Category Archives: passion

Spring Yoga Adventure Retreat 2015 Recap

Posted by Jul 10, 2015 adventure, fitness, glamping, health, hiking, kayak, passion, SUP, wine, yoga Leave a Comment
Spring Yoga Adventure Retreat 2015 Recap

A month has already passed since myself and two dozen other adventurous souls embarked on the first Yoga Adventure Retreat in St. Williams, Ontario. I’m still buzzing from the energy and fun that we had. I never would have believed that months of planning, organizing and marketing would have resulted in such a relaxing and rejuvenating experience for myself as an organizer but also for each individual who came. We had the best group of people come together. They came from all over Ontario and many had never met each other yet some how everyone enjoyed each other’s company and brought their own flavour to the weekend.

The retreat was held at the beautiful Long Point Eco Adventures (www.lpfun.ca). The accommodations were unique with amazingly comfortable beds (each one had a personal heater), in room flush toilets and an outdoor shower. I almost didn’t want to leave the room. The staff went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable. The facility is top notch and everyone must visit sometime. Trust me when I say you won’t want to leave!

The retreat began on a Friday evening. I arrived ahead of schedule and grabbed myself a bottle of cab frank from Burning Kiln Winery (www.burningkilnwinery.ca) across the street. I quickly fell into the groove of being on holidays as I sipped my wine under the Marshview Tent overlooking the serene Long Point inner bay with one of my guests. We watched all kinds of beautiful birds fly around us and shared wonderful conversation. Slowly other guests arrived and joined us under the tent after being led to their own tents to drop off their luggage. Before we knew it our dinner, which was catered by The Blue Elephant restaurant in Simcoe (www.blueelephant.ca), was delivered right to us under the tent. The food was plentiful and delicious. They clearly used local, fresh ingredients and we could not get enough. Especially the chocolate cake…or maybe that was just me! After dinner we rolled out our yoga mats on the grass and enjoyed a gentle, relaxing yoga practice then met at the campfire for some conversation and laughs until one by one we headed to bed. You couldn’t help but marvel at the beautiful sky full of stars. Next time I want to experience the observatory they have right on site. I personally had one of the best sleeps I have had in a long time. It was so quiet there.

On Saturday morning we woke up to a yummy breakfast served in the Kambuka tent. There’s something about fresh coffee and fresh air! Then we split into two groups to head off to our morning adventure. Half the group departed for a kayak tour along Big Creek and the other half drove to Port Dover to do some Stand Up Paddle board along the shores of Lake Erie. Both groups thoroughly enjoyed their tour and found them physically challenging and rewarding. The kayak group overcame an obstacle when a tree was blocking their route, they had to portage over it. I was in the SUP group and we faced some rough waters but still managed to paddle for 7.5 km and fit in some SUP yoga at the very end. Those in the SUP group were able to fit in a short yoga practice back at LPEA before the kayak group arrived back. So far the weather had been great even though the initial forecast was calling for rain most of the weekend.

Saturday evening we all gathered and walked across the street to the Burning Kiln Winery. We had a tour of the vineyard and the production facilities and learned so much about the birth and growth of wine production in an area of agriculture most known for tobacco. It was very educational and interesting. Then we headed to our own private tent onsite for a wine tasting. The staff at BK were wonderful and lots of fun. Maybe it was the wine talking but I felt like this might have been my favourite part of the weekend. That feeling of being outside all day, satiated from the physicality of our earlier adventure and perfectly relaxed in the evening sun. Our meal was provided by David’s of Port Dover (www.davidsportdover.com) and was absolutely amazing. Many of us took home some “grown-up” souvenirs to enjoy later. Some of us enjoyed more wine back at the campfire until we all headed to bed.

On Sunday morning we once again had breakfast in the Kambuka tent and headed out for a short hike through the Carolinian forest which stretches all the way to Long Point, a designated UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The sun was out and we enjoyed one last yoga practice outdoors. Soon after, the thunder and rain began delaying our zip lining tour. Six of us were able to wait out the thunder but many had to head back home so they left with a voucher to come back and take the tour. Those of us who stayed faced our fears, screamed until we were hoarse and bonded over goosebumps and smiles. We all gave each other hugs goodbye even though just a short time ago many were strangers. It was sad that the weekend had come to an end, I didn’t want to leave. Most told me how much they truly enjoyed the weekend and how they couldn’t wait for the next one.

