 With the snow melting and the air becoming warmer, it is a wonderful time to get out of the house and into the community. Stop by the studio for some time on the mat or for one of our many upcoming workshops and events. ♡ We hope to see you soon.
Yoga Mamas' Holistic Nutritionist, Michelle Tirmandi and Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Shannon Vander Doelen discuss natural remedies and nutrition to aid common ailments.
 February is all about the things we can do to make ourselves {and others} feel more #loved and one of the most important ways to show yourself some love is by choosing foods that energize your mind, body and soul - especially when you're expecting! We spoke to our Holistic Nutritionist, Michelle Tirmandi on her top 6 foods for greater energy when you're pregnant, here's what she said:  Dark ChocolateDark chocolate is a source of antioxidants, plus it is loaded with magnesium making it a healthy indulgence!  EggsEggs are one of the most nutritious foods on the planet, eggs boast a ton of benefits including choline for brain health and high quality protein.  AvocadosAvocados are filled with healthy heart and skin loving fats, their creamy texture is perfect to add to toast, smoothies, or salads. They are also high in fibre, vitamin C helping the body to detox and support healthy immunity.  Coconut OilCoconut Oil is loaded with powerfully medium chain triglycerides, it can help with energy and is a healthy cooking fat too  BerriesBerries are a powerful source of antioxidants, they taste incredible and they are easy to fit into most peoples' diets. Enjoy them in smoothies, oatmeal, salads and eat them alone.  AlmondsAlmonds are loaded with healthy fats, antioxidants, fibre, magnesium and are a very portable delicious snack! Looking for a perfect way to start your day?Try Michelle's recipe for Raspberry Almond Overnight Oats  Ingredients
3/4 cup steel cut oats (or regular oats) 3/4 cup almond or coconut milk 1 cup frozen raspberries (or any type of berry) 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 1/2 tablespoons ground flaxseed 1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional) 1 tablespoon almond butter (or any nut butter) Directions Combine almond milk, almond butter, maple syrup, frozen raspberries, cinnamon into a bowl and stir. Mix in oats and stir until well combined with liquid. Store overnight in fridge in one large container with lid. Stir the flaxseed in before eating. Enjoy!!  Guest Written By Lindsay Evans & Danielle McGrath, Creators Of Nourish Live Flow Since launching Nourish Live Flow, we’ve been on a mission to empower women to take responsibility for their overall health and wellbeing. We believe in a holistic approach and work with smart, savvy and ambitious women and moms to kick-start their health and wellness journey. We wholeheartedly believe that collaborating with other like-minded and passionate individuals and companies brings about more awesomeness and success in each of our respective businesses. In light of this, we’re beyond thrilled to have built a partnership collaborating with Toronto Yoga Mamas.  Founded by Jaime Kalynuk, Toronto Yoga Mamas is a bright, serene and beautiful Yoga studio located in the heart of Leslieville in Toronto, Ontario. Much more than your typical downtown Yoga studio, Yoga Mamas specializes in all things health and wellness—with a special focus on mom and baby. There are many things that make this studio an absolute 'must-visit' if you're looking to enhance your health and wellness. But one that stands out at Yoga Mamas is their amazing team, making them a leading clinic for both pre and post-natal care. The incredible team of women at Yoga Mamas include Yoga, Pilates and Barre instructors, Massage Therapists, Chiropractors, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture practitioners, Naturopaths, PhysiotherapistsHolistic Nutrition (specializing in pelvic floor care) and, most recently, a Holistic Nutritionist. Yoga Mamas also offers birth doula services, doula and Yoga teacher training and mom and baby wellness related workshops (think fertility, breastfeeding & baby reflexology). Their Yoga, Pilates and Barre classes are geared at making mamas and their babies feel comfortable and peaceful and include Prenatal Yoga, Crawlers Yoga, Yoga Babies, Candlelight Flow, Flow Yoga, Pilates Babies, Crawlers Pilates, Barre and Barre Babies. An added bonus? They offer childcare, so new mamas can enjoy a class knowing their little ones are being taken very well care of!  When you walk into this calm and peaceful space you'll be greeted by a friendly and informative staff. While sipping a warm cup of Rooibos tea, you can browse through their boutique—a curated selection of their favourite mom and baby products from trusted brands you'll love. Acupuncture At Yoga MamasYoga Mamas offers many awesome Acupuncture services specifically aimed to treat mamas during the different stages of pregnancy. The three main areas their Acupuncture services address include Prenatal Acupuncture, a safe and gentle way to successfully treat many common problems that may arise during pregnancy such as morning sickness, fatigue, aches and pains, and emotional imbalance, Labour Prep Acupuncture, which focuses on softening the cervix and preparing the pelvis for labour and delivery and Postnatal Acupuncture, where Acupuncture is used to heal and restore a new