This past summer, I travelled to Toronto in May and again in June to further my training at East to West Yoga and Pilates. I took in so much knowledge during those visits and left full of bliss, inspiration and ideas.
In November, I truly set down roots at East to West, travelling there with my fellow teacher in training for the first of 8 weekend training sessions. I learned about Anatomy and Alignment on that trip. It was overwhelming at first, leaving me completely drained and making me wonder what I had started. However, our teacher Susie had warned us we'd feel overwhelmed so I knew I should just push through and see what happened.
At the end of the day and again in the morning, Susie taught a yoga class that really brought what we'd learned together in a way that made it easier to take in. As we continue with our training each month, Susie will return to anatomy over and over, so that we can put it into practice.
In December, just this past weekend, I was back in Toronto for three courses. On the first day, we continued our Yoga Exercise Specialist training with Methodology I. We learned a few new poses, practised teaching them on one another and spent some time focusing on the pelvis and how it moves. On the second day, we studied the use of props for our first class. After lunch, we dove into the study of Sanskrit, a classical Indian language that we use mainly in Western yoga to name poses and various yogic philosophies.
I look forward to returning to Toronto each month for more training. The time is going to go by all too fast. I look forward to sharing what I learn with everyone who joins me at my home studio. If you're curious about what courses I take each month, have a look at the certificates/documents scrapbook on my props shelf.
It has a lot more stuff on it now than when it first went up in the yoga room!
December
I was a little shocked by December's arrival. How did that happen? How is there already a tree in my house, decorated with shiny, sparkly bits and bobs? How are there red and green stockings lined up all in a row on my mantel already? How are my children already singing songs about shepherds that they learned at school and dreaming of gifts dancing down the chimney one by one? How are there lights twinkling on the houses I pass by in every town, on every street and on every road?
Get ready for a Christmas experience here at Break on Through Yoga; the fireplace room, where you'll usually find my mat, is surrounded by a line of tiny stockings, big tinsel trees and many other delights for the eye. Maybe, just maybe, we'll find ourselves doing a holiday themed practice somewhere along the way...
There will be a few class cancellations throughout December; most of those will be on Sundays. If you're a student at BoT Yoga, be sure to keep your eye on the Facebook page, text me, email me, talk to me or call me for updates.
Looking Forward
Over this next month and into the new year, remember self-kindness. Some suggestions:
*take some quiet time in the morning to turn your face to the sun or to really enjoy your coffee
*call a friend just to chat
*explore your town or city or one nearby-take the time to find out what is really unique about it. take a new route to go shopping or to work. find a new neighbourhood
*let go. let go of guilt. let go of regrets. let go of blame. let go of competing. let go of anything that isn't bringing you joy
*pause. before you do or say something you might regret, practice pausing. take a moment and really think about whether that comment you're writing or saying really needs writing or saying.
*be kind to someone else as well
Namaste,
T.
