Inspiration for Yogacara Teachers: Q & A
“What is your practice like?” “What got you into yoga?” “Do you practice the same thing everyday?” These are just a few of the questions yoga teachers are asked by their students. To offer you some insight into the everyday life, practice, and routines of your favourite yogis we’ve asked a few of our Yogacara teachers to share their inspiration for 2019. Emily Kane What does your yoga practice consist of? (i.e. what style, influence, or essential parts of your practice) My practice changes everyday. It depends on what is going on in my life which determines what I need more focus on. Some days it’s a lot of movement and breathwork (like vinyasa or kundalini) while other times being still and going inwards with a yin or restorative practice is what nourishes me. I also regularly integrate mantra and meditation. When I’m travelling I like to meditate on planes, trains, or buses–I even do a short hatha sequence at the back of the plane when I’m flying!
7 Signs You’re a Yogacara Yogi
If you’ve practiced at Yogacara Whistler before, you know we like to do things a bit differently. It’s the little things that make your practice so special. So how is being a Yogacara yogi any different? We’ve come up with best list of “You know you’re a Yogacara Yogi when” moments we think you’ll appreciate. 1.) You love small class sizes and a “no late” policy Sure, every once in a while there’s a full class but you appreciate knowing there will always be less than 13 other students. You enjoy having your own space, connecting with your teacher, and being part of a small community
The Magic of Hip Openers
You may have heard the term “hip openers” in a yoga class, but what does this really mean? The idea of practicing hip openers can actually mean a lot of different things in a lot of different places. The literal hip joint is located where the femur meets the hip socket, or acetabulum, in the pelvis. Many of the hip openers refer to the areas around this joint and the pelvis. First we’ll breakdown where this is actually happening and what shapes to focus on so hip openers can benefit your practice.
Yin Yoga 101
Yin Yoga 101: learn the basics about this beautiful practice from Yogacara Yoga Teacher Training
Yin Yoga has the same goals and objectives as any other school of yoga. Most practices of yoga are utilized to work the muscular portion of our body (Yang), where as Yin yoga lets us dive deeper into the yin tissues of our bodies, ligaments, bones and joints. Yin yoga can have the same objectives as another school of yoga and some students can find this style of class boring and passive but quickly discover that this can be the most challenging style of practice due to the long duration of poses.
Anatomy in Yoga
An understanding of anatomy is key for the safety and development of your students. Integrating this knowledge can encourage injury prevention and facilitate the healing process. It can connect a deeper understanding of the philosophies in creating yoga sequences for public and private classes. For private classes, if there is a specific area of focus, then you can design a practice that addresses those concerns. An anatomical awareness also prepares you to take on students with injuries in a safe and effective manner. Using variations, props, and mindful sequencing to compliment this information can create an inclusive yoga class.
An understanding of anatomy also gives you the tools to analyze your practice and teachings to create effective movement patterns. This encourages proper sequencing techniques that include adequate warm-ups and poses with appropriate counterposes. It also reinforces the importance of alignment for the purpose of safety for our joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments rather than for an esthetic appeal. The patterns we create on our mat have the ability to affect how we progress outside of yoga, meaning that our muscle memory creates healthy habits to impact other activities in our daily lives.
The Journey of Yoga Teacher Training
Written by Emily Kane – owner of Yogacara Whistler and staff member of the Yogacara Yoga Teacher Training program I used to think Yoga Teacher Training was out of my grasp. Seeing the respect that yoga teachers had for leading classes with confidence, awareness and grace is what drew me towards yoga teacher training, […]
Restorative Yoga – Relax, Restore, Renew
Yoga has the ability to create bliss on many levels – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The key to this state can come from a variety of practices, but one form seems to stand out when it comes to relaxation. Restorative yoga uses long, supported holds to relax the body and restore the nervous system, […]
Connection Celebration Meditation Yoga
Connection Celebration Meditation Yoga. Everyone has their own interpretation for the individual experience, or collective experiences, that relate to these values. Although each word can be explained in a unique way, there is a unified nature in their meaning. A meditation yoga experience can include many ways to connect and celebrate, whether that’s to yourself […]
Why Invest In Private Yoga Classes
Going to yoga classes in your community is a great way to practice what you love and connect with others, so why would it make sense to do private yoga classes? There are many reasons why private yoga classes can be a great investment. We give you seven reasons to consider trying private yoga classes […]
Gratitude
Psychology Today defines gratitude as an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has. They also refer to studies that show how cultivating gratitude can increase our well-being and happiness. So how can you cultivate gratitude or what makes it so important? When we take time out of our busy lives and reflect on what we are […]
