Give the Gift of Asteya

 

When I first started delving more into the discipline of yoga the Yamas and Niyamas really spoke to me.  They have often been compared to the 10 commandments, but overall they are reminders of how to be a good human.  Good to yourself and good to others.

In my last blog I wrote a bit on Satya, or truthfulness.  Over this past week or so I have tried to come back to this teaching and ask myself, have I acted and spoken so correctly that I have not had to go back and apologize.  I’d like to think the answer is a wholehearted yes, but of course I can think of a few instances.  I do know that I have been more aware and precise with my wording to be clear and honest.  I know I have said more often right away when there is a task or event I can or can’t go to, so that I didn’t have to go back and change plans.  I am trying not to overstretch - pun intended :). 

The next Yama is asteya, or non-stealing. As you can imagine by now this does not just mean not stealing something from your friend or the store.  It goes deeper into the relationship we have with ourselves.  Going back to satya, when we are truthful then we also are not stealing from our own selves and future. When we take more than we need, we are stealing in a sense from others. Asteya helps make us more accountable to ourselves.  Once we get to know ourselves, we are present to give and receive what we have asked for.

It is the season of giving and receiving - a perfect time to reflect and be grateful for all we have and all we are able to give.

In Peace,

Pam

Do It Right the First Time - Yamas and Niyamas

 

In Deborah Adele’s book - The Yama and Niyamas under the section on truthfulness or Satya, she writes under a subheading titled, Do It Right the First Time.  This initially brings up memories of being told not to do things half way, which then makes me think of the super sad and cute Rona commercial with the half-donkey. (You can google if you don’t know what I’m talking about).  

Anyway, after my brain has done that little side trip, I come back to the book and how doing the right thing relates to truthfulness, and what she writes is the truth, “it s worth the effort to do the task right the first time, because the cleanup takes so much time.”  Deborah uses examples like how much time do we spend having to go back and apologize because we were short with someone, or the time to go back and tell someone that we can’t really do what we said we could. 

So, in this part of the chapter on truthfulness Deborah is trying to get us to see that if we speak and act so correctly that we never have to go back and apologize or make a new agreement then we are being true to ourselves and others. I know for myself in my effort to please others, or not disappoint them I would agree to many things, that either gets me  run down doing them all and then be over tired and end up being short with someone, usually a family member, and needing to apologize, or realize that I over commit myself and need to go back and break engagements.  I’m not saying this doesn’t still happen, but I am more aware of it and make efforts to notice when I might be doing this. 

Avoidance can also be an act of cheating truth, which can cause more trouble later than just doing the task and not procrastinating.  I am sure we have all done this :). 

Deborah writes that we not only lie to others, but we lie to ourselves.  We lie to ourselves when we make promises about all the things we are going to do, or lofty goals that we are not able to accomplish in the time we say.  We may not realize it but we are hurting ourselves and become someone that we cannot trust. Deborah writes, “Being truthful with ourselves makes us trustworthy and frees up all the time we normally spend in guilt and regret from our dishonesty.”

I encourage you to take some time to explore areas in your life where you could improve being truthful. Deborah lists some helpful questions like:

- Can you trust yourself?

- Can you risk telling yourself the truth?

- Can you keep the promises you make to yourself and to others?

Take the risk of telling yourself the truth!  You never know where this exploration will lead.

Peace,

Pam 

Don’t Hesitate - Acts of Kindness can make a world of Difference

 

I saw this post from Sadguru the other day and when I’m feeling more down or anxious about the state of the world this can make me feel quite sad. Why do we hesitate to be more - more happy, more compassionate, more involved, more sincere.

But I get it, things are very overwhelming and uncertain right now.  It is hard to know what the best thing to do is sometimes, so we hesitate. We may feel paralyzed on what to do, so our hesitation is not out of malice or not caring, but uncertainty.

When I am feeling like this I know going outside myself to do even one kind thing for someone or something else helps to take me out of the state where I feel I can’t possibly make a difference. 