mamas energy as well as treat any new complications such as mastitis, insufficient lactation, pain, and emotional imbalances. Our Amazing Acupuncture TreatmentWe recently were invited to visit Yoga Mamas to receive an individualized Acupuncture treatment. Although neither of us are newbies to receiving Acupuncture (we each regularly visit a TCM practitioner and Dani is a Physiotherapist and is trained in Acupuncture herself!), we were very excited to experience a treatment by a holistic practitioner who could assess each of us using a fresh perspective. We arrived at Yoga Mamas, were greeted by very friendly staff and immediately offered a warm cup of tea. We then had the chance to relax in their beautiful sitting area and browse their boutique shop. Our acupuncturist was perfectly on time and immediately put us at ease with her warm personality and professional demeaner. Our sessions were booked 30 minutes apart, allowing our acupuncturist the opportunity to conduct an in-depth personalized health history (which we absolutely loved!). As strong believer's that no two people are alike (even us as identical twins!), we really appreciated the fact that our acupuncturist took the time to do this. She asked a variety of in-depth questions to really get to know us, our constitutions, and to help guide our individualized treatments. We felt listened to and like she cared about what we had to say. She was smart, professional and kind—all truly amazing qualities of a holistic health practitioner.  Each of our consultations were immediately followed by a relaxing and calming 30-minute Acupuncture treatment. Our acupuncturist has a peaceful nature and had a gentle touch throughout the treatment (which would be very helpful in putting those who are not accustomed to receiving Acupuncture at ease!). She identified areas in each of us that needed care and was able to treat those areas thoughtfully and effectively. The entire experience was relaxing and rejuvenating. She played relaxing music, offered us a warm eye mask, made sure we comfortable and warm and finished the treatment with a very relaxing Moxa treatment—a Traditional Chinese Medicine heat therapy using Moxa sticks. All in all, we loved our entire experience receiving Acupuncture at Yoga Mamas and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for pre or post-natal care or those just looking to give their overall health and wellness a boost (not to mention some awesome self-care). We are looking forward to a re-visit at this beautiful spot and enjoying a follow-up treatment.
 In celebration of our month of feeling #loved we have another giveaway!!💕This time we are pairing up with LOVEFRESH to give away TWO lavender gift bags featuring their amazing all natural body scub, body lotion and body wash for a Mama and her friend to enjoy!   Being a Mama is wonderful, but it can also sometimes be a bit of a challenge-especially when it comes to making time for ourselves. We reached out to 8 Mamas from our beautiful community to see what they do to ensure they feel #loved and taken care of.  Michelle Tirmandi @michellenutritionMy favourite thing to do for self love is to go to a coffee shop by myself and read and write without any distractions. I also love to go to yoga every week and will often go to coffee after yoga as part of my Sunday ritual. It leaves me feeling refreshed physically and mentally connected to myself!  Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe @drsheilawI have lots of things I do for self care.... one of my favourite has been giving myself permission to take a rest with a nap. Despite the mountain of laundry that’s piled up, the sink full of dishes and more, I find this short quiet time very restorative. Snuggling in with my fur baby helps too!  Alyssa Lioutas @alyssalioutasMotherhood is synonymous with multitasking and I think we all (by nature and necessity) are multitasking queens! That said, my favourite thing to do for self love these days is: anything I like to do without multitasking. It sounds silly, but snuggling up and watching a favourite show without folding laundry, getting a pedicure without answering emails, or trying out a delicious new recipe without simultaneously packing a toddler lunch/cleaning out the fridge/prepping another meal has become the epitome of relaxation! Drinking a coffee without doing anything else? Heaven! I think carving out a little time to slow down a bit is key for self love.  Mavis Huntley @mavylalaWowza, as a new mom, I really understand now what they say about "mom guilt"! I feel like I've spent my last year feeling guilty that I'm not spending time with friends, that I don't call my sister enough, I don't spend enough time at work, I don't spend enough time at home, my partner needs more attention, my house isn't clean enough, I didn't wash my face (or teeth!) before bed, I wasn't going to give Charlie refined sugar (ha!), and of course the "I'm going to work out every day before the baby gets up"! Making me feel that every minute of every day needs to be spent on 'fixing' these things or doing something productive. It's exhausting. So this year I'm striving to #giveuptheguilt and indulge in moments just for me. Yep, watching that episode of Real Housewives instead of answering emails. Yep, I'm going to nap on Saturday when the baby naps. Yep, booking a babysitter so I can go to that restaurant I've been dying to try. And most importantly putting that phone down in the mornings when it's just me and the wee one watching the sun come up.  