Thursday

Ever since I received my little purple camera, I`ve been enamored with photography.  That purple camera came into my possession at the age of 15.  I took pictures of everything and everyone.   Piles of photo albums began to adorn my shelf and I was shutter happy. My love for photography continued through College and through my extended travels in Europe, South East Asia and India.  Although I am not sure where that little camera has gone to I still find myself behind the lens of my cannon Rebel. I am grateful for digital photos as I no longer have to use paper for my pics.  Being creative makes me happy.  Here are some photos I took a few weeks ago on a nature walk in the magical woods of Lac St. Antoine.

Wednesday

I had another great weekend with the Funky Mamas.  If you attended one of their 5 shows this weekend in the Ottawa area you know that they are indeed funky! They dress with splashes of colour and are great on stage and off. I am so grateful to have had a backstage pass and the opportunity to spend all weekend with these inspiring women.  They are simply down to earth and nice.  Between the 5 of them their children range from the ages of 8 to 18 and they have an abundance of experience and wisdom.  I am ever so grateful for their advice and nurturing ways.  Thank you Mamas!!!

Next month they will be traveling to Iqaluit spreading their love for music to the small and big people of Northern Canada.  Keep spreading the joy ladies, you rock!

Sunday

 SANTOSHA RADIANT CHILD ADVENTURE-YOGA CAMP 2010
List of Excellent Adventures:
June 28- June 30th – 3 day week. (Camp is closed for July 1st and 2nd)
Summer Camp Begins! - Work together and live together in harmony. Get to know one another through co-operative games and an introduction to yoga. This week will set the tone for the following weeks of creative exploration.  Campers will discuss, share and discover what creativity and passion means to them.  They will walk away with an understanding of what it is they feel “passionate about.” They will feel empowered to walk to the beat of their own drum, and feel free to be themselves!  Together we will have a look at the coming weeks of the camp and campers will give their input. They will be pioneers and leaders in the very first Santosha Yoga Camp!
Campers signed up for this week get a free t-shirt!


July 5- 9th
Musical Beings, find your beat!  Drumming, enviro beats creating instruments with things around us, learn to play the jembe, didgeridoo and jam.  We will select a charity of our choice and a fundraiser will begin with our talent show at the end of the week. A trip to the Museum of Civilization completes the week.

July 12th- 16th-
Inhale! Exhale! I Express myself!- Have fun with a local music teacher and learn how to sing.  Learn the art of communication, through the art of listening. We will invent our own songs and sing them and learn the art of story telling. The week will end with an adventure to Little Rays Reptiles Zoo where we will see amazing animals!

July 19- 22nd
Smile Week! Turn your frown upside down :) Smiles will shine from ear- to- ear as we learn the art of face painting, and hooping. This week’s adventures will be coordinated with the Annual Ottawa Busker's Festival on Sparks Street. Wednesday is “Little Red nose day” and we will be having so many laughs when we meet a clown and dress up. Our smile will spread to the local community!

July 26-29th
Green Week! Let’s take Action! It's fun to be green as we adventure to the Byward Market, take a nature walk through Fletcher Park Ottawa's very own nature reserve and explore the new exhibits at the Museum of Nature.  We will also celebrate indigenous people throughout the world, brain- storm on ideas to spread awareness in our local community and create posters that reflect this awareness. August 19th is World Nature Conservation Day which we will celebrate at Brewer Park.

Aug. 2nd- 6th (Long Weekend) CLOSED ON Aug. 2th.
Healthy Beings! How good we feel when we eat a healthy diet, are physically active and emotionally balanced.  A week filled with yoga, anatomy and physical activities such as soccer, track & field day, swimming at Plant Bath and more activities that promote a healthy state of being.   August 3rd is Friendship Day and we will create friendship cards which we will later distribute as volunteers at a local home for the elderly.  It feels good to help others! We end the week with an amazing healthy raw food lunch on Friday.

Aug. 9- 12th
Performing Arts!  Ready, Set, Action!  A great week of creative expression! Work as a team to write a script, direct and perform!  We will also adventure and see behind-the-scenes of a real production  and performance.  International Youth Day is August 12th and August 13th parents can come and be spectators at our play!

Aug. 16th-19th
Creative Beings - Art is all around us!  We will celebrate world photography day with a visit to the photography museum and learn to observe picture making and it's elements.  A professional photographer will show us new skills and information on how to use light and composition. We will see a dark room where photos are developed.  Discover the beauty of fine arts with a visit to the Art Gallery.  Play with different mediums of art such as felting, painting, sketching and photographs.  The week will finish by turning Santosha Elgin Yoga Studio into our very own art gallery!!!
Aug. 23rd-27th
Dance! Dance! Dance! - Jazz, hip-hop, creative movement, feel the energetic flow of your limbs and body.  Become a dance being and take classes this week with a skilled and qualified professional dance teacher.  Learn to move and groove to different beats and dance disciplines.  Adventure to Victoria Island to witness our own native dance moves with a pow wow and special picnic.
Aug. 30 – Sept. 3(last week before school)
Magic is all around us!  Bring your favourite book ! We use our imaginations and talk about magic. We learn about botany and the power of plant life that surrounds us! Did you know that plantain, that weed in our grass, is nature's band aid?  Read the infamous Harry Potter as a group, discuss and review! Adventure to 5305 Bank Street to Radical Science where hours of fun experiments await!

Thursday

Santosha Adventure-Yoga Camp

I am on another adventure of learning and growing!  I am planing and organizing a fun  unique  summer camp with a creative team of professionals! Read the synopsis below and have a look at the website.  My life is so amazing as I am always offered these great opportunities to have fun and grow with! Blessings to you!

"SANTOSHAYOGA CENTER which opened 6 months ago at 298 Elgin St. at Gilmour invites 16 lucky children to participate in it's first ever - SANTOSHA RADIANT CHILD ADVENTURE-YOGA CAMP (6 to 10yrs.)! Your child will spend a beautiful summer exploring their "creativity" through “unique expression” within the world of art, music, yoga, acting and dance. (1 wk. 1 month or 10 weeks.) Info./bookings: 613-237-7447 info@santoshayoga.com  / www.santoshayoga.com."

Wednesday

I love spending time with my children in the forest, by water or on bike rides, exploring and being in the wide open.  When we are out among the trees we get swept up into a beautiful space of companionship. We revel in the small things like budding trees, flowering plants and the joy of running and splashing through water.  This past weekend was a weekend that allowed itself to this sort of adventure.  We walked, climbed, swam in a cold lake and enjoyed each others company.  In these moments I revel in my children and I love being a mother.