Yoga West

Kitsilano (4th &Trafalgar)

Kundalini Yoga

Teacher: Hari Singh

Drop-in: $7.00 first time

$15.00 regular

SUMMARY: Kundalini yoga is rigorous and vocal. There were two things the teacher said when I mentioned it was my first time, that Kundalini was like other types of yoga but different and that they were not shy about making loud sounds and doing weird things in class.  

SETTING: The space had the clean white carpeted feeling of a place of worship. The facility included a shop, tea/mingling area, small kitchen, practice studio and also a shrine which housed various interesting objects (shield & swords prominent). Daily morning offerings are made to the idols in the shrine and you can't go in without a head covering.

The practice space had some unique characteristics. Blankets were used as opposed to yoga mats and some even did their practice on large white furs. The teacher was seated upon a raised platform before a large microphone stand. Instruments and sophisticated remote sound system control were at his side. Several portraits of gurus hung on the wall behind the platform.  

STYLE & PACE: Kundalini yoga is descended from Sikhism (religion of 15th century Indian origin). Many asanas were done in rapid succession and/or at tandem with "fire breath" (short powerful exhalations produced by rapid abdominal contractions). The mantras or chants were sung at top volume and at times while holding [generally non strenuous] postures. There was a serious meditation break or two amongst the exercises, during the first a live gong concert ensued. Continuously going back and forth from corpse to plow pose at high speed was intense.

SCENE: More than half of the crowd was over forty, rather mixed male to female ratio. Some of the people in the class expressed far from average dress and habit (what some might call weird or different). This is a very spiritual space that is taken seriously. There were some young and exuberant attendants so don't be discouraged if you're a curious teenager!  

MY EVALUATION: Unabashed fully charged energy/prana channelling is the game, you have to really be willing to let go and power flow with this one. The crazy fast pace of some of the exercises makes injury seem like a real possibility if you are not very experienced or critical of tension in your body.

I once heard a story from a friend whom received Kundalini yoga training in India. She was describing the incomparable power of Kundalini yoga, how it was something you didn't want to 'mess around with.' A cohort of hers thought it might be interesting to attend class on psychedelics - magic mushrooms in this scenario. The story goes that from the mix of powerful drugs and powerful yoga he lost control of his bowel movements for three months. 

The loud chanting and explosive noise making might be too much for some people although I rather enjoyed it. The sounds are made to help pump energy through the crown of your head while purifying your being. They have significant meaning but I was told their sacred and historic nature makes understanding inconsequential to receiving the benefits. Some of the exercises were quite pressing and some quite relaxing. Most things seemed to be done or held for a lengthy stretch of time. I am curious to know how class varies from teacher to teacher. The gong playing was awesome, but some of the recorded music was hokey.

If you're just looking for a work out, go somewhere else. If you're looking for a physical religion or meditating in an effusive space this might be for you. Obviously if you want to try something radically different from the average Western lifestyle go for it.

 

Coffee, Chocolate & Meditation

November 11, 2009 - My boyfriend encouraged me to write down all of the yoga things I keep talking about, regardless of if they were different studio reviews or not. I have become a steady attendee at Unity Yoga (close to home, variety of classes, pleasant tea room, affordable) since working full time in North Van. Below are some not-so-straight-from-the-horse's-mouth notes and quotes from Shelley's Saturday Anusara class and the beginnings of my own humble meditation practice.  

This time of year in Vancouver we are entitled to all of the chocolate and coffee that we need. The sun has left us and we are sad with longing. there is an abundance of water energy surrounding us. We must fight so as not to become moldy or rusty.

We do this by invoking  sun/fire energy in ourselves and in our lives. We hang pictures of the sun in our homes and we feel its burning warmth in our hearts and envision its glow in our minds. Short, powerful and vigorous sessions of exercise are good for this.

This week I have been taking five to ten minutes in the morning to meditate after a short invigorating set of sun salutations. I find it gives me a space to settle into whenever I feel too caught up with whats going on around me.