Solmaz @thecuriouscreatureI truly believe that self love goes deeper than actions and is rooted in our psyche. A few years ago I had a conversation with someone who made me see that, although I deeply empathized with and prioritized the people in my life, I had trouble doing the same for myself. That was a big eyeopener for me so now I practice self love by being more forgiving of myself, by acknowledging my achievements and by being more compassionate towards myself. I find this mentality shift is easier to maintain when I take time to reflect and my three favourite places to that are: during yoga, at the spa and in bed before I fall a sleep.  Ashley Hyslop @ashleydawngrindrodI adore my boys. They are my world. Hearing them laugh is music to my ears. I am, however, a big believer in self love and self care. A happy mama usually means a happy child. It is very important to me to take time out each week to do something I enjoy doing. For me that includes simple things like going to the gym, getting a massage or going for a long walk with my pups (alone). My hubby and I also ensure we have a date night at least once every two weeks. It’s a time for us to connect and catch up without being interrupted by the kids. My husband and I were even lucky enough to jet-set to California this summer to have a 6 nights of just us.  Kaitlyn Leeb @kaitdubzSelf love for me is always changing. Depending on what I can do to get away and do something for myself is sometimes a challenge. When I’m feeling stressed out, I will go to a candlelight yoga class at TYM and close my eyes and spend an hour on myself! Other times I try to run off to a spa or get a massage done. After carrying around a toddler and running after her daily, these things are pretty important to me and help keep me going. It’s super important to remember to take an evening or an afternoon to myself when needed. After all, Mom’ing can be a tough gig at times!  Jena Evans @jenarosemevansSelf love for me is when I am able to get out of the house and reconnect with myself, whether that means going to a Pilates or Yoga class, or taking the time to get some Acupuncture. It's less about what I'm doing and more about the mindset I'm in when I'm doing it. By scheduling some time that is just for me, I feel taken care of and better able to take on my role as a mom!
By Jennifer Yeoman & Michelle Tirmandi Jennifer Yeoman creator of @little_lunch_love joined hearts & heads with Toronto Yoga Mamas' Holistic Nutritionist Michelle Tirmandi to create this beautiful, delicious & healthy Valentine’s Day Cookie recipe. It’s a raspberry macaroon coloured with beets and sweetened with honey. The perfect sweet treat for the little Valentine’s in your life.  Looking For More Snacks Your Littles Will Love? Join Holistic Nutritionist, Michelle Tirmandi and Jennifer Yeoman, creator of @little_lunch_love for a Facebook Live, March Break Snacks Your Littles Will Love
Wednesday, March 14th at 4pm.  In celebration of our month of feeling #loved we have paried up with Canadian Company, Ollie Jones Clothing to giveaway TWO of our exclusive Yoga Mamas with Ollie Jones Loved Onesies.   February may be cold and unyielding, but ‘The Month of Love’ reminds us it’s okay to spend time cozy indoors to enjoy a little romantic indulgence. Whether or not you plan to spend February 14th snuggled up to a sweetheart, Valentines Day is the perfect time to show some love—and don’t forget to include yourself! Today we’re sharing gift ideas inspired by the seven Chakras so you and those you love will feel pampered from root to crown.  Ground Your Root Chakra{Earth & Grounding} The Root Chakra, located at the base of the spine, represents your foundation and sense of security. In the winter, when the earth is covered with snow, a bouquet of freshly cut flowers can help you to reconnect with Mother Nature and remind you of the steady ground that supports you. If you or your loved one has a ‘green thumb’, consider a potted plant that will last until springtime.  Inspire Your Sacral Chakra{Water + Creativity} The Sacral Chakra, found below the navel in the lower abdomen, fosters our sense of abundance, sexuality, and creativity. Associated with the element of water, a delicious loose-leaf tea is sure to inspire! We recommend indulging in a caffeine-free blend by The Honest Leaf. Visit our studio to find: Serene to promote sleep, Nourish for a mineral boost, or Flow for new Mamas. Pair with a cute mug for sweet sipping all winter long!  Feed Your Solar Plexus Chakra{Fire + Will} The Solar Plexus Chakra, located around the upper abdomen and stomach, is your source of confidence, willpower, and self-worth. You can fuel the fires of determination in your life by eating healthy, delicious meals throughout the day. Invest in a photo-filled cookbook, such as “Joyous Detox” by Joy McCarthy, and “Oh She Glows” by Angela Liddon. Available in our studio, these books will keep you whipping up tasty eats morning, noon, and night!  Nurture Your Heart Chakra{Air+Love} The Heart Chakra, found at your heart-center, is the home of all things love, joy, and inner peace. Associated with the element of air, sound vibration can be a powerful tool in opening the ‘chakra of sentiment’, thus welcoming authentic love and meaningful friendships into your life. Singing bowls, which come in small, portable sizes, are used for music making, meditation and relaxation—a harmonious addition to your yoga practice.  