Heather Douglas Yoga

Yoga Classes 2012

2011-11-25T09:00:00.004-05:00

Queer & Trans Hatha Flow - Class Full!

A small group of LGBTQI folks guided by our breath through a flowing & energizing practice that will finish with the supported stillness of a restorative pose or two. In this safe and comfortable community practice we can expect to find: our ability to breathe deeply and fully, increased flexibility & strength, energy, balance, mindfulness, connection between body-mind-spirit, and a means to relax.

Time: Tuesdays 6-7:15p.m

Dates: Jan.31-April 17, 2012

Restorative Flow Yoga - Class Full!

A therapeutic and relaxing yoga practice. Experience deep stretching and prop-supported poses to unwind and release stress and tension. This practice will leave you feeling open, rejuvenated, and breathing more fully. It allows for a sense of quietness and calm for the body, mind, and spirit. LGBTQI positive space.

Time: Tuesdays 7:30-8:45 p.m

Dates: Jan.31-April 17, 2012

Location: The Centering Space, 59 Cambridge Ave. (2 mins from Broadview Subway), parking available

Fees: $15 for drop-in's
*Both classes are full for this session - however if you would like to be on the wait list in case a spot opens up, or a drop-in class becomes available please let me know.

great blog about a journey supported by yoga

2011-10-04T09:44:00.001-04:00

http://www.originalplumbing.com/2011/10/04/yoga-anyone/

Holiday Time

2011-06-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

Well folks, I'll be enjoying the next few weeks in the magical place where I can do yoga in the lake. Looking forward to seeing you for the summer yoga classes in August - until then have a great summer!
p.s if you email and don't hear back it's because I'm computer free for my holidays - I will respond when I return.

Musings of a Queer Yogi

2011-06-02T17:59:00.002-04:00

I enjoyed this blog entry on Original Plumbing's website and thought you might like it too:
http://www.originalplumbing.com/2011/05/23/nickblog-musings-of-a-queer-yogi/
You may also want to check out Nick's new book - the trailer is below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cjy93Uuqo0

Inspiring Instructors - Monica Cordes

2011-03-30T20:12:00.000-04:00

I recently attended a weekend training with Monica Cordes on providing Yoga to Seniors and was very inspired by her knowledge of and care for this population. She works tirelessly in the seniors' community providing yoga where there is little to be found, and has developed a curriculum and trained fellow instructors in how they too can lead seniors safely through a yoga practice at all ages and abilities.

You have a passion for sharing yoga with seniors that is infectious when you train other teachers. How did this passion begin, and continue to grow for you?

I began teaching yoga to seniors about 15 years ago, and began by adapting traditional yoga poses using a chair, either to sit on or as an aid to balancing. At first it was intimidating to deal with a group where there were so many health challenges, but the feedback was so positive that I persevered and started to see how much they were getting out of the practice. Five years ago I was looking around for specialized training and found, to my surprise, that there were very few yoga programs geared toward certifying yoga teachers to instruct seniors—only one in all of Canada! I found this quite appalling. Here was a large segment of the population with special needs may span 40+ years of a person’s life and yoga geared specifically to them was almost non-existent. I decided to take all the courses offered, mostly in the United States, and then design a training of my own. This path has proved to be most rewarding for me. I continue to be inspired both by the senior students I teach and the yoga teachers I certify to teach them.

For the rest of the interview click here.

Yoga at Durham College

2011-03-11T07:53:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Sam, Colin, and Barb of the LGBTQ Centre at Durham College for inviting me to come out and lead a queer yoga class. Being there reminded me of the privileges that as a Toronto queer I may take for granted in terms of services and safety, even though Toronto is by no means perfect in this regard yet either - but given the short distance between Oshawa and Toronto the disparity felt big in this respect. It was fantastic to work with the students there, many of whom were trying yoga for the first time. It's lovely to look into a sea of faces grinning through the tricky moments, and to see eyes flickering to a close as relaxation sets in. Offering and participating in classes for a community where there is an identified commonality, amongst differences, creates a space that is a wonderful opportunity to work within.
Check out a video about the event

HTAP Yoga

2011-02-21T18:46:00.016-05:00

Yoga at the 519 Community Centre Healthy TransActions Program
Fridays 6-7p.m, Mar.4/Mar.25/Apr.1/Apr.8/Apr.15/Apr.29

