Fall Schedule & news

This week as I was sitting in my office watching the tourists on Sparks Street I had to ask myself -where has the summer gone? I felt as if I blinked and suddenly June & July had blurred into a series of memories (rain seemed to be a predominant theme).

It has been awe-inspiring to see so many faces at classes this summer. Your support, laughter and enthusiasm creates such great and positive energy in the studio. Everyone has commented on the pure sense of bliss that exists in the studio after pre-natal yoga class. Teaching the pre-natal goddesses and watching them become centred, relaxed and confident as they prepare to give birth really becomes quite emotional.

The classes continue to grow as more students find a little oasis for the mind, body and spirit at the Courtyard.

The fall schedule is now online, showcasing the newest class and the enhanced Fall schedule for yoga and the speciality classes. Your feedback is crucial respecting the schedule and classes as this is your studio. I've been asked to increase the number of Hot Yoga, Body Bar and Kickboxing classes, which I will evaluate for the winter schedule.

This summer I have been fortunate to have taken some wonderful professional development courses and training in both yoga and fitness. Of note:

• Phoenix Rising, Bristol, Vermont in yoga therapy, added a new dimension to my approach of teaching yoga. I chose Phoenix Rising due to their holistic rather than linear approach-they focus on the individuals needs rather then the philosophical approach to assisting students. Rather than developing a series of asanas focusing on assisting with healing the physical condition, they treat the whole individual. After alot of reflection, I have decided to continue with the certification process as a Phoenix Rising yoga therapy practitioner and really appreciate your feedback regarding observations in the approach to teaching classes.
  


• Aryuvedic Studies-During my yoga teacher training, I was fortunate to have 2 of the most amazing instructors-Roxanne, who understands and explains the technical aspect of each asana better than anyone I have encountered in years of yoga & Lorne, who was deeply integrated into the philosophical basis of yoga. It was through Lorne that my interested in aryuvedia developed and I started taking courses last year and decided this summer to complete training in aryuvedia healing. My interests are through the use of the science in eating for balance. Ottawa's only aryuvedic doctor, Vaidya Gupta has a wellness centre located on Carling Avenue and information on the courses and treatments offered there: http://www.divineayurveda.org/. For more information on aryuvedia, there are numerous websites that provide more information on the science.
  
• Fitness Kickboxing-Ok, so after 20 years of practicing judo cause of it's appeal to me, I was shocked to find myself taking this course and loving it! I was also shocked at how much I sweated during this training-my arms ached and my glutes felt like this were on fire (just joking, but wow, you really notice you have them after a session!!). I have been using this with my personal training clients and they love it and how fast the time flies. In introducing it into the studio, because my speciality is on the personal training side aspects, the classes will be limited to 10 participants. as i gain my next level of certification and comfort with instructing it, the class size will expand-but for the fall session, 10 is the maximum.
• What's next? For the fall, more professional development. I am completing my YMCA group fitness instructor certification; more distance education courses from Memorial from the their kinesiology program, (enhancing athletic performance and program design for weight loss); pre-exercise health screening; Baron Baptiste Power master training (yoga). For the class design, more Yin introduced into the restorative yoga poses due to the benefits to the student.

Workshops: Speciality workshops throughout the fall & winter on:

• runners and cyclists to minimize injuries & lenghten functional muscle fibre & increase performance through yoga designed specifically for these athletic groups
• nutrition for performance
• meditation for stress
• yoga 101-breaking down the mysteries & myths of yoga; principles of movement
• muscle function & strenght building to prevent osetroposis in women
• more to come!!

Schedule August 24-September 4th

- Monday, August 24th: I'm leaving for vacation (a true one!!) noon August 24th. There will be body bar at 0800 on August 24th-there will be no other classes on August 24th-September 4. The studio will open for the Fall schedule on September 5th.

So, who's doing Zumba? Weight Loss 101-What's a Fun Way to Lose Weight

There's a new way among celebrities to shape up while having fun: Zumba off the pounds!

Among the celebrities who rely on Zumba as a way to manage their weight and stay in shape: Eva LaRue (“C.S.I. Miami”), Vivica A. Fox (“Independence Day”, “Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Stacy Kiebler (“Dancing with the Stars”), Former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres, and Jackie Chan (“Rush Hour” movies, “The Tuxedo” and “Shanghai Noon”).

