Yoga, Fitness and Life Balance

I'm Jessy! I'm an adventurous, vegetarian, tree-hugging, travel loving, yoga and fitness teacher. Check in here for updates on my latest adventures, to see what inspires me and to get inspired yourself www.livingbala.com facebook.com/livingbala [email protected]

[jessyoga]

In the last 6 months I’ve taken my yoga off the mat and into new territory. I’ve really spent time in svadhyaya (self study) as I’ve gone way out of my comfort zone. I’ve learned some new asanas (poses) called the clean, jerk and snatch. I’ve grown so much, both physically and emotionally…seriously, my favourite jeans don’t fit around my quads anymore!

I joined a crossfit gym 6 months ago and have gotten really familiar with the feeling of fear and my reaction to it. I’ve been afraid so many times in the last 6 month. Every time the clock beeps and the WOD (workout if the day) is about to start I’m afraid, when I approach a bar I’m not sure I can lift I’m afraid and now that my first ever crossfit competition is here I’m afraid. Every day, as I lean into this fear and do it anyway, I’m rewarded for it. I’ve come face to face with my satya (truth) and can say that I’ve never really challenged myself like this. Sure I’ve tried new things, been nervous and gotten on stage at yoga competition anyway and done many things that require courage, but I’ve always stayed close to the edge of my comfort zone. Honestly, I really don’t like to fail. I like to be good at things, especially in front of others. I prefer not to have anyone see me struggle. What the heck kind of example is that setting to my students though?! I am capable of so much more than I give myself credit for. 

Now comes the santosha (contentment with where I’m at) and ishvara pranidhana (surrender to something bigger than me) as I head into the loud gym full of cheers of encouragement and eyes on me. Funny that I could teach a yoga class to a group this big and have no nerves at all, but having them watch me lift weight makes me squirm. Regardless of how it turns out, I’m proud to be here, to have a great group of people cheering for me and inspiring me to keep growing

[jessyoga]

I struggled a lot this summer to be productive in a traditional sense. I had a lot of bookkeeping and planning projects that I just didn’t make time for at all. I wrote no blogs and only maintained what I had to. Instead, I went to the ROM, Canada’s Wonderland, played with my nephews and friends a lot. I did have a ton of fun, socialized lots and met my fitness goals of 5 times weekly yoga and 3 times weekly workouts

My natural tendency to drive, achieve and be perfect had my inner dialogue pretty hard on me by the end of summer as I sat down to get s$!t done. I went back to my mentor, tail between my legs, to confess that I was a slacker. What he said changed me instantly. He suggested that if I don't like to do that work in the summer, then why do I set myself up to fail at it. Instead, if I have a finish date for project planning and allow myself the freedom to enjoy some of our short summer doing other things that I find nourishing that I will be much happier and productive and can pick up my 'work' again. Hmm. Seems simple and reminds me that seeing the heart of a blue whale, dancing with my friends at the cottage and having a nephew who calls me his best friend are completely worthwhile experiences that I would rather savour, instead of feeling guilty about. Now I'm back in full planning mode as the days are shorter and cooler. I'm loving the dreams and projects I'm working on and it really doesn't feel like work. I feel happy knowing that I can give myself some freedom to work as the natural ebb and flow of work come to me. Forcing anything really doesn't have good results does it!

[jessyoga]

I am so incredibly grateful to all of my community members who came to the introductory meditation workshop I held at Bala this week. It was humbling to have so many of you there, sharing and giving me such encouraging and kind feedback after. I gotta say...I love our yogis here!

I mentioned that I would post the resources that I talked about and figured this was the best place to do it. This list is by no means complete, but should cover everything that I may have rambled about last night as it is my ‘go tos’ for meditation. In no particular order...

www.meditateinbarrie.org (Buddhist centre in Barrie posts a weekly topic like our 3rd meditation in the workshop) 

www.dharmaocean.org (lots of free meditations and have a podcast)

deepakchopra.com (a free 21 day guided meditation the next one starts in a few weeks)

Bliss and Grit-my current favourite podcast about the spiritual path by two very real ladies 

The timer app I use is called insight timer. It also has some guided meditations in the app, but they are hit or miss. Headspace is also a popular one, though it requires a membership. 

