January YogaThon
On January 19, 2013, the Victoria Yoga Conference will host a YogaThon fundraiser, with teachers from 12 local studios leading participants through nine sun salutations each, for a total of 108. With music from DJ Rowan and hosted by Victoria’s own Tracey Noseworthy, this event is not to be missed.
The event will be held from 1:30-4:30pm at Dance Victoria (111-2750 Quadra Street), and will benefit yoUnlimited Yoga’s program to create a safe space for women to practice yoga and meditation with certified yoga teachers.
Key things to know
- Payment for this event is by donation — it is a fundraiser for yoUnlimited Yoga
- You do not need to do all 108 sun salutations — come and do as many as you like
- There will also be a silent auction — if you would like to make a donation, please contact us at hello@victoriayogaconference.com
- Participants who pre-register and make a minimum donation of $25 will receive a lot of great things! One is “Reserved Matting” – it’s like reserved parking, but different. We’ll save you a good spot (which is important because we think we’ll sell out), a punch card with a number of local studios offering a free class for you to attend, and a complimentary pass for the MarketPlace at the Victoria Yoga Conference.
- Below is a list of teachers participating, and links to their studios. A schedule of what order these teachers will be in will be posted in January.
| Tracey Noseworthy's infectious smile warmly welcomes students of all ages and levels to embody a flow that rides on the currents of breath. She is known for her positive energy and sense of humour which adds to her philosophy that yoga is full of joy and playfulness. Tracey is continually inspired by music, leading her students to move within a rhythmn simply encouraged by the background beat. She leads classes and workshops motivating her students to listen to their breath, honour the teacher that lies within, and sink deeply into the journey of yoga at any level. Graduating from McMaster University, with a Physical Education Degree, she has continued to further her career in many areas of fitness, always growing with the evolution of the industry. In 2007 she became a certified yoga instructor under the inspiration of Shiva Rea, and now lives her Yoga on and off the mat. Tracey represents Jala Yoga | 
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 | Rachel Reid has been teaching and practicing Ashtanga Yoga since her move back to Victoria BC in 2001. She has continued to advance her Teacher Training Education through certified Ashtanga Yoga Teachers such as, Nancy Gilgoff, Chuck Miller and Maty Ezraty. These, along with other wise teachers, have been a strong influence for her and her practice. Rachel's trip to Mysore, India, in 2007 to study with Saraswathi Rangaswamy at the Sri K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute left her both humbled and grateful for the experience, and wishing to share this beautiful practice with those who have a desire to learn. In August of 2009 Rachel found not one teacher, but two. Having Jeff and Harmony as teachers has breathed new life into her Ashtanga Yoga practice, and she continues to be inspired to this day! Rachel represents Ashtanga Yoga Victoria |  |
 | Since 2002, Fiji McAlpine has been teaching yoga with the ultimate intention of guiding students into the flow. Teaching students to open their hearts and bodies by moving with rather than against the dynamic currents and using that momentum to take them where they need to go in practice and ultimately in their lives. Fiji's personal practice and classes focus on vinyasa flow infused with power, strength, precision and intentional movement. Her classes are often described as a strong practice and a space where individuals to face challenges with the support and guidance that will inspire them to move forward fearlessly and more consciously. Over the past decade her practice has helped her to learn to appreciate that the whole of our experiences act like threads, woven together to create the tapestry of our lives. This perspectives guides instruction that approaches a practice that is a physical, psychological and emotional exploration. Originally born in Victoria and then raised in California, Fiji has returned to her roots bringing with her a broad and truly global yoga background having trained extensively in California, Costa Rica and Canada. Fiji represents hemma |  |
