound impact on your life. And your ability to embrace whatever happens next.

* Chew your food. And taste it. Schedule lunch breaks. Observe tea time.

* Run. Walk. Skip. Dance. } Do something physical every day. Something that is just about letting loose and playing. (Yes, yoga will do nicely as well.)

* Drive less. Park your car and take the bus. Or ride your bike. It seems "slower" but it saves you stress, money and it's good for the earth. Good for you.

* Imitate your dog. Lola gets up, stretches and immediately wants to go for a walk.

(Next yoga: Tonight @ 5:30 p.m. join us at Shanti Yoga for Robyn's shanti sweat class.)

www.shantiyogabc.com

Fallin' happily into fall Tsawwassen

2010-09-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

It's already mid-September.
(Gasp.)
And along with chillier weather — we can't decide exactly how to dress right now! — there's plenty of exciting things on the go.
For instance, we're updating our Shanti Yoga schedule.
This means more classes for you and plenty of feel-good adjustments to the Shanti sched: like shifting classes based on your feedback and smart thinking.
And new faces too.
Just this morning we met with a great new teacher and we're meeting another one on Thursday.
Oh, and some of our changes are too fun to put off until October. Like Wes.

Join Wesley Salter on Thursday nights at Shanti Yoga, kickin' off Sept.23 @ 5:30 p.m.

He's joining us next Thursday to kick off his new duo: 5:30 p.m. shanti sweat, 7:15 p.m. back-to-the-basics easy flow.

(See you tonight: 5:30 p.m. shanti sweat, followed by the 7:15 p.m. hath"ah" restorative. And remember to start booking in to classes online to secure your spot.)

South Delta: lululemon was here & it was awesome!

2010-09-12T10:33:00.000-07:00

THE SCOOP:
Shanti Yoga presents. . . lululemon Oakridge trunk show extravaganza

Event organizer Nicky Freeman: rocks!

THE WRAP:

Inside, people busily tried on lululemon hoodies, running tops, yoga pants while others investigated the best way to tie on their new vinyasa scarf.

Outside of Shanti Yoga, shoppers and passersby stopped to munch on a Thrifty's chocolate chip cookie or to sip a cup of tea.

(Later some of us switched to Granville Island's beer or little cups of wine for sipping as we shopped.)

Yep, it was a celebration at Shanti Yoga in Tsawwassen on Saturday, as the yoga space was transformed into a little slice of lululemon — thanks to the gang from Oakridge.

The "matwalk" surrounded by goodies from lulu

It all started with a sweaty, 8:30 a.m. power class (FREE) —we embraced our crocodiles and flipped our downdogs — followed by the 10 a.m. post-class arrival of the lululemon gang. Watching them setup was pretty impressive, from their neat displays to their smart sort-by-size strategy.

The studio was totally transformed. Barefoot shopping day was a hit.

Here's a few highlights and more pics from our day.
(More to come in the next few days, thanks to photographer Phil.)

THE BUZZ:

Taylor, Nicky, Phil and Hector: ready to go.

The lulu gang: Nicky, Hector, Taylor, Leah, Kim, Monica. . .to name a few. Talk about a yoga approach to work. They never stopped smiling.
Tsawwassen hair stylist Whitney Saip's expertise turning our flat hair into beach goddess bounciness. She did seven of us in total, without pausing for some savasana or even to ogle a hoodie.
Tsawwassen singer Natasha D'agostino's beautiful melodies: she performed two sets during the shopping day. Thank you!
Losing shoes. Finding shoes. Taking off shoes. And most of all, Daniel Emde's ability to remind people to nicely embrace "shoe-free shopping." Please. Kept our yoga floor pristine. Awesome.

Robyn & Daniel.

Endorphin Junkie's Sparky's prowess on the matwalk. He and Shanti Yoga's Autumn Ngo were stiff rivals for their modeling ability.

The "bumps" incident. 'Nuff said.

Shanti Yoga teacher Autumn Ngo hung out with us on her BIRTHDAY.

Shanti Yoga teacher Robyn Emde's steadfast and impressive yoga demoing; Lisa Finlay's awesome attitude; and Autumn Ngo's on-the-mark radness. (Is that a word?)


U The Life store owner and yogi stylista, Unity Whitakker won "The Mat" in the 4 p.m draw.

Unity Whitakker not only brought us Cava bangles to wear on the matwalk, she walked away the winner of the 4 p.m. grand prize draw for "The Mat" from lululemon. Hector picked her name out. And well, she wasn't shy about being thrilled with her new lilac-hued mat.
Kathy: for stepping on the matwalk and spreading so many good vibes.
Meeting all the cute pups that were helping their fur-parents shop. Notable pooches: Kosmo, Rory and Link. Woof to meet you.

New fur mom Patsie took a break from shopping to cuddle with Rory. He also had a soft spot for lulu's Leah.

