Category: wellness

Why I Chose (Choose) a Heated Practice… all year ‘round!

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It was the summer of 2012 and I was in Montreal for five weeks. If you’ve never been to Montreal in the summer (or at all for that matter), Montreal summers tend to be hot (averaging around the 36 to 40 range).   By virtue of location they end up quite humid at any time during the year, hovering around the 60% mark for ambient humidity.

To give you an idea of scale, our hot room’s average temperature is steady at about 37 to 38 degrees Celsius, and the humidity tends to fluctuate based on time of day, outside temperature and humidity, the amount of practicing bodies in the hot room prior to and at the time, etc. Generally, the hot room humidity trends from 20% (first thing in the morning) to about 45-50% later in the day. During the summer months or after particularly rainy days the humidity may climb higher, although we do our best to keep it steady.

Montreal 2012 was like walking around in a hot room except there was no exiting the room after an hour to a nice shower. Rather, it was a lot like waking up in the hot room, and eating and working in the hot room, and then sleeping in the hot room… and waking up as a hot sweaty mess to start it all over again. 

Really glamourous, right? 

At some point someone had made the passing remark that ‘if you practice hot yoga, the heat outside won’t bother you as much.’ And that, my friends, spawned something else entirely.

I started practicing yoga at Moksha Yoga NDG and went a hand full of times before coming home – just imagine my surprise when I realised that ‘home’ was also the same ‘home’ shared by Moksha Yoga Saskatoon, the only Moksha studio in the province of Saskatchewan? 

Practicing in the summer is Saskatoon is a different experience from Montreal, but still similar in all the best ways… and arguably the reasons are even juicier here.

… I mean that very literally. While the ambient humidity in Montreal is high, I think anyone who has been to or has the pleasure of calling this sweet province home knows that we’re not exactly known for our luscious sea air. We’re a dry province. The hot room is not a dry space. This is a good thing. Because humans are primarily made of water.

Practicing in the summer in Saskatoon does wonders for reminding my body what it feels like to not always be dry. It also has a really great perk of reminding me to keep a close eye on my hydration day to day, something that I lacked prior to taking up a regular practice.

I find a summer practice to be favourable also because it does actually make the outside temperature seem less intense and I believe this is so for a few reasons –

  1. Hydration is key
  2. It makes me a more efficient sweater (in part due to hydration), but it’s almost as if my body is more familiar with the idea. Sweat, believe it or not, a normal bodily function and is one of the main ways that your body cools itself when it overheats. It’s a good thing.
  3. It makes me more efficient at breathing and it also makes me more cognizant of the pace of my breath, my heart, how much activity I’ve had, when to rest, when to nourish and eat, etc. Being more mindful of the breath opens up doors to other ways that the body operates to keep you healthy, whole and hale- especially in the summer heat, which is a good thing when activities pick up and you’re running around in ‘go’ mode
  4. It also serves as justification for a nice cold treat. 2012 also happened to coincide with the frozen yogurt boom, and I have no regrets about the amount of frozen yogurt I consumed that year. 

A heated practice (specifically here at Modo) is a great idea in the summer because (and this is Modo’s best kept secret I’m about to let you in on…) the classes are less rambunctious, hot room real estate is suddenly wide open – you can take up as much space as you want. 

You want three blocks? You take three blocks. 

Maybe even four. 

You can use the wall space fairly easily for modifications, whereas in the height of the winter months, it might not be possible. There’s more parking. The sun still shines when you leave, even when you leave at the end of the last class of the day- do your yoga, eat the ice cream and watch the sunset. Dreamy, right? 

Fast forward to summer 2019.

The heat doesn’t bother me much these days and the practice is much more familiar today than in 2012. And although it’s been 7 years of a set series, the practice is never boring (a question I get asked every so often). Modo is a practice that remains something interesting to watch even after seven years (and here’s hoping they’ll be many more), whether it’s summer or winter, night or morning, week day or weekend. 

No man (or woman in my case, but really any person or thing) walks in the same river twice – and this is a theory in practice every single day I come to my mat. 

Thank goodness for steamy Montreal.

Love, Rose

Listen to Your Teacher

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Have you ever taken a yoga class in which the teacher teaches something really new and fun – a different variation on a standard pose, for example – that fires you up and gets you excited, and you can’t wait to do it again the next class… But then the teacher doesn’t teach it?!?

So, you’re there, in the pose, waiting for that cue to get funky, but it doesn’t come. You think about just going ahead and doing it anyway, but you’re not sure about the etiquette in these situations… Allow me to clear that up for you!

