Author Archives: zenwithgwen

Winter Newsletter

Happy Solstice everyone! Many winter posts begin by gently talking about how the season calls us to turn inward, but honestly my biology forces me to pull inside myself like a turtle. I am so, so, sooo tired despite the ambition to end the year well, enjoy the festivities and start the new year onContinue reading “Winter Newsletter”

Thursday Thoughts: Your Bathroom Lighting is All Wrong

Here we are again with another edition of Thursday Thoughts – my version of mildly inflammatory clickbait. I’m sure your bathroom ambiance is just fine but… could it be better? You Need to Improve Bathroom Lighting for Better Sleep and a Healthier Circadian Rhythm Tips and concepts from me, a yoga therapist with a specialtyContinue reading “Thursday Thoughts: Your Bathroom Lighting is All Wrong”

Thursday Thoughts: You Are Darkness Deprived

This post will be a short one inspired by the spooky season, the shorter hours of daylight, and – gasp! – the night we set the clocks back is just around the corner already. By now, most of us have heard the benefits of sunlight, especially in the early morning to set our circadian rhythm.Continue reading “Thursday Thoughts: You Are Darkness Deprived”

Autumn Newsletter

Every summer I spend my birthday at the CNE, or what us Toronto folks call The Ex. 🍂 It’s the first day of fall, y’all! After a hot, dry summer, a huge rainstorm rolled through last night, and I woke up to a world that had shifted. The air was cool, the clouds created thatContinue reading “Autumn Newsletter”

Thursday Thoughts: September is the better January

Ah, the start of a fresh school year. The life-long student in me delights at the excuse to buy a new notebook and set my sights on what I would like to achieve next, while the self-employed part of me sneaks off into a micro-sabbatical each year during the first week of school. I’m luckyContinue reading “Thursday Thoughts: September is the better January”

Thursday Thoughts: You Do Not Need to be SleepMaxxing

Sleepmaxxing: a social media trend characterized by experimenting with gadgets, supplements and other hacks to achieve the perfect night’s sleep. Sleepmaxxing is having its day in the sun with influencers on every platform sipping tart cherry juice and spouting the benefits red light. As a yoga therapist who specializes in sleep, I find this trendContinue reading “Thursday Thoughts: You Do Not Need to be SleepMaxxing”

Book review: “A Whole New Mind” by Dan Pink

Book Review: A Whole New Mind by Dan PinkWhat Yoga Therapy, Empathy, and AI Have in Common I’m such a fan girl I can’t stop talking about Dan Pink, even in my yoga classes where I get to share Dan’s “science meets soul” research, anecdotes and thoughts for applying it to your life or yogaContinue reading “Book review: “A Whole New Mind” by Dan Pink”

Thursday Thoughts: You Shouldn’t Be Meditating First Thing In the Morning

I can’t tell you the number of times I have tried to stick to a morning meditation routine and failed. I’m highly motivated by all the research and stories of how morning meditation can improve mood and focus, relieve stress and pretty much change your life. But here’s the thing: any time I try, IContinue reading “Thursday Thoughts: You Shouldn’t Be Meditating First Thing In the Morning”

Thursday Thoughts: The Ancient Yogis Would Have a Thing or Two to Say About ChatGPT

Is this image AI generated? Of course. See how many “hallucinations” or errors you can find. I am still basking in the warm glow that comes from leading a traing-the-trainer style webinar on Tuesday night. Even at this point in my career, I am pleasantly surprised that people want to hear me share my twoContinue reading “Thursday Thoughts: The Ancient Yogis Would Have a Thing or Two to Say About ChatGPT”