Happy New Year
January 2, 2012
Welcome to 2012. May your year be filled with gratitude & peace, and may our eyes be open to the wonder around us.
We hope you enjoy this beautiful video, enjoy the time to sit and savour it.
The Great Bell Chant (The End of Suffering) from R Smittenaar on Vimeo.
New Year’s Day Yoga Class
December 15, 2011
Time: 10:00AM – 11:00AM
Teacher: Caroline Elson
Cost: Donation to the Food Bank. Non-perishable food items or minimum $5.00 donation.
Class Limit: 30 people. When we reach our limit the studio door will be closed, so come early to reserve your spot. Doors open at 9:30am
On January 1 we will be holding our annual New Year’s day class raising donations for the Ottawa Food Bank .
This year Caroline will donate her time, to offer an all-levels vinyasa class designed to foster peace of mind and awareness as we enter into the new year, we will close with a short meditation to set your intentions for 2012
You Have Everything You Need
November 12, 2011
This one-minute video from Russell Simmons was posted on MindBodyGreen.com; he really gets it!
Entrepreneur, yogi, meditator, and vegan, Russell Simmons inspires with this one-minute video, where he says:
“The idea that you have everything you need has got to be the most profound and important revelation…. Giving is the basis of getting, and this idea of operating from a place of love, or place of abundance, is a very attractive idea.”
Here’s the one-minute video:
Shavasana Commitment – Day 40
September 9, 2011
Well here we are on Day 40. Has anything changed? If so, it probably started with your perspective which had a ripple effect on everything else 
Will you continue to give yourself the space to practice daily? Why or why not? Life is short and as we know living it fully requires a willingness to do so and taking the time everyday to simply be, to let go brings so much mental clarity.
May we all be blessed with the eyes to see the extraordinary in the ordinary, to hear what is really being said and to speak from our centre of gravity.
Please feel free to send us your thoughts your experiences with shavasana. As always we would love to hear from you.
“Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same.” - Francesca Reigler
Hot New Classes & Updates
September 6, 2011
Here are a few hot updates to our fall Yoga schedule, to view the complete schedule which starts the week of September 18, click here
Elation Hot Flow Yoga
Just in time for the cooler temperatures – Hot Yoga is back at Elation Centre!
Elation Hot Flow is practiced in a heat tolerable by most people, around 30 C, hot enough to encourage deeper flexibility and detoxification without overstretching or dehydrating. Elation Hot Flow is perfect for people with limited flexibility, people who love a good sweat from the inside and out, and anyone who wants to cleanse and detox. Open to all levels, bring water and a towel
Class Schedule:
- Tuesdays @ 6:00PM Hot Core
- Tuesdays @ 7:15PM Hot Hips
- Wednesdays @ 9:15AM Hot Flow
- Fridays @ 5:00PM Hot Flow
Click Here for Class Descriptions
Elation Vinyasa Intermediate
This 75-minute class is designed for those wishing to demystify poses and move more deeply into their practice. Here is where you work on the stamina to hold postures longer, discover more ways to bend backward, balance on your arms, explore binds, and deep twists. This class is not for a beginner but you don’t have to be “advanced” either. If you have a regular practice and are comfortable to explore basic inversions like headstand and can balance in crow a bit, this is the class for you! This class builds focus, strength and staming and is sweaty and energetic.
Vinyasa Intermediate Schedule: Wednesdays @ 6:15PM with Donna
Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga
One of our most beloved classes – practicing as the sun rises, shining through our studio windows, is now open to men and women. Come one, come all and Enjoy!
Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga Class Schedule: Mon – Fri @ 5:45AM, with Krista, Donna and Martha
Love Your Backbends
September 1, 2011
Holiday Monday - Special Yoga Class
Date: Monday September 5th
Time: 5:30-7:00PM
Cost: $20.00 cash
Join us for an invigorating unfolding of the body. Class will close with an 11 minuted seated meditation.
This class is suitable for experienced students only. You must have a regular vinyasa practise for more then one year.
No Pre-registration required.
Living Life Fully
July 25, 2011
Deb Ozarko has completed her 1st Ironman Triathlon; over 14 hours of swim, bike and run during the tail-end of a heat wave, last weekend in Lake Placid!
She was telling us how she always wanted to compete in an Ironman, so at 48 she stopped talking about it and went for it. She trained, maintained discipline and commitment. Faced her doubts, her fears and did it. (You can read more about Deb’s Ironman and her commitment in her blog post)
As she was training, I just loved being around her. There is something about people who do what makes them feel alive; the sparkle in the eye, the smile, the wise conversations that ripples out and generates such positive energy.
I am highly inspired by Deb, and at the same time I have no interest in competing in an Ironman. But that’s the beauty of it. When we live our truth we inspire others to live their truth.
The question many encounter is; what is my truth? What do I really want? I believe that we sometimes get so caught up in what needs to be done that we lose our Self. I know that in order to live my individual truth, moments of silence are essential.
This is why we decided to offer a Shavasana Commitment, 40 days at home, when you want. Give it a try. You maybe surprise to see what arises when you give yourself some space.
Thanks Deb – for living life fully!
May we all be blessed with the courage to do the same (what ever that is for you).
