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Yoga Spotlights
January 2010
Caren Cooper & New Opportunities in Wellness (NOW) 4 Youth
 1. Tell us about yourself and your centre
Caren Cooper is a certified yoga & pilates instructor,a wellness consultant, conference speaker and owner of Jivita Wellness, a company that provides overall wellness programs for to companies and individuals. For over 2 decades, Caren has wanted to start a charity to help at-risk youth and with the support of family, friends and colleagues, NOW 4 Youth was created.
Caren is taking her years as yoga & pilates instructor, conference & event planner, marketing manager and project director to develop a wellness charity that truly meet the needs of at-risk youth and provide positive changes and opportunities in their lives through wellness initiatives.
“I always knew I wanted to create a charity that worked with at-risk youth. Today’s youth face issues on violence, drugs and sexuality earlier than any other generation, which can lead to bad choices in their own lives,” says Caren. “My goal is to help create a strong foundation for our youth, giving them the confidence to make positive life choices on their own.”
2. What styles of yoga you offer? Does your studio specialize in one?
I teach Vinyasa Flow, Hatha, Pre-Natal and Mommy & Baby Yoga, plus I’m also a pilates instructor. I would say I specialize in Vinyasa Flow style.
3. When did you open your studio?
Yoga Rituals studio has just opened this month jan 2010 and has brought the healing wisdom of Yoga and Ayurveda to Alberta in Lethbridge Alberta the studio is located in historic downtown Lethbridge providing several yoga classes a day along with Lethbridge's first Yoga Teacher Training and Ayurveda educational workshops.
4. What makes your teaching or studio unique?
I’ve been told people like the way I sequence my classes. I try to create new sequences that best work with the body’s anatomy, how muscles function and muscular patterns. I’ve also been told people like the way I make yoga relevant in today’s society, how we can take our teachings from our practice into the world.
5. What is your favorite yoga posture? And why?
My favorite yoga postures are inversions;
1) It turns my world upside down, literally, giving me a new perspective on my day or a situation.
2) Its harder to think of my to-do list when I’m upside down,
3) Its physically challenging to balance the need for strength and focus, while remaining calm and relaxed, and
4) Its invigorating!
6. Do you or your studio provide other services other than yoga?
I also teach pilates.
7. How long have you been practising yoga?
Off and on for a decade with a regular practice for nine years.
8. How long has your studio been around?
I don’t have a studio but I did start a charity called New Opportunities in Wellness (NOW) 4 Youth. NOW 4 Youth is a registered charity dedicated to providing wellness career training for at-risk youth, such as yoga and pilates teacher training certification. NOW 4 Youth is barely over a year old and we’ve selected two (2) youth to start their teacher training programs. Next year we hope to raise enough money to send at least five(5) youth through wellness career training programs which may include nutrition, fitness trainer, spa manager, etc.
7. What teachers have inspired you?
My favorite yoga teacher is Yumee Chung of Toronto, Canada; Ganga White of Santa Barbara, USA and Seane Corne, Topanga, USA.
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