Spring Forward into NOW

Being in the moment, not so easy to do. Our thoughts go back into the past or jump forward to the future. Even myself I have found it hard not have my attention on Spring coming, I'm very excited as may of us are. It's not bad to reflect on our past or to have plans, goals or to be excited about things to come. But it's if we never take the time to come into NOW, we are missing life in it's essence. All we have is THIS moment. The intention of a yoga practice is to be in awareness in the moment with our breath & movement. To experience this movement as it is, & to learn to be kind & compassionate to what we find in the now. See the article below on the benefits of mindful movement. Like any practice, it takes time to integrate being in the moment into our daily lives. During your day, stop, take a moment to feel your breath breathing IN & OUT. Then take some time to hear & see what is around you. To take time to see the beauty of life. To really listen & see those around you. To truly feel your body, your breath & connect to your Inner Self. It may not be possible to be fully in the moment each moment of our day. But is is possible to notice when we are are NOT in the NOW & take a moment to reconnect to it. To do that again & again, until we find we are more present in our lives to live it more authentically, less automatically. Since my mind is on Spring, (reminder, tonight, we spring forward with the clocks) I thought I would let you know where & what I will be teaching this Spring. I would love to spend some time with you, fully experiencing our practice together. (See the end of the email for my Spring schedule)
http://www.dummies.com/religion/spirituality/the-benefits-of-mindful-movement/
THE BENEFITS OF MINDFUL MOVEMENT
Moving and stretching in a slow and mindful way is a wonderful preparation for more extended meditation exercises. Movement can also be a deep formal meditation in itself, if you approach it with full awareness.
When practicing mindful movement, tune into the sensations of your breath as you move and hold different postures. Become aware of thoughts and emotions that arise, notice them, and shift your awareness back to the body. Be mindful of where a stretch is slightly out of your comfort zone and begins to feel uncomfortable.
Explore what being at this edge of your comfort zone feels like. Notice if you habitually drive yourself through the pain, or if you always avoid the discomfort. Be curious about your relationship with movement and stretching and bring a playful attitude to your experience.
Practicing mindful movement has many benefits. You can:
Explore limits and discomfort. When you stretch, you eventually reach a limit, beyond which the discomfort becomes too intense. Mindfulness offers the opportunity to explore your mind’s reactions. Do you try to push beyond it, often causing injury, or do you stay too far away, avoiding the slightest discomfort? By approaching the edge with a mindful awareness, you open up to uncomfortable physical sensations rather than avoiding them.
You can transfer this skill of mindful awareness to your experience of difficult thoughts and emotions, encouraging you to stay with them and acknowledge them, and see what effect mindfulness has on them.
Tune into the sensations in your body and out of the usual wandering mind. By focusing in on the range of feelings and sensations in your body, you bring yourself into the present moment. Mindful movement shows you a way of coming into the here and now. Most of the other formal meditation practices involve being still, and you may find movement an easier door into mindful practice.
Discover how to be mindful while your body is in motion. You can transfer this discovery into your daily life and become more mindful of all the movement you do, such as walking, cooking, cleaning and getting dressed. You’re training your mind to be mindful in your day-to-day activities.
Gain an understanding about life through movement practice. When trying to balance in a yoga posture, notice how your body isn’t stiff or still, but continuously moving and correcting to maintain your balance. Sometimes you lose your balance and have to start again. In the same way, living a life of balance requires continuous correction, and sometimes you get it wrong. You just need to start again.
Consider other lessons about life you can take from doing a sequence of mindful yoga, or any other mindful movement. Think about how you cope with the more challenging poses, or how you may compare yourself to others, or compete with yourself.