This is how to meditate:  find a comfortable seated position (usually half lotus, perhaps on a small cushion) and if necessary, set an alarm (at anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes). Face your window and maybe a candle, light or something auspicious. Then close your eyes and take a look at what is going on inside. Generally the mind is anticipating, chugging away, planning ahead, chasing its tail. But wait patiently, sitting, eyes closed, and  label the thoughts for what they are: fear - judgement - desire, fear - judgement - desire, in a perfect circle. The light in the room is warm. Continue to relax and disregard the raucous, chattering mind. Imagine that you are full of light. What sensations would you have? You are but a sheath of sensory surface and a body pouring forth light through every opening (above Rob Green's "Sun Worship").

Unity Yoga

Commercial & 10th

Anusara Yoga

Teacher: Shelley

Drop in: $10 first time

$15 regulard

SUMMARY: Spiritual and uplifting this class challenged me to observe my body in new ways and new postures. Expansion of the mind and connection both within the body and to those around you was a big emphasis. Some quotes: “every moment is an opportunity to either connect or disconnect,” how to experience ultimate freedom? “We are not free until we are all free.”

SETTING: Unity yoga/tea house is a non-imposing building tucked away on a shady bike path just off of Commercial Drive. There is a massive asian themed mural decking out the side of the building which faces the Drive. The building has a tea/reading/socializing room where you sign up for classes and can purchase natural goods as well as a small studio space that could use some updating.

STYLE & PACE: This particular class was demanding but (for me) not strenuous. The teacher was vivacious and the poses were challenging but also inspiring. I experienced a classic lunge with a bind feeling for the first time in a mental space of ease and opening.

“Anusara yoga is a school of hatha yoga which unifies a life-affirming Tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness with Universal Principles of Alignment (www.anusara.com)”

SCENE: As fore-warned by my co-attendant this Saturday morning session is the one all of the teachers attend for it’s dynamic and intensive nature. Mostly 20-something experienced yogis of mixed gender as well as approximately 30% middle aged women of various body types. A few new young female attendants such as myself.

MY EVALUATION: Great, dynamic, awe-inspiring. If you have a habit of viewing yoga as painful, strenuous or demanding this might not be the class for you although it might just help you break out of those negative views. Physically challenging poses require a strong awareness and connection with the body in order to avoid injury.

YYoga

231-1233 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver

Northshore Elements Studio: "Hot Fusion"

Teacher: Melanie

Drop-in: $15.00-20.00+(extras)

Intro 2 week unlimited special: $30.00

SUMMARY: Hot Yoga is very effective for developing strength, discipline and flexibility rapidly. This class was no exception. There wasn't much originality but what was offered was solid; challenging but not exasperating.

SETTING: The location was in a great new integrated shopping centre off Lynn Valley Road. Live music was playing outside and there were lots of family friendly businesses. The 'northshore elements' studio is one of a comprehensive network of YYoga yoga studios in Vancouver. The features of this corporation include multiple classrooms and styles at each location, infra-red sauna and boutique.

STYLE & PACE: The attitude of the class I attended was demanding but not overbearing. The heat did not seem as overwhelming as other hot yoga classes I've experienced either. The teacher was understanding, encouraging and staunch. Modifications and level 1/level 2 variations were encouraged. The postures were mostly focused on individually (instead of in a series) and held for long periods of time. The series was similar to Bikram's (maybe copyright infringement? :oP).

SCENE: Lots of young ladies with lulu lemon brand allegiance, about %25 middle aged women and three middle aged gentlemen. Yoga's pretty seductive to young women who aren't afraid of spandex. This stylish, modern location is definitely a place to be 'seen'.

MY EVALUATION: In my experience, there is a post (day after) hot yoga energy high that is hard to beat. Sometimes you pull a muscle a little bit, sometimes you are wicked sore, but all in all the benefits of rapid results are very pleasing to the 'live fast' American palate. The aspect of corporate yoga culture has some benefits but does not yield a personal, heart-warming aura.

Spartacus Athletics

Commercial Drive & Grant Street
Hatha Yoga
Teacher: Jennifer
Drop-in: $7.00

SUMMARY: Awesome, down to earth yoga for all levels at an affordable price (though sessions are only 1 hour where as most studios are one and one half hours). Teachers offer individual adjustments (something you don't often get in crowded vancouver yoga classrooms) and there is a strong work out vibe in the environment but still plenty of mental room to relax and release stress.

