Peace and tranquility highlighted a winter yoga retreat.
The all-day retreat, held Jan. 31 at Bakers Narrows Lodge, drew 23 men and women interested in learning more about the ancient, relaxing form of exercise.
“It just becomes a part of your lifestyle. I’m completely passionate about it,” said Shannon Smadella, who led the retreat along with guest instructors Kristen Imrie and Jelisa Wiegers.
Smadella, who is with Flin Flon Yoga, shared teachings relating to the philosophy of yoga, different positions and the benefits of a vegetarian diet.
She has been practicing yoga herself for 11 years and teaching for seven, though she says she never stops discovering new things.
“Yoga is so broad and there is so much to learn,” she said, explaining that a one-day retreat can’t reveal the lifetime of knowledge there is to learn, but that it is a good start. “My mission is to help people and if yoga helps people, then I want to help as many people I can.”
New concept
The 23 people participating in the retreat ranged from first-timers to those with 20 years of experience. They included doctors, teachers and moms, among others.
“Yoga is like Lake Athapapuskow,” Smadella said. “[The] retreat is like taking a cup out of the lake. It’s opening just that one little door and showing them what’s available.”
Though the retreat was a new concept for many participants, some had previously practiced yoga.
Fawn Brown has been an active member of Flin Flon Yoga for the past year and was eager to register for the retreat.
Prone to migraines, Brown says yoga has become a great way to reduce stress and the likelihood of throbbing headaches.
Even more so, she said, “I love the way my body feels. I’m getting stronger. It’s great for the mind and the body.”
Brown, a mother of two, said there aren’t many full-day retreats in the North and that this past weekend’s gathering proved to be a positive experience.
“It was nice to spend the day with people that I may not normally see and to practice yoga, peace, kindness and wellbeing,” she said.
Diet and positioning are key to yoga, but Smadella said “ahimsa” makes up the thoughts, words and actions of positivity needed in yoga.
“One of the biggest things we emphasize is ahimsa,” she said. “It’s the thoughts, words and actions we do to others and ourselves. You need to think kindly about yourself and others, speak kindly to yourself and others, and be kind to yourself and others.
“Ahimsa brings people together and makes them better human beings.”
Brown said she left the retreat “feeling so peaceful.”
Release negativity
Bad experiences from the past, poor habits and other negativity can stay with a person longer than expected.
In an exercise to remove negative feelings, Smadella had each participant write down an example of such a feeling on a piece of paper.
After a 10-minute meditation exercise, each piece of paper was crumpled up and thrown into the fire.
“I had them write down something that no longer served them…and then they let it go,” said Smadella. “The energy in the room was incredible. You could feel people opening up.”
Brown said through the exercise she was able to let go of past hurt.
“It allows and encourages you to take time, be a better mom and wife and to move forward with peace, kindness and love,” she said.
Deanna Petrash, another mother of two, called the retreat “an amazing experience.”
“Shannon is very passionate about yoga and this retreat made me appreciate her even more for what she is giving to this community,” said Petrash, who attended the retreat to learn more about yoga and to connect with other students.
Through the meditation exercise, Petrash says she was able to let go “and find some inner peace within myself.”
Petrash said yoga is all about each person as an individual.
“One thing that Shannon stresses is that it’s your practice,” she said. “You are able to work and develop at your own level without feeling any sense of competition or judgment from others.”
In terms of her own poses, Petrash has continued to work toward a headstand – something she wasn’t even able to complete as a child.
“I’m working on…it right now,” she said. “I love the peace and tranquility it provides.”
Benefits
Smadella said there are many benefits to yoga and that it’s an activity that can benefit everyone.
“It’s a way to be healthy and a way to go deeper into who they are as a human being,” she said.
“It’s for any age, height, size and gender. There are no limitations. It completely brings people together.”
Last weekend’s retreat was Smadella’s first in Flin Flon, but she has held retreats in Calgary and Saskatoon in years past.
She has travelled around the world sharing her passion as she has taught yoga in those two cities as well as Vancouver, Los Angeles, Ecuador, Mexico, Winnipeg The Pas and now Flin Flon.
Smadella hopes to be able to offer a two-day retreat in the Flin Flon area in June, though dates have not been confirmed.
