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yoga for anxiety

May 15
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Mastering Power Yoga: 5 Key Tips to Enhance Your Practice

By Uncategorized

You’ve come to the right place if you’re motivated to improve your power yoga practice and are looking for helpful advice to advance it. We’ll go into five key tips in this blog post that will help you enhance your practice, master power yoga and improve your experience on the mat. 

  1. Breathe with Intention: Power yoga is a dynamic, challenging form of exercise that emphasizes breathing in time with movement. In addition to oxygenating your body, conscious breathing also helps to relax your mind, which makes it possible for you to feel more present. Throughout the activity, keep in mind to breathe deeply and completely through your nose. Connect to the strength of your breath, allowing it to direct your actions and give each position a sense of force.

  2. Cultivate Core Stability: Learning power yoga requires a strong core. Your core serves as the focal point of your body’s power, offering stability and support in difficult poses. To build a strong foundation, incorporate core-focused poses into your practice, such as boat posture (Navasana) and plank pose (Phalakasana). Consciously contract your abdominal muscles during the exercise to improve your overall stability and control.

  3. Embrace Challenge with Patience: Power yoga is meant to test your physical and mental stamina. It’s critical to face every difficulty with patience and compassion as you work to push yourself to your limits. Respecting the demands of your body, allow yourself to advance and evolve at your own rate. Never forget that growth is a journey, and each step counts. You’ll gradually see your transformation if you’re patient and keep practising.

  4. Explore Modifications: In power yoga, modifications are your friends. They enable you to avoid injury and modify the poses to fit your current level of fitness. Never be hesitant to alter poses by adding props or changing your alignment. As you proceed toward more complex variants, pay attention to your body and make any adjustments. You’ll develop a strong and enduring practice by respecting the limitations of your body and adapting as necessary.

  5. Find a Supportive Community: Power Yoga Canada provides a loving and welcoming community where yogis help and encourage one another. Participate in workshops, Yoga Teacher Trainings (Summer or Winter) and have conversations with other yogis to broaden your knowledge and meet like-minded people. Sharing your journey with others fosters growth and inspiration by creating a positive and stimulating environment.

Dedication, consistency, and a willingness to push oneself are necessary for mastering power yoga. You may improve your power yoga experience and experience dramatic growth both on and off the mat by implementing these five essential tips into your routine. Keep in mind to breathe deliberately, strengthen your core, accept problems patiently, explore changes, and surround yourself with encouraging people. Enjoy the practice, have faith in your path, and let yoga’s transformative ability to change your life. Come along with us at Power Yoga Canada as we set off on this empowering journey!

vinyasa yoga

Upward Dog with Steph

Mar 14
Love1

Lose Weight with Yoga

By Food for thought

Traditional yoga poses are incorporated with strength-training exercises in a style of yoga known as power yoga. It’s an excellent method for losing weight because it not only aids in calorie burning but also helps to develop muscle, which can speed up metabolism. Here is some advice for using power yoga to lose weight:

  1. A minimum of three times per week of power yoga should be practiced in order to observe improvements. Your body will be assisted in burning calories as well as adjusting to the new actions.
  2. Pay attention to your breathing because it’s important for yoga and can assist increase metabolism. Imagine that you are putting energy into your body as you inhale and that you are letting any tension or stress out when you exhale.
  3. Use your own body weight as resistance: Power yoga is a fantastic method to do this. This implies that you won’t require any additional equipment to work your muscles.
  4. Use the correct nutrients to fuel your body: For weight loss, a balanced diet is crucial. Eat a lot of fresh produce, lean protein, whole grains, and fruits and veggies. Avoid sugary beverages and processed foods.
  5. Rest up: Ensure that you receive adequate sleep every night. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night. You’ll have more energy to practice yoga and keep moving throughout the day if you get enough sleep.

Power yoga is a good approach to reduce weight overall since it increases metabolism, builds muscle, and burns calories. Recall to practice frequently, concentrate on your breathing, utilize your body weight, including cardiovascular activities, nourish your body with the proper foods, and obtain enough relaxation. You can reach your weight loss objectives if you are consistent and committed.

Oct 26
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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 2022 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!

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 2022 to make it accessible and to provide guests with the ability to take part in-person once again. 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.

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)!”

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, 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!”

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 2020 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.