I also spoke briefly about a somatic (in the body) version of meditation that we did not use last night. Somatic therapy comes from Dr. Peter Levine. Check out his website at www.psychalive.com or his youtube videos for a starting point on that kind of work

Thank you Thank you Thank you to everyone who came and shared their stories and inspired each other!

[jessyoga]

My Beef with Strong Women

So yesterday was International Women’s Day and I saw post after post on social media about strong women. I get it, the intention is to build up women and show love for the women in our lives, but I have a personal issue with how much yesterday’s social media was focused on strong women.

Strength is a character trait that I have spent many years identifying myself with. In the right context, strong is a fantastic trait to have, but for me, being strong made me believe that being vulnerable was wrong. Being strong made me build walls around my inner messes and insecurities that I had deemed as weak. These walls stopped me from creating meaningful and intimate relationships and left me feeling alone. Being strong meant not showing my emotion, looking like I had it together when I was a mess and putting intense pressure on myself to live up to the pretty package I wanted to be.

It’s taken a while, but I’ve changed my mind on the definition of strong. Strong is asking for help when I need it. Strong is sitting with tough emotions and not having the answer - and crying, something I still don’t like to do. Strong is letting people see me in my entirety, and being okay if they don’t see perfection.

Cheers to the strong women in my life who live with truth, courage and self-acceptance. Cheers to building each other up and removing our armour of strength

[jessyoga]

I've been watching the ads all over for Bell Let's Talk day for the last few weeks popping up on tv, radio and social media. I'm grateful that such a day exists, and that it is growing in popularity. There certainly is still stigma associated with mental illness, but the word is getting out. I hope that we can soon shift the conversation to making mental health care more easily accessible, both logistically and financially. My husband, Jody has suffered from severe anxiety for several years now. We are lucky enough to have a very good extended health care plan, but even our very good coverage is limited to $500 per year and only covers psychotherapists (no counsellors) and at more than $100 a session, this doesn't go far. There are publicly funded crisis centers out there. Our town of Alliston has one with a reasonably short, two month wait list. I think the hardest part of the mental health system in place that I've found so far is figuring out how to access it. Jody does a terrible job of reaching out for help and knowing what he needs. I can't speak for all people suffering with anxiety, but this is part of its effect on him. He can go to the doctor and come back with a prescription for an SSRI, but to get accurate info to and from the doctor I have to go with him. I have literally spent hours on the phone and Internet researching programs. It is a challenge to find out what is available. All of this means more time off work for me, and less income to pay for appointments and prescriptions. I am grateful that we are able to make his mental health a priority, regardless of its cost, though my heart goes out to those in similar situations who cannot. I have recently found a three week outpatient program in Newmarket that I hope he will decide to attend. However, he is concerned about having to go on short term disability for this as he will earn less pay and use up all of his sick days at once. He has great fear of reprimand from work for missing too much time or being passed over for promotion. There is a difference between what is legally an obligation of a workplace and what they expect. I need Jody to begin to function better as much as he does. Living with a person who is suffering with a mental illness is very hard. I feel a broad spectrum of emotion regularly. Deep empathy for what it must be like for him mingles with frustration at my being powerless to do anything about it. Gratitude for all of the ways he has grown emotionally have an undertone of grief for the fun and carefree man he used to be, seemingly lost forever. In so many ways I wish I could take some of his suffering from him, but there are days where I barely hold myself together. There is a name for this. It is called caretaker burnout, and man is it easy to fall into. I don't want to lean on him too much, as he's barely functioning on his own, and end up feeling alone. On top of that, if his attacks happen in the middle of the night, which happens frequently, I'm exhausted at work the next day and way more likely to pick a fight with him. On top of running my own business, I am left to do the majority of the day to day household tasks as they overwhelm him. It is as though my energy drains out faster than I am able to replenish it. I've found that very regimented self care is highly necessary to get me through. I go to yoga classes, get massages, pedicures and spend time having wine and chatting with my neighbours. The more Jody and I are open about our struggles, the more the people around us open up about theirs. Stress, shame and sadness are all decreased when shared. The effects of mental illness are too hard to carry alone