Don’t hesitate on those small acts of kindness to yourself, loved ones or perfect strangers as it could make the world of difference.

Don’t let Fall Break You - Join Fall Yoga Classes - 2025

 Don’t let Fall Break You!

As we are now deep into autumn and the end of gardening season, you might not only be feeling a bit sore from all the yard work and summer activities, but ready to turn more inward with a mindful practice like yoga.

Yoga can not only help restore and rejuvenate, but realign body, breath and mind.

Please join me as we continue Fall Yoga Classes in Prince Albert and Christopher Lake.

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Mondays - Margo Fournier Centre - Prince Albert

Session 2 - November 17th to December 8th - 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

2026 New year new session starts - January 5 - February 9

All levels Yoga - 9:15 - 10:15 a.m.

Chair Yoga - 10:30 -11:30 a.m.

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Tuesday Evening Yoga - Anderson Centre - Christopher Lake

Chair Yoga - 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. - ongoing - punchcard 

Intermediate Yoga - 6:45 - 8:00 p.m. - October 28th to December 9th (No class November 11th) - $50

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Please email: plnyogastudio@gmail.com if you’re interested in joining or for more information.

Another NEW Chair Yoga Class added - Christopher Lake

 Just confirmed that a new chair yoga class will start in Christopher Lake starting April 29th.

Please see poster for details!

Spring classes 2025

 "YOGA DOES NOT JUST CHANGE THE WAY WE SEE THINGS, IT TRANSFORMS THE PERSON WHO SEES."  BKS IYENGAR

April News

I hope you are doing well and getting ready for more springlike weather.  My skis have been put away and now just waiting for the muddy period to be over and it’s warm enough to get out and plant some 🌺 flowers.

Spring is a perfect time to get the body moving after the long winter.  Yoga can be a great way to connect back to our bodies, improving strength, flexibility, coordination, balance and mind state.

I am excited to be adding a new class in Prince Albert.  A chair yoga class.  This class can be for anyone and all ages.  The chair offers stability as we work to improve mobility and ease in body, breath and mind.  Those that have taken my classes before know how useful the chair can be.  They are give the benefit of being able to stay longer in some poses as there is not the fear of falling and the support is there when needed.

This class with be Mondays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Margo Fournier Centre. I’d be grateful if you passed this on to others that you think might be interested.

The new session starts April 28th in Prince Albert at the Margo Fourier Centre(formerly Prince Albert Arts Centre).

Please call the centre to register or register in person during the day or online through the City of Prince Albert.

Classes:

9:30 - 10:30 a.m. - Chair Yoga - good for those feeling they would like the extra stability and find it difficult to get down to the floor.

10:45-11:45 a.m. - All Levels - suitable for beginners to more experienced students

Noon yoga - All Levels - great midday break to not only move your body, but relax the brain.

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In-person classes at the Anderson Centre in Christopher Lake continue on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-7:45 p.m. These classes use a punch-card that can be purchased from me or CPL Rec.  CPL Rec offers other great classes that your punch-card can also be used for. 

Please message for more information. I hope to see you soon.

🙏 

Pam

Explore Salamba Sarvangasana - Suppoerted Shoulderstand

 

How are you making out with this 2 week mini challenge of 3 poses per day?

Have you explored doing the poses in the morning some days and some in the evening ?  Maybe an afternoon practice ?

Most of mine have been in the morning, but I do find when practiced in the evening puts my mind at rest to sleep.

Here is another prashnayantra statement you can explore in your shoulderstand:

The statement for today is:

As you do Sarvangasana Variations, Focus on Limb-muscles and work on total evacuation by breath action. As you evacuate further and further, observe what seeps in after evacuation. Identify that pure essence (buddhisattva) to guide you in the yogic plane.

Viparita Karani - Legs up the Wall

 I always love when “coincidences” happen.  Almost minutes after I posted the newsletter and updated my blog last night with my mini challenge I received the latest Prashnayantra Problem Statement.  I have posted a few of these before.  The are auto-generated statements that have been put together by the grandson of B.K.S. Iyengar and nephew of Geeta and Prashant Iyengar.

