Yoga is a type of fitness activity that is great not only for the body but also for the mind and soul. Yoga opens doorways to building strength, achieving mindfulness, and getting in touch with yourself and your body. There are unlimited ways to practice yoga, and there is no such thing as a right or wrong way to practice- do what feels right for you. There are many variables that influence the way you practice yoga; from the gear you use, to the setting in which you practice, to the poses and flows you accomplish.
Our favorite gear:
- Block- this helps with poses that would otherwise require a deeper stretch than you feel comfortable with. Use a block for support and to help ease into those difficult poses. We use this one from lululemon.
- Strap- this also helps with easing yourself into those deeper poses that require a little more flexibility. Remember to know your limits so you do not hurt yourself! We also grabbed ours at lululemon.
- Mat- these are self-explanatory! You can get mats that are pretty inexpensive (I claimed a free one from a cereal box once!) and they work just fine. If you want something a little more durable, though, try one of these Prana mats available for purchase at Mountain Equipment Co-op.
- Towels- why would you need a towel for yoga? If you do hot yoga, you will know why. A larger towel that extends to the length of your yoga mat catches sweat and keeps your feet from sliding off the mat (yeah, you get that sweaty!). A smaller towel to wipe your face throughout class is handy too. You can get these straight from Prana.
- Clothing– yoga pants are everywhere these days, and they aren’t being worn just for yoga! Although you can find yoga clothes in pretty much any clothing store, The Elephant Pants are my favorites because they are made sustainably in a non-exploitive work environment, and they help save elephants!
Our favorite settings:
- In class. Moksha Hot Yoga is our favorite yoga studios to attend, as they are super friendly and offer great classes for all skill levels. Haven’t tried it before? Karma classes are only $5 on Friday nights for beginners- what’s the karma? Your $5 goes to a local charity!
- At home. Picture this: gross weather, broke student, no time. Ten minutes in your bedroom or living room is all you need for a successful practice. Make sure to sufficiently clear the space so you don’t hurt yourself!
- Outdoors. We love yoga on the beach, where you can enjoy the sounds of crashing waves and seabirds. Or in a grassy area in your local park, so if you lose your balance your fall is soft. We love Instagram user @taigenandreayoga- she is so creative in the locations she chooses for her practice!
Our favorite poses/flows:
When I practice alone, I typically follow a YouTube video (I love this one!) or I just do the poses that I like and feel comfortable with from memory. This can be tricky- it is hard to remember poses and the safe way to accomplish them, but this comes with time.
When I practice in class, my favorite is Moksha Flow.
Favorite pose? Definitely vrksasana, a.k.a. tree pose. It makes me feel so rooted (pardon the pun!) and balanced.
What poses are your favorite? What gear do you recommend? Let us know if you try anything from this article, we really love reading your responses! Or tag us on twitter, instagram, or facebook @twowildtides
Have a great week!
For the smoothie lover: spinach, frozen green grapes, avocado, banana, almond milk, and chia seeds topped with sliced kiwi, oats, pumpkin seeds, and a drizzle of honey. (Not featured: delicious lemon infused water!)
For the outdoorsy: whole grain cereal topped with a variety of berries in an aesthetically pleasing wooden bowl. Don’t forget your thermos of tea or coffee!
For eating out: this incredible dish from TwisT by Roger Mooking can be found in Toronto Pearson International Airport (a second home for Canadian travellers). It is warm bananas topped with granola, plain greek yogurt, berries, herbs, and honey.
For brunch: slept in? No problem- try an 11 am slice of avocado toast topped with cracked pepper and one egg, over-easy.
For the on-the-go: overnight oats (check out Pinterest for some sweet recipes!) topped with blueberries in a mason jar for an antioxidant rich, protein-packed breakie in a hurry!
For the sweet tooth: these delicious pancakes are gluten-free and vegan and the key ingredient is avocado. Find the recipe in one of our 
Le Tour de Montreal. The Montreal Tower is the world’s tallest inclined tower- 165m at a 45-degree angle! Located at the Olympic Stadium, take the elevator to the top of the tower for a stunning 360-degree view of Montreal. It’s also a great concert venue, we saw ACDC while we were there.
One thing I’ve learned, as I’ve grown older is the importance of finding happiness and sheer bliss in everyday moments. Not everything in your life will be extraordinary but there will be extraordinary moments in every day. I challenge you to be mindful of your mind, body, soul and those you surround yourself with. Find your passions – follow them. Love what you love. Dust yourself off every time you get knocked down and try again. Laugh along the way and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself.
