Unwind, Connect, and Rejuvenate—Yoga Begins this Saturday!

I hope you enjoyed a lovely Labour Day long weekend.

September has arrived, and my yoga classes begin this week on Saturday, September 7th. I have for you below the latest updates regarding my Fall 2024 offerings.

The in-person Monday evening class is currently full, but you are welcome to join the waitlist.

In the meantime, due to popular demand, I continue hosting interactive online yoga classes. Join us for FREE yoga nidra meditation classes on Tuesday mornings. I also provide classes honouring various yoga styles, including vigorous vinyasa flow on Saturdays, chair yoga and Ashtanga-inspired yoga on Wednesdays, and slower-paced evening classes on Tuesdays.

If you want more personalized attention, please contact me to explore private yoga classes tailored to your schedule and needs.

I will also be hosting upcoming workshops such as “Yoga for Better Sleep,” “Yoga and Osteoporosis,” and “Savasana: The Art and Science of Surrender.”

Please visit studio71yoga.com for more information on current offerings, including the Better Sleep Program.

Registration is now easier than ever! You can book classes online with a user-friendly scheduling system (credit card required).

Of course, if you prefer to stick with our previously tried and true scheduling and e-transfer method, that’s fine. Just let me know.

By the way, if you sign up for two or more weekly classes, don’t hesitate to reach out to learn more about the “wellness discount.”

Additionally, I’d like to mention that I aim for a boutique-style approach, ensuring small class sizes provide you with personalized attention.

Lastly, if you miss a class, you may be able to attend another class, subject to availability (conditions apply).

Many of you have already registered (thank you!) For those of you still considering it, we would love for you to join us!

I’m looking forward to welcoming you on the mat.

With joy and gratitude,

Jeannine

Yoga After a Tumultuous Summer

Due to the wildfires in Jasper, Alberta, my son and his family have had a complicated and chaotic summer. However, given the circumstances, they are doing relatively well.

And good news! My husband Louis and I won’t have to relocate to Jasper temporarily to help with childcare, as I had initially thought. André and Ashley’s friends have all come together to support each other, and everyone is figuring things out as they go along.

Therefore, I’m thrilled to announce that Studio 71 Yoga classes will resume after the long weekend in September.

Please visit studio71yoga.com for more information on current offerings, including the Better Sleep Program.

You can register online and pay with a credit card, or email me and pay by e-transfer.

I’m also in the early stages of planning a few workshops. Here are some preliminary details:

• First, the “Yoga and Osteoporosis” workshop focuses on safe and suitable yoga postures. It’s perfect for beginners and offers guidance on yoga postures that should be encouraged, modified, and avoided— particularly beneficial for those looking to manage osteoporosis.

• Next, the “Art and Science of Savasana” workshop explores the significance and nuances of “corpse” pose. Participants will learn to fully surrender and relax physically and mentally, leading to more profound inner peace and rejuvenation.

• Lastly, “Yoga for Better Sleep” is a beacon of hope for those struggling with sleep issues. It will help you with relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, and gentle stretches to promote a peaceful night’s rest, perfect for anyone looking to improve their sleep hygiene.

As always, I look forward to seeing you on the mat and guiding you through the upcoming classes, workshops, discussions, and more.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Wishing you joy and gratitude,

Jeannine

P.S. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers over the last few weeks.

What You Seek is Seeking You—The Law of Attraction

Jennifer exudes a positive and energetic vibe. There’s a spring in her step, and everything seems to fall into place effortlessly.

On the other hand, Kelly works long and hard hours but struggles to achieve her goals—and she feels miserable most of the time.

The difference lies in Jennifer’s ability to attract what she wants. It’s not about physical attractiveness but about living in alignment with her purpose and passions, allowing her to attract abundance.

The law of attraction is not just a mystical theory—it’s a transformative force scientifically grounded in the concept that similar things attract each other. It’s like tuning in to a specific radio station and only picking up signals on that frequency. Everything seems to flow effortlessly when we are in tune with our desires.

“Once you change the way you are inside, the outer world changes.”

— Joe Vitale, bestselling author of The Attraction Factor

Vitale is one of dozens of authors who persuasively discuss attraction, as is Sonia Choquette, author of the 2008 bestseller Your Heart’s Desire: Creating the Life You Really Want.

Below are six critical ingredients for attracting what you want into your life:

1. Get clear on what you want and why. It’s not enough to know what you don’t want. You can’t get what you want until you know what that is. Getting crystal clear is where the “magic” of attraction all begins.

2. Imagine it. Visualization is a powerful tool for creating clear, vivid mental images of your desired outcomes. “Conscious change is brought about by the two qualities inherent in consciousness: attention and intention,” writes Deepak Chopra. “Attention energizes, and intention transforms. Whatever you put your attention on will grow stronger in your life.”