Cute, cute, cute tykes running around on cookie highs; including the gang from BuggyBabies in Ladner. We loved having you guys out!

And most of all, it was a treat to see all of our Shanti Yoga students coming out and having a good time. We can't wait to see you on the mat in your new lulu! You guys just rock.

(Go to www.shantiyogabc.com for updates on our sched. And click here to book in to your next class online.)

(Special thanks to Thrifty's for helping support the day — cookies & veggie platters & bottled water & tea; And to Granville Island Brewery for helping hydrate us with yummy brews.)

Know-it-all? No thank you

2010-09-09T08:38:00.000-07:00

"Enjoy the questions and forget the answers." — Paulo Coelho

Once you embrace the idea that — in the grand scheme of things — you don't know very much, you can let go of a lot.

You can begin to enjoy, and celebrate, the questions.

Not knowing is an opportunity to read a book, to study, to listen to a teacher — to learn — and to explore everything with an open mind. An open heart.

On and off the mat.

(Heart-openers tonight at our 5:30 p.m. power yoga class. See you on the mat. www.shantiyogabc.com )

Follow Paulo on his Twitter for loads of wonderful insights, updates and more.

Bend it like Madge

2010-09-06T13:39:00.000-07:00

Madonna in satin bloomers teaching yoga?
We laughed. We smirked. We couldn't take our eyes off the screen.

A still from TNBT

We're a decade late in watching The Next Best Thing, but wooped when we found it in the seven-day rentals at Rogers. A nice indulgence, especially on a rainy day.

And tough not to be impressed by Ashtangi Madge's graceful practice. See pic above.

(BTW, we had a blast at this morning's Shanti Yoga feel-good flow. See you Tuesday when class sched is back to normal. Happy Labour Day! www.shantiyogabc.com )

I love my commute

2010-09-03T13:36:00.000-07:00

Smiling so much on my ride back from teaching just now — blue sky overhead, salty sea air and the occasional puppy "traffic jam" — that I almost ate a grasshopper.

The Tsawwassen post-yoga, peddle commute is pretty dreamy.

Easy to find an attitude of grattitude.

(Missed this morning's shoulder-loosening, twisty power class? Don't fret. Towel off, peddle to Shanti Yoga for Robyn's Tsawwassen-Asana shakin' Shanti Sweat at 5:30 p.m. tonight Bring your water bottle.)

p.s. We're open all weekend. Visit us online to see our schedule.

Sip on this: Good friends Rock

2010-09-01T18:45:00.000-07:00

Isn't it amazing how the people you're with can elevate your mood, turning an ordinary Wednesday afternoon into a celebration?
A perfect day.
Choose to spend your time with people who feed your joy and who share your lust for life.
Who share your yoga off the mat.
Who inspire you to be nicer, funnier, smarter and more You.
To Be.
And let those people know that they rock.

circle of friends. . . happy feet

Because they do.

(Post: Inspired by all the awesome friends out there. Thank you and namaste.)

(Next class: 7:15 p.m. power stretch at Shanti Yoga. You'll be among friends.)

Hanging at the lululemon lab

2010-09-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

Take a breather from shopping to watch a designer at work!

Walk past a row of slinky, ready-for-yoga harem pants and head to the change room.
At Lululemon Lab — a design studio and retail space on Cambie and Broadway — trying things on is a must.
Because it's tough to choose from so many interesting, "that's cool" function-meets-fashion items: good for hipsters, good for fitsters.
(Think fashion-y cuts with technical fabrics and smart details like strategically placed mesh. Lots of stretch too.)

I swooned over with these deep-pocketed, oatmeal harem pants & a simple black top made from a stretchy, slippery fabric.

Design inspiration boards

Here's a few more fun facts about the Lab:

You can watch things getting made thanks to its open design. We watched designer Jill busily working on a pattern for the men's line.
Things are "sketched, sampled & sold in the lab."
There's samples for sale. Woohoo!
They have size 02s.
Hungry for some lulu just for you? You can "build your own groove pants" on-site. Get crazy & mix your blues with your greens. Why not?
Pants too long? Hemming is free on clean lululemon products.

(Pics: Just a few from a visit today, on the lab's one-year anniversary.)

Customize your yoga attire? Yep. They do it. Check out the groove pants!

Helpful & stylin' lulu labbers. . .

Love is like a good vitamin

2010-08-30T11:42:00.000-07:00

It gives you a real boost.
On that note, give someone you love a big hug and a smooch today.
Repeat. Rest. Repeat.

S'wonderful, s'marvellous. . .

2010-08-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

Lazy days are underappreciated.
Especially if you're a do-er.
I used to spend my Sundays pounding through a list of to-dos, ending up exhausted by days end.
(Even if everything on the list was fun and exciting. There was no down time. No savasana off the mat.)
And while sometimes this hypercharged doing is inevitable — we all like to cram in fun things on the weekend — it feels really good to actively try to do less when it comes to downtime.
To embrace the benefits of a good, old-fashioned lazy day.

