In yoga, its not uncommon to see students pushing to achieve an outward form of an asana – trying to emulate their teacher, a photo, or the person in front of them – even when their body and breath are telling them they aren’t ready yet. In the yoga sutras, Patanjali stresses the need in yoga to balance effort (sthira) …
Letting GO
I think of myself as someone who relishes change and is open to new experiences. Yet recently I find myself grasping, wanting things to remain how they have been. As the days get shorter, I find myself longing for the light of summer. As the leaves fall to the ground, I feel sadness that the glorious fall colors are now …
Meditating With My Kids
After talking with a friend whose kindergartener was learning meditation at school, I was inspired to try this at home with my 8-year-old and 5-year-old. Even though I’ve been working on a meditation practice for nearly 20 years, it hadn’t dawned on me to teach my kids this invaluable skill. I always believed that the power of my practice was …
How Yoga Heals
Yoga has stood the test of time as an approach that creates transformation. It has much to say about the mind and its fluctuations. For thousands of years, the yogis probed the mysteries of the mind and consciousness. I believe what they found has great applicability to our own search and understanding of self. Yoga is a technology and a …
What is Yoga?
Yoga is a 5,000 year-old discipline, but with a very simple goal: Happiness. Yoga tells us that in order to realize lasting happiness (ananda), we must discover our true, spiritual nature. The word yoga actually means “to yoke” or “to unite”. It is a chance to connect with the Universe, the Source, or God. For me, it has been a …
Unlock Your Potential
Perseverance and sticking with whatever is in your path, whether it is running for president, parenting, a work project, painting your house, finishing your thesis, meditating daily, or kicking up into handstand, is the key to transformation. When the trials set in and the brick walls appear, it can be alluring to give up and convince yourself you don’t have …
Going with the Flow
“Be a cup and the universe flows into you. Be an arrow, and the universe retreats from you”. –Zen Proverb Ever have one of those days where nothing went right? Monday was a comedy of errors for me. Somewhere between arriving late for swimming lessons, leaving the lunch boxes I had meticulously packed for dinner at home on the counter, …