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Greetings, yogis and yoginis!

Lion’s Breath Yoga & Pilates Centers wishes you many blessings for the summer/fall season.

Warmth, sun, holidays and outdoor activities provide ample opportunity to come together and renew a connection to Mother Nature.

Here, at Lion’s Breath, we’re pleased that our Yoga in the Park program is a continuing success! If you haven’t made it out to one of these classes yet, drop-in and enjoy the sky canopy and grass carpet of our open-air studio (sponsored by the Divine Mother herself) before summer’s end! Check the schedule for details.

In the coming weeks, Lion’s Breath will continue to offer students opportunities for growth, self-exploration and body-mind integration.

Upcoming workshops, led by international teachers, will help deepen your practice and widen your perspective of yoga.

Pre-register for Barrie Risman’s 3-day workshop by August 9 for $220 + GST. A weekend of Anusara Yoga with Barrie Risman runs September 19–21.

Yogi Vishvketu from India will introduce Akhanda (holistic) Yoga and the Five Pranas in a one-day workshop on Saturday, August 16 from 10 am to 5 pm Registration is $120 + GST. See the events page for details on both workshops.

Lion’s Breath owner Dawn Lamothe shares her perspectives following a spring retreat to India. Amid the cacophony and colour of the ages-old culture that brought us yoga, Dawn awoke to some revelations about happiness, inner peace, western yoga and the true wisdom of the East.

India is a nation that straddles both old and new. It’s a growing capitalist country with the world’s twelfth largest economy, yet poverty, illiteracy and malnutrition are still rampant there.

Despite it’s many scarcities, however, India is rich in the one commodity Westerners can’t import or buy locally at designer prices – happiness, says Lamothe.

“People there have nothing and they’re easily 75% happier than people here,” says Lion’s Breath’s owner, who spent several weeks on retreat in Anand Prakash, studying with Yogi Vishveketu, who will be visiting Lion’s Breath later this month.

She often saw kids in the streets wearing shoes that didn’t fit, or going barefoot. Workers toiled long hours to make 100 rupees — the equivalent of one dollar — a minimum wage that’s hard to fathom, says Lamothe.

Despite the crazy scene — out-of-control traffic, overpopulated streets and the steady smells of garbage and human refuse — Lamothe says, the dance of disorder had a grace beyond a typical westerner’s comprehension.

“No one was giving the finger in traffic, there were no fights or drive-by shootings. It was chaos theory brought to a social level; yet it works,” she says. “It changed my perspective of how to live my life.”

The experience opened Lamothe’s eyes to the irony in her discovery of abundance through scarcity.

“I wasn’t devastated by the poverty. I felt sorry for myself,” says Lamothe. “There’s a learning through that poverty, that happiness is from within, not without.”

The differences between East and West became even more apparent when she hit her yoga mat.

“Indians don’t practice yoga. They do rituals, cleansing kriyas, and go to gurus. Asanas? No! Their approach is more spiritual and philosophical. We’re way more physical here in the West,” says Lamothe.

“North America has the most amazing, intelligent and quality based yoga on the planet. Visit India! You will have some amazing insights into how to live life well, but you don’t need to go there to have an authentic Indian yoga experience. You can do that right here.”

What can you do help reduce waste and global warming this summer and fall?

Whether picnicking, taking a road trip or staying cool, be an environmental warrior.

• Use your most fuel-efficient car for road trips, and less fuel-efficient car only when needed. You will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2,000 lbs. a year by shifting 3,000 miles from a car that gets 24 mpg.
• Lighten your load. Carrying around an extra 100 lbs. in your car reduces fuel economy by up to 2%. Take with you only what you need.
• Air conditioning can decrease your fuel efficiency by as much as 12% in stop-and-go traffic, so consider cracking the windows.
• To stay cool at home and on the go, put a bowl of ice cubes in front of your fan and enjoy the breeze; or pack a scarf with ice cubes and tie it around your neck!
• Steer clear of disposable containers for outdoor eating. If you don’t have enough plates, bowls or cutlery, ask a friend to bring a set over or rent dishes from a party rental company. Avoid disposables, which can take more than 100 years to break down.
• Wait until it rains to wash your vehicle or use a bucket of water and some elbow grease to do the job.
• Use a clothesline to dry clothes. Set up an outdoor and indoor one. It’s cheap, easy and environmentally-friendly.

Couscous and Three-Bean Salad

Fresh veggies and a great combo of grains and legumes offer a protein-packed summer salad for vegetarians.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (125 mL) green beans
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) diced carrots
• 1 sweet yellow pepper, diced
• 1 cup (250 mL) whole wheat couscous
• 2/3 cup (150 mL) each cooked or drained canned chickpeas and red kidney beans
• 1 green onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup (50 mL) extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) grated lemon rind
• 3 tbsp (45 mL) lemon juice
• 1 tsp (5 mL) Dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) each dried oregano and salt
• 1/4 tsp (1 mL) pepper
  

Directions:

Cut green beans into 1/2-inch (1 cm) pieces. In saucepan, bring 2 cups (500 mL) water to boil; boil green beans, carrots and yellow pepper for 2 minutes. Drain, reserving water; set vegetables aside.
In large bowl, stir couscous with 1 cup (250 mL) reserved water; cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Add cooked vegetables, chickpeas, kidney beans and green onion; set aside.
In small bowl, whisk together oil, lemon rind, lemon juice, mustard, oregano, salt and pepper. Pour over couscous mixture and toss to combine. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 2 days.) Serves 4 to 6.

Each of our bi-monthly newsletters features an interview with a different Lion’s Breath instructor so you can get to know each teacher’s style, yoga philosophy, personality and practice better. Video footage included of the featured instructor doing their least-favourite pose.

