Health and wellness through yoga DVDS
Teacher creates Yogabasics for beginners
Ilike stories of local people spreading the message of health and wellness, trying to do good in the world.
That’s exactly what yoga teacher Yasmin Fudakowska-Gow has been doing for more than a decade.
The yoga teacher/environmentalist/ayurvedic nutritionist has just released a bilingual trilogy of yoga DVDs, YogaBasics, geared to help the beginner get off to a good start.
Because, she says, “like anything in life, you have to start with a good base, a solid base, and build from there.” And she has been building. In the last couple of years, she made the Guinness Book of Records for the longest yoga practice — 32 hours! — sold her West Island yoga centre, travelled across Canada with David Suzuki to talk about sustainability, became an ayurvedic health practitioner accredited with the National Association of Naturopaths, and did the DVD project.
“It’s been busy,” she told me in conversation a couple of weeks ago. “Now its time to restore and figure out what’s next.”
(Although, she did tell me that what’s next is to focus on a yoga-for-kids project.)
Yoga, said Gow, is not meant to be stressful.
“It should not be about trying to get into all kinds of funky positions and forcing yourself to do something you can’t — that can be harmful.”
Instead, it’s about finding a practice that works for you and your abilities.
Which is why her BASICS videos are for beginners. B is for breathing A is for alignment S is or structure I is or innergy (internal energy) C is for centred S is for sensual “My goal was to prepare people in such a way that they could go to any class knowing the basics and feel confident they could be successful in any variation of a pose.”
Gow believes yoga can be for anyone, regardless of shape, size, disability — whatever. That being said, before you start a practice of any kind, talk to your doctor first: even the most basic things may not be for you. (I tried the first DVD, and certainly not all poses were meant for me!)
Gow has been practising yoga since she was 17. Her parents, both physical-education teachers, taught her the importance of healthy eating and exercise. She says she was a tomboy and, as a teen, she felt “awkward and clumsy” but that all changed when she took a yoga class.
“I felt more graceful and more grounded and it was a real confidence builder.”
She was so enamoured, she continued to develop her own practice and eventually was encouraged to begin teaching, The rest is history. Gow says one of her missions is to help people expand their views of yoga because “it’s not just one thing, it’s many, many things and can expand infinite possibilities in one’s life.”
And practices are as varied as people. Sometimes it can be as simple as breathing.
“Just sitting quietly and fo- cusing on breath, the true life source, is cathartic.”
It’s about “connecting with yourself, with God, your Higher Power, whatever you believe in that brings you to the present moment.”
Especially since, as a society, we live in “a materialistic time” and tend to focus on things that bring fleeting happiness.
Gow says that when we begin a yoga practice, with time and dedication a shift happens and everything changes.
“It’s simple, but it is full of crazy possibility.”
And Gow says anyone can do yoga.
“The key is to find the appropriate teacher. A knowledgeable, well-trained instructor will know how to adapt a practice to fit specific needs of individuals.”
She says not to be afraid to talk to teachers.
“If, for instance, you have back issues, try to find a teacher who has had the same issue. They will know how to deal with it.”
Gow gives varied workshops, including one where participants are blindfolded.
“Yoga Au Noir is an experience in truly going within and feeling the practice.
With time, yoga can take on a whole different realm.
“I feel weightless” in practice. “It can be a very sensual experience,” she said with a laugh. To be that centred and connected to self is magical.”
Gow says there is no one answer to everything, but yoga, even at the most basic level, is about creating balance in your life, and frankly who couldn’t use a little more of that? YogaBasics DVDs are in stores now. For more information, visit yasminyoga.com