Pure Prem (2025)

16/01/2024

I have been drawn back to the healing benefits of Kundalini Yoga. I have experienced profound shifts in my own life as well as witness phenomenal healing in others.
I am very excited to be offering a Kundalini Yoga online series for all levels starting February 1st, Thursdays from 10:00- 11:15am for 8 weeks. Classes will be recorded and available for the 8 weeks. Plus you will have access to an extensive library (over 100 classes, mediations, recipes etc.) for the 8 week period. Only $120. Sign up with an e-transfer to marlys@pureprem.ca.

04/01/2023

Happy New Year!

New Year's word search -first word you see is what you need more of in 2023:

######YOGA######

The beginning of a new year can act as a fresh start. For many of us, getting a new calendar feels like having a clean slate. A lot happened in 2022. It was a year filled with joys and sorrows, celebrations and disappointments. Whether 2022 was a challenging year for you or one of your best years yet, the new year is an opportunity to move into 2023 with the things we learned about ourselves along the way.

Goals for 2023 to consider:
Breathe gently and slowly to feel the inhale coming in... take time to exhale fully.
Think of all the good in your life, not all the things that didn’t work out for you.
Enjoy what you have, not what you don’t have.
Appreciate what you can control and let go of the rest.
Remember the good times.
Remember it's okay to grieve.
Do more for others.
Be a positive influence.
Gravitate toward anything good and positive in your life.
Turn off negativity like a bad TV show.
Take better care of yourself.
Take better care of the environment.
Make yoga a big part of your life.
Be You!
Move more.
Play more.
Love more.
Laugh more.

Wishing you all the best in 2023. May you have good health, a happy life, and many more fun times - both in yoga class and in life.

Make regular yoga practice a part of your routine this year.
Join us Wednesday 12-1 pm and Friday 10-11:15 am for live classes on Zoom this week.

All live classes will be recorded (the instructional video, not participant videos) and posted to the Pure Prem teachable site. These recorded classes are available anytime to membership holders. You can access both live and recorded classes on the Pure Prem Teachable site here.

If you don't have a membership there is an option to pay a "drop-in" fee of $15 per class, to attend an online live class. To set up this option please contact us at marlys@pureprem.ca at least a couple of hours before the class.

Wishing you all the best in the New Year!

Take good care,
From my heart to yours,
Marlys

22/07/2022

Set your intention on finding fun today. Notice what is fun for you and do more of that each day. Make fun a priority in your day - then do anything else you have time for!

"If you want to fly, give up everything that weighs you down" Buddha

Dancing in the garden.

06/07/2022

Summer lends itself to a different pace of life. Longer days, warmer weather, festivals, concerts, BBQs, visiting family and friends can make it hard to fit in your yoga and meditation practice.

Try these tips to stay disciplined in your practice this summer:
Do it at a scheduled time each day/week and make it a priority.
Do it first thing in the morning before the day really starts.
Do it with a friend; make a date to do an online or a pre-recorded class together.
Do a little at a time; join in a live class for 20 - 30 minutes or break up the pre-recorded classes in 20 minute segments. There are also many 20-30 minute classes in the membership.
Have some fun with it; approach your practice with a light heart and an open mind.

We will change the pace of the live classes this summer, moving to one live class on Fridays at 10:00am. Watch for more additions to the membership this summer, including meditations, recipes and short classes as well.

23/06/2022

Feeding the Soul
The soul is who you are when you take away all the labels and titles; it is who you are deep down. Who you are innately. We typically are not taught to nurture this powerful part of ourselves. The part that is never ending, the part that connects us to an infinite source of energy, the part that fuels our minds and bodies in a healthy way.

What nurtures you and inspires you? What touches your soul? What feeds your soul?

The answers to these questions can help connect you to an infinite power within. When we live from this "soul" place, our life tends to flow more smoothly. We are in the right place at the right time. Our hearts remain open and receptive.

You connect with your soul when you:
Live with passion and purpose
Spend time in nature
Do yoga and meditate
Spend time alone, to just BE
Lose yourself in doing something you love

When you take time to align with your soul each day you feel a greater sense of enjoyment and satisfaction in life. You love and accept yourself more deeply and are not as easily set off course if things don't go exactly as planned.
This week in the classes we will look at postures to align with our soul bodies.

17/06/2022

We are honouring the masculine energy in our lives this week. Kudos to the great Dads out there! May you know of one, or be one. May you support one, or care for one. Sending love and light to Dads everywhere.

