If you are thinking of building a bamboo bike or have always been attracted to how they look, how durable the material is, or how light the bikes are - sign up for the Bamboo Bike Workshop! You will not regret it! Becky Duffy, one of our very own CCYOGA teachers, spent a weekend with CCBIKES building her first bamboo bicycle. She shares her experience with us below. As many yoga goers may or may not know, the entire left side of the Container Collective building is dedicated to bikes. Russ Hopkins, owner of Container Collective Bikes, leads Bamboo Bike building workshops once a month. Every time I walked into the studio on the bike building weekends, I would see people busy creating their ride-able pieces of art in the bike shop. Everyone always seemed to be laughing, learning, listening to music, and just having an overall good time. When the opportunity arose, I was more than excited to create my own bike. I was a little nervous at first since I usually spend more time on my mat than being handy with tools. Russ put me at ease by consistently providing clear, easy to follow instructions, and did so at a great pace. It was so exciting to pick out my own pieces of bamboo. I picked pieces that had some fun characteristics (bends, bumps, & colors.) One of the neatest things is that each bike that was built during the workshop was completely unique to the bike next to it due to the variety of bamboo available. By the end of our first day, everyone had picked out their bamboo pieces, cut them to fit each other, and sanded them down to create a precise fit. The second day was dedicated to wrapping each joint, where bamboo meets bamboo, with carbon fiber and epoxy. I was encouraged to bring a friend along to help with the building process and was so glad that I did. My friend got to learn how to build a bamboo bike and I got to work more efficiently with an extra set of hands. I am not an avid biker, so when Russ asked what kind of bike I wanted I wasn't sure how to answer it. He helped me narrow it down to three points: how many gears, where I would be riding most, and what riding style I found most comfortable. I decided I wanted an upright comfortable riding position on a hybrid bike that I could take on dirt trails and commute in the city. As he ordered the parts, Russ provided open shop hours throughout the week where we could come and go as we pleased. One of my favorite customized features of the bike building process is that wood burning tools are provided to engrave pictures, symbols, or any other creative inspiration into the bamboo. Every single step in the workshop was up to each individual builder to decide. This means that every decision that went into creating this ride-able piece of art was entirely up to me. How cool is that?!? No matter how hard someone tries to find my bike in a store or online they will never be able to find or duplicate it.
The Baptiste Foundation has been working to spread awareness & education surrounding yoga for youth to communities throughout the country. We, at Container Collective, were absolutely thrilled to host Karen Torrone of the Baptiste Foundation’s Unstoppable Program right here in Lakewood, CO. The program was offered for free to any individuals who already work with youth. Over the course of the weekend we learned several vital tools around sharing yoga, mindfulness, & empowering language with children & youth of all ages. We learned & practiced yoga poses, meditation, relaxation techniques, & breath work geared towards youth. Buddy Breath (pictured above) teaches children how to create slow inhalations & exhalations to calm the mind & body. Physical & emotional connections with a partner are made through breathing deeply, pressing palms together, looking into each other's eyes, & stating an affirmation to your friend. One of the crowd favorites was working with Partner Yoga poses. Partner Yoga poses create the perfect opportunity for youth to focus on collaboration, teamwork, spatial awareness, & perhaps--best of all--cutting loose a little & letting go of day-to-day worries. The empowering language used in Baptiste Yoga can help kids truly understand how valuable they are within their families & communities. Participants gained knowledge on how to use this empowering language to encourage kids to take risks & also respect their personal boundaries, preferences, or how they may be feeling on any given day. Combining energetic movement, mindful breath, compassionate thoughts and actions, & the opportunity to "be the biggest version of you" are some of the biggest takeaways youth leaders will be bringing with them into their classrooms, yoga studios, school gyms, clinics, & beyond. Thank you, Karen Torrone & the Baptiste Foundation, for sharing & spreading these invaluable tools of yoga, meditation, & mindfulness with the Lakewood, CO community youth leaders & youth! To learn more about the Baptiste Foundation's Unstoppable Program visit their website: https://www.baptistefoundation.org/pages/unstoppable-yoga-for-youth-training-program If you are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant and are curious about how your pregnancy will shape your yoga practice - you are not alone! At the beginning of your pregnancy & before heading onto your mat (and most importantly) please consult your doctor. Below are some common questions pregnant