May 01
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Community Feature: May 2018

By Community Feature

Author: Roman Tataryn, Power Yoga Canada Teacher & PYC Etobicoke Yogi

Hi, Roman here, where do I start? My life before yoga was very much grey, filled with work and parties, and that was all I cared for. On top of that, about half a year before joining the Power Yoga Canada Etobicoke studio, my family-life started to collapse resulting in a breakup with my significant other. Common experience or not, I took it very close to heart. I thought of myself as failure of a man and husband, and slowly began sinking towards bottom. The depression that I was hiding from everybody, drinking problems, weight gain and health issues started to show up in my life. It all seemed like a never-ending nightmare until a rainy Tuesday, March 22nd. I had neglected my health and when people suggested yoga, I made the excuse that “yoga is not for me, yoga is for girls”.

I walked into Power Yoga Canada Etobicoke and my opinion changed after only one hour of a really sweaty class lead by Susan. I was stunned by how great I felt after class, so I started to practice 4-5 times a week, and signed up for 40 Days to Personal Revolution. Slowly but surely, I started to see results; I started feeling stronger, confident, losing weight at the same time. One of the most important things that started to happen was that I started to love the life I was living at the moment.

A magical thing then happened when I went on a trip to Iceland. I was sitting on a rock on the seashore, listening to the waves crashing (it was like meditating, but better) and the thought that I should take the 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training came into my head. Shortly after, I took my first steps towards my goal; I took my Assisting Intensive Training and Teacher Training quickly after.

As I am writing this, I realize that a little more than two years have passed since I started this journey. Was there a grand change in my physical body? The answer to that is YES, but that’s not all. The most important change was how I was able to shift my perspective from material things that used to matter the most to me, to the things that actually make me happy. The practice itself brings awareness to the whole body, to what surrounds you, it shows you how to live in the present moment on the mat and how to bring it with you into the real world.

What I found in this studio was a second family. I found people that support each other and make a stand for one another. Our studio gets together to celebrate happy moments like they’re their own, as well as supporting people in the challenges they are facing. I was able to meet some of the most amazing people and they have become my very close and precious friends. I could never say thank enough to Susan and John for creating such an amazing community that literally draws people in. I am very grateful for the opportunity to share my story with all of PYC. I hope that my story can help any student realize their potential. Change is scary, and I know it but, with a little curiosity we are capable of things that we never thought we could do. With utmost love and gratitude, Namaste.

Mar 01
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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.

Feb 01
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Community Feature: February 2018

By Community Feature

Author: Jenn Moore – PYC Oshawa Yogi

When I arrived in Canada last spring, I spent much of my first week in bed absorbing the whirlwind that was previous year. I had left my home, relationship, and career in Northern California and was backpacking through Thailand when my mom called to let me know my grandmother’s health was rapidly declining. I had planned on staying in Southeast Asia to teach English for another year, but I just knew I would regret it if I didn’t come. So here I was, in Whitby, one week after my 26th birthday, a time I had expected to be advancing my career and planning a family. When that didn’t pan out, traveling the world and teaching seemed a great alternative, but I hadn’t anticipated feeling this lonely and directionless. I felt like a failure.

My mom went back home to California and I cared for my grandmother, which forced me out of bed and out of my reeling mind. I went for many jogs, because that’s what I always did when I slipped on life’s banana peels. I’d slip into my Nikes, pop in my earbuds on full-blast, and hit the pavement until my pulse reached my toes and the shaky, nervous energy in my chest became heaving exhaustion. It worked until it didn’t. I couldn’t seem to get tired enough or get the music loud enough to drown out my own noise. I began to feel pain in my right knee and lower back, but continued to run through it; I couldn’t stop.

One day I drove by a big red sign for HOT YOGA and breathed the first of what would be many sighs of relief. My practice was derailed with the rest of my routines, and I knew I needed to ground & centre. I signed up for the intro month mid-April even though I thought I’d be back in California by the end of May.

I knew this studio was different than any other from the get-go. Steve read something from Rumi that spoke directly to my soul in the end of shavasana. A few different people reached out and asked me about my practice afterward and when I would be back. Also, this was by far and away the most physically challenging yoga I had ever experienced, which unwound the knots in my stomach. Leaving the studio that first night, I felt more at peace than I had in a very long time.

Over the next few months, I let hundreds of silent tears fall while sitting in pigeon, cursed almost every teacher while sitting in my chair, melted tension into sweat and let it pour onto my mat, and breathed through poses when all I wanted to do was run out. I stayed and I felt stronger and more powerful for staying. I regained confidence, knowing that no matter the circumstances, I shape my own experience based on my reactions.

I made friends! My hand touched a cute guy’s during shavasana and he turned out to be my soul’s closest companion. I joined perspective-shifting workshops like Debbie’s “Powerful Conversations” and the 40 days program.  I feel immense gratitude when I walk into our brand new studio in Oshawa. I immediately see faces that warm my heart, and I’m constantly inspired by the teachers and students I am lucky enough to practice alongside. For the first time in my life, I have absolutely no desire to run.