Mehndi

Mehndi is the temporary tinting of the skin, by applying Henna.

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India. 2011

In India, and around the world, Henna pigments are applied for special occasions including Hindu festivals and most elaborately on brides upon their wedding day. It is traditionally applied to both the hands and the feet to awaken the wearer's "inner-light".

Brides must be very patient with this process. The application of Henna can take several hours, and then requires the Bride to remain very still to ensure they do not smudge the intricate design.

For best results let your Henna design dry completely before removing; up to 8 hours. Mehndi will stain your skin a rich brown colour and will last a few days up until one week.

Insider's Tip: For best results you can apply a mixture of fresh lemon juice and granulated sugar to keep the henna from completely drying; then leave the Henna on the skin over night. By doing so you can have your Henna last up to twice as long. *Remember to cover your Mehndi with a plastic bag over night to ensure you don't ruin your sheets*

Yoga for Change: January 28th, with guest teacher Blake Hamilton

Yoga for Change returns tonight 5:30-6:30 pm at the West End Community Centre. 

Brandon City Yoga welcome's this week's talented guest teacher, Mr. Blake Hamilton. 

Acro Yoga fun: Blake (Base) flying a friend in bow pose 

We asked Blake a few questions to get to know him a little bit better, here is how he responded: 

How long have you been practicing yoga? 

-I have been certified to instruct yoga by Moksana Yoga, Victoria, for 9 years and have been training with Brandon's Afro-Brazilian Martial art group Capoeira Guanabara for 5 years. 

What is it about yoga that you enjoy the most? 

- I enjoy the space that yoga makes in one's body and mind. Strength, flexibility, balance and flow are all integrated through a meditative discovery and treatment of connective tissue, muscle and bone in a slow dance.
Yoga means yoke, in reference to harnessing the mind. In movement, in stillness, find balance, find space. 

Are you working on any goals this year? 

-This winter I want to work on strengthening my upper body and core muscles to enable new dimensions of movement. 

We are so pleased not only to host Blake, but also to help facilitate donations towards this month's charity of the month: The Manitoba Arthritis Society.

Suggested minimum donation is $5 or pay as you can. Thank you for being a part of this community.

Yoga for Change - 21 Facts about Shawna

This wednesday, Shawna Philpott returns to lead you through Brandon City Yoga's Yoga for Change- Karma Yoga class, January 21st, 2015 (5:30-6:30pm).

During this playful and heartfelt class we will work on synchronizing our breath with our movements, while strengthening and stretching the entire body creating balance.

Shawna being assisted during Bhujangasana (King Cobra pose) by Teacher Arvind

Get to know Shawna a little better as she shares 21 facts about herself and her practice:

21 Facts about Me:

1. I am the proud Momma of Aker Lee Philpott, who is growing up way too fast and turns 16 months old this week.

2. I am fortunate enough to be married to my best friend, Adam. [Fun fact: The "Lee" in my son's middle name is short for "Leonidas" (Yes, from the movie 300). Leonidas was the name that Adam was dead set on naming Aker-- thankfully we compromised.]

3. I am a dog lover and am the proud Momma of our fur baby Mio.

4. Family is very important to me. I am from a very big extended family and I am one of five children in my immediate family.

5. I am a student at Brandon University currently working on my Education Degree in the two-year after degree program within the Faculty of Education. My dream teaching job would be teaching High School Environmental Science.

6. I am loyal to a fault and I have a big heart that is easily won over.

7. I genuinely love teaching Yoga. There is something so special about empowering students to improve their health and fitness. Helping others to decode poses and witness the breakthroughs make it so rewarding to me. 

8. I love to travel to far away places. The more remote, the better in my books. Some of my fondest memories have been while traveling in Nepal backpacking in the Himalayas and snorkelling in the Indian Ocean off the coast of the Gili Islands in Indonesia.

9. When I was a child, if you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up my answer would be a Ballet Instructor. 

10. I have never taken any Gymnastics, Ballet or dance classes, and am probably the worst dancer of all time.

11. I was a Basketball player in middle and high school. I had big dreams of playing University Basketball until I tore my ACL during my first high school game in grade 9 on the Junior Varsity team, which resulted in three full years off all sports.

12. I recently placed 15th along side my Partner Kristy Janz at a CrossFit Competition in Winnipeg against some of the most amazing female athletes I have ever seen in real life.

13. I am a notorious "Do-it-yourself-er". One of my hidden talents is Carpentry. This past year my husband and I have renovated two homes and have done much of the work ourselves.

14. I am a coffee-holic. One of my New Years' resolutions was to cut sugar out of my coffee cup, and so far- so good.

15. My favorite Yoga pose to practice also happens to be one that I hated up until a few weeks ago- Kapotasana or Full Camel pose. 