(Photo: Lola is really a champ at embracing lazy days sniffing grass and chasing seagulls on the sand. )

lululemon trunk show extravaganza: South Delta, get ready. . .

2010-08-26T13:21:00.000-07:00

Visit our Facebook Page for the latest scoop on our exciting, super-awesome, can't-wait-for-it lululemon trunk show.
lululemon Oakridge's team will be bringing your lulu to you South Delta.
Fashion show, free yoga, shopping, treats and more!
CLICK HERE and help spread the word.

www.jordanjunck.com

A little chilly for beach yoga: let's try again next week

2010-08-26T12:57:00.001-07:00

Instead of shivering, roll on into the studio for the 5:30 p.m. Power class.
And yes, we're in a "crocodile" kinda state of mind today. Hint. Hint. Hint.

Beach Yoga: Meet us there @ 7:15 p.m. on Thursday

2010-08-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

Dust your yoga mat with some sand and spread your toes in some seaweed: it's beach yoga time.
We'll be sharing an hour of hatha yoga on Thursday night @ 7:15 p.m.
Meet @ the concession stand at Centennial Beach.
RSVP to info@shantiyogabc.com

(photo: It's an old one but a good one right?)

Read this: Paulo Coehlo's blog

2010-08-19T07:13:00.000-07:00

Every day this wonderful writer offers up something inspiring and thoughtful, like his "one minute reading" on unanswered questions.
Take this in, then sit with yourself and breathe.
Read more of Paulo Coehlo's thoughts on his blog.

Inhale: Exhale: Repeat - - it really does help

2010-08-18T07:56:00.000-07:00

Standing on a log on one foot, the other foot in the air — aiming for my ear — it's easy to forget something very key. Very essential.
Especially with a camera aimed at my melon.
I forgot to breathe into what I was doing.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Repeat.
Funny how sometimes the most essential things can get swept away like the tide.
Yesterday I had the delight of spending a few hours at Tsawwassen's Centennial Beach sharing yoga for a Lululemon ambassador photoshoot.
We played with the stunning evening sunlight, the seaweed on the shore, the warm surf and all the sunblasted driftwood too.
In the excitement of it all, mid-way into a wobbly dancer pose, I felt a click inside.
Some tension release.

'Breathe. Take a deep breathe and let go.'

Inhale.
Exhale.
Repeat.
So I did.
And just like that, everything was easier, less pose-y and more fun. More yoga.

(Above Photo: Awesome cats: Jordan the photographer and Lulu's Kim, who is also a yoga teacher. Thank you!)

A little pat on the back for our team.

2010-08-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

South Delta Leader - Tsawwassen studio gives at Yogathon

Thanks to everyone who supported our team. We're so grateful to have been part of such a great event.

South Delta: Lululemon is coming to You!

2010-08-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be great to roll out of bed, take in a free morning power yoga class at Shanti Yoga, then grab breakfast with your friends — maybe a fresh waffle at Ambiente — then walk back to the studio for an afternoon of, gasp, shopping for lululemon?
We think so.

And thanks to our stylish and sporty friends at Oakridge's lululemon, we're presenting our first-ever lululemon trunk show.

It's going to be a blast. Kickin' off with a 12:30 p.m. fashion show, you'll have all afternoon to browse and mingle at Shanti Yoga.

Oakridge is bringing your lululemon to you South Delta.

Oh, and we'd love your feedback on the lululemon you'd like to see more of in Tsawwassen : email to info@shantiyogabc.com.

Here's the flyer. Pass it on & help us make this a big, buzzing event for Tsawwassen, Ladner & all of South Delta.

(Yogadoodle? If you missed Sparrow's 9:30 a.m. power today, pull yourself off the beach for the must-do 5:30 p.m. SHANTI SWEAT with Tracy. It's really, really awesome! See you there.)

Yogatude about our YouTube Channel

2010-08-12T15:07:00.000-07:00

And we've modestly called it: Shantiyogarocks. (youtube.com/ShantiYogaRock)
We considered hipster names like Downwiththedog or FlipTheDog or even WhatsupYoga.
But in the end, we kept it simple.
'Nuff said.

Check out our first yoga how-to video featuring Kim flippin' her dog and doing the Wild Thing.

(Yes, we've got yogatude right now. It must be all this blue sky and sunshine! Photo: It's our latest ad! Thoughts?)

POWER YOGA: 5:30 p.m. tonight @ Shanti Yoga in Tsawwassen. See you on the mat.

Yogi Profile: Wes Salter asks 'what doesn't yoga do for you?'

