YOGA MAT SPRAY GIVEAWAY!

Give your yoga mat some love with Little Creek Botanicals natural yoga mat spray! This Canadian made product comes in three delicious smelling scents and we're giving away all three to one lucky winner. All you have to do is share, like and tag us in your post! Easy-peezy.

Good luck Prairie Yogis!
Here's the link to our Facebook page!

SPICY VEGAN CURRY SOUP

If you are feeling adventurous, try green and yellow curry variations of this recipe!

I'm a sucker for spice. If it makes me sweat, my upper lip grow tiny beads of perspiration and my entire mouth uncomfortably on fire- I'm in love.

I've been making curry soup for years now, I'll often switch between red, green and yellow variations, but the end result is always the same. An insanely enormous, delicious batch of curry soup- that you can store in the fridge or freezer for a quick & easy meal. It's also a great vegan option leaving you incredibly satisfied!

Here's my spectacular vegan curry soup recipe:

2 litres of organic vegetable broth

2 cans of coconut milk

1 package of organic extra firm tofu

1/2 red bell pepper

1/2 yellow pepper

3/4 cup of peas

1 cup of mushrooms

1 onion chopped however the heck you like!

1 cup cauliflower

1 cup

1 clove of garlic

1/2 cup red curry paste (add more or less to your liking!)

Optional (to be added while boiling broth): 

Add spicy peppers

Add lemongrass stalks (this works especially amazing in green curry dishes!)

Add kaffir leaves (yum!)

Add crushed red chili paste

Add or subtract any veggies you like!

Directions:

Boil vegetable broth and vegetables for 4-5 minutes until cooked. Add curry paste and coconut milk, bring to a low simmer for another 5 minutes.

* I don't care about calories- nevermind count them. As long as healthy, quality ingredients are used and you consume mindfully- you shouldn't worry about those pesky calories either- it's all about balance baby!

* Be prepared for a boatload of tasty leftovers!

Happy sweating Prairie Yogis!

MY MOM'S LOVE AND MY DAD'S HANDS

Sarah Cooke is a Prairie Yogi. She's a gifted creative and we just wanted to share her talents with you.
Here's what she had to say about the great plaines and her love for the mat:

Yoga is my way of "cleaning the closet". 

It allows me to remove the clutter in my mind and helps me re-connect with the natural and intended rhythm of my heart. It is one of the easiest ways for me to drop down, breathe, quiet the conflicting voices, and remember what is real. I was born in the prairies so it forever holds a piece of my heart. 

There is nothing like the feeling of standing in the open expanse of a field, the sky so big and wide you feel as though you're standing on the edge of the world. 

The prairies remind me of home, my mom's love and my dad's hands.

Find more of Sarah's work on her website.

BE WELL - A HEALTH + WELLNESS CAMPAIGN

Health can be defined in many different ways: our ability to be active; the ability to feel calm and to de-stress; the need for time with friends; the need for time alone. All of the pieces of our health and wellness are important in living life to its full potential, satisfaction, and enjoyment. However, keeping a balance between all of these pieces is not always an easy feat. Sometimes we need support and new ideas on how to take care of ourselves and improve our health. We need to recognize that is not only one, but all of those all the components that make us a healthy person. How can we can carry these into our communities and spread the word?

Mental Health is a key component of our overall health and we at the Canadian Mental Health Association – Winnipeg Region want to make it simple for Winnipeggers to take small steps towards improving their mental health and overall wellness.

The concept of the Be Well Winnipeg campaign is simple, but it can create a ripple effect within the community.

Check out www.bewellwinnipeg.ca - created by our friends at Tactica Interactive - and commit to your wellness throughout the month of May. Some examples of commitments on the site: expand your yoga practice, take a friend out for a wellness activity, indulge in creativity, try something new (like yoga + SUP) or reach out for support.

Every time you make a commitment to wellness, you are entered to win great prizes from our sponsors - with extra ways to win almost every day!

Be Well.

And be sure to follow Be Well Winnipeg on Facebook and Twitter for more info and daily chances to WIN great prizes.

FREESTYLIN' - YOGA and SUP

FREESTYLIN' - SOLD OUT

We are fully booked for our FREESTYLIN' Yoga and SUP event on June 15th. Email prairieyogi@gmail.com if you would like to be put on the wait list. Keep visiting for inspiration and events all summer long!

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Inspired by our incredible experience at Freestyle Island last summer, we are teaming up with our friends at Abandon Shore Paddleboarding & Be Shri to bring you Freestylin'. We're combining the beach, yoga, and stand up paddle boarding in harmonious bliss at Patricia Beach on Saturday, June 15th.

