Press Kit - Moksha Yoga

MOKSHA YOGA WESTSHORE
MEDIA KIT
CONTACT:
Moksha Yoga Westshore
#311, 895 Langford Parkway
Victoria, BC V9B 4V5
mokshayogawestshore.com
www.facebook.com/MokshaYogaWestshore
@mokshawestshore
YouTube.com/mokshayogavideo
Pinterest.com/MokshaYoga
Media Contact:
Darci Nyal, Director
Moksha Yoga Westshore
311, 895 Langford Parkway,
Meet the clean, green hot yoga series that’s changing the way yogis come to the mat,
and definitely the way they leave it.
MOKSHA MEANS
FREEDOM
And that’s how it all started. Looking for freedom. From stiff muscles or self-judgment or extra weight or an unhealthy addiction to Instagram.
Moksha was founded in 2004 by a duo of environmental activists and hot yoga enthusiasts inspired to make the tangible
benefits of hot yoga (yoga practiced in a room heated over 95°F) accessible to a broader group of people. From hockey
players to office workers to moms-to-be to people living with health challenges such as back pain, depression, poor digestion
or insomnia, Moksha offers support and relief.
The first Moksha studio in Toronto, Ontario set the standard: high-design, energy efficient studios using the finest reclaimed
and sustainable materials, donation-based classes for charity, and a dedication to fostering a community of active, socially
conscious yogis.
Moksha Yoga Westshore will be the 74th studio to open its doors and change the Langford and area community. Catering to students most unlikely to walk into a studio, Directors Heather MacLeod and Darci Nyal both agree, “Mostly, we hear
men and women frequently say that yoga isn’t for them. It stems from the stereotype that yoga is only for the remarkably
flexible, hip and young. We are breaking traditional rules with what we’re offering, and proud of it. We’ve taken into great
consideration that when somebody walks into the studio and takes one of our 60, 75, or 90 minute classes, we want to hear
them say, ‘yes, this is my kind of yoga’.
. . WE ARE BREAKING TRADITIONAL RULES
WITH WHAT WE ARE OFFERING, AND PROUD OF IT.
MOKSHA’S
7 PILLARS
Moksha stands for 7 key philosophies that drive who we are on and off the mat:
BE HEALTHY
BE ACCESSIBLE
LIVE GREEN
COMMUNITY
SUPPORT
REACH OUT
LIVE TO LEARN
BE PEACE
Health is what lets us enjoy everything else. Bringing awareness to what we eat makes
a huge difference on the mat.
Yoga is for all body types, political views, crazy outfits. Moksha speaks so that real people
can understand, and have fun.
Protect and serve the planet that gives us air, water and a stunningly beautiful home we
share with 7 Billion other people.
Sangha means community. Maintaining our connection to one another makes for a happier,
more passionate world.
The ancient concept of karma. We choose to do good and each year raise over $500,000 for
social and environmental charities.
How boring would life be if we decided we already knew everything we needed? We are all
students, and all teachers.
The Dalai Lama once said, “We can never obtain peace in the world until we make peace
with ourselves.” The benefits of this practice can be of benefit to all.
THE MOKSHA SERIES
Moksha Yoga Westshore’s hot room will allow for joints to soften for a deeper stretch and get a good detoxifying sweat
going. All classes are rooted in the Moksha Yoga series, though individual teachers are encouraged to bring their own
unique knowledge and experience to every class.
Here’s what you can expect in a Moksha class:
• Cool, clean floors - never carpet
• Fans offering gentle circulation
• Hospital-grade filtration systems for the purest air possible
• A dark, quiet room to begin and end each class
• Invigorating cardio yoga style
• Room temperature set just above body temperature to expel
toxins from the mind, body and skin
Though specific postures will vary class to class ( unlike in other hot yoga styles ),
the Moksha Series is consistent:
• Savasana: corpse pose, an opening challenge in relaxation
• Intention Setting: a focus for the class, either a physical part
of the body or a behavioral theme, like balance
• Standing Series: a set of cardiovascular postures building strength,
stability and endurance
• Floor Series: after warming the body, a focus on opening the hips,
spine and abdominal muscles
• Final Savasana: ending as it began, leaving with peace and rejuvenation
THE MOKSHA DIRECTORS OF WESTSHORE
DARCI NYAL | director, mother, hiker, snowboarder
Darci is an avid student and teacher who feels that yoga doesn’t stop once you
get off your mat. It’s a lifestyle, a way of living, and a way of taking care of those
around you. With an unwavering attention to detail and an innate curiosity about
the human body, Darci is a dedicated student of the Moksha Yoga community,
working with Moksha Victoria during the day and a teacher by night. Raised in a
flow based community, Darci has studied Moksha, Moksha Flow, Yin, and Moksha
Level Two under the guidance of Angela Zawada and the greater Moksha Yoga
faculty.
Darci’s background includes working for Moksha Yoga International for 2 years,
supporting all studios world-wide, and managing Moksha’s biggest off-the matt
challenge in 2012 where she helped raise nearly $100,000 for Free the Children.
Her life’s passion has been to move to the coast and preserve as much of this
beautiful land as she can before her time is complete, opening Moksha Yoga
Westshore is the first step on her life’s path.
