De La Sol Yoga Studios
430 York Blvd. L8R 3K8 Hamilton, ON, Canada

12 Days of Yoga Virtual Challenge December 10th to the 21st! Count down to the winter solstice with a gift of self-care! Join us 12 days in a row for yoga, inspiration and of course, prizes! Challenge includes: A virtual class pass.... A daily live session with studio owner Katie McClelland. A daily email with a replay of the live session with Katie and a link to a recorded class if you can't join live A daily prize winner. The final class will be 108 sun salutations led by Katie to welcome the Winter Solstice and the shortest day of the year. You get it all for just $39 ($19 for those on an unlimited pass). #DLSYoga #Yoga #YogaChallenge #12DaysofYoga #YogaEveryDamnDay #WinterSolstice #108SunSalutations #HamOntYoga #HamOnt #HamiltonOntario #WaterdownOntario

Together we are experiencing a pandemic that has heightened our anxiety and stress. A proven antidote to anxiety is Yoga Nidra, also known as yogic sleep. The practice draws our attention inwards, and we learn to surf between the states of wakefulness and sleep. Practitioners say that it often brings immediate physical benefits, such as reduced stress and better sleep, and that it can heal psychological wounds. As a meditation practice, it can engender a profound sense of... joy and well-being. Yoga Nidra takes us effortlessly into a state of harmonious, restful being. Described as dynamic sleep, Yoga Nidra allows the body to relax while the mind stays inwardly alert. From here, we can be healed, restored and awakened to our deepest, all-knowing, all-welcoming self. Thirty minutes of Yoga Nidra can leave you feeling like you have slept for 2 hours. Yoga Nidra is for everyone. Here are a few tips for those new to Yoga Nidra to get you feeling cozy and comfortable. Come as you are where you are as your genuine self. Wear comfortable clothes, including socks and a sweater to keep you warm. Roll out your mat, use lots of props, blankets for under and on the body, bolsters for under the knees and ankles (not behind the head; use a blanket instead). When you are all settled in, take a deep breath, close your eyes and listen to the soothing voice of your instructor. At the end of practice, you will hear, You have now concluded the practice of Yoga Nidra. Hari om tat sat. Join Shanel tonight and every Monday at 8 pm for Yoga Nidra. #DLSYoga #Yoga #YogaNidra #YogaClass #HamOntYoga #HamOnt #HamiltonOntario #WaterdownOntario

Contemplating the Niyamas can bring higher awareness on parts of ourselves that we don’t always notice and help us live in a way that doesn’t cause harm, which allows for less regret and a more peaceful mind. The second Niyma is Santosha, defined as contentment as well as delight, happiness and joy. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? However, we know contentment is not easy to practice. Does this sound familiar? ‘I’ll be happy when’, and we can finish that statement in any number ...of ways. Whether it is getting a different job, meeting someone new, being able to practice yoga again at the studio when not amid a pandemic, there’s probably one or two things you feel could make you happier or more content. Anyone who’s ever been to a yoga class knows the feeling; you’re working your way into a posture, and you just can’t help but look around the room to see whether you’re doing ‘better’ than someone else. It can be difficult to accept ourselves as we are if that means we can’t do the pose we so badly want to be able to do. If we decide to push ourselves physically into an asana we’re just not ready for yet, our body responds by becoming rigid and almost defending itself against our incessant forcing. If it is sunny, we are content. And if it rains, we are still contentwhat a peaceful life we would have if we could cultivate this quality. Santosha does not rest in acceptance. Contentment is not passive. On the yoga path, we are truth seekers, so we must look for what is right. When an upsetting thought arises, don’t deny it. By questioning our beliefs, we can uncover what is true and become a lover of what is. So ask yourself: Is it true? Can I know that it’s true? Who would I be without the thought? Is love there? As Lao Tzu says in the Tao Te Ching: Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. #DLSYoga #Yoga #Niyamas #Santosha #YogaLife #YogaLifestyle #Joy #Happiness #Cotentment #HamOntYoga #HamOnt #WaterdownOntario See more

This week’s yoga learning series, named after the sage Marichi, means ‘ray of light’. The seated bind beams the practitioner’s life with health, calmness, and richness living true to its meaning. Marichyasana is a pose from the Ashtanga primary series. The revered yoga formAshtanga, is the foremost moving meditation and the breathing practice geared towards making the practitioners strong, flexible, and spiritual. Even if you don’t practice Ashtanga, this pose should only b...e attempted at the end of your practice after your shoulders, hips, and hamstrings are warmed and open. Katie shows us how to move mid-way through the pose, stopping to relax and enjoy the spaciousness through the ribs. Katie then mindfully moves us into the seated bind ending the tutorial with a fun Ashtanga transition. Marichyasana calms and relaxes your mind and body. The pose restores digestive power, releases stress store in the hips & shoulders, stretches the spine, making it healthy & flexible, relieves fatigue increasing vitality, and helps open our breathing passages. The practice of Marichyasana is the best for activating the Manipura chakra (associated with the qualities of self-confidence, clarity, knowledge, and bliss), experiencing its power bestowing balance, strength, and decisiveness. Master this Ashtanga yoga pose with devotion, commitment, and patience for realizing the benefits of Marichyasana in its full power and glory. #DLSYoga #Yoga #YogaPose #SeatedBind #AshtangaYoga #HamOntYoga #HamOnt #WaterdownOntario