This is the retreat I go on every October.  But this year, I will be presenting a workshop with my sister Wendy!  If you have never been on a yoga retreat before, this is the one to come to!!

Join us for our 4 th annual Shuswap retreat!

October 18/19/20

Early Bird Price $449

Weekend retreat includes:

• 2 nights shared accommodation
• (private rooms first come, first serve)
• Deluxe vegetarian meals & snacks
• Yoga & Meditation on Friday night
• Yin/Yang workshop on Saturday with sister duo Wendy Weymann & Tracy Loffler
• Awakening the Chakras on Sunday with Mugs McConnell

About Mugs McConnell, E-RYT 500:

Marion (“Mugs”) McConnell, E-RYT 500 is a founding member and co-director of the South Okanagan Yoga Academy (SOYA), which was established in 1995. She is the Canadian Representative for the International Yoga Teachers’ Association (IYTA) and recently received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for offering Yoga in Canada and abroad for nearly 40 years. Her recent teachers include NamadevaAcharya (Mantra Therapy) and Erich Schiffmann (Freedom Style Yoga). In 1979 she was a student of the late Dr. Hari Dickman, a disciple of Swami Sivananda and Paramahansa Yogananda. Prior to this, she studied under the late Swami Vishnudevananda and graduated from the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre as a Yoga Acharya in 1978.

With Amy Reedman from The Blending Bar

Experience how essential oils are the sprinkles on top of your established Restorative Yoga practice or start from scratch with aromatherapy in this gentle, healing practice for all levels.

We’ll move through a series of very gentle yoga postures using props to support the body from head to toe. This practice is designed to calm and balance the nervous system, by gentle checking into the peace state, known as the parasympathetic nervous system and out of the stress state, known as the sympathetic nervous system.

Learn about 5 essential oils that are specifically used to calm the mind and body and how they can easily be incorporated into your practice on and off the mat. Please bring an open heart and a curious mind. All welcome!

You will take home a 5ml Pulse Point Blend made with the 5 essential oils we discover and 5 Aromatherapy Stir Sticks each scented with a drop of the 5 essential oils we explored, to capture the layers in the each single oil and the difference when blended.

Saturday, April 27 12:00pm- 4:00pm

Light refreshments will be provided

Space is limited so please register early to avoid disapointment!

tracy@unisonyoga.ca

$55+GST ~ chq payable to The Blending Bar

The ego is essentially a box around the soul.  It is the mechanism that blocks peace, and the more strongly identified a person is with their ego the more likely they are to suffer.  Suffering comes in the form of stress, loneliness, depression, anger, envy, pride, hopelessness, fear, doubt and struggle.  Suffering exists: it’s true.  But the human being’s True Nature is not suffering, it is Joy and Love; Pure, Free, Forever.  And by surrendering to God, it is possible to find freedom.

The ego is a function of the mind that defines and describes who we think we are.  In essence, the ego is our false identity.  What the ego perceives, it presumes to be absolute fact.  The nature of the ego is to grasp onto whatever it perceives and make it as tangible and understandable; as real as possible – whether it is true or not.

Many of us are unaware that we are identified with our egos.  In fact, most of us think we are our egos.  When we live our lives from our egos, we identify ourselves as our actions.  So when things are going well, we take it personally and think, “If things are going well, then I must be doing well.  I am ok.”  And if things are not going so well, we think, “I failed.  It didn’t work.  I am not ok.”  So we try to stay as far away as possible from the things and situations we dislike and try to hold on as tightly as possible to what we do like.  We get confused, thinking that if we stay away from what we are afraid of and always have our preferences met, then we will be happy. 

Through this identification and aversion, a person ends up swinging from highs to lows, completely caught up in trying to keep it all together and avoid the things, people, situations that make us unhappy.  We presume that we are somehow in charge of, or responsible for everything that happens around us.  We feel constant pressure and think that if we keep everything under control, everything will be ok.  We get caught up in the struggle and we endure the suffering; resigned to the fact that this is just the way life is. 

Often, we have no idea of what it is that we are unhappy about, what it is that’s missing from our lives.  What we don’t understand is that our deepest desire, the thing we want most, is to connect with God.  Now I’m not talking about “God” as in something or someone “out there.”  What I’m talking about is Pure Existence.  I’m talking about Divinity, Pure Being, and the Space from which everything exists.  The Space within each of us that is unchanging and absolute.  Describe it however you like, but the essence we seek is exactly the same.

At some point in our lives, most of have a Spiritual Crisis.  We wonder about the meaning of our lives, and, “Is this all there is?”  We start to question our faith, we think we should end our marriage, quit our job or buy a new sports car.  Or unfortunately, the crisis comes as the result of a life altering experience; someone we love dies or someone we know gets cancer or loses their job.  These are the sorts of experiences we dread and we do our absolute best (mostly unconsciously) to stay as far away from the people and circumstances that scare us.  Some of us come to more of a Spiritual Crossroads.  Nothing drastic happens, but we still find ourselves questioning the meaning of all of “this.”

At this point, we start to look for answers or solutions – mostly solutions.  Those of us who are strongly identified with our egos will quit our jobs or leave our partners.  Some of us will find ways to avoid the truth and numb the pain.  We start over-eating, drinking too much or engaging in other mindless habits that keep us distracted from the root of our unhappiness.  And some of us will choose to dig deeper, seek wisdom and guidance and begin the journey toward freedom.  Just the idea that we can actually be free is both liberating and exhilarating!

One of the ways to freedom is through Yoga and Meditation.  Many of us begin with the physical practice of Hatha Yoga and this helps to bring health to our physical bodies and some stress relief for our busy minds.  But yoga offers much more than a refuge for our physical bodies.  Meditation is another facet of Yoga, and it is through meditation that we can experience freedom and bliss.