[jessyoga]

What is Yoga Therapy?

So I’m home from my yoga therapy intensive with Susi Hatley of Functional Synergy and boy was it life changing for me! Right from the first diagram Susi put up on the board I knew I was in the right place. That first diagram was all about how, a person in pain, often oscillates between resigning themselves to live with what they have (its my age, I just can’t run anymore or I just don’t have that strength or flexibility) and fix it (I just gotta push through, maybe a physio/osteopath etc would help or I need to strengthen my muscles). I’ve personally spent a lot of time back and forth between these two places myself and its exhausting. Between these two places, are whispers from your body. Those whispers are the key to living pain free life of unlimited potential! In those whispers, your body is constantly communicating to you when there is a problem. The trouble is that the whispers are quiet. Mostly we either don’t hear them, or we outright ignore them because they don’t align with what our intellectual self or ego want to accomplish. Working with a yoga therapist is different than any other body worker because a yoga therapist is trained to help you figure out your own body’s whispers. Its not work done to you, or on your body, but an advisor to help you tune into your own body. A yoga therapist uses breath, movement and stillness to help you to quiet compensations in the body and nurture the simple and pure movements that will help you to heal your own body. The process frees up so much of your energy to do more of what you love to do! Seriously, can you imagine how much energy and strength you would have if you weren’t fighting yourself, but working with yourself? 

Here are the answers to some common questions I’ve had posed to me in the last week. 

1.No, you don’t need to be a yogi or flexible. The movements are simple, and nothing any big yogi would post on instagram. 

2.No, you don’t need to be in serious pain to benefit from yoga therapy. Even high functioning athletes could benefit from freeing up energy and chanelling their strength

3. Its not about conditions. Yoga therapy is about you. How refreshing is that! Regardless of what major or minor injuries, conditions or illnesses you have, you can benefit from moving better. No, the arthritis won’t disappear, but you will get relief from its symptoms

4. No, it doesn’t take a long time to see big changes in the body. It is possible that a one hour session will have effects that reach to all realms of your life. Usually, that means you want more and more though! 

So now I embark on my practicum. I’m offering up a package of 5 sessions to anyone who wants to give it a try at a reduced rate. The 5 sessions are $300. Please let me know if you have any other questions I haven’t covered here. Let me help you to become more you. As Susi said, there is no limit to the joy that you can experience

[jessyoga]

Vegan Fudge Bars

This recipe even passed the test of my 6 year old nephew. He didn’t detect a hint of healthiness and loved it. I may have consumed 5 yesterday myself…

Crust 1 ½ C rolled oats 1 C raw almonds Pinch salt 3 Tbsp sweetener (Maple syrup, honey or agave) 4 Tbsp melted coconut oil

Filling 1 C pitted and chopped dates ¼ C cocoa powder 2-4 Tbsp water

1. Line a loaf pan with foil, saran or wax paper with sides overhanging for easy removal 2. Process almonds until flour-like consistency. Add oats and continue to blend a few more minutes. Add rest of crust ingredients and blend until well incorporated and beginning to stick together 3. Press crust (save for ½ C for the topping) into the pan firmly and evenly 4. Process filling ingredients in food processor until it makes a paste. You want it thick 5. Press filling on top of crust (I find an oiled spatula the best to prevent sticking) evenly 6. Top with reserved crust crumble and refrigerate at least 1 hour before cutting into bars

[jessyoga]

Its time for spring yoga to start in Everett. Get yourself registered, as space is limited to 12 students per class. Call or email to register today

[jessyoga]

Big news! Announcing the yoga schedule for summer at Bala. Classes will run from July 7 to September 4, with a 1 week vacation break August 3-7. That’s 8 weeks of yoga to keep you practicing throughout the summer.

