Michelle Yoga Victoria BC

The Buisness of Yoga

2012-03-20T06:40:00.004-07:00

Wow… over the coarse of the my near 30 year relationship with yoga I have seen more than a few changes. I remember a time when Savasana was not a household word, when yoga classes were held in cold school gymnasiums or someone’s living room, when yoga empire would be assumed to be a new Star Wars movie and when teachers had all studied in India with a dedicated master & lifelong practitioner of not just asana but all yogic principles. Considering nearly every philosopher since recorded time has found one way or another to say ... the only thing that is consistent is change... we best not be getting our knickers in a knot about the change yoga has undergone and will continue to undergo.

Now in the era of glamorous drop in studios, yoga corporations, yoga teacher training factories and every type of yoga trademark or product under the sun I can not help but smile. Change is inevitable and change is good…. That is what yoga has taught me. Occasionally I hear individuals , including myself make fun of what has become of this new western version of yoga…… but who hasn’t enjoyed a gym yoga class or eyes up a pair of Lululemon pants, sipped on a Yogi Tea or flipped through the pages of Yoga Journal?

Could I even support myself as a yoga teacher without all this hype that brings millions of students to the mat each day? Health is said to be the fastest growing industry in the Western world, yoga being at the forefront of that growth... how can that be bad?

I have a choice to be apart of commercialized yoga or not or I can choose to practice by similar principles of the many yogis before me. I can choose teachers who have dedicated their lives to study. I can choose to attempt to learn and integrate all 8 limbs on & off the mat. I can choose to teach in an environment without the fluctuation of drop in to dedicated students willing to commit to this ancient practice. I can choose to adapt my practice and my teaching as I continue change and grow. I can choose to follow my own inner guru who tells me all yoga is great, all yoga helps people, all yoga has purpose . However, as people are not exactly the same, not all yoga is the same. Just as there is room for all the different types of people we must make room and accept all the different styles of yoga. As students and teachers of yoga we need to choose what our truth is and honor it to the best of our ability. Trust that if you follow your heart it will lead you where you are meant to go.

In the light of all the yoga drama in the media over the past few months regarding the Anusara and Ashtanga communities my heart goes out to them. It is never a good feeling to be judged. We all make mistakes and have to live with the consequences... this does not make us any more or less yogic….. as Jesus said “ let he who is free of sin cast the first stone. “ In my experience there is no right or wrong when it comes to yoga simply learning, the more we practice the more difficult the lessons become.

"Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing, there is a field; I'll meet you there." ~ Rumi

XoXoOXoOXoOXoOXoXOX

Deep Backbending Prep #2

2012-02-01T12:23:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Swami Vivekananda

2012-01-12T09:26:00.001-08:00

What a source of inspiration he has been to my life. He is the first person who brought Vedanta philosophy & Yoga to the West in 1893 (the year this photo was taken)... So many favorite quote to live by hard to choose just one! But this one pretty much sums it up.... Do not say I am bad, say I am good but be better ~ Swami Vivekananda

A few thoughts on Yoga Injuries.

2012-01-11T09:22:00.000-08:00

I recently read a couple of interesting articles....

Yoga Injuries: The Bigger Picture from The Yoga Journal which was a response to "How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body" article published in the NY times.
I can only speak from my experience. I have yet to acquire a yoga related injury... I practice often & sometimes quite deep but I always listen to my body and my breath. I believe strongly in knowing your students well enough to assess their physical & ego related weaknesses as well as their strengths. One of the hardest tasks as a teacher is insisting a student not continue deeper in a pose or that they should avoid certain poses until ready..... oddly enough, the occasional student will ignore or question your advice. As teachers we are here not only to train the body but owe it to our students to teach them how to check their egos for the sake of their body. One of my favorite quotes being.... 'Never sacrifice the body for the glory of the pose.' At the end of the day: you can lead a horse to water.... but you can't make it drink.
Play safe! I would if I were you :)

XoOXoOXoXOoXoOXoOXoOXoX
M

More backbending !

2012-01-09T10:45:00.000-08:00

Watch: “Occupy Wall Street.”

2011-10-20T09:16:00.000-07:00

Watch: “ Occupy Wall Street.”

Cold Kicker & Radiation Drink

2011-10-13T02:39:00.000-07:00

Been getting allot of requests for these well used and proven natural "neo-citron" & immune system booster... and since this full moon has up i thought I should re-share. B.well! XoOxoOxoOX

Tiriang Mukhottanasana

2011-10-04T16:44:00.000-07:00

Hand Mudras for Sleep

2011-09-26T10:59:00.000-07:00

Yoga Nidra for Sleep

2011-09-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

more mudras for sleep

2011-09-19T17:08:00.000-07:00

All Are Equal: Chin Mudra for Memory Power, Sleep Disorder and More

Another mudra for sleep.

2011-09-19T17:02:00.001-07:00

Fly the World: Sleep Well with Shakti Mudra

2011-09-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

Fly the World: Sleep Well with Shakti Mudra: This Shakti Mudra is supposed to produce a calming effect inside you, which is essential in order to have a good sleep. Worrying will no...

Bite Me.: A peaceful afternoon

2011-09-09T10:27:00.000-07:00

Inspiring words from an inspiring student.

Bite Me.: A peaceful afternoon

Mudras series for thyroid, arthritis & heat

2011-08-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

Vrschikasana I :: Scorpion Pose

2011-08-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

New online class!!!!

2011-08-19T09:18:00.000-07:00

With the help of my friends Dez, Steven and the extremly talented videographer David Procyshyn and master mind behind Doyogawith me.com ( a free on line yoga class website ) I proudly present a new 60 min online FREE video!!!! Whoot WHOOT.... no more excuse to not practice :) Does this mean I can take early retirement? he he he he XOOoxOOXOX m

Chandra herding her man

2011-06-24T09:28:00.000-07:00

Jason Damato - Life You Love

2011-06-21T10:42:00.000-07:00

New pose....

2011-06-20T14:09:00.000-07:00

Yoga quiz of the day.

2011-06-08T22:18:00.000-07:00

Walking around in circles on my head

2011-06-06T10:06:00.000-07:00

Karandavasana : Duck Pose

2011-06-01T14:46:00.001-07:00

Paryankasana :: Bed Pose

2011-06-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

Mexico Teacher Training Testimonials :: Jodie, Victoria, BC

2011-06-01T04:45:00.000-07:00