Author: truenature

Meet the passionate, caring, and experienced Janet Corvino!

Janet was the Centre Manager for NeoWhistler YYoga for 5 years and a yogi for 17 years. Janet is both a YYoga Instructor, Teacher Trainer and an innovator of hosting yoga retreats. Her trainings are Anusara based with outcroppings in Therapeutics, Vinyasa & Power, and YHot. Janet loves to have her students play on the mat, explore and create deep openings in body and spirit . Her classes are a mix of alignment cues, laughs and wisdom based themes.

Janet is part of the YYoga Teacher training faculty in Vancouver, BC. Janet instructs trainees in a 200 hour  and the YHot certification programs. Janet has a graduate degree in interdisciplinary Education and loves teaching teachers how to teach. She has worked as a learning specialist for 20 years, and mentored Columbia University Graduate Education students while living in NYC before becoming a devoted yogi and yoga instructor.
She is generous with her support and deeply devoted to her students.

Real life yoga for everyday living.

True Nature had the pleasure of getting to know Janet a little better. Check out her interview below, and be sure to sign-up for her Italy retreat here!

TNE:  What does it mean to you, when you refer to “real yoga for real life?” as part of your yoga practice, teaching, and your intentions for the upcoming retreat?

Janet: I have been a practicing yogi for 18 years. When I first started the practice was all about the poses(asana). I wanted to be able to do handstand, arm balances and other” tricked out” yoga moves. I thought this made me a yogi. After many years of study on the mat and off the mat, I realized that being able to do “tricked out” yoga poses did not have much to do with being a true yogi after all. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sensations of moving my body, feeling its strength and flexibility and the peace that comes with a solid daily physical practice. But after many years of study, I realized the Yoga Sutras written by the sage Patanjali detailed a way to embrace yoga on a daily level. I began to put into practice the Yamas and Niyamas, the yoga code for a yogic lifestyle of being a kind, truthful. disciplined and compassionate person to yourself and others, hence a connection to the Divine. Yes the asanas bring great calm to the body and mind but needed in this brew of tranquility is meditation, breath work and a code of internal and external behaviors to guide us through life. As a yoga teacher, I break down the body, mind and spiritual practice found in the Sutras for modern day life . Everyone can practice yoga every day in a very simple form if needed due to demands of a busy life to a more complex study if time is available. I work to provide easy, simple techniques to use gain peace in the body, mind and spirit.

TNE: Who has been your greatest influence and why?

Janet:  I have to say I had some incredible teachers guide me- Chris Chavez, Jonas Westring, and Christina Sell are the top contemporary hits but the three greats Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois and Desikachar are my foundation. However, every class, teacher training, and yoga retreat  I teach, I learn the most from my students… I am forever in awe and filled with gratitude for my students

TNE:  If there was a yoga pose or mediation practice that described you – what would it be and why?

Janet: I don’t think I could be so bold to say they describe me but I do love Forearm stand (Pincha Mayurasana) and Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril prananyama). They each invigorate and calm me at the same time. I am a mix of stability and gypsy. I love a stable home life and yet travelling whispers to me constantly.

TNE: Other than yoga and meditation – what are some of your passions?  You mentioned the retreat will delve into the theme of re igniting your passion, can you share a little more?

Janet: I do not like to get stale.. I am constantly reading, taking courses etc.. I love to learn! I like to expand my horizons of who I am. Just when I have learned something, I will take on another challenge, this keeps me fresh, young and very alive. I love the feeling of stepping outside my comfort zone and into my passions. Many individuals are hesitant about taking on new challenges such as learning a new skill or taking on new career challenges. The transformation of going from the known to the unknown can be very un-grounding, but this is the space where true self growth takes place. In the Happiness Project written by Grethen Rubin, evidence now points to this time of transformation as the Happiness zone. We become most alive when we are evolving and growing. On the retreat “Stoke the Fire” we will explore new asanas on the mat which take us out of our comfort zone and see how we react to them. What we practice on the mat is a mirror to how we are in the world. If we can become comfortable with the discomfort of learning new skills, new images of who we think we are on the mat we can then transfer this experience to our daily lives. Besides our daily yoga practice, we will unwind from our lives back home through delicious meals and luxurious surroundings to unfold into. Often when we stop working and immerse ourselves in a new beautiful setting away from family and work commitments we get a chance to be objective about our lives, the creativity reignites and a spark of passion begins to surface.