Anne Cox's Spring teaching schedule:
YOGA & MEDITATION CENTRE OF CALGARY Marda Loop 2028b 33 Ave SW Calgary
See YogaMcc.com
Gentle Yoga for Strength (drop-in) WEDNESDAY 9:30-11:00 am Customized Yoga Therapy (registered) WEDNESDAY 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Spring session: Apr 11 - Jun 20
Healthy Backs (drop-in) THURSDAY 6:00 pm - 7:20 pm Customized Therapeutic (registered) THURSDAY 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Spring session: Apr 12 - Jun 21
For the classes below, go to acyoga.net/classes for more information
email hello@acyoga.net or call 403-819-9790 to register
KNOX UNITED CHURCH 506 4 St SW
Spring session - Apr 10 - Jun 26 (NO class May 22) 11 weeks $154 inc GST
YOGA THERAPY IN COCHRANE Frank Wills Memorial Hall 405 1 St
Core Yoga Therapy - (registered/drop in class)
MONDAY 1:00 - 2:15 pm
Spring session: Apr 9 - Jun 25 (NO class May 21) 11 weeks $154 + GST
Gentle Yoga for Strength - (registered/drop in class)
TUESDAY 8:00-9:15 pm
Spring session: Apr 10 - Jun 26 12 weeks $168 + GST Private Yoga Therapy or Conscious Breathwork 1.25-1.5 hour session in Calgary & Cochrane $95 + gst
Workshops:
Gut Wellness for Vitality
YogaMcc Marda Loop 2028b 33 Ave SW Calgary
See YogaMcc.com or call 403-251-9642 for more info or to register
Sunday, March 25th - 2-4pm FREE
Research has revealed that gut health is critical to overall health, and that an unhealthy gut contributes to a wide range of diseases including diabetes, obesity, arthritis, depression and more. Learn how you can take control of your health, and support gut health, with a few simple steps.
Plus, yoga is one way to help relax and tone the body, including the gut. Yoga's mindful movement & breathing practices help give a gentle massage to your internal organs. The postures move the body in all directions while focusing the mind can help enhance digestion. These movement also encourage your lymph, kidneys and liver to move out toxins. An added benefit of the body/mind connection is you become more mindful of the processes of your body and therefore, you take more care of what you put into it. Learn some simple ways to use yoga & breath to help keep you gut working at it's best to help you be at your best.
Presenters: Rachel Joy Olsen & Anne Cox
Body Positive Yoga Workshop for Women (13+)
https://www.heartandmindyoga.com/workshops
contact 587-718-1001
Our vision is a world where woman and girls accept themselves as they are. Join psychologist Carol Fredrek and yoga teacher Anne Cox for an 8-hour workshop that includes movement, tapping, journaling and conversation. This weekend will be transformational.
Friday evening will be a time to introduce ourselves, share our stories of body image with each other & to talk about the impact that social “rules” have over our own values & beliefs.
Over the 2 hours, the material we will be working with on Saturday will be introduced & sampled: EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), Dyad, Body Image Techniques, Yoga postures, Breathwork, Meditation & Journaling.
8:30-9 pm Tea & Conversation: This optional 1/2 hour is an opportunity to have some tea & chat one on one with each other to build community & connections.
During these 5 hours, we will be exploring the different techniques introduced on Friday.
The use of dyad, body image activities, yoga, breath awareness & meditation will be used as ways to introduce questions to help increase the connection between your emotions & your body.
After each inquiry we will explore in more depth a specific tool as a way to help you with your thoughts, to move into the present moment with your emotions & find ways to manage those uncomfortable moments.
Interwoven throughout these explorations will be time to journal, breaks to refresh & reflect as well as group discussions.
The intention is to leave this workshop with a greater insight into your own challenges, to find support with this struggle & to leave with a set of strategies & new support systems to help you continue this process of self-acceptance.
A handout will be given with the information being covered as well as space to journal in. Bringing in your own journal is encouraged, but not necessary. Wear comfy clothes to move in, bring a yoga mat (if you have one), a water bottle, pen & anything else you might need for the afternoon.
Cost for both Friday & Saturday: $120 + GST. Early bird pricing $99 + GST until March 11, 2018.
Namaste,

Anne Cox E-RYT 500
403-819-9790
acyoga.net