Earth Day - April 22nd, 2017
To celebrate the earth is to celebrate life.
Being able to enjoy the beauty of nature each day is a marvelous thing.
Earth Day, which has been celebrated on April 22nd since 1970 and now includes 193 countries was started to give support for environmental protection because unfortunately not all areas of the earth are being cared for in a compassionate manner.
As major consumers on this planet humans are responsible for taking care of the earth. Respecting the earth means respecting ourselves and all beings on this planet. When we take the time daily to do something that will be better for the earth and others we are showing great compassion for the future of this planet.
This year on Earth Day I will be teaching a yoga workshop at Yoga Sublime studio in Prince Albert. Part of the money from this workshop will go towards the David Suzuki Foundation.
I choose this charity to donate to because the David Suzuki Foundation is a Canadian charity and David Suzuki has spent the majority of his life speaking up for the health of this planet and the beings that inhabit it. David Suzuki is an acclaimed scientist who took his knowledge and created many programs to educate the general population. I grew up watching The Nature of Things and even today continue to listen to Quirks and Quarks on CBC radio. He has been willing to stand up for what he believes in and show us ways we can work to improve life on this amazing planet.
You can find out more about David Suzuki and the Foundation by following this link: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/
Let's make everyday Earth Day! 
I am also a strong supporter of Amnesty International. April's Lifesaver is in support of Tomas Gomez from Honduras. He has been threatened and shot for trying to save a sacred river from having a hydroelectric dam built on it. Please check out this link and consider writing a letter to support him and his organization. People should not die for being a defender of the environment. Thank you. https://www.amnesty.ca/get-involved/take-action-now/lifesaver-ages-9-and-honduras-protect-defenders-environment
My love of nature led me to spend almost a year travelling. Along my travels I saw amazing beauty but also alarming waste and garbage. From this I had a great desire to learn more about the earth and environmental activism. This led me to attain a degree in Geography and Environmental Science which after many years led me to yoga and the desire to teach yoga. Yoga philosophy is strongly linked to the elements and nature. Yoga practice brings inner awareness and unveils our true nature. I found a great article from Yoga Journal which nicely gives some explanations.
Follow this link to read it: http://www.yogajournal.com/article/teach/purifying-the-five-elements-of-our-being/
As with many special days to celebrate an event, it is meant as a reminder and as a way to reinvigorate our efforts. I hope you will join me on April 22nd with my yoga class to Celebrate Earth Day or find an event in your area. Maybe it is planting trees, cleaning up a park or waterway.
From this hopefully we can bring this into our daily practice. Can you spend even 10-15 minutes generating peace and compassion for yourself, those around you and the earth we call home in silent mediation. Can you find one thing you can change in your daily life that will help to improve the earth.
Here is a link to a lovely meditation to celebrate earth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKyPkFXC5Ps
It reminds me of a field trip I took many years ago with my school. We were asked to hug a tree, like become a true tree hugger :). I remember feeling a bit silly at first, but while hugging the tree I felt a shift, a feeling of love, strength and life. It really is something you should try!
Here is the poster for the Earth Day Yoga Class. Please pre-register. Thank you!
Happy Earth Day!
Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
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