But I’m not flexible…and other yoga myths

It was 2006 when I first walked into a yoga studio.  I was living in Victoria, BC when my dear friend Sonia invited me to attend my first Bikram class.  She said “It’ll be fun!” (mind you, that’s what Sonia says a lot when she is about to challenge the outer edges of what I consider to be “fun”!) I showed up to the class, rented a mat, and tried to follow along as we began to breathe, move and sweat, and boy did we sweat!!!  That studio was SO hot and all I remember was the incessant instructions to “lock your knee!”.  Truthfully, the class was far from beginner style yoga:  the studio was packed, super hot, and everyone was sparsely dressed and looking far more “yogi” than I in my running attire.  I had no idea what I was in for.  My brain was going the whole time as I was thinking “I don’t belong here”.  

Despite this intro (and all the sweaty butts in my face!) I persevered, and decided that there must be something to this yoga thing that I just hadn’t discovered yet.  When I found myself back in Toronto later that year,  I sought a place of sanctuary as I weathered a rocky transition back into big city life.  At the time, very few studios existed and I found myself heading to the Bikram studio downtown once again to perform the same sequence of movements and breath work twice per week for 90 minutes.  To say it was addictive is an understatement.  There was something about the breathing, sweating and sequential movements that made me feel grounded, calm and focussed, for what felt like the first time in a decade.  I continued the ritual, eventually moving from Bikram to Tula to Moksha, and embracing the yoga/pilates fusion class at Goodlife as well.  

Fast forward a decade later, after many, many experiments in yoga.  I call them experiments because that’s what they were.  I’d weave in and out of different classes, but nothing stuck.  During the pandemic, I decided I needed a routine to start my day, and joined millions of people on youtube to embrace the 30 day challenge of Yoga with Adriene.  Honestly, she was a beacon of light during a dark time.  And I healed.  But what we were all missing was our connection, our community and each other.  

What I’ve discovered is yoga is always better experience when we are in community.  Although there will always be a place for virtual classes, for those times when we’re challenged with time, health or transportation, but ultimately, to be whole and human we need the connection. 

Yoga is foundationally a way of being.  It is a union of mind, body and spirit.  You don’t have to be “flexible” to do yoga.  It’s about being in your body, present and grateful for what it does for us each day.  Honouring your abilities, accepting where you are today, and nourishing yourself with time to enjoy movement, breathing and coming back to you.I hope you will come and join us in our intimate yoga space, whether you have never practice yoga before and are curious or you are interested in taking your practice to the next level.  Our small class sizes allow our instructors to personalize your experience, ensuring you get the experience you are uniquely seeking in a safe, guided, community space.  We welcome you to experience the difference our community makes at A Moment of Grace.

Xo Jacklyn

Studio Founder, Neighbour, and Curator

New Year, New You?

Hello A Moment of Grace community members!

It's that time of year again – New Year's resolutions are popping up everywhere you look! And while self-improvement is fantastic, and I'm all for setting goals and striving to be better versions of ourselves, let's not forget that perfection is a myth.

Personally, I’ve been shoring up my defenses against the barrage of messaging we see, as every year it continues to be a huge trigger for me.  It's so easy to fall into the comparison trap, scrolling through social media and seeing everyone's "highlight reels," always questioning what we're doing "wrong." “How much weight do I need to lose this year?”  “How fit can I get before the summer?” “How do I create the perfect morning routine?”  “What diet will finally make me feel the best I have ever?” “I really need to have better control of my life”.  These thoughts regularly swirl through my mind, with the underlining tone being “How can I be better?” as if somehow being who I am is not enough already as is.  We are all vulnerable to these thoughts, thanks to clever marketers and companies who prey on our insecurities and desire to fit a certain image.

But honestly, there's no such thing as a perfect life. You're already wonderful, just as you are!  We all have our ups and downs, our struggles and triumphs. We're all just figuring it out as we go, one day at a time. Perfection is enjoying the life you are living now.  