The statements is:

As you do Vipareeta Karani, Investigate retention duration. Repeat Retention after Exhalation, increasing the duration each time. Find out at which point this starts leading to negative effects rather than a positive effect. Stop at this point and recover.

One of the three poses is Viparita Karani and the statement is referring to the retention of the breath. Become stable and settled in the pose before investigating the retention of the breath.  Do not overdo, especially if you are new to the practice.

I did day 1 as part of my morning practice.  How did your 3 poses practice go?

Pam 🙏 

March onto Your Mat - 3 poses for daily for 2 weeks - Let’s Go!

March onto your Mat As a way to welcome March and before the online session starts, I thought I’d put out a goal of three poses to incorporate into your day for the next two-weeks. Best to do in the morning before your day gets busy, or evening prior to bed.  Depending on your experience and practice you can stay anywhere from a minute or two in each pose or 15.  Maybe you’ll notice your length of stay and ease in each asana changes over the two weeks.  Only practice what you feel comfortable and have experience with. Pose 1: Salamba Sirsasana- headstand or Prasarita padottanasana - wide leg forward bend Pose 2: Salamba Sarvangasana- shoulder stand or Setu Bandha Sarvangasana - supported bridge pose Pose 3: Viparita Karani - Legs up the wall pose Feel free to message with any questions or let me know how your daily practice is going. See photos examples below or check out my blog for more information.

Pam’s Blog

Please also join me for online or in-person classes: In-person classes at the Anderson Centre in Christopher Lake continue on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-7:45 p.m. These classes use a punch-card that can be purchased from me or CPL Rec.  CPL Rec offers other great classes that your punch-card can also be used for.  In-person classes in Prince Albert start next week - March 3rd at the Margo Fourier Centre (formerly Prince Albert Arts Centre). I will be teaching a class from 10:45-11:45 a.m. and a noon hour class.  You can register online through the city of P.A. or stop at the Centre on Central during the day and register in person.   Online classes will be live and recorded on Monday mornings from 7:15-8:30 a.m.and even days in April I will have a Wednesday evening Restorative class from 7:15-8:15 p.m. The 4 audio classes will be sent throughout this session. You will have access these classes, plus the many classes in my playlist from the past 4 years until the end of June.  That is 14 weeks of access to classes - a great way to build your home practice.  Please see poster for more details and email me to register. 🙏  Pam

Email Pam

Spring Fling - Bringing Intention to our Body, Breath and MInd

 

Spring Fling Spring 2025 Classes with PLN Yoga Hello and congratulations for making it through that cold spell! The warmer weather and increased daylight were a reminder for me to get rolling on my spring online classes and also let you know about upcoming in-person classes. I’ve put the theme of the spring classes at Spring Fling, as we tend to really get energized and fling ourselves into many projects.  We may be feeling a bit bored after the cold of winter, so my idea for this session is to create some fun movements not just for the body, but inspire some creativity for the mind. That is why I am also including some audio recordings.  The aim is to bring motion to the body and the mind in an intentional way.  So as we fling ourselves into spring we will do so with intention:). In-person classes at the Anderson Centre in Christopher Lake continue on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-7:45 p.m. These classes use a punch-card that can be purchased from me or CPL Rec.  CPL Rec offers other great classes that your punch-card can also be used for. In-person classes in Prince Albert start next week - March 3rd at the Margo Fourier Centre (formerly Prince Albert Arts Centre). I will be teaching a class from 10:45-11:45 a.m. and a noon hour class.  You can register online through the city of P.A. or stop at the Centre on Central during the day and register in person.   Online classes will be live and recorded on Monday mornings from 7:15-8:30 a.m. and even days in April I will have a Wednesday evening Restorative class from 7:15-8:15 p.m. The 4 audio classes will be sent throughout this session. Please see above poster for more details. Please contact me if you are interested in joining the spring 2025 session. OM Shanti, Pam