TC177: YOGA – Helps Anyone Take Leadership of their Mind, Body & Soul - Sharon McMullan-Baron

Toastcaster Communication Leadership Learning Lab

[26:57] Yoga is something in the past this podcast host (Greg Gazin) would have never considered. The way it’s portrayed, it conjures up images of slim fit women who contort themselves into pretzels. But now I truly think different. I realize that Yoga is really for everybody. In fact I now practice it weekly and it’s been transformational in terms of my well being.

In today's episode we speak with Sharon McMullan-Baron, a yoga instructor but also a cancer survivor who I met through Wellspring Alberta.

Sharon's motto is: Remember to Live Simply, Speak Kindly, Care Deeply and Love Generously - and in this light-hearted episode, Sharon generously shares a little about her inspiring journey, how she discovered Yoga, what it has done for her and what it can do for you so you can take leadership of your mind, body and soul - regardless of age, gender or physical condition.

Sharon dispels some of the myths about Yoga - how easy it is for anyone to do and how it's more than just a series of body movements.

We learn about Wellspring - a no-cost, donor-funded, registered charity, community-based non-medical centre of support for cancer. Wellspring Alberta in Edmonton is where Sharon delivers her classes and has been instrumental in bringing her Yoga Thrive for cancer patients program to help them and their caregivers through challenging times.

You'll also hear about how you can get started practising Yoga. Sharon shares resources - books, videos, names of people she admires in the Yoga world so you can check them out. .

We also get a little hands-on Yoga practise you can do in real time while you are listening to the episode.

Resources mentioned:

Wellspring Alberta and Wellspring (National)

Book: Meditations from the Mat - Daily reflections on the Path of Yoga - Rolf
gates and Katrina Kenison.

Companion book : Meditations on Intention and Being - daily reflections
on the path of Yoga, Mindfulness and Compassion by Rolf Gates
Yoga teachers:
Peggy Cappy - PBS programs for USA listeners, videos and books
Susi Hately - Co-creator of Yoga Thrive - the hatha and restorative yoga
program for those touched by cancer. Her website Functional Synergy has
many resources.

Yoga sutras by Patanjali.

About Sharon

Sharon McMullan-Baron has been teaching Yoga since 2009 focussing in the areas of Restorative Yoga and Hatha Yoga. Her certifications include Hatha Yoga, Yoga for the Low Back, Yoga Thrive for Cancer Patients, Healthy Breast, Tru North (a prostate cancer programme) Relax and Renew and more.

A cancer survivor herself, diagnosed in 2006, Sharon was instrumental in bringing, Yoga Thrive for cancer patients to the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton in 2010 and to Wellspring Edmonton when it opened its doors

Sharon strives to keep a balanced approach to every day.

When she’s not on her mat, her survivorship includes a dedication to family and friends, extensive volunteer work, athletic, artistic and creative pursuits which may include wordsmithing poems and stories or playing with fabrics, creating quilts and other textile treasures. You can catch her on the bicycle or XC ski trails, or out with her dog, if you can!

Sharon lives in Edmonton, Alberta Canada and can be reached via email or via LinkedIn.