FRIDAY MAY 18^TH

All classes are ON!

SATURDAY MAY 19^TH

9:00am Hatha Yoga with Jolene is ON!

10:30am Hatha Yoga with Jolene is ON!

12:00pm Pilates with Ariel is ON!

1:15pm – Zumba with Luly is ON!

2:30pm – Vinyasa Yoga is CANCELLED

4:30pm – Hip Hop Groovin is CANCELLED

5:30pm – Femme Fitness is CANCELLED

SUNDAY MAY 20^TH

10:00am – Hatha Yoga with Kevin is ON!

11:30am – Power Vinyasa Yoga with Chris is ON!

1:15pm – Bollywood is CANCELLED

2:30pm – Synchro Yoga Workshop  is CANCELLED

5:15pm – Ballet Pilates is CANCELLED

7:00pm – Candlelight Yin Yoga is CANCELLED

MONDAY MAY 21^ST

All classes are ON!

]]> http://www.exhalestudio.com/2012/05/15/may-long-weekend-holiday-schedule/feed/ 0 http://www.exhalestudio.com/2012/04/23/2870/ http://www.exhalestudio.com/2012/04/23/2870/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:31:27 +0000 admin http://www.exhalestudio.com/?p=2870 This week’s YOGA LAB with THARA:

Date: April 25th, 2012
This week’s focus: Twists & Binds

Examples:

Pasasana (Noose Pose)

Ardha Matsyasendrasana (Half King of the Fish) aka Bound seated twist

Baddha Utthita/Parvritta Parsvakonasana (Bound Side Angle/Revolved Side Angle)

Baddha Trikonasana/Pavritta Trikonasana (Bound Triangle/Revolved Triangle)

Why do it: Twists are the self-massage of your organs. Find a new way to see things. Love the twists & turns in your life. Gain core strength and upper back strength and find the base of your lungs. Binds allow us to support the torso with both arms, and find balance in our feet. They complete a circuit, and remind us of the circular nature of our bodies.

Common obstacles:

“My elbow just doesn’t reach there”

“I can’t balance”

“It hurts my shoulder”

“You want me to do what?”

Learn how to find the spiral up the centre of your body, so that twists can become binds, and postures that you can smile & breathe deeply in.

Thara Vayali,  B.Sc. M.A. ND

Naturopathic Doctor, Yogini, Educator

http://www.tharavayali.ca

Date: April 18th, 2012

This week’s focus: Standing Balances

Examples:

Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon)

Uttitha Hasta Padangusthasana (One Legged, Standing, Hand-to-Foot Pose)

Garudasana (Eagle Pose)

Vrksasana (Tree Pose)

…and so many more!

Why we do it:

Standing Balances are an opportunity to challenge your grounding, to find stability in your core and pelvis. By shifting the weight to one foot, we have to create a strong, eagle-eye focus in the mind, and body. Standing balances help you clarify what you need in life, and clear out clutter in your mind and body.

Common Obstacles:

Balance just isn’t your ‘thing’.

Your standing leg gets tired.

“I’m not flexible/strong enough”

Come find out how to overcome these obstacles and make a joyful, light practice out of standing balances!

Thara Vayali,  B.Sc. M.A. ND

Naturopathic Doctor, Yogini, Educator

http://www.tharavayali.ca

One thing that initially deterred me from joining a yoga studio years ago was the perceived costliness of a membership. Since then, I have discovered that not joining is much more costly – both in the literal sense and in the sense of the lifestyle you sacrifice without such a grounding force in your life. Aside from the simple fact that having an unlimited membership to a yoga studio makes me want to go so as not to waste it, there are some other great ways to justify this purchase. That people even have to justify it at all baffles me, although I used to do the same.

