A while back, maybe a couple months ago, my partner Casey decided to do 100 Burpees and invited me to join him. I thought it would be a fun challenge, seeing as I teach the Kamloops Yoga Fitness Boot Camp, and a great workout.

Burpees are one of my favorite exercises because they work so much of the body. It’s a combination of a jump squat and push-up. You get core, legs, shoulders, back, chest and arms all in one go.

It definitely gets your heart rate up and blood pumping!

We got the whole thing on video, and I just got around to editing it, so I thought I’d post it here for your amusement and (hopefully) motivation. Read more…

It’s high Summer in Kamloops. You can tell when you go to the park, watch people crowd on the beach, or realize that half of your friends are camping or otherwise out of town each weekend.

Even though Summer doesn’t technically turn into fall ‘till September 21^st, it always seems like the end of August marks the finale of Summer. For this reason, it often feels like August is a bit of a free-for-all.

With all the camping, parties, traveling, and hot summer nights, yoga classes are often pretty empty. It makes me smile, really.

But September is coming.

And with it there is a fresh sweeping feeling that marks the beginning of another school year, and the start of many things.

September invites you to re-assess your priorities and re-commit to the things that are important to you. These might include eating healthy, getting in shape, and doing yoga.

The great thing about September is it brings an excitement that lingers from the anticipation of the start of school, even long after we’ve graduated. You actually WANT to get organized and take care of things. It’s just in the air.

Here are some ideas to help you get your health, yoga, and fitness back on track: Read more…

I could use a little more awareness in my lower hand here - see how it's collapsing slightly to the outside? So much going on in the pose, even I need to remember to align my hands.

Good alignment is good therapy, and optimal alignment is what brings the freedom in yoga therapy.

This can be anything from knowing how to place your hands and feet to aligning with your intention and coming into the natural pulsation of the breath.

One thing that comes up a lot for people is pressure or pain in the wrists. However, when you use the alignment principles of Anusara® yoga and apply them to your own body, that pressure and pain can disappear.

When you’re in a weight bearing pose on your hands (downward dog, handstand, push-ups, plank, gardening, etc.) your foundation has a lot to do with what you feel in your wrists. This means the way you place your hands and fingers translates to what you feel.

The following video that explains three of the most important points to know about how to align your hands.

Though this video speaks mostly to the added challenge of having your hands on uneven ground, this alignment goes for any surface and position where your whole hand is on the ground. When you practice outside or on carpet, the stakes are higher and it becomes even more important to align mindfully. Watch to find out why… Read more…

I’ve been asked to teach yoga as part of a kayak and yoga retreat in the beautiful ocean north of Vancouver Island! What an excellent combination – nothing like being IN the ocean to really align with the Current of Grace.

We need a certain amount of confirmed people this week to make it happen, so if you’re interested in this once in a lifetime opportunity, please don’t hesitate to book your spot for a week in heaven.

Here are the details:

God’s Pocket Resort lodge-based sea kayak tour with yoga July 5-10, 2010

Why this trip: The resort offers a first-class way to paddle British Columbia’s pristine northern waters. Outfitter has exclusive use of the 7-room resort with private chef in God’s Pocket Provincial Marine Park, BC Canada for guided sea kayak tours. On this departure only, professional yoga instructor Katrina Ariel (that’s me) will lead daily sessions included in the price!

GOD’S POCKET, BRITISH COLUMBIA — For those in search of the ultimate in wilderness kayaking without having to camp, Sea Kayak Adventures, Inc is offering six-day lodge-based sea kayak trips in British Columbia’s remote northern waters that should indulge the most discerning of travelers.

The journey begins with a boat ride past snow-capped mountains, forested islands and the protected waters of Queen Charlotte Strait before arriving at God’s Pocket Resort – a rustic island lodge located in the heart of God’s Pocket Provincial Park just off northern Vancouver Island. Guests stay in one of seven rooms providing all the amenities of home and breathtaking ocean views, and our private chef prepares all meals. Read more…

This post is from my dear friend Tara Findlay (a sister to me, really). I think we can all relate and learn from her thoughtful words and helpful tips. Please leave a comment if you like it!

Creating Lasting Change

By Tara Findlay

Earlier this year I created a Yoga series to reflect our yearning for New Year’s resolutions; you know, those passionate, determined, optimistic and sometimes desperate pledges we make to change ourselves. I started thinking about my own resolutions of years past. Which of those commitments became a lasting shift in my own habits, and which ones were fleeting?

How do we create lasting change in our lives?

How do we shift from flirting with change into a healthy lasting relationship?

How do we get from where we are to where we want to be, without giving up in frustration?