For me, yoga has been the most effective tool. It's not just about the physical postures; it's about connecting with your breath, calming your mind, and finding inner peace. It helps me turn anxious thoughts into positive action, and learn to love and accept myself – flaws and all. Because let's face it, we all have flaws! It's what makes us human. Life's a journey, and we all have the chance to grow and change along the way. The question isn't what you need to fix; it's which direction you want to grow in. What are your values? What kind of person do you want to be? And how can you take small steps each day to move closer to that vision?

So if you're new to yoga and curious about trying it out, want to cultivate more mindfulness and presence in your life, or just need some help managing stress and anxiety, I invite you to give A Moment of Grace Yoga a try. We have classes for all levels, from gentle and restorative to more vigorous and challenging. And remember, you don't have to be "good" at yoga to enjoy its benefits. It's not about being perfect; it's about showing up for yourself and honoring where you are in this moment.

Not because you should, but because you deserve to feel good in your body and mind. You deserve to be your best self – and that starts with self-love and self-acceptance. So come as you are, and let's explore the transformative power of yoga together!

Sending you love, light and gratitude, J xo

The moment is now….

Here we go! Holding fiercely on to my faith, courage and endless hope, we are ready to launch A Moment of Grace Yoga studio this weekend. It has truly been a labour of love, one that I have poured my energy, endless intention and gratitude into everyday since finding the studio space in the most serendipitous of ways this October 2024.

A Moment of Grace has been a dream of mine for several years, since I first stood in a yurt in the middle of the woods. You see, my journey into teaching yoga began at my lowest point. It was 2022, and I had just emerged from the latest “wave” of the pandemic as a healthcare executive in a community organization; sick, tired, in pain, and full of sadness I was suffering from a chronic and debilitating condition that would take almost a year to diagnose. I know my story is but one of many I have heard from colleagues, friends, and others who bear the scars of the struggles we all faced during that time. Although that was my lowest point, I had been struggling for a decade prior to the pandemic, ignoring the signals my body and mind were sending me loud and clear. I was suffering with several incurable, debilitating autoimmune conditions. Despite the fatigue, loss of my hair, ping ponging weight, pain, malnutrition and the toll it took on my mental health, I soldiered on: getting a Masters degree, working two jobs and pushing through workouts, social events, and many, many transitions. I decided it was “mind over matter” and if I just decided to keep going, I would somehow outwit, outsmart and outplay my illness.

Though I had been practicing the physical postures (asanas) of yoga for almost 20 years (including my daily morning practice in my living room thanks to Adrienne in Texas, that were streamed straight into my living room via YouTube during the pandemic), I didn’t truly begin my practice of yoga until I stepped into that yurt. Heal, Evolve, Thrive, founded by the incredible duo of Trish Masters and Maddi Rundle, transformed everything about my being; participating in their yoga teacher training healed my understanding of how to relate to my body, process my emotions and interact gracefully with the world around me. It pushed me to embrace every corner of wisdom our heart, body and mind hold, and in doing so, I healed. I healed generations of trauma. I healed the pain of chronic illness. I rested, deeply. And I found gratitude, joy and mindfulness. The debt of gratitude I owe yoga, that yurt and the magical people within it, is bottomless.

And so, A Moment of Grace was born. I realized that the greatest gift I could give my inner perfectionist, A-type, doer, striver, achiever self, was Grace. Grace is a reprieve, a pardon from the burdens we carry. It is elegance, and ease. It is kindness and forgiveness. And to me, it was truly my saving grace.

There is a saying attributed to Pablo Picasso that says “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” And a Moment of Grace Yoga Studio is my gift to the community that will enter it’s doors and find sanctuary within. My deepest hope is that each individual we touch finds a moment, a glimmer, or a lasting shift that allows them to see their gift, by letting go and finding their Grace.

Our first class starts at 8:30 am on Saturday Dec 14th with Mary T starting us off strong and roaring with Power Yoga, followed by a 10am kids yoga class (taught by the one and only, me!) and moves into a 12pm Creative Flow with the uber-talented yogini and musical genius (not to mention friend and soul sister) Amy Pitt.

I do hope you will come join us to enjoy smiles, warmth and peace in our blossoming space.

Sending you love, light and joy, xo J