Dreams really do come true!

By Christine Russell
889 co-founder
@889christine

I was totally overwhelmed yesterday at 889′s first “Yoga Unplugged” - a project co-created with lululemon athletica and 889 to fuel and feed our beautiful community of yogis in Toronto outside, for free, all summer. To some I am sure it was a really fun class outside (check out my view from Trikonasana below) with well over 100 people, but for me, the experience was much more. You know the feeling when something you have envisioned in your mind manifests right in front of you? For a few moments I felt like I was floating up in those fluffy clouds…

Yesterday was a visual snapshot to me of the power of a dream, a vision and a community. Emily and I set forth a mission six years ago in 2006 when we created 889 “to inspire happy, healthy lives.” People ask us all the time why we opened a yoga studio. Our answer has always been the same - we sought out to build and nurture a yoga community in Toronto because yoga had transformed both our lives so completely and we wanted people to share in this. Back at that time our ‘painted picture’ wasn’t totally in focus. We had ideas and thoughts, obstacles, challenges, dreams and a WHOLE LOT of believing before us. Yesterday, to see so many people smiling, breathing, inspired and in the flow together led by Nicky, outside in a place we created for our community (and to be practicing right beside my husband), was a moment when I felt like one of those dreams came true.

Bob Marley says it all, “One Love, One Heart, Let’s get together and feel alright…”

Next time you think dreams are for the birds - believe in yourself. Dreams really do come true. I have to believe that Nicky had a similar powerful experience having over 150 people come out to be her students, and to have the honour to create peace within so many people in the open air (dreamy, right?). Check out a VIDEO I snuck off my mat to film. The guy in headstand right at the start is Nicky’s hubbie .

My favourite moment was opening my eyes in savasana and peeking out off my mat to see this top photo.

If you didn’t come to this, you MUST (you missed a KILLER Bob Marley play-list and class with Nicky)! Here is the line-up for the rest of the summer with our beautiful teachers. MASSIVE LOVE and GRATITUDE to lululemon for envisioning this with us and bringing it to life! You lemons are really something else - a freaking awesome bunch! Yoga Unplugged: convergence of a vision, a dream, a community, 889, lululemon, the Thompson Hotel, mother nature, and a WHOLE LOTTA YOGA LOVE!

Together, we have all been SO excited to launch this project…could you tell by the Yoga Unplugged Tour Tee’s?!

Follow me @889christine