Upcoming Winter Schedule - 2017

 

 

Happy New Year!  2017 The new year will soon be upon us so I wanted to send out my upcoming schedule for yoga classes beginning January 3rd. I will be teaching  at Yoga Sublime still in the new year but will also be returning to the Forest Centre for a Noon hour class on Tuesdays. Monday's and Wednesday's will be up in the lake area so if interested in classes I hope you can find one that suits your schedule. Please pre-register for classes as I will not be able to run classes if not enough students.  Thank you in advance. Below is my schedule. Feel free to connect with me register or ask any questions. plnyogastudio@gmail.com Also - check out my website/blog as it has the schedule and posters.  www.plnyoga.blogspot.com Once again, I wish you a wonderful upcoming year filled with lots of yoga :) and many other great things. Namaste. Pamela Nelson Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor Please check schedule for times, class description and location. For classes at Yoga Sublime please register through the studio.  www.yogasublimestudio.com Other classes will continue to register with me. If unsure give me a call, text or email. Class are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. Thank you and I hope to see you soon! MONDAY : Waskesiu Lake - Recreation Hall - 5:00-6:30p.m. - 6 weeks - begins January 9th TUESDAY:  Yoga Sublime   No class Feb.21st and April 18th   10:30-11:45am - AM Yoga- Iyengar Level 1/2 - this class will begin at 10:15a.m. starting Janaury 17th 12:00-1:00pm – NOON Yoga- Iyengar Level 1/2 – at  Forest Centre - begins January 17th 5:30-7:00am – Iyengar Yoga -  Level 2/3 7:15-8:15 pm-Iyengar Basic/Level 1 - Free class on January 3rd - Intro. to Iyengar Yoga WEDNESDAY: Christopher Lake - Sportsplex - 7:00-8:15p.m. - Begins January 11th THURSDAY:   Yoga Sublime    No class Feb.23rd and April 20th 5:30-6:45pm – Gentle/Restorative Yoga Thursday Evening Extras – 7:15-8:30p.m. January 5th – 26th - Asana/Pranayama – 4 weeks - $60 – must pre-register February 9th – Building a Home Yoga Practice - $17 or class pass can be used March 5th – 30th – Earth, Air, Water, Fire and Space – Experienced with the Chair – must pre-register SATURDAY: - Yoga Sublime - Begins January 14th No classes Jan. 28th for teacher training , Feb. 18th, 25th, - feb. break and  April 15th & 22nd -easter break 9:00-10:15am – A.M. Eye Opener – Level 1/2 Class Descriptions: Iyengar Basic/Level 1 – This class is for those with little or no yoga experience. Introduces the foundations of Iyengar Yoga and develops mobility, stability, alignment and flexibility. Classes focus on standing poses, seated poses, forward bends and building up to shoulder stand.  Modifications given as needed. Iyengar Level 1/2 – Suitable for those comfortable with level 1 postures.  Will include refinements and new postures and move into other inversions and pranayama.  Modifications given as needed. Iyengar Level 2/3 – Suitable for those with previous yoga experience.  Moving into more advanced postures, inversions and pranayama.  Asana/Pranayama – This class will include asana that will open and prepare the body, breath and mind for pranayama.  This four week class will include supine and seated pranayama.  Some yoga experience required. Gentle/Restorative – With the gentle support of props this class will help to soothe the nerves and restore, recuperate and rejuvenate the body, breath and mind. Please visit website – www.plnyoga.blogspot.com Or email:plnyogastudio@gmail.com or call 306.982.2737/306.981.4703

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Celebrating Solstice - Soul Search - December 21, 2017

Many celebrate winter solstice, the longest night of the year as a turning point that the daylight hours will soon be getting longer once more.

Some celebrate the long dark night as a chance to settle in and be still. To withdraw from the outer world and have a chance to connect within.

I like the idea of both.  I love things about all seasons so knowing spring is coming is a wonderful thing but I also like the quiet and still moments, settling in and connecting within as well as with those close around you. I think of solstice as a chance to soul search!

I thought I would share this little article from Prashant called Your Teacher in You.
He writes practice must be divided into two parts: consolidation and learning.
When you learn you are required to go forward and observe and reflect in each pose.
You become a witness as you observe how you are doing the pose.
That is how you start learning to learn.

In yoga as you move to a more intermediate stage you become your own teacher and your own student!

Because you understand yourself you can have a better teacher inside yourself, who is with you all the time.  Prashant says you should be learning yoga to teach...to teach yourself.
Then you will consolidate what you have learned within.

I found this fitting to share today because as we celebrate this opportunity to be still, quiet and reflective we can enhance our practice by observing ourselves and give ourselves the chance to understand our own state of mind and what our difficulties may be.

Prashant writes:

You have to learn to learn, learn to teach, teach to teach and teach to learn.

 

 

Happy Solstice!

 

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson

Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor



 



Celebrating B.K.S. Iyengar

Today would have been B.K.S. Iyengar's 98th Birthday.  Although he passed away a little over two years ago he is still deeply rooted in my heart and always will be.

