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Person Holding Sound Bowls - Why do we "om"

Why do we “om”

By Food for thought

Om is a sacred sound and a symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is also transcribed as “Aum.” It is thought to be the primordial sound that created the universe and is regarded as the sound of the cosmos. Om is frequently recited in power yoga at the start and end of a practice as a way to connect with the divine and to foster calmness and clarity in the mind.

However, why is Om said throughout yoga? Here are some of the causes:

  1. Om stands for the supreme reality and the supreme truth. It is regarded as the greatest and most sacred syllable in Hinduism since it is thought to be the sound of the divine. By repeating Om, we are uniting with the highest reality and truth and attempting to make contact with the divine.
  2. Om promotes mental calmness as well as clarity and focus. We use the sound of Om to turn inward and concentrate on the here and now when we chant it. This can bring tranquility and clarity and assist to stop the mind’s incessant chatter.
  3. Om facilitates our connection to collective awareness. Om is chanted to unite oneself with the awareness of the universe, which is thought to resonate at the same frequency as the sound. This may contribute to a feeling of cohesion and kinship with something bigger than ourselves.
  4. The mantra Om stimulates and harmonizes the chakras. We might feel more rooted, centred, and at peace when the chakras—energy centres in the body—are in harmony. A sense of total well-being and equilibrium in the body can be attained by chanting Om, which can help to energize and balance the chakras.
  5. Om encourages the development of dedication and submission. We are giving ourselves over to the holy and developing a sense of devotion as we chant Om. As a result, we may be able to let go of any ego-driven aspirations and experience a greater sense of serenity and acceptance in our life.

We recite Om in yoga for a variety of reasons, as you can see. It stands for the highest reality and truth and promotes mental calmness, clarity, and connection to the universal consciousness. It also energizes and balances the chakras and fosters a sense of dedication and submission. A potent tool for fostering a sense of serenity and connectedness in our lives is the Om mantra.

200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Testimonials

By 200 Hour Teacher Training

Are you curious about completing your 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training certification? It’s important to do your research and to find the best program for you! We’ve put together some videos below so you can hear firsthand from participants of the 200 hour program that we deliver. Power Yoga Canada’s (PYC) 200 hour yoga teacher training program is a dynamic program led by PYC’s Co-Founder, Kinndli McCollum that will immerse you into self-inquiry, practice teaching, asana (practice), meditation and group discussions. You will learn the basics and the fundamental knowledge to go out into the world and to lead a Power Yoga class. You will be engaged from day one and you are able to choose from ONE of TWO options including In-Person & Online or Fully Online. Our 200 hour program is unique in that it attracts both yoga practitioners who are interested in becoming powerful yoga teachers and many people who are interested in self-inquiry and truth-seeking within themselves. Yoga Alliance certified this training will provide participants with the opportunity to teach at other studios across the globe (ensure you review other studio requirements). Click here for all of the program details for the Winter 2024 program!

  • Katya touches on her experience of the 200 hour Yoga Teacher program held by Power Yoga Canada!

  •  Stephanie shares a quick video of her experience with the 200 hour Yoga Teacher program held by Power Yoga Canada!

  •  Erica shares insight on her experience of the 200 hour Yoga Teacher program held by Power Yoga Canada!

  • Power Yoga Canada teacher Rechev shares his experience with the Diversity Scholarship offered by PYC and the impact it’s had on him

  • Tim provides an in-depth look at his Yoga Teacher Training experience and the impact it had on him from start to finish

  • Power Yoga Canada teacher Kayla’s passion comes through as she dives deep into the impact this program has had on her

  • 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Graduate Abbey’s feedback of the program is from the heart and touches on how the program helped her come out of her shell

Your Questions Answered for Yoga Teacher Training

By 200 Hour Teacher Training, 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

As Power Yoga Canada (PYC) excitedly prepares to host the hybrid 200 hour Winter 2024 yoga teacher training, a lot of questions come through from potential participants. 

  1. How does an online and in-person program function?
  2. Will I learn everything I need to in order to become a successful yoga teacher?
  3. Can online yoga teacher training be as effective online as it is in person?
  4. What if I don’t want to teach yoga? 

