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New Releases: March 2021
Welcome to meditation month. If you're here for the newest vinyasa classes, they're just below the meditation ones on this page.
Day 1 - 1 Minute Meditation
For day one we'll explore one of the most popular mediation styles there is: noticing what's going well. While it sounds innocent enough, the style coaxes you into a more relaxed state by engaging your parasympathetic nervous system. Give this practice a try, and see how it works for you. The meditation component is 1 minute today. You can start here.
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Day 2 - 2 Minute Meditation
There's a mini dharma talk at the start. If you want to jump to the meditation go to 2:28 in the video. We start exploring things that block meditation practice so that you'll be better equipped to notice them if they arise for you. Today's topic is the juicy one of aversion.
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Day 3 - 3 Minute Meditation
There's a mini dharma talk at the start. If you want to jump to the meditation go to 3:14 in the video. We continue exploring things that block meditation practice. Today's topic: worldly desire.
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Day 4 - 4 Minute Meditation
We cover the third hindrance today: procrastination. You might know this one outside of meditation. We'll talk a bit about it and then dive into the 3 minute meditation at 2:29. There's a midpoint bell in this meditation session. See if that helps you.
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Day 5 - 5 Minute Meditation
Today we're reaffirming our commitment to sit and to practice being with whatever comes up.
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Day 6 - 6 Minute Meditation
Day 6, and we're building some great habits. Well done on your consistency. Today's dharma talk is about the hindrance of agitation. Learn a bit about how it shows up in meditation (and off the mat). Again, if you'd like to jump to the meditation itself, scan to 2:45.
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Day 7 - 7 Minute Meditation
We cover the 5th and final hindrance of doubt as well as discuss ways to address it both in your meditation practice and off the mat, in your life. And then we meditate.
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Day 8 - 8 Minute Meditation
Today you have a slightly longer sit, where you're able to spend more time between verbal cues. The challenge and the practice is just observing when your attention has wandered. That's to be expected; The act of noticing is the goal.
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Day 9 - 9 Minute Meditation
A short and sweet meditation with a mid-point bell and minimal talking. Let's do this. You can refer back to the earlier videos for reminders of the 5 hindrances and their remedies at any time. All these videos contribute to your growing experience as a meditator.
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Getting Back to Good Things
Has it been a while since you hopped on the mat? Let's re-establish good things. Newcomers to yoga are welcome here too. We'll have you back into your flow in no time. No props needed.
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Support Your Lower Back Flow
Do you need to strengthen and lengthen the hamstrings while keeping a supportive posture in your spine? This class endeavours to do just that. Borrowing alignment cues and sequencing from the Astanga Primary Series, we'll move with awareness of where and how to engage muscles to support the lower back in particular.
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Your Relationship with You
In 2020 we were gifted a lot more time to ourselves. Let's use it to cultivate a healthy and positive tone to our days. This class uses this slowing down to help you check in, unwind, or notice what's going on with you.
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Sweet Sleep Prep
Even if you've had a pretty calm day there can be things that make you wired and create agitation. This class will help to down-regulate your nervous system for bedtime. A large wool blanket and two blocks are ideal. If it's cold where you are, consider covering yourself with a cosy blanket while you do these poses, too.
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Upper Back Opener Flow
The lower back generally extends more than the rest of the body, so when you come into backbends like wheel, if shoulders are tight, the effect is a compression in your lower back. Use this practice to prepare your upper back and shoulders to release better in wheel and other back bends.
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Wheel Pose Prep
We spend absolutely no time in wheel pose (urdhva danurasana) but instead look towards activating the shoulders, releasing the lats and wrists so that your wheel pose can be a more even release when it happens. Props needed: two towels/blankes and a wall.
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Handstand Prep
Are you ready for handstands? What do you need to work on to help you embrace handstands? This class gives you some simple measures against which you can decide if you're ready. If all these poses are EASY for you, then you're ready to start kicking up at a wall. If they're challenging, use this video daily to help you develop your strength and confidence in this elegant pose. You'll need a clear section of wall for this.
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Forearm Balance
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Jedi Mind Tricks 1
Yogi you are. Jedi may you become. More seriously, there are some strong parallels between Star Wars' use of "the Force" and what yoga endeavours to help us channel. We'll start with the basic areas of ujjayi breath, attention, and leviation. Let me know if you'd like more. Props needed: a light saber (kidding).
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Kind to Mind
Do you notice those days when the thoughts in your head aren't as kind as they could be? This 15 minute practice is a tool to notice where you're kind and where you're pushing yourself in your practice. May it translate into life off the mat as well. Several gentle chest opening poses are practiced in this sequence, making this good prep for those of you who want to progress in wheel pose.
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Feeling Good
This yin class helps you down-regulate your nervous system. You will pay deliberate attention to your breath and the sensation of the poses. Two blocks are encouraged but not mandatory.
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