Beaches, Palm Trees & Deep Reflection

We have escaped the Canadian winter in favour of a couple of weeks in the Caribbean.  We've been in Sint Maarten for just over a week and I'm finally settled in. It takes me a while to get into vacation mode, so I'm grateful that this time we are able to be away for more than a few days.

Sint Maarten or St Martin is absolutely beautiful. The mountainous landscape of tropical forest, stray goats and turquoise water takes my breath away each time our little rental car turns a corner. I am so thankful to be here. The people are lovely. It really is the "friendly island." 

We are spending our days exploring new beaches, walking, talking, swimming, and reading. I am currently entranced in The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. The book is divided into four principles or "agreements" that are meant to guide the reader towards personal freedom and that is exactly what I am seeking in the year 2011, or 20-HEAVEN. 

Here's a little summary of the Agreements:

1. Be Impeccable with Your Word-- Use words that heal rather than destroy or harm.
2. Don't Take Anything Personally-- Recognize that everyone is going through their own shit and that other people's reactions toward often have very little to do with you.
3. Don't Make Assumptions-- Instead of trying to mind read and guess what others are thinking, ask questions and get more clarity.
4. Always do Your Best-- Give as much as you can, no more, no less, and know that "your best" will change according to the condition you are in and/or what's already going on in your life.

I like this format and it makes sense to me. These Agreements seem like an effective way to heal and let go of unnecessary suffering and stress. My Resolution or New Beginning, as I prefer to call it, is just this: I am freeing myself from the bonds of fear and becoming a more confident decision maker.

When I am not mesmerized by the scenery around me, reading or spending time with Craig, I am self-reflecting. I sit or lie on the beach and I contemplate my existence. What am I here to learn? And what can I improve upon? I question the nature of the limitations I place on myself-- what is my fear and why do I carry it around with me? 

Sometimes I notice that the area around my diaphragm is so tight  I find it hard to take a deep breath. I recognize the emotion sitting in my belly is anxiety or fear, but most of the time, I have no idea where it stems from. These sensation must have been there a lot longer than I've been conscious of them. So, I am using the tools I acquired through my practice to help soothe my being and let go of these deep seeded fears, one layer at a time. I close my eyes and I breathe slowly and rhythmically into my abdomen while envisioning the tension releasing itself from my body and disappearing. Some yoga asana also helps me loosen up.

And what are your New Beginnings or New Year's Resolutions for 2011? Are you seeking to clean up your mind like me? Are you trying to kick a bad habit like smoking, as my beloved is doing? (Congratulations for being smoke free for over a week, my love!) Or are you seeking to start an new project?

Whatever commitments we make to ourselves at this turning point is our New Beginning  and an opportunity to grow. The roads may not always be smooth, but it's important to stay focused and know why we are heading in a particular direction. Detours are unavoidable. My suggestion? Weave the commitment into your practice and make the yoga work for you. Like a ritual, every breath and every pose can help motivate and inspire you to stay on track.

The Warriors are my favourite poses for this purpose. As I practice them, I imagine I am embodying the courage, strength, stamina, calmness, focus, determination, stability and nobility of a true warrior that can overcome any and all adversity. I know this may sound a bit silly or cheesy, but this really helps me engage with my practice and helps me get more out of it.

For a little inspiration, here are some photos of Craig took of me last night on the beach in front of our pad:

Warrior I - Virabhadrasana I

 

Warrior II - Virabhadrasana II

Warrior III - Virabhadrasana III

 

"We search for everything we believe we don’t have, not knowing that everything we are looking for is already inside us. We are born with it."
Don Miguel Ruiz Quote

Jan 1, 2011

Happy New Year!

I know I've been a little lax on my blogging lately and I apologize for that.  There was a lot of studio related craziness before the holidays and Christmas was nuts, as it usually is.

I imagine you are recovering from a wonderful evening of toasting and carousing. How did you bring in the New Year? With family and friends? Quietly? Reflectively? Can you believe that I got to bed at 8 am today?! Neither can I. 

We're staying just outside of Toronto at our friend Ryan's pad, and we missed the last Go Train heading from the city back to Burlington. So we wandered around downtown T.O. for a while, connecting with friends speckled around the CBD. Eventually, we ended up back at the house party we started at. We rested on our friend's couch for a couple of hours and took the first train out at 6:45am. I almost never pull all nighters, so I'm feeling a little groggy today. At least the two glasses of champagne I nursed all night aren't weighing as heavy on me as the beverages consumed by my beloved, who despite his headache is oddly playing Ryan's Guitar Hero video game...

