Movement 'n Mind with Michelle

Sending out a big THANK YOU to those who joined my class Thursday night! It was an honour guiding you through some deep, meditative stretches as well as connecting with fellow McMaster students! Starting first year University during a pandemic made it a bit difficult to make friends and meet new people but I am so grateful to have found @mcmasteryogaclub! ... Some of those who joined had the chance to meet my furry friends. During these unprecedented times, adopting Bowie was the absolute best thing I could have done for my overall health. He inspires me to be more loving, patient and active! And he also shows me the importance of rest and snuggles With the weather warming up, we are looking forward to spending more time out in nature and teaching outdoor classes once it is deemed safe to do so! Stay safe and healthy everyone! #dog #doggo #puppy #puppylove #downwarddog #yoga #yogateacher #yogapants #meditation #mindfulness #fitness #workout #namaste #yogaclass

Woohooo! School is out And we are celebrating with @mcmasteryogaclub with a relaxing a rejuvenating yoga class this evening lead my Moi Please comment or DM me for the link!!

Looking to exercise your brain and body among a like-minded community? Join my #FREE virtual yoga classes! They will be taking place via @zoom every Thursday from 7-8 pm starting next week.... Suitable for all levels, we will be alternating each week between a slower placed, gentle hatha class and more of a sweat inducing vinyasa. Information about each class, including props suggested, what to expect and zoom links, will be provided via email the night before! No sign up necessary, donations optional but very much appreciated! ’ , Photo taken by @rosequartzimagery #yoga #virtualyoga #yogapractice #yogainspiration #yogaeverydamnday #yogaclass #yogateacher #yogaposes #zoomclasses #zoomyoga #reversewarrior #warrior #warriorpose

The time has finally come!!! I started my 200hr YTT over a year ago now and boy has it been wild- and I wouldn’t have it any other way! I’ve learnt so much not only about the philosophy and anatomy of yoga from my teachers, but life in general from the entire class.... Our small group went through so many beautiful and sometimes devastating life changes throughout the 8 months of training. It truly was an honour to grow with each and every one of them. Sharing stories, tears, and laughter has created a bond between us that will last a lifetime!! We were set to have our final weekend and celebration back in April, but sadly due to the pandemic it had to be cancelled. Most of us completed our final requirements virtually but it wasn’t until today when I really felt it was official. The closure was absolutely necessary. How surreal it was to see one another after 6 months after our YTT interruption. I feel sad that it’s over but overwhelmed with gratitude for the experience and the friends I’ve made along the way. Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout the process. Specifically @crashbrad- I would spend the YTT weekends at his place and after each day I’d talk his ear off with all that I’d learnt and make him my yogi guinea pig I am starting Chair Yoga at my job next month which I’m super excited about! When it is safer to do so I’m looking forward to teaching more classes at different places. Until then, I am always open to talk and share some tips and tricks about yoga and willing to do 1:1 sessions with the appropriate safety measures if it feels right! DM me if you’d like to learn more

The yoga philosophy is so much more than poses and postures. It is a journey towards healing and self- development; finding yourself on a soul level amidst a world that tells you who, what and how to be the moment you’re born. This month I started therapy after a 2 year hiatus. Although I knew I needed support in maintaining my mental health, I felt so much resistance to tackle the root of the problem that brought me there in the first place. Despite the stigma of needing ext...ra help, I met myself with compassion and room to feel and grow, reminding myself it’s okay not to be okay. Just as you would go to the doctor for a medical health issue, it is normal and healthy to see a psychologist for a mental health issue. In today’s world and bio-medical culture, we believe that treating ailments with prescriptions drugs is the most effective approach. And while I support this- I take prescription medications myself- I also believe a interdisciplinary and holistic approach is the best way to go because the truth is, there are so many different ways to treat the same problem. Whether it’s rooted energetically, physically, emotionally- it’s all connected. We are so much more than our physical bodies, and I truly believe that certain illness and disorders can also arise from disregulation in our emotional and energetic bodies as well. Yoga allows us to look at ourselves for the multi-dimensional and complex beings we are. In short, take care of yourself: however that looks for you ... #yoga #mentalhealth #selfdevelopment #healing #yogatherapy #yogaeverydamnday #yogainspiration #yogapose #meditation #yogateacher

Shout out to @emmiebertrand for getting one step closer to completing her YTT and becoming a certified yoga teacher! On Friday I had the honour of being her student for her restorative yoga class that was filmed and sent over to our teachers. We were suppose to have had our final weekend for the YTT back in April but due to the pandemic lots of things have been postponed. The lack of structure along with an increased workload has had me feeling a bit unmotivated to work... on my final assignments... but! Emily (and Molly and Lulu) helped me so much with getting some more work down on my take home exam! So grateful for all of the support! . . . #ytt #yoga #yogagirl #yogadog #anatomy #studying #restorative #restorativeyoga #yogaclass #zen #yogabuds #yogapractice #yogapractice #yogaeverydamnday #yogainspiration See more