The $40 price tag includes a 30 minute yoga practise on the beach led by Corey-Jill Lakusiak, a 30 minute intro to stand up paddle boarding lesson from the Paddle Canada Accredited pros at Abandon Shore. Finally, we'll paddle away from the beach to calmer waters where we'll get to go freestyle & bring our asanas on the SUP. It's a pretty sweet deal that gets even sweeter for the early bird - only $35 for those who book before May 31st. Email prairieyogi@gmail.com to register.

 

We are so excited to share this wonderful experience with the prairie yogis out there! 

Space is limited and this event will book up fast. Reserve your spot today!

GIVE THE GIFT OF EXPERIENCE ON MOTHERS DAY

Express gratitude for your mommas this Mother's Day through the gift of experience.

Mother's Day is here, and every year, we're expected to express our love for our mothers through expensive chocolates, necklaces, bracelets, perfumes - things that will be inevitably forgotten, lost or eaten in a matter of months. This year, we're suggesting you try something with a little more staying power- the gift of experience.

A few weeks ago, I brought my mom to her very first yoga class. You see, I've been trying to bring my mom to a yoga class for nearly ten years- as long as I've been practicing. The decade of persuasion has been a tough one. In the beginning, when I would mention yoga, she would roll her eyes- thinking I was delving into some sort of weird voodoo practice. As the years passed, and as yoga became more "main-stream", I could feel my mom develop more of an interest in yoga- I mean, if Dr.Oz is talking about yoga, there's got to be something to it, right?

So there we were, ten years later walking into Peg City Yoga's beautiful space together. She was nervous, scared, intimidated. I got all of the usual anxiety-ridden comments before bringing someone to their first class. "What if I can't do it? What if I'm the oldest person in the class?" To which I respond: "You will be able to DO it- because yoga isn't just about the asanas (postures). There are variations to the postures and the only thing you have to worry about it feeling comfortable. Never push yourself. Just breathe, mom. And you're not going to be the oldest person in the class. And if for the slightest chance you are, who cares?" 

So my mom completed her first yoga class. As we walked out, I asked her what she thought. 

"I can't believe how nice everyone is." she said. I smiled. 

"And if was very peaceful. And that laying down one..." she started.

"Savasana?" I asked.

"Yeah, I love that one."

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there. You are loved and appreciated more than you will ever know.

WE LOVE YOGA MEN

Yoga was developed by men and traditionally only taught to men until only a couple hundred years ago. But in modern times, the yoga world has been dominated by women. This has made the yoga man an elusive, sought-after species... Here are a few reasons we just love yoga men.

THEY ARE MAN ENOUGH TO BE IN A WOMAN'S WORLD

In recent history, it is women who have had to "man-up" to break into the boys-clubs of the world. In a space where the majority of the practitioners are women, the men who show up to the mat have to be confident in their masculinity. They also have got to have their egos in check, as the woman next to them may be able to bust out into full extension while their body may need the modified version of the posture. The years of bicep curls aren't going to help you here, handsome! We love the dedication!

THEY ARE FIT

While yogis come in all shapes and sizes, a strong yoga practise gives men a strong core, which makes them able to keep up on fun, physical dates like hiking or bike riding. A strong core also helps them perform those manly duties around the house, like yard work and shovelling snow. Mmmmm, manly ❤

THEY LOVE THEIR INK

Take a look around you at the yoga boys in class. A lot of beliefs, experiences, and people seem to be inked on those bodies. We likey :) 

THEY SURRENDER TO THE YANG
[the more feminine/spiritual side]

More than just easy on the eyes, yoga boys have opened themselves up to both the yin & yang, the strength and the spirituality of the practise. And a guy who talks about the Tao Te Ching or pursing his passion and living in the moment, is so much more attractive than a guy who's conversation starts and ends with how much he can bench- inner strength is equally important as outer!

What do you ❤ about yoga men? We'd love to hear from you. 

Comment or Instagram your favourite yoga man #PYyogaman!

STRONG + CONFIDENT

“Strengthen your core.” “Pull in your core.” “Engage your core.”

We hear these cues often in yoga classes, but the term ‘core’ is vague. If you were to ask any given yoga student where their core was you’d be given a multitude of answers. Many would assume it means to suck their belly in, but is that all there is to it?