HEATHER MACLEOD | codirector of MYV, surfer, boarder
Heather has often been told she is a role model for ‘living large’ as she chases
the things that make her feel more alive. She was drawn to a committed Moksha
practice and completed her first training in 2007. While maintaining integrity in
her life and leading by example this practice became a lifestyle for Heather.
Heather is one of the Directors at Moksha Yoga Victoria which doesn’t come
without dedication, hard work, and the belief system that you can follow your heart
and succeed. Her passion to teach yoga is complimented by years work in therapeutic roles which lends itself to Heather’s natural tendency to find the lesson in
any given situation. Heather advocates that yoga is for everyone and anyone; size,
mobility & injury. After many injuries, one of Heather’s strengths is her focus on
safety of the joints. She will lead you through a mindful, alignment based practice;
class is sure to get you out of your head, engaged, and no where else but your
mat. She will guide you with a soft but powerful voice, a supportive presence and
wise words.
Heather has also taken additional trainings; Moksha Level 2, Yin, Mindfulness &
Anusara.
MOKSHA KARMA
Environmental Commitment: Moksha’s standards are strict, but loving. Each studio has a
carefully considered environmental footprint through choices such as sustainable flooring, energy
efficient heating panels, VOC-free paints, eco cleaning products, alternative power sources,100%
carbon offset for all power used …and more. Moksha is committed to a reusable, plastic-free,
ride-your-bike, locavore, composting, paperless billing, junk-free lifestyle.
New Leaf Yoga Foundation: A charitable organization founded in 2007 by Laura Sygrove
and Moksha cofounder Jessica Robertson. New Leaf offers yoga and meditation practices
to at-risk and incarcerated youth, empowering them to create more peace in their own
lives as well as help to foster peace in our communities. Moksha Yoga studios and karma
class funds have raised over $65,000 for the organization.
Grow Your Yoga: A month-long community wide challenge taking place every May. Over
the course of 4 weeks, participants will engage in one challenge per week based around
Moksha Yoga’s 7 Pillars: Be Healthy, Live Green, Be Accessible, Live to Learn, Sangha
Support, Reach Out, and Be Peace. Live Your Yoga is open to all, not just Moksha students,
celebrating and offering tangible ways to bring yoga to life.
Speak Your Peace: Held in December on International Human Rights Day, a Moksha-wide
awareness campaign that seeks to expand the definition of peace. We reflect on peace,
donate two months of karma funds to support peaceful initiatives, and ignite community
action.
Karma Charities: All Moksha studios offer a monthly Karma Class, a by-donation yoga class
benefiting a charitable organization of the local studio’s choice. Worldwide, Karma Classes
raise over $500,000 each year for the environment, social justice, child wellbeing, food
access and more.
FAST FACTS:
• First Studio Opened: 2004 in Toronto
• Total Number of Studios: 70 (with sister studio in Victoria)
• Global Dollars Raised for Charity: $1,000,000
• Local Dollars Raised for Charity: $20,810.00
• Average Temperature: 100°F ( just above body temperature )
IN THE NEWS AND AROUND THE COMMUNITY
Moksha Yoga Victoria Vote, Best in Victoria for 2013.
I really enjoy that healthy body - healthy
mind attitude and being able to integrate
it with the other sports that I do. Being
able to come here and feel rejuvenated,
feel strong, feel balanced and ready for my
workday or another physical activity like
surfing.
One of the main reasons, I come to Moksha Yoga
is injury prevention. I play hockey, I play soccer,
I downhill ski. There are so much non-linear
movements that I don’t train for outside of the
gym, that Moksha prepares me for.
Mike Redpath
President,
Coastline Surf
and Sport
The eco-friendly New York City “hot” studio, which opened its door downtown
just over a year ago, has quickly become the best kept secret of models,
photographers, designers and actresses. (Also upping its cool factor: Arcade
Fire violinist Sarah Neufeld is a co-owner)...Be ready for 60, 75, and 90-minute
classes of Lycra-soaking variety (which, in addition to providing the requisite
rush of endorphins, is good for restoring the skin’s rested, healthy glow).
Moksha Yoga, a Canadian import, keeps Bikram’s warm surroundings but
emphasizes environmental consciousness, including the use of sustainable
building materials and natural cleansers, and keeping class costs low.
We bonded over Moksha Yoga in
Montreal, where we filmed ‘Warm
Bodies.’ In our down time we wanted to get some physical activity in,
so we decided to do this great form
of hot yoga that actually started in
Toronto.
Analeigh Tipton &
Teresa Palmer via
If I go for a run, or I come to Moksha after a
practice session or after a game, I really feel
better the next day. The recovery of it is phenomenal for athletes.
Kira Starr, Island Wildcats.
Kira Starr,
Island
Wildcats
The first time I went to class, I simply wanted to check out the new Moksha Yoga London West
studio in London, Ontario. The next day a friend wanted to check it out, so I went again. The
next day, another friend. And then it was just me--and I figured, why not just keep going?
While I do realize that one is supposed to be thought-free while practicing yoga--moksha, after
all, is Sanskrit for release--as a business owner and writer, I couldn’t help but notice how my
commitment to hot yoga impacted my day-to-day life and my business.
mokshayogawestshore.ca

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