When my mind gets busy and disorganized with chatter, it always helps me to pause and connect. Seeking a sounding board to bounce my worries and woes off of almost always helps me to regroup and reframe whatever chaos may be going on internally. I’ve always been inclined to talk about and share my feelings. When it doesn’t make sense alone in my head, it helps to hear myself and talk it out. It is important to remember *in my opinion* that it is a privilege to listen to and ...share the inner workings of one minds with another. I believe true intimacy is respectful of boundaries. I use to have an unclear idea of this. Without many people I felt truly connected to and trustful of, I would often overshare and find myself feeling uncomfortable, sometimes even guilty. It was that or keeping everything inside to a point where I would explode and eventually.. overshare. In addition, sometimes we miss out on amazing opportunities of connection due to this fear. It takes years to find this balance. Therapy and developing deep, meaningful connections with a few select people has really helped me with this. After almost a decade of clinical counselling and putting my realizations into practice, I have developed a certain level of self-reflection which has helped me to understand what is important to share, when, and with who. I am so grateful now to not only have a close knit community of people I truly trust but also, to have developed my sense of self-sufficiency. As I’ve learned from @brenebrown (and also trial and error) vulnerability without boundaries is not vulnerability. See more

The other day I was overwhelmingly frustrated and irritable. I could feel my anger rising to a boiling point. The urge to throw a tantrum and break things was growing increasingly stronger. So what did I do? Did I sit in fury letting the stories rule my reality? Did I continue to blame and pout? For a moment, maybe. But then I did something game changing. I paused. And I asked myself what would help me cope in that moment and achieve the best outcome. I decided to drop what I... was doing and run a bath. I poured in the lavender scented Epson salts that had been calling my name for weeks. I cracked open the window to welcome the sounds of birds chirping in the newly blooming trees. Once full immersed in the steaming hot water, I simply listened and observed. I invited all that was stimulating my senses into my focus. Then I got quiet. I started breathing deeply and watching how the water would allow my body to float and sink with each inhale and exhale. My stress undulating with every breath. Then- A moment of pure bliss. Complete pointedness. Absolute absorption. And then of course the moment passed, I started thinking about the experience, the things I had to do etc etc. However.. that pause. That moment of connectedness and flow. That is the gold. That is what makes this all worth it. #mindfulness #sensual #meditation #selfreflection #yoga #yogainspiration #yogapose #asana #yogaflow #yogapractice #yogastudent #yogatraining #yogateachertraining #yogaeverydamnday #yogaposes #mindbody #bodyawareness #selfdevelopment

How often do you find yourself stuck in your head focused on how you look As opposed to how you feel? This all-too-familiar anxiety creeped in prior to having these photos taken. I was able to sit with these uncomfortable thoughts and remind myself of my intention behind practicing & teaching yoga. I told myself:... you don’t have to be super muscular and slim to do yoga you don’t need a cute matching outfit to do yoga you don’t need your makeup and hair done up to do yoga you don’t need to be perfect to do yoga I still had an expectation but I was able to check myself, keeping my perfectionist tendencies at bay and connect to the feelings as opposed to attaching to the thoughts. While flowing and moving through the sequence of poses, I reminded myself *focus on how it feels* & *remember why you started* Thanks @rosequartzimagery for the amazing photos and @itsdanielledesigns for the awesome shirt #yoga #yogapose #yogaeverydamnday #yogapractice #yogainspiration #yogateacher #yogapants #yogaposes #asana #updog #urdvhamukhasvanasana #upwardfacingdog #backbend

Perspective is everything! You are given the opportunity to wake up each morning with fresh eyes. Give yourself the gentle reminder as you peel them open after a long nights rest -as you push yourself through a tough days work, as your struggle to find the motivation to make it through the toughest times of your life- THAT YOU ARE AMAZING! Boost yourself up and give yourself a pat on the back for accomplishing all you have thus far, whatever that may be.... Mentally go through a list of things that your aught to be grateful for and fill your heart up with appreciation. Remind yourself day in and day out that you are enough, you are worthy and you’ve got this!! *featuring cute messages at work that help me get through the day* #encouragement #mentalhealth #confidence #perspective #dailyreminder #dailyinspo #inspiration #workhard #gratitude #appreciation #yoga #yogainspiration #yogapose #asana #yogaflow #yogapractice #yogastudent #yogatraining #yogateachertraining #yogaeverydamnday #yogaposes #mindbody #bodyawareness #selfdevelopment