Healthy TransActions is a drop-in program for trans-identified, gender queer and gender questioning youth. You will have the opportunity to explore the fun and fascinating world of active healthy living – sport, social recreation, nutrition and education. This is your chance to get active, enjoy a meal, learn about good food, and share ideas and experiences in a space which is welcoming and tailored to your needs. Join us at The 519 and on our many field trips as we explore indoor and outdoor recreation and nutrition spaces in and around the Greater Toronto Area.
Healthy TransActions welcomes youth of all abilities. Instructors will be on-hand to teach you basic skills and to lead fun non-intimidating games.
Healthy TransActions will provide all sport specific equipment. Come dressed comfortably for fun and ready to participate. Private change room facilities are at all programming locations.
This group is open to anyone age 27 and under who is trans, gender queer or gender questioning and runs every Friday night 5-9.
Healthy TransActions is a drop-in program, so there is no need to sign-up ahead of time.
If you would like more information about Healthy TransActions, have any suggestions for future programming, or would like to sign up:
Barb Besharat
Healthy TransActions Project Coordinator
416-392-6878 x. 4044
Blog Link: http://www.the519.org/blog/2010/11/05/healthy-transactions/
bbesharat@the519.org

Inspiring Instructors - Elisa Hatton

2011-02-21T18:23:00.000-05:00

Meet Elisa Hatton, a yoga teacher, community development worker, and artist. One of her most recent projects was coordinating and teaching yoga with an innovative yoga based HIV/AIDS prevention program for youth, called Mate Masie at The Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP), a non-profit organization in Toronto.
Please share with us the Mate Masie philosophy and the objectives and framework of this program.
Mate Masie is represented by an Adrinka symbol, which is a visual symbol originally created by the Akan people of Ghana and the Gyaman of Cote d’Ivoire that represents concepts or aphorisms. The implied meaning of the phrase Mate Masie is "What I Hear, I Keep" or “I understand.” Understanding means wisdom and knowledge, and also represents the importance of taking into consideration what another person has said. It also means placing a high value on self-reflection versus the stereotypes and myths that are perpetuated by our families, cultures, religion, media, and society at large.

for the rest of the interview go to: http://torontobodymind.ca/blogs/heather-douglas/inspiring-instructors-part-iii-elisa-hatton

Inspiring Instructors - Jacoby Ballard

2011-01-25T08:02:00.001-05:00

As a teacher who offers classes specifically to the Queer and Trans communities, I have had some disheartening experiences and witnessed some students struggle to find a place for themselves in the yoga world. While some studio owners have turned classes away because they want classes the can offer "to everyone", others have "scooped" requests for me to teach to a LGBTQ group because they felt "anyone can teach Queer and Trans Yoga". And, sadly, I’ve taught students who have experienced homophobic and/or transphobic experiences at other classes. I know we can do better as a yoga community—to open our hearts and create more spaces that provide safety, understanding, and community building. Meet Jacoby Ballard, a yoga instructor and co-owner of a wellness centre in Brooklyn, New York, who is doing just that.

What led you to decide to offer yoga classes to the queer and trans communities?

I came out as trans while training to be a teacher, and so yoga has always been a part of my gender. It’s been a very spiritual process, to transition socially and medically, that it has really demanded that I know who I am. Though I found support through yoga in yamas and niyamas and through the warmth of my teachers, I also found a complete lack of understanding of the trans experience.

For the rest of the interview click below:

http://torontobodymind.ca/blogs/heather-douglas/inspiring-instructors-part-ii-queer-and-trans-yoga

Inspiring Instructors - Jennifer Musial

2011-01-01T11:00:00.002-05:00

Ever since I became involved in the world of teaching yoga, I have been moved by my peer instructors’ unique approaches and individual dedication to increasing yoga’s accessibility by sharing its benefits beyond the mainstream audience. I am inspired by this work and am always curious to know more and so I will spend my next few blog entries sharing my interviews with some of these fine folks with you.
Meet Jennifer Musial, a Hatha yoga teacher from Kingston, Ontario, who teaches within the walls of Joyceville penitentiary.
What drew you to teach yoga in prison?

Click here to read the rest: http://torontobodymind.ca/blogs/heather-douglas/inspiring-instructors-series-part-1

Music on the Mat

2010-11-22T16:43:00.000-05:00

I’ve had three primary yoga teachers, none of whom had ever promoted the use of music during class--with the occasional exception of savasana. Although my teachers taught me much of what I know about guiding students through a practice, on this note, I have found my own path.