3. Embrace positive affirmations. They are helpful and essential to overcoming limiting beliefs and negative thought patterns. My morning meditation incorporates the affirmation that I have abundant time and energy. It’s a transformational technique in my self-improvement journey.

4. Keep yourself receptive. It’s essential to exercise, eat healthily, play, relax—and practice yoga! Stress, exhaustion, and sluggishness can interfere with attraction. They are like “static” that disrupt the “frequencies” of what you want to attract. Taking a day off to relax instead of frantically working may seem challenging, but it can be just what’s needed. Remember, self-care is not a luxury; it’s a necessity in the journey of self-improvement.

5. Listen to your intuitive nudges. Attraction isn’t about sitting back and waiting for it all to come to you. Taking action is always required to meet goals and make dreams come true. Vitale writes: “Your job is to ask for what you want, and then to act on the inner nudges you get to do things, like make phone calls, write letters, visit a certain person, or whatever.” Don’t worry if your “nudges” don’t make immediate sense. The “why” will reveal itself later. 

6. Surrender control. Surrendering control doesn’t mean giving up on your goals. It means letting go of the specific ways your goals will manifest. It’s about releasing fear, doubt, worry, and disappointment. It’s about trusting that the universe has a plan for you and that the outcome will be just right, even if it’s not what you initially expected. 

Whether you’re seeking a job promotion, a special trip, or a new car, claim your dream.

It’s yours if you want it!

Believe in yourself and the power of the universe. Surround yourself with like-minded people who have positive energy.

And remember that a daily meditation practice that incorporates positive affirmations—even if it’s only a minute or two a day—can go a long way in attracting what you desire.

With joy, gratitude and abundance,

Jeannine

Adapted from author’s content and used under license, © Claire Communications

Meditation and Deadheading—Life Lessons from the Garden

As a yoga teacher, my connection to nature runs deep, yet my skills as a gardener are still developing.

Join me on this journey, dear reader, as I immerse myself in the world of gardening, experiencing the rewards and challenges of nurturing small patches of soil and witnessing changes within.

Take a moment to consider the humble dandelion. Despite being seen as a pesky weed by many, it boldly displays its vibrant yellow petals and thrives in various landscapes. Just like the dandelion, we all face challenges in life. Are we overcoming them with a closed heart or with resilience and self-assurance? We can learn from the dandelion’s unwavering confidence in its own worth and unique gifts.

The garden is a treasure trove of valuable life lessons for those willing to observe and learn. Whether you have a traditional garden, a container garden, or potted plants at home, each offers insights. As new gardeners ourselves, my husband and I planted flowers and vegetables early this year—despite the cool weather and frost warnings—eagerly awaiting their growth.

Let’s turn our attention now to the teachings offered by our gardens, regardless of their size or location. Here are a few:             

• Embrace imperfection, for it is what makes us unique. Striving for perfection in every aspect of life is a tireless pursuit with no end in sight. Imperfect roses and cabbages are as stunning and flavorful as their flawless counterparts. Similarly, with all our flaws, humans bring beauty and vibrancy to the world. Our imperfections are what set us apart and make us extraordinary.

• Pruning improves growth. Removing old habits that don’t serve us opens new possibilities for growth in areas that do serve us.  

• Pay more attention to your health than your appearance. As author William Longgood wrote, “Over-fertilized plants may be beautiful but are otherwise useless, like people whose energies are devoted so completely to their appearance that there is no other development.”

• Regular maintenance is important. It’s much harder to clear an overgrown jungle of a garden than to regularly pull encroaching weeds. Think of the clutter that can accumulate in our homes, the extra pounds that are harder to lose than to keep off in the first place, and the overwhelm or illness that can result from too little self-care.

• Have faith. Plant a seed, water it, and trust that it will grow. Similarly, believe that the shifts you make in your life, the dreams you hold dear, will fully blossom if you nourish and protect them.

• Don’t be afraid to try new approaches. The garden is an incredible laboratory for experimentation. What new approaches do those old problems in your life need? Trial and error is one of life’s best teachers. Not trying is the domain of hopelessness. 

• Be aware of predators. Predators don’t take long to damage the result of your careful cultivation in the garden and life. What toxic relationships, substances and emotions are feeding on your energy and taking away from what you have to give to others? Give yourself permission to eliminate them, and don’t be afraid to set boundaries.

• Transform your trash. The compost heap turns rotting plant waste into a rich, organic fertilizer treasure pile. What negative patterns in your life can you work to transform? When we do the hard work of breaking these patterns down, the results are often rich and beneficial to our lives.