yogis develop about their practice: Can I practice yoga in a heated studio during my pregnancy? At our recent Prenatal Yoga Workshop a few of the mommies shared that they’ve heard Hot Yoga can be a little tricky for pregnant women. Fortunately, at Container Collective Yoga we are a Heated Yoga studio (not Hot Yoga) and only warm our yoga studio up to 85 degrees (versus 95-103 degree heat created in other Hot Yoga studios.) Your baby is sitting in a temperature of around 98 degrees so flowing through postures at 85 degrees may feel pretty comfortable for baby & you. Are twisting poses safe for my baby & me? Everybody's experience through this wonderful journey is going to look and feel differently. Brittany learned to adapt her body through professional consultation, researching prenatal yoga information, and listening to her body. Twists are sometimes not recommended during the first trimester as baby is attaching properly to the womb (again, consult your doctor first.) As Brittany’s baby grew her twists became shallower in order to provide room and comfort. During the second and/or third trimester try on Chair Prayer Twist with your elbow hooked on the inside of your thigh as a prenatal modification or perform the twist vertically with arms wide open. I’m in my first trimester & feel so tired. Will I gain the energy to return to my yoga mat? As Britanny experienced, she was able to participate in her practice in a much more easeful way than she could in her first trimester. She felt very tired during the first trimester. If you are currently experiencing lack of energy in your pregnancy or would like to mentally prepare for that possibility there is good news! Modify, modify, modify. Instead of pushing your shifting body through a full 60 minutes yoga practice take a 20 minute Savasana at the end of the practice. Remember, 40 minutes of yoga practice is better than none at all and a little bit of nap time at the end of practice can be a real treat for a body working hard growing a tiny human. Happy pregnancy journey, yogis! Below are two YouTube videos you can use for your prenatal home practice! Namaste, Mamas! Happy 2018, everyone! A New Year seems to reinvigorate our goals & aspirations! Perhaps you plan to reflect on ways to bring new life to goals from 2017 or take a moment to journal on what you would like 2018 to look & feel like. A great tool for creating clarity & focus in goal setting and in our daily lives is meditation! Research suggests that even sitting in stillness & quiet for a few minutes can provide the benefits of making wiser choices, building awareness of the present moment, & adds resilience when faced with negative emotions. Whether you are brand new to meditation or a meditation veteran with a very busy schedule there are plenty of recorded meditations online to utilize wherever you are. At Container Collective Yoga we provide a free meditation practice with Meditation Teacher, Fran Gallaher, once a month on Wednesday evenings from 5:45-6:45 PM. Fran explains the personal rewards of meditation, the benefits of meditating in a group setting, & leads you through a guided meditation for the remainder of class. Interested in practicing daily meditation? Join us for “40 Days to Personal Revolution!” We will gradually build and integrate our daily meditation practice (along with yoga & mindful eating) over the course of 6 weeks (1/8/18 - 2/16/18.)
For more information on “40 Days” click on the link below: www.cc360denver.com/40-days Wishing you a very Happy 2018 filled with peace, joy, & love! I have a new private yoga student to our Lakewood, CO yoga studio. He's starting yoga in his 60s and I made this 30 minute video for him to practice to at home. I thought it might be nice for everyone in our community to have access to this gentle yoga flow if you need an at home practice for days you can't make it into the studio. When you think about yoga teacher training, what are the first two things that come to mind? The responses that came back within ten minutes to my question were not just two things and they didn't even mention anything about teaching yoga. Although, I will personally attest to their teaching skills as really good and fun! :) Anna Beth 1- It changed the way i show up for myself, my friends, my loved ones, coworkers...strangers...everyone. 2- My capacity and desire for connection and love increased tenfold, which can seem really scary --but it's something i'm so thankful for. 3- Physically and emotionally demanding- the payout is way worth all of it! Vision 1- Commitment and personal development. 2- Container Collective Yoga's welcoming feel (the studio is like being home). 3- Friendships. Akbar 1. Transformative experience 2. Challenging, fun, hard work with immediate payout ... have to add a third! 3. Gained life long friends .... and a fourth for fun 4. Raise my hand even when I don't know the answer (that's a whole philosophical concept right there!) Elizabeth 1- More awareness of self and the world around me. 2- Development of inner strength Stephanie 1- I understand my brain and how it works, especially with emotions. 2- I have the tools to get back on track when I start to stray in life. So it would seem as though, even if you don't want to teach yoga, this program could have an incredible impact on not only your yoga practice, but also, your life!!!