A special thank you to the Dad of my kids. You are fun, loving, kind, and always there to support our kids. You are a wonderful father. Thank you so much for being on this journey with us.

This week in the classes we will look at ways to support ourselves in the things we can do daily/regularly for health and wellness.

03/06/2022

I arrived home to find this beauty on our doorstep this past week. There was no note, nor a message from who it was from.
It was a wonderful surprise to receive these flowers since the ones we had were damaged in the storm the week before.

To the person/people who gifted us this:
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and kindness.
Thank you for the reminder to be on the look-out for ways to brighten someone's day.
Thank you for your generosity.
Thank you for making this world a better place.

27/05/2022

It was so heart-warming to see people come together after the storm this past weekend; cleaning up, clearing tree after tree off of roads, buildings, cars etc.; neighbours checking-in with each other to see what they needed, and offering a refuge for others who lost power.

There is nothing like receiving a helping hand when you need it; and there is nothing like giving a helping hand when you can.

In classes this week, we will focus on our arms and hands. Keeping them strong and open for giving and receiving.

18/05/2022

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Laughter releases endorphins, the body's natural "feel good" hormones. Endorphins reduce stress hormones, increase infection fighting antibodies, and even relieve pain.

When you laugh with others, the effects of the endorphins are compounded. This strengthens your connection to them and increases the benefits you feel. For best results, laugh often, laugh at yourself and share in a laugh with someone else.

In classes this week, we will focus on not taking things too seriously. We will embrace imperfections and there might be a good laugh or two!

12/05/2022

Many of us have a nature deficit. We don't spend enough time outside. Our current lifestyles require us to spend so much time on our computers, inside our homes and office buildings, or driving in our cars.
Being in nature, especially in a forest with lots of evergreens, has profound health benefits.
Your body will feel these benefits whether you are walking, running, or sitting. Researcher Dr. Qing Li has spent years studying the effects of time spent in the forest. He and has found that it can reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and anger. It strengthens the immune system, which increases cardiovascular and metabolic health and improves sleep quality. This boosts overall well-being.
You don't need to go deep into the forest to reap the benefits. Go to any green area near you and spend time with the trees and forest plants. Evergreen trees emit the most phytoncides (mood boosting compounds that are beneficial to humans), but time in any green space will help to combat the nature deficits we experience.

Classes this week will focus on strengthening and stretching the legs, incorporating tree poses and special nature-focused meditations.

06/05/2022

Happy Mother's Day!
Our mothers provided us with our first home, the womb. We wouldn't be here without her providing us with this wondrous place to grow. I would like to take this opportunity to send so much love and gratitude to all mothers. A special thank you to my mom, you are and will always be a bright light in my life!
Mothering and nurturing are closely connected to the earth element, one of the elements of matter. This element is related to overall well-being, self nourishment, and boundaries. The earth is the ground beneath our feet. It calls us home to remember who we are and who we came here to be. It is a place where we belong, a place where we fit in.
Join me for a class this week where the focus will be on our feet.

28/04/2022

We can't live without water. Water is the most abundant element in the body and it is vital in maintaining balance in our body's systems.
When we intentionally connect to the breath during our yoga practice, we move this powerful element through our body to fuel our life force. Water flows as energy flows. With each posture and movement, we connect to the energies moving in our bodies. This connection enhances clarity in both our minds and our bodies.

Join me for a class this week where we will focus on balancing the water element in the body and promoting good energy flow.

20/04/2022

As new buds form on trees and flowers sprout from the earth, we see new beginnings and fresh starts everywhere. This renewal process is invigorating.
We can start again, too. Instead of getting caught in bad habits and repeating old patterns or behaviours that are not working for us or that bring us down, we can use this time to give ourselves a fresh start.
We can reinvent or renew our lives by making the decision to listen to what our bodies need. By focusing on how we would like to feel, we renew our perspective. Dedicate some energy to really nurture yourself and to envision the new you. Move towards a stronger and more vibrant you.

Join me for a class this week where we will focus on taking good care of our minds and body.
Live classes are Wednesday at 12:00 noon and Friday at 10:00 am, and pre-recorded classes are available anytime on Teachable.

13/04/2022

There is an organic flow in the natural life around us. There is a innate flow of life that the animals, birds, bees, rivers and lakes are part of. It is not questioned nor sought after. It just is.

