Your Mental Health is Essential
Just because we aren’t considered Essential in person that doesn’t mean your Mental Health isn’t essential. We opened our studio two years with the vision to help those struggling with mental health through the practice of Yoga. We are finding new means to support you. Your Mental Health MATTERS. You MATTER.
Your health is essential.
Your mind is essential.
Your emotional wellbeing is essential.
We understand the safety and precautions that need to take place right now, but please try to find another means to take care of YOU. If its not yoga than what else clears the mind and opens your heart?
❤
For the month of March your first class is on us! DM us to sign up or use our scheduling page and select “pay later” for your free class
Peace&Love,
Sarah Melody
Founder Anahata Yoga and Advocate of Mental Health
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Yoga for Everyone
We get it, the practice of yoga can be intimidating when social media may portray it as this “leg over your head” “holding crow pose, and head stand” kind of lifestyle. But the true essence of Yoga is that it can be practiced by EVERYONE.
We are trying to break the fear of the yoga world and change the “I’m not flexible enough” to “I’ll meet myself where I’m at”, after all thats why its called a yoga practice not perfect.
If you’re new to the practice of yoga and still hesitant to join a group then maybe try one of our recordings or reserve a one on one class to ask your questions and work past the fear.
We take pride in offering an inclusive space for EVERYONE and try our best to offer modifications and variations in each class so everyone is truly welcome.
We hope to see you at the mat.
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Thank You Community – Temporary Closure Covid-19 lockdown
Day 1 “I got this”
Day 2 “I don’t got this”
I want to thank everyone that has reached out to check in on me this week as a small business owner. Sunday night when I wrote out the email to send to our community about closing our studio yet again due to COVID, I felt calm, cool and collected (and yes sat down to write at 8pm Sunday because us small business owners are always working, sorry real talk).
Monday rolled around and yet with another change I started to realize nope “I don’t got this”. Sporadic crying throughout the day, feeling hopeless and frustrated. What will 2021 look like for our small Business that’s only in year 2?
With all of these changes for January what this means is you’ll be seeing more of my face in your online classes (oops sorry in advance), this is to help with our operating costs while our studio is temporarily closed. As a small business owner I have to play all the roles: the teacher, the custodian, the accountant, the admin staff, the Social Media person (obvs), the friend, the leader and so many other hats that I’m probably forgetting right about now. So to all my other fellow small business owners, I see you and I feel for you. 💔
Anyways this post is really to say Thank You to those friends who picked up the phone to check in, who sent messages asking “Are you Ok and how are you Holding up?” And that’s the silver lining right there “holding up” I’ve never felt SO Held and loved by SO many people before. Our community is why we are still here. Thank you for seeing us, caring for us, and lifting us up. You matter.
#community #thankyou #smallbusinessowner #anahatayogabarrie
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Waking Up Anxious
Let’s talk about Waking Up Anxious….ugh. It’s the worst feeling, so frustrating when you have no control over it. Waking up with that sour feeling in your belly, your gut. Asking yourself “did I over share yesterday” “did I offended anyone” “wow that was really stupid when you said that”. The constant over analyzing until you’re exhausted.
Over the last couple years I’ve worked hard on changing my relationship with my mental health, teaching myself that it’s OK and actually a gift from my body telling me something is out of alignment. But honestly waking up with it and not being able to place where it came from is so annoying 😤 and on top of it the added pressure of “you should know this by now, we’ve been here before”. Now we have the avid big C stress do I dare mention the word one more time #covid We’re in a world right now that’s constantly changing so add that to the mix of pre-existing anxiety 🥳
So on those mornings this anxiety cloud just shows up, I ask myself what do I need today? Sit for 5 mins in meditation, drink more water less coffee ☕️😫, schedule a date with nature G R O U N D Y O U R S E L F!
And reminder yourself It’s all going to be okay.
Be gentle.
-Sarah Melody
#wakingupanxious #mentalhealth #yogaformentalhealth #selfcare #depression #anahatayogabarrie #anahatayogafromtheheart #clearyourmind #covid19
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Real Talk- Supporting Local
You’ve probably been scrolling through your feed and see posts saying “support local” or “when you shop local a real life person does a happy dance” It’s true we really do. 
But how often do we actually stop and consciously make that decision to support local? I get it, it’s so easy and convenient to shop at the big brands, sometimes there’s free shipping and great offers, I’m not saying don’t support the big guys cause come on I love my Lulu and Starbucks too 
and this post isn’t to sell you something (although memberships is what keeps studios alive)… this post is really to ask you what do you VALUE? When you make a purchase whether it’s a service or product it’s an investment, what do you receive in return, what’s its value? 
Is it quality, is it that personal touch, someone on the screen or in studio that remembers your name and greets you? That’s what we’re truly investing into …its connection, and man are we lacking human connection these days. 
