Song

As always, i fully recommend listening to this loud!

Portugal is moments away, I AM feeling good, looking forward to a week of Yoga, Pilates, Massage, Reiki, Wine, Port, Beautiful meals and many life lessons
Nina Simone, you, me, and all the women joining me for a Retreat to nourish the soul, strengthen the body and bring gentle shift of the mind. . . . . .

feeeeeeeeeeeeling good. . . . . .

New Yoga Teacher!!!

OOOOOOOOH

SO MUCH TO DO WHILE IM AWAY

CHECK OUT ALL THE GUEST INSTRUCTORS!

PROUD TO INTRODUCE

JUSTIN HALEY

yoga therapist

PLEASE JOIN JUSTIN @ MISFITSTUDIO

FOR KARMA VINYASA FLOW

FRIDAY APRIL 8th @12

SATURDAY APRIL 10th @11:30

suggested $10

If you'd like to book a private session with Justin

email him at

justinhaley.eap@gmail.com

ENJOY EVERYONE!!!!!

SLACKER SCHEDULE

While I'm off in PORTUGAL!!!
check out KERI O'MEARA,
guest pilates instructor
Her Group Classes @ MISFITSTUDIO

Sunday April 3rd, 2pm

Thursday April 7th, 6pm

Sunday April 10th, 2pm

If interested in a private session
please cotact Keri O'Meara
Klo.pilates@yahoo.ca

MISFITSTUDIO WILL BE CLOSED FOR REGULAR CLASSES AND SESSION FROM
FRIDAY APRIL 1 - SUNDAY APRIL 10

BACK ON TRACK MONDAY APRIL 11TH!

PORTUGAL GETAWAY!

THE TIME HAS COME ....WE'RE ABOUT TO FLY AWAY

ME AND A WHOLE GANG OF GALS ARE HEADING OUTTA TOWN!

PORTUGAL HERE WE COME!!!

MISFITSTUDIO & The Inside Out
will be Retreating in Portugal
April 3-10, 2011

Our mission is to create the ultimate get-away; to find the balance of relaxation, enjoyment and fulfilment. Combining time to de-stress, sweat and stretch away your worries in the sea air of Moledo, Portugal. Ocean walks, yoga and pilates all day, log fires at night all while eating fantastic food and wine every day.

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YA THERE!

check out the facebook page for more info

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Misfitstudio-The-Inside-Out-Retreats/156352864416124

Song of the Day

THE STONES ROCK MY WORLD
LISTEN TO THIS OVER AND OVER AND OVER
BIG AND LOUD AND GUTSY

PSOAS

PSOAS if you have taken a deep stretching class or a psoas releasing session of mine, you'll know my little fun fact about the psoas, which always creates a moment of pause, and that is. . .. . . .the psoas is also known as(in mammals) Fillet Mignon
bizarre and curious yes, but that being said, in all of its humour, it is a deep, internal muscle, in need of attention and love!

The internal awareness that develops through yoga, pilates and stretching is the most important tool for learning to release the psoas. And releasing the psoas will bring new freedom and ease in the body, especially the low back area

It can be difficult at first to access the subtle sensations of the psoas. Buried deep in the body, it is difficult to explain and difficult to palpate yet is so important in our core connection, spinal structure and hip mobility. the psosas is also deeply linked to your emotions, and is best approached with quiet attention, patience, and breath. Awareness is the first key. Use a quite moment, connect with breath and hold for long stretches

Once you've begun to understand the skeletal position and internal sensations that accompany releasing the psoas, you can move on to more actively lengthening the muscle. I am a big fan of lunging, and I start with a series of low lunges and a whole bunch of creative variations to reach and lean into and lengthen the psoas It is really all variations of a lunge, and Pigeon Pose that are excellent for stretching the psoas. When you stretch one leg out in front of you and one behind while keeping your pelvis stable, you isolate the stretch in the psoas and iliacus muscles attached to the back leg.

