Four years ago I left my life in Vancouver to start a new one in Toronto. It was a challenging exit as I was leaving a huge support system of long time friends and loved ones. Getting my dear friends on board to let me go and wish me well was a tough sell as they expressed how much they were going to miss me. Most of them were betting that I would come back to Vancouver after a year or so, they were speaking their truth from the heart.

Four years later and with no plans to return to Vancouver I got a phone call saying I was nominated and unanimously voted to represent Toronto Yogis at the Lululemon Ambassador Summit in Vancouver this coming September 10th. Vancouver here I come.

The past four years has been an awesome ride. I found my teachers at Octopus Garden Yoga Centre and fulfilled a life long goal to become a yoga teacher. I shot out of the gate with incredible training under my belt and hit the pavement teaching where ever I could. Soon I started teaching at the Lululemon’s Briar Hill location for two months straight and then put on two different workshop series for another two months. I fell head over heels in love with the store and the love affair was mutual. They proposed and I became their proud Lululemon Ambassador. I sometimes feel like the luckiest yogi in the world having a support system so rich, it makes me leap towards my goals.

September 10th I am heading to my old hood on the West Coast with many successes wrapped up in my yoga mat and so many goals still to achieve. With the help of Lululemon, (shout out to my store manager, mentor and friend Sydnie) I am learning to dream big, actually huge and then go out there and make it happen. It is hard work but Yoga is my passion and I know I am doing exactly what I was supposed to do.

Vancouver I made you proud.

xoDavid Good

**Picture Credits to Bruce Zinger who shot my Ambassador photo shoot. Special thanks to Jaclyn and Verena the world’s best stylists.

Here’s a crazy thought: instead of keeping your heart locked up, try the opposite and open your heart. In the end, you will attract more love.

The heart lives in our ribcage, surrounded by 12 ribs on each side, covered by our sternum in front (also called your breast bone) and the spine in back to protect the rear. Everything is held together by ligaments and intercostal muscles, shrink wrapped to protect one of the most important parts of our human machine. Our heart is like a lonely animal locked in a cage, ready to jump out and spread itswings. It just wants to share love and be loved.

Shake your heart up by adding some conscious breathing techniques called, “Complete Breath.” Lie on your back in savasana, corpse pose, and place one hand on your belly and one on your chest. Start to breathe into your belly and take it up to your chest.

Then place your hands on your side rib cage. Send the next breaths into your belly, chest and side ribs. Be very conscious and slow. For the final stop, breathe into your belly, chest, side ribs and into your back. Feel your back press against the mat and floor.

This four part breath makes more space in the ribcage and starts to open the intercostal muscles that hold the ribs together. Warning: the intercostal muscles may be sore the next day, but what a good sore it is.

After you have mastered this breathing in savasana, take it to a seated position and add it into a meditation. Count out 100 breathes. It will be the slowest, best heart opener you have ever expereienced. Then add it into your moving practice, following the four part breath with movement.

It might slow your practice down, but that is a good thing.

Try to add some heart openers to your next practice while you follow this breath

>>Bhujangasana—Cobra Pose

>>Purvottanasana—Upward Plank Pose

>>Urdhva Dhanurasana—Upward Facing Bow

>>Supported Setu Bandha Sarvangasana—Restorative Supported Bridge Pose

Try to add some poses that concentrate the breath to the back body as well.

>>Savasana on your belly

>>Adho Mukha Svanasana—Downward Facing Dog

>>Balasana—Child’s Pose

As you get comfortable and start to master this new breath, add a twist into the mix to see if you can still keep up with your “Complete Breath.”

>>Ardha Matsyendrasana—Half Lord of the Fishes Pose

>>Marichyasana III—Sage Pose

>>Parvrita Uttanasana—Twisted Forward Fold

The more love you dish out the more you get in return. It inspires the people around you to follow suit. You might start a revolution.

David Good teaches his complete breath in his classes and workshops. His intention is to inspire others to build a strong foundation in their practice and life.

Follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/davidgoodyogaLOVE 

Join in the conversation with twitter @davidgoodyoga and get instant updates on#davidgoodyogaLOVE.

See you on the mat.