SETTING: In the heart of an underground, greco-roman, urban gym lies the glass walled yoga studio. Walking into this building you pass through a tunneled stairwell muraled with ancient ruins and modern humans enacting athletic activities of all types. You can see into/out-of the studio room to about waist level form the rear and side of the yoga space and the front and opposite side wall are full length mirrors. It was hot, hot in the room (from Vancouver's current heat wave) but a strong fan was blowing. The dank air reminded me of a jaguar stalking through a majestic, sticky jungle. Energetic and rhythmic music was playing: vibrant equatorial drumbeats and the delicious melodies of my favorite Indian buffets.

STYLE & PACE: The hatha yoga was easy on the body and effective on exorcising stress. Good for all levels, the teacher was very encouraging. The energy of this room which's also used for step-class and other power work-outs definately carried over in the instruction and enthusiasm for physical activity. Prop use was encouraged and alternative poses for greater or lesser challenge were offered and employed. There were also options to take or leave a vinyasa flow in between key postures. Om-ing was a lot of fun with this crowd. I enjoyed taking an Om at the end and seeing how my voice key had changed after my body had relaxed so much.

SCENE: The building is filled with the sweet, of-all-ages, alternative-leaning crowd of the Drive and the girl at the counter had a huge smile on her face. If you're looking for a regular gym membership by the way - this place has one of the best deals in town! Inside the yoga class there was a good variety of age groups and a roughly 25% attendance of men.

MY EVALUATION: A great class for some exercise and stress relief. Good, positive, encouraging energy and well known poses make it a good entry level class. For the more experienced yogi there is a great interpretation of yoga practice to absorb from the gym environment. I hear this studio offers great power yoga classes for the work-out hungry.

Yoga Moves (Iyengar yoga)

North Van: McCay Park off Marine Drive

"B.K.S. Iyengar"

teacher: Morgan

Drop-in:$15.00

SUMMARY: Wow! I discovered today that Iyengar yoga is all about alignment and let me tell you a yoga posture becomes 1000 times more effective when you are doing it in proper alignment. Too achieve this numerous props and devices are used to teach your body.

SETTING: It was a rare treat to be the only attendant at this Friday evening class. I had the teacher's full attention. Comfy props (blankets, bolsters, straps, "foamies" and wood blocks) galore, warm terra cotta tile and summer songbirds on the breeze made relaxing irresistible.

STYLE & PACE: Great care and concern with the natural opening and restoration of the body was the definitive message of this series. Beginning with a number of restorative poses on large cushiony props and blankets, energizing poses followed next and lastly some carefully executed inversions. Epic effectiveness of the postures was achieved from great concern for alignment. I felt lovely muscles I had never consciously controlled before in unprecedented amounts.

SCENE: Because I was the only participant in this class I can't offer much for scene. The teacher was a long, slim middle aged woman.

MY EVALUATION: If you ever have the chance to do this yoga, do it. It is good, it quenches the body's thirst and awakens its holiest structures. It is a gentle and effective workout so, if you're looking for intensity maybe look somewhere else.

Moksha Yoga

4th & Alma
"Moksha Mild"
Teacher: Monica
Drop-in: $18.00/
Currently Intro Week: $20.00

SUMMARY: Releasing, Strengthening, slow but not overly stressful or fundamentalist Hot yoga that increases total embodiment. A nice blend of styles in a clean, classy studio. But be careful there's an hour parking limit outside of the facility and some classes last 90 minutes (I learned this one the hard way, damn you parking patrol!).

SETTING: There was sincerity and naturalism here, qualities you don't find at every yoga studio. A more intimate experience was created by the small number of attendants and warm lighting in this weekday mid-morning class. Moksha seems to have a well developed environmentally sound philosophy. Nice hard wood floors, simple decor and modern, practical yoga accessories add to the feelings of purity.

STYLE & PACE: It was Hot yoga (as in you'll be dripping) and the poses were held stationary for a substantial amount of time; this brings the chore of ignoring an often uncooperative mind. This is an important habit to develop:ask yourself "are these thoughts serving me right now?" and if they're not, you let them go because they're hogging your moment!

SCENE: Roughly 25% out of shape middle aged men, %25 fit young females and %50 middle aged woman of various ethnicities. Although my friend and I did scope a rather attractive young man getting ready for the more intense class after ours. There were less than ten people in the class.