I loved every second of the weekend and I have all the participants to thank plus Long Point Eco Adventures, Burning Kiln Winery, David’s, The Blue Elephant, SUP guides, Kayak guides and Mother Nature for providing us with this gem of an area called Norfolk County! To see more pictures from the weekend click here :http://1drv.ms/1d1u2h4  IMG_4553 IMG_4560 IMG_4589

If you are interested in the next Yoga Adventure Retreat subscribe to my blog and I will post dates as soon as I can.

Namaste & Zip on!

Yoga for Athletes – Benefits that go beyond flexibility

Posted by Feb 18, 2015 fitness, health, passion, sports, workout, yoga, yoga for athletes Leave a Comment
Yoga for Athletes – Benefits that go beyond flexibility

A huge part of my passion for yoga is working with athletes and introducing them to the benefits of a regular yoga practice. It was my experience as an athlete that brought me to yoga in the first place. And it was the years of abuse, or misuse of my body as an athlete that kept me coming back to my mat. So when I come across a blog or article about the benefits of yoga for athletes I get excited. It represents one more person who has the same beliefs and passion as I do and is working hard at spreading the Yoga Love!

However, most of the time when I read such blogs I feel like something is missing. They usually focus on the merits of flexibility for athletes and often neglect the other elements of yoga. So I decided to write about it myself. And because there is so much information I want to cover I have decided to write in multiple parts as to not overwhelm you. Even this way I’m sure I won’t cover everything I would like to. But I do hope that I can plant seeds in you that will either lead you to start adding yoga to your training or perhaps you may share this information and influence someone else. Because you are reading this you likely consider yourself an athlete, or maybe you are a coach or trainer or even a parent of a young athlete. Wikipedia defines an athlete as “a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed and/or endurance.” I like to think that even if you don’t engage in direct competition with others but take time to train your body in exercise modalities of strength, speed or endurance you can consider yourself an athlete. Likely you are also curious about yoga and may have even tried it a couple of times. Yoga has become very mainstream in the Western world in the last two decades but is really just starting to take hold in the realm of sports training. There are so many trends that come and go as it relates to training that yoga may seem like just another fad. I can assure you that yoga is not just a fad and that its’ universal principals of health and well being can be beneficial to any athlete whether they be amateur or professional, just starting to be active, in their peak, or into retirement.

The main points I want to cover over several postings include:

  • Mobility and strength
  • Breath training and awareness
  • Mental focus and clarity
  • Overall wellness

In all areas of healthy and wellness there is room for debate. I am presenting my opinion and experiences and I encourage you to form your own. No two bodies are exactly alike and it’s best to surround yourself with health care professionals that you trust and who are open to holistic practices. If there are specific topics you would like me to cover or if you have questions about anything I’m presenting please leave me a comment and I will get back to you.

First up….Yoga for Athletes: Improved mobility and strength!……stay tuned.

How to stay motivated in your quest for optimal health

Posted by Jan 28, 2015 fitness, Happiness, health, new year's resolutions, passion, workout, yoga Leave a Comment
How to stay motivated in your quest for optimal health

As we near the end of January you might be looking back at the goals or resolutions you set for yourself just a short time ago. Have you picked up momentum or have you hit some speed bumps along the way? More than likely you have faced moments of doubt. We all do. So how does one stay motivated day after day?

We are all motivated in different ways and it’s worth while to sit down and ask yourself what motivates YOU! Is it inspirational quotes, images of others overcoming impossible tasks, is it a friend, family member or group of people? Make a list of of the first things that come to mind. Ultimately though I believe motivation must come from within. It’s there always, we might just need a little external “spark” to get it going again. Once you have taken some time to reflect or even try out your personal external motivators then make them a regular part of your day. Read a quote first thing in the morning, reach out to a friend mid-day for a quick chat or play that song that always gets your blood pumping right near the end of your workout when you think you can’t do anymore. It may also be worthwhile to note who or what drags you down and try to reduce their influence on you. There may be images or people who are not uplifting you the way you need them too. Perhaps this is a friend or partner who tends to be negative about your goals. Speak to them about this, maybe they don’t even realize the effect it has on you. Pictures can speak a thousand words so watch if commercial images of seemingly perfect people are causing you to doubt yourself. There are so many amazing videos out there of people just like you and I who have overcome great adversity to realize a healthy and happy life. If they can do it so can you.

