Hello Yoga Friends. Well the respiratory bug that has been going around got me! So much to my dismay, I have to cancel tomorrow’s Hatha class. I trust you will do your own thing OR try one of my FREE videos: YOGA VIDEOS BY ANNE. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
Hatha Yoga class for Tue. Nov. 18, 2025 cancelled
November 17, 2025 at 2:12 pm (In My Backyard, In The Studio)
Tags: anne stubbs yoga, annestubbsyoga, yoga in osgoode
Cultivating BALANCE for the new year 2025
January 7, 2025 at 8:15 am (Beyond My Backyard, In My Backyard, In The Studio)
Tags: anne stubbs yoga, yoga in barrhaven, yoga in manotick, yoga in osgoode, yoga in ottawa
Here we are starting a new year 2025 with another chance to reset, regroup, and recalibrate. Looking back is informative and explanatory but getting hooked there is not helpful, yet it often happens to all of us. In moving ahead with the knowledge of what WAS, we must balance it with what IS, and allow what WILL be to unfold, even in the midst of the challenges we face. One key to moving ahead is AWARENESS with self-compassion.
Balance can start with the physical – practice balancing in various ways to train your body. Not just standing on one foot but practice moving off centre, like sidestepping, backwards, diagonal, upside down. No wonder YOGA encourages so many different yoga poses and moving the body in all directions.
Balance includes the energetic – and that starts with the breath. Breathing in and out is automatic but when we pay more attention to the breath, we can explore its TENDENCIES (Do you hold your breath without realizing it? Do you breathe more through your mouth?) and its EFFECTS (What happens if you lengthen the exhale? What happens if you deepen the inhale? Where might you naturally hold your breath – top of the inhale? Bottom of the exhale? How does a deeper breath make you feel? How does a shallower breath make you feel?). So many things to observe with the breath!
Balance includes the mental – and possibly the hardest place of all within in which to create it. Balancing thoughts, feelings and emotions…one can say just let it all go…and one can get caught in the swirling of all of it…and one can be anywhere in between. Balancing what we have to DO to deal with life and with how to BE with life. The wisdom of YOGA has always offered an approach to keep coming back to balance in the mind through various ways – physical yoga postures, breath work, meditation. The approach varies at different stages of one’s life, different environments, different life experiences, different mindsets, etc. and doesn’t always “work” to the desires and expectations of ourselves and others (however, I choose to believe it does much of its work in the background). It is not a one-size-fits-all approach but meant to be a method unique to each person who choses to follow the path, and with different styles and paths to follow even within the YOGA approach, a person may wonder “which path is the right one for me?” A good starting place (like with any new endeavour) is to try it out and observe the effects, with the aim of cultivating more santosha and sattva (contentment and balance/lightness), sometimes feeling “something” instantly and other times experiencing more balance and lightness over time. The path of YOGA and of life is definitely not linear – oftentimes it is more like one step forward, two steps back, sideways, off the track, down a different road, backtracking, getting lost, feeling found and on the “right” track, etc. From my experience, it is more an ongoing work in progress!
Balance includes love and kindness, compassion (including self-compassion) and empathy…
Balance includes right speech, expression, saying or not saying…
Balance includes acceptance of what cannot be changed, letting go to allow and BE the change, and as the serenity prayer reminds us, “the wisdom to know the difference”…
If you want to explore balancing with me, check out my various options:
FREE yoga videos and guided audio meditations
And of course, there are many other options for YOGA out there, some for free and others for drop in. However one chooses to cultivate more balance in one’s life, I feel it is more necessary than ever to work on it, to be accountable for missteps and make amends, to observe and take note, to adjust and tweak and modify as required. Guidance may be needed initially but eventually, balance has to come from within.
Happy New Year to all of you and I am always grateful for those of you who support my work/play/life.
Namaste…
Hatha Yoga class cancelled for tue. DEC. 10, 2024
December 9, 2024 at 8:51 pm (In My Backyard)
Hi Yoga Friends. Was just driving home tonight on slick snow-covered roads with a freezing rain advisory overnight and tomorrow morning. Erring on the side of caution, I am cancelling tomorrow’s class. Feel free to try one of my free videos instead here: YOGA VIDEOS BY ANNE
Thanks for your understanding.