TNE: What is on your “Italy bucket list” and what are you most excited about?

Janet: I am very excited to be taking part in an authentic Italian Ashram, who knew such a thing existed? Once I heard, I had my bags packed! Italians are passionate about just everything- food, wine, life! Being around positive, passionate people is so contagious, I am looking forward to diving into yoga, food, culture, and just to listen to the Italian language it sweeps me off my feet. We have a few day trips planned to nearby coastal towns which are know for their beauty and for an Olive Oil tasting session. Yoga, travel, good food and passionate people, this my kind of retreat.

TNE: Is there a saying or quote that really resonates with you and your upcoming retreat?

Janet: Nelson Mandela said it best “There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” So many of us are deep into work, daily chores etc.. we forget how to be in the moment and  fully engaged with our surroundings and the people we share them with. Life can easily pass us by in a blink of an eye. The Italy retreat is great opportunity to pause in the beauty of Italy and re-examine your intentions for your life and to bring your passions for life to the surface. How would you live your life if failure was just a stepping stone to living large?

We are ready to live large with Janet! Are you?

True Nature Education is truly blessed to have some unbelievable retreat leaders on our team. These teachers take their students to the end of the earth, and guide us on a remarkable journey of inner peace, growth, and adventure.

Sabre’ is no exception. The sense of community she builds with her students, along with her fun and knowledgable teaching style, makes Sabre’ a rockstar leader. True Nature Education had the privilege of getting to know Sabre’ a little bit better and weget to share the interview with you! Check out Sabre’s vibe and don’t forget, she still has spots available for her Guatemala retreat! More information and registration can be found here.

TNE: What does it mean for you to “be something more” as part of your yoga practice, teaching, and your intentions for your retreat?
S: Through yoga, I believe we can begin to taste what it feels like to cut loose from those mental ropes that bind us so. We focus on ourselves in a deeper way, becoming the Witness to what we observe within ourselves and within our bodies. We then create deeper connections in our relationships and in our communities, and then our earth and the Universe.
When we add to the yoga the glorious adventure of travel and retreat from our daily lives, a whole new level of liberation takes place. We have the opportunity to connect with people from other cultures, with nature, and we experience different food and activities, all of which adds to our perspective and broadens that deep feeling of being so very present and so very alive!
My pleasure is traveling through the world with open-hearted, open-minded people who love yoga. I will do my very best, on each retreat, to provide beautiful and clean surroundings, delicious and healthy food, safety, and adequate information to cover most details! I will be sensitive to the dynamics of each group, and it is my intention to co-create community within each, that is magical.
TNE: Who has been your greatest influence and why?
S: The greatest influences in my life are, without doubt, my children and my yoga students. From them I have learned more than I could ever hope to teach.
TNE: If there was a yoga pose or mediation practice that described you – what would it be and why?
S: This variation of tree pose (Vrksanana) is expressive, fun, a tad improper, Ultimately, like the tree, my growth is deep and inward like the roots, and, at the same time, up and outward toward the sun.
TNE: Other than yoga and meditation – what are some of your passions?
S: There are no limits to my passions! Practicing yoga is amazing, of course, but teaching is even more of a passion for me because of the transformations and the building of communities to which I witness. I love travel, which is why the retreats are such a perfect combination of these passions. Back home in Colorado in the warm months, I am an avid hiker, taking full advantage of our wonderful Rocky Mountains and the beautiful vistas; the journey to those peaks brings such connection and joy for me. I love music, especially live music outdoors in the warm weather. Colorado has enough festivals and concerts to support that habit, and I also try to get a taste of that wherever I travel. Creativity is an important slice of my life. I paint, mostly brightly colored pet portraits, and I love to play with fused glass art and beaded jewelry. My background is writing, so reading and writing are long time friends and companions. 

TNE: What is on your “Guatemala bucket list” and what are you most excited about?
S: I chose Guatemala for a retreat destination after traveling in Oaxaca and being immersed in the colorful Mayan culture. I wanted more! I also stayed on Lake Arenal in Costa Rica after Mexico last year. Villa Sumaya and Guatemala seem to blend the best of both of those worlds. I’m looking forward to the colors, the warmth of the people, learning about the culture, and sharing my experience with my retreat peeps. Building community and bonding amidst the special qualities of Guatemala will be a highlight.