Our core generally refers to all abdominal groups, hip flexors, the stabilizing muscles that protect the lumbar spine. Our core protects our vital organs. Our core also refers to the energy centre of our solar plexus. Manipura, the third chakra found at the centre of our being that helps regulate our self-power, confidence, and gut instincts. When we have a strong core we are able to protect and stand up for ourselves, on the physical, spiritual and energetic level.Teachers are reminding us to engage our core for good reason. From a physical standpoint, having a strong core helps remedy lower back pain and also helps to prevent it from forming in the future. Practicing yoga without engaging the core could lead to injury, and keeping your lower abdominals engaged should be practiced in most yoga postures.

There is a reason I practice plank a lot. There is a reason plank comes up in my class a lot. This is full-body work and when practiced mindfully it’s medicine for your body. Plank can be modified by bringing the knees to the ground, and intensified by lifting one foot at a time. When practicing plank be sure to protect your lower back by drawing in the lower abdominal muscles. Be sure not to let your lower back arch like a hammock. Keep your fingers relaxed, soften your face, lift the corners of your mouth and BREATHE.

A fun way to strengthen your core and work on facing a few fears at the same time. Bakasana, or crow pose, is an arm balance that takes a lot of abdominal strength. Come into a low squat and place your palms on the floor shoulder width apart. Spread your fingers wide. Lift your hips high into the air and spread your knees apart, brining them to rest high up on your arms, as close to your armpits as you can get. You can leave both feet on the ground and work on bringing your weight forward into the fingertips. If you feel comfortable lift one foot at a time. To get both feet up, suck your belly button up towards your spine and work on reaching your heart forward, finding the tipping point where your toes begin to float up off the floor. Most important, have fun. This is not the be-all-and-end-all of your yoga practice.

A take on traditional abdominal crunches. We take the arm and leg cross found in garudasana (eagle pose) and add a sweet squeeze of the belly. Lying on the back cross your right leg up and over the left, perhaps trying to tuck your right toes behind the left calf. Cross your right arm under your left and either bring your palms together or reach for opposite shoulders. On the inhale reach long, your hands and feet pulling away from each other, on your exhale life your head and shoulders up and bring your elbows and knees to touch. Working with the breath, inhale to extend and reach out long, exhale to compress in. Take 5 on one side, pause for a few breaths, and then repeat on the other side.

After plank, navasana (boat pose) one gets the most groans in class. But man oh man, is it ever effective. If you’re just learning boat, come to sit on your butt, lean back, bend your knees and place your feet on the floor. You’ll be creating a V-shape between your torso and thighs. Extend your arms out parallel to the floor. Extend the crown of your head up to the ceiling and engage your lower abdominals. Be careful not to let your lower back round. This pose can be dangerous for your lower back if you let the lower back collapse. Stay long in the torso and lift your chest. The next stage would be to lift your feet off the floor, brining the shins parallel to the floor. The full expression is extending the legs out long, creating a full V (or boat shape) between your torso and legs. But I’m serious, if you let your back collapse in this pose it goes quickly from being medicine to poison for your body. So leave your ego at the curb and explore this posture in a safe way. You’ll build strength safely and will progress in a way that is acceptable to your body. 

As a teacher I have often been asked by students for lots of core work in class. With a laugh I like to remind them that when practiced properly, many of the poses in class can help build strength at our centre. Take warrior one. We often get lazy in this pose, letting our lower ribcage and belly all hang out. A healthy warrior one keeps containment at our centre, engaging abdominal strength and protecting our lower back, but students often get too caught up in lunging deeper into the pose in their legs, while forgetting about their centre. And, of course, engaging the core in warrior one makes the pose a heck of a lot harder.Here are some poses you can practice to help you get stronger at your centre.

Clancy Sullivan hails from beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia and currently lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Teaching yoga has allowed Clancy to follow her bliss and do what she loves. This includes, but is not limited to, cracking jokes, dancing like a fool, seeing the world and teaching/practicing/living yoga!

YOGA.ART.WINE. AT THE WAG

It's a magical thing when so many of the things you love come together.

One hundred Winnipeggers experienced the bliss that was Yoga.Art.Wine. at the Winnipeg Art Gallery last night. The fusion of yoga, great people, wine, and art was courtesy of the lovely folks at lululemon athletica Polo Park.

Rachel Westman, a key leader at the store, greeted the attendees and explained the reason for the event,

"We believe in giving without the expectation of receiving, and that's what tonight is all about. So please enjoy!"

What a beautiful intention to begin what would be a wonderful Slow Flow class, taught in tandem by lululemon ambassadors Tiffany Barett (Be Yoga) and Sam Globerman (Yoga Public).