It's unusually warm outside. I think the temperature is something like +12, and it's damp and cloudy, so it feels a lot like London. I just finished my first 108 of 2011 and get this, I did a set of 18 outside on the balcony in my pajamas! It was really refreshing and probably could have done more, but I was near the end of my practice.

As with every January 1st, I'm feeling a bit nostalgic. Perhaps more so this year than previous ones, because of all the extraordinary events of 2010. It really was most incredible 12 months of my life to date. My mom says than what you do on Jan. 1 sets the tone for the rest of the year. It did last year. We were staying with friends in the Eastern Townships, two hours south east of Montreal and I got up before everyone and did 108 sun salutations in the basement then proceeded to do nine consecutive days of 108.

Today, I am happy to be with Craig and Ryan, happy to be writing, and happy to think about heading off to St Maarten tomorrow with Craig for two weeks of beach strolling, lounging, reading, writing, exploring and yoga-ing. Amazing. I am so grateful.

I wish you all the best, my friend.

May 2011 bring you exciting adventures, beautiful sun sets, stimulating conversations, deep contemplations, blissful meditations,  mind alerting revelations, divine inspirations,  cosmic creations, sweet dinner parties, great music, health, wealth, friendship, joy and love.

PS  Vegetarian recipes coming... Stay tuned.

It's OFFICIAL!

I just got the word:

Dear Yasmin Fudakowska-Gow,

Thank you for your recent evidence. We are pleased to confirm you have set a new Guinness World Record for 'Longest Yoga Marathon (Female)'.

A certificate has been couriered to you and should arrive shortly.


Yours sincerely,

Guinness World Records

WooHooo! I think I'm going to have a gathering of sorts at the studio sometime in September. Maybe a potluck party? You will all be invited, of course. :)

For now, I'm in Maine on a little beach retreat with Craig and my parents. It's lovely to wake up near the sea and do yoga outside. I am trying to practice twice daily-- a hour before breakfast and an hour before dinner. It's a good routine, but I'm allowing myself a little flexibility to do whatever I feel like. After so much busyness in the last four months, it is also great to spend time with people I love. I am enjoying being immersing myself in vacation mode, which involves plenty of reading, beach combing and food.

(The book I'm reading right now is "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. I highly recommend it. Very inspiring.)

* * *

I still want to meet my fundraising objective of $10,800 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation by Dec. 1. We're 22% of the way there. Anything you can contribute to this great cause is really appreciated. Please spread the word. Also, if you have any ideas for how I can continue fundraising, please let me know.

Here's the link to my online donation page: http://stephenlewisfoundation.akaraisin.com/p/yasminyoga.aspx

Day 95 - The Great Unknown

I had a fantastic practice in the park this evening. At Len's suggestion, I did my 108 a much faster pace using a breathing technique called Bhastrika Pranayam (Bellows Breath). It's a slightly intense, deep in and out breath through usually done through the nose lifting the arms up and down. In the version that Len shared with me, he breathed through his mouth with the teeth almost touching and lips separated. This breath is meant to detoxify the body and stimulate the digestive fire. (Here's a link to video of this pranayam)

Also, going quickly through surya namaskar, allowed me to gather momentum and relax the muscles in my shoulders and neck, which was Len's point. He says I am holding a lot of tension there and also advised me to avoid chaturanga for a few days. My experience was amazing. I did pretty much the opposite practice as yesterday-- instead of spreading 90 sun sals over two hours, I did 81 in 35 mins. It's not what I'm accustomed to, but I feel super energized now, my neck is pain free and the headache I woke up with has disappeared.

In other news, I received an email from one of my former teachers last night. It was a reply to my email requesting his advice and his blessing for my upcoming challenge. Unfortunately, he is not supportive of me doing 32 hours of practice "and calling it yoga." This really bummed me out. But after thinking about it, I understand his point, as this is an unusual request and I haven't studied with him in a long time, so he doesn't really know how my practice has evolved over the last year and a half or so. Plus, he would not be a good teacher if he just threw around his blessings without hearing the full story of a student he hasn't taught in a while. After all, as a responsible instructor, he has to make sure his students are safe. Anyway, I'm going to meet him on Monday morning to discuss. I hope I'll be able to convince him of my sincere desire to honour the practice and myself through this silly project of mine. However, I also willing to go forth with my plans with or without his full support.

Sadly, I knew from the onset that my 32 hour Guinness challenge would insight some controversy, as do most great adventures that traverse the unknown.