Always, always, always listen to your teacher, even when you don’t want to. There are lots of good reasons why – here are just a few:

1) It’s a sign of respect. Back in the day, yoga teachers and students worked one-on-one, and the teacher was highly revered. The student was expected to do everything the teacher told him (yes, him – yoga was not traditionally practiced by women). Now, your teachers at MYH don’t fancy themselves to be gurus, but they are highly-trained professionals, and should be respected as such. It is simply a mark of respect to follow their guidance and do what they are asking you to do. Of course, if you need to modify for an injury, then go ahead, but it’s always a good idea to give a heads up before class so that the teacher understands why you’re doing your own thing.

2) It’s for the safety of the class. Again, all of your teachers at MYH are super well-trained, and they know what’s best for the class. They can gauge whether or not a variation is appropriate for a group, and they will teach to the ability of the class. Even if you feel you’re more advanced than other students and you feel you can safely do something different, well, see point number one! There is lots of time after class for you to work on other variations – and if you ask, your teacher will generally be more than happy to help you!

3) It helps to maintain the vibe. The best classes are the ones where everyone is in sync and feeding off one another’s energy – everyone is moving together and breathing together, and it just feels amazing… Until someone goes rogue and starts doing their own thing. Then suddenly everyone is distracted. They start looking around, wondering if they missed something, if they should try that too… And then they start comparing themselves, judging themselves and others, and then that beautiful, cohesive vibe is gone!

4) It keeps that pesky ego in check. This is probably the toughest one. Usually, when we want to do something different, it’s to do a “harder” variation. But who does that serve? No one really, except your ego. The Modo series is considered a beginner’s yoga series, and it should be practiced with what we call a “beginner’s mind.” So, while maybe you can bind your arms in triangle, or take wheel instead of bridge, it doesn’t mean you should. In fact, it is usually more challenging to hold back, to be humble, to respect what your teacher is saying, and to look for the learning opportunities that come from that. Hard, right? Yup, but worth it!

We guarantee it – you will learn more and get further in your practice by listening to your teacher, trusting in their expertise and checking your ego than you ever will by busting out into fancy yoga poses.

“Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, others over self.” – Dean Jackson

by Joanna Thurlow of Modo Yoga Halifax

Modo Family Student Spotlight- Crystal

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Crystal is so wonderful! Always smiling ear to ear when she greets us at the front desk. She knows how to put together a rocking 80’s out fit for our special teacher takeover classes, she doesn’t miss an opportunity to roll out her mat and sweat like she means it! She let us know why Modo is home away from home and why she loves the Modo practice. Meet our dear Modo family member Crystal!

What are you passionate about outside of yoga?

I am passionate about connecting with people, and the world around me! Travelling is my favourite thing to do and am humbled and fascinated each time I have the opportunity to spend time experiencing cultures and traditions from around the world. Closer to home, I work as a Recreation Therapist and I love the work I do.  I feel extremely grateful to help others heal and find meaning and joy in life through leisure!

What is your favorite posture?

Right now, I’m loving trikonasana and the space that it allows me to find throughout my entire body.

What do you love about the Modo Series?

The thoughtfulness and the thoroughness in the design of the Modo Series. When I practice the series, I leave feeling well-balanced in body and mind.

What is the most important thing you have learned in a yoga class?

Breathe, breathe, breathe! It took me almost a year to learn to align my breath with my practice, and to prioritize quality of breath over depth of the posture. Once I made the breath the central focus on the mat, I was amazed at the ease that everything else followed with.

What is your favorite animal, and why?

I am so obsessed with dogs! Particularly I am  fond of my rescued pitbull, Valentine. I love her because despite all the stereotypes she faces, she greets everyone she meets pure love and affection. It’s a wonderful thing to have people realize that they shouldn’t always judge a book by it’s cover.

What is your favourite thing about being a part of the Modo community?

When I walk in the door, I am greeted as if I’m family, and I truly do feel that way. Between the teachers and my fellow students, it is inspiring to be surrounded by, and share my practice with a community full of like-minded individuals.

Make it a Modo Morning!

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Making it to your mat each day doesn’t have to be a chore.  If you prepare yourself the night before, by placing everything you need by the door, you won’t be looking around for items at the arse crack of dawn. You will be setting yourself up for SUCCESS! Have an idea of what you’re going to fuel yourself with after class, that way you’ll have no excuse to miss the 6:30 am class.

Pair your early morning yoga practice with this delicious simple green smoothie. Heck prep it the night before, cover, place in your fridge and grab when you get home from class.  We can’t wait to see you on your mat first thing, you’re going to feel GREAT! #cultivateconsistency

Simple GREEN Smoothie
by: Jacqueline HuardIngredients
1 mango
1 banana
2 bushels of kale
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 water( or coconut water)
2 TBSP  organic ground flax
1 tsp organic hemp protein ( or to taste)Directions:
Using a food processor or mixer ( like a magic bullet or similar) blend your mango banana and kale.  Blending these separate allows the kale to really get broken down.  Add a little water if you find it is not mixing well.  Add the rest of the ingredients ( coconut milk, water, organic ground flax and organic hemp protein) and blend until smooth!
Note: if you prefer your smoothie chilled out-once blended just add a few ice cubes and blend one last time.