Shavasana Commitment
July 20, 2011
40-Day Shavasana Commitment begins August 1st 2011.
Shava-asana (corpse posture) our final posture at the end of every yoga class “ also known mrita-asana ( dead-posture) and preta-asana ( ghost-posture)” is the most beneficial posture for restoration and therefore health as a whole. In Sanskrit the word for health is Swastha and is defined as: established in the (S)elf. In English the word health has the same root as the words integrity and integration meaning wholeness. We can see that although the absence of dis-ease is something to be greatful for health is much more then that.
We know from experience that when our breath is short shallow and fragmented it impacts our thoughts and concentration is impossible. The distraction on the mental level creates the same type of unsettled energy in our body; fidgeting, tapping of the feet, looking around everywhere, humming, swaying and so forth anything but stillness. All of this takes its toll on our nervous system, creating fatigue, impatience and irritability.
It’s not uncommon to subconsciously confuse productivity (which is highly valued in our culture) with living in a manic or in a panic. Consciously we know that productive energy is not manic, it’s actually quite clear and stable. The daily practise of Shavasana is one of the best tools to experience this type of energy.
But don’t take our word for it. Give it a try. Commit. For the next 40 days spend time is Shavasana. How long? Anywhere between 5 and 30 minutes, the longer the better, but being regular is more valuable then not practicing.
To join our 40-Day Commitment:
Sign up at the Centre. Then pick your time and practise.
Technique:
Lie on your back feet hips with apart; allow the legs to relax which means the feet will point in opposite directions. Adjust the shoulders by moving the scapulas away from each other, arms by your side palms turned up. If you are uncomfortable place a pillow under your knees. Your body will then represent shavasana. As for the mind, we all have a way, a certain language that we use to talk to ourself. There is a voice a thinking-pattern that we use which we buy into. We trust that voice. To prepare for Shavasana use that voice in your favor. Set an intention that will remind you to let go. Remember that you must be willing to let go exactly the way things are. There can be no but(s), if(s) or when(s). Also remind yourself that there is no such thing as a bad shavasana. Some days you will be at peace other days you may feel edgy, wanting to move, to get out of there. Watch, respond, do not react, simply commit to your time.
At the end of the 40 days we would love to hear from you. Send us an email. Let us know ( 2 or 3 sentences) how the experience impacted your everyday life. With your permission we will post your comments and inspire others to give it a try.
Sylvie’s Journey
July 6, 2011
“Prepare. Prepare . Prepare. But be ready to change everything at the last minute.”
If I remember correctly these are Yogi Bhajan’s wise words. I have always loved this simple statement as it reminds me to live with intention and yet let go of attachments.
As most of you know, my life is moving in a new direction. In October, I will be leaving Elation Centre (For now, my last class will be Friday September 30th). It was not an easy decision – you all know how much I love being there – but at this time having the opportunity to create some space is a gift I have chosen to take. Where am I going? When am I returning? At this point, all I can say is that I choose to stay open to what life has to offer and therefore have a sense of the direction that I am headed in, but know in my heart that it will unfold as it should.
I am happy and grateful to know that I am leaving you in good hands. Donna is keeping the Centre and her commitment to You is as strong as ever. Jane, Martha, Caroline, Krista and many other excellent teachers are looking forward to more teaching opportunities at Elation.
I wish everyone an enlightening journey and I look forward to crossing paths in the near future.
Want to stay in touch? As of October my email address will be: 111sylvieg@gmail.com
Lessons from Yoga in Rwanda
June 30, 2011
Guest Post by Martha Judd, senior Yoga Teacher
On Sunday June 23rd, I was fortunate enough to attend the Yoga in Rwanda fundraiser at Elation Centre with Annie Berube, a dedicated and grounded yoga teacher, from Ottawa, currently teaching Yoga with Project Air in Rwanda.
She lead us through an inspirational Ashtanga Yoga class which she taught in many languages and as a Yoga teacher and student myself, I feel I was given a gift from the women of Rwanda through Annie. I was reminded of how a yoga asana practice can be many things. It can be in a quiet studio in Ottawa wearing comfortable clothes, accompanied by soft music, surrounded by incredibly inspirational students and teachers, and it can be on a small porch in Rwanda with the voices of many, laughter, sadness, strength, wearing whatever shirts are available that day and surrounded by incredibly inspirational students and teachers. I learned about Project Air from the inside out. Annie described her students, their difficult life situations, their trauma, their work, their laughter, their inspiration and their extreme dedication to the practice of yoga. Yoga is bringing physical and mental health benefits to the women of Rwanda and the women of Ottawa without a doubt. From my perspective of safety in life I choose to support the practice of Yoga for the women of Rwanda as a tool for life in an environment where safe moments of exploration both mentally and physically are not often available. Annie’s group of women come to Yoga classes 3-4 times a week and have been for 4 years. This type of dedication is rare in a healthy, safe, comfortable Yoga student in our culture. I suggest we acknowledge this dedication and commitment by supporting Project Air as a tool for life.
Thank you so much to our members and friends who attended this amazing class and gave donations to support Project Air and Annie’s efforts with these truly inspirational women
Namaste