Zumba was created by Beto Perez, who has more than 15 years of fitness instruction and dance choreography experience. Beto has been a trainer to the stars throughout his career and choreographed dance routines for international music artists such as Shakira.
Beto developed the Zumba program from an array of traditional Latin salsa and Merengue. He refers to it as "the Zumba fitness party."

In 2007, Zumba Fitness launched internationally and is currently offered through trained instructors in more than 75 countries.

"The Zumba workout provides long-term fitness benefits through exhilarating, high calorie-burning fitness classes, and its simple Latin and urban dance moves increase the fun factor," explains Beto. "The routines feature interval training sessions with fast and slow rhythms and resistance training, which combine to successfully tone and sculpt the body while burning fat."

http://www.examiner.com/x-12516-Celebrity-Weight-Loss-Examiner~y2009m7d22-Celebrity-Weight-Loss-101-Whats-a-FUN-way-to-lose-weight

Saturday's Yoga Flow Class (July 25th)-Yoga for the Third Chakra

Enjoy this class focusing on improving balance in the third chakra (Manipura). The third chakra is often associated with self-esteem; warrior energy; digestion and metabolism. It is also the place where we enjoy warmth, laughter and vitality. A strong third chakra results in restored vitality and core strength.

Come and enjoy a practice focusing on balancing through:
- Upward bow pose
- Boat pose
- 1/2 boat pose
- legs lifts
- warrior poses
- twists
- breath of fire
- Seated forward bend
- inclined plane
- Half circle
- sun salutation
- eagle
- crow
- plow

Namaste!

Darlene

Saturday's Class: Flow for the Hips

The focus of this Saturday's yoga flow class (July 18th) will focus on opening the hips, hamstrings and spine through specific asanas and combinations identified with bringing release and soothe stress in these areas. Stress often is introduced into our bodies through our hips and core. This class is also beneficial for cyclists and runners to help open the hips, lengthen & relax muscle fibre in the hips & hamstrings, improve flexibility and reduce the likelihood of injury.

News from the Studio

I hope you are all having a great summer & were able to get out and enjoy the fabulous weekend (ok, Saturday not so great but Sunday was awesome!!).

I have been busy with taking training courses in several areas to help bring more to the studio, its' students and the area. In keeping with my philosophy of continuous improvement of what is available, the studio will be offering Cardio Kickboxing (non-contact) starting on the fall schedule. The training for this was awesome and I had to admit I felt it 48 hours later. Coming from 20 years of judo I was really taken back by the intensity of the cardio and strength components of the training. In January, I will look at adding a second class, max 8 participants, where it will be contact.

Both infrared heaters are now up and warming the studio during hot yoga. The heat is more direct than the radiant heat from the fireplace and space heaters. Your feedback is appreciated on whether you feel these provide enough heat (each radiates in a direction that heats an 8 x14 foot area).

Yogalates, since we have been having so much fun with the stability balls, these will become a fixed part of this class. The resistance tubing will also be used (great for toning the legs!!).

Schedule Changes-Week of July 7-11

I am registered for one more yoga training session with Rising Phoenix out of Vermont. Since this group will be holding this session in Toronto, there will be no classes from July 7-11. This will be the last training course I will have for the summer as I prepare to bring the fall schedule on line. Your patience and consideration is most appreciated as I continue to improve the services offered at the studio through supplementary workshops and certification courses.

Namaste!

Fall Schedule-Eff Sept 5/09 (Draft)

Sunday
0900-1000 Hot Power yoga
1010-1110 Body Bar Strength

Monday
0930-1030 Mom & baby Yogafit
1040-1140 Restorative/Gentle Yoga
Noon-1245 Yoga-Total Body Conditioning
5:30-6:30 p.m Pre-Natal Yoga
6:45-7:45 p.m Zumba with Core

Tuesday

6-7 p.m Cardio Kickboxing (non-contact)
7:15-8:15 Hot Power Yoga

Wednesday

6:30-8 p.m Beginner Yoga

Thursday

6:30-8 p.m Yogalates For A stronger Core & lean Legs (stability balls and Resistance tubing used in this class)

Friday:

5-6 p.m Body Bar Strength

Saturday

0800-0915 Yoga Flow
0930-1030 Zumba with core
1045-1145 Mother & Daughter Yoga Groove

New for the Fall-Cardio Kickboxing