Hope you're feelin' it on this glorious long weekend. I sure am ♥

Keep Sunday August 8th open!

It's the 6th annual Roundhouse Community picnic in the park!!!

(it's outdoor movie night as well, and the flick begins at dusk)!

This years movie is Back to the Future. For more info on the movie click here

The picnic is from 12-4 rain or shine at David Lam Park on the waterfront!

There will be music, games, face-painting, food, a mothers tent to feed/change babies/cool off in... and all sorts of other fun stuff!

Including free yoga with me again this year!

Yoga for every-b-o-d-y! yeeeeaahhh!

Come and say hi, introduce yourself and most of all..

Have fun! Loads of fun ♥

Have you registered for your workshops/classes yet?

The Vancouver Yoga Conference is coming again!

Yeeeaaahh!

It's from Thursday Sept 30-Sun Oct 3 and it does not disappoint!

It's truly fabulous.

And in my opinion? It's the best thing to happen in Vancouver all year long! (of course I am biased!) And if you are into Pilates there is loads of Pilates stuff too. (did a workshop with Margot McKinnon last year that was incredible and she's there again this year)

$15 buys your 3 day show admission (from Friday-Sunday) and that includes everything that happens on the show floor. That includes 37 floor yoga garden classes and your admission to over 100 exhibits, demonstrations, live entertainment, and the list goes on.

As for me? I am pretty much booked up with workshops the entire time and love every second of it!

You can study or just practice (take classes) with some of the greatest! (I'm talking Seane Corne, Sadie Nardini, Martin Kirk, Maria Garre...and our very own Lou Lynn for kid's yoga)!

I even did workshops with Rodney Yee last year!

Lectures, classes, immersions, literally whatever turns you on yoga-wise. Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned yogi you will love it. Those classes are priced separately and if you register before the 28th are a steal at $19.99 per hr.

To register or see this years line up click here

I love this Conference and wait all year for it. I cancel my classes for the entire 4 days, months in advance (and thats a big deal as I am not one to even sub my classes if I can help it).

I literally camp out the entire 4 days and soak up as much of it as I can.

If you couldn't make it for some reason but were interested in deepening your practice at any other point during the year, luckily we have some wonderful yoga studios throughout town that do a wonderful job in bringing in some master teachers from all over.

Namely Semperviva. Click here

I believe Shiva Rea is coming in December, as well as upcoming workshops with Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, MarkWhitwell, Max Strom... just to name just a few.

We sure are lucky living here in Yoga-land!

Maybe I'll see ya at the Conference! They may still be looking for volunteers as well should that be something you'd be interested in.

Namaste,XO

The Shanti Uganda Society

If you are attending the Camp Moomba Yogathon today make sure you stop by our table! This is one extraordinary organization ♥. ♥. ♥. ♥.

Breathing Commercial

hahaha..remember it' always with you, its free, it's portable and it has the power to turn your entire day around. (not to mention keep you living)!

what are you waiting for?

I am.....?

As I sit here with my new laptop/notebook/thingy 'facebooking away' in one of my favourite neighborhood coffee shops between classes... "Countless" other things I could be doing of course-haha.) I came across this again..

I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.
I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
I am completely at your command.
Half the things you do, you might just as well turn over to me,
and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.
I am easily managed; you must merely be firm with me.
Show me exactly how you want something done, and after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great men.
And, alas, of all failures as well.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine.
Plus, the intelligence of a man.
You may run me for profit, or run me for ruin; it makes no difference to me.
Take me, train me, be firm with me and I will put the world at your feet.
Be easy with me, and I will destroy you.
Who am I?

(psst...I am a habit)

Breast is Best ( 7 min. trailer)

*This video shows breasts and according to youtube isn't suitable for minors.*

It is not sexual in any way and involves mothers feeding babies and is a wealth of information in a little 7 minute clip. Hope nobody is offended.

If you think you might be offended then please don't watch.

Not everyone can nurse for many different reasons, and there are plenty of incredible moms out there who gave it the best shot they could. And there are still some who have no interest in nursing from the start, and thats their business and nobody elses.

This video it too good not to be shared and may help with some issues.

Namaste, xo

the tree of life

the tree of life
Originally uploaded by madstfri

I just find this photo so stunningly beautiful and incredible there aren't even words really. I found it on Gloria Lemay's blog and it was uploaded by Madstfri.

There is one really lost and out of touch person living in Tacoma Washington

This has been circulating around on facebook and whatnot and I decided to share (you can click on it to enlarge).

Best reply ever.