Learning to grieve with a little help from my friend- Yoga

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I’ve been wondering how to start this post for awhile now. How do I explain how yoga can help people grieve? How it can help people process. How it can help someone come out of the tunnel and not only see the light, but move in to and through the light. I finally realized I can’t talk about how it can help other, because everyone grieves differently. However, I can explain how it has helped me.

My family has unfortunately experienced two losses which have hit close to home. We lost a child to miscarriage at 14 weeks, and most recently experienced a stillbirth close to 22 weeks. The term ‘stillborn’ still doesn’t feel right to me, but clinically there’s no better term. Our son Watson was born with a beating heart, but lungs too immature to allow him to breathe. He was born just shy of the 23 1/2 week ‘cut-off’ for hospital staff to jump in and help him breathe, providing support until his lungs were strong enough to take the job over for themselves. He was born beautiful, with a chest that I saw move with each heartbeat, with a heart that I felt beat through the tips of my fingers, with an arm that he curled up in to his chest as he laid in my arms. He looked like his dad, he had toes like his sister, he had a nose like his mom.

This was a child that danced in my belly when I practiced yoga. While in the hospital for over 2 weeks I would be asked several times a day if I felt much movement. My answer was always “a little bit”, but nothing compared to what I felt before I had arrived there. You see, it was when I practiced yoga that he practiced moving his little body the most.

When Watson died a piece of my heart shattered. I came home and tried to settle in to my new life – a new life because of large piece of me had been lost to never return. I would never be the same. It took me a week to return to my mat at home. For the first week of practice, I would settle in to childs pose and cry. Eventually I was able to extend one leg back into pigeon, then the other. It’s amazing how the body moves to what it needs the most. Most of my practice that first month was a tribute to hip openers. Heart always closed over my mat I would allow my hips, which have always held emotion, to open. The more they opened, the more it hurt… the more I cried.  Then one day, my sweet little beacon of light walked up to me as I was in melting heart, and said “Mommy, look!”. She was in tree pose. This amazing little soul, who intuitively knows so much, showed me where I had to go. I pulled myself up and stood in tree with her. She looked up at me with innocent eyes and a brilliant smile, and I smiled back. I smiled as I stood tall, confident, and strong. Without thinking I swept my arms up overhead, and Norah followed as she always does. We moved in to crescent moon. I felt my ribs expand and my breath instantly began to deepen. I knew in that instant what I had to do. Just as Watson had learned to move his little body when I practiced, I had to re-learn my life as I knew best – with movement.

When I started to return to Modo Yoga Cambridge I would find a spot near the back, behind someone else’s mat. Though I had once again become comfortable moving within my body, I wasn’t comfortable seeing myself in the mirror. It was difficult going from looking at myself in the studio with a noticeably pregnant belly to seeing myself postpartum. So, I hid. When I taught, I would stand at the front of the room, and look everywhere except at my reflection. I wasn’t ready.

On a particularly emotional day, without thinking about my actions, I arrived at the studio. It was empty, as I knew it would be, and I found myself standing alone in 1500 square feet of silence, two feet from the mirror, on my mat. Chin lifted, I looked in my eyes and started to move. I started with my breath and allowed that breath to carry me through 1 hour of heat, sweat, cries and flow. My practice that day ended with a supported savasana, shoulders back, chest open to the heavens, hands over heart, tears streaming down my face. I cried not tears of sadness, though those do come and go, but tears of acceptance. Yes, our Watson died and it is incredibly sad, but a piece of the heartache chipped away that day making room for love. Love for myself, my husband, my Norah, my family and friends.

I rolled up my mat that day a different person than who I was when I unrolled it an hour prior. Losing Watson will always hurt. I will always miss who he was when he was with me, and the hopes I had for who he would become. I find comfort knowing that every time I step on my mat, he is there with me. His spirit moves and breathes with me now as his body did while he was living inside of me.

There is no end to the grieving process, at least not mine. I have great happy days, sad days, and in-between days.The studio has offered me a healing space where I can be myself and let my emotions roll as they will. Why not? We have all suffered some loss. We all experience some sadness and heartache. The Moksha community I continue to return to has proven that we are there for one another in happiness and sadness, and most importantly that it is okay to be human – because we all are.

So here I am, 4 days shy of 7 months after his birth, a new person. A new mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and business partner. Most importantly, a person whose reflection I can look at and know that while it carries a story, it carries love.

Christine Grant runs Modo Yoga Cambridge with her wonderful partners, Emily & Wendy Dwornikiewicz. She spends her days dreaming, teaching, exploring the outdoors with her pooches, and going on adventures with her sweet little tyke. As the sun starts to set she is likely to be enjoying a backyard BBQ, some good cheese, and a great glass of wine. Follow Christine on Instagram – @trueyogamom
 

Why participate in a 30 day Challenge?