Tiffany spoke of practising "from the inside out." That we must focus on how the pose feels, not what it looks like. That that's how to reap the benefits of each posture -- to practise them from an authentic place.

"You guys look really cool right now," Sam said when the room was extending in reverse warrior posture, her smile radiating through the entire lobby of the WAG.

After the class, everyone rolled up their mats and enjoyed the wine, bubbles, and crudités with friends, old and new, sharing stories and smiles. The room resonated with laughter + joy, the coming together of friends, old and new, surrounded by beautiful art. Bliss.

That's what happens when you give without expectation - an authentic expression of bliss, that comes from the inside, and radiates outwards.

WEDDING DAY YOGA

Written by Phalyn Powell (née Turcotte) - a prairie yogi living + loving in Whistler, BC

Choosing to do yoga the morning of my wedding day was an easy decision.  It wasn’t a “nice little extra”- it was a must. I knew that I was going to need some help to remember to breathe deeply, and be in the moment for the big day. I also thought that it would help my wedding party and close friends to connect on a deeper level, and share an experience that would be remembered forever.  For me, getting ready for my big day needed to consist of more than a shower and a cup of coffee, I needed to get on to my mat.. Followed, of course, by a big cup of coffee! 

In 2005, during a stressful time of my life, I began my practice at Hot Yoga Winnipeg, a Bikram studio that had emerged during the hot yoga craze that came to Winnipeg. I was hooked from the get-go, practicing four times a week and loving it. After a few months, I noticed changes not only in my body, but in my mind. My thoughts changed. Moving meditation was something I had never heard of before, but it resonated with me. While focusing on what my body was doing - and trying not to fall over - I could think of nothing else. It wasn’t until my teacher mentioned “moving meditation” during a class that I took notice of my mental state, and realized that yoga was so much more than a workout. I finally understood the mind + body + soul connection that I heard yogis speak of.

Yoga has since become a constant in my life. Turning to my mat - a safe place, a happy place, a place to laugh or to cry - over the past eight years has been an incredible gift.  Exploring my practice has made me a better person, and I knew that doing a class on the morning of my wedding day is just what the yogi ordered.

The week leading up to the wedding was hectic, as to be expected. And having my bachelorette party two days before did not help put me in the calm state I so badly desired. My monkey-mind kept me up all night the night before the big day and I set foot into the studio the in morning frazzled and sleep deprived. Laying in shavasana and breathing deeply for the first time, beginning to feel revitalized with breath, I instantly felt grateful for being there with my closest friends, and just breathing.  The yin based class was the right mix of deep hip opening with a few vinyasas thrown in, getting the built up energy of the day flowing though us all.

In the final shavasana I laid there in my last moments as a single woman, feeling at peace with all that was about to happen.

The day went off without a hitch, but I was ready for anything thanks to my morning practice. Starting my wedding day with yoga helped to calm my nerves, settle my mind, and  reminded me to breathe and enjoy every single moment of the best day of my life. 

Now I just need to convince my husband to start practicing. :)

Top photo courtesy of: Sweet Heirloom Photography

RAW CHOCOLATE BLISS

by Carly Chivers - a Prairie Yogi living + loving life in Nicaragua.

While travelling or living abroad, ideally one begins to slip into the pace of life of the new place. Adopting the customs, the habits and lifestyle of a new country is surely one of the reasons why we travel.  While travelling we are presented with the opportunity (often due to neccesity) to let go of our grasp on the comfortable habits and routines of regular life. Everything moves at a new speed, smells are foreign, air feels different.

This means naturally your diet will change too. You may not be able to eat that same organic, pro biotic Greek yogurt every morning, or have a raw kale salad at your fingertips for lunch.  That is all part of the adventure, breaking habit, letting go and opening your-self to new energies.

This has all been part of my adventure while living in Nicaragua the past year and a half. Letting go, softening to a slower pace of life and slowly dissolving the rigid practices of my diet at home. This was more challenging than I expected it would be. For the first few months  I mourned the absence of a health food store around the corner, to stock up on super food treats and bottles of Kombucha.

Rice and beans or “gallo pinto” is the go to dish in Nicaragua, served with every meal, or serving as the meal depending on your resources.  When it comes to diet and cooking here in the tropics of Nicaragua, we improvise. We become resourceful and use what we have in creative ways, because we have to.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining. There are many benefits to eating in a tropical climate. We have fruit in abundance. It doesn’t get much better than a sweet, fresh banana after your morning surf session. And the creamy avocados can come in sizes larger than your head!

Another benefit in this climate is the access to nutrient rich super-foods, grown fresh and locally. Among these super stars are the Chia Seed, Flax Seed, and my personal favorite, Cacao!