FALL into place
August 9, 2024 at 1:52 pm (In My Backyard, In The Studio)
Tags: anne stubbs yoga, yoga in manotick, yoga in osgoode
It is hard to imagine the season of FALL approaching next month while we are still in the midst of summer weather! I love summertime “off” with its more relaxed schedule, but there is something very grounding about routine and regular agendas that can be just as nourishing as taking a break.
You can find my regular FALL (September – December) lineup of classes in person here; and online here, and I truly look forward to practicing with you again soon!
Summer Schedule
June 12, 2024 at 10:30 am (In My Backyard, In The Studio)
Tags: anne stubbs yoga, meditation, yoga in barrhaven, yoga in manotick, yoga in osgoode
Last week of yoga classes before being “off” for the summer! Thanks to everyone who continues to practice with me, whether in person, online, or simply in heart and mind. I trust you will continue to practice in your own way over the next few months! I’ll be back to a regular schedule this fall and will email those of you on my mailing list with further details. Also, check out About ANNE’S ONLINE YOGA CLASSES and About ANNE’S IN-PERSON YOGA CLASSES for updates as well.
As I have heard from many of you and can relate to it myself, there seems to be a wave of fatigue in the sea of change (suffering = dukkha)…a “hitting the wall” so to speak. Feeling this ongoing imbalance has reminded me again that change is not necessarily linear; and certainly not always easy, not only for the person changing but also those around them. Change can also be amazing and wonderful and enlightening! So this summer’s personal schedule and theme for me is about returning to balance in the midst of all change. Bouncing to and fro, here and there, up and down, but constantly returning to balance in between. It is already in motion! How one returns to balance is unique and individual; however, I believe it is the process of returning daily that is the practice. This process requires introspection, wisdom, discernment, a wise voice, a balance of solitude and socializing, a balance of guidance and personal intuition, effort and patience…oh patience.
Progress along the way is key to motivation…and while one step forward might initially mean two steps back, we nevertheless have to keep moving forward. So on that note, in this moment, returning to balance means turning away from my computer, smiling while thinking of my granddaughters, having some fresh fruit, and drinking a glass of water! Cheers and may your summer schedule leave you feeling balanced and refreshed!
December 2023 – Welcome the light!
December 20, 2023 at 11:44 am (In My Backyard, In The Studio)
Tags: anne stubbs yoga, empowerment, yoga in barrhaven, yoga in manotick, yoga in osgoode, yoga in ottawa
As we enter a typical season of shorter daylight hours and earlier darkness with maybe an urge to hunker down and hibernate, I am instead inspired to welcome whatever light is present AND lighten up in heart, mind, body, and spirit! Christmas lights, candles, flashlights, moments of sunshine, and even the blue light of cell phones (but not right before bed…). Smiles, sweet treats, deep breaths, simplicity – all with the intention of lightening our loads during what can be a challenging busy season for many folks.
Down time and chill time is truly needed, yet sometimes we think it has to be given to us. Sometimes we get in our own way, believing we just don’t have time…so ask yourself, is there a way you can MAKE the time? Don’t just TRY to do it but really do it. Balance what must get done with what can wait; balance what is wanted with what is needed.
When I reflect back on my intentions at the beginning of this year, I recall exploring the theme of empowerment (Twenty Twenty-Three – EMPOWERMENT), and throughout the year, there were many moments of YESSSSS (confidence, faith, empowerment) and just as many moments (if not more) of NOOOOO (uncertainty, doubt, restriction). The process is still unfolding and within it there are those peripheral challenges along the way that not everyone, including myself, can easily adjust to or accept. So I think the intentions for 2024 might be the same – a “try again” experience in empowerment.
What would the wisdom of yoga suggest? Keep on moving, stop to breathe and BE, cultivate compassion and friendliness and joy and neutrality, not only towards others but towards oneself, adopting a personal thumbs up and green light where appropriate, and accepting a thumbs down and red light when we need to be reminded. Feel all the feels then let them go…that is the hard part! But we have to keep reminding ourselves that “we got this”…
As we move forward into a new year, may our intentions honour both the small steps in lightening up and the big picture perspective; may we be gentle and compassionate with one another and ourselves; may we have the wisdom to know when to step aside, when to step in, when to get up in the night and look outside, and when to just stay in bed and sleep; and may we bring more lightness into our BEING every step of the way. Happy Holidays to all and blessings for the New Year!