Honour Your Throat Chakra{Ether + Communication} The Throat Chakra, located in the (you guessed it) throat, is concerned with communication and self-expression. While speaking your truth is traditionally an exercise of the vocal cords, keeping a regular journal is another way to ‘find your voice’ without the pressure of an audience. Choose a journal that reflects your style and personality, be it a sleek black Moleskin you can tote to work or a bedazzled diary your 12-year-old niece would envy!  Clear Your Third Eye Chakra{Light + Insight} The Third Eye Chakra, found at the forehead between the eyes, connects you to your intuition and inner wisdom, and brings clarity to your purpose in life. Associated with the element of light, the virtues of the Third Eye Chakra can be heightened by closing your eyes and meditating on your spiritual sight. Use an aromatherapy eye pillow to help you relax as you contemplate your life path. If you’re feeling crafty, try your hand at this DIY Lavender Eye Pillow for a personalized creation!  Elevate Your Crown Chakra{Thought + Higher Consciousness}
The Crown Chakra, located at the top of the head, is your gateway to inner and outer beauty, spirituality, and pure bliss. Meditation channeled through the crown can help you align your intensions with the guiding forces of the universe—that’s powerful stuff! Our Manifesting Mama Mala, made with Clear Quartz, is a beautiful meditation aid and a tangible reminder that you have the power to manifest your dreams. This month, as you show your friends and family lots of love layered with intension, we hope you don’t forget to extend yourself the same kindness! Remember to nurture your mind and body, especially during these chilly months, and use these gift suggestions as a way to bring your own chakras back into a state of balance.  February is all about love and we are starting at home by celebrating all the ways we can feel more #loved. How do we love ourselves so that we can in turn love one another? This month we are sharing daily practices, lifestyle medicine and ways in which we can all learn to feel a little more #loved. Self Love For Your Mind Wellness Activities To Make Your Mind Feel #Loved |
 The Mai Lin Mindfulness Bracelet serves as a beautiful reminder to centre yourself and be fully in the moment. Available exclusively in TYM Boutique. |  Do One Thing A Day That Centers You is a journal that will guide you to appreciate the places, people, and experiences that add meaning to your life. Available in TYM Boutique. |
Self Love For Your Body
Wellness Activities To Make Your Body Feel #Loved
Aromatherapy Massage Therapy
Enjoy pure relaxation. Heal the body, regulate mood, blood pressure, digestion, and stress levels with this ancient healing therapy using aromatic essential oils with natural fragrances. Circulation and flexibility are improved while easing tension in the mind, body, and soul.
Inspirational Reads To Make Your Body Feel #Loved
Beautiful Resources To Feel #Loved Within The Body
 Lovefresh Lavender Body Lotion Lovefresh lotion is a rich, non greasy and all natural formula that will moisturize your skin, leaving it feeling hydrated and happy!Available in TYM's Boutique. |  The Honest Leaf Serene Tea Enjoy the smooth, sweet mint flavour of this tea. An excellent tea to enjoy in the evening to calm the mind and the body. Available in TYM's Boutique. |
Self Love For Your Soul
Wellness Activities To Make Your Mind Feel #Loved
Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Medicine can change your life in ways you didn't know were possible by addressing current health issues and prescribing natural remedies to make you feel your best! Dr. Shannon Vander Doelen, Naturopathic Doctor at Yoga Mamas' considers herself a problem solver who aspires to help mamas achieve and sustain their healthiest selves by using a balanced holistic approach. Give yourself the gift of health with
Naturopathic Medicine.
Naturopathic Medicine.
Inspirational Reads To Make Your Soul Feel #Loved
Beautiful Resources To Make You Feel #Loved Within The Soul
 Mama Mala : Nutured The Nurtured Mama Mala wraps you in a soothing and nurturing energy that ensures you take time for yourself when you are consumed by the needs of others Purchase Your Mama Mala |  The Power Of Meaning In a culture obsessed with happiness, this wise, stirring book points the way toward a richer, more satisfying life. Available in TYM's Boutique. |
Want To Feel More #Loved? Look Out For Our #Loved
Instagram Contests Happening All Month Long!
Serene sunsets, cozy sweaters and warm cuddles with family, February is the perfect time of year to be inspired by the love and beauty that surrounds you.
'In the coldest February, as in every other month in every other year, the best thing to hold onto in this world is each other.'
This month we invite you to be a part of our beautiful community by joining us on the mat, at a workshop or one of our many events.
'In the coldest February, as in every other month in every other year, the best thing to hold onto in this world is each other.'
This month we invite you to be a part of our beautiful community by joining us on the mat, at a workshop or one of our many events.
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