Words of Wisdom

Category: Inspiration

Yogi meditating
By Maddie Rodriguez

Finding Inner Peace.

If you practice yoga regularly or even occasionally, you’re likely to hear a lot of advice about meditation, breath and calm. Not all advice works for everyone, but I wanted to share a phrase that has been particularly useful for me: peace isn’t a place, …

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Yogi in Warrior 2 pose
By Maddie Rodriguez

Love your Flaws.

If you struggle with self—confidence or if you diverge in any way from the socially-sanctioned ideal of what a person should be, it can be hard enough to love yourself in spite of your flaws. To love your flaws themselves seems impossible. It seems like …

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Yogi in forward fold
By Maddie Rodriguez

Go with the Flow.

When you hear the phrase “go with the flow,” what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Usually it’s the idea of taking things as they come or being flexible and relinquishing control. The “flow” in this case refers to a state of relaxation or …

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Yogi in Warrior 3 pose
By Maddie Rodriguez

Stay Open.

If you are the kind of person who carefully plans their schedule and, well, their life (ahem), the encouragement to “stay open” can sound a little bit like “relinquish control.” Openness can feel like an incursion on your carefully-planned life and it can be hard …

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Crystale Boisvert
By Maddie Rodriguez

Yogi Spotlight: Crystale Boisvert

For Crystale Boisvert, yoga has brought many things: challenge, fulfillment and peace. Throughout her life, Crystale has always expressed herself creatively through movement, first as she is a trained dancer and Tae Kwon do master. Professionally, she knew her path lay in serving others. In …

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Jessica Magnan
By Maddie Rodriguez

Yogi Spotlight: Jessica Magnan

Jessica Magnan grew up in the small town of Deep River, Ontario. From an early age, Jessica knew that her path would be one of serving others. After finishing her sociology degree at the University of Ottawa and supporting herself in the restaurant industry, Jessica …

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Yogi in standing split w/Eagle arms
By Maddie Rodriguez

Keeping it Real.

As yogis, we try to see the best in everyone. We practice kindness and compassion. We know the importance of empathy and of being careful not to inflict any unnecessary harm with our words. But we should remember that it is equally important to be …

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Photo of Claudia Gutierrez
By Maddie Rodriguez

Yogi Spotlight: Claudia Gutierrez

If you practice at Elevate, chances are, you’re familiar with the work of artist Claudia Gutierrez. If, like so many of us, you’ve taken a moment during a savasana to appreciate the lush, captivating texture of the moon illustration adorning the wall of the practice …

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Yogi in Pigeon pose
By Maddie Rodriguez

Embracing Change.

It seems spring has (finally!) arrived and the change in season is an opportunity to think about change in our lives. Spring is a time of change. A change in the weather, a change in the light—its quality and duration—and a change in the pace …

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Photo of Maddie Rodriguez
By Maddie Rodriguez

Yogi Spotlight: Maddie Rodriguez

Born in Toronto, Maddie has lived in several cities across Ontario, as well as in Victoria, BC and briefly in London, England. Maddie is an avid reader and writer with a BA and MA in English literature. She works as a full-time communications and research …

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