For yoga this winter, I am teaching online only, and registration is open until Dec. 31, 2023 for my super winter special – see About ANNE’S ONLINE YOGA CLASSES or email me directly to register. I plan to resume in-person classes again in the spring.
seasonal transitions
August 24, 2023 at 3:17 pm (In My Backyard, In The Studio)
Tags: anne stubbs yoga, yoga in barrhaven, yoga in manotick, yoga in osgoode
Here we are coming to the end of summer 2023 and transitioning to another routine for September! I look forward to joining some of you once again on the mat or online for yoga, meditation, breath, mindful movement, stress relief…
If you are on my mailing list, you would have just received a new email with all the details of my autumn offerings. You can also see About ANNE’S ONLINE YOGA CLASSES, About ANNE’S IN-PERSON YOGA CLASSES, and About MY RETREATS.
Transitions in my life are happening as well – grandbabies growing and thriving, weddings and memorials, ups and downs, birthdays and celebrations, quiet times and busy times. Sometimes the transitions are bumpy and sometimes messy, but what helps to put challenges into better perspective for me is listening to the mid-1960’s song by The Byrds, “Turn, Turn, Turn”, and the words that say,
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…”
May we all transition to another season with peace, grounding, and mindfulness.
Summer solstice 2023 – ho ho ho
June 21, 2023 at 11:18 am (Beyond My Backyard, In My Backyard)
Tags: anne stubbs yoga, meditation
Hold on; Heading out; Holidays onward…HO HO HO…On this longest day of the year, I welcome the change of pace, scenery, and interactions that a vacation provides. Much needed and well-earned, this summer “off” is a good way to replenish, restore, and re-calibrate. And with joy and ease, the intention is to make this summer exactly that – joyful and easy-going!
While my yoga classes are on hold (OH) until the fall, we can still practice daily mindful movement, deep breaths, and mental rest, to give ourselves the time “off” that is so crucial to busy lives. Come up with your own short or long practice by just sitting quietly for a few deep mindful breaths, or by getting on your mat and letting movement and awareness unfold. And if you need guidance, try one of my GUIDED MEDITATIONS or YOGA VIDEOS BY ANNE for inspiration.
As I venture into nature for a bit, I leave you with these wise words from Walt Whitman,
“Now I see the secret of making the best person; it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.”
Happy summer solstice dear friends and may you rest and restore over the next couple of months. See you in the fall!
Spring Mix
March 22, 2023 at 3:54 pm (In My Backyard, In The Studio)
Tags: anne stubbs yoga
One doesn’t need to look at the calendar to FEEL the change that is in the air – cheers to the season of Spring! Birds singing, snow melting, sunshine shining, and nature unfolding as it does every year at this time. Time to shed the winter blahs and put a “spring” in your step!
The saying goes that “variety is the spice of life”, so an approach you can adopt this season might be to MIX things up a bit on all levels.
Physically – move or arrange your body in different ways every day to enhance circulation, lubrication, hydration, and prevent fixation and stagnation. Small movements (fingers and toes) to large full body movements. Experiment with pace, rhythm, duration. Try walking backwards or sideways or march around the table! Balance on one foot in the line up at the grocery store…You get the idea!
Energetically – try more brisk stimulating movements and breath work when you need to bump up your energy (think “Breath of Joy”), or slow flowing movements connected to breath when you need to ground your energy (think a slow “cat/cow”).
Mentally – whether you sit in stillness or mindfully move, focus all your attention on the task at hand – breathing, moving, feeling, watching with awareness.
Spiritually – wake up and give thanks and embody that gratitude throughout the day. The late Wayne Dyer wrote the following and it has always stuck with me:
“You have the choice each day to wake up and say, ‘Good morning, God’ or ‘Good God, morning!’…Any moments that you fill with thoughts of boredom and apathy will weaken you physically, emotionally, and spiritually…Those (thoughts) that weaken you are low/slow frequencies, and they can only be dissolved by bringing the higher/faster energies of Spirit to their presence.”
