Spring is here and while our expert gardener, Ariaal, has been busy as a bee as the gardens transition from winter to spring, our board, teachers and volunteer community have been busy making plans for KYH as we transition from the past two years. Our board president, Dianne Kapty, summarizes the planning efforts of the last few months below.
Our workshop committee continues to delight us with monthly opportunities to ignite and energize our Iyengar yoga practice. To learn more and join us for the April event with Ann Kilbertus, read on.
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We are almost halfway through our Living in De-light series of monthly online yoga workshops. These workshops offer something for everyone! From seasoned students to those who are neophytes to yoga workshops, we have basked in the brilliance of these teachers. Here's a sample of what we have experienced so far. |
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During our eighth "visit" with Jawahar in January, we learned to start our practice warm-up with symmetrical poses(i.e. downward dog; arm balance; uttanasana) before moving to asymmetrical poses (i.e. trikonasana; warrior poses), and then end with symmetrical poses again. Jawahar encouraged us to be "observers of the geometry in the asana" and to use our exhalation to release tightness and experience expansion in the pose. Then we would be “unreasonably happy”! |
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Our February workshop with our very own Krisna Zawaduk was expertly sequenced to guide us to "Find Freedom in Urdhva Dhanurasana". Krisna led us through a series of opening and supported poses to prepare us for back extensions, and several of us achieved extensions we didn’t think we were capable of! Ultimately we experienced the soothing affect on the head/mind, and the cleansing and detoxing effect of backbends. Most students took the opportunity to view the recording of Krisna's workshop during the following week, allowing further study of her brilliant teaching. |
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For our March workshop, we were able to experience Deborah Lomond’s teaching in person in our studio! It was a wonderful opportunity for us to re-connect with each other and with Deborah, who was our first senior teacher at Kelowna Yoga House. Deborah centred us in our legs as the solid foundation for poses, and encouraged spreading our arms to assist chest expansion. We truly moved from stability to lightness under her careful guidance and the gentle touch of her fingers directing awareness and movement. It was heartwarming to see our president Dianne achieve forward pointing fingers in bhekasana, and to hear Don exclaim, “I got up in arm balance. I haven’t done that for two years!” |
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Now we look forward to Ann Kilbertus this Sunday April 24th. Ann’s brilliance and influence have been experienced by most of our local teachers, through her previous involvement in our teacher training program. Ann will lead us further down "The Path to Wise Action in Asana Practise". See below to learn more and sign up.
Our last three workshops in the series include Marlene Miller on May 15, our own Melissa Perehudoff on May 29, and Ty Chandler on June 12.
You don't want to miss the opportunity to practise with this lineup of skillful, gifted teachers!
Watch for signups for these workshops on our website.
Remember, a recording of each online workshop is available for one week following the workshop, if you are not able to attend "in person".
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The Path to Wise Action in
Asana Practise
Workshop with Ann Kilbertus
Join Ann as we explore the practice of Yoga as a living philosophy. The student will be guided through an experience of sensing, perceiving and acting from a firm foundation in an all category asana practice.
Sunday, April 24: Online via Zoom from 09:30 am to 12:00pm (PST)
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KYH President's Report - Dianne Kapty |
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I am pleased to report on the Society’s progress to date on the Strategic Planning Initiative that began in the fall of 2021.
A Strategic Planning Committee was struck, and met three times with the goal of moving to a Society that is financially secure and able to meet the mandate of sharing the gift of Iyengar yoga with the community. Melissa Hadley, an experienced facilitator and certified Iyengar yoga teacher, agreed to work with us on our strategic planning journey. The original timeline was a weekend workshop in February 2022 to determine our vision of where we want to be in five years and the actions to be taken in the following 18 months towards the vision.
In January, the Omicron wave of the pandemic changed the focus from an in-person workshop to an online format and from a five-year vision to developing a plan to survive for one year (into 2023) in the current location. Our mantra is that we need to keep the ember going for now, and to grow it again when the time is right.
In February, participants met online for a morning, facilitated by Melissa Hadley and supported by Tegan Brophy and Carola Jaspers. We reviewed trends in the operating environment, and developed key strategic directions for the next 12 months. The work was intense and productive. In March we met to review elements of the KYH vision for 2023, review of obstacles, identifying actions to overcome obstacles and naming of strategies. Strategies, to overcome obstacles, were assessed (mapped effort vs results) and ranked in April. Key action plans were developed for the top four strategies; each with a measurable accomplishment, timeline and resources. Working with like-minded Iyengar yogis was the special sauce that made the online strategic planning process work.
Read Dianne's full report on the strategic planning sessions and key action plans for the coming year on the articles page of our website or by clicking here.
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Visit our website to see all classes and events or click on the purple text links below to register in our upcoming events.
Join Janice in the studio to learn the basics of Iyengar Yoga in this six-week program
May 1 10:30 am - 12:00 pm. All Levels and Abilities Welcome!
"The practice of yogasana for the sake of health , to keep fit , or to maintain flexibility is a legitimate place to begin, it is not the end. Even in simple asanas, one is experiencing the three levels of the quest: the external quest, which brings firmness of the body, the internal quest, which brings steadiness of intelligence and the innermost quest which brings benevolence of spirit. " BKS Iyengar
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If you haven't found us on Facebook or Instagram yet, come connect with us to stay up to date on more upcoming events and in-person classes! |
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“Yoga is like music. The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul creates the symphony of life.”
BKS Iyengar
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1272 St. Paul Street
Kelowna, BC, Canada
V1Y 2C9
250-862-4906
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