Aroma Flow Yoga at Container Collective Yoga & Bikes (Lakewood, CO) combines pure essential oils with an all-levels vinyasa yoga flow. The yoga flow sequence takes you through poses that serve to ground, invigorate, expand, and release the physical body & mind. The essential oils are implemented into the practice to complement specific poses. For example, placing cedarwood essential oil near the base of the spine (root chakra) and practicing triangle pose enhances the effect of grounding in the mind and body. You may be wondering: how do I remember which oils serve what purpose? At the beginning of Aroma Flow Yoga (Lakewood, CO) the teacher and an essential oil expert spend a few minutes explaining the chosen oils for the evening. The instructor and oil expert then pass around a bottle of each chosen oil for the class to catch a whiff of as the oil properties are explained in greater detail. The Aroma Flow Yoga teacher takes time and care to plan the class structure, poses, and essential oils that will create the most comprehensive and expansive flow experience for the class. Each month the Aroma Flow Yoga workshop is developed around a unique theme. Coming this August, Container Collective Yoga (Lakewood, CO) will feature "Creating Optimal Health" as the Aroma Flow Yoga theme. Experience essential oils and a yoga flow practice that will enhance many health-related components of your life. If you are curious about Aroma Flow Yoga you have the opportunity to participate for free! Just leave Container Collective Yoga a review on Facebook, Yelp, or Google+ and join Aroma Flow Yoga at no cost to you. Hope to see you at the next Aroma Flow Yoga workshop! Kids Yoga is on the rise! Those of us who have children of our own, nieces & nephews, or who teach children are seeing the many benefits of yoga creating positive impacts when implemented into a daily or weekly routine. Physically, children gain flexibility, improved posture, better balance, strength, and coordination. Mentally and emotionally the benefits include confidence, self-love, empowerment, positive body image, and peace of mind. We are so excited to offer Kids Yoga in Lakewood, CO for our neighborhood children & for the amazing little buddies in your life! Kids Yoga in Lakewood, CO is approached through the Baptiste Yoga methodology. Baptiste-based Kids Yoga helps children through the themes of “Be A Yes, Give Up What They Must, & come from You Are Ready Now.” When children consistently practice yoga and mindfulness they can gain the confidence to finally try out for their favorite sports or dance team and “Be A Yes!” They can also strengthen their mind-body connection and understand how to create healthy body responses when their brain feels fast-paced and upset--”Giving Up What They Must” and shifting to a calmer response. Baptiste-based Kids Yoga can aid children in coming from “You Are Ready Now” by showing them they truly are ready to start that big school project even if it means slowing down and taking it one step at a time. I know, as a child, I could have gained so much from having a yoga and meditation practice implemented into my weekly routine. I believe that I’m not alone in this thought as I have spoken to many other adults who agree that they wish they could have received the calming, confidence-building tools of yoga at a much earlier age. Bring your little one to a Kids Yoga Class in Lakewood, CO and spread the word about the benefits of kids yoga. Let’s work together to help the next generation be a fantastic contribution to the world and a great friend to themselves.
I just got off of a call with my business coach about the upcoming yoga teacher training in the fall. She asked who were the people that I wanted to have in the training and then she asked why they haven't signed up yet. :) I did a little journaling on my answer to her questions and I though you may find my answers interesting. And I'd love to know if any of it resonates with you.
My answer to Ellen (my biz coach) about who I want in the training was: The people that are already a part of the Container Collective Yoga community that I have had the honor of watching tiny transformations happen over the course of each yoga class they attend. I see a light in them that gets a little brighter with each time that they land on their mats. Some of them have a glimpse of their light and know that more is possible. Some of them don't even have a clue to the light that I see in them. Whichever you are, it makes me excited about the possibility of what you will discover by taking your yoga practice to the next level through the CCYOGA teacher training this fall. My answer to Ellen about why you haven't signed up yet is one of the following: -you get hung up on the fact that you don't necessarily want to teach yoga -you are hung up on the cost of the training -you are getting stuck on the time commitment -you think that you haven't been practicing long enough or that you don't "know" enough When I think thru the above listed reason I realize that they all really come down to fear. Fear of not being worthy of learning something for the sake of learning. Fear of not having enough money. Fear of not having enough time. Fear of not being good enough. My dad told me growing up, and I was reminded of it again this weekend at the back bend workshop, that fear is nothing more than: False Evidence Appearing Real. So then thinking thru how that plays into the reason/s why you may not have signed up yet, is that reason really just false evidence appearing real (a.k.a. fear)? Because from my perspective, you are more than worthy of deepening your practice simply for the sake of deepening your practice. If it's money. I'm totally flexible to put together a payment plan that is reasonable for you. If it's time. The best things in life happen via a commitment to growth, which takes time....and totally worth every second. And I would love to show you thru this training how good you really are! Now I smile when I come back to the question "Who do I want to have in the training?" I smile because of the shift in perspective I've had just now in the process of writing you this email. This training is such a wonderful and intimate experience, that of course I want to be specific about who I invest 200 hours in. Yes, I think the whole world could benefit greatly from yoga teacher training... And I don't have to and can't teach the whole world about yoga on this level. But I could teach you!!!! And I want so much to share the gift of yoga teacher training with you! I look forward to hearing your thoughts on what I've shared. Please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions. love and light, Brittany Jim has been riding bikes for decades. He's ridden every type of material under the sun. He also does the engraving work for Kent Eriksen Cycles, who make titanium bikes. Bamboo bikes are often compared to titanium bicycles as lightweight but more compliant than aluminum. "I have to say I was blown away by how well the bike rode. Fully ridgid with 38mm tires isn't optimal for trails... especially the downhill one... but the bamboo bike took it in stride. It handles as well, or better, than any hardtail I've owned." Shane (age 14) and his dad, Jim, built bamboo bikes side side in April. They live up in Steamboat Springs, CO with tons of single track and sent us an email excited to report the performance of Shane's bike!
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