Yoga for Vitality

Yoga for Vitality (8 Hatha classes)

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Course
8 Lessons

Enjoy 8 eclectic classes designed to increase your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual vitality. Each 75-minute class is divided into 4 parts: 5-10 minute Dharma talk exploring a Yama or Niyama (Right Living) 10 minutes of breath work or mindfulness 40 minutes of movement, be it a Gentle Hatha Flow, Yin or a Kundalini Kriya 15-20 minutes of relaxation, such as guided imagery, body scans or restorative yoga

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Have you been feeling low on energy?

You’re not alone.

On top of the personal stressors we all face, in the northern hemisphere, we are in a change of season, which can destabilize our sleep patterns and take a toll on our immune systems. Add to this our collective post-pandemic grief, trauma and exhaustion, and it’s no wonder our energy feels zapped.

The good news is that we have more power than we may realize over how good we can feel. Every effort in favour of our well-being counts!

We can counter stress and fill our energy tanks to overflow through community support, radical self-compassion, and replenishing practices. So, if you are ready to make an energetic shift toward greater vitality, I warmly invite you to register for my Yoga for Vitality series.

Much love,
Melanie

How the practices will serve to support you.

This series is designed with great empathy and understanding of what you - what we - are going through together. And I can say with conviction that if you carve out this precious time for yourself, the practices will give back to you exponentially.

Classes are carefully curated to meet your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs.

Each seventy-five-minute class gets divided into four parts:

5-10 minute Dharma talk on the theme of the class
10 minutes of breathwork or mindfulness
40 minutes of movement, be it Yin Yoga, a gentle Hatha flow, or a Kundalini Kriya
15-20 minutes of relaxation, such as guided imagery, body scans or restorative yoga

We will nurture our frazzled nervous systems back to life with a balance of practices to restore, regulate and strengthen them.

The new 75-minute format allows you the time to really sink into the practices and enjoy the benefits in an unhurried way.

Beginners are welcome.

Class Themes

The Yoga Sutras teach us that our true nature is joy. When we align with our true nature, we naturally experience our birthright of abundant, vital life-force energy. Therefore, the class themes will center around the first two limbs of the eight-fold path of Yoga, the Yamas (reflection of our true nature) and the Niyama (codes for living soulfully) to guide us back home to our true Selves - our wellspring of energy.

Vitality Masterclass and Q&A

with Mindfulness coach David Behrens.

What is low energy from the perspective of the Eastern Wisdom teachings? How can we shift out of an energetic slump and tap into our natural vitality? David will answer these questions and more during his masterclass.

About David Behrens

For the last 12 years, David has worked with top London clinics in functional medicine, psychology and psychiatry, specializing in mindfulness and meditation programs for mental and emotional health, stress management and resilience, and freedom from addictive behaviours.

David brings a wealth of expertise from nearly 30 years as a teaching monk at a school of yoga in India, where he taught meditation retreats and studied eastern and yogic philosophies, Ayurveda medicine, homeopathy and nutrition.

David is presently teaching regularly for the NHS Recovery College of Gloucestershire for Mental Health Recovery and leading one-month mindfulness-based substance abuse recovery programs for the Nelson Trust.

He transitioned from his monastic life in 2007 to further his studies of mindfulness and homeopathy. Through his in-depth knowledge of Mindfulness and Meditation, he has developed a therapeutic model to serve Mental Health Recovery, Relapse Prevention and Pain & Stress Management.

David Behrens on the Healing Power of the Breath.

How the series' structure will serve to support you:

Live Zoom classes facilitate commitment and community.

Our Wednesday live Zoom classes offer a welcome hump day lunch break to recenter from the beginning of the week and reset our energy for the rest of the week.

Joining the live classes allows you to connect with a supportive community. Log in early for an informal check-in and chat, and stay an extra few minutes after class to ask questions and express individual needs.

On-demand replays make it easy to find the practices you love and do them on your own time, again and again.

Within twenty-four hours of the live class, a succinctly edited version of the recording gets uploaded to HappyTree’s platform.

In the description below the class recording, you will find the class theme and a time stamp for each practice for easy, quick referencing. This way, you'll be able to enjoy the whole class or skip forward to one portion of it for a shorter practice that meets your needs at that moment.

The class and masterclass recordings will be available to you on demand for three months after the series ends! Do the classes whenever you like, as many times as you like, all spring and summer long.