• Everyone is unique and needed. Everything in nature has a function that is interdependent. As famous naturalist John Muir said, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” Rock, plant, bird, bee—even bacteria in the soil—all occupy a vital place in life. What is your purpose, your gift to the world? Who do you depend on? Who depends on you?

• Something important happens every day. Take the time to notice the little everyday miracles in your gardens and in your life.

The garden is a powerful teacher of life lessons that can guide us towards personal growth and self-awareness. Observing nature’s resilience, patience, and beauty teaches us to embrace imperfection, cultivate faith, and practice regular self-care.

My morning meditation looks different right now. With the rising sun, I gently and lovingly pick weeds and deadhead my plants—a pruning process of removing old growth and seed heads to promote new growth and re-flowering. At the same time, I embrace the principles of patience, mindfulness, and growth in the garden as I do on the yoga mat.

Like the plants in our gardens, we have the potential to nurture, grow, flourish, and contribute uniquely to the world within and around us.

With joy and gratitude,

Jeannine 

Adapted from author’s content and used under license, © Claire Communications

The Alchemy of Singing Bowls, Handpans, Kalimbas, Sansulas, a Shruti Box, and More

Rachel Nelson, Jasper Park Lodge, Alberta, 2023

I recently had the honour of co-hosting two Savasana Sound Baths at my yoga studio with Rachel Nelson, an Intuitive Sound Healing Guide.

I met Rachel in Jasper, Alberta, in December 2023, where Rachel has been living for several years. We instantly connected, and to my surprise, I discovered that Rachel’s mother lives in Dauphin, Manitoba—only a few hours from where I live—which added a personal element to our connection.

Rachel shared her plans for a cross-continent road trip with me, and we realized that she could make stops in Winnipeg at the beginning and end of her journey. What luck! Everything seemed to fall into place, and we quickly made plans, including dates, times, and logistics. As you may recall, the events sold out before I could formally share the details—word of mouth travels quickly!

The first Savana Sound bath occurred on April 30th, and the second on May 23rd. Each sound bath was unique for various reasons, and naturally, the participants had different experiences.

What exactly is a Savasana Sound Bath?

Savasana, or Corpse Pose, is typically the final pose in a yoga practice. In this pose, practitioners lie down on their backs with their eyes open or gently closed, cultivating calm, rest, and relaxation. Using a restorative approach with props and accessories to support the body in a position of ease and comfort during Savasana further facilitates relaxation and healing. Adding the soothing sounds of a sound bath to this peaceful and restorative Savasana experience can make it even more transcendent.

A sound bath is a meditative experience where participants, while lying in Savasana, are bathed in an alchemy of sounds and vibrations created by instruments such as crystal singing bowls, gongs, shimmering chimes, whispering shakers, voice and more, creating an immersive sonic experience that can help to calm the mind, release tension in the body, and bring about a sense of deep relaxation.

Imagine lying in a restorative Savasana, feeling the support of Mother Earth beneath you, and being enveloped in a cocoon of sound. Gentle tones wash over you, creating a sense of peace and tranquillity. As you focus on your breath and let go of lingering tension, you can feel the vibrations of the sound bath working their magic on your body and mind.

During a sound bath, you are encouraged to surrender to the sounds and vibrations, allowing them to penetrate deep into the body and mind. This can help to shift energy blockages and create a sense of emotional release and transformation. It’s not uncommon to experience a deep sense of release, emotional catharsis, or even moments of profound stillness and clarity.

The combination of Savasana’s restorative benefits and the healing power of sound can create a truly transformative experience–a powerful tool for healing and self-exploration. It’s about physical relaxation, connecting with your inner emotions, and finding greater clarity and peace within yourself. This process of emotional release can be incredibly powerful.

At the end of Rachel’s sound bath, participants were invited to express themselves in a safe and supportive environment, free from judgment or criticism. The sharing circle provided the opportunity for participants to share their personal journeys. As they talked about their experiences and listened to the stories of others, this helped to create a sense of validation, understanding, and connection, fostering a sense of belonging.

Image courtesy of Rachel Nelson

Curiosity also prevailed at the end of the sound baths, and Rachel was very generous with her time and knowledge. If you want to learn more about the instruments she played, you can schedule a virtual appointment with Rachel to help find what you’re looking for. 

Below are some shopping links:

https://soundjourneystore.com/Rachel

https://weplaywelltogether.com/?ref=Rachel (coupon code Rachel-IRL will save 10% off this site).

Please visit Rachel’s website for more info and social links: https://conscioussoundscapes.ca.

There may be opportunities to attend Savasana Sound Baths in the future.

Let me know if you’re interested.

Stay tuned!

With joy and gratitude,

Jeannine