2010-08-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

With his stick figure yogis, easy-going manner and big grin, it's easy to feel comfortable around yoga teacher Wesley Salter.
"Yoga is for everyone," says Salter, repeating his "credo" on his hip WesleYoga.com website too.
We couldn't agree more.
Here's what Salter had to say when we asked him Five Questions:

*****************
Name: Wesley Salter
From: Lot's of different places
Favourite posture: This morning: High Crescent Lunge. This afternoon: Breakdancing Shiva
Yogaing since: mid-1990's

Why did you first get on the mat and why did you stick to your practice?

I was racing mountain bikes and competing in triathlons and suffered a knee injury which resulted in two surgeries.
My physiotherapist at the time recommended this new type of strength training offered at the local YMCA called 'Power Yoga' so I joined the class and was instantly hooked.

What does yoga do for you?

I think that the best way to answer that is with this question: what doesn't yoga do for you?

What advice do you have for a new yogi or someone who's just getting back into it?

Relax, have fun and focus on discovering and connecting with your breath.
Remember that your practice is unique and individual to you and that now you have the opportunity to share it with all those yogis that are in the room with you! We're all in it together:)

How has teaching changed you and your yoga?

Teaching is an ever changing, amazing adventure!
Having the opportunity to continue to develop my own practice and share via guiding yogis in a class
is the most rewarding experience.
Stretching, sweating, meditating, strengthening, growing, dancing, grooving and breathing with my fellow yogis is simply THE BEST!

If you could be anywhere in the world today, where would you be and what would you be doing?

I've been lucky enough to travel to over 50 countries but I must admit that Vancouver is exactly where I want to be at the moment. But without much persuasion I could easily hop on a plane with my girlfriend and BOOM — we'd be hitting the streets of San Francisco or riding our bikes somewhere in the south of France. :o)

Thanks Wesley!

(South Delta yogis: Join Wesley on Tuesday night at Shanti Yoga in Tsawwassen subbing Sparrow's busy 5:30 p.m. shanti sweat and her 7:15 p.m. restorative classes on August 10. He'll be around more in the fall. Stay tuned!)

Click here for Shanti Yoga's updated schedule and to sign in to class online.

Oh Tsawwassen: You know how to spread your sunshine

2010-08-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

We had a blast at Tsawwassen's Sun Festival.

(PHOTO: Unity (L) & Robyn (R) emulating this month's Yoga Journal cover shot.)

Facing the BMX demonstrations we were thrilled by the stunts and all the excitement of the tykes, jumping at the chance to be human props. (At one point a rider hopped over 11 kids!)

(Photo: Unity (Right) & these kids volunteered to be jumped over. Courage heh?)

(Photo: Our little tent. We featured water bottles & jewelry from Kitsilano's U The Life Accessory Store, thanks to Unity.)

We ate mini donuts, squash and black bean soft tacos and sipped on iced lemonade.
And we chilled out with impromptu yoga sessions when needed, even if we raised a few eyebrows by flipping our dogs.

(Photo: Unity & Robyn side-planking in the shade.)

But most of all, we just had a great time meeting Tsawwassen and Ladner locals who popped by our tent to chat about yoga.

(Chantal (L,) the recycling sea gull & Unity sprouting roots after a mini donut run.)

Hope to see some of our new friends on the mat soon.

(Next class: Sparrow'll be in Tsawwassen tonight for a double whammy. 5:30 p.m. shanti sweat & 7:15 p.m. hatha restorative. www.shantiyogab.com.)

Headstands, handstands, backbends? Oh my.

2010-07-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

Change is never easy.
Change is almost always good.

We've all experience the impact of yoga on our bodies and on our minds.
Sometimes we leave class skipping, ready to hug a stranger and find a cure for hunger in the world.
Other times — especially when we're in the midst of turmoil or big life changes — a headstand or even a simple downward-dog can leave us trembling in tears.
But it always helps. Even if we don't know it at the time.
Get on the mat.

Surrender to that space at the very back of your heart and go ahead, exhale deeply.

(Next class today? Autumn's noon hatha. Noon swoon? Worth dusting the sand from your feet. www.shantiyogabc.com)

Older, wiser, bendier? Bette shows us how it's done

2010-07-29T11:33:00.000-07:00

We hear it all the time.
Getting older means getting sticker, stiffer, crunchier and less mobile.
At the same time, we know that with age comes gifts like wisdom.
So we love hearing about people like 83-year-old Bette Calman (she might be 84 now?)— a yogini from Down Under with four decades of yoga under her trim belt — who is living large, sparkling brightly and turning expectations about aging updside down.
Right along with her tripod headstand.
CLICK HERE and be inspired.

We are.

(Missed your morning yoga with Tracy today? Join Chantal for 5:30 p.m. power class today at Shanti Yoga in Tsawwassen.)

"I do" Lulu

2010-07-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

The blue travel version of The Mat unrolls in front of me to display the words "Will You be Our Ambassador?" written in hand-cut paper letters.
It's Monday night and there's a smiling gang of Lululemon staffers gathered around me (and the gifted mat) at the Oakridge store, where I've been teaching power classes on Monday nights.
!
Will I be a store ambassador?
!
I might have jumped up and down.
I might have given a little woop.
I might even have skipped from foot to foot.
But I definitely said "I do!" I will.