About Power Yoga Canada’s 200 hour Yoga Teaching Training

The PYC 200 hour teacher training is unique as it touches on our culture that has been created and developed since the first doors were opened in 2009. Throughout the training, so much of the culture is brought forth through the methodology, yoga philosophy, the poses, and all of the transformational activities. As we all know, teachers play an integral part in the magic behind what PYC stands for, and therefore in order to ensure our guests experience the magic, it’s important for all teachers to go through the PYC 200 hr training in order to teach at any PYC location or on the PYC at Home Zoom platform. And can we not forget that Kinndli McCollum leads the training? Like, come on. The unicorn of all unicorns! Do not let being tech-savvy stop you from taking this transformational program because we have an amazing team here at PYC who will support you and will ensure you are good to go.

The 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training program is the first step in your journey as a yoga teacher so continue reading to find out more!

1. How does an online and in-person program function?

Power Yoga Canada is providing multiple options for guests to engage in the 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Program for Winter 2024 to make it accessible and to provide guests with the ability to take part in-person or online from anywhere in the world. With the use of technology and facilitation tools, we ensure that all guests, whether they are fully online or in-person and online, will have an engaging and transformational experience. Take a look below to understand what each option entails:

  1. In-Person and Online- participants choosing this option will be fully engaged with participants online and in-person. They will start online on Zoom Saturday morning for a few hours before heading to the PYC Oakville Studio in the afternoon and evening (all participants are given 90 minutes to head to the PYC Oakville Studio). On Sunday, participants will once again start on Zoom in the morning for a few hours before heading to the PYC Oakville Studio in the afternoon. On Wednesday, all participants are fully online from 6 pm – 9 pm EST.
  2. Online- participants choosing this option will be online for the full duration of the program interacting with people in person and on Zoom provided with the same experience and level of care.

It is important to us that all participants have a fantastic experience so if you have any hesitation for either of the options please let us know so we can do our best to accommodate for you.

2. Will I learn everything I need to in order to become a successful yoga teacher?

Yes, you most certainly will! All of the content is delivered to help ensure you are putting what you learn right to practice! There is LABBING where you go through each and every pose of the yoga sequence known as the Power Yoga Canada Flow and you will dissect the poses with all of your peers. Furthermore, you are engaged in experiential learning throughout the entire program by teaching yoga to your fellow peers. There are presentations on the history of yoga, the anatomy of yoga, the Hindu gods, and much more! Another important aspect of yoga teacher training is the self-inquiry work and activities that you take part in. The work and activities that you go through allow you to discover your true, authentic voice and help you find the confidence you had in you all along. We’ve received great feedback about the content of the program including two comments from recent graduates: 

“The content was fantastic. I really enjoyed all the topics we covered. I liked that every day had a theme and a quote. I also really enjoyed hearing others speak and spending time discussing our learnings in small groups. This helped me understand the content on a deeper level.”

“I honestly couldn’t believe how thorough this program was, to be honest. Even with the steps, we could take after the program! This program was so humbling because of the amount of trust PYC puts in their students and I felt the sincerity of wanting to support us after we come out of our cocoons. I wouldn’t change a thing (and I’m so grateful for all of it)!”

3. Can online yoga teacher training be as effective online as it is in person?

Before our first 200 hour Online Yoga Teacher Training took place in May 2020, we had no expectations going in. We hadn’t run one before and Power Yoga Canada is known for providing transformational, high-quality training so we had a lot on the line. We took the leap of faith just a month before the program began and put all of our focus on how it would be delivered. Weeks leading up to the program we had many people interested and kicked off the program with 37 eager yogi’s ready to take on a new journey. A transformational journey.  Below are a couple of comments from graduates of the program:

“The facilitation was amazing, I know it was a group program, but there were so many different times where I felt like the program facilitators were talking directly to me. This really enhanced my experience and was very stimulating. It opened me up to participate in ways I never thought I would.”

“I loved the online aspect! I thought I would miss out on taking the program online, but I don’t think I did at all! I feel like I made genuine connections, made new friends, and I was still able to hear others speak to the group and have small group discussions. I liked that there was no commute to and from training and that I didn’t have to pack everything. It was really nice to have the training in the comfort of my own home. I was very pleasantly surprised!”