16. If I won the lottery I would take my family on a trip around the world for a full year or more! It is my dream to raise my son as a global citizen. 

17. I look forward to completing a 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training within the next few years. 

18. When I am doing my personal practice I usually take more of a Yin style approach--longer holds and deep breathing-- to gain new flexibility. 

19. I am extremely proud of the community that is growing around Yoga for Change and I look forward to continuing the class over the next few months. 

20. I am an Introvert, or at best I am an Ambivert. Even though it may not appear that way while I'm teaching. On every Multiple Intelligence Survey that I have taken, I consistently come out as highest in Intrapersonal Intelligence. 

21. I am a novice crochetter and amateur knitter. 

Visit the Yoga for Change page for full details 

The Do's and Don'ts of Prenatal Yoga

During pregnancy, Yoga can be one of the best ways to stay fit and to find peace of mind. That being said, there are certain guidelines in which we must practice Prenatal Yoga to ensure we are doing what is best for Mother and child. 

• Talk to your health care provider. Before you begin a prenatal yoga program, make sure you have your health care provider's OK. You may not be able to do prenatal yoga if you are at increased risk of preterm labor or have certain medical conditions, such as heart disease or back problems.

• Set realistic goals. Try not to get caught up in what anyone else is doing on their mats (or what your former self would have been doing). Allow what you do during your practice to be "enough". For most pregnant women, at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity is recommended on most, if not all, days of the week. However, even shorter or less frequent workouts can help you stay in shape and prepare for labor.

• Pace yourself. If you can't speak normally, or smile while you're doing prenatal yoga, you're probably pushing yourself too hard.

• Stay cool and hydrated. Practice prenatal yoga in a well-ventilated room to avoid overheating. Drink plenty of fluids before and during prenatal yoga to keep yourself hydrated.

• Avoid certain postures. When performing asana (yoga poses), ensure that you bend from your hips — not your back — to maintain normal spine curvature. Avoid lying on your belly or back, doing deep forward or backward bends, or doing twisting poses that put pressure on your abdomen. You can modify twisting poses so that you only move your upper back, shoulders and rib cage. Avoid inverted poses, which involve extending your legs and hips above your heart or head, unless you're an experienced yoga practitioner. As your pregnancy progresses, use props during postures to accommodate changes in your centre of gravity. If you wonder whether a pose is safe, ask your prenatal yoga instructor for guidance.

• Don't overdo it. As you do prenatal yoga, pay attention to your body and how you feel. Start slow and avoid positions that are beyond your level of experience or comfort. Stretch only as far as you would have before pregnancy. If you experience any pain or other red flags — such as vaginal bleeding, decreased fetal movement or contractions — during prenatal yoga, stop and contact your health care provider.

Courtesy of the Mayo Clinic- 2015

To find out more about Brandon City Yoga's Prenatal Yoga sessions click here!

Remover of Darkness- Yoga for Change: Wednesday 5:30-6:30pm

Guru is the sanskrit word for Teacher.

The word guru is derived from two syllables: Gu, which signifies “light” (jyoti, sattwa), and Ru, which signifies “darkness” (tamas).

The word therefore is translated as “the light that removes the darkness and ignorance.” 

Guest teacher Marisa Cline leading Yoga for Change - January 2015

If you missed out on last week's class be sure to catch our guest teacher Marisa Cline as she returns to lead Brandon City Yoga's candle lit Karma Yoga Class Yoga for Change. 

Wednesday, January 14th, at the West End Community Centre (247 23rd Street- Brandon- MB) 5:30PM-6:30PM. 

Visit the Yoga for Change page for full details 

Yoga for Change - Wednesday, January 7th @ 5:30 PM 

We could not be more pleased that we are hosting the very talented Marisa Cline RYT as our guest teacher for the first Yoga for Change class of 2015!

Marisa Cline has been a dedicated Yogi since 2009. She completed her Yoga Teacher Training in the summer of 2012 and since then has been a leader in the Brandon and Wawanesa Yoga Community. Marisa teaches many styles of Yoga including, Power flow, Vinyasa flow, Hatha, Yoga for kids and Chair Yoga. 

Her genuinely kind nature, inspired sequencing and clear instruction make attending one of Marisa's classes an absolute treat. 

Join us tonight for a very special Yoga for Change class. Suitable for all levels of experience and all ages. No need to pre-register, drop-ins only. Ensure that you give yourself plenty of time to find the location and get settled once you arrive. The class is sure to be very busy and spaces are limited!

Classes are held at the West End Community Centre (247 23rd Street). The doors will be opening at 5pm and the one-hour class starts at 5:30pm.

This is a donations based Karma Yoga class. Donations will be collected, in lieu of a class fee, for this month's Charity of the Month: The Manitoba Arthritis Society. The suggested minimum donation is $5. 

The graceful Marisa flying in Crow Pose