Because like any yoga-loving cat out there, I enjoy wearing comfortable, functional — and stylish — attire on and off the mat. And I love my Lululemon.
I've been a fan since the early days back when a group of us Ashtanga-addicted yogis could cross the street from City Yoga to what was at the time the only Lululemon store around (on 4th Avenue,) in search of comfy yoga pants or a brightly-coloured hoodie.

"Dance, sing, floss and travel."
"Do one thing a day that scares you."
"Breathe deeply."

(I have a very old paper copy of their manifesto on my fridge, and these nuggets have come in handy on many an occasion.)
Like now.
Since setting sail on this latest adventure — we opened Shanti Yoga in Tsawwassen on April 5 — the gang at Oakridge have been a big ocean of support.
More than that, they've been good friends.
So yes, I'm more than a little excited to step on to my new, blue ambassador mat.
To take it to the beach.
To share it with all of my friends.

(Top photo: A very, very, very candid shot taken right after Judith — on the left — unrolled the mat. Thank you!)

Missed yoga this morning? Sparrow will be sharing her wonderful lessons tonight at 5:30's shanti sweat class & then taking things down at the 7:15 p.m. restorative hatha. Bring a water bottle, a towel & a friend. www.shantiyogabc.com

Camp Moomba Yogathon & Blissfest: A huge hug for the soul

2010-07-25T08:16:00.000-07:00

"You just stay here and let this soak in," says yoga teacher Bernie Clark, standing on stage at UBC's McInnes Field on Saturday at Camp Moomba's Yogathon and Blissfest.

The 2,000 or so of us yogis gathered under the blue sky and warm sun visibly settled a little deeper into our collective yoga posture. (In this case, a yin posture known as butterfly.)

Clark was one of more than a dozen Vancouver-area yoga teachers (including Shanti Yoga teacher Kim Bradshaw) to contribute to what the event founder — yoga teacher and blissologist Eoin Finn — described as a "tapestry."

The result?

108 minutes of really, wonderful, sunny yoga. Yoga off the mat. Yoga in the heart. A big hug for the soul.

And plenty of what Clark described as "earthing" too.
The event raised more than $70,000 for Camp Moomba, including the $1,085 raised by Shanti Yoga's team members.

Thank you to everyone who helped out, donating their time and money to such a wonderful cause and uplifting event.

(See you in class this morning: 8:30 a.m. shanti sweat with Kim; 10 a.m. restorative with Robyn.)

Open Your Heart: on & off the mat

2010-07-23T14:44:00.000-07:00

Heart-openers aren't just yummy postures that happen to feel good, they're really good for us.
Especially during the warm summer days when we tend to try to stuff in as many activities as we can.
Action-packed days can leave us feeling a little worn out, even when we're on holidays.

Over the next few weeks, think of letting go more.
Use your practice to support all the things you're doing off the mat.
Open your heart. And of course, share your smile.

(Above photo: Shanti Yoga students after this morning's power class.)

NOTES:

Shanti Yoga's Tsawwassen Tykes yoga series kicks off this Saturday: Join Tracy for the next four weeks. $10 per class. www.shantiyogabc.com
Camp Mooba Yogathon & Blissfest: This Saturday! Not too late to join our team.
Free outdoor fun: This Saturday! Meet us at 2:30 p.m. at "The Stairs" at English Bluff. Hike n' Yog overlooking the sea.

Tsawwassen Tykes: Yoga this Saturday!

2010-07-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

Tell your friends. Tree pose is fun!
Tracy kicks off her Sprig Yoga children's yoga summer series this Saturday.
Don't miss it!
www.shantiyogabc.com

Prenatal Yoga: Kicks off Tomorrow

2010-07-16T08:31:00.000-07:00

Tsawwassen & Ladner moms-to-be?

Pre-natal Yoga with Majessa starts tomorrow at 4 p.m.
Www.shantiyogabc.com

(Pass this on to the preggers yogis in your life! They'll thank you. Have a great day!)

OUTSIDE: July 24 @ 2:30 p.m.

2010-07-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

Calling all Tsawwassen & Ladner yogis & Shanti Yoga 30-Day Challengers:

Meet us at "the stairs" July 24 afternoon at 2:30 p.m.
A gang of Shanti Yoga teachers will be hoofing down, then up, Tsawwassen's gorgeous English Bluff stairs to the beach.
At the top, we'll workshop a few postures and lead some fun, yoga stretches looking out at the ocean.

Why? After yoga-ing for Camp Moomba in the morning at UBC for the yogathon & blissfest, we want to share a little with you guys.

And really, why not?

This is a FREE, just-for-the-fun-of-it event. EVERYONE welcome.

