A Visit Home to Canada

This month I had a chance to go home to Canada and connect with family, friends, and members at the Energy Yoga center. I am really thankful for the time I could spend with everyone. Because of work and my studies, I didn't have a lot of time to spend with people in the last few years so this time was precious to me.

Here are a few highlights that I have pictures for. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures for others...

Celebrating my husband, Marek's birthday with him by eating some of his favorite Polish food (zupa ogorkowa, kotlet schabowy, ziemnaki, sernik - cucumber soup, pork cutlet, potatoes, and cheescake) and having fun at the cottage.





A 40th birthday party with friends from high-school and their partners and children.







Time at my dad's cottage with my sister Tammy, her husband Steve, our nephew, Gavin, and nephew-to-be :) My beautiful sister is the one in pink in the picture at the top of the page.



Visiting my aunt and uncle at their new home with Judy, my dad's wife.



Spending time with our nephew from Poland, Szymon. He is 15 and will be visiting Canada for five weeks altogether. It was great to see him after such a long time. We had a great breakfast with family (picture at the top of the page) and Szymon did really well at ordering and having conversation with everyone in English. After breakfast, we went to Niagara Falls.




Raw food dinner with Sanja and Srjan. Sanja has learned a lot about how raw food helps to heal the body. We had spaghetti, lasagna, and even ice-cream! It was delicious!



I visited an exotic mushroom farm near my dad's farm that is owned and run by people originally from South Korea. (That's one of the owners in the picture with me). The farm won an "Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Award" from the Ontario government. They produce King Oyster and Enoki mushrooms. Below is a picture of their "Commitment to Customers" in Korean. You can find the English version and more information about the farm here.





Talking and meeting with many more dear family, friends, and center members that, unfortunately, I don't have pictures for. My mom, my dad, my sister, Katie, Kate, Ben, and Sophie, my aunt Jan, Steph, Amy, Lisa, Camino, Lorena, Pam, Gae, and members at the yoga center. I'm thankful for all of you and look forward to keeping in touch and seeing you again.

Energy Yoga Center Open House Weekend

This weekend the Energy Yoga Center in Burlington, Canada, which is managed by my husband, Marek, is having an Open House.

Here's the line-up of workshops and presenters who will be at the Open House:



Saturday, November 13th:

10am -11:15am: “Open Class”

11:30am - 12:30pm: “Tipping the Scales" ... and I'm not talking about your weight or weight loss!” Sometimes the stress and burdens of life can weigh us down. Come re-energize by learning some tips and practical suggestions on creating a healthy life balance so you are living your best life!
Presented by: Joyce Minten, Life Coach

12:30pm -1pm: Lunch, "Organic Soup of the Day" by Tina and "Healthy Treats" by Sanya

1pm - 1:30pm: “Aromatherapy, Essential Oils and Hot Stone Healing Massage”How certain blends can improve our physical and mental well-being.
Presented by: Joanne Acevado Ireland, Aromatherapist and Healer

1:30pm-2:30pm: "Creative Writing and Meditation"
Experience Stream of Consciousness Writing; a non-stop, free flowing writing reflection workshop! With the awareness of our senses intact, we will write in flow; writing, whatever comes into our minds. There is no thought process or editing, it just flows from hand to paper. Writing is an extension of mediation.
Presented by Tina Dine, English Teacher

Sunday, November 14th

10am - 11:15am: “Aromatherapy Yoga Class - Using Thieves Oil to Fortify Our Immune System”
Thieves Essential Oil was inspired by the historical account of a group of 15th century thieves and grave robbers who rubbed cloves, rosemary, and other aromatics on their bodies to avoid contracting the deadly black plague. When apprehended, these thieves disclosed the formula of herbs, spices and oils they used to protect themselves in exchange for a more lenient punishment.
Presented by Vickie Vopni, Energy Yoga Teacher

11:45 am - 12: 45 pm: "Earth Qi-Gong" and 7 Energy Postures with a Sword "Gum Bo Young Gong"Learn about an ancient Healing Energy Martial Arts to improve your posture, strength, balance, and concentration and to help you reconnect with a deeper sense of Self through Ki-energy.
Presented by Marek

2:00 - 3:30 pm: "Heal Yourself with Living Food"Presenters will talk about the health benefits of a raw food diet and look at some seasonal recipes for the fall/ winter.
You will also have the opportunity to sample some raw foods such as yogi juice, cleansing cocktail, kale chips, green crackers, raw falafels, live biryani, fig bars and macaroons .
Presented by Sanya and Claire

All the best for a successful open house weekend!

Joyce Minten, Energy Yoga, and Brain Education

A few years ago, I met Joyce Minten. She interviewed me for an article she was writing about people making career changes.

This fall, Joyce contacted me again and we did another interview. It was a great opportunity for me to reflect on where I am now in my life and where I want to be.

Joyce also contacted my husband Marek at the Energy Yoga Center and together, they decided to publish a newsletter for the center writen and compiled by Joyce, including an article based on our interview. Joyce also presented a seminar at the Open House held this weekend at the Energy Yoga Center.

Joyce has recently started her own Life Coaching business. Check out her website and the article and newsletter she wrote here:

Joyce's website

Energy Yoga Newsletter

I'd like to thank Joyce for the opportunity to work with her again and for her contribution to the Energy Yoga Center. I wish her all the best with her new business venture and on this next part of her journey!

Happy Third Anniversary to the Energy Yoga Center!

In January, 2009, my husband Marek and I bought the yoga center where we had been members and instructors in Burlington, Ontario.

Marek has managed the center since then and has renamed it "Energy Yoga" (which is a good reflection, I think, of the kind of energy--the strength and sensitivity that he brings to everything he does).

July 2010, marked the center's third anniversary at its North-Burlington location. Congratulations to Marek, the instructors, and all of the members!