4. What if I don’t want to teach yoga? 

PYC has had many individuals take part in our Yoga Teacher Training who simply want to learn more about their own yoga practice and have come out of the training with great knowledge and insight. The self-inquiry aspect is also proven extremely beneficial to all graduates who leave with more clarity in their life’s purpose and have become more self-aware in all areas of their lives. We have seen genuine connections and lifelong friendships created through the programs and we are extremely honoured to be able to lead such a transformative program online to people around the entire globe.

I want to leave you with one personal experience that was shared with us from a graduate of the Summer 2023 training:

“PYC Teacher Training has been pivotal in my own personal and professional transformation. I came to this program with zero expectations but fully submerged myself within the program and community. This program put me through many uncomfortable situations but soon these situations became more comfortable. I then began realizing my potential and possibilities are limitless. In turn, I have a new perspective of who I am. One that is closer to my core values. This new awareness helps me take pride in my attributes, loving what I have, and just being myself. I know If I’m faking it I can never be happy. With this perspective, I live with a new Mantra, “Now everything I do I do it with my heart and I do it so well.” Thank you PYC and the tools you have provided me to better myself and those around me.”

If you have any questions at all please feel free to reach out to PYC’s Director of Growth, Nick Vetro, any time at nick@poweryogacanada.com or by text/call at 905-808-3330.

300 hour Yoga Teacher Training Testimonials

By 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training

Are you curious about completing your 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training certification? It’s important to do your research and to find the best program for you! We’ve put together some videos below so you can hear firsthand from participants of the 300 hour program that we deliver. Power Yoga Canada’s 300 hour yoga teacher training program will help you take your Yoga Teaching to the next level! You will learn advanced techniques, further develop your leadership skills and build on the foundation you already have with your 200 hour Yoga Teacher certification. Deepen your understanding of how to use yoga as a healing modality and utilize powerful tools for personal transformation. Yoga Alliance certified, this training will provide participants with the opportunity to participate either in-person & online, or fully online! Click here for all of the program details for the Fall 2021 program!

  • Anathèle Zamor shares her experience during the Fall 2020 program that was fully online! She also went on to state that “Doing the 300 hours program has launched my career in yoga in a way I didn’t imagine could be possible! It’s been really amazing!”

  • Power Yoga Canada teacher Vicki Fiddler touches on the impact that the 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training program had on her including discovering her voice and making lifelong friends!

One Breath

By Uncategorized

Building a Community One Breath at a Time

The Stories of Power Yoga Canada & how it takes a village to raise a Yoga Studio

As we approach our 10 year anniversary, it has become so clear that Power Yoga Canada would not be what it is without YOU! We have moved together, we have cried together and we have lived together in and out of unison. Well, we need your support once again.

We are spending the next year putting together all the stories of PYC. What have you learned? What have you shared? What do you want the world to know? What photos do you have and what memories do you never want to forget? Do you have a paragraph? Do you have a quote? Do you have a recipe or an accomplishment that would have not happened had we not met on our mats?

Storytelling and sharing allows us to keep our stories alive, so if you have something please share it. We want to hear from you send whether you have been with PYC since day 1 or whether our paths have just crossed – we need to hear from you! Wherever you practice or don’t practice, wherever you are in the world please send us whatever inspires YOU!

When: By November 2nd 2018 (that will be our 9 year anniversary)
How: Email community@poweryogacanada.com with subject: ONE BREATH
Questions: Email us! @ info@poweryogacanada.com

Wanna share on social? Tag us & use the hashtag #pyclife and we will use as many as we can.

Mother Theresa said, if you want to change the world, go home and love your family. Thank you for being our family, together we have been changing the world, we are forever grateful & we are all just getting started!!!

Love,
Kinndli & Pauline

5 Impactful Lessons from Kids Yoga Training

By Uncategorized

Author: Monica Mallo – Mom, PYC Faculty, &  Yogi

I didn’t realize we were making memories, I just knew we were having fun – Winnie the Pooh

Parenting can be some of life’s hardest work and even despite its challenging aspects, the love for my children makes it my mission to get back up every time it gets hard, every time I feel the sweat & tears, because they are worth it. Through the years, I have read and studied more books about parenting than can fit in my bookshelves, I’ve listened to fellow mothers, and professionals in the field. I use what I’ve learned from my practice and from Kids Yoga/Mindfulness Training to bring them back to centre when things get tough.What has and continues to work best has been the simple & profound practice of Yoga. Remember, Yoga is not just about tree pose or sitting in a meditation, but instead so much more. The history of yoga is so rich in tradition and offers a portal of connection to self and others.

