bless yoga
  • News
  • Classes
  • Tunes
  • About Bless

NEW!! ALIGNMENT FLOW YOGA SERIES

12/6/2016

 
Picture
Starting in January I will be offering an Alignment Flow Class Series on Thursdays at Yoga on 7th from 7:30-9pm. There wil be a free trial class on Thursday, January 5th!!

In this workshop style class, I will break down common yoga poses focusing on proper alignment and foundations of the postures taught in everyday yoga classes. I will teach you how to flow in a safe and informed way that will deepen your practice and understanding of your body. As the series progresses, so will the poses. I will incorporate deeper, more challenging variations, inversions and arm balances. 

Come with an eagerness to learn and a humble spirit. Bring your questions and a list of poses that you are excited to learn more about!

To register for the free class and the series, email me here: blessleone@gmail.com

Thursdays 7:30-9pm
First Set: Jan 12th – Feb 16th, $96 (6 weeks, $16/class)
Second Set: March 2nd – March 30th, $80 (5 weeks, $16/class)
Sign up for both sessions: $165 (11 weeks, $15/class)
Drop-ins: $20

inversions workshop

10/30/2016

 
Picture

Integrating Alignment and Flow - Inversions
with Siobhan Sloane-Seale and Bless Leone

Sunday November 20th, 2-5pm
Yoga on 7th

In this workshop we will teach you how to create a solid foundation for building your inversion practice. You will learn in detail how to maximize your power while moving in and out of inversions safely, and you'll be able to apply these same principles whether you're doing shoulderstand, headstand or handstand.

We will alternate between a sequence of moving postures and inversions, equally focusing on flexibility and strength. You will learn how to be stable and calm even when everything is turned right upside-down!

If you're nervous about inverting, if you want to incorporate inversions into your home practice, have ever injured yourself in an inversion, or if you just want to dive deeper, then come out and explore with us!

Inversions restore life's vibrance and tranquility and take you into the ideal state for pranayama (breath-work) and meditation. Other benefits include: increased circulation and vigour (unbeatable for draining tired feet and legs!); stronger, more open necks and shoulders; increased confidence, and a sense of well-being. 

Space is limited. Reserve your spot today!

$40 before Nov 6th
$45 regular price

Contact me here: blessleone@gmail.com

workshop: forward bends and twists

5/28/2016

 
Picture
Starting with anatomy and alignment principles, we will teach you how to create more space in the sides and back of your body allowing you more freedom in your twists and forward bends. Next you will learn a sequence of moving postures in a way that's safe, strong and builds confidence in your forward bends and twists. As we expand on the practice, the symbiotic relationship of these two groups of poses will assist you to go deeper into each posture laying the foundation for seated work. We will finish by breaking down each pose with a slow and detailed approach taking you into some uncommon and interesting postures!

Benefits of Forward Bends:
>calming to the nervous system
>reduce stress on the heart
>activate a sluggish liver
>improve digestion

Benefits of Twists:
>energizing
>relieve back, neck and shoulder pain
>tone and massage the abdominal organs
>increase flexibility of the upper back and hips

Why Alignment and Flow?
It is important to learn how to properly execute yoga postures before moving quickly through them. This allows your body to stay safe and integrated and to grow stronger. Once you have established awareness in your practice it is beneficial for you to move in different ways so that the body and mind do not become stagnant. When you merge alignment and flow, strength and movement; a graceful balance is formed.

Space is limited. Reserve your spot today!

Early bird rate: $40 (by June 11th)
Regular price: $45

For more information and to register contact me here: blessleone@gmail.com
​
Picture
Siobhan has been studying yoga for the past 18 years and teaching since 2010. She has practiced many styles of yoga, however after a period of injury her desire to be healthy brought her back to studying the Iyengar method. Siobhan's teachings will help you understand your yoga practice and deepen your body awareness so you can move through your day with ease.

Siobhan is a certified Iyengar Yoga 
instructor with over 1300 hours of training.

For more information visit: www.vancouver-iyengar-yoga.com

a journey into the elements finale - fire!!

4/16/2016

 
Picture
WORKSHOP 5: FIRE
Dance freely in the fire with the Elemental Ensemble

Saturday April 30th, 7:30-9pm
​Semperviva City Studio

In the final workshop of the series, Bless will be accompanied by all three musicians for a transformative, heart opening evening. We will stoke the fire with breath, shedding layer upon layer of ourselves until we emerge from the ashes transformed, whole, new.

During this celebratory and energetic practice, expect to be moved by the beauty of the harp, to be uplifted by the rhythm of the drums, to float like a melody on the flute and for your heart to dance freely in the fire of all three.