The first group I taught was a queer and trans community class. For many of us, gathering as a group to do yoga was something new, and the music helped us to settle into a comfortable space together. As I branched out into other studios and teaching venues, I was hesitant about sharing the mixes I had delighted in making for my regular class as my mixes were not traditionally considered “yoga music”. I moved forward despite that, concluding that the best practice was to just be myself and draw together students who enjoy my teaching style.

read more: http://torontobodymind.ca/blogs/heather-douglas/music-mat

Yoga is Going to the Dogs

2010-10-21T21:25:00.000-04:00

In the past I have been skeptical of yoga classes for dogs and their people. I wondered if it was yet another marketing ploy, or further humanization the animals we live with. Then I started to reflect on some of the activities we do share with our dogs, like running, hiking, swimming, and walking. We both benefit from physical activity, focusing our minds, as well as the communication and cooperation required while engaging in these pursuits together. Why would sharing yoga with our dogs be any different?
click below for the rest of the article
http://torontobodymind.ca/blogs/heather-douglas/yoga-going-dogs
photo credits to EK Park

Challenges of Being Both Student & Teacher

2010-09-30T08:52:00.001-04:00

As a novice student of yoga I had my struggles learning to be present in my practice. There were streams of thoughts, loops of negative self-talk, and disconnect from my breath as I was guided through movement, stillness, and pranayama. As the years passed this inner chatter quieted, my movements became linked to my breath, and I was more often in the yoga – feeling the connection of mind, body, breath, and spirit. My experienced benefits and ever-growing love for yoga led to my desire to share by teaching after almost a decade as student.
Read more http://torontobodymind.ca/blogs/heather/lessons-dual-practice
*photo credit to EK Park

LGBTQ seniors & yoga

2010-09-08T19:12:00.003-04:00

One of my long term goals is to combine my experience teaching yoga in the LGBTQ community and my Seniors Yoga training to create a local class for LGBTQ seniors. The attached trailer is for a documentary about LGBTQ seniors and the challenges they face when needing care or assisted living. This community needs all the support, love, and advocacy we can offer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fV3O8qz6Y5g

great blog link

2010-07-06T17:40:00.000-04:00

I came across this blog and entry today about a "queer fat femme's" intro to yoga. I think you should check it out:
http://queerfatfemme.com/2010/03/10/the-queer-fat-femme-guide-to-beginning-a-yoga-practice/

Kripalu - Yoga Therapy Intensive

2010-05-17T08:43:00.002-04:00

If you are considering a trip to Kripalu, either to study or for a holiday, I highly recommend it. The grounds are beautiful, the food delicious & nutritious, people friendly and diverse(!), yoga classes safe and creative. You can apply for a scholarship to study there if it is beyond your current means. I went for the Yoga Therapy Intensive, a week long study with Yoga Therapists: Judith Hanson Lasater, Gary Kraftsow, Mukunda Stiles, Nischala Joy Devi, and Larry Payne - among others. We looked at using yoga to work with trauma, transforming pain, evaluating musculoskeletal imbalances, aruyedic yoga therapy, prime of life yoga, yoga for anxiety, shoulders, hips, sacrum, and low back issues. It was a lot to absorb and will take time to integrate - but some gems were immediate "If a pose feels safe for your body you'll be able to take a full comfortable breath. Breath is your gage." "Provide inquiries to your students so they can explore and become experts on themselves." "When opening the heart; open the front, the back, the sides, the skylight of the heart, and the basement of the heart."

meditation

2010-05-02T14:28:00.000-04:00

"Meditation is not about feeling a certain way. It's about feeling the way you feel. It's not about making the mind empty or still, although stillness does deepen in meditation and can be cultivated. Above all, meditation is about letting the mind be as it is and knowing something about how it is in this moment. It's not about getting somewhere else, but about allowing yourself to be where you already are."
Wherever You Go There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Senior's Yoga

