The Unlimited Yoga Summer Pass is back.
There is still time to buy the summer pass for 100.00. If you have time for two classes a week that is 12-14 classes for 100.00. We have Ashtanga, Kundalini, Hatha and Prenatal classes all included in this pass. Come on out for a class and have some summer fun.

Thai Yoga Massage level 1 is coming up this August 3-7. Register now as space is limited.

Open House for Atlas Yoga Teacher Training and Kundalini Teacher Training
August 11, 7:30pm

There are still spaces available in ACW - Camp Namaha - yoga camp program in August for both Cambridge and Waterloo. 120.00 for full days and 60.00 for half days.

This fall look forward to:
A free week of yoga for Yoga Month - September
The Yoga Passport - September
Atlas Yoga Teacher Training
Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training
Thai Yoga Massage Level 3
8 Weeks to Optimal Health
Atlas Anti-Aging Yoga
Life Works Yoga & Meditation

Life is full, summer is great. I am house sitting for a friend, a friend who is a much better housekeeper than I am and I am here to say that it is much easier to keep someonelse's house clean than my own. My kids make their beds, and dishes are done after dinner. The cleaning lady is coming tomorrow and I find myself thinking about making sure that everything is picked up so that it is easy for her to clean. I don't have any of my things around me except my computer and a few clothes. It has been three weeks. I don't really miss my things. I miss the selection of clothing, but I am managing without it. I miss having all my books, but the internet has most things that I look for. I stop by and visit with my bird most days and spend some time with him. The cats here are pretty cool, Timo likes to fetch and Matrix curls up in a little ball in my lap if I sit still long enough. The house is spacious and the back deck is one of my favourite places to rest for a few minutes everyday. Yoga on the deck in the early morning is nice and cool.
Even the laundry room is clean.

Tomorrow my son turns 16. He was born 16 years ago and it feels like the other day. The years are filled with wonderful memories and growing pains. I look at him across from me tonight and I am in awe. Almost as much as the day that he was born. He doen't make eye contact with me the way that he did that day, but he has begun to give real hugs again and there is hope that the wonderful child that I know is still inside this large, hairy man sitting beside me. He is beautiful, handsome, smart, talented and a total pain in the neck. Hard to believe that you can love someone so much.

May the Sun be on your back and light your way.
Denise

May-June

If the eyes are the doorway to the Soul, music is the gateway to heaven. This past weekend yoga teacher training was focused on mantra and nad yoga. We had fun, we played, we did some yoga and we chanted a lot. Everyone left a little high on sunshine, mantra and life.

The website is up-to-date once again. Yippeee!!!! Working on the hard copies for the studios next.

We should have a newsletter out this week as well. Then all will be well in my little world of yoga communications.

Thank you for your patience while I fumble around with technology.
Bright Blessings to all who take the time to read this little note,
Denise

schedule updates & more

Hello,
Spring is in the air and all around us. A few days at Kripalu and major challenges with the internet and the web schedules are out of date. The spring session is underway and change is the theme once again. For those who have been out to my classes this week we are working on yoga and ayurveda for the spring. Balancing kapha and igniting pita. If you are not sure what the heck that means come on out to a class and we will have fun exploring spring cleaning.

May 2009
Class schedule subject to change please call ahead or check the website for updates.
All classes are yoga classes unless otherwise noted.
Cambridge North - Eagle Street New
Monday 1:00pm
Tuesday 9:30am
1:00pm pilates
Wednesday 7:00am pilates
5:00pm pilates
Thursday 9:30am
1:00pm pilates
Friday 10:00am
Watch for more classes to be added soon.

Cambridge South - Thorne Street
Monday 5:30pm
7:00pm
Tuesday 9:30am
Wednesday 6:15pm
Thursday 9:30am
6:00pm
Sunday 12:00pm

Langdon Hall
Book private yoga session
Corporate yoga classes
Guided Walks through the Carolinian Forest
Personal Training
Workshops & Retreats

Kitchener - Belmont Street
Monday 5:30pm
7:30pm prenatal
Tuesday 12:00pm pilates
6:00pm YTT
Wednesday 8:15am pilates
10:00am
12:00pm
5:30pm
6:45pm pilates
8:00pm
Thursday 12:00pm pilates
4:30pm
6:15pm
Friday 12:00pm

Waterloo - Lexington Street
Monday 7:30am
6:00pm
7:30pm
Tuesday 12:15pm
Wednesday 7:30am
Friday 7:30am
Saturday 10:00am

Guelph
Watch for more Information May 2009


Yoga Teacher Training
Spring Session
May 18- June 19, 2009
Fall Session
Sept 2009 – June 2009
Pre-Natal YTT
Post-Natal YTT
June 24 - 28, 2009
9am- 4pm
Tuition 580.00 - if you register before May 24 you will recieve a 50.00 discount. Making the course 530 plus gst.
"Bringing children into the world consciously" will cover anatomy and physiology of the pregnant body, special conditions for the pregnant woman, asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha and sanskrit mantra for pregnancy, labour and delivery. We will also touch on relationship - the love affair with life and birthing as an expression of apana.

