Ron Stewart

My first yoga class in 1999 was during a theater intensive with Calgary-based "One Yellow Rabbit". I had been dancing professionally for 15 years so was used to being physical and flexible. I enjoyed the stillness, strength, and demands that the Ashtanga classes put on my body. I have been generally blessed with some innate understanding of how to care for myself physically, and had been doing Pilates for about 3 years so I wasn't having to work through some of the physical imbalances which show up in a performing career. But what I did notice with yoga, over time, was the quality of focus and calm it brought to my mind. This is what inspired me to continue practicing. Since then I have practiced a number of different yoga styles to varying degrees; Bikram, Iyengar, Hatha, Ashtanga and eventually did my teacher training with Kate Potter (Namaste Yoga) in Vancouver (2004/05). I enjoy Kate's Vinyasa style, she has a huge knowledge base, and the fact that she lived in India for 7 years inspired me. I have also studied with Tom Myers (Anatomy Trains) and Gioa Irwin, and have to give credit to embodiment practices: Gyrotonics, Pilates, Mitzvah, as well as the classical, modern and contemporary dance training which I have embodied. Further studies continued with Vipasana meditation retreats, Krya Yoga at Rikhia Peeth (Bihar, India), and of course, studies continue daily as I observe how I interact with a world that is full of joy and madness. Non "yoga" related but which inform my teaching style has been studies in Somatic Experiencing (2015) as well as Sexological Bodywork (2011). I am fascinated by neuroplasticity, our brain's ability to change, and our body's ability heal from past trauma. My teaching style, Vinyasa Flow unites breath and movement, tapping into my physical understanding and wisdom. I feel flow is the way I aim to move in the world. In our yoga practice, we will find postures that are challenging and others that are easier. Just like life. From an experiential perspective, we rarely live in stillness. Yoga has given me a place to gather myself through stressful and challenging times. Being physical has helped to keep processing emotions. We are meant to be physical beings and our bodies are built to work. Our physical systems flush toxins with movement and the pumping of muscles. Our culture has become increasingly sedentary and the incidence of disease is common. With a Conscious, Mindful Practice, moving our bodies into a wide range of shapes, connected with breath, we are ensuring strength and mobility stay optimal as our bodies flush toxins out through digestion & elimination, sweat, lymphatic pumping, and exhalation. I currently work from my studio and intimate retreat center in Cobble Hill, on Southern Vancouver Island, as well as leading retreats worldwide.