This Fall 2020 is more than a change of season it really is the “fall” of local businesses, all of us trying to reinvent the wheel and get by. Some of my own favourite yoga studios and allies have closed during these crazy times, it breaks my heart 
and honestly scares me. The next time you make a purchase or sign up for a service I hope you will make a conscious purchase. What do you value? Who do you value? If you choose to support local, thank you! Not only will there be a happy dance at the end of that purchase, but your heart May be a little fuller too. -Sarah Melody, Founder and Yoga Teacher Anahata Yoga from the Heart
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Be Still
Be Still. I joke with my yoga students almost daily that I teach yoga to find stillness and to balance out my yang energy. Being conditioned in our Western Society to work harder, do more, be more …ALL the time. This use to be me, actually its still me. How do you undo old programming of 20 plus years. Is it nurture? Is it nature? Is it society? Is it immigrant parents, the generation of the working force that conditioned you to work harder? All of the above plays a factor, but only YOU (me) can change that programming, that dialogue.
Some of my most recent talks with friends, family, and community have been around the idea that both social distancing and Covid have reminder us to SLOW DOWN, and that we truly have no control of tomorrow. This doesn’t mean to not have goals and dreams but maybe it’s the reminder to not hold on so tight. Appreciating the stillness, the calm, the quiet, that’s my intention for the remainder of Summer 2020, what’s yours ?
Peace&Love,
Sarah Melody
#calm #stillness #ontario #yogateacher #nature #getoutside #practicewhatyoupreach #selfcare #water #lakelife #intention #socialdistancing #covid19 #slowdown #meditation #meditate
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Women In Business Young Professional of the Year
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Be Your Own Teacher
Be your own teacher.
I don’t mean yoga teacher or school teacher, I mean Life teacher . This message has been coming up lately but it’s funny how we don’t always see or hear the message the first time around.
Be your own teacher…trust your own inner knowledge. Do you remember a time you set out to try something new? And you were so determined to reach that goal? So much curiosity and awe. Do you also remember the hiccups, the peaks, hills, and road blocks? Do you remember how challenging it was to see the finish line? But you got there eventually didn’t you, through drive, determination, perseverance and maybe even stubbornness. And do you remember that feeling of satisfaction, fulfillment, joy? Another experience, achievement, under your belt, a new wealth of knowledge.
Let’s stop rushing to the final step, fast tracking or needing to know the outcome and especially stop seeking the answers from others.
Be your own teacher. Trust your own inner knowledge, you’ve done the work or maybe you’re still doing the work (there’s always more work to be done).
Simply.
Trust.
Be your own teacher
Be your own hero
Be your own friend
Be your own mother/ father Nurture yourself
Be your own lover (Self Love Baby!)
We learn best when we simply live our own life, without comparison, judgement or need of approval.
Trust more. You have the answers within.
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Self Care Routine
What does your Self Care routine look like? One of my students thanked me today for always reminding them it’s important to put yourself first and it doesn’t make you selfish. Ive struggled with this for a long tine myself and trying to follow my own advice can be a challenge at times. With the end of summer approaching I dedicated Monday morning to myself. My day started with 20 minutes of chanting/meditation, 30 minute forest walk with the pup and taking a 75 min yoga class for myself. Now you may be saying I don’t have time for that, I hear ya, I used my “half day” off to accomplish this and started my day at 6am. But when we say we don’t have “time” we’re really saying we don’t value something. Even 5 minutes of what you love daily can make a difference. #selfcare #itsalifestyle #routine #earlyrisers #riseandshine #the5ammiracle #chant #meditation #meditate #practice #yoga #self #selflove
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LoveYourself
I had a realization today, a moment if you will. Where for about 5 seconds I actually felt fully happy with my body. My body is getting more toned with teaching, and I always feel my best in the summer, fit and strong. And in those 5 seconds I realized that I can’t remember a time where I was completely happy, satisfied with my physical make up. There’s always something to change or improve. It made me realize that we are never 100 percent satisfied, seems pretty obvious, but how freeing and liberating it felt to be at peace with myself and not have to criticize or judge “ME”. Wow imagine if I felt like that everyday. As a yoga teacher I use my platform to empower others and lift them up but I will admit that my own self talk is not always positive. Why can’t I see what others see in me but it’s so easy for me to see the beauty and good in others? And if I could be this happy with my body everyday what would my life look like? Is it realistic, or just a fantasy to be fully happy. What would make you happy daily ? What could you spend less time worrying or fixating about ? Affirmation: I love myself fully and completely, just as I am. #happiness #loveyourself #affirmations #bodylove #bodyimage #selflove #empowerment #selfconfidence #selfesteem #selftalk #loveyourself #yogateacher #positiveselftalk
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