Ashtanga YTT - 100 hours specialization or a 60 hour practice enhancement.

Workshops
Thai Yoga Massage
Level 1 - TBA
Danny Paradise – Ashtanga Yogi
May 9-10, 2009
Manu Jois – Ashtanga Yoga - May 2010

Events & other training
Chanting – Healing Mantras w/ Denise – May 2009
Pranayama – Breath Easy
Denise, June 2009
ACW -Camp Namaha- Summer 2009

Ok, that is all that I can think of that is happening in the short term. I will provide a newsletter shortly with all the upcoming events, class changes and expansion notes asap.

Be well and happy in all that you can,
Denise & the Atlas team.

Book a Thai Yoga Massage and get free yoga in the month of May. See you on the mat.

Ganesha Mantra

Om Gum Ganpata Yei Namaha (Swaha).

For those of you who know the Ganesha Mantra, please chant it for me tomorrow. I need all the spiritual help I can get.

Bright Blessings back to you in return,
Jai',
Denise

Phone & Email

To reach us by telephone please call 519.240.9642 and our email address info@atlasstudio.com should be working again if you have any challenges please use dandurasana@gmail.com.

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. ~Author Unknown

See you on the Mat,
Denise

New Website

Hello Yogi's and Yogini's,
The new website is up - but it is full of out-dated material and incorrect information. Please send me an email to check if you have questions. In the meantime - please be patient with me as I learn to update the website. It is somewhat user friendly, Rebecca makes it look easy, but it never seems to be so easy when she is not in the room.

Soon, up-to-date reliable info available on our website.

Jai', Ganesha,
Denise

Phone

Hello All,
Yes, there are problems with the old phone number. For the time being use 519.240.9642.
The new web site is on its way. The girls tell me it should be up by Wednesday at the latest.
the fastest way to get information is to tex message me at the number above or send me and email at info@atlasstudio.com.

Lisa is not feeling well and will not be teaching this Thursday - either myself or one of our wonderful teachers will be filling in.

We are thinking of Cancelling the Saturday am class in Cambridge due to lack of attendance - should we make it a hot class?

I always look forward to your feedback.
Jai',
Denise

Registration Week February 20-28, 2009

Registration Week Special
Register During the week of
February 20-28

for any of our classes at any location and
purchase a class pass and receive a pass for a friend.

Friend pass has no monetary value, is non-transferable and not to be used by the purchaser.

You can purchase a pass by coming into one of our locations or by email or phone.
info@atlasstudio.com
519.240.9642

A quote from one of our past students who email today to tell me she was remembering "doing yoga in the Kitchener and Waterloo studios and how many growth breakthroughs (she) had." She goes on to thank us for creating such "places of peace" and refers to that space a a gift. This note of thanks and remembrance had the effect of warming my heart and helping me to remember why we sort through hundreds of emails a day, plan events in the community and work together to make a difference in the world. It matters. We are making a difference in peoples lives, we are creating peace together, one person at a time.
OM SHANTHI!

Open House

Hello Everyone,
Please come an join us for an
Open House Celebration
at the
Dearborn Performance and Wellness Center
10-105 Lexington, Waterloo, Ontario.

Free Yoga Class at 10am
stay for tea and snacks after class.

Hope to see you there.
Denise & Friends

Schedule changes for February

Hello everyone,

We are working away at the new website, the new locations and a few new projects. I have been teaching at Conestoga college this past month in the Health Sciences department. I have been working with the young people who are training to become police people, fire people, paramedics and law enforcement agents. This has been a rewarding adventure to see how hard these young people work. I have truly never seen a group of people work this hard together towards collective and personal goals. They are an inspiration.

Class Cancellations for February
Cambridge
Monday 1pm

Waterloo
Mon 6pm
Tues, Wed, Thurs 12:15pm
Sat 10am

Please register for any of these classes for the March session.
Watch for the March newsletter coming soon. If you are not in our address book please send us an email so that you get on the list for newsletters and updates.