THE ELEMENTAL ENSEMBLE:
Elisa Thorn - Harp
Colin Maskell - Flute and Sax
Robin Layne - Percussion

a journey into the elements - ether

3/19/2016

 
Picture
WORKSHOP 4: ETHER & VIBES
The edge of the senses with Robin Layne, Vibraphone

Saturday April 9th, 7:30-9pm
Semperviva City Studio

Learn to heighten your sensory organs by quieting the mind and opening yourself to the vast reality of sound. When expectations and projections decease, the mind and the spirit can be infused by the nuances of the vibrations of sound. Ether is the lightest of the elements and the gentle floating quality of Robin’s vibraphone playing will allow us to fall deep into ourselves, broadening our awareness to the edge of our senses.

ABOUT ROBIN:
Robin Layne is a percussionist, composer, dancer and yogi. He has immersed himself in the vast world of music and studied traditional drumming in West Africa and Cuba. He plays percussion with Locarno, Tambura Rasa Mazacote, The Robin Layne Band and has performed with artists such as Quique Escamilla, Celso Machado, Jaron Freeman-Fox, and The Paperboys. 

Robin is fascinated by the connection between rhythm and movement and has collaborated with dancers at the Shadbolt Centre and Arts Umbrella. He strongly believes that music, breath and movement are all intertwined and through yoga Robin has found a greater connection to his own music and life!

​For more information visit: www.robinlayne.ca

Kamloops We're Coming to You!

3/11/2016

 
Thanks to Robin's friend Raven of Kamloops Drum Connection we will be leading a yoga and music workshop on Friday March 25th, 7:30-9pm at the beautiful Let's Move Studio.

Please share with any friends or family in the Kamloops or surrounding areas! Join here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/152167131840446/
Picture

A Journey Into the Elements - Air Workshop

2/20/2016

 
Explore "The Harmony Within" in the third workshop of this 5 part series

WORKSHOP 3: AIR & WIND
The Harmony Within 
with Colin Maskell, Bansuri Flutes, Alto Sax & Shruti Box

​Saturday March 12th, 7:30-9pm
Semperviva City Studio

Air can be heard and felt - and through awareness to the air around you and inside you, you can find flight. During this expansive and playful practice, discover the resonant melody in your own breath to lead you to the harmony within.
​
Picture
ABOUT COLIN

​Colin Maskell is a saxophone and flute playing yogi from Vancouver. In his practice he uses music as a setting for exploration, meditation, and spiritual growth. As a performer he has played with his own group The Colin Maskell Trio, The Robin Layne Band, Tambura Rasa, Curtis Andrews, The W
erewolves, Five Alarm Funk, Stolen Moments Jazz, Tarab, Midnight Mangoes, The Unsupervised, and Malcolm Aiken. He also teaches music in elementary and secondary schools in Vancouver and New Westminster. As a Yogi he studied with Tara Judelle and holds a 200-hour Anusara Inspired certification. He believes that "what makes us feel drawn to music is that our whole being is music" - Hazrat Inayet Khan

For more information visit: http://www.colinmaskellmusic.com/

a journey into the elements - earth

1/16/2016

 
WORKSHOP 2: EARTH & RHYTHM
Ebb and flow. Quick, slow with Robin Layne, Percussion

Saturday February 13th, 7:30-9pm
​Semperviva City Studio

The earth is constantly shifting and changing - in order to keep balance, we must tune into the natural rhythms of our bodies. Let your mind relax and connect to the primal intuitive wisdom within the five senses during this grounding, foundational practice.

“When the rhythm is right you feel it with all your senses.” – Mickey Hart
Picture
ABOUT ROBIN

​Robin Layne is a percussionist, composer, dancer and yogi. He has immersed himself in the vast world of music and studied traditional drumming in West Africa and Cuba. He plays percussion with Locarno, Tambura Rasa, Mazacote, The Robin Layne Band and has performed with artists such as Quique Escamilla, Celso Machado, Jaron Freeman-Fox and The Paperboys. He is fascinated by the connection between rhythm and movement and has collaborated with dancers at the Shadbolt Centre and Arts Umbrella. He strongly believes that music, breath and movement are all 
intertwined and through yoga Robin has found a greater connection to his own music and life!

​For more information visit: http://www.robinlayne.ca

a journey into the elements - water

1/7/2016

 
Water, water on my mind as I prepare for the first workshop in the five part Yoga and Live Music Series: A Journey Into the Elements with Yoga and Music.