Day 92 - Debate over Traditions

So, I caught the bouquet last night. It hit me like a bullet in the chest and apparently, my shocked expression was priceless.

I'm not really into wedding hoopla, so I was quite happy to continue a conversation on the sideline and watch 'all the single ladies' fight over the bridal bouquet. But when the announcement for the toss came, the groom saw me and ushered me into the mosh pit of anticipation. I purposefully stood in the back and wasn't paying attention when the cluster of white roses somehow plowed its way through the five or six bouncing women in front of me and literally landed in my lap. Craig, who is way more traditional than I am, thought this was 'great' and hasn't stopped teasing me about it.

I like weddings. People are always happy and it's nice to have a gathering to celebrate love. Our friends, Noah and Sarah, were beaming last night, which was wonderful to witness. The food was delicious and atmosphere was joyful.

I'm still curious though why weddings are orchestrated in a certain way, because at times it seems like certain traditions are a little mechanical or forced. I often wonder what makes people want to follow traditions in general, and why they are considered so important. Is it for fun? is it for sense of belonging? or is it for other people?

Craig and I debated this a bit on the drive home from Stanstead. He's thinks traditions are good; I'm think they are confusing. I'm not against them, but it's the "because that's the way it is" stuff that I can't wrap my head around. I challenged Craig on all kinds of social conventions that don't make sense to me like wearing black at a funeral, eating turkey on Thanksgiving, tossing the bouquet and garter at a wedding, among others. He had some good points, like traditions give you something to look forward to, they are symbolic, and they create community.

In the end, we both agreed that it's up to us individuals to contemplate and reinterpret traditions so that they are meaningful to us and let go of the rest.

I'm curious. What are your thoughts on this?

* * *

As for my practice today, I did 54 sun sals before breakfast next to the river behind our B&B. It was heavenly. The birds, the wind in the trees, along with some swaying chimes created a magical symphony. I wanted to do the whole 108 this morning, but I had to cut it short because of timing. So, I'm home now and I'll be getting to the second half in a moment.

Day 91 - in the townships...

It's about 12:30pm and I'm sitting on a floral quilt covered bed in a lovely B&B. There's a wonderful summer breeze blowing through the window which over looks lots of colorful wild flower and greenery. For the first time in two weeks, I feel totally relaxed.

Craig and I are in Stanstead East, a gorgeous town about two hours South East of Montreal. We're staying at the Riversmead B&B and this afternoon, we are attending our friends' wedding, which will be a lot of fun. Craig is photographing the wedding and I going to be his "voice activated assistant. (I wish you could see this: Craig is trying to figure out how to tie his tie using a YouTube tutorial... hilarious.)

I had a beautiful outdoor practice this morning. It felt good to practice totally on my own for a change. Well I wasn't completely alone, Toby, the resident golden retriever, sat beside my mat for almost my entire 108 sun salutations.

I made a video blog to describe what's going on and how I'm feeling these days

Day 90 - elation, elevation

I can't believe it's day 90. I'm 5/6 of the way through now. Only 18 days left. Wow...

The challenge in front of me is amazing. I am so looking forward to it. Things are coming together now. I have a large digital clock which Integrated Sports is lending to me for the event and people are emailing saying they want to be involved in some way.

I hope we have a lot of people participating and I hope we raise a lot of money to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Thirty-two hours of yoga... What an opportunity to showcase and play with sequences from all the yoga traditions. It's going to be such an enchanting experience. I can feel it.

Today's practice was very special. I was with Bossa by the lake. The wind was so powerful and so energizing. I let it cleanse and free my spirit. Our surya namaskar flowed with such ease and with so much strength. We did 40 sun salutations in about 15 mins and we weren't rushing at all. We were just so enthralled in the moment.

I am blessed.


If you want to be part of my final days of this 108x108, please let me know soon.

You can sponsor me with a donation to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
You can practice with me.
You can tell people about what I'm doing.
You can bring your yoga students.
You can volunteer to be a yoga teacher observer, a timekeeper, or a witness.
You can offer your massage or energy skills during my breaks.
You can come and say hi.
You can join our celebration on August 3rd in the evening.

I will promote any yoga studio that wants to be part of this challenge with me.

EMAIL:
events@westislandyoga.com

Day 82 - Aqua Surya Namaskar

It's a perfect day for the beach. I'm with our kids yoga camp on a field trip to Cap St Jacques, a small lake beach about 40km west of Montreal. The girls ages 5 to 13 are playing in the water and I am watching our bags. It's hot and humid again today with another record shattering high of 41 degrees. Apparently yesterday a 14 year-old died of heat exhaustion. We are watching our group closely for signs of sun burn and dehydration.

