Interview: The Yoga Element

With the holiday season and new year approaching, there is no better time to pause.

Last week I was invited to a yoga, meditation and mindfulness workshop with Cecily Milne from The Yoga Element at The Thompson Hotel in Toronto. It was a three-hour afternoon of practicing yoga, meditation and drinking green juice. I left feeling a sense of calm that I hadn't felt in months.

I interviewed Cecily to get her insight on her craft, and how us mere mortals can learn to quiet our minds. Enjoy!

1. What is The Yoga Element?

The Yoga Element is the result of my passion for movement and well-being. It represents the balance between having a healthy, mobile, pain-free body as well as a deeper sense of awareness in our everyday interactions.

2. How long have you been practicing yoga?

I started practicing yoga in 2003 when I was a university student. For almost a decade, yoga was my main outlet for movement; a couple of years ago, I started incorporating other forms of practice into my life including strength and mobility training. Today, I integrate these other movement modalities into the yoga "asana" practice, reflecting my understanding of what it means to have a "fluent body, fluid mind".

The Neighbourhood Run - NYC Diaries

The best way to learn about a neighbourhood is to go for a run.

This week, I've been trying to get back into some sort of fitness routine so I went on a search around my area for a place to start. I found a pavement park path that wraps around a playground and various courts where tons of people hangout together; the "gatherers" as I've dubbed them. 

On my runs, I circle around sweaty babies in plastic swings, old gossiping dames, gents playing chess, skinny adolescent boys playing basketball, loners feeding pigeons, Asian senior citizens walking backwards and patting their torsos and dogs frolicking in a sand pit. 

Yesterday, there were these two tween girls sitting on a bench across from the basketball court pretending to be interested in their phones. Over and over, I ran by them and we stared at each other. 

"Oh man, they must think I'm such a loser," I thought.

There I was in my embarrassing getup that included a baggy t-shirt, a florescent pink hat and inside-out running tights (that I noticed were inside out when I left the house). Over and over I passed them and I thought, "Why do I care if these girls think I'm cool?!" 

Yet, it's summer and what I would give to be twelve again and sit on a park bench with my best friend giddy at the anticipation, at the brief possibility that the ball would roll over. We would have to decide who would go grab it and for a brief moment interact with them. The moment that would lead us to giggle uncontrollably and walk back to our parents' house and eat ice cream and talk about it, until the next day when we would run into them again while everyone pretended it didn't happen.

And then I miss my childhood. And my best friend.
And maybe, just maybe I want these girls to think I'm cool, so one day they are dorky enough to put on their florescent hats and run around the boys playing basketball instead of just staring at them.
 

Movement - Not A Model Mantra

While January is the time to make health resolutions, I am in favour of spring.

Good thing this photo is hazy. It's too early
cameras!

I am fooling myself in January. I know that an extra piece of chocolate cake will never show beneath my favourite double knit cardigan and the permanent imprint of my backside in our futon is completely justifiable.

With spring on its way, I am reluctant to tell my body that the protection of our down-filled puffer jacket will soon be torn off for lighter, brighter and clingier materials. It's this season that reminds me that I haven't been keeping up with my active routine. I can point the blame to many factors like an overly busy schedule and a new irrational love for sea salt and pepper chips from my work's treat drawer, but blame is useless.

As per usual, Not A Model doesn't care if your scale is high or low. She cares about health, confidence and a clear mind. I find that when I'm more active, I'm happier and less focused on the "bad things." I also find that I'm more creative. This week's Not A Model mantra sums it up perfectly:

"Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states." Carol Welch

This morning, as per the hazy picture above, I started a new running routine with my friend Nisha. We woke up at 6:30 and hit the foggy city streets. I am also going to try and sign up for a race next month with another friend. I usually prefer to workout alone, but sometimes it's nice to have a friend to keep you motivated. I won't hit the snooze button if I know that someone is waiting for me.

So Not A Model asks, how are you staying active this spring? Write, tweet or Facebook me. I love to hear from you! xx 

So I received a letter yesterday...

Dear Not A Model,

This is not easy for me to say but I have to get it out. Things seem to be very different between us. You've been distant and absent lately. At first, I thought it was just a phase but then things got worse. I noticed that you started getting closer with Mrs. Loafa Bread and Mr. Past Abowl and you began choosing them over me.

I hate to admit it, but I miss your lime green running shoes and the smell of your sweat. I miss the music on your I-pod and that baggy sweatshirt that you only wear for the first 15 minutes and toss aside. It's hard for me to watch you throw everything away for a cheap carb.

Sure, I'm grey and hard and tough, but think about all I've done for your body. With me, your clothes fit better and your skin glows. I get emotional thinking about how much I've invested in your heart. Does that mean nothing to you? Word on the mat is that you're getting softer. Call me shallow, but I prefer a strong body to a weak one.  

Rumour has it that you want me back. Well listen here sweetheart, I won't make it easy. It won't be like the old days. It's tough love babe, but trust me, one step and you'll be hooked again. Lace 'em up.

Yours truly,

Tread Mill