We have no problem spending $150 in a one or two evenings, on dinner and a night out. Neither do we think twice about buying a coffee for$5 each day (which adds up to $150/month). Likewise, a pair of designer jeans or boots will cost at least $150, if not more. Aside from improving your health and fitness, yoga, dance and pilates can do all the things a night out, a coffee, or a new outfit can – just one of these classes will help you distress andunwind, energize you for the day, and boost your self confidence while tighteningup and trimming your body.

Since I started practicing yoga and pilates, but particularly over the past year when I began to take them more seriously, I have noticed a shift in every part of my life towards the woman I aspire to be. It’s easy to dismiss a membership to a studio as too expensive, but ask yourself: what am I choosing to spend this money on each month that’s preventing me from joining? Your body, soul and mind are yours for life, so isn’t investing in yourself the best possible choice you can make? Once I made an active  choice to make my health a priority, I not only got in shape but also began to change other parts of my life – without even having to think about it. Don’t get me wrong – I love a good night at the bar, a delicious latte, or a gorgeous new outfit as much as the next person, and living a balanced life is another good thing you can do for yourself, but I’m aware that to enjoy these things I need to be happy and healthy first. I deserve the hour or so a day I devote to myself at Exhale, as well as the monthly membership I treat myself to…and so do you!!

Miss Kula – Exhale Studio, Yaletown, Vancouver

Journal Entry #31 – April 16th, 2012.

Date: Apr 11th, 2012

This week’s focus: Arm Balances

Examples:

Crow Pose (Bakasana)

8  Angle Pose (Astavakrasana)

Variations on Side Plank (Vasisthasana)

One legged balance (Eka Pada Koundiyasana I)

and so many more!

Why do it:

Arm balances are a chance for you to trust yourself, and become lighter by using your core & shoulder girdle. Turn your obstacles into opportunities, and face your fear of falling by flying. Arm balances offer us an “aha” moment – when everything falls into place, perched on relaxation. Where we can feel light, rather than heavy on our hands. Feel yourself lifting off and out of your arms! A chance for us to take ourselves lightly, and laugh!

Common Obstacles:

Your drishti (gaze) tumbles you over.

You don’t feel like you could ever lift your… off the ground

Your wrists/arms/shoulders hurt.

Let’s discover the secret to safe, happy and strong arm balances this Wednesday!

Thara Vayali,  B.Sc. M.A. ND

Naturopathic Doctor, Yogini, Educator

http://www.tharavayali.ca

Friday April 6th

ALL classes are ON!

Saturday April 7th

ALL classes are ON!

Sunday April  8th

10:00am – Hatha Yoga with Kevin is ON!

11:30am – Power Vinyasa Yoga with Chris is ON!

1:15pm – Bollywood dance is CANCELLED

4:00pm – Contemporary dance is CANCELLED

5:15pm – Ballet Pilates is CANCELLED

7:00pm – Yin Yoga is CANCELLED

Monday April 9th

ALL classes are ON!

Have a fun and safe holiday weekend!

~ Exhale Staff

Wesley is a bundle of energy if there ever was one. His class is perfect for the lunch hour crowd – either those just beginning their day or in need of a break from sitting at a desk all morning. He teaches a Vinyasa flow class, incorporating pilates moves and dancing – embodying everything Exhale stands for. Wesley has such a joyful demeanor that it rubs off on all around him, yet he manages to ground his students at the same time.

We began with some breathing exercises that centered us before moving into more physical yoga postures; we then strengthened our core with pilates and yoga moves, but my favourite part came towards the end, when we got up and danced! Wesley plays great music throughout his practice, but at this particular part he turned it up and blasted Daft Punk’s “One More Time,” while leading us through a series of moves and breathing exercises stemming from yoga, designed to create fire in our bodies. I have never left a yoga class feeling so ready to take on the world! If you don’t dance don’t shy away – Wesley’s moves reminded me of yoga warriors and other strong poses done in quick succession. I felt powerful and graceful at the same time.

