Saturday March 17 and Sunday March 18, KYH is hosting an Iyengar Yoga Association of Canada National Assessment of Candidates for Teacher Certification. There will be candidates arriving from across the country to be assessed. We are in need of a few more volunteers for the weekend for various jobs, especially Volunteer Students, who are able to do headstand at the wall and shoulderstand and variations.  If you have time to help out, please let us know and put your name on the signup sheet on the message board or contact Phofi (Assessment Organizer) or Krisna re: Volunteer Students. Thank You for your support!

Most if not all long-standing members of KYH will list  "sense of community" as one of the things they like most about the Yoga House. Over time we get to know the teachers and our classmates; we know their names, what they do, and we learn about their families and many other things about their lives. In short, we feel comfortable with them, and they with us.  The same can be said about our great KYH facility; we know the different spaces, where the props live, and where the bathrooms are. Over time the space becomes an extension of our home; in fact, for many of us KYH becomes our home away from home.

 

The feeling we have of community does not happen overnight. All of us remember our first class at KYH; if we came with a friend, they were likely the only person we knew. We didn't know where things were, our teacher, or the person sitting beside us, and if it was our first yoga class ever, we really felt like a fish out of water! Hopefully, you were welcomed by a teacher or other attendee when you stepped in to KYH for the first time. Hopefully, someone with a smile introduced themselves and helped you with your props and the general lay of the land; and "hopefully," once you were set up with your mat and props, the people sitting around you introduced themselves and made you feel relaxed while waiting for the class to begin.  

 

Unfortunately, not everyone has the "perfect" first class. In fact, according to feedback gathered from our surveys, some first-timers find KYH somewhat cold and uninviting. They felt they were generally left on their own to figure out where things were and the props that were required, and once setup they sat silently waiting for the first class to begin. That scenario is unfortunate because we can do a much better job of making people feel at home when they walk in to the KYH for the first time. 

We encourage all of our Members to make an effort to greet new people with a smile; introduce yourself and help make them feel comfortable. Who knows, you may be meeting your next best friend!

A Weekend with Jawahar Bangera 

By: Joni Barbagallo 

The Kelowna Yoga House was full of nervous chatter. The studio was filled with wide eyed, enthusiastic yoga students anxiously awaiting their chance to work with a master. Jawahar Bangera has been a student and disciple of B.K.S Iyengar since 1969 and Trustee of the Light On Yoga Research Trust. I am excited too! Last year I had the privilege of taking only one evening class with Jawahar, so I feel I know what I'm in for this weekend - five days of razor sharp observation of every skin cell on my body and a practice that will push me out of my comfort zone for sure. In other words, typical Iyengar teaching but with a teacher whose knowledge, experience and commitment far surpasses most. I can't wait! 

Meanwhile, back in the studio, I joyfully roll out my mat and sit down to try and center myself. I suddenly feel a light tap on my arm from the student sitting next to me. She begins to gently whisper to me about how she is feeling particularly anxious about what she has signed on for. I naively reassure her that whatever happens, it is all with the intention of making us better yogis and better people. She, however, was a bit worried about being singled out in the class while everyone examined her flaws. I laugh and tell her that she should feel blessed if she gets singled out, that she should take it as a compliment; she should experience how your body becomes the sacred tool used to improve everyone else's practice. What an honour! We laugh and the class begins. 

We start with the Invocation to Pantañjali, and right out of the gate, Jawahar questions the way we are seated on our mats... Click here to read Full Article

1 small red onion, cut into ½ inch wedges

1 small sweet potato, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 small white potato, cut into circle slices

1 carrot, peeled & cut into ¾ inch pieces

1 parsnip, peeled & cut into ¾ inch pieces

1 small leek (white part), cut into circle slices

Green part of leek, cut into ¾ inch pieces.

1 small beet, peeled & cut into ¾ inch pieces

½ small fennel, cut into ¾ inch pieces

¼ cup walnuts