Dyer, Dr. Wayne – “10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace” – 2001, Hay House Inc., Carlsbad, California
There are so many options to mix it up this season; you just have to be willing and curious and explore! As always, check out my FREE VIDEOS and/or GUIDED MEDITATIONS for inspiration; drop-in to a yoga class in person; or just get out for a walk around the block. Pick up something unique at the grocery store and try a new taste. Try laughing in the mirror without smiling and you’ll really be laughing in no time!
Happy Spring 2023!
Twenty Twenty-Three – EMPOWERMENT
January 10, 2023 at 3:23 pm (In My Backyard)
Tags: annestubbsyoga, empowerment, sankalpa, yin yoga, yoga in barrhaven, yoga in manotick, yoga in ottawa
A new year, a full moon, a multitude of challenges (aren’t there always in this life – just different incarnations), and at the same time, a wealth of silver linings (the half-full part of the glass). Lots to face, lots to be grateful for, lots to do, and lots to embrace. A year ending and new year beginning is an opportune time to reflect and reset and restore. But now I feel it’s time to get moving. So as I enter 2023, I commit to unsticking myself from some of the gooey-ness of life. Cultivating faith, trust, hope, joy even in the midst of uncertainty, helplessness, and sadness. How to do this? In the moment, BRFWA – breathe, relax, feel, watch, allow. Then move ahead with a calmer perspective; a positive perspective. Own your missteps and make amends. Find a positive mantra that relates best to your situation and THINK IT, AFFIRM IT, BELIEVE IT…every day and keep setting reminders. Move the body and say the words and walk the walk. Drink the water; eat the veggies; work on the mind; and better sleep will come. ACT, not REACT. Make the time…The checklist may seem long, but I believe one must advocate for oneself first – what is the minimum you can do/think/say for yourself that will empower you to ACT positively? One step at a time.
There is so much out there to help one get out of the gooey-ness – people, books, courses, programs. But ultimately, only YOU can get the ball rolling…so step 1 is show up…take the step, even if it is a baby step. DO IT and BE IT, whatever IT is for you; not just say you are going to do it. Sign up for the course, read the book, get off the couch, make the call, change your mind; and if rest is what you need, then stay on the couch. Do at least the minimum…and that could mean as simple as smiling a big toothy grin each day to stimulate some feel-good hormones while you lie on the couch. If you need help, please reach out to your network…or just one person. It may not be easy…but it is necessary. Patience, perseverance, at times forgiveness, and EMPOWERING YOURSELF to keep at it, giving time and space for transformation to happen. Okay it sounds exhausting…but it doesn’t have to be. The glass is half-full…
There will always be provisos and conditions and circumstances and excuses and justifications for the obstacles on the road…often we think it is time-related or other-person related. If you don’t make the time, how can you move forward? If you are stuck in blame, how can you move forward? I’m not denying there will be raw periods where it is SO HARD to move forward, full of trial and error, roadblocks and challenges, but forward we must go believing in goodness, contributing to that goodness, and trusting in the goodness…step by step and again with patience. The coming out of the dark into the light; resetting and recalibrating, again and again.
The tradition of yoga suggests a Sankalpa or “a resolve” in order to stay on track. A short statement made in real-time of how you want to BE. I have been guided by the same Sankalpa for a long time…it’s a four-part positive guideline to follow (“Joyful energetic body, loving compassionate heart, reflective alert mind, lightness of Being” – thanks to the Chopra Centre for this one). Every day, and throughout the day, I ask myself if what I am doing/thinking/saying is contributing to this resolve or going against it. Sometimes I ignore it, sometimes I challenge it, and sometimes I forget it…but my Sankalpa always resurfaces and quietly reminds me that it’s okay – just reset. For me, and maybe you, too, such is the power of the practice of yoga, over and over.
If you would like to move forward with me, try out one of my guided meditations or videos (see a newly uploaded Yin and Gentle Yoga video!); join my online classes; or simply send me an email and share with me how YOU are moving forward. And for a wider network, check out the Canadian government’s initiative for mental health – Wellness Together Canada.
And if staying put is the right thing for you at the moment, try this: 36 breaths lying on your left side, 36 breaths lying on your right side, and 36 breaths lying on your back propped up a bit. Total = 108 breaths.
Namaste and here’s to 2023.
Yoga In My Backyard 