Kelowna Yoga House

The Little House has been rehabilitated and is now ready for use. The leaking eavestrough and resulting water damage were repaired. The failed water line was removed, replaced and lined with heat-proof tape. This outcome is an example of the work that goes on behind the scenes. Don Ciesielski, head of the maintenance committee, reached out to Graham Stonebridge, who was involved in the origins of the studio on St. Paul Street, for advice. Priority problems were determined and contractors identified, with the work supervised by Don and me.

Kelowna Yoga House Society succeeds through the dedicated service of its many volunteers! THANK YOU!!

We took advantage of the COVID-19 shutdown to paint the main studio in May. Damaged drywall was repaired and a chair rail added to protect the wall in the props area from the movement of chairs in and out.

The board of directors is following key indicators of activity and finances and is pleased to report that the Society is managing to hold its own in these challenging times.

The temporary winter shelter that Metro Community ran out of their Ellis Street building closed March 31. Demolition and renovations started shortly thereafter. Metro anticipates opening their community centre in September. In April they opened a hygiene centre in their St. Paul building; with showers, laundry facilities, and access to services. Use of the hygiene centre requires membership, and privileges can be withdrawn for inappropriate behaviour. I was invited to join the new Community Engagement Committee, which met for the first time at the end of May. Members include local businesses, developers, City Bylaws, RCMP, and Downtown Kelowna Association. The focus of the committee is to work together to improve the overall experience for all members of the community.

On a personal note, I was disappointed when a recent restorative class was cancelled on short notice due to low attendance. Then I decided to do it myself. Found a link to the sequence ‘ten postures to quieten and calm body and mind’ on our website https://www.kelownayogahouse.org/iyengar-yoga/home-practice-sequences/. At a workshop a few years ago, Marlene Mawhinney described the difference between a student of yoga and a practitioner of yoga. My comfort zone is to be a student of yoga. However, on the evening in question, I flirted with my own practice and was pleased with the results.