This flow is within us too, although we are often too busy and otherwise occupied to notice it. It is at the center of our being. We can connect to this powerful flow within when we slow down, take note of our breath and let our bodies relax.

Join me for a class this week to get into the flow. We will look at ways to connect to nature and to the incredible power within.
Live Classes are Wednesday at 12:00 noon and Friday at 10:00 am, and pre-recorded classes are available anytime on Teachable.

06/04/2022

Spring is the perfect time to take stock of what is working in your life and what is not. A time to get rid of the excess; the things that weigh you down. To clear and clean. Spring cleaning is good for the mind, body, heart and soul.

When you take a quiet moment and take a good look at your life, with fresh eyes, what do you see? What emotions, feelings, habits or stuff needs to go? What needs to stay? What do you want to see more of in your life? What do you want to see less of?

Consider these questions through a "peace" filter. Can you maintain your peace when you think about having these things in your life? Do they bring you a sense of peace and joy?

If not, a change needs to take place. This could be moving it out of your life, changing it, or finding peace with it in another way.

What do you see when you get rid of the unwanted excess? The things that weigh you down, the toxins and dirt. Do you see more space for peace and happiness? Do you see all that you are more clearly?

Join me for a class this week, where we will use movement and meditation to move toxins out of the body. We will clear a path to a more vibrant you!

29/03/2022

This weekend, we made our own maple syrup for the first time. It was a marvelous outdoor adventure filled with fun, anticipation and hard work - we learned a lot! For example, we learned that it might be best to bottle on site instead of taking home a hot pot of "almost syrup" on a bumpy road. We have a whole new understanding and appreciation for what it takes to get the liquid gold!
As I watched the sap boil and change form, ever so slowly, I thought of how the whole process could be a metaphor for life. First, the tree needs a supportive environment to enable it to share its bounty of sap with us. The sap only flows out of the tree under the right conditions. Then as it boils, the sap is constantly changing as it slowly grows into something wonderful. It takes time and care, but it boils down to pure love.
It is just like us, when all is said and done. Life comes down to what is at our core, what matters most is love: how we give love and how we receive love. There may be a lot of noise and distractions all around us, but it really all boils down to the pure love we carry inside us.
Supporting ourselves is the best way to help share our love with those around us. Join me for a class this week, where we will focus on strengthening our core.
*Live Classes are Wednesday at 12:00 noon and Friday at 10:00 am, and pre-recorded classes are available anytime on Teachable.

23/03/2022

Detoxing your mind will do wonders for your body.
We can get weighted down with our negative thinking. Stress is everywhere and sometimes we need to restructure our thoughts to lighten our load. Taking care of our mental/spiritual health is just as important as the food we eat for our nutritional health.
Negative emotions tax our organs greatly. In Ancient Chinese Medicine, human emotions are closely linked to our physical health. For example: fear pertains to the kidneys/adrenals, anger is associated with the liver, anxiety with heart/blood pressure, worry with the stomach, and regret with the colon.
We can combat these effects by turning our focus to positive emotions for a period of time. Even 5 or 10 minutes a day can make the world of difference and can have long-lasting effects.
This winter I skied, or was active outside as much as I could, with family and friends to detox my mind.
Spring into action. Schedule fun to foster the great emotions: hope, faith, love, joy. Surround yourself with people who lift you up. Get your mind and habits going in a positive direction to combat what is coming at you.
Join me for a class this week, where we will focus on detoxing the mind.

15/03/2022

Grounding (sometimes called "earthing") is the process of reconnecting with the energy of the Earth. This is done by tapping into the vast source of subtle electrical charges produced by the Earth. These charges have been shown to have a huge positive impact on our health. When we ground ourselves, by making bodily contact with the Earth, we reset our energies to align with the Earth. This brings our internal systems into harmony, reducing inflammation in the body and releasing pain and stress. It also boosts our immune system and helps us to sleep better.
At home, you can connect to the Earth's vast energy by placing your bare feet on natural stone or tile. Or better yet, try walking outside with bare feet in the snow, grass, mud, or sand. Try it this week to experience the difference that connecting to the Earth can make in your day.
Grounding is a key component that sets the foundation for many teachings in Yoga, Qi Gong, and Energy Medicine. Join me for a class this week, where we will focus on grounding to realign our energies with the Earth.
Live Classes are Wednesday at 12:00 noon and Friday at 10:00 am, and pre-recorded classes are available anytime on Teachable.

Pure Prem