MY EVALUATION: I can't resist the temptation to compare this class to Bikram's (the first copyrighted hot yoga series?) there were definitely likeness in the continuum. But Moksha's defined a less rigid approach, that blends popular hatha yoga poses with flow and other forms. They offer classes of varying levels, lengths and styles. I think practicing yoga in a hot room is great when you're really craving embodiment. You can manipulate your body so much more freely and move into positions you never imagined you would experience in this lifetime. It can be a bit dangerous though if you're worried about loosing too many fluids or have any sensitive medical conditions.

Semperviva

Kitsilano: Sun Centre, Broadway & Tralfagar
Teacher: Maggie
Drop-in: $9.00 first time
$18.00 regular drop-in fee

SUMMARY: "Open level hatha," Gentle guiding words and deliciously intense foot stretching in warm up, the class degenerated into physically demanding moves held for long periods of time. Lots of use of props. I think I left with as much of other people's sweat on me as my own.

SETTING: On a busy street, the studio itself sees a lot of traffic. You enter the large tiled room through a small shop where some ayurvedic and clothing sales, as well as registration is completed. The classroom (like most yoga classrooms) is quite plain. White walls with storage units for props and your stuff. At the front is a picture of wind swept curtains framing an ocean view, some candles and pampas grass. No windows, no mirrors and modest lighting.

SYTLE & PACE: I sweated profusely during this class from the humidity and intensity, which was not something I was anticipating. The bulk of the asanas (poses) involved holding lunges for long periods of time. An activity I personally find desperately strenuous and more work-out intensive than restorative. The teacher seemed a bit befuddled and unfocused, which can be very frustrating when you're holding an uncomfortable pose.

There is an old yoga adage that you have to know your boundaries, and observe them with care. This is often counter to our nature because we are cultivated in Western, Protestant self-pressure to do everything to the extreme if we can take it. If we leave a yoga class hurt it is because we did it to ourselves, we ignored the voice of our bodies asking to be treated more mindfully. But what's the point in being at a class if your bodie's telling you to quite on half the poses? Is it just a brutal reminder of how weak we are in comparison to the masses surrounding us? Is it a realization that of how far we have to go to physical well-being and health? Or is it a teacher telling us to do things we don't want to...

SCENE: As with all of the other classes I've blogged about so far this mid-morning yoga session was very crowded. At least 40 people in the room. A lot of the attendants appeared to be quite fit and very keen. There was a large number of men there of all ages, comprising 30-40% of the class.

MY EVALUATION: General consensus (from my new-to-yoga-co-attendants as well as myself) was the class was bad, which breaks my heart to say because I've love loved this teacher in the past (she was the first one to ever show me pigeon pose and she made it so wonderful). Maybe she was unfocused because she has a new baby and in a few months time will be all wonderful again. In general I've experienced a great inconsistency in quality with Semperviva yoga teachers. I know they run a large teacher training program but it's particular flavour doesn't seem to accord with my yoga practice preferences. The classes, I gather, are all supposed to be very slow, smooth, and soothing as well as toning. But as often as I've found a class at their studio helpful and explorative I've also had a class uncomfortable and strenuous- more phsyically challenging than opening and relaxing. As my swim coach always said "the slower you do it the harder it becomes."

Bhakti Yoga

Earth Day Festival
Topanga Canyon
Malibu, California
Govinda Goddess Radha Bakti yoga
$10 suggested donation for festival entry

Since it's 4th of July I'm doing a short post for my Americanos

My first time doing this type of yoga, Bhakti means devotion to god/goddess and generally indicates great passion. In the 90/32 degree heat chanting to the goddess feels dizzying. "Jai mah! Jai mah, Jai mah" we all sing along with the beautiful voice and drum beats of Radha. There was a lot of simultanous jumping, spinning in circles with your arms out and chanting. My legs were very weak after the class.

Our warm up was free form, moving and spiraling to our own rhythms. Gentle loosening of energy, sweat trickles. Our teacher tells us: twisting = healing, breathing = singing. Durga, Sri, Kali we sing great praise. I really enjoyed moving in poses that are often held stationary. Spinning our arms in lunges in great circles, mimicing "the cosmic spiral" - the shape of our DNA.

I now must seek some shade to recover and hydrate.