WORKSHOP 1: WATER & STRINGS
Your own body of water with Elisa Thorn, harp

Saturday January 9th, 7:30-9pm
Semperviva City Studio

We often stare out at the water as a way to reflect and find serenity in our lives. Whether the ocean, a river, or lake, its vastness both humbles us and encourages us to seek truth. Composed of over fifty percent water, our own physical forms are powerful bodies of water. Dive deeply into your body of water with this fluid and contemplative flow, synchronizing movement and breath with the calming sounds of Elisa’s harp and looping effects.
Picture
So on that note here are some thoughts on water, in no particular order to get you in the mood for tomorrow evening.

Water can be heard, felt, seen and tasted.

Water is quick and slow, calm and raging, serene and surging, ripples and waves, liquid and solid, quiet and thundering.

In essence, water can be fluid and delicate but can also wield great power.

Water is yin/feminine in character, its energy is downward, its motion is stillness and conserving. It's representative of intelligence and wisdom, flexibility, softness and pliancy. It is also the element of stillness and rest.

"The heart in thee is the heart of all; not a valve, not a wall, not an intersection is there anywhere in nature, but one blood rolls uninterruptedly an endless circulation through all, as the water of the globe is all one Sea, and truly seen, its tide is one." - Emerson

We are water, so dive in, go deep and float on the everlasting current.

​About Elisa

Picture
Elisa Thorn is a harpist and composer involved in many forms of creative and collaborative music. She composes for and performs in many bands, ensembles and interdisciplinary projects across the lower mainland. In 2015 she was the recipient of an Early Career Development Grant from the British Columbia Arts Council and attended the International Workshop for Jazz and Creative Music at the Banff Centre. 

​For more information visit http://www.elisathorn.com

“Thorn is poised to emerge as a radical harpist, composer, and interdisciplinary arts innovator.” -The Georgia Straight

Workshop: Learn To Love Backbends

11/6/2015

 
Picture

Want More From Your Backbends?

If you're like most of us, backbends can be quite emotionally and physically challenging. They're the opposite action of our everyday activities such as texting, driving, sitting at computers, and bending to pick up kids. Backbends are so healing partly because they reverse these habitual motions. They open up space, energize, and restore balance to our bodies and our lives.

In this 2.5 hour workshop you'll learn how to use and integrate your muscles to keep you safe and strong in backbends. Starting with simple actions, we'll teach you the important but usually overlooked details on how to access the upper back and how to open the front of the body with care. Then we'll build on these basics to take you deeper into your backbends.

In the first half of the workshop, led by Iyengar yoga teacher Siobhan Sloane-Seale, you'll establish a solid foundation with slow, detailed and sometimes intense work. Siobhan will teach you how to modify poses to suit the needs of your own body which will build your body intelligence and awareness.

The second half of the workshop, led by yoga instructor Bless Leone, will teach you how to integrate what you learned in the first half into a sequence of moving postures in a way that's safe, strong and builds confidence in your backbend practice.

Why Alignment and Flow?

Movement-based yoga gives you a different kind of strength and flexibility than Iyengar yoga’s stillness and long holds. If you only learn to engage your body in long postural holdings, your practice can easily become rigid and stagnant. If you only flow quickly, you might feel fit and flexible, without realizing you're missing a deeper muscular stamina.

Learning how to work in a deeper, more integrated way, means that when you stretch, it will be from a place of grace, awareness and wholeness. When you merge strength and movement, you'll find balance.

Space is limited. Reserve your spot today!

​Details

Saturday Dec 5, 2015
2:00-4:30pm
Yoga on 7th (156 E 7th Ave, Laneway Entrance)

Early bird rate: $40 (until Nov 21st)
​Regular Price: $45 (registration ends Dec 1st)

To register and for more information email: blessleone@gmail.com

about Siobhan

Picture
Siobhan has been studying yoga for the past 18 years and teaching since 2010. She has practiced many styles of yoga, however, after a period of injury her desire to be healthy brought her back to studying the Iyengar method. Siobhan’s teachings will help you understand your yoga practice and deepen your body awareness so you can move through your day with ease.

Siobhan is a certified Iyengar yoga instructor with over 1300 hours of training.

For more information visit www.vancouver-iyengar-yoga.com

​about me

Picture
Bless is a Yoga Alliance registered E-RYT 200 instructor and brings a wealth of practical knowledge to her teaching. Bless’ teaching focuses on intelligent sequencing and postural alignment. She includes the use of props, modifications, verbal adjustments and demonstrations to educate students ensuring that each class is accessible to everyone in the room.  
 
Bless’ positive spirit encourages her students to move beyond their boundaries reminding them that yoga is not about being perfect, but being present and connected in each moment. Along with her public classes, workshops and private students, Bless mentors and trains new teachers. 

<<Previous

    Archives

    December 2016
    October 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

- OPEN ♡ UNITE US TOGETHER -


​​© 2023 Bless Leone