Preregistration is required for the summer sessions. Sign up for one class for $100. Sign up for two classes and you pay $75 each ($150 total). Sign up for three classes and pay $45 each. Sign up for four classes and pay $30 each. The more yoga you do, the less you pay per class. You must use all of the classes within the session. Missed classes can be made up at a different class within the session. Payment guarantees your spot.

Details on the classes are as follows:

Sunrise power yoga is an active vinyasa style of class. It’s a challenging class suitable for all levels of yogis. Weather dependent, we hope to be able to enjoy the beautiful sunrise and practice outside.

Relax and stretch is a yin style of restorative yoga. This is a slow moving and simple yoga, with deep stretching to increase flexibility and decrease stress. You will leave this class feeling happy, relaxed and limber.

FUNdamentals is an Iyengar style of yoga that uses props to make postures more accessible. This is a great class to learn alignment and deepen understanding of poses.

Gentle 60+ is an Iyengar style of yoga that moves a little slower and more carefully than the regular FUNdamentals class. It’s great for seniors or anyone working through injuries.

Contact me for more info or to register [email protected]

[jessyoga]

Highlights of our trip: The flight to Asia is long. My legs were swollen and I was very stiff on arrival even though I moved around the planes regularly. We had a day to tour Bangkok first. We saw the Royal palace, the biggest temple in the city, the Chinese market and did a river cruise. It was lots of walking but that was a nice change. Next day was the bus to Siem reap, Cambodia. I won't go into big detail, but let me tell you that it was quite the 8 hour experience! Siem Reap is a city of big contrast. Hard Rock Cafe just around the corner from major poverty. Tourists everywhere to see Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is a 1000 year old temple that has been in use since it was build. It is surrounded by kilometers of ancient holy buildings. High on my list of most magnificent things I've ever seen. Next was the islands of Cambodia. A night in Shianoukville to get on a ferry going over. We stayed on Koh Rong Samleum. It's the least developed island with just three 'resorts' on one side of the island and a handful on the other. It was incredible. I did some diving and got some good down time to meet people. Next to Phnom Phen. In our day and a half we fit in a visit to the Royal palace, the national museum, some shopping at a few NGOs, a sunset cruise and a tour of the night market. The most congested city I've seen and not to everyone's taste, but definitely some charming things here. Chiang Mai was next. We had a good stretch of days here to really explore. We had a day with the elephants at a sanctuary, a tour of the highest mountain in Thailand, a half day spa (traditional Thai massage, foot reflexology and massage and a pedicure for about $15), nightly walks through markets and constant water fighting because it is sonkran (Thai New Year) the entire time we are here. Last stop is Phuket. We stay on Karon beach just south of where the big parties are in Patong beach. I'm glad we chose that one. We could walk within a few minutes to the beach and none of the restaurants were very full at all. I had a couple of days here to scuba dive and my friend did her open water certification course. It was great fun with warm water and time to sit in the sun and relax. I left Phuket with a quick stop in Bangkok and then headed for home. Looking forward to seeing everyone back home soon.