I just finished doing sun salutations in the water with three of the older girls who have been coming to the studio since they were kids. Morgan, 13 and a singer, just plopped herself down beside me. She thinks the sun sals with did in the lake were "so fun" and that they should count toward my 108 for the day, so I'm up 18.

I have only 18 left for the day. I woke up early and did a practice of 54 before 7:15 am. Then 18 with Max and now another set of 18 aqua surya namaskar, which were most entertaining. I will have to wait until tonight when it's cooler to finish up for the day.

Today, I noticed that I seem to be practicing much more smoothly. My movements are more exact and I am quickly working out tensions that, in the past, would linger for a while. In short, I feel myself responding to my physical needs sooner. When I feel discomfort somewhere in my body, I immediately modify the flow and focus on alleviating the tension. I am also trying to pay more attention to satisfy my natural urges as they arrive. This includes the urge to drink, eat and sleep. Well, I'm still working on the sleep one, but the others are getting much better and I feel better as result.

Day 79 - Cleaning therapy

As discussed yesterday, lately I've been in the mood to organize things probably because Craig moved in and we now have all of his stuff piled into the apartment. I can't stand clutter. It's distracting and confusing. I never know where anything is. Now, people who know me well may find these comments pretty ironic, because I have a reputation for being a little messy, but I'm trying to change. I want to be more organized and one thing's for sure, I don't like being surrounded by useless junk, so I'm continuing the process of purging things I don't want. Today, got rid of two bags of clothing, some books and appliances that need fixing. It feels great.

When I am not falling asleep at the keyboard I will write out some un-cluttering suggestions for you based on Feng Shui and Vastu principles that will hopefully inspire you to do the dame.

As for my 108 today, I did them scattered throughout the day and in air conditioning... It is so hot and humid, I had students texting me throughout the day stating that if I was going to teach outside this evening they were going to stay home.

PS It's supposed to be hot all week. Hope you remembered the cooling breath I taught you about a month ago!

Day 77 - Summer rituals

I participated in three social rituals today: soccer fandom at Cafe Olympico, a bridal shower, and my favourite summer kick-off, the Montreal Jazz Fest.

The best place to watch World Cup soccer is a block away from my house at either Club Social or Café Olympico, two little corner bistros known for their lattes and football fans. Craig and I went down to Olympico this morning to watch Germany play Argentina. It was over following with people and emotions. The spectators, some of whom donned the colors of their team, were absolutely captivated and superbly animated. And what a game. Germany played so well.

I really enjoyed sitting and watching the game. It was a nice to do something different, a good mental and physical break. Plus, I love watching soccer. It's the "beautiful game," because, for one, it's the only sport played creatively without hands. It also requires incredible dexterity, agility and stamina, and it is accessible any where in the world. In a way, soccer/football is classless. My only complaint is that there so many dramatic fake injuries. It annoys me when one player touches another from the opposite team, and then the former exaggerates their supposed foul. That's a little unsportsmanlike, in my mind.

My afternoon was spent at my friend Jackie's bridal shower. Although I have a hard time taking anything wedding traditions seriously, I have to admit that a gathering of women to celebrate one of the woman's union is a special right of passage. It's communal, supportive and loving, and something we should do more of in our society.

I did half my 108 in my living room this evening and the other half at the Jazz Festival, which closes after this weekend. I managed to find a little patch of grass and after a few sun sals, I was able to stay focused on what my practice and enjoy the live music on stage. Craig and I wanted to see this amazing guitar player named Andy McGee, but we couldn't get tickets. Click here to see an unbelieveable YouTube video of him playing.

I'm so looking forward to the rest of summer, and guess what? As of today, I only have one month left in this 108 journey, which is scheduled to end August 3rd. Everyday I am discovering new things about myself and my practice. Today, I was able to bring a much deeper level of sensitivity to my upper back, just below my neck. I don't think I ever paid much attention to this area before, unless I had pain there. I noticed that if I focus my attention on the area around C7 and keep it 'buoyant', there was much less tension in my neck and trapezius muscles.

I'm pretty happy that my practice still fascinates me and I'm so curious how I will feel when I'm done.

Day 76 - New students/Old student + World Cup Football

The morning 6 to 9 am 108 practices are finished. It was gorgeous weather today, not a cloud in the sky and warm, with a summery breeze. Perfect conditions. I think I got a bit of a sun burn, but it was really glorious this morning.

