About Me

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Canada
With a B.Ed., M.Ed., and over 10 years of classroom teaching experience, Chantelle has been privileged to observe the fruits of many living philosophies. By continually striving to live the best life possible, Chantelle has been able to overcome many personal challenges in life and enjoys helping others do the same. In 2001, Chantelle stepped into her first yoga class and has been amazed at the ways it has transformed her life. In 2007 she studied under Shri Yogi Hari of the Sivananda lineage and became a certified yoga teacher. She has since earned the E-RYT designation from Yoga Alliance and continues to study under various Indian Master Yogis. In October 2013 launched Prana Yoga & Wellness, offering private/corporate yoga and stress management workshops based on Eastern wisdom. Chantelle frequently appears as a guest speaker and is involved with various community projects and local non-profit organizations. Dedicated to walking her talk, Chantelle is not afraid to do the necessary work to remain happily married and be a healthy role model for her two young daughters.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Choose Your Relationships Carefully

Take a look around you. Who do you call your friends and significant other? Do they inspire you to be the best version of yourself or do they at best, keep you in an average state?

I love nothing more than being around people who keep me stretching, call bullshit when it needs to be called and are there to remind me to get back on track at the slightest hint of derailment. If I'm bold enough to share my goals and vision with them, then I've given them permission to guard me like a pitbull. These same people who have high expectations and a strong moral compass expect me to also deliver the same function to them. My true friends are not threatened by my success nor am I threatened by theirs. We cheer each other on, provide motivation when we need to and refuse to believe in failure.

The truth is we cannot accomplish anything on our own. If you set goals, you better surround yourself with people who will not only support you, but push you as well... that is, if you're serious about actually accomplishing what you set out to do. Achieving goals is not a painless process. Sometimes you get weak. Sometimes your vision fails and you lose sight of where you want to go and who you want to be. The last thing you need are so-called "friends" to help blind your vision with doubt, fear or guilt. You need friends who energize you, not suck the life out of you.

Sometimes, it can seem comforting to have friends who will reinforce self-defeating habits because it makes it easier to defer your own advancement and succumb to your list of excuses. Maybe it's fear of failure. Maybe it's fear of success. It doesn't matter. Choosing to feel safe instead of overcoming your fear is the easy way out when you have friends who want you to be "safe" too.

We only progress as fast as the most resistant aspect of ourselves will allow us to. What end of the scale are your friends on: progression or resistance?  You better hope your friends will kick you in the pants when you need it or you're going no where fast.

Moral of the Story: Good friends are also bound to be a pain in the ass. 

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Things Get Worse Before They Get Better

So... where have you been looking for peace? (or maybe you call it happiness...)

I've seen you buy those packages at the store.
I know about that bottle hidden in your drawer.
And you... you think it's buried between the legs of a multitude of lovers.
Have you found anything yet, in the fridge, under that cellophane cover?
Did you check your briefcase just one more time?
I'm sure you, sir, will find it after you snort just one more line...

Tell me, what does it feel like when you sit too long and that black hole gets too close? Does it make your life feel meaningless and incomplete? Do you feel like there's something more you should be doing, but not a clue as to what? Maybe you feel sad and lonely, like the darkness will swallow you whole. Do questions you dare not answer creep into your mind? Who Am I? Why Am I here? What is life really about?

Heart races.

Anxiety rattles your chest.

Quick! Go back to sleep before it pulls you in too deep!

Flip through the channels and go back into mindless mode.
Watch someone else's fake reality nicely unfold.

Tsk!Tsk! Not so quick!
I'm not going to leave this time...
I'm staying.
This is IT.

You've kept me quiet
For far too long
What you are about to learn is
I AM big. I AM strong.

I have a desire
That needs to be born
I have a purpose to be fulfilled
Consider yourself warned

I will break you
Make you crumble to your knees
I will make you forget who you are
And about your pursuit of greed

No longer will you be able to point your finger
Without noticing three more pointing back at you
YOU are the cause of your own suffering...
How's that for a new point of view?

Take a look at your life
The one you so carefully constructed
The one built on lies and sick stories....
Messed up, isn't it?

Let go of all you know
And let's go for a ride
I promise I'll bring you back
But you won't be the same inside

Let's start by losing the logic
Go ahead, take it off
And those five senses of yours...
Find the button and press stop

Where I'm taking you
Time and space do not exist
Where I'm taking you
You will merge with All That Is

But before I can do that
You have to let the pain come
It's going to be big
And you are going to come undone

It will rip your heart open
And crush your bones
Shhh... there...there...
You are not alone

Each tear that falls
Is my greatest gift
I'll collect them all
For you to sip

Salt water heals
And purifies the deepest of hurts
It forgives and loves
The worst of the worst

Tears cleanse the eyes
So you can properly see
What has always been in front of you
And all you were truly meant to be

You are greatness. Yes, it's true.
That which you have
been looking for
Is... you

And those situations
And circumstances from the past,
Those were merely experiences–
Not meant to last

You've held on to them
For far too long
Let them go now
There is no right or wrong

Exhale... Today is your birthday.
Isn't wonderful to be truly born?
You're a clean slate
Nothing tattered, nothing torn

The pen is in your hand
Write what needs to be written
But wait, before you do,
Something is missing...

The time has now come
to merge with The One
Shhh...

Ecstasy...

Bliss...

PURE LOVE. 

Why have a body when one can be soooo e x p a n d e d...

Time is up.
Back to earth you have landed.


Don't be upset
You've done nothing wrong
There's work to be done here
You can't stay out there too long

Try not to get attached to that moment
It was just another experience
It's not meant to distract you
From what needs to be taken serious

The gifts and talents
Unique to only you
Must be fully expressed
Shared and nurtured, too

Only you can fulfill your role
It fits you just right
But if you get too comfortable
Even that will feel too tight

Nothing in this life
Is meant for you to hold
So live with your hands wide open
And always let go.

When darkness comes now
You will understand
It is meant to refine you
And soften your hands

You have opened up the heart
And expanded the mind
Now nurture the body
And leave the past behind

You create your future
With your thoughts, words and actions
Be it for the highest and greatest good for all
Focused with intention and full of passion

Now you are AWAKE
Connected to everything
Higher consciousness affects the whole

So
 
lift
       
your
             
voice
                    
and
                            
sing.