[jessyoga]

I like to post pictures of myself doing yoga in a pretty background on social media. It's quite shallow of me. Is it really my practice? Not at all. I share poses that I can do well. Never ones I struggle with. I usually take 3 or 4 photos and pick the best. At least half of them I edit for a more aesthetic look. The truth is that I didn't practice for the first four days of my trip. There is simply too much fun stuff happening and life gets in the way sometimes. Sure I've done a few poses for myself, but not a full practice. I had the opportunity to practice at a Bikram studio in Bangkok, but chose to tour a cool temple instead. Do you blame me? Finally Rebecca and I got to practice last night. We did a short Bikram series (one set instead of two of each posture) because it was already 8pm and we needed dinner and showers before an early day today. It wasn't in a beautiful location as you can see. I wore clothing that was comfortable instead of pretty and my hair was a mess because I need a shower. I fell out of postures and complained about my body aching from 4 full days of sitting or walking to the extreme. The point is that I practiced. Even on vacation. Even though I'm tired and swollen ankles. Even though I don't have a mat. Even though it cuts into my time to relax. Even though it was in a dark corner with hard floors. I hope that posting this helps you to embrace and love your practice. It doesn't matter where or what you do. Do what your body needs. Do it for you

[jessyoga]

Check into the airport early and wait. Get in the plane on the runway and wait. Arrive at connecting airport and wait. Arrive and find shuttle and wait. Not to mention all the lineups along the way and waiting on the plane to arrive. Travel is all about waiting. I believe that yoga has given me the mental toughness and patience required to be a good traveller. Today I witnessed people angry at others who cut in line. Not waiting your turn is really uncool, but when we are all getting on the same flight does it really matter? A collective groan let out when the plane got onto the runway and had to sit there for 15 extra minutes before takeoff because of early morning noise regulations. Frustration waiting for a flight attendant doesn't help your service. Flight attendants are human beings. A little kindness goes a long way. Rebecca and I did meet a really nice man who took us for breakfast. We had lots of time to explore shops, watch movies, nap, do yoga and even write this blog post. We chatted with other travelers and each other, even came up with a great business idea. I had the luxury of a day to myself to relax. Don't I wish for this regularly? . Lots to be grateful for today. Here's some fun shots from the plane. We figured out lots of plane yoga poses. Details to come. Some people hardly moved around the plane. Don't know how they did it. I got up and stretched lots and still feel like I'm 80

[jessyoga]

To The First Time Yogi Who Hated My Class…

Winter brings with it an onslaught of new participants in all forms of fitness, including yoga classes. Often, theses participants are coming to the room with bodies that have not been stretched or strengthened in some time and with minds full of self doubt or even hatred. Many make it through one class and never return. Here are some things I would like to tell them:

Find some compassion for yourself. You are forced to become aware of your body’s limitations in yoga postures. On top of that, you will probably find yourself in a position where you get a good look at the parts of your body you don’t like so much.

Stop comparing. That girl who can turn herself into a pretzel may have been practicing for years, and a gymnast before that. Your self worth is not linked to your depth in any yoga posture.

You might feel something. It’s normal to want to avoid anything that doesn’t feel good. Our society is quick to numb any unpleasant feelings we have with food, alcohol, social media or other. Yoga is a powerful tool for healing body, mind and spirit. It can make you feel things that are not pleasant in the process. It is normal to have a headache or feel nauseous occasionally after a yoga pose.

You are what you believe. If you believe you can do something, you’re already 3/4 the way to doing it. Keep trying a little, the right way and you can do anything. If you avoid an obstacle every time you come up against it, it will always be an obstacle. If you believe you have limitations , you do. It’s simple, but not easy

I may not be the teacher for you. Every yoga teacher brings their own personality to their class. You will connect with some teachers more than others. Don’t give up on yoga because the style or the teacher wasn’t a good fit. There is a yoga out there for everyone.

[jessyoga]

Healthy Chocolate Pudding! Craving something sweet after the holidays? Yeah, me too. This is my adaptation of a recipe shared with me by my lovely yoga friend Katie. 2 ripe avocados 1 ripe banana 3/4 C cacao powder 1 Tbsp vanilla extract 2-4 dates 2-4 Tbps maple syrup Blend all ingredients together in a food processor. Start with 2 Tbsp of maple syrup and add until your pudding reaches your desired consistency. Top with raw cacao nibs or fresh fruit.