After some thought, I came up with five qualities for creating change; creating space, developing your awareness, finding your focus, delighting in the journey, and the power of choice, and I’ve described them below. Read more…

I am getting EXCITED about coming back to Kamloops and offering a wildly fun and profound line-up of yoga and fitness classes! I’m just finalizing the schedule but thought I’d give you a sneak peak.

As much as I adore New Orleans and really feel at home here, there’s nothing like BC, and I sure am looking forward to seeing my friends and students in Kamloops! I can picture watching the sun rise from up on the hill at Let’s Move Studio, and swimming in the river in the afternoon. I can almost taste the decadent raw treats at The Art We Are, and feel the warm air on my skin riding my bike to Riverside Park.

Oh yeah, one more month to go. Yet, I’m making sure to really enjoy my time in New Orleans while I’m here. I’m working outside in the warmth that comes earlier down south, enjoying my family, and getting my body in wicked awesome shape by going to a boot camp each morning.

It’s also been so completely wonderful to have access to Certified Anusara® yoga instructors on a consistent basis. And that’s good for you too, because my teaching has continued to evolve.

One of the things I’m most excited about adding to my class schedule is a Yoga Fitness Boot Camp for Women. It will be up at Let’s Move where the morning view is breathtaking as the sun shines down on the valley.

Read on to find out about the boot camp, public, semi-private yoga classes and events I’m offering. Read more…

Yoga helps us remember who we really are, and be centered in that place of connection so we can handle the world around us in a skillful way.

But sometimes you still get thrown off center. Does that mean you’ve failed or faltered on the path of yoga?

Not at all! It’s a chance to strengthen your practice.

The stumbles and falls of life can actually be huge blessings in the path of yoga.

You get another “Aha!” moment every time you repeat this cycle of remembrance, and you can actually deepen the pattern of choosing to see the good, choosing what is life affirming, and generally being more aware of how you can align with your highest self.

For example: maybe you’re at work and you get a phone call or an email that frustrates you. Your heart starts beating faster, you furrow your brow and your breath becomes more shallow. Your mind contracts as it focuses on what rubs you the wrong way, or what problem just occurred.

Well, this is an excellent thing if you take advantage of it. Why? Because you have a chance to reinforce a new pattern, learn from whatever is being given to you in that moment, and totally turn the experience around.

How?

Read more…

Whether you’re interested in maintaining your overall health or you’re working with a health condition or injury, yoga can be an incredibly valuable and transformational healing tool. And if you live in Kamloops, I would love to personally assist you in achieving your health goals.

Why is yoga so great for your health?

Great question! The amount of ways yoga brings balance to the human body and psyche are numerous and well documented.

One of the things yoga does is lower stress and tension, which are contributing factors to nearly every health concern. Stress reduction alone can bring your body back into a balanced place where your immune system and self healing capacity can regain their natural strength and abilities.

If you look at studies done with yoga and meditation, they both are shown to lower blood pressure and bring well being on many levels.

Here’s a list of some of the many health benefits of yoga:

Physical Benefits:

• Balance hormones
• Calms and balance the nervous system
• Increases effectiveness of circulatory and respiratory systems Read more…

It’s interesting how we transform as human beings, and how much yoga has played a part in my own self alchemy. I didn’t have a whole lot of respect for myself or my body when I was a teenager. Yet now I realize my body is a temple for spirit.

I went from smoking cigarettes and eating at McDonalds (I know, I can hardly believe it myself – it seems like another lifetime), to doing yoga and eating vegan. Talk about an about face!

What made me change so much? I suppose part of it was the natural progression of maturity, but I attribute the most significant changes to the fact that I WANTED to become a better person. And yoga showed me the way to a more complete vision of who I wanted to be, and by living this vision, I have a lot more happiness and fun in my life.

The transformation of who I am is no more or less impressive than your own process of becoming who you are.

We are constantly developing ourselves, rediscovering ourselves, and recreating ourselves. Read more…

A salad with yummy sprouts!

The following article is by my dear friend Denise Holden. I’ve been meaning to post about sprouts for a while now, as they are a prominent part of my diet. They’re such a great way to eat fresh, live, nutrient rich food. Here’s what Denise has to say about them:

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During the winter season, sprouts are an excellent source of fresh vegetables.

Sprouts represent the point of greatest vitality in the life cycle of a plant. During sprouting, vitamin and enzyme content increases dramatically. The sprouting process predigests the nutrients of the seed, making it easier to assimilate and metabolize: starches are converted into simple sugars, proteins into free amino acids, and fats into free fatty acids. This explains why grains and legumes, many of which are common allergens, often do not cause allergies when sprouted. Read more…