 | Katyanna Ryan is a dedicated practitioner and teacher of the yogic science. She earned her teaching certification in India in 2006 in the Traditional Ashtanga lineage of yoga. While in India she accepted a position as Senior yoga teacher at a yoga community in Nicaragua. During this time, Katyanna enjoyed meeting students from all over the world while planning and hosting various retreats. When Katyanna was offered the position of senior yoga teacher of a 200 hour yoga teacher training school in India, she was thrilled to return to a land that means so much to her. She moved back to India where she assisted aspiring teachers to share the gift of yoga. Katyanna's classes have a strong focus on connecting breath and movement, while allowing students the opportunity to observe the physical body. She believes in teaching with compassion by guiding the students to find the expression of the postures that is perfect for them. Katyanna is the lead instructor of The Fernwood Yoga Den's Teacher training program, and teaches several weekly classes there. Katyanna represents Fernwood Yoga Den |  |
 | Liz Zdunich is a yogini, teacher and coach, GROOVE ambassador and facilitator, blogger, business owner/operator of Namaste Inspired Athletics, and above all, a wife and a mumma of two. She has been professionally involved in the fitness and wellness industry for over fifteen years, inspiring clients and her community to make positive changes in their lives to create their happiest, most authentically connected lives. Liz has a passion for helping people discover their own inner and physical strengths and wisdom, and believes in people’s ability to exceed beyond their own expectations of themselves! Liz represents Namaste Inspired Athletics. |  |
 | Michelle Schroeder is co-owner of Ajna Yoga Studio in the Oak Bay Village and Primary Instructor of both Ajna's 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program and the 500 Hour Yoga Therapy Program. Michelle's practice is rooted in the practice of Vijnana Yoga, a hatha/ flow style that focuses on moving mindfully from within. Michelle has specialized in teaching athletes, pre-natal, chair yoga and working one-on-one with people recovering from injury. She feels blessed to offer yoga to others, train teachers, and share her knowledge as part of her Dharma. Michelle represents Ajna Yoga Studio | 
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 | A spark was ignited for Pilar Munoz at the age of 16 when she came across a book of yoga and began a daily self practice in her bedroom, following the asanas she saw in the book. Yoga has remained in her heart since then, but not always being able to practice on a regular basis at a studio until 2 years ago when she walked into Moksha Yoga Victoria. She began as an energy exchanger and soon became part of the front desk staff, often with two kids in tow! Many years have passed since that initial spark was ignited but now at Moksha she feels a flame in her heart. She has dedicated the last two years to Moksha yoga, exploring meditation and asana and the body heart connection and how they are all connected. Pilar completed her Moksha Teacher training in June 2011 and feels truly blessed to be teaching at the studio where it all began, taking joy in seeing yoga become a spark in the lives of others. Pilar represents Moksha Victoria |  |
| Nicky Jones originally discovered yoga 13 years ago as a cure for 'dis-ease' . During difficult times, yoga became a necessary therapy to bring balance back into her life. Today, yoga is a lifestyle for Nicky. Yoga combines two of her lifelong passions of teaching and holistic wellness. She believes that teaching yoga is one of her true callings as she loves helping others to reach and maintain their own optimum wellness. Nicky has over 4000 teaching hours and 600 hours of training. She is a skilled Yoga Teacher, Yoga Therapist, Thai Massage Practitioner and Energy Worker. She is the previous owner of Barefoot at Heart Yoga and Wellness and is now focusing on a therapeutic practice that helps people use grief as a tool for personal growth. Grief has very much been a part of her personal journey, and because of this she feels called to help others move through their own transfomative process. At this time, you can find her at The Yoga Shala, Pearkes Rec and Esquimalt Rec. Scott Andrew has been practicing and learning yoga asana for eight years; he began to attend classes after a medical doctor advised him to "stretch more often" in order to relieve pain from a form of hereditary arthritis in his back. It worked! Since then, asana practice has been his primary healing and health practice; however, after six years of an inconsistent practice, he decided to have a more dedicated and devotional practice and chose Pattabhi Jois' Ashtanga Yoga asana. The physical benefits extended beyond his body and a greater understanding of living relationships became apparent. Yoga has empirically shown him that spirit is present at every moment, and it is inter-dependent with his physical life and chosen behaviour. Scott completed a 200HR YTT at the Shala in 2012, and is very happy to be sharing and leading practice there, nurturing the spirit, health and love that's in Victoria. Nicky and Scott represent The Yoga Shala |  |