Yoga can happen anywhere. You do not need a yoga room. Or a class room. To be honest my best classes for my children have been in the their bedrooms when they feel bad about something, or in the living room when one of them is suffering from anxiety, or in my bedroom when they can’t sleep. Knowing how yoga has helped me support my kids, every parent can benefit from taking Kids Yoga/ Mindfulness Training. Here are 5  impactful lessons you can bring into your home:

1. Put yourself in your kids shoes. 

Remember what its like to be a kid? Often we don’t and we like to solve problems from our ‘adult’ mind. We might try to communicate in a language that our children don’t understand,  or we listen from a place of trying to fix instead of feeling what they are going through. As a parent, to have the ability to feel what your kids feel may just be what they need to feel heard & whole.

2. Trust your kids.

Trust that they are responsible enough to figure things out on their own. When you want to intervene, take a moment of pause and give your littles some space. The discipline of breath work and mindfulness can retrain your brain to not be as reactive. With some time you will be awed that they can come up with some amazing solutions on their own.

 

3. Teach them what you know to be true.

It may not always seem like it but Mommy and Daddy are still their biggest heroes. They listen to what you have to say, so be wise with what you share. Teach them powerful tools to connect with themselves, others and their surroundings so they will know what to do when they have feelings of anxiety, boredom or restlessness.

4. Bring playfulness back into your life.

Having fun with the family is a sure way to get the kids off their devices but first we need to remember how to have fun. I always say kids can smell fear and a phoney from a mile away. It isn’t always easy to connect back to those carefree moments in your childhood but trust me it’s a MUST. Learn to have fun again, reconnect back to those days when a simple game using creativity and humility produced the biggest laughter. Your kids will rather be hanging out with you than any on screen.

5. Love thyself.  

Jane Travis once said “The relationship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship you have”. If your children see you value yourself, forgiving yourself, loving yourself, they are sure to follow in your footsteps.

Just like yoga, parenting is a practice.  How have you brought yoga into your home?  How do you share your practice with your children?  Tag us on Facebook or Instagram – we’d love to hear from you!

 

Community Feature: April 2018

By Community Feature

Author: Steve Zazulyk,  PYC Oakville Yogi, Underwater Adventurer

A year ago, I never would have thought so much could change in a short time, or how a 68” x 28” rubber mat would transform me from the inside out.  I had no idea what it truly meant to leave it on the mat, or ever more so, that what I found on my mat would be nothing short of life changing. I’m very blessed to be married to my wife Kelly and have two beautiful daughters Natalie & Olivia, who are great supporters of my quest in hot yoga – no matter how sweaty and awkward I am! When I first started, my girls would remind me that I only needed to do three things: 1. Don’t think about it, just show up!  2. Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks! 3. Pray for half pigeon, because you’re almost done!  I’d like to add that the most beautiful word in the world when you first start Hot Yoga is Shavasana. Seriously!

I am a 54-year-old a business owner, professional diver and part-time treasure hunter. I spend my spare time traveling throughout Canada, United States and the Caribbean metal detecting and scuba diving for lost gold and sunken artifacts (I was even on the History Channel’s docu-series The Curse of Oak Island!).  As interesting as that may seem, there is nothing that has truly changed me more than the last year of hot yoga at PYC. At age 53 I found myself very depressed and upset with my health and physical condition. Words cannot tell you how scared and insecure I felt that first night as my daughter Olivia basically took me by the hand to the studio in Oakville. My nerves quickly subsided after meeting the front desk team as they so sweetly welcomed us to our practice. While outwardly we might seem confident, people often don’t know how insecure we can be. Thank God for the words of encouragement I’ve had from people like Stephanie McCague and the other PYC instructors. They have taught me that when you’re at that moment in practice where you feel you can’t go on and you’re going to break down, you’re literally one pose away from your next great break-through…just ujjayi breath and go for it! You’ll be shocked what you can do!