We had a few new folks joining this morning. My student Peter arrived with his two kids in tote, Eva, 5 and Jacob, 11. And you know what? Those awesome kids did nearly 72 sun salutations with us, despite our efforts to encourage them to rest. They were so determined and smiling the whole time. Eva even tried to convince her dad to stay for the rest of the practice. They really made the atmosphere light and fun.

Just before we started the last set of 36 sun salutations, I got another surprise guest, a former student who I hadn't seen in about two years. She says she's been following my journey on Facebook. It was really nice to reconnect with her. I often wish more of my old students would pass by the studio and say hello, because I remember everyone I've taught and I'm always curious how they are when I don't see them for a while.

I've enjoyed these early morning practices on the pier with my students, but I am kind of looking forward to getting back on my own practice schedule again starting tomorrow. And I'm looking forward to sleeping in past 4:30am (or attempting to anyway).

On a closing thought, did you see the Uruguay/Ghana game today? It was super intense. Shoot outs are so tragic. Being the daughter of a former competitive soccer player, I love watching the game. However, I hadn't had much time to follow much of the World Cup. This afternoon, in a juice bar on Drummond, Frances (my student/friend/employee) and I found ourselves clutching hands, wailing at the television during the 30 minutes of the game. Very emotional. Kudos to Uruguay, but I would have liked to see Ghana advance as the last standing African team, in the tournament.

Day 75 - Canada Day (aka la Fête du déménagement/ Moving Day)

Change is in the air and its kind of exciting.

It may be Canada Day every where else across the nation, but in Quebec, today is la Fête du déménagement, Moving Day. Apparently, approximately 120,000 Quebec households moved on July 1 last year and something like 70% of all leases begin or are renewed on this day.

In Montreal, this is a particularly interesting phenomenon. The city is 'moving and shaking' and the atmosphere is electric. Moving trucks, which almost double their prices at this time of year, pretty much take over my neighbourhood. At one point this afternoon, I counted four on my street alone. There is so much chaos on the streets and the alleys and sidewalks are full of unwanted furniture and all sorts of trinkets.

All four of my downstairs neighbors moved out. Miranda and Andrew have gone to an amazing loft on St Laurent where they will operate their Ahimsa Yoga Studio starting at the end of July. For fun, I joined them for took a walk around the block to see what people were tossing out. They snatched up a wicker laundry basket, some frames and cast-iron frying pan. I was under strict orders from Craig not to bring home "any crap", but I found a nice tin box to store pencils and pens on my desk.

As for Canada Day, I did not partake in any celebrations. I was supposed to help out at the Om West booth in the Pointe Claire Village, but after four mornings of 6am sun salutations and a full teaching schedule, I desperately needed to rest, so thankfully, my wonderful admin staff agreed to manage the festivities without me. And tonight, I have vowed to be in bed before 10pm, so unfortunately, I will also miss out on fireworks.

I'm feeling pretty tired from getting up so early all week, but I am focusing on eating well ,which makes a difference, and it feel great to do my 108 outside with my students first thing in the morning. Today, being a holiday, the dock was full. I think we were 11 or 12 people. It was a fun practice and also nice to share breakfast together afterward.


PS Craig would like to wish Canada a happy 132nd birthday.

Day 74 - Food glorious food

Lately, it feels like I'm always hungry, regardless of the amount of food I eat. This insane appetite is unusual for me. At first, I figured it's obviously because of all the physical activity I'm doing, but now I think it has more to do with quality of food I need as oppose the quantity. After all, the body will crave food until it feels properly nourished.

I've also been feeling a bit dizzy. So it appears as though I'm not getting enough nutrients from the food I'm eating, which is why I'm starving all the time. Yesterday, my Ayurvedic teacher Anita confirmed my suspicions and told me my iron is low and I'm lacking B12. This is no surprise because I should be eating a lot better than I am these days. The problem is that I have no time to cook and I usually wait until I am starving before I think about what to eat. The result is a lot of crackers, chocolate, cookies and chips are being consumed, because these are more convenient than making a meal when I'm tired. I realize this is no excuse and I must prioritize my time better. After all, if I'm committed to doing about three hours of yoga a day, I really must also commit to re-energizing myself...

My friend Brendan Brazier, who wrote a nutrition book called "The Thrive Diet", says that athletes (and I guess I now fit the bill) need to consciously choose more nutrient dense foods than regular folk, because they are constantly breaking down muscle tissue in training, and thus require the best materials to rebuild their tissues in order to become stronger and recover faster. If an athlete eats junk food all the time, then their body can't repair itself as well, because there isn't an abundance of nutrients like vitamins, minerals, fiber and healthy fats available.