[jessyoga]

How does this photo make you feel? It instantly makes me feel guilty, inadequate and ashamed of myself for lack of control. But then I get angry. Angry at the suggestion that celebrating a holiday is sinful. Angry that the fitness industry uses this ploy to manipulate those of us with complicated food relationships (come on, that’s really all of us) to a place of self-loathing where food comes with ‘good’ and ‘bad’ labels.

If you've been in my class at all in the last week, you’ve probably heard me issue my challenge to you. Here it is: over the holidays, do not, even for one second, feel guilty about having your favourite cookie, mulled cider, grandmas mashed potatoes etc. The pleasure and fulfillment that comes from a small indulgences at holidays is good for your soul. Usually these are indulgences we only allow ourselves once a year. That makes these treats sacred and essential to our spirit Do not allow fitness marketers to prey on you and make you feel any little bit less about yourself for filling your belly with love. You are good enough as you are. Every time you eat or exercise, do it from a place of love. Like all things, it may take practice to find a place of peace amongst the marketing. But keep trying. You are perfect and beautiful. Don't let anyone make you believe you otherwise

[jessyoga]

I'm sure you've heard of kale. Have you tried it yet? The kale craze is in high gear. This superfood is packed with vitamins and good stuff to lower cholesterol and prevent cancer and grows easily in Ontario from early May until heavy frost. One great way to begin your love affair with kale is to make kale chips. These will please the entire family, but disappear as fast as you bake them, so make an entire head. Here's how: 1.Preheat oven to 350 2.Tear kale into pieces, removing the stems and big veins 3.Toss pieces in olive oil and spices. Try sea salt, chili pepper, garlic powder or some sriracha. Just enough to coat 4.Spread on baking sheets lined with parchment paper and bake approximately 15 minutes or until they look dry

[jessyoga]

Because I work in a gym a few days a week. I see many people logging hours on treadmills and elliptical machines looking miserable. The thoughts that go through you mind on that cardio machine have a much greater impact on your body than the calories you burn there. For many of us, those thoughts are, at minimum, unhelpful and maybe even destructive. Shaming yourself into a workout will never achieve the results you want. While on the treadmill many people are reading magazines whose pages are full of airbrushed photos and articles on losing weight and getting approval from others. Let me fill you in on the truth...you will never look like Jennifer Aniston (or whatever celebrity you idolize), no matter how much surgery you have, how many hours you spend on those machines or what diet you try. You will always look like you. That is a good thing. Learn to love you as you are. There is probably something about Jennifer Anistons body she doesn't like too. Here's a secret of mine: I don't like my thighs much. They are big and lumpy and full of cellulite. Even at my lightest weight when I had 6pack abs, I still didn't like the look of my thighs. But focusing on how much I dislike them isn't going to change them or help me in any way. Instead I focus on strengths that I have. Sure I get off track sometimes when I see ladies blessed with amazing legs, but beating myself up over things I can't change is not in my best interests. Learn to talk to yourself like you would talk to your best friend. As Buddha says, you as much as anyone else in the world is deserving of your love and affection. Working out should be because you want to take care of your body, not because you hate it. Being healthy shouldn't mean countless hours indoors on machines we hate and eating food we don't enjoy. That doesn't mean that we should all sit on the couch and eat Big Macs either. If you really listen to your body when you eat 'bad' foods you will realize quickly how much better you feel when you take care of yourself. Being accountable for taking care of your body is very different than shaming yourself into it. Find an activity that brings you joy and do it. Eat whole foods that are nutrient dense most of the time. Never feel bad for what you did yesterday. You can't change it even if you wanted to. If you want a s'more at the campfire or wine with your friends then go for it. It's good for your soul. Maybe you'll find that when your workout, food and life bring you joy your body will begin to reflect that.