Onzie giveaway winner…

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who entered the Onzie Yoga Apparel giveaway by sharing their favourite yoga memories. I loved reading every one of them, all of you are very inspirational!

The winner has been chosen and notified, but please feel free to continue to share your favourite yoga/fitness/running memories on that post or this one. I find that it’s nice to reflect on these moments of joy in our practice, while also sharing it with others as inspiration and motivation. Reading about some of you that were able to achieve certain yoga poses over time reminded me of poses that I am still struggling with. This made me think about how I need to stop avoiding them and start challenging myself to work on them (hello handstand), which will be great for both my body and mind.

Congratulations to the winner and to all of you for having such wonderful memories of your practice! Keep up the OM-azing work! ; )

Also, a huge THANK YOU to Onzie Yoga Apparel for donating this awesome prize to one of my lucky readers. I love sharing great products with you, so I was excited at the opportunity of spreading the word about comfortable and colourful clothes for yoga and everyday life. Enjoy!  ॐ

Onzie Giveaway!

** This giveaway is now closed. But please feel free to share your favourite yoga/fitness/running memory as part of the discussion **

Recently I was asked to think about my favourite yoga memory or experience, and to be honest, this was a tough one to answer. Even though I haven’t traveled to India or been on a major yoga retreat (yet!), there are still so many good memories to look back on…

- My first ever yoga class – I was stiff!

- Touching my toes for the first time – had an awesome Iyengar teacher help me get there

- Meeting so many great people at workshops and my home studio

- Workshops with Julie Gudmestad and Jawahar Bangera

- My first shoulderstand without props – after a few years of re-building from a neck injury

This list could go on!

But, I’d have to say that one of my favourites would be graduating from yoga teacher training. After so much time of working hard, learning more about yoga and myself, and connecting with my fellow trainees, the graduation was a time of elation and positivity. Ready to go out into the world to share this gift of yoga and filled with so much new knowledge. What a great day!

I have come far from that graduation in 2009… on my path, off my path, challenged time and time again. Currently, I am not teaching, but I know I would love to get back into it again. I want to share my love of yoga with others, I want to help them like my teachers helped me, and I want to have fun with great students while being connected to such an amazing community. I’ll get there, but in the meantime I need to keep learning from those around me and sticking to my daily practice.

And one way to help this daily practice is to have comfortable, flexible clothes. That’s where this giveaway comes in! Onzie Yoga Apparel is graciously giving away $75 towards their amazing clothing that you just have to check out. I’ve had the experience of wearing their Gypsy Pant and Dip Dye Muscle Tank (pictured below), which are both hot pieces but also perfect for yoga. These items allow for all ranges of movement and flowing, while also allowing you to keep cool and looking good. Plus, these pieces look so great, they don’t have to be worn for just yoga. The pants are great for throwing on with a tank on a nice spring day or the Dip Dye Muscle Tank can be worn with your fave pair of jeans and a gorgeous scarf. Onzie has many other items that can be worn in so many different ways, check out their site for more info and to see the gorgeous colours and patterns available.

Details for the giveaway:

Contest open until Sunday, April 21st 11:59 pm EST

$75 of Onzie Yoga Apparel up for grabs (how awesome is that?!)

What you need to do:

- Leave a comment telling me about your favourite yoga memory (or fitness/running if you haven’t tried yoga yet)

- Extra entry – Like Onzie Yoga Apparel on Facebook (let me know you did this in the comments)

- Extra extra entry – Like YogiCrystal on Facebook

Good luck!!  ॐ

Dip Dye Muscle Tank (pic from theonzie.com)

Gypsy Pant (pic from theonzie.com)

Songs I love… right now…

Late last night my girl, Thais, sent me a twitter DM asking me to send her a list of my top 10 all time favourite songs.  I replied with something to the effect of: “are you sure, I’m pretty much a classic rock, 90′s Alternative kind of gal”… and well, she said yep… Given our age difference, I’m going to wonder if she’s ever heard of some of these songs (hehe <3 ya T!)

One thing to remember is that this list is not complete and would probably change depending on my mood of the day, but as of right now in this moment these are my top 10 all time fave songs:

1.  Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd

2.  Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin

3.  Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden (finally saw them live this year after 18 years of love!!)