A year later and I’m practicing between 4-6 days a week and can tell you that you just need to remember rule #1: don’t think about it, just show up, and you can’t go wrong. I now realize that yoga is more than just exercise, it’s actually a way of life! When it comes down to it, it’s really only about you and your practice. When you truly understand what leaving it on the mat means, you can really get rid of a lot of unnecessary luggage.

The Power Yoga Canada Community has inspired me so much I can’t go more than two days without practice. If I could get any point across it would be this:  if you know anyone that feels insecure, scared or self-conscious to come to practice, tell them about me!  I’m literally the last person that you would have seen walk in the PYC door but here I am! You can catch me at any given class during the week, in my fullest expression of dancer’s pose, and letting it all go “on the mat”!  I never thought I would say that, but here I am and I’m loving it!

Community Feature: March 2018

By Community Feature

Author: Renee Wain – Mom, Teacher, PYC Georgetown Yogi

My life, before I discovered the amazing community of Power Yoga Canada, appeared perfect on the surface, however, internally, there was something missing. My mental health was not in a good state and feelings of stress and anxiety were consuming my daily thoughts.

I remember the first time I had an anxiety attack, I couldn’t even comprehend what was happening to my body. I had just returned to work after my first maternity leave and I was struggling to stay above water. Being a teacher is my passion and I love what I do, but the hours I used to spend at home planning and marking were no longer possible with a young baby in the mix. One day at work, I started to get a pain in my chest and then the pain crept up to my throat and wouldn’t go away. I made an appointment to see my doctor, and she informed me that I had experienced an anxiety attack. The tears started to stream down my face, and in that moment I felt like a failure. Luckily, by incorporating some exercise and clean eating into my lifestyle, I was able to keep my anxiety under control.

When I had my second baby, it was even harder to carve out some time for myself, and bad habits were starting to pop back into my life. The frequency of my anxiety attacks were increasing and it was a struggle to get through most days without crying. In September 2017, I was back to work full time, but now I had even more on my plate. After only two weeks in, I had a mental breakdown in my department office and I was struggling to find any balance in my life. I knew I needed to incorporate exercise back into my lifestyle, so I messaged Sita to inquire about the 30 day yoga pass.

As a newbie to hot yoga, I had no idea what to expect, but I instantly fell in love with the practice. It was the one time during the day where I could be still and just breathe on my mat. Although my practice was consistent, I was still struggling with my mental health and nutrition. I couldn’t figure out what was missing from my life, so I decided to sign up for the 40 day program. I’m happy to say, this program has changed every aspect of my life in the best ways possible.

After completing the 40 day program, I now know that real health is wholeness on all levels (mind, body and soul). I have learned the importance of stillness, and meditation is becoming part of my daily routine. Taking the time to meditate is allowing me to be more present in all areas of my life.

Here are some quotes from Baron Baptiste that have really resonated with me:

“External change can only happen when we adjust the inner workings of our minds”

“When we slow down and fully engage in the present, we usually get where we really want to go faster”

By living in the present, I am now a more patient mom, wife and teacher. I am focusing my energy on positive thoughts rather than worrying about the future, and letting things go that don’t serve me. Yoga is not just about the physical practice for me, it is the missing piece to the puzzle of my mental well being. My journey is not over, and there will be bumps in the road ahead, but with Power Yoga Canada in my back pocket, I know I can handle anything life throws at me.

Finally, I would just like to send a huge shout out to Jackie and Sita. Thank you so much for everything you do and for welcoming me into the PYC Georgetown community. Over the past five months, I have met some amazing people and have truly experienced the “magic” that happens in-between the walls . There is an energy in the studio that is indescribable, and you know when you walk through the front door, you feel at home.

So you think you aren’t ready teach yoga?

By 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training No Comments

teach yoga

I felt the same way.

It was the Fall of 2010 and I was going to yoga every single day. Power Yoga Canada Clarkson was like a second home to me. I was in love with the practice, inspired by the community and was finally starting to understand those people that claimed yoga had changed their life. I was constantly eyeing posters and hearing buzz around the next round of Kinndli’s 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program that would be starting that January.

