“YogaTribes® is free to the teachers and super accessible worldwide. This unique, collaborative platform brings together traditions and practices from around the world to unite and educate.”
-Elena Brower
Grace, luminosity, and alchemy: these words still resonate deep within my soul long after the two powerful Elena Brower yoga classes I attended last week during the YogaTribes® Sound Off Class at Yoga Expo™ in Montreal.
Beautifully organized, the Montreal Yoga Expo™ showcased vendors and exhibitors from the local yoga community, various brands including health foods, eco beauty and fashion, as well as wellness retreats and so much more.
As a YogaTribes® ambassador, I had the pleasure to attend our co-sponsored Sound Off event on Saturday. It was an experience to be remembered.
If you haven’t yet tried a yoga class enhanced by this ultra-sensory technology, a sound off wireless headphone headset allows you to be fully immersed in your own practice by tuning into the teacher’s voice and the music. The effect is pure bliss: no distractions, no outside noise. Just you connected to the divine.
Elena’s beautiful practice was enhanced by the soulful beats of DJ serious Black who mixes an entrancing combination of rap, world, soul, reggae, electronic, and trip hop. Think Erika Badu mixed with DJ Drez and Fanny Bloom.
Elena began her class by speaking about grace and asking us to consider how we can bring more of it into our lives. Now, I ask myself this question daily.
She also spoke of luminosity and it’s no surprise given how luminous and radiant she looks. Her contagious energy and vibes can be felt from miles away.
There’s no question that a regular yoga practice adds more grace and luminosity to my life. Elena also quoted beautiful passages from Mark Nepo’s most recent book, one of my favorite authors.
The second class I attended on the Sunday was entitled Alchemy. It was both an exhilarating and challenging sequence of poses that builds consistency, inner strength and is detoxifying to both the mind and organs. I was particularly interested in her teachings on how yoga serves to alchemize our thoughts, beliefs, negative patterns and blocks into the real truth about ourselves and permits us to show up to our real, authentic selves and our mission. These words really resonated with me.
An interesting fact: Elena began her career in textile design, something near and dear to my heart, before leaving it behind to make yoga her calling. Her latest ventures include Teach.Yoga, a global hub of content and inspiration created by yoga teachers, for yoga teachers, something near to the Yoga Tribes philosophy.
She is also the author of a beautiful self-practice guide, The Art of Attention, as well her most recent book, Practice You.
She gracefully and generously took the time to answer our questions below. May these answers add a touch of grace and luminosity to your world.
1) Do you have a favorite mantra for living?
Be honest. Apologize. Forgive.
2) A favorite quote?
BELIEVE.
3) What is your morning ritual?
Move, sit, write, make art, wake the boys, make the breakfast, get to work, and love my team.
4) Do you have any special/favorite objects that you carry with you to enhance your yoga practice?
I always have at least one crystal and at least one bottle of Essential Oils.
5) What is your favorite book?
So many. Right now it’s Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Kimmerer.
6) What are the secrets /keys to self-acceptance and self-love?
See #1. Those three are the keys to the kingdom.
7) Do you have a sacred food? A special recipe/diet that helps to keep you aligned?
Buddha Bowl!
8) What is your favorite Kundalini yoga kriya?
By far, Sodarshan Chakra Kriya. On that for years.
9) You began your career in the fashion industry. What are your thoughts about this industry now? Are you into eco-fashion, recycling, etc? Who are your favorite designers?
Isabel Marant hands down.
10) Anything you would like to share with our readers?
See #2. ALWAYS.
For more on Elena Brower
Practice You
Art of Attention
Audio Meditations
dōTERRA
Isabelle Lafleche
I’m a writer and the author of the novels J’adore New York, J’adore Paris, and J’adore Rome. You can follow me on my blog, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and on my website.