When: July 24, 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Where: The Stairs (English bluff) entranceway
Wear: Runners & bring water, a sweat towel
Bring: A sense of humour & a friend or two.
See you then!!!

Ocean-asana at Boundary Bay

2010-07-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

Jump into the ocean?
Yes. The sooner, the better.
Like yoga, swimming or bobbing in the surf is an instant mood-changer.

(Photo: Jump in.)

Missed your morning yoga: Catch the 5:30 p.m. flow today or the 7:15 p.m. Shanti Sweat, a must-do. www.shantiyogabc.com

Smile with your eyes and wink at that butterfly: yoga off the mat

2010-07-07T13:51:00.000-07:00

Hug a tree. Watch an ant march across a dandelion.
Lie on some grass.
Dig your toes into the sand.
Today is a good day to kiss the earth. To celebrate.

(5:30 p.m. flow; 7:15 p.m. power.)

Sand under toes: Tsawwassen's beaches rock

2010-07-04T15:44:00.000-07:00

The subject line for this post really says it all.

Warm tidepools, sweeping expanses of sand and loads of space for puttering with a buddy and a pooch?

What's not to love?

Oh, and did we mention: Shanti Yoga's first-ever Tsawwassen 30-Day Challenge kicked off Friday? So far, so good.

See you in class Monday: 9:30 a.m. flow, 5:30 p.m. flow & 7:15 p.m. shanti sweat.

(Pics: Some Boundary Bay beach play on Saturday.)

Doga with Lola: backyarding it

2010-07-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

"Yes, I can totally stick my foot in my ear," Lola says. "Woof. No problem. I'm pawsitive, it's no problem."

(See you at the noon Shanti Yoga hatha class. Autumn's teaching so expect plenty of good hip-openers and wise words. "Kiss the earth.")

Go to www.shantiyogabc.com for a complete schedule.

p.s. Sun's out! Hoorah!

Happy Canuck Day eh?

2010-07-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

Attention would-be-Tsawwassen yogis!
There's no such thing as "not flexible enough to do yoga."
Seriously.

Tomorrow kicks off our first ever, Shanti Yoga, Tsawwassen 30-Day Challenge - - - a great opportunity to jump in and get yoga-ing.
See you tomorrow!
Happy Canada Day eh?

Best South Delta NEW BUSINESS & facebook group: Runner Up!

2010-06-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

Sitting here at the studio, minding my own business, eating a piece of chocolate. . .
And the publisher and ad manager for the South Delta News Leader popped by, looking blissed out and carrying a little plaque.
"Congratulations," they said.
"Yeah," I said.
And well, here's the jolly little picture we snapped to document the moment, taken outside our little studio on 56th Street. (That's 1363 56 Street, Tsawwassen, for anyone who hasn't yet visited us. What are you waiting for?)

Thank you to all of you who voted for us. We love being a runner up. We love sharing yoga with Tsawwassen and Ladner.

And yes, we love our little plaque.

See you tonight at Sparrow's 5:30 p.m. Shanti Sweat. And stay around if you can for the must-do 7:15 p.m. restorative class. It really is the best of South Delta.

Yoga for Kids: Tsawwassen tykes get on the mat!

2010-06-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

There's still space in our Yoga for Kids summer program! Come in & register your little yogi today.

Here's the detes:

Yoga for Kids Program
Starting this summer we kick off our first yoga for kids series with Tracy.
When: Saturdays from July 24 to Aug 14
Cost: $40 + tax per tyke for entire program (or $10 per class)

Times:
Ages 5 - 8 years: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Ages 9 - 12 years: 3 p.m.- 4 p.m.

CLICK HERE & go to the "workshops" tab to register your little one.
Space is limited.

All about perspective: take time to really BE

2010-06-28T12:43:00.000-07:00

You might look at something — the same view from your window, for instance — a million times and never really see it.
Yoga helps us to be present, to open our eyes.

(Photo: A pretty shot taken by Daniel.)

Musical musings on Martha: off the mat

2010-06-27T17:17:00.000-07:00

Martha Wainwright moves across the stage, arms swinging to a Parisian beat and eyes trained on the floor.

She's singing from her new album, Sans Fusils Ni Souliers A Paris, covers of songs by Edith Piaf.
There's no long, weepy renditions of La Vie En Rose here — rather a mix of songs that Wainwright said either stood out to her or she said, songs she felt she "could sing."
A grand understatement.
Friday night's concert at The Centre in Vancouver was kind of like sipping a chilly glass of real champagne on a summer night just before a thunderstorm —sparkly, warm, dry and a little too short.
And since I didn't feel like I got enough: I'm downloading her album right now.
Then to the beach since the sun is finally popping out over Boundary Bay.

(Photo: Wainwright in a press shot; Wainwright's new album cover, from her website)

30-Day Challenge! July 2nd kick-off at 5:30 p.m.

2010-06-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

Treats? Prizes? 30 DAYS OF YOGA.
Look out Tsawwassen!