Enjoy the day,
Denise

Schedule Updates

Atlas Waterloo
Thursday 12:15pm class canceled till week of March 2, 2009.

Kitchener Studio
Moving to Belmont Village!!!!

New Cambridge Studio Opening March 2, 2009
at Cambridge Spine & Sport

More details coming in the next newsletter.

Call if you have any questions. 519.240.9642

Ciao,
Denise

Schedule changes

Changes in Waterloo
MWF 7:30am yoga
TWT 12:15pm yoga
M 6pm & 7:30pm yoga

Changes in Kitchener
Cancel T & Th 12:15 pilates

Awareness in Cambridge
Th 5:45pm (not 6pm)

New website still under-construction!!!!

Be Well and Happy

I have been busy writing up a storm. I discovered a website called elance.com and have been writing on yoga, fitness, nutrition, menswear ... and having fun doing it. Seems I do have a little masochistic streak. While it is not my strength in life to write, I enjoy it. No, that is not right. I feel a compunction to write. That is the second time today I have used that word. Not a very common word. Oh, I digress. It is late. Yet again, I am up writing in the wee hours of the morning and it would appear aimlessly.

I stopped by here to let everyone who reads this know that the new website will be up at any moment. The fabulous team of Erin and Rebecca are waiting on me for a few final pieces and it should be up and running. Keep checking back.

Open House coming up Cambridge & Kitchener January 31, 2009 and a Grand Opening of a new schedule in Waterloo, February 1, 2009. Come on out for a class, a cuppa' tea, or just to hang out and see what we are up to. We would love to have your company. Let us know you are coming by emailing info@atlasstudio.com.

Lot's of other good news, check the newsletter for an updated schedule, events and workshops for this winter.

If anyone is interested in studying Sanskrit this year do let me know. We want to get a study group together.

Be well and happy,
Goodnight,
Denise

Good morning and Happy holidays,
The winter schedule is almost done. We have had a few changes. We are excited to announce that we are going to be offering classes in Waterloo again for those who have missed us in that area. Watch the website and the newsletter will be out by Monday to give you all the details.

The schedules will be similar to the last session. A few small changes in times and teachers. Look at it carefully and send us your feedback.

Please begin to register for classes as soon as possible.

This is a time of reflecting on the past year and looking at how far we have come, all the changes that have come our way and to contemplate where we are going in the new year.

Send me your ideas, insights, suggestions about where you think we should be going with this blog, the website, the studios and yoga in general.

As always we are interested to hear your feedback.
Om shanti,
Denise

Ashtanga Yoga

I taught a class for Serenity today at the Kitchener Studio, just to give her a day off. There was a great group of hardworking students there today who were excited to be on the mat and it was inspiring to be guiding them as they each gave their absolute best efforts. Yoga is awesome. I am really looking forward to teaching primary series tomorrow. I would enjoy sleeping in and snuggling with my kids but once I get rolling in the am I am really a morning person.

2 hour primary series. Should be fun. Come on out and play.
See you on the mat,
Denise

Thai Yoga Massage

The new thai yoga massage therapist are the best. We are crazy busy with students coming in for 25.00 thai massage. Come on in, call or email to book your massage. If you are interested in training to become a thai massage therapist we will be offering Level I and Level II in the new year. Watch the website for upcoming trainings.

See you on the thai yoga mat,
Denise

Sunshine & Stretching

Time does fly. Each session we start weeks ahead analyzing the schedule for the upcoming sessions. Taking in survey results, students comments, and teachers schedules and the changing yoga world around us. We try to bring fresh programing, new teachers and innovative ideas to you each and every day. I am working on an update to our current schedule all classes are the same so far but there are a few changes in teachers. Lot's of new offerings. Come on out and take a class. If you haven't been in a while please come on in. The Kitchener studio is a warm toasty 82 degress and the sun has been blasting through the windows this week keeping us all smiling and stretching.

We are in need of volunteers at the Kitchener studio this week. If anyone has time or interest this week let Serenity (info@atlasstudio.com) know and she will put you to work. Remember volunteers get free yoga in exchange for their time and efforts.

Be well and happy,
Denise

Daily Blog: Pay it forward

Hello again,

Wheww it has been a busy couple of days. I have been teaching and working on the next newsletter.  Trying to take in everyone's feedback from the survey that we sent around.  Thank you sooo much for all of your responses.  

Todays theme, paying it forward.  