So why is it that a tight Psoas is a killer for your back? You may not even know its your psoas, it could feel different and general and varing for everyBODY, so it is for all these reasons that learning about, stretching, getting in touch with your psoas are important!

Incorrect posture during standing and walking (which is often caused by a tight Psoas) will leave it even tighter and harder to loosen.

If it is tight and in a contracted state, your Psoas will want to bring your lower back forward, moving you into an anterior tilt

The pressure exerted by the Psoas while in a contracted state can compress the joints and discs of the lumbar vertebrae. This pressure causes degeneration and will make them more susceptible to injury.

A shortened Psoas on one side will pull the spine or pelvis to that side, leading to many painful problems

A tight Psoas will stop your Glutes firing and activating normally. This is Reciprocal Inhibition: the Psoas and the Glutes are opposing muscles.

Lack of Glute activity plus bad posture can lead to overcompensation in other muscles of the back, leaving them tight and overworked. Couple this with the referring pain from the trigger points in your Psoas and you will be hurting.

Postural Corrections. If we stay in a certain position all day, our tissues will want to move into that resting position, in this case, your Psoas. The best sitting posture is one that always changes.

Sit Back in Your Chair. This will stop you leaning forward as much, and thus your Psoas won’t be in as shortened position in comparison to when you sit on the edge of your seat.

Dont Sleep on Your Stomach. When you are on your stomach, your back goestinto hyperextension. This is exacerbating what a tight Psoas already does to your back (anterior tilt). Change it up.

Move More. Not staying in a seated position all day will go a long way to stopping you developing a tight Psoas. Get up more frequently, stretch more often, change positions… just keep moving!

Stretch. Add Psoas and Hip Flexor stretches after your workouts. Get out of your chair at work occasionally and do some stretches. Do some at night before you go to bed!

check out this for the craziest video and oddly helpful instructional ever!

is it too early

Agent provocteur and its hoisery has been an inspiration of mine for some time the feel, the look, the sensation, what they DO with the legs, soooo feminine! SO divine!

Spring is so close you can taste it in the air and hear the chirping of the birds

so, here are some images, sites and sequences to keep you inspired for the reveal of the leg

As you know I love working on the legs and glutes, always a quick way to create heat in the body, produce awareness and a great area to work and feel strong. A vigorous yogic sequence, like my low lunge, warrior2, reverse warrior, half-moon, hover with a twist(fusion peeps KNOW that one!!) or a long pilates inspired upper leg,gluteus medius clam sequence lying on your side burning away. . . . . .try them both, and one after the other if you are up for the challenge!

Song of the Day

HERE IS THE SWEET SONG OF MY DAY
FOR THE GRRRROVE
FOR THE THEME
FOR IT ALL

Teachers

Ever been rattled, shocked, jolted. . . . . .and not in a fun way???
I bet you have, I know I certainly have.
Knowing that in life we can be sometimes fiery when pushed and when shoved, when we are just not received as expected, we mostly are reactive, and potentially explosive. . . . .I know I'm not alone.

Yet, as I grow older, become wiser and have experienced various life situations, I know that in order to remain clear and focused in these challenging situations, I need to act like the best version of myself. If I don't like what someone is doing, why am I going to react? When the outcome isn't what I want in that moment, why am I let down? Like stomping the ground or punching holes in the wall or yelllllllllling at someone and wanting respect, something just isn't RIGHT, it just doesn't work that way, there is no level ground, no understanding, really its when the circus comes out to play

SO, instead of reacting, why not try this

take a moment

take a breath
soak it alllllll in,

and then, say THANK YOU

That's right, thank the person for being a teacher
For creating a situation, a conflict, a chance to practice being a better version of yourself
Don't get me wrong, THIS is extremely difficult, a near impossible task in a heated moment, especially when you and your expectation has been disappointed. Yet, after a big breath, after a reflective moment, the best possible outcome is.....possible.
To learn, to educate and to come out knowing you have earned a lesson, THAT is worth it!
Our teachers are everywhere