2010-04-12T09:30:00.002-04:00

I spent this past weekend doing a wonderful Senior's Yoga Teacher Training with Monica Cordes (www.yogaforseniors.ca). We talked about honouring the aging process by offering classes geared specifically to senior's needs. Which of course may mean offering several different classes given that seniors can be anywhere from 55-105 and have a wide variety of abilities and challenges. Breath, alignment, movement, meditation and visualizations are all valuable tools in increasing our quality of life. Benefits are improved breathing, increased energy, improved digestion, increased mental clarity, easing pain, calming the nervous system, releasing chronic tension, balancing blood pressure & blood sugar, improving balance, and promoting restful sleep. It was inspiring to hear about the other teacher's experiences: a 103 year old practicing yoga in their wheelchair during a chair class, a student with advanced alzheimers accessing a joyful memory of time spent with her friends during a beach visualization. "Our bones are dynamic, constantly changing tissues, connected minute-by-minute to our entire mind-body system. Every morsel we eat, every move we make, and every thought we have affects our bones." S.Brown, Yoga for Healthy Bones

spring, time of new opportunities

2010-04-06T08:30:00.000-04:00

Today I practiced to jazz. I have never done this before, and am doing so thanks to a generous, and talented student (www.oridagan.com) who brought me one of his cd's when he discovered I like to accompany the movement portion of my yoga with music. I found a new twist in an old series, tried some unfamiliar pranayama, and found my mind exploring places that don't often come up in my home practice. Try something outside of your habitual routine and you might be surprised at what you find.

mix tape for the mat

2010-03-17T20:48:00.004-04:00

I love to make mixes to practice by, here is one of my favs:

On the Dub-ble - DJ Krush
Chakra Bangra - Loonaloop
Could You Be Loved - Damian, Stephen & Ziggy Marley
Teri Toor - DJ Rekha
High Low - Zap Mama & Michael Franti
Equal Rights - The Heptones
Makka Root - Roots Underground
Om Numah Shivaya - Apache Indian
Shocking Dub - Linton Kwesi Johnson
Flip Ya Lid - Nightmares on Wax
Black Mountain Side - Led Zeppelin
Aurora - Bjork
Dance Me to the End of Love - Leonard Cohen
Om Shanti - Daphne Tse & Matt Pszonak

Sunshine In February

2010-02-21T20:26:00.017-05:00

After a mild winter beach stroll soaking up the golden rays I can appreciate why there is a whole series of poses dedicated to the sun, in fact many versions of this. We spend months of short dark days curling the body in on itself, energy slow and subdued. When the sun returns we want to lift our faces towards it, roll back our shoulders stretching ourselves towards the sun. This feeling reminds me of a plant lifting itself up as close to the sunny window as it can (heliotropism), or a cat in the spring rolling & purring blissfully in a patch of sunlight.

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T12:18:00.003-05:00

I'm thinking about the connection between our palms and heart. There are energy centers in our palms that correspond with our heart chakra. Think about the way you express yourself with your hands - reaching out to comfort a friend, illustrating your emotions with your hands when talking, or throwing up a "talk to the hand" block. Think of all the healing practices that involve the use of hands. One of my favorite practices (learned from my teacher Felicia) is to lay back with my arms resting wide open, palms facing up and visualizing my inhale coming in through my palms, moving up my arms, and flowing into my heart. When I exhale I send my heart breath throughout the rest of my body, or to any parts that need extra support and love that day. If you're visual you can imagine this moving breath and energy being a beautiful emerald green (colour of the heart chakra) or whatever colour or image comes to you naturally. The reverse is to send that energy from the heart, down the arms and out through your hands creating something beautiful.

Yogathon for Schizophrenia

2010-02-09T10:10:00.013-05:00

An important aspect of my yoga practice is working within the community. Currently I am raising money to participate in the Yogathon for Schizophrenia coming up on March 6th. If you would like to sponsor me, or participate in the event yourself here is more info my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2445443

Gemini on the Mat

2010-02-08T14:16:00.017-05:00

As a gemini practioner I love working with different teachers and styles of practice. They offer creative sequencing, new places to breathe into, and fresh ways of strengthening my practice. The gems I seek come in simple forms, translate easily into practice and instruction, and can be carried with you where ever you go. Today I was introduced to kicking donkey and mermaid. If you're looking for a vigorous pranayama: hara breath (inhale through the nostrils, exhale "ha" through mouth) linked with energizing movement kicking donkey may just the animal pose you've been waiting for. The mermaid is a sweet addition to a prone practice of backbending/core strengthening - an interlude strengthening your side body with your head comfortably resting in your palm.

snaggle tooth tiger

2010-02-02T20:18:00.010-05:00

My dog is the best yoga teacher I have had the pleasure of knowing. Not only does he move through upward dog, downward dog and frog pose with an unparalelled grace - he lives moment to moment, breath by breath, using all of his senses, and taking life as it comes.