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Examining our inner judgments, there are 9 types of bias as shared by educator and author Clay Drinko, is not only opportunities for developing more self-awareness, but is also a way to identify where edges are in the first place.
Yoga and Breathwork Practices for Growing Capacity
These practices are designed to help you connect with your edge while fostering a sense of joy and renewal.
Wild Thing (Camatkarasana)
This heart-opening pose embodies freedom and vitality. As you flow into Wild Thing, you’ll feel a playful release, inviting both physical and emotional renewal.
why self-awareness matters
Psychologists Shelley Duval and Robert Wicklund have formulated this definition of self awareness, "Self-awareness is the ability to focus on yourself and how your actions, thoughts, or emotions do or don't align with your internal standards. If you're highly self-aware, you can objectively evaluate yourself, manage your emotions, align your behavior with your values, and understand correctly how others perceive you."
Our mindset shapes how we perceive and respond to the world. A resilient mindset doesn’t eliminate life’s difficulties but helps us move through them with greater ease, clarity, and agency. Studies have shown yoga and breathwork offer practical tools for building resilience, grounding us in the present moment while enhancing focus and increasing a deeper trust in life.
Resilience isn’t about perfection or control; it’s about showing up and empowered to embrace life, even in the face of mistakes, disappointments, setbacks, or grief. In a recent Andrew Huberman’s podcast episode, he discusses failure triggers the release of dopamine and other neurotransmitters, which are essential for learning and neuroplasticity. He also discusses how movement, including yoga, teaches us that balance and strength emerge through consistent practice, not through instant mastery (or the pursuit of mastery at all). By accepting that there is no final destination, and recognizing that the way we navigate our journey shapes our character and sense of fortitude, we can begin to shift our perspective. Through mindful self-talk and small, daily habits, we can cultivate a deeper capacity for resourcefulness, empathy, and gratitude. Imagine what the impact is as we do this collectively.
As a new year unfolds, we are often pulled toward action—goal setting, planning, doing. But what if the most profound way to begin is to pause? To intentionally step into stillness and allow rest to guide the way? In this quiet beginning, we can reset, align with ourselves, and set a sustainable tone for the year ahead.
The yamas, the first of yoga’s eightfold path, remind us of ethical principles that support inner stillness. For example, Ahimsa (non-harming) encourages us to approach ourselves with compassion, letting go of harsh expectations or fear-based beliefs to “do more” and instead allowing space for stillness so that clarity can emerge. By embodying this principle, we create a foundation for the year that is kind, balanced, and sustainable.
Stillness is not passive; it is rich with possibility. Pausing allows the nervous system to regulate, creating space for our minds and bodies to align naturally. It’s in these moments of quiet reflection that we build the foundation for intentional living. Instead of rushing into the year fueled by adrenaline, we can ground ourselves in practices that invite relaxation and clarity.
Douglas Fir essential oil carries a fresh, invigorating aroma that evokes the crisp scent of a forest after rainfall. This uplifting fragrance is dominated by terpenes like α-pinene, β-pinene, and limonene, which give it a sharp, pine-like quality that is both grounding and energizing. The combination of these terpenes lends Douglas Fir oil its signature clean, woody scent, which can also have subtle hints of citrus, resinous-meets-green-apple sweetness.
The therapeutic qualities of Douglas Fir oil are deeply connected to its molecular structure. α-pinene, known for its anti-inflammatory and respiratory benefits, supports clear breathing and mental clarity. β-pinene is celebrated for its ability to promote relaxation while providing an aromatic bridge to feelings of openness and peace. Limonene, found in the oil, offers a bright, citrus-like note that uplifts the spirit and helps combat stress and anxiety, making it particularly beneficial for emotional balance and mood enhancement.
Ferns are part of a group of plants known as Pteridophytes, which include over 10,000 species. Unlike flowering plants, ferns reproduce through spores and do not produce seeds or flowers. These ancient plants played a significant role in shaping our planet’s ecosystems, and according to the Australian National University, some modern-day coal deposits are believed to be remnants of ancient fern forests.
The fern’s resilience lies in their adaptability. Species like the Bracken Fern and the Staghorn Fern can survive in harsh conditions, including poor soil and limited sunlight, making them a symbol of endurance and perseverance.
Ferns, among the oldest plant species on Earth, are nature’s quiet survivors. With origins dating back more than 360 million years, they’ve thrived through major environmental shifts, even outlasting dinosaurs. Today, these graceful plants can be found in forests, gardens, and homes, offering both beauty and environmental benefits.