Over the course of those months leading up to January, I thought to myself more times than I can count, I really want to teach. Then very quickly and very loudly, the BUT would come in.

I can’t hold a handstand yet, if I’m going to teach I need to be able to do that. 
I need to tone up more if I’m going to be at the front of the room.
I’m not confident enough to talk for 60 – 90 minutes to a room of strangers.
Nobody would even want to take my class. I’ll never get hired anywhere. 
I don’t know if I can handle the big investment of my money and time right now.
I haven’t been practicing yoga long enough to take this next step. 
There’s already so many great teachers out there, there’s no room for me.

The list was long and the doubt was loud but at some point I hesitantly mentioned to Pauline that it was on my mind. Those of you that know her will also know that once you tell her you want to do something you pretty much have to do it because she’ll be right there behind you – pushing if she has to.

I’m so grateful that she gave me that push and now, whether we know each other or not, I’m here to do the same for you.

If you’ve been thinking teacher training is something you want to do, then you’re absolutely ready to do it.

After almost 7 years of teaching full time, opening a studio and making yoga my ‘real’ job, here are the four things I wish I had known then.

1. It doesn’t matter what your practice looks like.

There are amazing teachers in the world that can float into handstand. There are also amazing teachers out there that can’t even hold it for a second. In my opinion, there is no correlation between a teachers ability to do advanced poses and their ability to teach an unbelievable yoga class.  There will always be another pose to work on.Don’t fall into the trap of waiting until your practice is ‘good enough’.

A powerful teacher loves yoga. Their practice changed their life and they want to share that gift with others. They have a sincere desire to dive deeper and learn. They’re passionate about helping people. If you have all that and you can hold a handstand, high five! If you can’t, high five! You love yoga and that’s what matters. You have SO much to offer.

2. It’s a lot of money and time but totally worth it.

My plan was to do my Teacher Training while I had the time and then get a corporate job. I thought I’d learn how to teach a yoga class, figure out how the body worked and understand the basics of explaining yoga poses to other people. I’d teach 1 or 2 classes per week on the side of whatever job I had but lucky for me, life didn’t go as planned!

But let’s say it had. If I was a corporate girl who never taught a single class after my training, it would still be the best investment I’ve ever made in myself and my growth. It’s so much more than a yoga training. Yes you will learn (a lot) about yoga but more importantly, you’ll learn (probably more than you want to) about yourself. You can’t put a price on the growth that this program inspires in every aspect of your life. I would go back and spend that money again in a heartbeat.

3. You’ll never feel 100% ready.

If you’ve convinced yourself that you have some sort of physical, mental or emotional barrier that you need to overcome before you’re ready to stand at the front of the room, I have some news for you. Sitting around and hiding from people is not going to get you over that barrier.

We all have something standing in our way. Maybe you think you need to lose a few pounds. Maybe you think you’ll teach when you somehow get over your anxiety around public speaking. Maybe you think you need to get over your fear of judgement and what others think of you. Whatever it is, there’s something you want to work through before you teach. These are the very things you get to tackle with a group of amazing and like-minded people all going through their 200-hour training with you. Sitting at home thinking about how you’ll one day feel comfortable talking in front of a group is not going to get you there. You’ve got to do it, even if it’s scary.

4. The world needs you, yes YOU!

If you remember one thing, let this be it. Yes, there are many, many great teachers in the world already but guess what? None of them are you. You have something so unique and so special to share with your future students and believe me, they’re out there just waiting to hear what you have to say.

We all have our own stories and life experiences to share. We’ve all found yoga for different reasons and the benefits of this practice are profoundly personal. We experience them in our own way. One of the things I love most about yoga is that no two teachers are the same. We’re all sharing this ancient tradition but adding our own unique flare to it. So stop telling yourself that there are enough teachers out there. There’s more than just room for you, there is a need for you.

You’ll doubt yourself. You’ll probably have a long list of ‘buts’ like mine. You’ll question if you’re ready. You might even have a little crisis before your training starts or you teach that first class thinking: ‘I can’t do this’.

I’m here to tell you that YOU CAN and YOU SHOULD.

 

jenn headshot
Jennifer Dwyer
Power Yoga Canada Muskoka
www.jenniferdwyer.ca
@jenniferdwyer
@pycmuskoka