Yasmin F. Gow: Wellness, Yoga & Ayurveda

Do you think yoga is lame? I totally get that. I do too (sometimes). In my book, I confess that if I was being introduced to yoga now, I probably would never do it. I mean seriously, if you are a yoga person, step outside your yogi self for a minute. Have you noticed all the strange yoga crap that’s been promoted?... Yoga on a trampoline? Yoga on a paddle board? Yoga with cats? Goats? Boney bendy babes doing handstands in their underwear? Some weird shit. I have mixed feelings about all this. Although I know a moment of yoga can be found in every activity from dishwashing to sex, a lot of this is ultra distracting especially for beginners. After all, life is already mother distracting. I understand the irony my argument given that I make fun of and do silly things in yoga, but truth is 99% of my practices are done without ceremony alone in my pyjamas. Hardly an #instamoment... But it’s here in these unglamorous moments, day in and out, where magic happens. Actually, now is one of the best times in history to start a practice, because pretty much all the yoga practices are home based with none of the usual studio distractions like mirrors, other people and unsolicited adjustments from semi-qualified instructors. I am not currently teaching online, but @lunayogamtl has a bunch of options and I love the classes from @kulayogaproject in NYC. The other cool thing about following practices online is that you aren’t limited to your city! Re the photo: My mom took this picture two summers ago and this was literally the first yoga pose I attempted on a paddle board. I never posted it before because I am not a SUP yoga person and because my under boob is showing! See more

I welcome the freshness of the New Year and to the best of my ability, I release the hardships of past year. Never has my mental health been so challenged. I know I not the only one. It is really fucking hard. ... One day at a time. Better things are coming and it’s going to be ok. In my dark days of the past year and at previous times, I needed to hear this. Let go. Breathe. It’s going to be ok. We are getting stronger, better, wiser. Photo by @natalieriviere

Yes, I am taking care. No, I will not be a taking some weird COVID vaccine and be a human guinea pig. Instead, I am making my health and immunity a priority.... My routines for boosting immunity - Getting back on a Healthy Living Program - Favour warm soupy foods - Avoid inflammatory foods like sugar, wheat, dairy and nightshade veggies - Make sure to poop 1-3x daily - Daily Sun Salutations & Yoga - Sleep - Manage my stress - Wash my hands - Take vitamin D & C - Drink this daily Immunity Boost Drink: How to make it - Add the following to a large cup of boiling water #Turmeric 1tsp #Garlic 1 clove chopped #Ginger 1/2 inch chopped #Lemon or Lime juice #Honey to taste It’s actually delicious. What are your immunity boosting tricks & tips?

When you were just a peanut with a little man bun, a shovel and funny faces... #beachdays how I miss you Yeah, it’s a looking back Sunday kinda a night ... See more

After years of dreaming about it, I am finally doing it! I am writing a book! It’s part memoir, part practical teachings pulled from my experiences and knowledge of yoga, Ayurveda & meditation.... Shit. After years of being very polite and politically correct about things, it feels so damn good to finally express how I really feel about say, yoga with goats, waking up at 5am and other such unnecessary ‘spiritual’ activities like SUP yoga. I know some of you might love getting your day started before the sun or doing yoga on a surf board or meditating with a bunch of farm animals crawling all over you, but not me. After years of trying everything from drugs to puking after eating, from practicing yoga in a tree to weird consultations with ghosts busters, my philosophies and lifestyle has shifted so that I can channel my energy in ways that are simultaneously interesting and sustainable. And this is pretty much what the book is about. Do you want to hear more? See more

Happy Birthday to me! No, not celebrating topless on a beach in St Tropez, but still feeling pretty damn good. After months of being in a funk, I got my groove back and I am happy to admit I am in da floooowwww! ... Thank you my family and loves for such a great and surprising day See more

In 2005, my photographer friend Ali and I scaled a strip club building with ropes and climbing gear to take these photos. I wanted a different kind of yoga image to promote my yoga for high school classes. But, imagine this, back then when yoga was still defined by flowers and tropical beach scenes, I was told by @lululemon employees that these photos seemed aggressive and they didn’t feel comfortable hanging the poster...... #yasminyoga #arebelwithmanycauses #pushingboundaries and #makingmyownway since 1981... ...Although now, I have mellowed out and am content to rebelliously swap vegan ricotta for cow ricotta and remove the noodles from lasagna recipe by #canadianlivingrecipes #notgoodatfollowinginstructions See more

Merry Christmas, Darlings! May your Holiday be filled with magic, wonder, Legos and Cannolis!

