HOME NEWS STUDIO TEACHER TRAINING ABOUT
Maureen Rae's Yoga Studio | 5324 Dundas Street West Etobicoke, Ontario M9B 1B4
     
Yoga Training Important Notice
 

2009 Can-Fit-Pro Fitness Professional of the Year Award Finalist!

Maureen has been chosen as one of the 3 finalists for the Can-Fit-Pro Fitness Professional of the Year 2009 Award. This award recognizes a Can-Fit-Pro certified and practicing professional member who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, motivation, and technical skills and who has inspired clients to achieve their goals. The winner will be announced on Friday, August 21 at the Can-Fit-Pro Conference – the largest conference of its kind in North America with over 5,000 attendees. Wish us luck!

***

Newsletter

Love the article below? Click here to sign-up for our free newsletter.

 

July 30th, 2009
Mudita - Gladness

by Maureen Rae, RN, E-RYT

Underlying the physical postures of yoga (Hatha Yoga) is an ancient Indian philosophy that has been around for approximately 3,000 years. The principles and practices of this way of thought are as applicable in today’s society as they were way back when, at a time people surely faced similar obstacles to happiness.

Yet, today - here in North America - much of the way that yoga is taught is from a purely physical point of view. The ancient and healing teachings are being diminished, overlooked, and even lost. Yes, the postures are strengthening and toning. Yes, the breathwork is physically purifying and energizing. But what’s the point of practicing postures and breath on the mat a couple of times a week while ignoring the more important teachings that can surely lead us to equanimity?

The Yoga Sutra tells us of the nine obstacles to Yoga (keeping in mind that the word ‘Yoga’ does not mean just physical postures!). These nine distractions of our consciousness - ways of thinking that can keep us from reaching a place of contentment - are listed as:

  • Illness
  • Langour (mental dullness)
  • Doubt (negativity, skepticism)
  • Heedlessness (lack of foresight)
  • Sloth (laziness - fatigue)
  • Dissipation (overindulgence)
  • False views (living under illusion - inability to face reality)
  • Lack of perseverance (giving up - not finishing what we’ve begun)
  • Instability or regression

We could discuss each of the above for a long time, but what is more to the point is..... does Yoga teach us how to overcome these obstacles? And Yes! The answers are there, too!

The Yoga Sutras cite 4 main ways (there are others!) to detour around the obstacles. These are:

1. Friendliness
2. Compassion
3. Gladness
4. Equanimity
In this space over the next few months we shall endeavour to define these 4 ways of being/thinking., and to offer methods of bringing these practices to our lives. For me, the practice that has had a tremendous impact in my own life, is the practice of Mudita - Gladness. So let’s begin there.

Mudita is a virtue. Finding joy in the happiness and success of others. This quality is found in the Buddhist teachings and in the Yoga Tradition (as well as many others.) How easy it is to find joy in one’s own successes - yet how difficult it is to feel the same level of joy when someone else (with or without good reason!) is successful.

To quote Eileen Siiriwardhana "Seeing the good in others and learning to recognize and admire what good there is, is what mudita tacitly implies. Laughter and exhilaration are not characteristics of mudita. Mudita is joy and appreciation flowing quietly out of the core of one's heart towards others like the waters from a spring flowing outwards from the bowels of the earth. Spontaneous and sincere participation in another's glorious hour is possible only when the quality of mudita is developed to its fullest."

How to begin to cultivate this quality? Let’s begin by Noticing. (I’m not sure that there is a Sanskrit word for ‘noticing’ although likely one exists. Yoga has many words to describe feelings. To me, this is the very first instant that I feel a mood change. ) Noticing when envy or jealousy enters our hearts. Let’s ask ourselves the question...Why are we jealous? The answer is likely Because someone possesses something we do not. This is Ego speaking. - the lower self. Follow this up with the question "Do we not already have that which would give us great joy?"

On the mat - either at home with yourself - or at our yoga studio, where we actively encourage noncompetitive practice, we encourage you to acknowledge where you are in your postures, and where others are in their postures, where you are in your life, and where others are in theirs; and to consciously cultivate the healing quality of Gladness - Mudita. Let anger and envy be gone. And....don’t forget to notice how you feel when you engage in this practice. Notice.

As always, we welcome your comments and stories. Sharing your experiences can often go a long way to helping others to ‘see.’ Please feel free to email us at info@mraesyogastudio.com

Click here to read Maureen's previous articles

 

Mid-Summer Promotion
July/August Unlimited Classes
Adults $199
Seniors/Teens $99

***

Voted Etobicoke's Best Yoga Studio 2009!

***

Yoga In Motion

Yoga in Motion was fantastic. Lynda Cralli on the left, Maureen in the centre and Christine Ling on the right. A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors – Dedicated Clothing (shirts) and lululemon (pants).

***

Congrats 100 Hour
Congratulations to our 100 Hour Intensive 2008-9 Graduating Class!

They are (Back row left to right) Anahita Khadivi holding Baby Malcolm), Christine Sauriol (Malcolm's mom!), Maureen, Christina Harvey, Jane Brooks, Anna Trotti, Rasha Salem. (Front row l - r) Joanna dela Cruz and Cathy Bertucca Dulder.

Missing....Olga Petrova and Ruby Bartlett.

***

Help your fellow students. Check out our Community Billboard.

***

We now offer Corporate Training! Find out more.

***

Come explore the benefits of Yoga for yourself. The first class is on us!
Find out more...

Mo Teaching

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Yoga Training



Maureen

Maureen Rae's Yoga Studio specializes in Yoga Teacher Training!

250 Hour Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher Training and for those for whom time is a valuable commodity, spread out over 10 Sunday afternoons, 1 to 5 pm, from September to March, our 100 Hour Teacher Training Program is designed to accommodate most millennial schedules. Now in its 10th year, our training consists of:

  • a highly-respected teacher
  • in-class presentations
  • small groups
  • readings
  • home-assignments

Are you searching for a deeper practice? Many students complete our Yoga teacher training not to teach others but for their own spiritual development. Our curriculum fosters self-improvement, self-inquiry and self-knowledge. The companion manual serves as reference material long after the certificate is completed. Click here for testimonials.

It's not as expensive as you think. Our prices are quite reasonable, usually much more reasonable than the price of other studios in the Greater Toronto Area.

A Yoga Teacher Certificate is awarded after completion of our 100 hour program. Click here for more information on this program. For optional certification program once you've completed the 100 hour program, check out this page.

For other training sessions at our studio, have a look here.

Anytime during your training, feel free to join any regularly scheduled class for free!

at work

 

 

Mr. Pigeon Pose

Maureen Rae's Yoga Studio is owned and operated by Maureen Rae, Reg. N., E-RYT, Certified Nia Dance Instructor.

She has trained with Erich Schiffmann of Santa Monica, California, the Desikachars of India, and Angela Farmer of Greece, among others. Maureen teaches a flowing Vinyasa Style yoga class, integrating techniques from Viniyoga(henceforth to be known as Yoga in the style of Krishnamacharya) ...and favours function and feeling, over form.

She is known throughout the industry for innovative sequencing and she is now a new ambassador for lululemon athletica! (See www.lululemon.com.)

Find out more...

 
 
 
 
www.bringingconsciousness.com
www.injoyyogawear.com
www.jspa.com
www.looksimage.com
www.lululemon.com
www.nrg2go.net
www.palmermassage.com
www.shantiretreat.ca
www.towardstillness.com
goldy.toki@sympatico.ca
(henna artist)
 
Can-Fit-Pro
Yoga Alliance
 
spacer
c. 2007 Maureen Rae's Yoga Studio, all rights reserved.