Tips for practicing yoga at home

This series is an opportunity to create a sacred space in your home. It doesn't have to be big - it could be the corner of a room (I even have a friend who meditates in his closet! 😉).

The energy of peace and calm builds over time when we return to the same place to practice. I recommend having a few meaningful objects in your space, be it plants, candles, crystals or photographs. You might even find your pets want to join you! 😸

Suggested props

Practically speaking, here are some props you will find helpful for your practice.

Yoga mat
2 yoga blocks
2-3 folded blankets
A strap or scarf
A bolster or stack of folded blankets
A chair
A small amount of wall space

Now for a bit of administration. 🤓

Register by pressing the "Buy now" button at the top of the page. You will be prompted to enter your email and select your payment method (PayPal, Visa or Mastercard). If you prefer to pay by e-transfer or cash, please email melanie@happytreeyoga with your request.
A day before the course starts, you will be emailed a Zoom link and calendar invite for all eight classes (this information can also be found on the course page after you register). Click the link to join the live classes on Wednesdays at noon, starting April 19th!
Each class will be uploaded to the HappyTree platform within 24 hours of the live event. Access them anytime, as often as you like, by logging in to the platform with your email and password and resuming the course. You will have access to the series on demand until September 8th, 2023. 😊

About Melanie

Founder and Director of HappyTree Yoga [Est. 2007], Melanie leads Hatha, Yin and Gentle Yoga Teacher Training programs. She is a passionate speaker, writer and workshop leader (TEDx Montreal Women, Hatley, MUHC Conferences, Lymphoma Canada, Cirque du Soleil, Expo Yoga Quebec, Wanderlust Tremblant) on the topics of yoga and meditation. She teaches with both empathy and humour, fostering an inclusive learning environment. Melanie believes in Yoga as a path of transformation, with service and compassion at its heart. To learn more about Melanie, visit

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What people are saying about Melanie's online classes.

Rachelle M.

"You are my favourite yoga teacher ever because you convey such great kindness and compassion, which helps us learn to be more compassionate with ourselves. I have had anxiety and body image issues my whole life, and your classes are a safe place for someone with a bigger body. I not only felt comfortable but empowered to do more yoga!"

Joan G.

“That was an amazing hour. It took me to a very happy, calm place. I needed that. Thank you, Melanie.”

Linda V.

“I want to say thank you for your beautiful series. It was exactly what my body and spirit needed at this time. I very much enjoyed how you crafted the course and the themes for each class. Each one provided a reflection to take us further into the teachings.”

Ildiko H.

"It is always a pleasure to tune in to your classes, and I am already looking forward to your next series. Your classes always keep me centred and focused on my health. Thank you again for sharing your precious insights, wisdom and expert yoga advice with us."

Diana H.

"I have love, love, loved both your online course and being in your presence for an hour a week.

You are incredible, and the work clearly comes from your heart."

Kat T.

"Melanie's compassion, kindness and teachings always help to guide me back to my heart. I'm forever grateful."

Soraya R.

"I feel like I just slept for 10 hours, rejuvenated and ready for a fresh new day. Can't wait to do this one again! Thank you!!"

Ruth I.

"Today’s class was over the moon! Thanks for another epic class."

Irene A.

"Great Kundalini meditation. I LOVED it! Each class just keeps getting better and better. Thank you, Melanie!"

Yoga for Vitality Classes

7 Hatha + 1 Kundalini Class

Ahimsa (Non-harming): Tender Self-Compassion Break, Affectionate Breathing, Gentle Hatha to Warm Up the Joints

Satya (Truthfulness): Vagal Breathing, Sound Meditation, Yin + Yang Sequence for Hips and Back

Asteya (Non-Stealing): Neck Mobility, Spinal Warm Up, Alternate Nostril Breathing, Standing Warrior Sequence, Guided Body Scan

Brahmacharya (Right Use of Energy): Anapana Meditation, Spinal Warm Ups, Classic Sun Salutations, Hip Openers, Restorative

Aparigraha (Non-Grasping): Gratitude Meditation, Pranayama with Breath Retentions, Yin Yoga for Spine and Hips

Saucha (Purity): Ujaii, Bhastrika, Oms, Warm Ups, Lion's Breath, Back and Core Strength, Restorative

Santosha (Contentment): Jnana Mudra, Contentment Meditation, 4-stroke Breath, Shoulder Mobility, Sun Salutations, Eagle Pose, Hip Openers, Restorative

Tapas (Self-Discipline): Breath of Fire, Kundalini - Ego Eradicator, Surya Kriya