I find external motivators in some of the most unlikely places. What motivates me to move my body the most is thinking about the people in my life that have been affected by illness and had their bodies virtually taken from them too soon. I think of my mother who died an early death due to cancer and how her body became so foreign to her. Or my friend and student who suffered a very short time with lung and brain cancer and found the simple act of breathing almost impossible. When I’m working out and I think I just can’t do any more I visualize their faces and I dedicate the next push of energy to them. Just writing this is getting me excited. When I run outdoors I take a path system that winds it’s way around my neighbourhood and I usually try and go a different way each time but normally the end of my run takes me down a main road. Often there is a man in a wheel chair watching the traffic pass and when I see him I give him a wave and he waves back. No matter how tired I feel at that moment I start to run like the wind. I can’t imagine he asked to be put in that wheel chair and I’m sure if given the choice he would rather run just like me. So I run and I run and I run….for him and for me.

Here are some of my favourite ways to spark my own internal motivation, maybe they can help you too:

  • Motivational quotes – if I find them online I write them down or pin them on my Pinterest board so that I can refer to them again.
  • Uplifting pages on Facebook – enough with the criticism, let’s support each other!
  • Videos of individuals who made radical changes to their lives.
  • Working out alongside people who inspire me with their dedication and intensity.
  • Surrounding myself with others who are on the same path of good health and sharing some of my obstacles with them.
  • Particular songs – I make sure they are on my playlists!

Always remember that there will be ups and downs. We can prepare ourselves for the “downs” and even allow ourselves to feel them. There’s a quote I love: “When you have one flat tire you don’t slash the other three.” When you have a day or week where you fall off track just get back on and try not to dwell on it. Reach out to those motivators. I would love for you to join my Facebook page where I try and post regular motivation.

“When you are just about to give up remember why you started” – Anonymous

Live the life YOU want!

Posted by Jan 14, 2015 fitness, Happiness, health, new year's resolutions, passion, yoga Leave a Comment

I did not grow up thinking I would some day become a Yoga Teacher. My parents did stress to me at an early age that if I were to attend post-secondary school I should chose an academic program that would get me a “good job” that payed well. When I chose a business program my father would ask me (tongue and cheek) “What are you going to be after this? A business person?”. For ten years after university I worked for a major corporation in an industry I knew nothing about until the night before they interviewed me. I gained some great knowledge and experience while I was there but if someone were to ask me if I was happy there, happy with my professional life…I couldn’t say “YES” confidently. I had to alter my behaviors and habits to fit the mold of an employee I thought I had to be while working there. I wasn’t living a life true to who I was. I remember a coworker asking me once “If you could do any job in the world what would it be?” Without hesitating I said “A Yoga Teacher”. It was my heart that spoke in that moment, and it actually caught me by surprise. Then my head got in the way and I quickly followed it up with, “But that will never happen”.

While on maternity leave with my first child I did a lot of soul searching. I had time to step back and figure out the big picture of where I wanted to be in life and what was going to make me happy. It wasn’t money, it wasn’t a bigger house or anything like that. I knew that I wanted to spend as much time as I could enjoying my daughter, I wanted an active lifestyle, and I wanted to help people. But in that moment I didn’t know what that was going to look like. So I went back to work and every day my heart broke a little when I would drop her off at daycare so early in the morning and pick her up so late in the evening for a job I wasn’t passionate about. I still shudder thinking of those times. I’m not saying this is a bad “scenario” to be in but it just wasn’t for me and I was unhappy with it. Then I got pregnant with my son and decided it was time to really focus on how I was going to make some healthy changes for myself and for my family.

I took a leap of faith. I decided to follow a professional path that was very different from the one I had been on for so long. There were moments of fear and moments of doubt but the moments of excitement far outweighed the less uplighting ones. There were ups and downs and many sacrifices were made but all of this kept me on the path towards the goals I had laid out for myself. I started listening to that beautiful voice in my heart that spoke to me that day with my coworker and told my head to take it easy. Now I feel like nothing is stopping me. I don’t always have a perfectly laid plan but I do have a map. And the map says that I will some times make pit stops, take the scenic route or take a short cut towards the messages my heart sends me. So maybe it’s time to ask yourself if you are living the life YOU want. Don’t stop and think about the answer, say the first thing that comes up. Then write it down or say it aloud. Then you go full out in that direction and never look back! When you start moving towards a goal that excites you and brings you joy there is nothing and no one that can stand in your way!

Stay tuned to my blog for more inspiration or leave a comment.