meditation Archives - adrienne shum

rest & digest: a 1/2 day urban retreat in April

Join me for a half-day urban yoga / meditation retreat at Open Concept on Sat April 12th (1-4 pm, $100+GST) in which we can dive deeper into the practice. A retreat gives us the chance to slow down and honour what we’ve been going through, so that we can move forward with a sense of cohesion and meaning.

Challenging experiences (whether big or small) can leave a residue in both our bodies and minds. Practice can be a way to metabolize these experiences, both through addressing the physical digestive system, and the mental/emotional processes by which we learn to integrate the past.

Expect:

A nourishing yoga practice that promotes the body’s ability to heal via focusing on the physical digestive system
Meditation practice(s) that teach us to allow for emotions and sensations (mental digestion)
An interactive discussion on what these practices are all about and how they can apply to daily life
A gentle environment that supports healing and compassionate self-inquiry
Simple self-care practices and food for thought as you move forward in life’s journey

This offering is a synthesis of my knowledge in yoga, somatics, Ayurveda, food science, and human physiology. My goal is to create a safe and inclusive space for all who wish to practise awareness and equanimity. You do not need any previous yoga or meditation experience to attend; what is more important is to come prepared to open your mind and heart. Capacity is limited to 22 participants.

Schedule:

1:00-1:15 PM – opening remarks
1:15 – 2:30 PM – yoga practice and meditation
2:30 – 2:45 PM – break, tea time
2:45 – 3:45 PM – dharma talk, Q&A, discussion
3:45 – 4:00 PM – closing remarks

For those familiar with Open Concept, undergoing a retreat in a familiar space frees up energy for us to go deeper into the practice. For those new to the studio but local to Winnipeg, may the accessibility of this offering be of value. Open Concept is at Grant and Kenaston, on the #66 bus route, and has free parking in the surrounding lot.

Let’s pause and de-clog! To register*, please visit Open Concept’s website HERE.

*A note about registration*: Open Concept was experiencing a glitch with their booking system, MindBody – the “book” button wasn’t working! It should be working now (please click here) but if it isn’t, please follow the workaround instructions below:

If you haven’t already, please make a MindBody account with Open Concept. Please be sure to include your credit card in your profile.
Then, message me (here) and I’ll complete the purchase for you through my teacher access (I’m waggling my fingers, poised over a laptop, readyyyyy). You’ll get an email confirmation of your purchase.

If you’d rather chat with someone at the studio directly, email Open Concept here for them to help you complete registration. Thank you for your patience!!

Trauma-informed yoga and living

Trauma, as the psychiatrist Dr. Paul Conti puts it, is “anything that causes emotional or physical pain and leaves its marks on a person as life moves forward.”

There are many types of trauma, and many different approaches to healing it – body-based practices like yoga, meditation, and breathwork being some of them. I have found the following resources to be invaluable in learning about trauma, and of great help in understanding myself and others in a deeper and more compassionate way.

Trauma: An Invisible Epidemic: How Trauma Works and How We Can Heal From It
By Paul Conti, MD

A compassionate and clear resource on what trauma is, how it affects us, and what we can do to heal ourselves.

The Body Keeps Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
By Bessel van der Kolk, MD

This comprehensive book unpacks how deeply trauma affects individuals and society. It covers some pretty heavy topics and is an absolutely worthwhile read (just keep the kleenex close by).

Permission to Come Home: Reclaiming Mental Health as Asian Americans
By Jenny Wang, PhD

Written by an Asian American clinical psychologist, this unique book is a culturally sensitive look at the effects of racial trauma. While the material is geared towards those who identify as third culture or as part of the Asian diaspora, I think its themes are transcendent and can be useful for understanding intergenerational trauma and the legacies we carry.

The Inner Tradition of Yoga: A Guide to Yoga Philosophy for the Contemporary Practitioner
By Michael Stone

While not pointedly about trauma, this book lays out the philosophical pillars of yoga in plain and accessible language, in a modern context. Michael Stone was both a yoga / meditation teacher and skilled psychotherapist, and it shines here. His many talks were recorded and are available online. This particular one touches on the symptoms of trauma.

rest & digest: a 1/2 day retreat in April

***UPDATE: SOLD OUT! THANK YOU!!!***

Join me for a half-day retreat in-person at Yoga Public (Sat Apr 23rd, 9 am – noon) in which we can dive deeper into the practice. A retreat gives us the chance to slow down and process the ups and downs of the past two years, and to honour what we’ve experienced, so that we can move forward with a sense of cohesion and meaning.

Challenging experiences (whether big or small) can leave a residue in both our bodies and minds. Practice can be a way to metabolize these experiences, both through addressing the physical digestive system, and the mental/emotional processes by which we learn to integrate the past.

Expect:

A nourishing yoga practice that promotes the body’s ability to heal via focusing on the physical digestive system
Meditation practice(s) that teach us to allow for emotions and sensations (mental digestion)
An interactive discussion on what these practices are all about and how they can apply to daily life
A gentle environment that supports healing and compassionate self-inquiry
Simple self-care practices and food for thought as you move forward in life’s journey

You’ll also receive access to an audio recording of a guided meditation created by me to digitally support you after the retreat.

Let’s pause and de-clog!

To register, please visit www.yogapublic.com/workshops

SOUNDSCAPE – at Yoga Public Downtown

Sunday November 21st, 3-4:30 pm, $50, at Yoga Public, 280 Fort St, Winnipeg, MB

Join me in-person for an afternoon exploring how sound and vibration can be helpful tools for a meditation practice: we practise presence, listening, and the ability to let go.

We’ll start with a short discussion focusing on how we can better appreciate our humanity and innate biology, as a way to address the hows and whys of managing our stress and to thus build resilience.

Then, we’ll settle in for a sound bath to integrate the philosophy of practice. This meditation practice is done lying down or seated, so wear comfy and warm clothes so that you can fully relax.

Bring a yoga mat and blanket, and let’s find some ease.

Limited space. Register online here: www.yogapublic.com