Bikram's Yoga

Kitsilano: Broadway/Trafalgar
Teacher: Rea
$21.00/drop-in
Unforseen Costs: $2.00/towel
+ $1.00/mat
+ $2.00/water

SUMMARY: Hot, wet and dangerous. General consensus on this yoga is largely contradicory. Listening to your teacher in class or Bikram himself, nothing in the universe could possibly be better for you, listening to teachers of different disciplines or peers nothing could be more forceful and contrary to listening to one's own body. Regardless, you do the exact same 28 poses & 2 breathing exercises every time, it can get very tedious, it can be a great way to learn a portable comprehensive yoga-routine (don't teach it under the table though it's copyrighted!) and get your body into a different shape ASAP.

I began my yoga career in Vancouver when a good friend oozed and oozed about and eventually took me to Bikram's yoga in Kitsilano. "You'll never be the same," she had said about the effect the class would have on me and in some ways I suppose Hannah was right. Yoga has been a part of my life ever since. I was fortunate enough to have the sweetest most inspiring woman as my first instructor and be accompanied by a very good friend. When I stood up after, outside of the classroom, my posture, my body, my feet on the ground and head in the sky felt as they never had before. Having recently quit the UBC water polo team and looking for some new athletic outlet I got hooked fast. I went to 5-10 yoga classes that first month and could not believe the visual changes in my body. Visibly loosing centimeters around my waist was an awe-inspiring phenomenon that I never thought I'd see the day of.

SETTING: 98 degree heat [whoops I'm american, excuse me] 37 degree heat. You'll see your skin cry. A wall of mirrors but surroundings don't matter much, you're only semi-concious.

PACE & STYLE: Pretty slow. The poses are held stationary for 30-60 seconds and the structure of the class is rigid. Disciplined. Perhaps Bikram philosophy operates on the premise that we don't know what's best for us. The teacher proclaims "Every yoga class you do lessens your pain, physical, emotional, mental, scientifically proven!"And I cannot deny my clarity and peace of mind now that I'm outta the hell hole. Nothing in your daily life could possibly be worse than facing yourself, sweating profusely, in tight, tiny, spandex clothing uncapable of obeying the simplest laws of gravity. But not much can out-do the high of getting out after. Sometimes you cannot listen to the commands because your mind is telling you, "3....2....toss your cookies & pass out [This is called heat stroke]," "get out while you still can". But I stay, I lie down despite the teacher's commands not too. She talks incessantly: pushing, encouraging "you can do anything for 30 seconds!"

But I'm not used to the heat. I haven't done this for 6 months, a year even. Luckily my mind is calm, and there is no vengence in my heart so the constant banter, presumptions and philosophic prophesies do little to jar my nerves. I let them pass through me like water.

"Calming your entire central nervous system," "the real yoga begins the second you walk out the door in the way you live your life," "You'll never need hormone supplements again if you do this right." Yes, there is the occasional ridiculous claim.

SCENE: Old, young, it takes all kinds. Usually 75% women but often a lot of men are present. Generally very crowded (although I remember years ago where you'd be in a 12:00 noon class with two people and your first class was free) expect to be intimidated by people's outfits (as in, they are minimal) but don't worry after the first five minutes you won't notice a thing about the people around you- you'll be struggling to survive. A lot of their classrooms now - well actually they're only currently operating 2 studios in Vancouver (West end & Kitsilano)- have antibacterial flooring.


MY EVALUATION:If it's so good for you than why does it feel like torture? Are our bodies that far gone they need a serious contortionist whooping? If this blog post and these questions turn you on, than I think Bikram's yoga might be right for you. It sure did me some good once upon a time. The instructors in Vancouver are particularly militant (I have practiced this same yoga series in Colorado & Los Angeles and the setting tends to me more gentle and flexible) so if you want someone to push you to the max go for it but if you like to talk back maybe let's find a different hot yoga setting.

*Caution: Can be addictive.

Open Door Yoga

15th & Main
Teacher: Vesna
Drop-in fee: $10.00/first time
$17.00/regular dop-in

SUMMARY: There was good chanting, lots of relaxing and a few of those rare moments where you find yourself wearing a stranger's ass as a helmet. Almost every yoga mat was occupied in the large, largely beige room.