Ferns are part of a group of plants known as Pteridophytes, which include over 10,000 species. Unlike flowering plants, ferns reproduce through spores and do not produce seeds or flowers. These ancient plants played a significant role in shaping our planet’s ecosystems, and according to the Australian National University, some modern-day coal deposits are believed to be remnants of ancient fern forests.
The fern’s resilience lies in their adaptability. Species like the Bracken Fern and the Staghorn Fern can survive in harsh conditions, including poor soil and limited sunlight, making them a symbol of endurance and perseverance.
Spending Time with Trees Reduces Cortisol Levels
Welcome to Nectar Yoga Retreat’s wellness blog, where we explore holistic and yoga practices that deepen your connection to nature, self and other relations. If you’ve been on this journey with us, this year on our wellness blog, we’ve been focusing on the mind-body-spirit benefits of plants and certain fungi. This month, we’re spotlighting the alder trees residing on the forest where Nectar is located, and the therapeutic practice of forest bathing with these majestic trees.
The Healing Power of Forest Bathing
Forest bathing, or "Shinrin-yoku" from its Japanese origins, is more than just a walk in the woods. It’s a mindful practice of immersing oneself in the forest atmosphere, engaging all the senses, and finding solace in one’s relationality with all of nature. Studies have shown that being among alder trees and other trees in the form of forest bathing significantly lowers cortisol levels—the body’s primary stress hormone. This reduction in cortisol is linked to decreased blood pressure, improved mood, and enhanced immune function, making forest bathing one of the most effective relaxation techniques available.
Read below to learn more about Turkey Tail mushroom, including:
Turkey tail mushroom benefits
Turkey tail mushroom identification and look alikes
Turkey tail mushroom benefits for skin
Where to buy Turkey tail mushroom
Turkey tail’s spiritual significance
Nectar’s own adaptogenic chai recipe with Turkey tail mushroom
If you are familiar with general Ayurvedic practices and the three doshas (where you may also hear of vata body type, kapha body type, and pitta body type), you already know that the summer corresponds to the Pitta season.
If you want to learn some of the fundamentals of the doshas, we cover that in “The Three Doshas Defined.”
As we retune our inner rhythm to the energies surrounding our own and the seasonal Pitta dosha this season, we explore the principles surrounding the Yama, Satya.
Are you curious about the Raja yoga system and more details about the Yamas and Niyamas? We outline everything in our blog post, “Overview of the Raja Yoga System.”
Read below to learn more about Burdock, including:
What Burdock looks like
How to forage for Burdock
The versatility of Burdock and why it's often recommended by herbalists
A profile of what burdock root tastes like
Various methods for preparing Burdock at home, including five nourishing (and delicious) recipes, including a Burdock Root tea recipe and how to make kinpira gobo (braised Burdock Root).
and more
At its core, Isvara Pranidhana calls upon us to release our grip on the illusion of control. The practice urges us to let go of the ceaseless pursuit of ego-driven ambitions and the false belief in our hyper-individuality-based abilities. Here at Nectar Yoga Retreat, sitting with humility as a teacher is a lifelong journey.
While all parts of the plant are edible, each should be harvested at specific times for optimal flavor. Here’s how to get the best leaves, roots, and flowers from your dandelions.
Drinking a coffee substitute made from dandelion root benefits you by providing a nutritious hot drink without caffeine.
Aparigraha is one of the five Yamas, or ethical guidelines, found in the 8 Limbs of Yoga by Patanjali. It is often translated as "non-possessiveness" or "non-grasping", Aparigraha encourages us to cultivate a sense of detachment from material possessions and desires. By embracing the principles of Aparigraha, we can reduce stress, increase mindfulness, and live a more fulfilling life.
Here on Bowen Island, Foxgloves are typically in bloom starting in late May lasting to late June or early July, displaying their showy, tubular blooms in vibrant hues of purple, pink, white, and yellow that stand out in woodlands and other grassy or forested habitats.
The Latin name Digitalis purpurea, from which the 'digitalis' chemical derives its name, is utilized in medicine for managing blood pressure and heart conditions. Nonetheless, it's crucial to note that all parts of the Foxglove are toxic if consumed. Despite this, the appeal of the Digitalis genus, which boasts 20 diverse species of Foxgloves, remains undiminished. Perhaps it's their enchanting beauty juxtaposed with their toxic nature that captivates. Since 'digitalis' originates from 'digitus', meaning finger, this could symbolize the plant's allure, as if its delicate blooms (or fingers) are beckoning humans to engage with it spiritually.
