Inhale. Exhale.

I’m looking forward to the Spring 2022 yoga session which begins next week and I hope you are too. The fourth limb of Pantanjali’s eight-limbed Ashtanga Yoga system, which is the practice of breath regulation called pranayama, will be our theme. Why the breath? Quite simply because we can’t live without it, yet all too often we take for granted our ability to breathe, we ignore this essential life force that functions automatically, involuntarily, and continuously to keep us alive. The interesting thing is that we can control the breath, something we cannot do with other visceral (e.g. cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine) functions. We can learn to breathe better, and as a result, we might live more comfortably and longer.

Together we will explore various breathing exercises paying attention to how they affect us. Need a pick me up? Try the Breath of Joy. Experiencing anxiety? Practice the 4-7-8 breathing technique. Need to feel more balanced? The equal breathing method called sama vritti can help you feel calm and relaxed. Stand-alone breathing techniques, as well as others, will support your yoga practice as you move in and out of poses. They might also restore more restful sleep.

The Spring 2022 schedule remains the same as before. You can find full details of the live-streamed virtual group classes by visiting studio71yoga.com. 

If you’re looking for deep relaxation and healing, a specific class of the upcoming 10-week session deserves special mention. Tuesday mornings join me for a brief centring exercise and breathing practice followed by a 35-minute guided meditation called yoga nidra (sleep of the yogi in Sanskrit). As a Level 1 iRest® Teacher my offerings of yoga nidra are informed by the teachings of Richard Miller, PhD and/or the iRest Institute. Core concepts of iRest will be introduced each week as I guide you into deeply relaxing states. These include: Inner Resource, Intention, Heartfelt Desire, Body Sensing, Breath Sensing, Feelings and Emotions, Beliefs, Pure Being/Awareness, and Integration. Supported by research findings, iRest is used extensively in military and other settings. It is proven to be beneficial for stress, sleep disturbances, chronic pain, mental health, chemical dependency, post-traumatic stress injury, cancer, anxiety, depression, and other conditions. By practicing yoga nidra you’ll develop an enhanced sense of awareness, an increased sense of yourself as a whole person, ultimately coming to the realization that you’re perfect just as you are. Live-streamed via Zoom for your convenience, no previous knowledge or experience is needed, and there’s no right or wrong way to practice. While listening to my voice, your experience will be just as it is, seated or lying down, with your eyes open or closed.

Speaking of eyes closed, I’m taking a moment now to softly lower my upper lids. I inhale. I exhale. The breath breathes me. I inhale what I need. I exhale what is no longer serving me. I inhale with intention. I exhale with abandon. I inhale with joy. I exhale with gratitude.

I’m so very grateful for your presence. See you soon.

Jeannine

Gut Feeling, Yoga Nidra, and Your Heart’s Desire

For some time now the yoga classes that I teach have included a sprinkling of yoga philosophy. In particular, as I have been taught by my first yoga teacher Serge, I’ve been inspired to share with you various aspects of the eight-limbed classical yoga system, e.g. yama (restraints, moral disciplines or vows), niyama (positive duties or observances), asana (postures), pranayama (breathing practices), dhyana (meditation). More recently I’ve shared with you basic information about energetic centres called chakras (cakra in Sanskrit), first mentioned in the Vedas, ancient sacred texts of Indian spriritual knowledge dating from 1500 to 1000 BCE.

Over the course of the Winter 2022 I focused on seven main chakras (some say there are as many as 114 different chakras) that run along the spine. Chakra means “wheel” in Sanskrit and these “wheels” are thought to be “spinning disks” of energy that should be open and in alignment in order to positively affect our emotional and physical wellbeing since they are said to correspond to bundles of nerves, major organs, and important aspects of our subtle energy body.

As you might recall, some topics brought about thoughtful reflection and discussion, in particular qualities of the third eye chakra (ajna or guru chakra) such as insight, vision, wisdom, clarity, and intuition. A rabbit-hole discussion led us to the topic of gut feelings and whether or not it’s important to listen to these signals.

According to researcher and writer Jeremy Sutton, PhD, “intuition is that feeling in your gut when you instinctively know that something you are doing is right or wrong.”

You probably have experienced this and can relate to times when your “gut” told you something. And the outcome was likely positive or negative depending on whether you listened to and acted upon that feeling. I find this is closely linked to intuition on a very basic level and you can find much to read about and feed your interest if you google these topics. Whether you refer to it as a “sixth sense”, a “hunch” or a “gut instinct”, this is what we’re talking about when we speak of intuition.

