What are you grateful for?

What does Thanksgiving look like for you? Amidst the pumpkin pie and potatoes, do you remember to give thanks?

Let this seasonal celebration be an opportunity to bring more gratitude into your life. Try this-

With your palms pressed together at your heart center, complete the following sentences for yourself after taking a few deep breaths.

I am grateful for myself because......
I am grateful for my life because.....
I am grateful for my partner/friend/family member because....(and tell them!)
I am grateful for my local community because...
I am grateful for my global community because....

Add any more categories that feel right. Write down some of your gratitudes if you like, or share them with a friend.

I notice that I can get caught up in what's not working. Practicing gratitude regularly helps me to see the bigger picture more and inspires more love for the life I'm living.

One of my favorite mantras is one to give thanks to the Source for ALL that we experience (even that which we don't understand....)

"Wahe Guru is an expression of complete ecstatic awe of the Divine" -http://www.spiritvoyage.com/
To express your awe, or to cultivate more appreciation of the Divine in all things, chant this mantra aloud or silently.

Check out Snatam Kaur's recording of this beautiful mantra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtuRQ5VRVDs

In closing, thank YOU, dear reader for stumbling upon this page, for following your path, your heart, your dreams and for being a part of this global community.
Namaste

Earthdance-Join the gobal community in prayer for peace

Namaste

There's an even going on in over 100 places all over the world with the intention to pulsate more peace into this planet. I'd love for you to join. Wherever you are at 6 Central today, stop what you're doing to join many communities in a synchronized prayer for peace. 

If you're in or around Winnipeg and care to join me- 

I'll be at the Oodena Celebration Circle at the Forks ( Map at- http://www.theforks.com/attractions/at-the-forks/oodena-celebration-circle) 

And since it's for earthDANCE-Bring instruments and toys for music and dancing to follow the prayer. 

"We are one global family
All colors, All races

One world united.

We dance for peace and the healing of our planet Earth

Peace for all nations.

Peace for our communities.

And peace within ourselves.

As we join all dance floors across the world,

let us connect heart to heart.

Through our diversity we recognize Unity.

Through our compassion we recognize Peace.

Our love is the power to transform our world
Let us send it out

NOW..."

Thanks for taking the time to create more Peace and Harmony in your life, and the lives of those around you. It's such a blessing to use the gift of sound to connect in with our global community. 

How will you bring more peace into your day to day life? 

Yogic tip for staying warm this fall

The weather offers us constant reminders of impermanence. From hot sunny days to chilled winds and grey skies we can observe our inner landscape changing in unison.

Here's a yoga practice you can do anywhere to stimulate warmth from the inside out: Next time you need some heat in your body or some calming of your mind try the Ujjayi Breath. Patanjali (author of the Yoga Sutras) shares that the breath be both dirga (long) and suksma (smooth). This is done by slightly hugging in your throat, slowing down your inhale and exhale. 

Try first with your mouth open. 

Exhale with a hhhaaa as if you were fogging up a mirror. Notice what happens in your throat as you do this. When you're ready, practice with your mouth closed. Over time your breath will sound like the waves of the ocean (or a really flooded lake!)

I welcome your tips on staying cozy as we transition into equinox. 

Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy News: I'm so close to being done my practicum! yay! In my excitement I'm offering discounted sessions-1 1/2 hours for only $30-for those who book a session this month. 

Thanks for being a part of this journey! I'll be hosting a community celebration when I'm fully certified, so stay tuned. 

"Peace between countries rests on the solid foundation of love between individuals"-Mahatma Gandhi

Bicycling Yogis!

wow so seeing this sure spurred on a new post! There's a couple of yogis bicycling across the continent promoting yoga and a sustainable life.

check them out http://www.growyogafarm.org/

and if you happen to read this in time, they're teaching a class at the St Norbert Farmer's Market on August 13 from 9-10:30. I'm teaching at that time, so if you go, do let me know what it's like!

I just came back from a Kirtan with Swaha http://www.swaha.ca/
Gratitude for sharing this sacred celebration with community
Is there a song, a mantra or sound that has been serving your journey? If so, I'd love to hear it!

Softening Resistance

I simply wish to share some mantra medicine that has been serving me and helping me to soften my resistance to being present and compassionate with myself.

Deva Premal sings the Moola Mantra. Let me know what this chant is like for you, or share your favorite mantra right now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLvbmpmKylM

Holding space for opposites

Is it time that your internal opposites faced each other? 

It's a good thing that I've learned a bit about duality/non-duality/unity through some Eastern philosophies. Otherwise, I might still be completely convinced ( I still am a little) that I was at least a tad nutters for all the ups and downs and opposites I would oscillate between. 

I've learned two main things. 

1) That's OK. You're Human. 

2) Congratulations, you have tools and toys for exploring what that means. 

Here are two of my favorite ways to explore dynamic duality. 

1) Alternate nostril breathing. 

A breath that flows in one side of your body, and out the other. A way to explore the right and left sides of your body, balance the hemispheres of your brain, and soothe your nervous system (among other benfits). After practicing I like to breath deeply exploring my body again as one whole. 

2) Two Part Dialogue 

A technique I learned as a part of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy. In a nutshell, one witnesses two different sensations in their body. Give it a try.

 First, sense in to a part of your body where you notice sensation. Stay with it for a few breaths and get really familiar with it. 

Then, find another spot in your body with very different or opposite kinds of sensations. Stay here and explore. Keep noticing what's happening now as you go back and forth between the 2 kinds of sensations. Notice what it's like to hold space for both. 

Let me know what this was like for you, or if you'd like instructions for the Alternate Nostril breath by e-mailing me at jessicawynyoga@gmail.com

Have a balanced day. How are you going to play on the teeter totter today? 

"It's ok to have too much fun"-quote on the door at PRYT training center

Picture from http://thefoxesclub.yolasite.com/fox-chat.php

Summer Solstice

Namaste and Happy Solstice!

How are you welcoming Summer and honoring the shortening of days?

This morning I woke up early for a special Summer Solstice practice at the Yoga Shala (440 Don Ave.)

A grey cloud cover rippled overhead as my partner and I biked to the studio. There was an opening across the building streaked horizon where the morning's glow shone through. We had time to enjoy the songs of the birds by the river before heading inside. We were one of the first to arrive. I liked seeing the other yogis flow in, seeing who'd I'd be sharing this practice with. The studio filled up and we were led through a flowing Ashtanga practice by Jonathan Austman. Thelonious Monk said that talking about music is like dancing architecture. I sometimes feel the same about my personal practice. But here's this-the power of practicing in community with a skilled teacher with the intention to serve is like no home practice I can ever have.

If you're interested in the Mysore practice of Ashtanga, check out the Canada Day open house.

Create a delicious day