P.S. My title in no way implies that Tacoma is the home of any other idiots.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Namaste ♥

Camp Moomba Yogathon & Blissfest 2010 - Global Village

On Saturday July 24, 2010 two thousand people will participate in the 7th annual Camp Moomba Yogathon & Blissfest to raise funds for children impacted by HIV/AIDS. The much needed funds raised from this event will help send a child to summer camp for an experience of a lifetime!

I'll be at the Shanti Uganda booth all day. Come and say hello ♥

An interview with little 'ol me! Thanks Vancouvermom.ca

A few weeks back Vancouvermom.ca contacted me and told me they wanted to do a little story/profile on me for their Entrepreneur to watch out for series!

I was honoured and said "Sure, it would be my pleasure!"

They interviewed me and it came out today- here it is :)

Birth Doula film

From Wikipedia,

A doula is an assistant who provides non-medical and non-midwifery support (physical and emotional) in childbirth. Depending on training and experience she may offer prenatal support, childbirth (birth doula) and/or postpartum. A labor doula may attend a home birth or during labor at home and in transport to a hospital or a birth center. A postpartum doula provides home care for the first six weeks (or longer in cases of postpartum depression) including cooking, breastfeeding support, newborn care assistance, errands and light housekeeping.

The Wikipedia definition sort of implies that a Doula only attends home births which is completely untrue. (at least here in Canada) Thank goodness! I have attended a great many wonderful hospital births as a Doula in the past right along with every other Birth Doula in this city. Doulas are welcome with open arms in hospitals (at least I always was).

Most people do deliver in hospital in fact. Sadly some people have a great fear about delivering in hospital, but I can assure you that you have a great many birth choices in hospital (it's your birth after all, and you aren't ill you're having a baby)! And in hospital you can do a lot to set the mood for your birth as well ♥.

*You really can. It is your birth experience and nobody elses.

This isn't a commercial for hospital births but you may wind up birthing in a hospital whether you plan to or not.

When I speak like this in a room full of pregnant women there is the occasional look of terror. But everything is ok. It really is. Remember what Buddha said. Non attachment. Non attachment is the best thing to practice when making a birth plan/thinking about your birth plan etc. (I highly recommend making a birth-plan even if it is only for yourself)

Because it requires you to research and think about decisions that may come up.

Hospitals aren't the bad and nasty places they have sometimes been made out to be. In my opinion anyways. I'm sure glad they are there! (I've been in the trauma unit fighting for my life before so maybe I am biased) Know your choices. Be informed. Take the tour. Ask questions. How your birth is going to unfold may not be up to you, but so many other things are. It is up to you who you have there with you supporting you. In Canada we can choose our own caregiver...we are so lucky. But the big thing is being informed.

There truly is no such thing a a dumb question when you are expecting.

I have been to some very magical births in hospital (all births are). Beautiful wonderful empowering births, difficult and challenging and complicated births...what can you say about childbirth really? Each one is different. Different and unpredictable. Every single one. But one thing is certain... every single one is just such a honour to be at. Such a magical incredible otherworldly, highest energy experience imaginable. On the one hand biological and on the other it's...well there just aren't even words really.

But home births, hospital births, water births, even c-section "births" (they are still births)! are just truly so miraculous, I will never get over it. I was seriously choked up yesterday at my first Roundhouse Baby & Me yoga class of the summer as the room was packed full of mom's who previously were in my prenatal class. Meeting their babies for the first time, and looking at them and watching them, witnessing their mothering... Just watching their whole transition to motherhood really (gulp) gets me every time, and for as long as I do this I know it will. They are soooo beautiful.

Anyways, I could go on about this forever!! (but I won't! I've gotta fly!)

I just wanted to a pass this clip along that a girlfriend Tara sent me yesterday. It's short, but it took me on a trip down memory lane remembering my days as a Doula, and I wanted to put the Doula bug in your ear!

If you are expecting, do yourself (and your partner) a HUGE favour and have a Doula. People who have had Doulas would not again give birth without one. This city is crawling with them. Ask for recommendations from your friends, your Midwife/Caregiver and meet a few of them. You WILL find the right Doula for you.

And remember that a Doula supports "you" and "your birth experience." You and your partner. Totally.

It is all about you baby! And you have lot's of choices! *remember that*!

Oh, and many Doulas's are very affordable. As well, there are many Doulas who are just starting out looking for births to attend. And they're free!! (I attended lot's of free births and so does everybody else)

Get informed, practice yoga and have a Doula at your birth and you'll be laughing!

