a small path in the forest

Our Lineage

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all Wisdom - Aristotle

Honoring our lineage is an important part of understanding and sharing who we are and how we founded our belief structure. We have done our best to provide a clear picture of the historical look of the discovery of yoga. We also acknowledge that it is a brief and incomplete history.

Yoga is a gift of discovery, where through connecting within, listening with curiosity, and compassion we are able to be with ourselves as we truly are.

Our Founder's Journey

My journey and lineage began in 1990 with Hatha Yoga in Vancouver, BC. I was 16 and in a time of deep pain in my life. I remember the day so vividly. I was with a dear friend who I now see was very scared that she did not know how to help me. So, she asked me to come to yoga. Those first moments on my mat created a foundation of healing, compassion, and self-study that is still a part of my practice today.

I have deep gratitude for my teacher’s grace, love, and unconditional listening. She took me under her wing and offered to train me. I had no intention of becoming a teacher. At this moment in my life, it was simply what I needed to find my whole, complete, and authentic self within. I have a great love for my first teacher and for the beautiful gift she shared with me. In many ways, she saved my life.

Continuing my Practice 

Over the next 30 years, I continued my practice by taking workshops, reading, and attending retreats. I took a 200-hour Embodiment Yoga training founded in Viniyoga and completed my certification in Thai Massage Therapy and Yoga Therapy. During this time, several memorable teachers showed up just as I needed them. Rod Stryker, where I discovered the profound peace of meditation. Gary Kraftsow, where I discovered ViniYoga. Jon Kabat-Zinn, where I discovered Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. 

Many other teachers showed up, like Denise Holden in Cranbrook, BC., who helped me rediscover my practice. Fun Fact, Denise’s lineage stems from Integral Yoga with Sri Swami Satchidananda, the teacher who taught Yoga at Woodstock, and yes, I wish I had experienced that!

In conclusion, through Tapas (discipline), I discovered consistency in compassionate self-love and loving-kindness. And through the wisdom developed in practicing Svadhyaya (study of self) has been the source of knowing what there is to restore to complete self. Most importantly, the contentment of Santosha is to know that the journey to mastery is the journey of my lifetime.

Melanie

Life of Wellness Institute Lineage