Anyway, I am paying closer attention to when I eat and what I eat, because I dislike feeling dizzy and I need as much energy and stamina as possible. As one of my classmates said, my body is "my instrument" and it constantly needs fine tuning. So, steamed beet greens, watercress, kale, arugula it is!


Now, as for the 108 today, I was on the pier again this morning with my group of eight students. It was freezing, but once we got into the flow it was ok. Len joined us again this morning and taught a great Twisted Surya Namaskar, which I tried to film, but it's a pretty slow practice and ran out of space on my memory card. (I have to reshoot it from memory.)

Day 73 - Len Blum

This morning marked our second day of Morning Yoga by the Lake. The conditions were perfect, the sunrise magnificent, so we practiced on the pier just outside the Pointe Claire Village as we've done at this time, four years straight. The feeling of practicing outside at dawn in a group of highly committed students is amazing.

Len Blum joined us this morning. Len is a brilliant yoga instructor, who is part owner of United Yoga Montreal. He is also a former successful Hollywood screen writer and the only person I know who can recite all 196 Yoga Sutras (spiritual versus) from memory in Sanskrit and knows all the major interpretations of each scripture. He is truly a devout and incredible yogi and I was humbled by his presence.

We started our meditation and breathing exercises at about 6 am and started our first set of 36 sun salutations at 6:20. Our first 12 were very slow version of my opening:

• 4 half sun salutations = two full sun sals
• 2 sun sals with three cat/cow stretches to bring mobility into the spine
• 2 sun sals holding plank for three breaths to awaken the back muscles (no chaturanga or back bend)
• 2 streamline or thunderbolt sun sals to gently open the chest and shoulders
• 2 sphinx sun sals to further open the front of the body
• 2 sun sals with three progressive cobras (small, medium, full)

Following our opening series, we did 60 Surya Namaskar A bringing our awareness to a different successive part of the body every six sun sals. (For me, this was in honour of Anthea, who left for BC this morning and who first introduced me to this style of surya namaskar.) Here's what we did:

• Toes, feet and ankles
• Knees & quadriceps
• Integration of legs from big toe to head of femur (inner leg line)
• Pelvis (any aspect of it)
• *Five-ten minute break.
• Rib cage
• Shoulder girdle (shoulder joint, clavicle, shoulder blade)
• Neck & head
• Integration of the entire spine tailbone to crown of head
• Integration of the body whole & breath
• Any other part that needs attention or just breath-focus

We took another short break at 72 and finished with 12 Surya Namaskar B, 18 Surya Namaskar X (I call this one as X as we add a standing posture in each sun sal), and then 6 of our choosing, followed by self guided back bends and inversions.

It was so beautiful to be practicing outside to a soundtrack of birds chirping and wind in the trees. There was a tranquility so powerful, that it energized every cell of my being.

After practice, I had the privilege of speaking to Len for a good hour about various aspects of surya namaskar and my process of doing 108 each day and blogging about it. He suggested that the blogging part is probably just as intense as my actual practice, if not more so, because it is forcing me to acknowledge what I am going through and putting it out there. I hadn't really thought about it this way, but it's completely true. Sometimes I feel as though I would prefer to do another set of 108 than to write, because writing forces me to pull my experiences out of my head and to see them rationally for what they are, rather than just sit in it. But, I know how important it is to document and share the process, so here I am.


* Anyone is welcome to join us this week for an early morning practice on the pier, just one block east of Cartier on Lakeshore Rd in Pointe Claire. We start at at 6am, but you can join in whenever you want. Canada Day we're doing a special practice. ($25, breakfast included-- part of the money is going to David Suzuki Foundation.)

Day 70 - Rest, reflexion and laughter

(photo of the mehndi on my hands and feet in padangustasana A)

Last night's party was magical. The studio was full of people and the energy was electric. I think there were a little more than 100 guests and from the looks of it, people were having a good time. I find it's always hard to tell how fun a party actually is from the host's perspective, because as host, I feel I spend most of the time orchestrating things and running around making sure everyone is comfortable. At least I felt calm and relaxed yesterday, although I didn't get a chance to talk and connect with all the people who came, which I often find is a bit regrettable about big parties in general.

Anyway, all and all, I am really happy with the turn out. I don't think things have really sunk in yet. There was so much going on-- food, drinks, henna tattoos, live performances, an outdoor drum circle, and tons of raffle prizes. But I got some great feedback. My friends said they were impressed. One called the evening "Super pro, Miami style!"