Through meditation, we cultivate awareness and knowledge.  We start to become aware of the thoughts we’re thinking.  We start to notice the nature of those thoughts.  And we experience ourselves as the “knower” of our thoughts.  For example:  If you have a thought, how do you know that you’re having that thought?  Who is doing the thinking?  If you can see that you are having the thought, then you cannot be your thoughts. You become the knower of your thoughts. 

If you are not your thoughts, then who are “You”?  Good question.

 “You” are your True Nature, which is already pure, already free; it always has been, and always will be, unchanging.  “You” are Pure Being.  “You” are Pure Existence.  There is nothing that you need to “do,” nothing that you need to change; you are already pure and you are already free.

You are not your thoughts.  Our thoughts and thinking are constantly changing.  You are not your body.  Our bodies are in a constant state of change; we know that we will not live forever.  Through meditation we can realize our True Nature and experience pure existence.  We realize that if our bodies and thoughts are continually changing, we wonder what is within us that is unchanging. What is unchanging is our True Nature.

When we recognize that we are not our thoughts and that our very essence is pure and unchanging, we no longer have to be pushed around by our thoughts, which are a construct of the ego.  We realize that we are not in charge of the Universe.  And simply understanding this lessens our burdens and brings a sense of peace. 

Knowledge is the antidote to suffering.  Once we know that we are not our egos; that we are free, everything shifts.  As part of our meditation practice, we practice letting go.  We practice surrendering our actions and ego to God.  We recognize that we are not our actions.  This does not mean that we make careless choices, but that we make choices from a place of freedom and clarity.  We do not have to know the outcome of our actions or know for certain how things will work out, because through our practice we develop faith and trust.  We trust that all is unfolding around us as part of a Divine, perfect plan. 

This is freedom.  To know that we are not in charge.  To trust that everything is as it should be.  That is all is well.  Freedom is ease.  Ease in the mind.  Ease in the world.  Freedom means love and joy and the simple sweetness of being alive.  Blissfully aware of all that is within.  And at peace with what is.  Freedom brings gratitude and appreciation.  Wonder and curiosity.  Freedom is pure Openhearted delight.

Join us and practice easy, useful and delightful meditation skills!  

• November 7th – FOUNDATIONS
• Establish a seat in ease and stillness.   Learn the foundations of classical yoga and meditation.

• November 14th – RELAX & RENEW
• Touch the depths of peace within yourself.  Learn techniques to release stress and stay happy.

• November 21st – FOCUS & EFFICIENCY
• Access your inner dynamism.  Explore the yogic wisdom of “Maximum results with minimum effort.”

• November 28th – END STRUGGLES
• Open your experience of life’s natural joy and freedom.  Learn the classic nature of the mind and ego.

Padma has just returned from another trip to the Himalaya’s and is eager to share the teachings of classical yogic meditation and philosophy.   These workshops are open to everyone.  Both beginners and experienced meditators will develop a deeper awareness of what meditation really is and how it can transform your life

• REGISTRATION & DETAILS
• Wednesday Evenings 7 – 8:30 PM
• We anticipate this workshop to series sell-out.  Register early to avoid disapointment.
• Registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis.
• Your spot will be held upon receipt of payment.

• FEES:
• $100 + hst for the entire series
• $35 + hst for drop-ins
• Payable to Padma Yoga – Cheques may be post-dated to start date
• Register online at PadmaYoga.ca  via PayPal

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or Padma. 

I am looking so forward to this amazing opportunity!  Hope you join us.

Please join us for a Summer of Transformation!

Wednesday nights | 7:30 – 9:00 PM | July 11 – Aug 1

These workshops are for everyone!  Beginners and those with meditation experience!

Each week has a theme and will include specific breath and meditation techniques, as well as yogic philosophy.  You will receive weekly handouts and there will be time for questions and discussion.

Week #1: EASE – De-mystifying meditation.  Learn what meditation really is and how it can help you (yes, You!)

Week #2: AWARENESS – Enhancing subtle awareness.  Become attentive to what your body is trying to tell you.

Week #3: KNOWLEDGE - Tuning in to inner wisdom.  Explore how the mind works and ways to enhance your focus.

Week #4: FREEDOM - Happiness is possible!  Discover the peace, love and joy within.

Space is limited.  Please register early to avoid disappointment.

$60 Pre-registered for all 4 workshops ~ $20 Drop-In (if space allows)

If there is anything specific you would like to learn more about, please let me know!

I am so happy to be a part of your journey.

NAMASTE,  Tracy

Saturday, Feb. 25 ~ 12 – 2:30 pm

All welcome. Bring an open mind and a curious
heart!

$45 ~ Kindly Pre-Register

Explore the Energy Body using pure essential oils to discover and awaken
your connection to the seven major Chakras.
Registered Aromatherapist and Certified Yoga Teacher, Amy Reedman, will
guide you to reconnect with yourself with the emotional, physical and energetic
support of essential oils to tap in, stir and balance each chakra.

Founder of The Blending Bar Aromatherapy Inc., Amy Reedman is a
Registered Aromatherapist and Essential Oil Therapist, Certified Yoga and
Meditation Teacher, and Reiki and Healing Touch Practitioner who’s been practicing
since 1999.  Connected to the energetic
and emotional teachings of Classical Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga and Restorative Yoga,
Amy shares her passion for blending the philosophy, culture and truth of
the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of holistic living.  She currently practices and teaches from her
home in Port Coquitlam and on location throughout British Columbia, where she
incorporates yoga, meditation, energy healing, intuitive coaching and
aromatherapy into unique one-on-one sessions, group classes and workshops and
individually blended products.