It’s 8:30am Saturday and I’ve been up for nearly two hours. I did my practice and everyone is still sleeping. I figured this might be a perfect time to make an Instagram comeback. How are you?... I’ve been good, maybe even great. I started a bunch of projects and even managed to get my haircut (thanks Massimo @le_studiomw) Sunshine, weekends and homemade pizza (last night) also help. And it’s my birthday month! Can you guess old I’ll be? Don’t worry I don’t get offended by your guesses. Age means nothing to me. I feel simultaneously 6-years-old and 108! See more

I dedicate to the power of this New Moon and this warrior energy to my friend and student and all victims/ survivors of sexual violence. Today there was justice. After nearly five gruelling years of trial, a man, who pretended to be a healer but was actually a sexual predator, was found guilty on all counts in two assault cases, my friend’s and another young woman’s.... They believed me. They believed me, she repeated to me with tone of mixed relief and astonishment. The New Moon is about reclaiming your power and moving forward with clarity, purpose, love & light. See more

Phil, you dropped your cup and maybe your unicorn too. Forever inspired by my long time student and friend @wendyyy.tillett who introduced me to @thetrashycollection, I pick up leftover people stuff (aka trash) whenever I am out & about. Sometimes I try to display it artfully, like these aforementioned artists.... Throughout the first wave of lockdown and whenever life feels a bit out of control, I find picking up litter particularly therapeutic. It makes me feel just that much more helpful. What’s your go to way of coping with craziness? See more

That feeling you could spend all day in bed... This was 9:50am this morning in the trailer and Koji was nowhere close to getting up. Can’t blame him. It was -3 outside.... See more

Autumn is my favourite season. It’s crisp and cozy. Thanks to Tintin, the vintage trailer we remodelled this summer, we’ve out in the woods every weekend. We percolate coffee (slowly), we hike, we take the changing colour, we breathe in the forest, we cook food on the fire and then we cozy up inside with blankets piled on top of us.... It kinda idealic and being outside in nature is super grounding and balancing for us Pitta people. What are some of your autumn rituals? See more

We are all dealing with some big challenges right now and the world can feel a little scary and overwhelming. I want to help you address stress in a new way and help you improve your physical & mental health, so I have created an online Immersion in Therapeutic Yoga & Ayurveda starting at the end of this month. This program is designed for yoga practitioners & yoga teachers. It is about you and your healing.... Gain the motivation & discipline to practice consistently & independently. Deepen your yoga & meditation experience. Adopt healing Ayurvedic lifestyle routines to improve your energy, digestion, productivity, hormonal balance and overall wellbeing. Sleep better, eat better, live better. Learn more: yasminyoga.com See more

I am familiar with anxiety too - Now is the time to focus on physical & mental health. The world may feel a more crazy & scary but this is an opportunity to turn inward & heal. https://mailchi.mp/0c/inspiration-to-share-with-you-6573097

All around me people are freaking out. I catch myself freaking out too sometimes. I am an ultra sensitive person and I feel and understand the heaviness of this time. I also know that there is an opportunity for great individual and communal healing. And so I hold steady. I hold space. And I offer what I know based on my training and experience.... And what I know is that the practice (yoga & meditation) changes how we feel about the world around us and shifts us back into possibility. I have created a personal practice online Immersion in therapeutic yoga & Ayurveda to hold this space for you and teach you what I know. Message me or visit my website for details. Sending you love, my friends. Dress by @boutiquelustre Photo by @bergeronchloe See more