Yoga Jam - events for a cause

June 18, 2011 - Yoga Jam hosted by Semperviva - City Studio. What a ride....!

The cause: Africa Yoga Project
* a project dedicated to bringing the practice and philosophy of yoga to those in Africa, specially the slums of Nairobi, Kenya.

This monthly Yoga event is raising much needed funds for the Africa Yoga Project (www.africayogaproject.org). Each month inspiring and diverse teachers come together to create an out of the box, fun yoga practice for everyone! Music, prizes and surprises in store each month. It's all about what's possible when we come together!

The first Yoga Jam Event took place in Whistler BC, Canada with an aim to raise $10,000 for the Africa Yoga Project. Now the Yoga Jam is reaching out globally with the intention to raise over $100,000 while strengthening the fabric of our connections.

This Saturday was the first Vancouver based yoga jam at Semperviva - we helped raise $1470.00 toward the project and countless quantities of positive energy!

4 teachers & 4 styles: Cam (Yin), Wes (Hatha), Crista (Vinyasa Flow), and Gloria (Kundalini)

Highlights:
* Happy hip openers with Cam
* Joyful hatha sequences with rockin music & Wesley
* Powerful flow with Crista

* Getting our kundalini energy rising with Gloria! Oh how we danced!!!!

Gloria, our host @ Semperviva and fearless leader

* Meeting up with Kate from Halfmoon, who graciously donated door prizes to 2 happy yogis!

Kate (on the right) looking radiant!!

* Dancing like there was no tomorrow! Man I love yoga!

I am behind the dancing yogi in the green, you can see my hand! haha

Everyone had an amazing time, look at those moves!

Can't wait for the next one! I feel like a road trip up to Whistler is in order next month!

Photo credit: Yoga Jam Events Facebook Page

Steveston Hand Lube

I have recently been making a greater effort to decrease the number of chemicals I put on my body. This is easier said than done.... There are a lot of additives in a lot of products these days. But I am dedicated to this cause - I figure less chemicals = healthier body, plus the chemical smell is gross.

I have to rave about this product that I found at the Steveston Farmers Market
Presenting: Steveston Hand Lube!!!!

This decadent hand cream is never greasy…always nourishing!

A little bit goes a long way, and it comes in lots of great scents.

* Lavender milk, master bedroom (kind of like a yoga studio in a bottle), vanilla truffle, girls night out, summertime in Steveston, sex on the beach, just to name a few.

 

The scents range from fruity to flowery, and everything in between. Every week I drop by their tent and try a new scent. So far I own the "Lavender Milk" and just picked up "Master Bedroom" (I'm telling you, this scent makes you want to pick up your mala and go meditate, it is amazing)

 

 

My personal recommendation: get a small bottle for your purse (the top is solid, it won't explode) and a big one with a pump top for every room in your home! So far I have one for the yoga room and one beside my bed.

 

Awesome ingredients like shea butter, and jojoba oil, nourish and soften your hands, and NO CHEMICALS!!!

Super local, made right here in town in the owner's kitchen.

 

Price at the market:

$5– 4.oz

$10 - 8.oz

 

Go a source these ladies out! Their product is phenomenal and they are lovely to chat with too!

 

 

 

Going to the market

Over the years through my yoga practice and generally with a greater awareness for global warming, I am becoming more conscious of WHERE my food comes from and the environmental impact it creates.

We all gotta eat, for sure!

But, there are choices involved which can hinder the planet/our bodies. Hence, the more local food I can get, the better! The more organic food I can get, the better! This is not an absolute, but it feels great to put in an effort.

One of my most favourite things to do is to go to the local farmers market. Lucky for me, I live in a community which has one of the best ones I have ever been to. How fortunate for me!



Steveston Farmer's Market - open every other Sunday from 9-4pm - delicious food, great produce, a band plays the oldies the whole time, crafts, kids activities....! What more could you ask for?!

Highlights:
*Lying out on the grass while the band plays Beatles and Eric Clapton

watching the clouds, listening to the tunes, sigh... amazing...

* Sharing a lemonade with my hubby



* Checking out the Granola King booth and getting a free yoga quote! Stay tuned!

* Visiting the ladies who make Steveston Hand Lube - this stuff is amazing, I will be dedicating a blog post to it.

* Getting all of our fresh, local veg for the week! So good, so affordable!





* Checking out the sights and sounds of the community. Everyone is so happy, talkative, and caring. Wonderful energy flowing throughout this space!

Sustainable seafood guys - scallop skewers for $5 - AMAZING



Dan is quite excited about the Father's Day fudge he is getting his dad! They have free samples! Try the chai latte!

Lettuce, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, beets, oh my!

Community Farmers Market located outside the Cannery



Ciao Bella!

I just got back from Italy... Wow.... Beautiful.... The food, the wine, the people, the food.... This is a country filled with so much history I felt overwhelmed at time with the energy of so many different generations and families all coming from this relatively small country (in comparison to Canada)!

A few highlights:
* Finding a deserted Leaning Tower of Pisa on our first night into the city

See me bottom left!

* Wine tour through Tuscany!

Feeling inspired in the vines!

Getting wine educated! Look at all those glasses!!!

* My cousin's wedding in a village outside of Sienna

Wedding Reception Part 1

Beautiful view of the Tuscan Garden from our room!

* Amazing views/monuments/history! So much to take in!

Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Tuscany - wine country

View from the top of the Duomo in Florence

* Wonderful times with my husband and family

Daniel on our first night in Pisa by the river Arno

Dad, Aunt Teresa, tour guide Jon, Mom, and I admiring something historic

Overall, an amazing experience! I feel like I did a lot of the Eat and the Love out of Eat, Pray, Love (Elizabeth Gilbert)! It was difficult to come back from vacation in a way; however, a quick meditation on the wonders of that experience and how lucky I am to have my beautiful home here in Steveston and I was right a rain again! Nothing like a good Om to bring some perspective!

Thank you to my family to making this trip truly amazing & unforgettable! Oh and did a mention that Dad and I found a wine bar that gave free full glass samples and filled up your empty wine bottles for one euro each? Maybe that is for another blog post... haha lots of fun!