The Happiness Formula

Betsy Brandl Rippentrop, Ph.D. (Dr. Yoga Momma) owner of Heartland Yoga in Iowa City, IA.

I recently learned about the happiness formula based on scientific research from the field of Positive Psychology. This formula teaches that our daily happiness is somewhat predictable. The majority of our daily experiences of happiness (50%) are determined in the first 3 years of life by our parents, siblings, and caretakers.  This is called our set […]

Entrainment: Why Our Energy Impacts Others

Photo of the woods at night

Fireflies flash in unison.  Two pendulum clocks on the same wall swing to the same rhythm even if they didn’t start out together.  Women who spend a lot of time together begin to synchronize their menstrual cycles.  This phenomenon is called entrainment and it’s a natural law that can be observed in nature, chemistry, pharmacology, […]

Your Greatest Teacher is Within

Om Namah Shivaya (written)

I’ve never had one primary yoga or spiritual teacher with whom I’ve worked. There are many I’ve studied with, but at times I wonder if I need to find one “guru” and stick with that person for a long period. This weekend I leave for a week to start a meditation training program with Deepak […]