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June 2018

Community Feature: July 2018

By Community Feature

Author: Janice Mirynech – Community Member & PYC St. Catharine’s Yogi

“I dare you!”  Those three words were what first brought me to Power Yoga Canada  St. Catharines. It was January, 2015 and my adventurous daughter was visiting from Banff where she’s into hiking, mountain and ice climbing and more – just for fun! Fitness had taken a back seat in my life for many years. A marketing career with some of Canada’s largest wineries meant time away travelling. When at home, I was busy catching up with my husband and raising our daughter with no time extra personal time.  

Life shifted dramatically when I was suddenly restructured out of my job. I had been raised in a family where achievement was how we were valued – what you did and who you were. Not what kind of person, but who you were – title, status in the community and so on. Suddenly this was gone and I felt lost, spending many long months in a depressive state.

The darkness started to lift as I began to focus on reclaiming my life. Moving in a radically different direction, I trained in FEEL (Facilitated Equine Experiential Learning) – partnering with horses to help people. It’s Life Coaching with a horse, and during the training I felt a sense of purpose come back – one that focused more on heart and balance than on bottom lines and titles. I began to co-facilitate trainings, my confidence returned and I found myself much more mentally and emotionally balanced. I also reclaimed my spirituality, enrolling in a shamanic studies program, healing my soul with ancient wisdom and ceremonies. 

Having gained my emotional, mental and spiritual strength back, my daughter’s three words, “I dare you” gave me the push I needed to put my attention to the physical. Little did I know Power Yoga Canada would bring so much more than that.

I’ll never forget that first morning class. Moving through our 10th Chaturanga  (felt like the 100th!) and I thought if I did one more, I’d land on my face! Heaven was the cold, scented cloth placed on my forehead in Savasana! Then my daughter challenged me to sign up for 30 days. With each class, I could do one more Chaturanga, bow forward a little deeper and feel a new strength returning to my body.  

I joined the Power Yoga St. Catharines Energy Exchange Team and the changes kept happening. For my 60th birthday, I set a goal to be able to do one full wheel! But the shifts weren’t just physical.  During class, and in the 40 Days to Personal Revolution program, the words and thoughts shared by the teachers resonated with my FEEL and shamanic work. They spoke of being present to the moment, inviting me to be curious when I felt resistance to a pose to see what that might mirror for me in my life. More than just physical, my practice at Power Yoga Canada was challenging my heart and spirit to keep growing… keep flowing.

I’ve made new friends and love the sense of belonging I have when I walk through the door. PYC echoes my daughter’s voice and dares me to connect to who I am in all aspects. The next time you’re in down dog, perhaps you too will hear “I dare you!”  

200 Hr Yoga Teacher Training: What’s in it for you?

By 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

1.SPACE

This program is challenging because it asks you to get real with about who you’ve been and who you want to be in the future.  Through inquiry, meditation and asana (yoga practice), you be able to create space between your thoughts and will tune in to your innermost compass and be in the experience of creating something new for yourself.

2.NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR BODY

You will gain new insights into your yoga practice as you study the anatomy of yoga, learn the fundamentals of the Journey into Power. Your practice and understanding of your own body will be transformed as you understand the mechanics of movement and how to find your fullest expression. 

3. REMEMBER HOW TO PLAY

One of the greatest gifts of this program is that it will reunite you with play.  Maybe you’ve been taking yourself too seriously for too long, in this 200 hour yoga teacher training program you will reconnect with what it feels like for explore with curiosity, put your heart into trying new things and encouraging others to play as well.

4.COMMUNITY

You’ll meet your Yoga Family.   These will be the people to cheer you on without question, just like you’ll learn to be the loudest one in the room cheering for them.  They will give of themselves generously and you will too. You will learn to love, celebrate and share fiercely. Do not be surprised when one of you suggests matching tattoos.

5.SURPRISE

Am I really teaching a yoga class right now?  Am I really doing a handstand right now? Am I really sharing in front of the group right now? Am I really moving past by bullshit?  Am I really up to something bigger than myself? YES.

Community Feature: June 2018

By Community Feature

Author:  Patryk Moskal – Community Member & PYC Mississauga Yogi

After studying at University of Toronto, I earned the opportunity to pursue my dreams playing basketball professionally in Poland. I got to travel the country where my family is from and was lucky enough to play in amazing cities like Wroclaw, Posnan, and Zgorzelec! The relationships and memories that were formed I will cherish forever. To say that basketball has been a big influence on my life is probably an understatement because I learned a lot about myself, much of the values and work ethic still sticks with me to this day. Growing up with basketball, you always need to be prepared for what was next, but when I came back home I was lost in what the next phase of my life would entail. I had got out of long term relationship and was just leapfrogging from job to job not really knowing what I wanted to focus on in the next chapter of my life. Even though my passion for basketball has always brought me to the gym, I started getting bored of the same routine. I needed a new challenge. A new bridge to cross. Thankfully I took my friends suggestion of coming to a class and found Power Yoga Canada Mississauga!

After signing up for the Intro Special in the beginning of February, I have seen tremendous growth in myself not just on my mat but the person off of it as well. I am no longer stressing about things that are not in my control, and focus on the present and what I can change. I am the type of person that’s mind is always racing back and forth, from future to the past, and everything in between. Finding yoga has been a calming breathe of fresh air. Ever since I stepped foot in a hot yoga class, I have been addicted to the sense of accomplishment I have walking out of a class knowing I gave it my all and sweat my heart out in the last Wheel. I was surprised how welcoming the environment was and the sense of community I felt coming to each class. Having such phenomenal teachers makes the decision to practice that much easier, and always worth it! Sometimes your body won’t agree with that, but you got to be a deaf man to your bodies sometimes. Once you are on your mat, your worries melt away and you become a happy baby.

One of the reasons I was drawn to basketball was the opportunity to grow as a player. Regardless your talent or skill level, you can always learn new techniques, moves, and improve on mechanics. Just like in yoga, even if you master a pose there is always room to improve.  I found the best ways to improve both in basketball and yoga was to make the uncomfortable comfortable, because that’s where we learn the most about ourselves. Six months ago, I would have never agreed to write a feature about myself or even try a yoga class, now I can’t live without it! I’m very grateful for yoga and how it brought positivity and love back into my life and hopefully for the people reading it can do the same. So if I can become a PYC Warrior you can become a Warrior two/ too! Special thank you goes out to Vicky & Isabel from PYC Mississauga for opening your arms to me and making me feel so welcome at Power Yoga Canada!!