Getting back to the question of listening to that sixth sense… My recommendation? Always listen and pay close attention to that feeling that you can’t quite explain, that gut feeling or instinct, especially when it involves a sense of danger. Sensations coming from your belly are real and thankfully science is now able to explain this as the “gut-brain connection”. In addition, the communication system between your gut and brain is called the “gut-brain axis”. There’s a lot of heavy science here which I will leave you to deep dive into at your discretion.

I haven’t yet chosen a theme for the upcoming live-streamed 10-week session so stay tuned. Speaking of which, please visit studio71yoga.com where you’ll find details about the Spring 2022 schedule, class descriptions, in-person private classes and more.

As requested, Tuesday morning Yoga Nidra classes will be 60 minutes in duration (previously 45 minutes), and these are still offered FREE to current session Studio71Yoga class participants, as well as Frontline Healthcare Workers, First Responders, 9-1-1 Operators & Call Takers, Bus Operators, and Post-secondary Students so please spread the word. Of course everyone else is welcome and you’ll find the registration fee posted on my website.

Due to popular demand, I’m once again offering a special workshop. I hope you’ll join me for a live, virtual session where together we’ll work towards discovering your heart’s deepest longing or purpose, your personal life mission. This workshop will bring together breathing practice, meditation, reflection, somatic yoga, and restorative yoga. You’ll learn how to elicit stillness and contentment within, as you begin to uncover your heart’s deepest desire and more.

When: Friday, April 1, 2022 @ 6:30-9:00 pm (Central Time)
Where: Live stream via Zoom
Cost: $40 CAD (e-transfer to studio71yoga.com)
Register: E-mail studio71yoga@gmail.com (by Tuesday, March 29, 2022)
Cancellation Policy: Full refunds up to 3 days prior to the event. No refunds will be given after that time.

Maybe your intuition is telling you to register soon… I look forward to hearing from you!

With joy and gratitude,

Jeannine

Registration Now Open: Spring Session and Workshops

After considerable thought and consideration I have decided to continue with live, virtual classes on Zoom for the upcoming Spring 2022 session. The word “spring” really jumps out at me as I look out my office window. It is cold, snowing and blustery but I know that spring will arrive as sure as the earth turns on its axis so I remain cheerful and optimistic.

I am counting my blessings of late even more than usual, increasingly aware of my privilege and incredible good fortune, grateful for my family and friends, and especially for your presence. Our cozy little yoga community continues to thrive as we spend precious time before and after our classes, sharing thoughts on recent events both near to and far from where we live and love. Some of you I have not seen for over two years yet you still reach out after receiving my newsletters and it always warms my heart to know that we are still connected in this way.

The Spring 2022 session begins on Monday, April 4 and registration is now open. Please confirm your attendance and I will reserve your spot. If you have not been able to join us but would like to, let me know. We will gladly welcome you to our sharing circle.

Perhaps you were hoping for a return to in-person classes. If that is the case I ask for your patience as we move forward and tread carefully amid the lifting of covid restrictions. That being said, I have decided to offer a special in-person Restorative Yoga workshop on Sunday, March 20 @ 2:00 - 4:30 pm. Your investment is $50, proof of full vaccination is required, and space is limited to 4 participants. I am not posting this workshop on my website so this is the only place where you will read about this offering. If you would like to attend, please contact me by email at studio71yoga@gmail.com.

Class descriptions, details about the Spring 2022 session, and an upcoming Reflect, Discover, Restore workshop are available on my website. More information will follow in my next newsletter.

With joy and gratitude,

Jeannine

Winter 2022 Offerings

Winter 2022 yoga classes and workshops got underway this week and I must say that I was incredibly pleased and grateful to spend quality time with you. It was wonderful to see your smiling face and to share some screen time with you. Yes… screen time. It might not be ideal but I don’t know where I’d be without Zoom. It’s the next best thing from my perspective. And much of life is about perspective, isn’t it?

Anyway… this is just a quick note to let you know that there’s still time to register if you’d like to join me and a few other warm-hearted souls for regular live, virtual weekly classes. I’m also available for in-person, private classes if that suits you better.

By the way, how are you sleeping these days? The 6-week Sleep Recovery course begins on Thursday, January 20 (1-3 pm) so there’s still time to register. If you’d rather fly solo I totally understand. If this is the case, I highly recommend Lisa Sanfilippo’s book by the same name, Sleep Recovery, which is the backbone of the course. It’s available in print, electronic and audio formats. That being said, many people benefit much more with personal guidance which is where I come in. I’d love to help you so feel free to contact me to further explore how we can work together.

Details regarding all of my current offerings are available at studio71yoga.com.