Many have posted wonderful tributes to Guruiji.  I never had the opportunity to learn from him directly and only spent one month in India at the institute when he was alive watching him in his daily practice in the corner of the room, but I still feel daily the value of his teaching either though his books, recording and videos.  I am lucky also to have the opportunity to study with many wonderful Iyengar teachers who all work so hard to pass on the teachings of yoga the best they can and in the Light of Guruji.

Today my practice was in honour of Guruji. His lifelong practice and willingness to keep exploring and delving deeper into the body, mind and breath has made it easier for the rest of us to learn this ancient art of yoga.

Much gratitude.
Namaste.
Pamela Nelson

Pamela Nelson is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor.
www.plnyoga.BlogSpot.com

December Days

 

 

 

 

The only way round is through.

 

-Robert Frost

Stretch and release tension in the neck and shoulders with Garudasana

Feeling a bit hunched up with the cold and stress. This pose is good for stretching the back, neck and shoulders.  The leg action - either for chair pose or eagle pose is great also to strengthen the legs and back and work on balance.

 

 

In Light on Yoga, Mr. Iyengar writes that Garuda means an eagle, the king of birds.

I have included a few warm up poses to do before the full pose.

This is general guidelines for the pose.  Please know yourself and your limits in the asanas.

From Mountain Pose, begin warming up the arms and shoulders by just letting the arms swing from the shoulder sockets.  Keep the legs firm, spine lengthening, but let the weight of the arm and momentum let them swing and be loose.

Come back to Tadasana, Mountain Pose.

Again, pressing evenly into both feet, lift the kneecaps up to engage the quadriceps muscles, press the thighbones back.  Lengthen the side body, and inhaling raise the arms up parallel to the floor.  Exhale and release the shoulders down the back and extend from the shoulder to the fingertips.

Inhale and then exhale and swing the arms to wrap them around the body.  Trying to hug around the body.  Notice how far the elbows might be able to cross over one another.  Come back to Tadasana and repeat swinging the opposite arm over top.

Ukatasana - chair pose, helps to strengthen the legs, ankles and knees.  Builds balance and can be used as an alternative leg option when doing Garudasana.
From Tadasana, Mountain pose, inhale and then exhaling bend the knees, lengthen the tailbone down towards the ground.  Keep the outer thighs rolling in and bend at the hips. Raise the arms parallel to the floor, keeping the shoulders moving down the back and away from the ears.  Keep the head level.

You can also choose to raise the arms up overhead, either pressing the palms together, if you can keep the arms straight.

Or keeping the parallel to one another.

Inhale, press the floor with the feet and come back up to Tadasana.
Those poses can be done before if you wish as a bit of a warm up.

Garudasana

From Tadasana, inhale and raise the arms parallel to the floor. 

Exhale and bring the right arm over top of the left. Bending the elbows bring the backs of the hands to touch each other.

Bring the right hand forward and as you bring back, let the palms come to touch each other.  Press the palms together evenly and use the arms to help release the shoulder down the back, drawing the lower tips of the shoulder blades deep into the back.

Bending at the knees, bring the left leg over the right thigh.  Rest the back of the left thigh on the front of the right thigh.

Hook the left foot around the right calf.  Keep inner legs squeezing together, tailbone drawing towards floor and elbows lifting to shoulder height. Face, throat and abdomen should remain soft.

Release and repeat on the opposite side, staying for equal lengths on both sides.

 

If balancing with legs crossing is to unstable do the arm action of eagle pose with the leg action of chair pose.

Benefits: This pose is said to remove stiffness in the shoulders and ankles.  It can also help prevent cramps in the calf muscles and legs.

Enjoy the freedom of being like an eagle.

Namaste.

Pamela Nelson - Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor

http://www.plnyoga.blogspot.com

Y.S. II.2 - samadhi bhavanarthah klesa tanukaranrthasca

This morning when reading Patanjali's Yoga Sutra's I opened the book to sutra II.2.  It is interesting how a book written over 2500 years ago can still be relevant even today.


This sutra reads:

Y.S. II.2 - samadhi bhavanarthah klesa tanukaranrthasca
The practice of yoga reduces afflictions and leads to Samadhi.

This is B.K.S. Iyengar's translation, taken from Light on the Yoga Sutra's of Patanjali.

Mr.Iyenar writes, "By reducing afflictions to a minimum or even eradicating them, kriyayoga promotes profound meditation, which is a precursor to Samadhi.  The purpose of this yoga is to minimize all impediments to meditation and thus bring the intelligence to full, vibrant life."

To know what is meant by kriyayoga, sutra II.1 tells us.  Kriyayoga is the "yoga of action", composed of tapas-self discipline, svadhyaya- self study and isvara pranidhana -surrender to God.

Tapas helps to burn away impurities of the body, senses and mind.  Svadhyaya is the study of sacred texts and mantras to understand the self.  Isvara pranidhana one surrenders the fruits of actions.

Mr. Iyengar writes in Y.S. II.1 that, "both beginner and evolved soul learn how to stabilize the mind."


Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor

www.plnyoga.blogspot.com

plnyogastudio@gmail.com