4.  Disarm – Smashing Pumpkins

5.  Patience – Guns N’ Roses (don’t laugh, this song has been a great sing-out-loud when I’m hurting tune for quite some time)

6.  Seasons – Chris Cornell

7.  Where did you sleep last night? – Nirvana (Unplugged in New York cover)

8.  Wish you were here – Pink Floyd

9.  Imagine – John Lennon

10.  California Love – 2Pac & Dr. Dre / Hypnotize – Notorious B.I.G. (this is a tie here because usually I hear these songs played together and they just cause me to remember some fun times)

So, there you have it readers.  The top 10 fave songs today… but, I would say in general that this list doesn’t change much.  New music hasn’t been able to catch my ear like these songs, which have travelled with me for many years.  I certainly hope you have heard of some of them, or will at least youtube them and see if you enjoy as well.  ॐ

I know you’re not going to list 10, but what are your top 3 fave songs readers?  Any that have stuck with you for years and years?  (let me know and then I’ll check them out too)

Tuesday Laugh out Loud…

Just when I was feeling a little down and needing some cheering up, a friend sent me the link to this video and I just had to share here.  I’ve probably watched it and laughed about 20 times ;D  (I also love that when I watched it last night it had 3,000 views and now at the time of this post it’s up to 22,417!)

See more of Fog and Smog on their website here: http://www.fogandsmog.com/ (the Parking Lot video is pretty good too!)  ॐ

Do you have a favourite video or song that can bring a smile to your face on a rough day?

Love the weekend!

During the National Anthem - Stampeders game

Well readers, this past weekend was an interesting one as it would seem that most North Americans had a holiday (Canada Day July 1st, Independence Day July 4th) that allowed them the glory of a long weekend.  And what a great weekend it was!  Now, before you get all ruffled and say “I didn’t have a long weekend, so shut it”, well, neither did I technically – I worked on Saturday, but made the best of the days around it.

 

Friday (Canada Day) started off mostly lazy as I had planned, but then we ventured out to enjoy the sun and festivities around lunch time.  We wandered downtown, grabbed a delicious coffee, had lunch, and then checked out the holiday festivities in our city.  I can tell you, I am not much for crowds like that anymore but enjoyed the walking nonetheless.  The evening was spent having a blast at the home opener for the Calgary Stampeders, even though they lost.  I always love getting outside for a football game and a fun atmosphere, we had great fans around us for this game.  We ended the night with some family sitting around a firepit making s’mores – so bad for you, but so tasty (I hadn’t eaten them in at least 10 years!).

Paddle boating!

All in all, it was an awesome Canada Day and I was so glad for the nice weather we had for it.

Even though I worked on Saturday, we still managed to take advantage of the sun and do something fun after – mini-golf!  Played an awesome 18 hole real grass putting green course that was super fun and I didn’t completely suck – yay!

Miraculously, Sunday was also very nice weather so we knew we had to get out and soak it in.  We did this by heading out to a great park in the city and rented a paddle boat, so much fun!  We paddled along a little river, enjoyed the trees, watched the ducks, and just took in all that was around us… that is, until a major wind storm blew in!  But, we didn’t fret and still managed to enjoy the ride and get back in before the wind was too crazy.  The weekend ended with an awesome BBQ with some relaxing out in the yard.  A very nice end to a lovely and fun weekend!

Awwww ducky!

Back to work on Monday here, but I know my American readers are celebrating the 4th of July.  I hope you managed to fill your weekend with fun things, whether big or small, that made you smile and enjoy what life has to offer.  ॐ

How did you spend your long (or not so long) weekend?

My second 5K race

Before the race

As my alarm went off at 6:30 this morning, I thought to myself “why on a Sunday, why?”.  It’s my one day off from work, why would I do this to myself?!

Well, back in February I signed up for a 10K race in today’s Calgary Marathon event when I was in some kind of crazy mood or under the influence.  Not totally sure why I did it.  Either way, I recently switched down to the 5K for some personal reasons and shortly after I had some realizations that lead to this post.

For those who don’t know me, my mornings are never without a little adventure.  I woke up extra early for the race knowing that travel time would take a bit longer due to many detours for the marathon.  Since I travel by my own two feet and transit, I wanted to be prepared for any slow downs I might encounter.  And without fail, I encountered a hiccup with transit detours that weren’t actually listed on their website – even the bus driver was told she could go down a certain street they had blocked off!  Oh well… improvise.  Run out into traffic, run to get train, switch to another train and then I’m back on track and on my way to the race!  Then… I end up arriving super early somehow.  Regardless, it was nice to get there and see the excitement going on and runners coming in even before my race started.