SETTING: Something unique: bamboo trimmed kleenex boxes alternately between mats. A long twisting umbilical cord of a hall was the passage into the warm womb of the building and from its second story windows one could watch cherry trees blossoming and casting off their blossoms into the wind of Main street's traffic.

As the class was nearly full, I was obliged to take a mat front and centre, staring straight into the crystal blue eyes of the blonde, perhaps Eastern European, middle-aged yoga teacher.

It seems strange now, all the relazing, the stillness of mind. Does clarity come from such stillness? Is the voice of my intuition louder here? Here character, constant analysis and cliche jokes were faded out. Imagine a student present and ready to learn. But where is the lesson? Perhaps I have not opened my ears to my inner self enough. My nausea has calmed, my body is freer of tension and my mind is inspired but hazed by the doubt of my own [momentary?] desires. savasana: I envisoned myself on the altar. I thought of painting a scene: dark, cloistered, splendid gold, cherry wood, diverse, brightly dressed patrons sitting in pews and on the alter myself; on my back, limbs splayed wide in ecstacy. Religious figures of all kinds and sects surround, preforming rituals, holding religious and phallic symbols.

STYLE & PACE: The class was slow paced. Moving in and out of poses safely, with all caution, was a big component of the practice. I found myself anticipating the next pose of the series consistently. There was frequent mention of the benefits of doing this, the benefits of yoga.

Always, this talk of the benefits. Must we believe fully in the transformative power of our act to give it power to transform? Is it brainwashing force fed as we - the student - must observe in silence the wisdom of ages? We are not invited to contest.

There was also lots of singing. We were invited to chant in the beginning as well as the end. And the teacher enjoyed adding song to the sounds of "In-haaaAAAAaaaaaaaaale, Ex-haaaAAAAaaaaaaaaale."

SCENE: Olders, middle agers, my friend in attendance noted that many were shoppers at "Mainly Organics." I noticed some lotus tattoos on leathered skin. There were a few men but [as par yoga class usual] mostly women. There was only a small percentage of younger people.

MY EVALUATION: If your not too experienced in yoga or are looking for an intense work-out you might find this class tedious and get frustrated by distractions. If you like to take it easy and move through things slowly and conciously or have serious injuries/pains as a concern I bet it'd do the trick!

I think it's a bit expensive for a regular drop-in fee (especially if their classes are regularly that full!)

My Practice, my yoga

Since I'm going to be evaluating yoga classes I think it's important my reader's know where I'm coming from (all over the place?). If you read my bio, you saw that I am very active, creative and dynamic but maybe what you didn't gather is that as a college student and hyper, non-committal young adult coming from an upper-middle-class family I've had a lot of free time on my hands. Time that I like to think has been used very wisely to try and learn all manner of new things and see, in detail, various places. I think being from Los Angeles automatically makes you a transient, someone always on the move (or the go). I have traveled from Los Angeles to Vancouver uncountable times by plane and occasionally car and have stopped over at lots of awesome cities (San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Arcata, Tahoe, Portland, Seattle, Vegas, Burns etc.) sites and holes along the way. I also have traveled to Fort Collins, Colorado regularly throughout my life. And in all of these places over the last three years, I have at some point done or gone to yoga classes.

Yoga has seen me through the highs and the lows in the time it's been with me. It's given me a place to think, to let go and a place to let my body - my intuitive body - do the thinkin. Yoga's been a place to come home too. A place to feel like myself; to identify the comfortable, blissful, warm fuzzy feeling of being me. It's where I tune out the energy that's not mine and the energy which obstructs mine and return to "the path" (that's the translation of the word yoga for those of you who didn't know) and return to that feeling which belongs to each of us: being held in all the universe's love ...as the sky holds the sun and the clouds...

My yoga over the past year has been greatly self-directed. I do a little bit almost everyday, I do podcasts, I do 15 minutes before work, I especially practice right after doing sports I find hard on the body like biking, snowboarding, sleeping or having been in an uncomfortable position for too long. Stretching and deep breathing really helps work out lactic acid, which is an evil thing I learned to avoid at all costs as a swimmer. And it helps numerous other things as well. Can you name a few? I'll start, yoga helps______________

-me LIVE by tapping me into the energy pooling around me in the moment. Living is NOT being under the guise of dreams from the past or worthless expectations for the future.

-make my ass stop hurting from my poorly shaped bike seat