The Fourth Trimester: Postpartum Reflections

The Fourth Trimester: Postpartum Reflections

By Brittany Webster, owner of Consciously Curated Home As an expectant mother, I found that the focus of maternity seemed to be on preparing for childbirth and creating a beautiful nursery room for my baby.  I could find books, guides, blogs and advice on morning sickness, birthing techniques, baby equipment and decorating - but those post-birth weeks when a mother is at her most vulnerable, when days are filled with feeding, changing, naps (and if you’re lucky you sneak in a shower) are shrouded in mystery. We don’t talk about the Fourth Trimester. Only a few select girlfriends imparted some honest words of wisdom having recently struggled through this time themselves.  In the Western world, by and large, we’re encouraged to get back to routine, work, our ‘pre-baby’ body.  These impossible standards, glorified in the media, on social, even by friends and family, are ridiculous. “You can’t even tell she had a baby!” “So when are you heading back to work?” In reality, we should be...
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Prenatal Yoga Benefits

Prenatal Yoga Benefits

Pregnancy is a unique and transformative journey that brings many changes to both body and mind. Prenatal yoga is a practice that offers incredible benefits to anyone expecting a child. Here's why prenatal yoga is a fantastic choice for all parents-to-be: 1. Physical Comfort and Flexibility: Prenatal yoga focuses on gentle stretches and poses that promote flexibility and ease physical discomfort. This can help alleviate common pregnancy-related issues like muscle tension and back pain. 2. Stress Reduction and Relaxation: Prenatal yoga teaches relaxation techniques, deep breathing, and meditation that can help manage these feelings, promoting a sense of calmness and balance. 3. Connection with Baby: Prenatal yoga provides a space for building a strong bond with the unborn baby, fostering emotional connection and mindfulness during this transformative period. 4. Improved Strength and Stamina: Preparing for childbirth requires strength and stamina. Prenatal yoga includes exercises that help build strength, improve posture, and enhance overall physical endurance. 5. Preparation for Labor and Childbirth: Prenatal yoga equips you with valuable tools for labour and...
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Discovering the Path to Teaching

Discovering the Path to Teaching

Being a yoga teacher is more than poses. It's about guiding and inspiring others on their transformative journey. If you aspire to be a yoga teacher, here are some essential qualities to cultivate: 1️⃣ Dedication: Commit to personal practice. Continuously deepen your knowledge and refine your skills to provide authentic guidance to students. 2️⃣ Authenticity: Let your teaching reflect your genuine passion for yoga and create a space where students can connect with your authenticity. 3️⃣ Compassion: Create a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. 4️⃣ Communication: Develop communication skills to clearly articulate instructions, provide meaningful feedback, and create dialogue. 5️⃣ Adaptability: Be open to different needs and abilities. Adjust your teaching to the challenges of the class to create an inclusive and accessible practice. 6️⃣ Continuous Learning: Never stop learning. Explore diverse yoga styles, attend workshops and trainings to expand your knowledge and keep your teaching fresh. 7️⃣ Mindfulness: Cultivate presence and mindfulness. Lead...
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Our annual Summertime Fun Savings is back!

Our annual Summertime Fun Savings is back!

We're always so impressed how dedicated our yogis are through the Ottawa winter, that when it comes to summer, we want to help you maintain the benefits of a regular yoga practice for health and vibrancy through the warm months. That's why between NOW and August 31st, 2023, when you purchase a 10 or 20 class package, you'll receive some FREE yoga in the month of August. The class packages do not expire and the bonus classes are valid for use between August 1 to August 31st, 2023. Our Class Packages and the FREE August classes can be used for In-Person and Online Classes. When you purchase... A 10 class package = 5 free August classes. A 20 class package = 10 free August classes. You can purchase online or at the Centre, and your classes will be added to your account. It's a tremendous thing to get extra support in maintaining your practice! Yoga's a little like regular tune ups and oil changes on your...
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Winter: Kapha Season

Winter: Kapha Season

"Ayurveda recognizes winter as a kapha season with strong vata undertones. It is characterized by cold weather, a sense of heaviness, increased moisture (usually in the form of rain or snow), cloud-covered days, and the grounded, slow feeling that sends many animals into hibernation. These are all qualities shared by kapha dosha, which is why winter is considered—primarily—a kapha season. However, if your climate is exceptionally cold and dry, or if you tend to feel more isolated during the winter months, vata will also be a strong component of your winter season, and you will want to actively keep vata placated as well. How to Create a Supportive Winter Diet Winter is actually the season when the digestive fire is strongest. The body requires more fuel to stay warm and healthy in the winter months, and the cold weather forces the fire principle deep into the core of the body—igniting the digestive capacity. Our bodies, therefore, crave a more substantial, nutritive diet at this time of...
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Annual Unlimited Holiday Special! Make a commitment to YOURSELF!

