Canada’s New First Lady Is A Yoga Teacher | Yogadork

Canadian Prime Minister and his (maple?) tree pose. | photo credit: Andre Forget/QMI Agency

Meanwhile, in Canada, the Prime Minister practices yoga. This photo is not new, but if you’re just learning that Canada’s Prime Minister is the fresh-faced Justin Trudeau, Leader of the Liberal Party, and husband to the multi-lingual, yoga teaching, women’s rights advocate Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, then now you know. And with today’s volitical (that’s violent and political) climate in the U.S. you’re probably now depressed and/or filing for a Canadian visa.

With a pivotal election looming, we share this image as an article of contrast and hope. While we have GOP candidates trying to make an extra buck banking off of yoga (a joke, really), we need this sort of uplifting imagery to remind us all that hope, albeit slipping through the cracks, is not lost.

Sophie Gregoire giving a presentation in 2013. | phot credit: Peter Power/The Globe and Mail

Canada’s First Lady Gregoire-Trudeau is actually a yoga teacher, having done her 200 hr training in 2012, and been a practitioner for years prior. (By the way, she’s a lot more than a yoga teacher, but for obvious reasons we’re especially excited about this bit.)

As she told feminist site Pure Vision, yoga brings her a feeling of peace and union:

I also get inspired a lot from my yoga practice. I think that it brings me to that little person inside of me that’s the same as in everyone else. As yoga philosophy mentions, that person is in a continuous state of gratitude and peace…a person that’s both male and female — the perfect balance between the two.

Gregoire-Trudeau credits yoga for changing her life and is passionate about sharing it with others. As she told Montreal Families:

The meditation and physical practice of yoga (hatha) are ways to deeply connect with yourself and be in the present. It has changed my life. It takes discipline, openness and vulnerability to be able to grow as a human being, to face your flaws and to embrace your inner beauty.

I have met some incredible people through yoga classes and workshops. Because yoga made me feel so peaceful inside, I decided to take my teacher training (200 hours) so I could share it with others. Millions of people practice worldwide and the numbers are still on the rise. There is a reason for that. Yoga is not only a practice and a passing along of great sacred teachings, but also a social movement for more human goodness, compassion and peace. The world needs more of it.

I strongly encourage people to try it. It doesn’t matter if you are not physically fit because you don’t have to be “good” at it. All that matters is that you try and take the time to connect with yourself. It should be taught in schools just like any other subject. Our children could benefit from quiet time, more introspection mixed with the fun and adventurous exploration of what your body (and mind) can do.

Oh, Canada. We can taste your fresh maple syrup and progressive, forward-thinking ideals now.