On my most recent trip to Vancouver, Canada, something changed.

Something changed in me and something changed with me.

As we drove to North Vancouver from the airport, it was dusk and it was raining. I was born and raised in Vancouver, but I have lived abroad for many years. Vancouver has always been a beautiful city to me, and yet this time something felt different.

Most if not all of us have at some time in our lives suffered from various illnesses. As yoga practitioners, we recognize the benefits that a regular yoga practice can have on alleviating many of these stresses on our bodies.

However, the great news is that medical professionals are now also acknowledging that yoga can be beneficial in treating a variety of diseases and illnesses.

Are you a yogini who enjoys running and is constantly looking for ways to incorporate the two? If so, you’re probably going to be excited to hear about an upcoming “Yoga for Runners” workshop in Venice, CA.

Kimberly Fowler, creator of “Yoga for Runners,” will be offering a workshop on December 7th from 1 to 3 pm at the YAS Venice location. Having practiced yoga for many years and competed in marathons and triathlons all over the world, Kimberly was able to apply her unique expertise to create the “Yoga for Runners” program.

I’ve noticed recently that several established yoga studios have been supporting their communities by offering special packages that charge a lower fee per class. What a wonderful gesture to make, especially during these troubling economic times when so many people have been adversely affected.

While some of us may be fortunate enough not to be too badly hit by the economic situation, stress and fear are still all around us wherever we go, so we really do need to take time to clear it from our space within and around us.

Remember how we recently talked about how certain churches and schools will not allow yoga to be taught in their centers because they believe that yoga has certain spiritual aspects that contradict their religious practices?

Well, that issue is causing an ongoing debate in Malaysia, where clerics are discussing whether Muslims should be allowed to practice yoga.

Why do you practice yoga? For some people, it’s because they want to feel better, whereas for others they want to look better. Most of the time, though, it’s a combination of both – and we all know how satisfying a regular yoga practice can be.

That’s why so many actors practice yoga – being and looking fit in both mind and body is absolutely vital to their careers.

Recently, I had to take yet another flight with my son, who’s not yet two years old but is already becoming a frequent flyer! Unlike the last frustrating time, however, when I had to do everything but jump through hoops just to get my son and me on the plane, I was determined to be better prepared this time – just in case the airlines decided to change their check-in procedure or come up with countless other ways to make life challenging.

So the first thing I did when I booked my flight was to draw up a list of questions for the airline staff.

Feeling stressed and in pain? There are so many factors that can cause us to feel tension – anything from a having bad day to the pressure of dealing with the recent downturn in the economy. And these stresses can so easily manifest themselves in our bodies. Even with a regular yoga practice, we are susceptible to nagging aches, pains, and lingering tensions – all of which can be difficult to relieve.

Poverty is all around us. Perhaps some of us are fortunate enough not to have it right on our doorstep, but we’ve all seen and read about the devastating conditions that many people live in. And I’m sure, like me, you’ve often wondered what you – as only one person – can do to help alleviate all this suffering.

Are you in the military forces or do you know anyone who is? Well, how does the idea of yoga for the Military sound to you?

Okay, so now you’re probably wondering how on earth yoga would fit into the military forces. Think about it – we all sometimes feel like we’re carrying a huge boulder of tension on our shoulders throughout the day.