| Alice Bracegirdle is one of the world's leading authorities on Holistic Fitness for women. As mother, wife, and CEO of Bellyfit International, Alice is driven by a fierce passion for inspiring and empowering women physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Through the Bellyfit® systems and training courses, Alice is deeply devoted to helping women embrace the natural beauty and diversity of the female body and continues to design fabulous, fun and innovative new ways for women to feel great about themselves while getting fit. With hundreds of women now teaching Bellyfit® classes across Canada, Alice's message of Holistic Fitness and positive body image is now moving thousands of women toward a more balanced and joyful life, every day. Alice represents Bellyfit International | 
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| Ida Manly started practicing in 1996 and completed her 250-hr teacher training at MokSana Yoga Centre in the summer of 2006. She completed her 500-hr teacher training at the Kripalu Center in 2008/2009 and completed the Anusara teacher training immersions in 2009/2010 with Darren Rhodes and Christina Sell. She is registered with Yoga Alliance as an E-RYT500. Her teaching is influenced by her Anusara training and includes careful attention to alignment in order to create a practice that is sustainable and injury-free for a lifetime. Along with this is a passion for the benefits of yoga that go beyond the physical with influences in this area from her teachers Sama Fabian and Swami Maheshananda Saraswati. Ida is owner and director of MokSana Yoga Center. Ida represents Moksana Yoga Center |  |
| Dance has always been Carmalita Heron's creative outlet. Seeing yoga as a form of dance she dove into asana practice like love at first sight. Although Carmalita has been practicing Asana intensely since 2006 it wasn't until a few years later on her second trip to India that she really started to explore what this new found love "Yoga" was all about, delving deep into pranayama and experiencing a more spiritual side to her practice. Carmalita undertook her first yoga teacher training at an ashram in South India in March 2009 and is now certified through Sivananda Yoga Vedanta and Feel Good Yoga and Pilates with Laura Phelps. Carmalita encourages her students to listen as the breath connects mind, body and spirit to bring you in greater harmony with the natural flow and currents of the universe.
Carmalita represents Feel Good Yoga & Pilates | 
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| DJ Rowan Sentesy is a warrior of liquid rhythms and deep soulful grooves that sublimate into tangible, impermanent frequencies on the dance floor in explosions of ethereal inspiration. Comfortable in the fringes of reality, readily passing between worlds in search of deep, heart-opening and inspiring dance music, Rowan is equipped with a diverse palette of genres that find form in co-creation with the dance floor. Regularly found hosting and performing with legendary musical nomads who bring sounds from far off lands, this dj/promoter/producer is committed to high-vibrational dance experiences and consistently delivers tightly mixed and expertly programmed sets at a variety of tempos. Rowan frequently interweaves a subtle cultural narrative of exotic spices, tribal drums and organic vibrations. Rowan represents Bellyfit International | |
 | Tara Nargana wants yoga to be accessible, relevant, playful, challenging, inspiring as she believes Yoga fosters the art of inner awareness, and playing with our edge. It peels back our layers. She aspires to teach with humour and integrity and loves working with a wide variety of folks, and having that conversation about what works for each person. Her classes are alignment-based, and most can be described as Mindful Flow – engaging, light-hearted, strong and safe. Classes are based on a theme that is woven throughout the class. Her teaching is informed by my own Anusara practice. The teachings (and her teachers) from various styles have given her the strength, the power, and the grace to be physical and present in my life in ways that she hadn’t believed possible. Practice continues to be about returning again and again to our strong foundation and softness, a vulnerability that most of us fight strongly to protect. Tara represents Thrive Studio |  |
Why 108?
The number 108 carries spiritual significance throughout a wide swathe of cultures:
* 108 is the number of “Upanishads” comprising Indian philosophy’s “Vedic texts”.
* 108 is the number of names for Shiva (a really important Hindu god).
* 108 is the number of names for Buddha.
* 108 is the Chinese number representing “man”.
* 108 is the number of beads on a Catholic rosary.
* 108 is the number of beads on a Tibetan “mala” (prayer beads, analagous to a rosary).
* 108 is twice the number “54″, which is the number of sounds in Sanskrit (sacred Indian langauge).
* 108 is six times the number “18″, which is a Jewish good luck number.
* 108 is twelve times the number 9, which is the number of vinyasas (movements linked to breath) in a Sun Salutation.
