This time of year in North America when the temperature begins to dip below zero, Christmas preparations add a bit more pressure to our “to do” lists, and snow, sleet and rain deter us from stepping out of the warmth of our cars, the Drive Thru becomes a commuter’s best friend. Recently, I was in line at Tim Hortons’ and I let another car in front of me. The couple in t..read more

With the end of "Resolution Month" I am always eager to hear how you are all going in your quest for better health and fitness. January is a booming time for gyms, diet centers, and magazines touting the latest "weekend detox" plan. But, as we all know January comes and goes in a flash and we are often left wondering why our "quick fixes" weren't so quick! The truth of the matt..read more

What is the best time of day to practice Yoga? I feel really stiff in the morning, is it better to practice later on? Morning is traditionally the time for our Yoga and meditation practices.  A morning practice helps us to set our energies for the day, creating a more peaceful and conscious way of living, and creates a space for Yoga as an integral part of ..read more

Karma Yoga is one of the many branches of Yoga practice that is practiced widely, but not always labelled "yoga". Karma Yoga is the practice of "selfless service", and is practiced in your random act of kindness, your volunteer activities, your donations or participation in charity events, and in your service to others - even in the workplace.  Karma Yoga is considered one of ..read more

There has been a lot of debate lately about the health and safety of eating soy and soy-based foods.  In the early 90's soy was touted as a super-food that would lower cholesterol, prevent breast cancer, eliminate hot flashes, and ensure a fountain of youth.  But, like all food trends that promise a "magic bullet", soy has been pulled off its pedestal, and lately this food tr..read more

Have you recently upgraded or replaced your old yoga mat and not sure what to do with your old, faithful mat?  Yoga mats are handy around the house, the car, the garage and the shop to prevent slipping, soften hard surfaces, and provide cushioning.  A few of my clients with handy partners have even found that their mat is slowly dissected even when they are still using it!  ..read more

Students have occasionally wondered, in making the transition from a more restorative Hatha Yoga practice to a more dynamic Vinyasa Flow practice, why do we have to do so many Downward Dogs and Chaturangas and Upward Dogs…why is the practice so physically challenging and how is that form of Yoga valuable over a more relaxing and “stretch-focused” practice? The answer i..read more

I recently was at a party and we were discussing the latest films in theatres. I was really excited to hear about Avatar and Up in the Air, I had not yet seen either movie but was looking forward to. One guest spoke very highly of both films and my eagerness to see them was ignited. But then another guest reported that he was disappointed in Avatar, and further disappointed i..read more

Yoga is a deep and rich experience of body, breath and awareness, but sometimes the depth of our practice is hindered by slippery palms, niggling aches and minor discomforts that keep the awareness from moving deeper into the joy of the present-moment focus that our asana practice delivers.  Here are a few "quick fixes" to allow you to experience the depth of your practic..read more

Hello Friends,
I trust that this email finds you travelling well in life and in practice wherever you are in the world. I have just returned to beautiful Ontario, Canada, after a wonderful journey from Canberra to Port Douglas – travelling about 3,500km of the Australian coastline. I had a fantastic time sharing Yoga, Thai Yoga Massage, and our ..read more

Time is the most precious resource we have in this busy age, and can often be the most significant factor when we are considering developing our practice and exploring our personal growth. And so often time is the reason that we put off taking a course, booking a retreat, or even getting to a regular yoga class. These days, our needs have been seen and met with an incred..read more

This month’s newsletter seems to be all about food, but in fact what I wanted to speak about in this piece is water. In Australia the use and availability of water is an ongoing dialog of concern and conservation. For me, being from a country where fresh water is seemingly in endless supply, I have had to learn to adjust many of my habits to conserve the precious water..read more