TNE: Is there a saying or quote that really resonates with you and your upcoming retreat?
S: “And then she knew. There is no beginning and no end, and in giving herself space to become better, she set herself free.” ~me 🙂

“When under, remember the surface; when on the surface, remember the deep,” -Mark Nepo

It’s getting hot in here…..

The summer heat wave is in full swing here in North Carolina. Those warm sun rays are bringing with it new growth, possibilities, and constant daydreams of hitting the beach.But, nature is not the only thing heating up.Hot yoga has hit the yoga scene hard and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, anytime soon. Originally, hot yoga derived from the practice of Biikram Yoga which was brought to the U.S. in the early 70s and became the most widely known form of hot yoga performed typically at 105 degrees. In the past 5 years hot yoga started to come more mainstream and has flowed over to many different styles of yoga, including studios devoted solely to the practice.Personally, I am a creature of habit. My practice, love, and obsession with yoga really developed during my young adult life in Los Angeles. And what a place to discover this passion! Options, teachers, and styles were endless. I really found my niche with power yoga and as a creature of habit stuck to this practice.Nothing in life is constant, and changes are what makes us who we are. I decided to make a major life change and relocate to the beautiful mountains of Asheville North Carolina. Once again, I found myself in an area whose yoga scene made my heart jump with joy. Embracing this opportunity, I widened my perspective and made a choice to try new styles of yoga.

And this brings me to where I tried hot yoga.

Hot yoga, seems to be a controversial subject. Some people dig it and some people don’t. There are multiple studies out there, declaring this practice is terrible for your body, and other studies that sings it’s praises. The debate boils down to whether or not it actually detoxifies, the amount of calories burnt, and whether or not the heat helps with the stretching of muscles, or causes artificial flexibility leading to injury.

Yoga anymounous does a great job simplifying the benefits and you can read more on this here if you are interested: http://yoganonymous.com/eight-benefits-of-hot-yoga/As for the counter argument, Time Magazine did an interesting study and can be read here: http://time.com/2967716/you-asked-is-hot-yoga-good-for youand-for-weight-loss/I will let you decide on your own thoughts on the health benefits and risks. Both sides seem very valid to me.

What I learned from the practice did not really have to do with the physical, but more of the mental lesson, to trust ourselves.

It was 6 am on a Monday morning in North Carolina. Mist still laid heavy on the mountain and I entered the room. It was hot. Really hot. Granted, I have been spoiled by the constant 75 degree and low humidity of southern California for the past 8 years, so perhaps I was being a little dramatic.

I rolled out my mat and began my Ujjay breath. It felt heavy and difficult. The air felt thick and I was already breaking a sweat by breathing. I told myself to embrace it, that this was a new challenge of staying present and calm in an environment I was not comfortable or use to (which seemed to be a underlying theme the past couple months of my life as a whole, moving from the west coast to the east, is not necessarily a walk in the park). My body was gradually adjusting to the warmth, I tried my best to clear my thoughts, embrace the current situation, and then I was ready to dive on in.

The teachers Irish accent was as heavy as the air and I adored her. The class flowed and was a combination of vinyasa flow with heavier stretching. Overall, the difficulty and pace was less intense then my usual power yoga flow.

But, it felt hard. I struggled. My mind wandered, I was pouring sweat, and I had a difficult time getting to my zen zone. Following the class, I felt dehydrated, my head ached, and overall I felt slightly frustrated.

My dear friend joined me in this class. When the class was ending she rolled up her mat with a gleaming smile and said “Wasn’t that fantastic! Doesn’t your whole body feel alive?”

I thought about this for a couple days. How could two experienced yogis taking the same class have such a different experience? And how far should we push our comfort zone to truly expand our perspective?

So I tried another class. And once again, my body did not like it. Nor did my mind.

I realized something very important, we need to listen to our hearts and to our bodies. We need to trust our internal instinct. Each one of us are on our own journey and what might be right for someone else does not mean it is right for you. And that is ok. That in fact, is what makes this world such a thriving and beautiful place, diversity. By tapping into our gut feelings, listening to our physical bodies, and allowing space to try new things, we get closer each day to honoring our true self.

As for hot yoga, it is not for me. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t for you. Do a little research, try a class, and listen to your body. After all, life is just one big experiment and learning experience. Trust yourself and explore more!

I would love to hear about your personal practice with hot yoga. Feel free to share below!