Yours with joy and gratitude,

Jeannine

Extreme Cold Warning

As I write this message to you, it’s December 28, 2021. I’m in Jasper, Alberta, enjoying the splendour and beauty of the Rocky Mountains, the view of the pine trees blanketed in heavy snow, the sounds of conversation and laughter. The warmth inside where I sit gazing out the window is complemented by the wonder of my 5-year-old and 3-year-old grandsons who are off on a “bear hunt”, camping out in the living room, shrieking when the “bear” is in sight. The extreme cold warning is ever present and persistent in many parts of the country and I’m incredibly grateful for the love and warmth that being with family brings.

Not everyone is so fortunate. In fact, my son and husband drove from Jasper to Calgary yesterday to support our son’s friend/co-worker who lost his girlfriend on Dec 26 in a tragic head-on collision where she was killed instantly. The 23-year-old Calgary-based nursing student was on her way to Jasper to spend the remainder of the holiday season with her boyfriend. And now her boyfriend is in Calgary grieving with her family and friends. My heart is heavy and I can only begin to imagine the pain and anguish they will experience every holiday season for a long time to come.

“Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional. This is the skill and that is what is yoga.”

— Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

The quote above may be familiar to some of you. We all experience pain in the course of a lifetime. Pain is inevitable, unavoidable, and sometimes excruciating and unfathomable. Yoga and other spiritual traditions teach us that while pain is inescapable, suffering is a choice. This doesn’t mean that the path is easy. Quite the opposite is true. Fortunately, however, there are many resources, approaches, tools and “technologies” that can help us with our suffering and this includes the many facets of yoga.

Last summer I attended a yoga workshop co-hosted by Barrie Risman and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau (yes, “the” Sophie… spouse of our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau). Sophie is a beautiful soul and at the outset of the workshop she shared with us that for her, yoga is a way of living and she practices yoga for two reasons:

1) To become a better person;

2) To learn to be at peace with her mortality and the mortality of others around her.

The workshop conversation then turned to the topic of nature. It is said that nature holds the state of yoga. Seasons. Common experiences. Breathing.

“When I exhale, I am feeding the trees and the plants. When I inhale, the trees and plants are feeding me. ”

— Indigenous saying

More conversation, and the following question: How do you keep your mind still when negative thoughts keep arising? To this Sophie replied:

“So what. Notice. Observe. Let go. It’s ok. Then come back to the breath. We’re all being breathed. It’s a gift.”

The breath always shows us where we are at any given moment. The breath is a revelation. Generally speaking we “traumatize” our experiences. Coming back to the breath is a shortcut to ease and peace. According to Cheryl Salzberg, world-renowned meditation teacher and NY Times bestselling author:

“Meeting the breath is like meeting your inner lover, your inner companion.”

With all of this in mind, perhaps you, or someone you know, might benefit from my new Morning Reset classes held on Tuesdays:

Take a morning break and reset your day with a short breathing practice (pranayama) followed by a “mini” version of iRest® Yoga Nidra. iRest is a simple form of meditation, a modern-day process of self-inquiry and self-discovery. With a focus on body sensation and the breath you will be guided into deeply relaxing states, moving beyond self-limiting beliefs and conditioning. With practice you will enhance your sense of awareness, your sense of being a whole person, ultimately coming to the realization that you are perfect just as you are. This secular practice, supported by scientific research, has been demonstrated to be beneficial for stress, sleep disturbances, chronic pain, mental health, chemical dependency, post-traumatic stress injury, cancer, anxiety, depression, and other conditions. No experience is needed and you can practice seated or lying down, with your eyes open or gently closed. This class, live-streamed via Zoom, is accessible to everyone regardless of ability or background. Everyone is welcome.

By the way, the Morning Reset 45-minute classes are FREE for Frontline Healthcare Workers, First Responders, 9-1-1 Operators & Call Takers, Bus Operators, Post-secondary Students, and current Studio71Yoga Students. Please spread the word…

The next Intro to Yoga for Better Sleep workshop is being held this upcoming Thursday evening, virtually, on January 6. You can find details here. There’s still time to register.

Having sleep difficulties but unable to attend the workshop? No worries. Register for the 6-week Sleep Recovery program which begins on Thursday, January 20, and explore your personal solutions for better sleep. To learn more about the program click here.

Take refuge from the extreme cold and isolation by joining me and your fellow yogis for the Winter 2022 regular classes which begin on Saturday, January 8. There’s a variety of options to choose from and “wellness discounts” are available when you register for more than one weekly class (conditions apply). Click here for the schedule, and feel free to contact me for more information.

I look forward to sharing my virtual yoga space with you in 2022.

Yours with humble joy and gratitude,

Jeannine

P.S. Since writing this I returned home safe and sound on December 31. Happy New Year!