Annual Unlimited Holiday Special! Make a commitment to YOURSELF!

Make a commitment to yourself!  This package is truly UNLIMITED! With the PranaShanti Annual Unlimited Package Holiday Special you will enjoy: No limit to the number of classes you practice Choose from over 65+ weekly drop in classes (online and in-person) 10% off special events, workshops and trainings 10% off boutique purchases 5 drop-in guest yoga passes 1 60-minute therapeutic massage This special is available from NOW to January 31, 2023, with the holiday special price of $1,495.00 (HST included) which includes all the goodies listed above for 365 days! A $200.00 savings just on the package price with more savings all year long! Buy Online ...
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Yoga for Arthritis by Tracy Corneau

Yoga for Arthritis by Tracy Corneau

Yoga For Arthritis (YFA) You have likely heard the phrase: “I’m not flexible enough to do yoga”.  However, yoga also improves strength, balance, range of motion, and can lower levels of stress, anxiety and depression by contributing to better heart health and sleep. Yoga can be especially helpful for those living with a chronic illness. Background According to the Arthritis Society, 1 in 5 or 6 million Canadians are living with arthritis and as many as 25,000 children seek healthcare for arthritis.  Women are more likely than men to have arthritis.  It is Canada’s most common chronic disease for which there is currently no cure and by 2040, it is estimated that 50% more people will have arthritis. Leading Types of Arthritis The two leading forms of arthritis are Osteoarthritis (OA) and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  Osteoarthritis is traditionally viewed as wear and tear on the weight bearing joints such as the hips, spine and knees as well as in the hands, feet, ankles or neck. ...
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Yoga for Good Sleep

Yoga for Good Sleep

By Devinder Kaur, Owner and Director of PranaShanti Yoga Centre    Sleep is the time for the body and mind to rest, reset, detoxify, and rejuvenate. However, sometimes life interferes with our internal biological rhythms, which can result in too little sleep or not very good sleep. A balanced sleep cycle is important for our health and well-being on a number of levels. Good sleep improves our brain performance, mood, and health. Not getting enough quality sleep regularly raises the risk of many diseases and disorders and can affect our ability to concentrate, to think clearly and process memories. Yoga is a gentle and restorative way to help wind down at the end of the day. These three yoga poses relieve tension and stress to help prepare for sleep. The more that you practice the poses, the more they can help in a good night’s sleep.  Practice these poses before bedtime and stay in them about 3 to 5 minutes each. 1. Wide-Knee Child’s Pose...
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Summer: Pitta Season

Summer: Pitta Season

The most striking characteristics of summer—the heat, the long days of bright sun, the sharp intensity, and the transformative nature of the season—are directly in line with pitta dosha, which is why summer is considered a pitta season. And, despite the fact that some climates are exceptionally humid this time of year, the cumulative effect of intense heat is to dry things out, so summer is also considered dry. On a more subtle level, summer is a time of expansion and mobility—traits more characteristic of vata dosha. While there is plenty to celebrate about summer’s unique personality, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. A summer seasonal routine is aimed at fostering diet and lifestyle habits that will help prevent the over-accumulation of summer qualities and allow you to enjoy the unique gifts that summertime has to offer. General Recommendations for Pitta Season Your primary focus through the summer months will be to keep pitta balanced by staying cool, mellowing intensity with relaxation,...
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Open for In-Person Classes

Open for In-Person Classes

Our Virtual and In-Person classes are 7 days a week with 65+ classes for you to choose from, the largest variety of yoga classes in city! Our streamed classes are always live and interactive with the Teacher. In Person attendance is a maximum of 8 participants in the Soul Room (regular temperature) and 9 participants in the Body Room (heated) with ample social distancing. Here are our In-Person Class procedures at 950 Gladstone Ave.: Pre-registration for classes is required. When you arrive you will be asked a series of health check questions by our Front Desk Staff. Leave your footwear in the entrance and you will then be directed to hand sanitizer and our designated mat spaces. All props (blocks, vinyl bolsters) provided have been sanitized. You are most welcome to bring your own! After class leave any props used at your practice space for us to sanitize and rotate for fresh props for the next class. Masks on please when moving to and...
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