Strangers on the street, people we love, our favourite coffee shop guy, store clerks, our relatives our enemies and everyone else. . . . . They sometimes come to us for momentary interactions, chance meetings, or they stay for longer, like our lovers or relationships or family. We can't ever really know when our teachers will be with us, or for how long they'll remain in our lives

When you can see that everything and everyone is your teacher, and ultimately a road leading you to your truth, your values, YOUR morals, it is then that you can take that clarity, your clarity into action and everything has the possibility to change. The two most challenging words when caught up, or reacting, or feeling bigger than seeing and breathing, are. . . . . Thank you.
If you can come to that place, you will find freedom!
Thank the universe for the teaching, and the opportunity to learn to be your best self.
Thank the teacher in front of you who is providing you with another chance to seek and display your integrity, your compassion, and your love for yourself

When you decide that the victory in each moment is not in getting the outcome you think you want to happen, but rather it's to be the most of who you are in that moment, you are free. You no longer need a stranger to be "mad at" or your unhealthy boyfriend to stay with you, or anything outside of YOU to do what you think is right, you simply feel free
One of the most challenging lessons in life, is to take this on, to feel the fire, to choose NOT to react in the moment, and to accept the teacher and the lesson
knowing you are only bettering you, strengthening YOU and ultimately seeking your very own happiness, is the best lesson of all
Goodluck!

WOMEN'S DAY

MARCH 8TH
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

A day to celebrate Women
Take this day and hug and kiss and send letters and chat and call and spend time with all the women you know and love. Lets embrace this day with wide open arms, looking back into the past just long enough to be thankful, truly thankful for our present.
The world has evolved so much, shifts have occurred, boundaries have been pressed, bridges have been crossed and we are living in quite a time, making history everyday. I encourage you to take a moment of pause and think of all the women in your life that have inspired you! Inspired you to be the YOU that you are today, take the lesson, the good and the bad, the challenges and the sweet celebrations and remember.
I have a wonderfully colourful and inspiring grandmother, the only grandparent I have had the privilege to know, and tomorrow I will call her and hear her stories of yesterdays life, listen to her skewed understanding of life today and her beautifully naive way of living in a black and white world. It is because of her, and so many other strong, creative and loving women, that I am who I am today.
To commemorate the big day tomorrow, I sit and make my own list of inspiring women. . . . .but here's an inspiring list that has been compiled for the 100th International Women's Day, of well known, out there in the political world, the entertainment world and the world that educates us.
Tuesday, March 8th will be a day to celebrate your very own women, women you know, don't know and every where in between, what a warm feeling knowing there are events happening around the world. To mark the anniversary, here are some quotes, another list of 10 remarkable women and their impact on today's world to inspire and remind. . . . .

"A woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. She goes where she will without pretense and arrives at her destination prepared to be herself and only herself."
Maya Angelou

“The things we truly love stay with us always, locked in our hearts as long as life remains.”
Josephine Baker

"It isn't what I do, but how I do it. It isn't what I say, but how I say it, and how I look when I do it and say it."
Mae West

" I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well."
Diane Ackerman

"You can do it! don't get caught up thinking about the Big Picture, worrying is like being in a rocking chair - expends energy and gets you no where"
Ellie Joliat

THANK YOU ALL!!!!

BlogTo

A HUGE THANK YOU TO BLOGTO FOR SELECTING ME! AS A TOP STUDIO IN TORONTO
AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY STUDENTS, WONDERFUL SUPPORTERS AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

CHECK OUT THE LINK HERE
AND HERE

Misfit Yoga Studio's owner Amber is an atypical yoga instructor, but I might have guessed that from the studio's name. She's brazen, kind of glamourous, and in a way a bit of a misfit herself. The best people are, really. In her new Parkdale studio - a revamped ex-tattoo shop - the vibe is intimate and not-so-serious. It's my kind of yoga. I attended a noon yoga/pilates fusion class that had just one other participant. But rather than being awkward, it was fun, chatty and set to a soundtrack of Prince and Fleetwood Mac.

Dayna Winter