Well, I'm outta here for now!

It's another scorcher, enjoy, keep cool & hydrated and have fun!

I intend to ♥ xo

What's happening class wise...

Just a little heads up (heads down if you are expecting haha)!

Of course all classes are a go and doing fantastically well!

Yay! All thanks to you! ♥

Just need to let you know two things:

#1-Mt.Pleasant's Prenatal Yoga wound up having a bit of a waiting list when I arrived this evening so I thought you should know. I freed up a couple of spaces which quickly got filled.

If I can, I will open up a couple more spots, but I will not over-fill this class.

Luckily it's a big beautiful room!

You can stay informed on the status of this class by checking here or going directly to their website.

www.mountpleasantcc.ca

For we all know the nature of Prenatal Yoga...

One by one the mom's drop out...hee hee! (for the most exciting reason of all- they have baby and move on to Baby & Me Yoga!!).

*There is still room in my two other Prenatal Yoga classes at the Roundhouse (Tues & Thursday evenings from 545pm-715pm).

The Roundhouse is a 4 minute Canada Line trip from the Broadway/City hall stop (Broadway @ Cambie St.) to The Roundhouse stop which brings you right there!

#2- Wednesday July 21, Daytime Yoga (again Mt.Pleasant ) there will be a photographer in our class. If you have a problem with this we can figure something out. They will only be there for the first half hour (from 12:30-1:00pm).

*I will be emailing as many of you regulars as I can (and telling you everything I know about this). Feel free to email me regarding this (or anything else of course) anytime at all.

yoginilori@gmail.com

Everything else is just great! Summer is finally here and we are the luckiest people on the planet♥

Namaste & see ya on the mat!

Lori xoxo

One little gadget has helped me in unforseeable ways.

Yeah, it's a cheap-o dollar store kitchen timer.

I have just been truly amazed at how much more I have been getting done and how much lower my stress level has been the past couple of months since I put my little timer to work.

At first I thought it may add to my stress (knowing it is ticking away somewhere in the background timing me while I do some of my favourite time-wasting/enjoyable things I like to do). But the truth is I have found the opposite to be true!

I started off using it for laundry and cooking, then naps, then facebook and surfing the web. (The facebook part really scared me as I am someone who who would happily pay for facebook I love it so much!)

I could (and have) easily spent WAY too much time on that thing. But I love it!

I haven't removed any fun & enjoyable things from my life (and have no interest in that). I just wanted to free up more time to enjoy as many other of my interests as I could each day. And I have!

And it cost me a buck. The best investment I have ever made.

If you are like me and could use a little help better distributing your time you might just enjoy having a timer as much as I do.

More time=way more fun♥

Just thought I'd share

It's official! All classes with me are a go ALL summer long!

All my usual classes are happening all summer long!

Let's do it UP!

Me + you ♥

Registration is on-going (or feel free to drop in!)

Happy summer every body!

All new sessions begin this week, starting today!

*my schedule is to the right of here, down below (and in caps)

The lowdown on my summer classes (as of right now)

Been debating putting this out there yet but wanted to give you the lowdown on summer classes with me! (highlights in blue)

First off..Everything is a go. Full blaaaast!

**All but my two Baby & me classes** (keep reading!)

It's a little confusing but...

Mt.Pleasant's Baby & Me Yoga (summer session scheduled to start on Monday) got cancelled but... due to a barage of emails flooding my inbox "may" start up after all. **however it's unlikely it will happen on Monday (July 5) as planned.

It is quite likely to become uncancelled/reopened (just not until the following week- therefor delaying the start day until the 12th)

"I'l confirm in a few days"

I'll keep ya posted on here, or feel free to contact me or either Centre anytime!

My programmer is away until Monday and I'm not sure until "what time on Monday" he will return so that is why I can't give a definitive answer until I speak with him.

It's confusing but he's a super great guy and if the room is free (which I am 98% sure it is) it will be a go.

The Roundhouse Baby & Me is another story (scheduled to start on Thursday of next week ) Not likely to happen.

I haven't cancelled it yet but I am pretty sure I will be. I'll make my decision on Wed. (day before it is due to start)

If you want it to go, register asap.

Other than that...everything else is a go!!

It is going to be one fantabulous summer beautiful ones!

So, sorry for the confusion but I have been receiving a shocking number of emails lately and can't quite keep up so I thought I'd update you on here!

(I'll be updating again with the official verdict on both those baby & me classes)

Hope you are enjoying yourselves a glorious weekend! I sure am ♥