The live performances were incredible. My friend Laur Fugere sang first. Laur is a beautiful internationally renown vocalist who has toured with Cirque de Soliel for 20 years, and she was incredible. Our second act was a 'hand to hand' routine performed by two awe-inspiring acrobats, Anna and Gerome, who also tour with Cirque. Then, spontaneously, there was a fantastic drum circle that formed outside the studio on the patio. Led by James Olmsted, one of our instructors, the drum circle included some talented percussionists plus a few guests who joined in with egg shakers. It was very cool.

We got home quite late, so today I tried to take it easy. I slept in a little, read Vanity Fair and around 10:30 am Miranda and later Andrew, joined me for my practice in the park. It was though for me to do sun salutation, as my shoulder was bothering me again. But we made it fun. We tested the concept of partner surya namaskar, which was very funny. Check out the video I filmed of Miranda and Andrew's version. And we finished the last 48 with the adjective game. This is where we each pick an adjective to inspire the way we do the next sun salutation. Some of the adjectives we came up with include: abnormally, breathlessly, buoyantly, and ballerina-like.

Then in the afternoon, I got spoiled with a fantastic massage from Anthea, my downstairs neighbour, who took pity on my tense shoulder muscles. Honestly, my shoulders and neck felt much better afterward.

(Thanks to Mark, who came to the party from Ottawa, and Ryan, who came in from Toronto.)

Day 69 - The Gratitude Day

It's 3:45pm, a few hours before the party at my yoga centre. There still seems to be a million things to do, but I figured I'd take a break now, while I still can. I have sequestered myself at my parent's house, which is just a few minutes away from the studio.

Tonight is a celebration of gratitude for all the supportive people in my life and for all those who contributed their energy in making Om West special. In the spirit of gratitude, I decided to dedicate my 108 practice to the people I appreciate. I included my 9:30 am class in part of this ritual, which was further enhanced by the beauty of lake this morning. Every six sun salutations, we honored a different person. I envisioned the person happy and healthy and recalled happy memories of time spent together. It was a beautiful way to channel my energy and ground myself. I am so thankful to be surrounded by great friends, great family and great students. I was a bit overcome by emotion thinking.

I must now ready myself for this evening. I will tell you all about it tomorrow!

Day 66 - Keeping things simple

My friend Miranda has challenged me to write just one paragraph tonight... so here goes...

I think I'm a pretty slow person, kind of kaphic, in a way. I take my time doing a lot of things, because I like details. I don't think I'm actually a perfectionist of sorts, but I really immerse myself in a task and it's then hard for me to pull myself out and stop what I'm doing. Take this blog example, sure, sometimes I feel belaboured by it, but other times I get sucked in and can't stop writing. But tonight I'm tired and it's already 11:15 pm, which is why Miranda suggested I keep things super short and simple tonight. Her and I practiced this evening together outside in the park. It was a nice and simple surya namaskar A flow. Once again, we focused on different areas of the body and threw in few of Paul's virtual sun salutations, which I've really been enjoying lately. Probably because those virtual ones are much less strenuous on my left shoulder, which is still a little sensitive, but getting better.

Ok that's all folks, one paragraph. Now it's bedtime...

Day 65 - Summer Solistice Yoga at Dawn

There is something so sacred about meeting the sun at dawn. The air is crisp, it's quiet, and there's a feeling unbounded possibilities and a perfect freshness. This time also seems timeless in a way, because not much is going on, and yet there is still a readiness. I like that.

I was up at 4:20 this morning and meeting my mom at 4:40 for a sunrise yoga practice on Mount Royal. Watching the first rays of summer pierce the morning sky and spill over the city was really magical. What made it even more special was the 30 other yogis who had also made the trip up the mountain to greet the solstice. No words were exchanged and we all practiced on our own in silence, but there was still a beautiful feeling of community. It was really awesome.

And yet, amongst the tranquility of the morning, there, of course, needed to be a balance. And balance, in our case, came in the form of a loud, drunken young man who obviously didn't make his way home last night. He followed my mom and I up the path to the look out and then proceeded to project grandiose, intoxicated philosophies before our peaceful gathering. Some statements inspired a few giggles. Among the most quotable quotes: "Soon, I'm gonna pee", "Tell Jesus, I need a cigar," and "Oh, I was going to take your bike to ride downtown, but now, I gonna take my legs." But mostly, his one sided conversation was just an opportunity to practice patience, acceptance, and concentration...