Benjamin Franklin, in a ltter to Bejamin Webb, dated April 22, 1784:

"I do not pretend to give such a sum; I only lend it to you.  When you (...) meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity.  I hope it may thus go thro' many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its progress.  This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money."

Others have spoken this same sentiment, movies have been made of the same title.  Give it a try and see how you feel.  Write your name on the inside cover of a good book, leave it on a restaurant table, ask others to write their name in the same book and pass it on when they are done reading.  I think that there is even a website for this fun activity.  

When someone asks to borrow something and you can afford the time, money or cup of sugar, ask them to pay it forward and impress upon them the importance of doing something nice for someone else.  Share what you can.  Give what you can.  Some how it does a heart and soul good to give, without a need for gratitude or recompense.  

Write to me and tell me about how someone has given you something special or unexpected.

Be well and happy,

Denise

Daily blog: Raw food

There has been great discussion of late about what being vegetarian means.  I have been vegetarian now for about 24 years.  I have only been experimenting with raw food for the past three years.  I am not ready to go completely raw yet.  It could happen one day. For now, I am content to occasionally make a vow and stick to a raw food diet for 2-3 weeks depending on the time of year and the number of stressful or traumatic events on the agenda.  The first few days are by far the hardest.  Visions of pasties, baked goods and warm potatoes dance through my head.  But, as I try to convince myself, here on day one of a three week commitment, that it will be different in a few days.  Relationship to food changes and the taste improves as there are fewer additives and preservatives. The less fat, the less salt, the less mysterious ingredients in my food, somehow it begins to taste amazing.  Very much so at this time of year. Harvest, could food really taste any better?

A very sweet, well meaning, young man was trying to understanding eating raw and asked about cooked vegetables.  I looked at him askance and said, "Well, only raw food is raw." He replied, "They were once raw." To which I immediately replied, "Exactly." I am still not sure that he gets it.  I am accustomed to misunderstanding around food in my life.  Very few people actually commit to eating vegetarian let alone raw.  It is rare and somewhat of a novelty at parties.  

I have been asked what led me to becoming a vegetarian and there is a good story behind that. I will not bore you with it here. If you want to know send a message in the comment section here and I would be happy to talk about it.

If you would like to learn more about Raw food and the benefits of eating raw you can speak to my friend Rosemary Radford here in Cambridge or visit my favourite Raw restaurant, over in Guelph, call WOW Cafe, I think that stands for Wild Organic Way, the owners are lovely and Karen is a very special, incredibly knowledgeable raw food chef.  

Great Raw food website:

http://www.rawfoods.com

WOW Cafe

http://www.wowrawcafe.ca

Be conscious in all that we do, in all that we are, wake up, and wake up again,

Denise

Daily blog: The Uncarved Block

The tao talks about the Uncarved block. How do we get back to a place of being the Uncarved block? Is that possible or even desirable? Or is that the point? Pooh, just is. I somehow, am not. At least not presently. There are deep fissures, creases, designs cut into the block of my life that limit my story to the paradigm that I have subscribed to.  Reading, writing, practicing yoga are all sand paper on this carved block. Erasing the pre-conceived, the identification with the external, the beliefs.  Creating a smooth surface. How to keep the surface smooth and calmly release the carpenters (ego) creative hand. How to surrender? Moving into the flow? What does that look like for you?

How can you begin to move into the flow of the tao?  Right this minute, how could we resist less and be more? How could we just practice being.  Owen wants the light out, Olivia wants her roots done, my blackberry just buzzed, the house is becoming quiet, I type, I am just here now with these words. Letting them flow.  Allowing a sense of beingness to flow over me.  How to practice just being?  

Experiment, look for moments of doing and ask, "What would it look, feel, be like to just be right now?"  Take the time to journal and write your reflections on being. How are you carved or uncarved? Let me know that you are reading this blog by commenting, tell me how you feel, what you are thinking.  

Schedule some empty time. Make a date with yourself. Make a regular date with an alloted time to just be with self, put it on the calendar.  Leave the time empty. Do not fill it with last minute emergencies, or spend it putting out fires.  No social commitments, work or workouts in this time. Keep it sacred.  Ritual requires commitment.  Name it. Respect it and be present for yourself.  It may take time to just be with yourself.  It may feel awkward at first.  Be patient and kind.  Ask how can you make this time sacred and give yourself time to just be.  Let thoughts flow, unhindered, let emotions flow or not. Exercise the muscle of just being.  

Journal, write, blog, express in someway your experiences.

Writing from the block,

Denise