Thanks Elephant Journal for posting my story. 

Mark your calendars- November 2nd to 4th, 2012 for the SHRI FEST. I am so excited to be part of the teaching faculty of this incredible weekend. 

What is shri fest?

shri fest is a yoga and arts festival that celebrates life in all its beauty. It brings together a community of like-minded people in an atmosphere infused with creativity and wonder.
The fall weekend festival features a variety of teachers who will inspire your yoga practice, talented musicians who will inspire you to take your practice to the next level and local artists who will showcase their work.

What can you expect?

• Opening ceremony
• A beautiful backdrop: Blue Mountain Village, surrounded by the mountains of Collingwood and dressed in Autumn’s breathtaking colours
• Incredible teachers, teaching a variety of yoga styles and traditions
• Many yoga classes to choose from over 3 days.
• Live Kirtan Saturday evening
• Live music and DJ during classes
• Farm to table dinner (optional Saturday night)
• Choose your teachers! Choose you classes! Choose your schedule!

shri fest package options:

First 25 tickets sold will be sold at $108.00
Full weekend pass – $210.00
Early bird (until July 31) – $169.00
Saturday day pass with Kirtan – $129.00
Farm to table dinner – $65.00 (includes 1 glass of local wine)

For more information please email shirlee at shirlee@buddharider.com

This is going to be an amazing weekend full of art, yoga  and music. It is my first of many festivals to come. I look forward to seeing all my fellow yogis, new and familiar, at the festival.

xoDavid Good

I rode my bike into Trinity Bellwoods Park this morning not sure what to expect. The weather kept saying 30% chance of rain, but didn’t that mean there was 70% chance of SUNSHINE? I had my bets on the the sun, better odds.

Slowly yogis started coming from every corner of the park. Small groups coming to practice together, families with kids in tow, single bike riders with a mat in their basket and even a yogi with her dog. The numbers grew as mat after mat was unrolled onto the law. The clouds started to part and we had the beginning of a yoga revolution in the grass. A group of like minded individuals practicing together for the sole purpose of building community-SANGHA, all in the center of a big city. AWESOME!!

It was my honour and privilege to lead the group in this flowing practice. We worked on FOUNDATION by challenging our balance, we opened our hearts and minds. What a great morning!

Thank you Jackie Odette for dreaming this up and having the courage to do it.

Thank you Lululemon for the continued support and the many fellow ambassadors who came out to support with their love.

Big thank you to all the yogis who came out for the 70% SUNSHINE.

xo David Good Yoga

A couple weeks ago I stepped out of my comfort zone and jumped on a plane to Manhattan, NYC to be on Sadie Nardini’s ROCK YOUR YOGA on Veria Living. What an awesome ride!

Thank you Sadie Nardini!!

xoDavid Good

I recently made the declaration to being awesome and an inspiring Yoga Teacher to the world with freedom in my life.

Its just the beginning and so much has happened. I flew out to NYC to appear on Sadie Nardini’s new TV show ROCK YOUR YOGA, twice and appeared on 7 episodes. It is airing May 14th in the United States and we need to get it here in Canada, so call your cable provider.

I also met some AWESOME yogis in the green room of the show and we have all stayed in touch. We decided to help each other out and share in this yoga path we are all on. Props to a few of the ROCKSTARS- Sharon Pingatore, know to everyone as Mamaste, an editor at Elephant Journal who has sparked the writer in me to come out and share my words through Elephant Journal. Kimberley DeZutel an amazing yogi who is going to bring yoga to kids all over the world and who created a Facebook group for all of us to stay in touch. Laurel Attanasio, someone who I laughed with a ton and who I have a feeling we are going to work together in the future (just a feeling). Shara Perlman, a yogi in NYC who is looking to teach more, so if you know any studios in NYC that are hiring let us know. Debbie Williamson and Kellie Lin Knott from Wisconsin who I am going to see in July when I come to teach at Debbie’s studio. 

I am also so excited to start this weekend my Core Strength Vinyasa RockStar Teaching Training Certification. Part of my journey is keeping the bonfire in my soul stoked by learning new things. Adding fuel to the journey so I can provide so much to everyone I meet on the mat. Thank you- Sadie Nardini-teacher, mentor and friend.