My practice was a bit laboured today as I am still nursing a shoulder ache. So I moved very slowly and carefully. Luckily, I was able to see an osteopath this afternoon who worked on my clavicle, neck, and cranial bones. I felt much better after the treatment, as though a huge blockage was released, but my left shoulder still hurts. It will feel better tomorrow, I'm sure.

Day 63 - The Virtual Sun Salutation + some love

I was hosted by Studio Breathe this morning for an outdoor 108 practice across the canal from Atwater Market. We were about 15 and it was a spectacular morning, warm, but breezy, just the way I like it. Nicolas Adeline and Paul Broomfield, two instructors from Breathe, joined me in leading a few sets. Having other teachers participate offers a nice diversity and gives me the opportunity to learn other variations of surya namaskar, which I appreciate.

Paul, an experience yogi, who trained all over the United States, in Canada and in India, introduced the 'virtual sun salutation.' This one you visualize, but don't physically execute. We stood in tadasana, eyes closed, as Paul guided us through the sequence. It was really cool and surprisingly challenging, because the mind is forced to stay with the practice. I wonder if I could do 108 of these mental surya namaskar. Probably not. It's quite difficult to focus on one, let alone 108. But this would be a really good mental practice and a way to do sun salutations places that aren't obvious - train, planes or bus rides, line ups, even in bed.

* * *

I spent the rest of the day planting flowers with Miranda, making food, and napping. This was just what I needed, activities to ground myself and just relax, although the nap through me off, because I slept for way too long, but I guess I needed it.

I'm feeling a lot of gratitude and so I'd like to acknowledge a few people who have been an integral part of my journey so far.

My boyfriend, Craig, whose encouragement, unwavering support, and sincere interest in whatever I do is more than I could ask for and beyond words. (+ his photo work is awesome.)

Marianne, my studio manager, for all her caring, selflessness and understanding.

Miranda & Anthea, my neighbours, for their energy, inspiring ideas and uplifting conversations.

Marie-Maguerite, my dear friend, whose an environmental champion and a true believer.

Rhiannon, my soul sister, for being the one I can talk to about anything and everything, any time.

Nathalie and Frances, for helping pick up the slack at studio and supporting all the different events I'm involved in.

Lisa, Robina, and Mira, the band of wonderful white witches that keep me on track.

My family for expressing their love and encouragement. (It's nice to know your parents of proud of you.)

And all you wonderful yogis, yoginis and friends who are following this 108x108 adventure. I love to hearing your comments, feedback and ideas, so keep them coming!

* My next community 108 practice is with Steve Maier at Island Gym in l'Île Perrot on Wednesday, June 23 at 7 pm. Let me know if you are interested in coming.

Day 49 - Coming together

In concert with yesterday's conversation about intention, I spent a good amount of time reflecting upon my reasons for setting out on this 108 adventure. The answer came to me in my sun salutations this morning.

I had a beautiful 8am outdoor practice in park with Anthea and Miranda, my downstairs neighbors. It was so nice and quiet and I had a chance to work things out in my mind. I feel reawakened to my true intention. I purely and simply want to complete 108 sun salutations everyday for 108 days to elevate consciousness, and to share the journey with others. If I can also raise money for some great non-profit organizations along the way, that's a wonderful bonus.

I really want to collaborate with other yoga teachers and help weave together various yoga traditions. Anthea, as you will see in the video below, showed us an elegant variation on Surya Namaskar from Vijnana yoga.

* * *

This afternoon Craig and I went to La Maison de la culture to see the exhibition of "The Quilt of Belonging," a magnificent 36 metre long tapestry featuring 263 embroidered blocks from the cultures of every nationality in the world and all the First Nations communities in Canada. Today was the last day it was being displayed in Montreal and so the artist, Esther Bryan, who put the initiative together was present for the closing. It felt a little serendipitous to meet her and see her finished work. Bryan's intention was to create a piece of art that would unite and represent all the diverse cultures of Canada. She told me of the labour intensive process of putting together this massive project, but how everything came together in the end...

What is Vijnana yoga?

The term "vijnana" means "understanding from the inside." This style of yoga stems from the teachings of Sri Krishnamacharya, the teacher of Pattabhi Jois, B.K.S. Iyengar and T.K.V. Desikachar. It was developed by Isreali yoga teacher Orit Sen-Gupta in collaboration with her teacher, Dona Holleman, a senior student of B.K.S Iyengar. Vijnana yoga is based on the seven vital principles: Relaxing the body, Quieting the mind, Focusing through intent, Rooting, Connecting, Awareness of breath, and Expanding.