PROFILE: Clara Roberts-Oss on yoga — 'I love it all.'

2010-06-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

*******

"Lift your leg a little higher," says Vancouver-based vinyasa yoga instructor, Clara Roberts-Oss, to a roomful of sweaty yogis.

And the dozen or so of us three-legged dogs all manage to lift our extended legs a little higher.

Because a yoga class with Clara is always a lesson in lightness: Shaking off boundaries and jumping into the practice — wherever it takes you.

After a recent yoga retreat with Clara to Saltspring — where we were encouraged to think about ideas like surrendering and letting go — I asked her to share a few of her thoughts on yoga.

Here's what she had to say:

What do you love most about yoga?

Where to begin...I love it all. Lately, I'm really enjoying my meditation practice. Stillness is so important to cultivate every day — especially if you move as much as I do.

What inspires your practice?

Breathe. Music. My heartbeat.

What advice do you have for someone who is new to yoga?

Keep at it. It's hard at first — or at least it was for me — but the benefits are worth it!

What is your favourite quote?

Taken from this weekend: "to fight is instinctual, to surrender takes courage."

Why?

The natural instinct to being uncomfortable in the body is to fight it, is to resist it. It takes a great deal of courage to surrender to it, to allow the discomfort to continue. BUT if you can truly surrender to it, your practice will deeepen. The muscles will stretch. A sense of peace will occur. That's the practice! That's what we're striving for!

And if you could do anything today, what would you do?

Lie in bed and read a book.

Thanks Clara!

(Top Photo: We snagged this off Clara's website — pixieyoga.net — where you'll find info on her practice, her bio, her monthly musical playlist and class schedule.)

(Bottom Photo: Clara — front right — and some of us at the retreat. You'll spot Shanti Yoga's Autumn & me in there too!)

"Never tell tales" and other bits of good advice from dad:

2010-06-20T13:59:00.000-07:00

Woke up early this morning to go for a father's day walk with my dad.
We puttered along, our dog's pulling us this way and that, and I gave him tips on his new iPhone.
It's nice to be able to share a little good advice with my dad, someone who sent so many useful tidbits my way over the years.

In honour of the day, here's a few particularly good nuggets:

"Never tell tales" — on the surface, this seems a strange bit of parental wisdom, but I've always taken it to mean don't gossip. (Reminds me of this quote by the Yogi Bhajan who said: "For all those who will praise and recognize you, there may be an equal number who want to slander you. That balance and swing lets your standard be tested. You cannot hold to something external. You must find your own depth and test it, confirm it. So calamity is not bad. It is right, to test you. ")
"Don't cry crocodile tears" — another puzzler from a tyke's perspective, I now think of this as being truthful, or authentic with my feelings. Yoga terms: The idea of "satya" or truth, on & off the mat.
"Money doesn't grow on trees" — and he's bang on right? It's a good little reminder to avoid grasping or the fifth yama described in the Yoga Sutras — aparigraha or "non-hoarding."
Socks don't work with sandals — 'nuff said.

Take a few moments today to think of your dad, and some of the lessons he's taught you. However you interpret them, smile a little and send those good vibes to your dad.

(Photo: Lola enjoying a snooze after her father's day walk.)

Beautiful, blissful, bountiful: We've got prenatal yoga this summer!

2010-06-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

Calling all moms-to-be!

Check out our just-launched prenatal yoga, kicking off Saturday July 17. Tell your friends!

Who? Teacher and birth doula Majessa Castonguay.

Why? Because it's not just relaxing, it's fun and informative too.

A little about our teacher?

Majessa — who grew up on cattle ranch in the Cariboo region of B.C.— lives in Deep Cove. Over the years she's studied with some great teachers. And now she's certified in teaching hatha, Yin, prenatal, flow and restorative yoga.

And did we mention, she's also a doula and a heck of a nice person?

Go to www.shantiyogabc.com to register. Space is limited per session. Click on "workshops" or visit our online store.

Register for a single class or for all four of our scheduled monthly prenatal classes with Majessa.

Yoga Toes

2010-06-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

We think a lot about our feet in yoga.
Root to rise.
Spread your toes.
Press into your big toe mound.
And so on.

Here's a few fun ideas for pampering your toes:

Burts bees peppermint foot cream: Slather some on after a post-yoga shower and wrap your feet in some cotton socks. Let it melt. (I use it on my calves too!)

Yoga toes: These things are really great for your tootsies. And they look kind of cool too. Slip some on before you get on the couch to curl up with your new Yoga Journal.

Sand & sea stones: Take your shoes off and walk barefoot on the beach. Draw your awareness to how it feels. Then go ahead, splash in the surf a little.