Your mission if you choose to take it, is to take a course this summer, try something new, step into the world with a beginner’s mind. Take a day off and go for a hike. Take a ballroom dancing class. Plant a garden. Take a singing lesson. Try something new!

SHAKE OFF THE DUST and keep us all posted on what you are doing!

Yoga has opened so many doors for me and I am so grateful.

xoDavid Good

]]> http://www.goodyoga.ca/2012/05/12/the-learning-continues/feed/ 0 http://www.goodyoga.ca/2012/04/30/to-juice-or-not-to-juice/ http://www.goodyoga.ca/2012/04/30/to-juice-or-not-to-juice/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:49:09 +0000 admin http://www.goodyoga.ca/?p=1131

To Juice or not to Juice

So many people look at you like you have lost your mind when you say you are on a three day juice cleanse. They say things like, “No food?” “Three days?” “Why?” These are all questions you will ask yourself every waking hour while you are on the cleanse.

No Food? -Yep that ‘s right. For three days you do nothing but drink veggie based juices. Try to stay away from adding protein powers or too much fat because you are trying to let your bodies digestion have a rest. You can add fruit to your juice bases like apple and I even tried some pineapple in the mix. You will miss chewing surprisingly and I even found myself clenching my jaw. I pretended to chew my juices once to see if that would help but I felt very unsatisfied with nothing to chew and it was kind of weird.

Three days?- You have to take on the challenge to get through the three days so you can let your digestion rest. One day might be ok to do once a month but three days seasonally can reset cravings and allow your body to rest up so it can spend energy healing your body in areas that you never even knew needed it.

Why?- Well that is a good question. I asked myself that during the three days almost every hour. I did it the first time out of curiosity to see what would happen and got amazing results. I gave up alcohol, caffeine and sugar which let my adrenals have a rest. Weight just fell off me, especially around the mid section. People noticed right away and I loved the compliments, who wouldn’t. The best compliment was that I looked…hold on to your juicer…TEN YEARS younger.  So back to why…We use 60to 80% of the energy from the stuff we eat back on digesting it, but when we have nothing to digest we get the bonus of this energy to use up in our body. Our body switches to burn fat and toxins, there is more than enough of that to burn. As long as you keep up with the nutrient rich juices your body and mind functions totally fine, a little slower but fine. We can actually get clear on things that are confusing to us like decisions or life changes. I even experience clearer vision and felt an awesome kind of juice high (and it’s legal).

Tips-

• Be prepared.
• Clear your schedule so you have time to rest up a bit. Your energy will fluctuate. And no dinner dates, people won’t understand that you are not eating for 3 days and you could come for dinner but it has to be liquid.
• Ask for support from your family and loved one. If you like in a household with others let them know what you are doing.
• Buy organic. You don’t want to be putting crap back into your body.
• Shake it up with different juice mixes/recipes, your taste buds get bored pretty fast.
• Practice slower yoga or Restorative yoga while on the cleanse.
• If it is your first one buy a series from a local company who supplies everything ready made to your door.
• Buy a good juicer.
• Be honest with yourself when you ask if this is good time to be doing this.
• Go to bed early and sleep in.

The moral to this story, to juice or not to juice. I say Juice! Try something new. You will be surprised how much time we spend thinking about our next meal. You will feel free for three days and your body will thank you for it.

xoDavid Good

Lululemon Community Yoga in Trinity Bellwoods Park!

I am so excited to be a part of Lululemon’s plan to bring yoga to the people of Toronto in Trinity Bellwoods Park. Starting Sunday, May13th at 10 am Join local Yoga Rockstars for some free Yoga Summer Deliciousness in the grass.

Bring your mat, if you don’t have one we got you covered. Bring a friend, sister, brother, mother, father, lover, kids and your heart!

You are going to love it!

xoDavid Good Yoga

If you want to change the way others treat you, you should first change the way you treat yourself. Unless you learn to love yourself, fully and sincerely, there is no way you can be loved. Once you achieve that stage, however, be thankful for every thorn that others might throw at you. It is a sign that you will soon be showered in roses. – Shams Tabrizi

goodyoga 100 is part- manifesto, creative process and just a good way to live.

