January 15, 2014CSY Book Club – A New Community
We were excited to put together a book list, choose charities to match each book selection and then to finally present the idea of a new CSY Book Club to our studio community. The book club idea was received with enthusiasm and excitement. Everyone thought it was a great idea and then the voting started. We selected five pairs of books. Everyone who wished, had the opportunity to vote for a pairing (and the charity that was matched). Voting was open for a month. Finally the votes were counted and the book selections for our first CSY Book Club …
January 5, 2014Bound By Certainty
I remember moving away from home at the age of 18 feeling confident that I was already worldly, independent and smart. I was full of hope and in my opinion, already had an incredible sense of knowing. It amazes me when I look back and marvel at my young confidence. A fortunate epiphany and my greatest learning that first year away from home and attending university was the realization that what I thought I knew was so small compared to what I still had to learn! It was a humbling acknowledgement and I am so grateful that it started me …
- December 6, 2013
Every Child Should Have A New Pair of PJ’s For Christmas
For Oakville’s Robyn Bowman, owner of the Creating Space Yoga Studio, the holidays are about helping others. “I know the holidays are approaching when my inner elf kicks in and I start preparing for the annual Holiday Pyjama Drive for the Halton Children’s Aid Foundation,” she noted. This will be Bowman’s fifth year organizing the drive, which she founded. And she is not alone in her efforts as the community has rallied behind the cause. In the past, local hockey teams, dance studios, grade schools and the yoga community have come on board to help out with the collection effort. …
- November 7, 2013
Create Mindful Moments
Many people think that meditation is difficult. They can’t even fathom sitting still for a few minutes let alone 45 minutes. Who has time for that??? I know that a formal sitting meditation is difficult. We are busy. We have lots to do. But consider approaching a meditation practice as not something that we have to “do”. How about approaching meditation as connecting to your moment as it is right now? That’s it. Take the pressure off and redefine what meditation can mean for you. While we don’t “do” meditation, what we can “do” is learn to create an …
- October 29, 2013
Calling All Book Lovers… Introducing The CSY Book Club
Every Spring the CSY Community pulls together and enjoys a book donation/exchange for a couple of weeks at the studio. All of the used books collected are donated to the Oakville Literacy Council for their annual Used Book sale. Each year we are overwhelmed with donations and the enthusiasm for books in our yoga community. Obviously, there are a lot of keen readers among our yoga students! This gave us the idea of a CSY Book Club. We are always looking at ways to create deeper layers of community at CSY. We hope that the book club will welcome new …
- October 24, 2013
Look At What We Have Achieved!
A strong focus at Creating Space Yoga Studio is the encouragement of community and “doing our part and giving back”. Although our students do come to CSY to practice their individual yoga and to discover new things about their own body and self; another consistent theme in the intentions of our practices also rests in the desire to reach out into our community to connect and help in small and big ways. I am so proud of the CSY Community and what we have achieved together! Take a look at some of our work so far this year… December …
- October 11, 2013
Why Would Anybody Want To Learn About The MPC?
I remember teasing Dr. T. several weeks ago. I poked at him, “Why would anybody want to learn about the MPC?” He rolled his eyes, laughed at me (as he usually does) and then sighed and spoke. He said with a coy smile on his face, “Robyn, this lecture will change your life! It will allow you to understand what you teach more fully. Robyn, you will come to love the MPC!” So here I am a few days after his lecture, “The Amazing MPC” and I must admit … he was right. The MPC is amazing. More amazing than …
- October 4, 2013
I Would Like To Try Yoga But…
As a yoga teacher, I often meet people who say they would like to try yoga, but …. they’re a bit overwhelmed by all the different types of yoga (which one should I do?). They wish they had tried it when they were younger and fitter, and they’re afraid they’re not flexible enough now to do a class. They don’t want to feel embarrassed if they can’t do the “moves.” They have bad knees or other lingering injuries. And they don’t have the time. Well, I can’t help you with that last one, but I can put your mind at …
- September 30, 2013
Is Setting Goals Not Compatible with Mindfulness?
The Mindfulness Lectures were launched this past weekend and it was nice to finally “let it go”. Dr. T and I entered into the event with a huge sense of unknowing. It was liberating to not have expectations. With 22 lectures under our belt, we began to see the possibilities of how the Mindfulness Lectures can expand this year. We have witnessed a beautiful, slow growth of an emerging community that has become stronger and more engaged with each lecture that we present. It was obvious to us, that the lectures were beginning to evolve and a unique voice was …
- September 17, 2013
Making Modifications
A long and active life involves making modifications. Age is going to happen to those of us fortunate enough to experience it. Aging with grace, for me involves considering “What do I have to do today to keep me in better shape than yesterday?” I have learned that one secret to graceful aging is learning to modify our actions today, tomorrow and next year to enable us to keep moving! The Creating Space Yoga Walking group embraces making modifications. We aim to teach our students that walking can become an integral part of their lives today and for the rest …