Balancing act at the beach

2010-06-14T14:30:00.000-07:00

A bald eagle watched us walking along the beach this morning at Boundary Bay.
Sitting on its little man-made perch surrounded by the rolling tides, it looked completely in balance: ready to take flight or ready to simply sit and just be.
Not so easy for us humans to find that sweet spot between effort and ease we often talk about in yoga.
Especially when it comes to taking our yoga off the mat and outside the studio.
With that in mind, take a few minutes to sit outside today in the sunshine and watch a bird, or a squirrel or a ladybug.
And just be.

(Photo: Some sunny yoga play outside.)

Sunshine really does rock heh?

2010-06-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

It's a perfect day for some backyard or beach-side savasana.
Like down and soak up some sunshine.
We're heading back outside. . .

(Pic: Yoga rocks! Pass it on. See you in class tomorrow!)

Shanti Yoga

Yoga. Galiano. Retreat.

Take it as it comes: good advice

Chakra Flow: Yoga and Sound with Samantha and Trevor

No pain, no pain: Majessa gives her spin on Yin

Our Galiano Yoga Retreat: update

New Year, New You: Retreat to Galiano Island, 2012

Yoga-loaded: The Vancouver Yoga Conference

Gratitude in action: Our Second annual beach clean up

SLOW-ga: Why slowing down is so darn good, with teacher Robyn Emde

Slow Burn in South Delta: A day with Vancouver's Ignite and Unite

We love our oceans Tsawwassen: help us keep 'em clean

Love this: yummy, local, gheecorn

Spiritual Gangster clothing: now at Shanti Yoga, Tsawwassen

Yoga Dos and Yoga Don'ts: Some hints to help your yoga flow

Smooch that tree, squish your toes into the sand

Tsawwassen yogis: Mark your calendar

YOGO.TV in Tsawwassen at Shanti Yoga = extra classes, goodies & more

Yoga for Youth: Tsawwassen mini yogis, get on the mat!

Listen, learn, let go

Stay Inspired: keep going

Treat yourself: some good-for-you goodies we love

We love the Whistler Yoga Conference

Life's a beach: yoga, friends, sunny Tsawwassen

Open Up: Our Six-Week Immersion kicks off in May

Nibble on this South Delta yogis: Lunch time yoga is here

Deepen Your Yoga: A six-week intensive

Thank you Tsawwassen and South Delta yogis!

'Trust your body and your breath,' - yogini Robyn Emde shares a little on yoga

Wow, isn't life amazing? A freedom workshop with Andrea Klein

Sip on this: A smoothie, with protein, that actually tastes good?

Yoga makes everything better: including your off-the-mat stuff

We miss Wes: Yogi on the go update

Freedom February: Free Your Body, Your Mind and More - with Andrea Klein

Yoga For Youth: Shanti Yoga's after-school program kicks off this month

Sweetheart Sale: On today and Tomorrow @ Shanti Yoga, Tsawwassen

I Release. . . I Am. . .

Yoga teacher profile: Charles Pentland is 'always learning and growing'

Dwell in Possibility: And smile more

Everything good, everything bright

Make Way for Change, Transformation: BLISS

Holiday Mingler: This Weekend

Look Up. Be inspired. Look Around. Be.

Happy BlissBliss! Celebrate the holidays with your Shanti Yoga kula, Tsawwassen

Wake Up. Stretch. Celebrate. Be.

Let go: Exhale more

30-Day Illumination: Brighten Up Your Life

Prizes, loot and pretty stuff: Run Inn to Shanti

Beach Clean Up: thank you!

Design huddle at lululemon lab

Sip smarter: Lifefactory Water bottles at Shanti Yoga for fall

Chug-a-lug Tsawwassen.

Look what's coming to Shanti Yoga for your post-pre-during yoga slurping pleasure.

We love Life Factory's BPA-free pretty glass water bottles, a safer and yummier way to gulp, or sip, your H20.

Good for hot or cold water.Easy to clean.

Cute as a button.

BPA-free, safe, simple, smart.

(Next yoga class at Shanti Yoga: 5:30 p.m. flow; 7:15 p.m. shanti sweat)

Groove with Sparrow: Oct.30 at lululemon Oakridge

Out with the Old, In with the Bliss

Twister blisser: Vancouver Yoga Conference

Shanti Yoga, Tsawwassen: New Fall Schedule Update

Satya now at Shanti in Tsawwassen

Slammin' on the breaks

Fallin' happily into fall Tsawwassen

South Delta: lululemon was here & it was awesome!

Know-it-all? No thank you

Bend it like Madge

I love my commute

Sip on this: Good friends Rock

Hanging at the lululemon lab

Love is like a good vitamin

S'wonderful, s'marvellous. . .

lululemon trunk show extravaganza: South Delta, get ready. . .

A little chilly for beach yoga: let's try again next week

Beach Yoga: Meet us there @ 7:15 p.m. on Thursday

Read this: Paulo Coehlo's blog

Inhale: Exhale: Repeat - - it really does help

A little pat on the back for our team.

South Delta: Lululemon is coming to You!

Good for hot or cold water.
Easy to clean.