Cacao is a powerhouse among super foods, dubbed the “food of the gods,” in Ancient Aztec culture. Cacao is the purest form of chocolate. It can be used in many different forms, a ground powder, or shaved nibs, or for a quick burst of energy you can munch on a cacao bean, with a strong flavour much like a coffee bean.

 The cacao bean has one of the highest concentrations of antioxidants available in food. Antioxidants are so important to incorporate daily into your diet, as they serve to protect your cells from cancer causing free-radicals.  Packed with vitamins and minerals of all kinds, Cacao is one of the only natural sources of magnesium, which is an important vitamin for a healthy heart. On top of all of that, Cacao is an endorphin releasing, feel good, brain food; it’s CHOCOLATE- in its purest form!

I wanted to share with you my favorite, RAW CHOCOLATE recipe, which you can make with ingredients from your local health food store, or from the tropical jungles of Nicaragua. Simple, healthy, full of enzymes, vitamins and minerals, and they take about 5 minutes. We love that!

Keep in mind with all recipes, and especially in raw food preparation, quality and freshness of your ingredients are most important, and where you can make substitutes for locally sourced ingredient, do!

Raw Chocolate Bliss:

-1 cup Ground cacao powder
-2 Tablespoons- Coconut oil (high quality, cold pressed)
Can substitute for high quality olive oil
-2 Tablespoons sweetener (agave, honey, maple syrup- I opt or local honey)
-A pinch of salt
-1 Tablespoon of chia, or ground flaxseeds, or any nut butter (optional)

Can add to taste: cinnamon, chile oil, peppermint oil, orange zest, or fresh ginger (basically any flavour you would like to add to your chocolate, get creative!)

Put all ingredients into food processor, mix until smooth. If mix is too dry, add more oil or liquid sweetener, if too wet add more cacao powder.

Form into balls. Decorate: topping with your favorite nuts, chia seeds, or fresh coconut, again creative opportunities are endless. Put in freezer to let set for 2-3 hours. Enjoy!

BRING LIGHT + BLISS INTO YOUR PRACTICE - AND YOUR LIFE

It may not have been the reason that brought you to the mat, but your yoga practice has allowed you to connect with yourself on a deeper level. In the hustle of your busy life, it may actually be the only place that you let yourself focus on the present moment and connect with your mind + body through breath.

These three simple things can help you stretch that beautiful bliss into your life off the mat.

#1 – Leave your smartphone behind. On purpose.

I went to my favourite Saturday morning class and I left my phone (whose battery power was oh-so-low) on its charger at home, and this incredible thing happened. In the final savasana, I didn’t hurry out of the studio. In the change room, I didn’t immediately make a b-line to my locker to check to see who had tried to contact me. Walking out to my car, my thoughts didn’t wander to my next appointment, or my inbox, or how many ‘likes’ my most recent Instagram photo got. My thoughts, still blissful from a fantastic practice, stayed right there in the moment - where they belong.

The time you set aside for your practice is your time, unplugged from electronic devices and the distraction they bring. Extending that time naturally extends your bliss off of the mat.

#2 – Journal

Putting pen to paper is meditative, cathartic, and allows you to connect with your deeper thoughts. You don’t need to be a writer to benefit from journaling.  In Julia Cameron’s renowned workshop, The Artists Way, writing Morning Pages (three pages of stream-of-conscious thought) is the key tool to connect to your creativity and spirituality. 

What you write doesn’t have to be grammatically correct, poetic, or even make sense! Writing out your thoughts beings clarity to them, and gives you a safe space to express your dreams, goals, and fears. Don’t think you have time to journal every morning? Make it part of your routine, alongside your morning cup of coffee.

#3 – Practice with intention

Intention isn’t just a zen-word that your hippie yoga teacher likes to use to make your class more interesting.  Intention is an important part of your practice – use it correctly and it can be something that helps you live a more inspired life off the mat.

Don’t know what your intention should be? Don't be overwhelmed, start simple: to practice from a place of love; to remain in the moment; to let go of judgment – of others and yourself. Each time your thoughts drift away, bring them back to your intention and focus on it.

Rachelle Taylor is a yogi, writer, photographer, and the founder of Prairie Yogi Magazine. Taylor forged a deep connection to her practice while living in the Cayman Islands on a three-year working holiday. The return to her hometown, in the heart of Canada, inspired her to create PY with the intention to inspire, educate, and bring together the strong yoga community of the prairies. She currently lives in Winnipeg, Canada.