1. Practice yoga.
2. Egos aside, just have fun!
3. Don’t judge meat eaters.
4. Don’t judge non meat eaters.
5. Wear Lululemon to work.
6. Ride your bike to yoga.
7. Wear a helmet.
8. Practice yoga on all religious holidays.
9. Keep your friends close to you.
10. Make a new friend.
11. Keep a friend.
12. Forgive a friend.
13. Call your parents.
14. Accept others differences…no one is like you, that’s a good thing.
15. Put yourself in an uncomfortable position off the mat.
16. Lay in the grass.
17. Advance yoga is about being aware of your body. Not what the person is doing next to you.
18. Go to a farmer’s market at least once a week.
19. Drink local beer.
20. Eat local cheese.
21. Know where the steak you are eating is raised.
22. Practice yoga outside whenever you can.
23. Have a picnic under a tree.
24. Send thank you cards not texts.
25. Leave your cell phone at home for an entire weekend.
26. Be chariable.
27. Love the body you’re in.
28. Be content with less.
29. Plant a garden.
30. Get a pedicure once a month.
31. Drink coffee because you love it, not because you NEEEEED it.
32. Know what you’re afraid of and take steps to change that relationship.
33. Laugh more.  (both alone & in front of others.)
34. Look at the sky from under a tree.
35. Be the first to dance at a party.
36. Embrace your uniqueness.  There will NEVER be another you in the entire lifetime of this universe.
37. Get a tattoo.
38. Go for a walk in a new neighbourhood.
39. Hug someone everyday.
40. Kiss someone everyday.
41. Switch the side of the bed you sleep on.
42. Start everyday with a glass of lemon water.
43. Floss.
44. Cover your fridge with pictures of people you love.
45. Have a tea ritual before you go to bed.
46. Take a road trip with friends.
47. Make an awesome playlists.
48. Practice yoga with music.
49. Take a Restorative Yoga class every week.
50. Introduce yourself to your neighbours.
51. Walk around your house naked.
52. Own/wear sexy underwear.
53. Join Autoshare.
54. Run outside.
55. Do somethings that scare you everyday.
56. Fart. It’s natural. But say excuse me!
57. Drink coconut water instead of Gatorade.
58. Drink Champagne.
59. Have a dinner party with all your friends.
60. Roll out your yoga mat in a different spot every day.
61. Introduce yourself to the person beside you in yoga.
62. Soak your beans and rice over night, your tummy will thank you and your waist line will shrink.
63. Walk on grass or in your garden for an hour a day.
64. Clean your apartment.
65. Donate clothing you have not worn in 12 months.
66. Travel to different countries.
67. Get your portrait down by a professional photographer once in your life. You look marvelous!
68. Hit the snooze button!
69. Sleep in once and awhile.
70. Inhale
71. Exhale
72. Always come back to your breath.
73. Dance your ass off!
74. Ride Roller Coasters.
75. Meditate
76. Before you speak ask yourself…Is it useful?…Necessary?…Kind?
77. Wait tables once in your life as a job.
78. Tip big.
79. Hold the door open for someone.
80. Offer your seat on the bus to someone.
81. Teach someone something.
82. Be good at a couple of things instead of okay at a lot.
83. Eat dinner every night with your good china.
84. Bake someone a birthday cake.
85. Take you dog for a lot of walks, if you don’t have one take your friend’s dog for a walk.
86. Speak up for what you believe in.
87. Buy the chocolate covered almonds from the kid raising money for his soccer team.
88. Cheer people on at a marathon.
89. Be passionate.
90. Be a leader.
91. Be part of a team.
92. Have a water gun fight on a hot day.
93. Be open to change…embrace it…you have no choice.
94. Take an epson salt bath.
95. Go out there and do things…Do it now…DO IT NOW.
96. Write down your short and long-term GOALS four times a year. Two personal, two business and two health goals for the next 1, 5 and 10 years. Goal setting triggers your subconscious computer. Thanks Lululemon!
97. Live in a clean home, free from clutter.
98. Learn something new…take a class.
99. Donate your time or money to a local charity once a month.
100. Practice yoga…did I say that already?