As we steward this beautiful 20 acre Bowen Island forest that we gratefully call home here in the Pacific Northwest, we find that this land, along with its trees, streams, and even what we may commonly call weeds, including Yarrow and Dandelion, captivate and enchant us. Plants possess a distinct vitality, each species resonating with its unique energy. As we synchronize with these local plants, we discover a profound connection to our own inner spirits. We can’t wait to welcome you to your next visit to Nectar.
Known for its stinging leaves, Nettle is a herbaceous perennial that offers a myriad of benefits ranging from environmental rewilding to medicinal uses and even spiritual significance. Nectar Yoga Retreat’s wellness blog also includes lesser known fun facts, and three nettle tea recipes that do wonders for our complexions and general vitality.
Beyond appreciating them in cooking, what are oyster mushrooms good for? Pleurotus varieties are saprotrophs that are involved in providing nutrition to its ecosystem as a primary decomposer of wood, especially deciduous trees, and beech trees in particular, though here in the Pacific Northwest, oyster mushrooms are also seen growing on dying hardwood trees. Their saprophytic function benefits the forest by returning vital elements and minerals to the environment in forms that are usable to other plants, other organisms, and general soil biology.
Pine trees, belonging to the genus Pinus spp., stand as stalwart guardians in the forest network. These evergreen conifers, characterized by their needle-like leaves and distinctive cones, possess an enduring visual and fragrant allure. Their presence is woven intricately into the fabric of our ecosystem, offering both tangible and intangible gifts to the environment and its inhabitants, including here at Nectar Yoga Retreat on Bowen Island.
Mosses’ diminutive size belies their resilience, tenacity, and ecological significance. Mosses are essential for retaining soil and moisture (as much as 40 times their weight), preventing erosion, and providing homes, insulation, and sustenance for various organisms in their ecosystems, including at Nectar Yoga Retreat on Bowen Island.
At the core of Svadhyaya lies the act of self-reflection. Through inner reflection, we gain insight into the tapestry of our thoughts and emotions, and how they play a role in our habits and experiences. All over the world, where yoga and mindfulness is practice, including right here at Nectar Yoga Retreat on Bowen Island, BC, we face our vulnerabilities, our joys and our sorrows, with a sense of clarity and acceptance. Encountering ourselves demands courage, a willingness to stay in the present, and with fully open eyes to witness our complexity and paradoxes.
The practice of Tapas within yogic tradition encompasses various dimensions of our lives. It includes the discipline of our physical bodies, through practices such as asana (yoga postures), pranayama (breath control), what we expose ourselves energetically to, and healthful lifestyle choices. It extends to the habits of our minds, where we cultivate mindfulness, focus, and the ability to observe our thoughts without being consumed or controlled by them. Tapas is something we cultivate as individuals as well as in community, such as on a creative, corporate, or movement retreat at Nectar Yoga on Bowen Island, BC.
As we surrender ourselves to the observance of Santosha, we discover that contentment is not a destination to be reached, much like how Saucha is also not an arrival point, but a way of being—a way of embracing the fullness of life with hearts wide open. This practice may not make us immune to undesirable situations in our lives, but it can sweeten our perspectives, inner stories, and how we respond to the insatiable demands of our need for gratification. May contentment be part of what anchors us to ourselves, to each other, and to the divine presence that dwells within us and among us. In many ways, this is both a personal and community practice, something that can be cultivated at home, and also further amplified (or activated) at a nature retreat here at Nectar Yoga on Bowen Island, BC. There is something profoundly powerful when you are witnessed by others, and when you witness others cultivate Santosha with intention.
The practice of Saucha extends to our relationship with the land. It means centering and learning from the Indigenous groups, such as the Coast Salish peoples, and traditional earth-relating cultures. It calls for mindful consumption, reducing waste, and living in harmony with animals, plants, air, waterways, and other elements in Nature. It means a return to living and consuming seasonally. By being conscious of our ecological footprint, we acknowledge that humans are here for a reason, and to not waste this opportunity to steward this Earth. Saucha reinvites us back to circular living.
Here at Nectar Yoga Retreat on Bowen, in the beautiful Pacific Northwest of Canada, we are blessed with an abundance of different flora and fauna, each lending its unique properties to our environments. Guests staying with us through our Nectar Experience Packages or attending our day / evening events or overnight spiritual retreats often share how the presence of trees during their Bowen Island getaway makes a lasting impression on their wellness within.
As part of the living yoga practice and our commitment to being stewards of the land, part of our practice of Svadhyaya, the Yama translating to self-study, is learning the wisdom of the trees.