Many people were there with family, friends, and partners, but I was on my own.  Before the race, I chatted with two other gals who were there alone as well, nice to know I wasn’t the only one without a supporter today (but then it turns out after that a friend was waiting for me to finish – so nice of Diane!!).  It felt a little lonely at times not having anyone at the race to cheer me on as I started, but that’s ok, I just focused on having fun and enjoying the excitement.

I finished in 36.01, which I am ok with… but not ecstatic about.  I told myself I’d be happy if I did it in

After the race!

under 40 minutes while having fun, which is what happened.  Would have been nice to get 35 minutes… but I have to stop that chatter in my head!  I must focus on how I kept a good pace, didn’t cramp up, didn’t get cranky, and just enjoyed running with the other people.  Why must I let ego get into it?

In the end, it was a very fun morning and great to grab a delicious breakfast afterwards with my friend Diane (she did the 10K).  A nice reward after a race!  Later today, a friend asked me how I felt about running now, and well, I still hate it.  But, I find the events are super fun with a great crowd, so I think I will stick to 5K’s for now, no need to force myself into longer distances that I will just resent.  Because that’s what it’s all about right?  Fun!!  Congrats to all the runners and walkers today!  ॐ

Sunday Funny!

http://shredsomething.wordpress.com/2009/08/27/got-namaste/

Even though there is a typo in this graphic (hello, bridge?), I still found it pretty hilarious for a Sunday funny.

Here’s hoping you had a fun weekend, but you know, not as rough as these two guys!   ॐ

Ever busted out a random yoga pose in a strange place?

Holiday Gift Guide – Guest Post for The Yoga Studio fan page

Guest post for The Yoga Studio Calgary’s Facebook fan page ( http://on.fb.me/hEgXuo ) on December 8, 2010. Even if you are not in Calgary, I am sure you can find these items at your local yoga studio or wellness centre – hope you enjoy these ideas!

~~

Looking for some holiday gift ideas for that special yogi in your life?  Or, looking to share the gift of yoga with someone new?  Then we have our top 5 gift ideas available at The Yoga Studio – South for you!

1.  New in studio for the holidays is the Chill Out Kit by Halfmoon.  This fabulous kit will make a great gift for anyone in your life who enjoys relaxing and may even need a little warming up at this time of year.  Both the Eye and Warming Pillows are lavender scented, which can be incredibly soothing.  Just heat up the Warming Pillow to ease those tight and achy muscles.  We have these in a couple of different colours to suit your fancy!

2.  For any new or experienced yogi a great gift idea is the gift of a new yoga mat!  If you haven’t been in to check out our mat selection lately, you really should stop by!  We currently have the awesome and super-sticky Manduka Pro and ProLite mats, as well as, the Halfmoon Eco and Deluxe Eco mats.  Also available are Halfmoon Studio Mats, which are the ones we use in our Studios so if you love those then pick one up for yourself or a friend!

3.  Know anyone that loves to read yoga and meditation books?  Well, we have a fantastic selection of books in store for anyone interested in yoga, meditation, and wellness!  We have such a vast array of books in stock that we are sure you can find something in store for that special someone.  Check out our B.K.S. Iyengar books, which are both informational and inspirational along with anatomy books, meditation, and more!

4.  Know someone that is interested in meditation, but wants to try it at home first?  Well, along with our selection of books we also have meditation CDs available, particularly by Jon Kabat-Zinn.  His Mindfulness CDs are excellent, instructional, and relaxing and would make a lovely pairing with the Chill Out Kit for that special person in your life (or even yourself if you find the holidays stressful!).

5.  Lastly, a great gift to share with anyone is yoga!  We have many pass options, or gift certificates, that you can purchase for that friend, spouse, or child that you’ve been trying to get to start yoga (or get started again).  Consider a 10 or 20 time pass, or even an unlimited pass for that new year’s resolution!  The front desk staff can certainly help you pick a pass that will be right for that perfect gift, just stop by the Studio to chat with us!

With only a few weeks left till the holidays and such great gift ideas available, why wouldn’t you stop by the Studio to pick up a few things today?  We also have props, music CDs, yoga DVDs, and more in stock that will also make excellent gifts or compliment one of our top 5 quite well!  Come by and see us if you have any questions, and while you’re at it, stay for a yoga class too!

Happy Holidays and Namaste all!  ॐ

Crystal

Chill Out Kit

( http://www.yogastudiocalgary.com )

Hello world!

Welcome to my site about yoga and all things wellness.   I hope to share information and stories that will inform or inspire you to a happier, healthier you! 

Be sure to check back and grow with me on my blogging  journey!!

*Laugh. Dance. Sing. Yoga!*