Interview with Megan Rosborough

When did your yoga journey begin?

I played (and loved!) basketball while I was completing my first degree at college. After playing team sports for my whole life, I had no idea how to keep fit without a coach or a trainer standing and yelling at me! So I joined a fitness club and tried every single class and piece of equipment available hoping that one would ‘speak’ to me. I questioned whether I could ever enjoy fitness activities again after basketball. Yoga was my answer.

When and why did you start teaching? What is your style?

I started teaching because yoga was an incredible blessing in my life. It seems that when we find things that make our hearts sing, we can’t wait to share the song with others! I’ve been teaching since 2006.

As a teacher, I set an intention to create a space of warmth and peace — a place conducive to personal growth. The practice of yoga is intensely personal. We become alternately courageous and vulnerable in the course of our practices and I sincerely attempt to honour this cycle for every student. I’m a hands-on teacher — I give lots of adjustments. I also try to spread a sense of humour and joy as I teach.

What is your most inspiring read lately?

After meaning to read it for many years, I’ve finally completed The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman. I loved it and, like many before me, recommend it highly. I’m currently reading The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm.

What is your favourite saying?

I have two: “Be the beauty that you love” by Rumi; and (2) “Learn it. Love it. Live it.”
A friend recently got that tattooed on her calf and she embodies that phrase perfectly.

What is your favourite pose?

Downward dog! I love that every single time I do the posture, it changes. I love that there are endless adjustments I can give myself to deepen my awareness of my body and the posture. I remember having plenty of difficulty with the pose when I began doing yoga — I particularly remember scowling when my teacher called it a “resting posture”. But I have grown to find great comfort in the pose.

What is your least favourite pose?

I struggle mentally with chair pose (see the video!), but I’ve really been working on finding things that I love about the posture and sticking with them. Child’s pose with legs together is also a challenge for me because of the strong external rotation of my hips combined with my tight hip flexors.

What are you listening to these days?

I’m totally un-cool about music — I rely on my best friends and my hairdresser to keep me hip! I just got my very first ipod the other day and I am feeling very high-tech lately. Generally, I really enjoy what I call “easy-going” music like Norah Jones and Jack Johnson but I also listen to a variety of other styles.

Do you have another job?

Finally! I just finished my law degree and I’m currently practising as an articling student. Hopefully I will be called to the bar after my year of articling (cross fingers!), at which point I will become a full-fledged, grown-up lawyer. I am completely fortunate to have the best lawyer in the entire universe assigned as my mentor — my dad!

Megan teaches Ujjayi Drum Ashtanga with Marcus Fung from 6:00–7:30pm on Wednesdays Downtown, and monthly Partner Yoga classes on Sundays from 7:30–9:00pm Downtown. Check the website for the schedule of upcoming dates.

Closed Aug 3 & 4th

We will be closed August 3rd and 4th. Pre-reg classes will however run as usual. Have a great long weekend!

Prenatal Partner

Date: Sunday August 3, 2008
Time: 7:00 – 9:00pm
Pre-register: Deadline Sunday July 27
Location: Downtown
Price: $50 + GST after July 27 and at the door $55 + GST
Instructor: Clare Newman

International Series

Akhanda (holistic) Yoga and the Five Pranas with Yogi Vishvketu.

Yogi Vishvketu has studied and practiced hatha and raja yoga and the vedic healing arts in Northern India since childhood. From the age of 8, he studied vedic wisdom at Kanvashram in the foothills of the Himalayas. He is committed to offering holistic yoga workshops incorporating diverse aspects of the practice. He calls this holistic style of teaching akhanda yoga, meaning whole and indivisible.

This workshop will focus on experiential learning of how the five pranas are balanced by different asana and pranayama techniques, leaving you feeling grounded and revitalized. Vishva will lead you through two holisitic yoga classes, as well as explore the theory of the 5 pranas, and an in-depth look at a few of the most popular pranayama techniques.

Date: Saturday, August 16th, 2008, 10am – 5pm
Location: Downtown
Registration: Registration after July 16th and at the door $120 + GST. Space is limited, register by calling (780) 488-4433

Synergy Workshop with Trevor Yelich.

What does true, deep relationship mean to you? Do you long for more depth and connection with others in your daily relationships? What would it be like to experience a safe environment that offers you the opportunity to listen deeply and to express fully to your partner. Come find out....

Date: September 6th, 2008, 9:30 – 4:30pm
Location: Downtown
Registration: 80 + GST; 90+GST after August 23, 2008; 100+ GST at the door. Phone 780-488-4433 to register today!

Stepping into the Currents of Grace. A weekend of Anusara Yoga with Barrie Risman.

Anusara Yoga is a modern, heart-centered hatha yoga system in which the art of the human spirit powerfully blends with the science of biomechanics. Deeply transformative, spiritually uplifting, powerfully integrative, Anusara offers a new approach to Yoga where science, awareness, energy and intention all blend within the light of the heart.

Barrie Risman is one of Canada’s Senior Certified Anusara Yoga teachers and teacher-trainers, celebrating over 16 years of practice. John Friend, the founder of Anusara Yoga, has been her primary teacher since 2001.

In this workshop, we will learn the key components that make up the Anusara Yoga system. Topics will include the elegant and concise set of Universal Principles of Alignment and some of the central philosophical ideas that form the foundation of Anusara Yoga.

Date: September 19 – 21st, 2008
Location: Downtown
Registration: Total price is $220 + GST before August 9th. After August 9th or at the door $231 + GST. Each segment can be purchased separately. Contact dawn@lionsbreath.ca

For more info check http://www.lionsbreath.ca/events/