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1. What is a 30 Day Challenge?

A 30 Day Challenge is an event hosted by Modo Yoga studios.  Participants in a 30 Day Challenge dedicate themselves to practice yoga every day for 30 consecutive days.

2. Why Participate in the 30 day challenge?

There are many reasons to participate in the 30 Day Challenge!

The 30 Day Challenge provides participants with the support and motivation of community.  As a group, participants are united and driven by their common goal.

The studio provides an orientation, tips, and workshops to assist you. Teachers and staff are available to address concerns, advice, or simply listen.

Yoga has many benefits – physiological, mental and emotional.  By committing to a daily practice, those benefits unfold at a more rapid rate.

3. What are the benefits of a regular hot yoga practice?

Yoga involves stretching, strengthening, and elongating the spine for proper alignment of the vertebrae.  The breathing techniques and relaxation lower blood pressure, increase cardio-vascular health, increase lung capacity, release tension and stress, and teach us to relax and enjoy life.

Other benefits of yoga include:

  • Cardiovascular efficiency increases
  • Respiratory efficiency increases
  • Gastrointestinal function normalizes
  • Endocrine function normalizes
  • Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase
  • Posture improves
  • Strength and resiliency increase
  • Endurance increases
  • Energy level increases
  • Sleep improves
  • Immunity increases
  • Balance improves
  • Awareness increases
  • Mood improves and subjective well-being increases
  • Self-acceptance and self-actualization increase
  • Concentration improves

4. Is it healthy to practice hot yoga daily?

Traditionally, yoga was meant as a daily practice.  In taking on a daily practice safely, there are some key things to take note of:Listen to your body.

Respond to your body’s signals.  If you increase body awareness, and your ability to listen to that awareness, the 30 days will be a great success!

Pace yourself.

Ask teachers about adjustments for specific needs (injuries, using props, etc).

Take savasana before and after class for at least 5 minutes.

Stay hydrated.

Replenish your electrolytes.

Get lots of sleep.

Have fun! Let go of judgment or evaluation, and invite a sense of levity to your challenge.

5. I will be away during the 30 day challenge. What happens if I miss a class?

You have a number of options in the event that you miss a class.  You may double-up another day to make up for missed classes.  You can practice at another studio.  Or, being a personal challenge, you can accept the missed class and continue on.

6. Can participation in class at another studio count for the challenge?

The majority of the classes must be done at Modo Yoga Saskatoon.  However, classes done at other studios will count towards the challenge.

7. Can I do any class?

You may participate in any class on the schedule.

8. Should I set an intention?

It is best to set an intention for your challenge. Why are you doing it?  What is it that you want to come of the challenge?

Plan what classes fit into your regular schedule.  Identify possible obstacles, and pre-plan your strategy for overcoming these obstacles.

Tell your close friends and family about your challenge.  Get them on board to offer support and motivation.

9. How do I sign up for the challenge?

You can sign up online or in studio!  If you have any questions, please call us at 306.649.2424 or email @ info@modoyogasaskatoon.com.

Modo Hot Yoga Series

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Modo Yoga is a green, clean, hot yoga series that stretches, strengthens and tones the muscles while helping to detoxify the body and calm the mind.  While all classes are rooted in the Modo Yoga series, teachers are encouraged to bring their own unique knowledge and experience every time they enter the room to teach.

Savasana

Savasana, or corpse pose, is how we begin. Lying flat on the back with the palms turned up and the feet slightly separated, we start a challenging practice in relaxation, allowing our expectations to fall away and be replaced by the potential for a pure experience.

Intention Setting

In any activity, setting goals or intentions breeds accomplishment. Often a teacher will set a theme for a class – for example being more aware of your breath, or building the core muscles of the abdomen. Especially for those with a busy life, this brings the experience of a hot yoga class into focus.

The Standing Series

The standing series is a cardiovascular set of postures. The focus is on building strength, stability, balance and endurance through hot yoga postures done from a standing position. Postures are held anywhere from 10 seconds to a minute, allowing the skin to sweat and detoxify the body.

The Floor Series

The floor series works on strengthening the upper body, spine and abdominal muscles. Having thoroughly warmed the body in the standing series, we now begin to open the hips and focus on the health of the spine. The floor series can relieve tension, help treat lower back and knee pain, and improve posture.

Final Savasana

Final Savasana ends the class the way it began: lying flat on the back. The standing and floor series have warmed, strengthened and opened the body, and now we’re ready to relax. At the end of class students leave at their own pace, each with greatly reduced stress levels, a rejuvenated internal system and a little yoga twinkle in the eye (you’ll see!).