While Wesley’s entire class flows much like a dance, this added kicker toward the end, followed with a grounding inversion, some cleansing twists, and Savasana, centered my energy and gave me the power I needed to take on the rest of the day! I enjoyed this class so much I can’t wait to go back; I will definitely mix up my schedule a little more often!

Miss Kula – Exhale Studio, Yaletown, Vancouver

Journal Entry #30 – March 21st, 2012.

Exhale Studio has won the silver ranking both for BEST YOGA STUDIO and BEST PILATES STUDIO!

We want to thank the Exhale community for their enthusiasm and ongoing support, see you all in class soon!

I have been a member at Exhale Studio since the day I moved back to Vancouver two and a half years ago. Among other reasons, I keep going back because of the large variety of classes offered there. Having been a member for so long, however, I do favour some classes, and my schedule and personal preferences keep me going back to the same ones. Some classes that I tried once I wrote off as not as well suited to me as others. The challenge changed that.

I discovered that I love Yin Yoga. Those who follow my blog regularly will know that I’m partial to more active yoga classes, and I think the reason I did not enjoy Yin Yoga as much was because I was expecting it to do the same things for me as a Vinyasa Flow class. I used to sit there, waiting for something to happen, as we remained in our postures for five minutes or more. Once I began to perceive Yin Yoga differently, and focus on what it COULD offer me rather than what it could NOT, I relished the moments I spent in each posture. I resigned to the class the way my muscles resigned to the gentle pull of gravity after holding a posture for such a long time. I began to realize that Yin Yoga gives me time to myself, relaxes me, increases flexibility and detoxifies. At times when I felt uncomfortable in a position, Jolene would remind us to breathe – a lesson she said we should take with us when other things in life become uncomfortable. I think the lesson I took from the whole experience, of needing a separate set of expectations for the task at hand, and focusing on the good things it offers you rather than comparing it to others and making note of what it does not, can be applied elsewhere as well. Lately, if I missed a class I wanted to go to due to my mood or schedule, I wouldn’t go to another one instead. During the challenge, however, I was obliged to take the next class or the one after that in order to complete it on time. More than once this led me to Candlelight Yin Yoga and now I’ll be sure to fit it into my schedule at least once a week!

The challenge wrapped up with a celebratory soiree at the studio, where I met other challengers and we toasted with a glass of champagne. The studio also drew prizes for those who had completed the challenge – spa treatments, how thoughtful! It was great to hear others’ stories of how they felt upon completion. I found a lot of people felt the same way I did, that the challenge had encouraged them to try new classes and stick to a fitness regimen regardless of whether or not they felt up to it on a specific day. Most people shared my view that the system of putting a sticker on the board after each class gave them a sense of accomplishment and reminded them that they were one step closer to their goal (a good lesson in goal setting). The evening also reminded me that Exhale is a place where friendships are made – a home away from home where everyone feels comfortable. The studio is an encouraging environment, accepting and non-competitive. We congratulated each other and I look forward to going back to Exhale every day now that the challenge has set fitness standards for me that will be hard to let slide. Remember, you don’t need anyone else to challenge you, challenge yourself and the benefits will be your reward!

Miss Kula – Exhale Studio, Yaletown, Vancouver

Journal Entry #29 – February 22nd,  2012.

One good thing about taking a 30 day challenge at Exhale is if you absolutely can’t make it one day, you can double up on classes the next day to make up for it. Although I had to miss a couple classes when I went out of town, however, I have tried my best to go to class every day if I am physically able. Taking a class every day has reminded me that the days I don’t feel like going are often the days I feel the most rewarded when I leave, and also that I can always make time for a class if I put my mind to it. The motivation I have mustered for this challenge has encouraged me to do the same with other resolutions I made for the New Year, as I am reminded of how satisfying it is to accomplish what you set out to do. This realization, coupled with the tools I learned at the goal-setting seminar that kicked off the challenge, should arm me with all I need for a successful 2012!

Miss Kula – Exhale Studio, Yaletown, Vancouver

Journal Entry #28 – February 4th,  2012.