First, a storyA couple Fridays ago I was talking to a friend and fellow yoga teacher about integration. You know, bringing the pieces together, making them talk. Finding the connection points. As our conversation unfolded, I recognized something in myself. I had been keeping my...
Breath, by James NestorI just finished reading a book called Breath by James Nestor, which tells the informative story of one man's years long process of understanding breathing. Let me tell you, if you're a mouth breather the book will feel shockingly grim. Nestor's well researched main ideas...
Stress and RelaxationWhen teaching people about their stress and relaxation responses I try to be careful not to demonize the stress side of things. It seems to me that in the "wellness world," we overemphasize the rest/digest response without touching into the importance of activating....
As I was watching the constantly changing shape of waves and weather at the central Oregon coast this past weekend, the word "form" popped into my head. As in: taking form, the form of things. The obvious: forms in yogaWe play with form a lot when...
“The Somatic Exercises…enable us to remember what it feels like not to be anxious, and to breathe once again like healthy human beings are meant to breathe.”-Thomas Hanna What is Somatics?How do you know when you’re cold, hungry, nervous, calm, aroused, or satisfied? Your body tells...
Open Awareness YogaI'm starting up a new in-person class here in Portland in December so lately I've been thinking about the process of Open Awareness Yoga, which has evolved quite a bit since we started practicing online together. Yoga is such a vast discipline. Which are the...
This week I want to give you a little technique that's been working for me when I get overwhelmed or feel like I'm chasing my tail. Here's how it works:First, notice that you're going into the crazy zone, whether it's rushrushrush mode or that you're...
What is permission anyway?What do you think when I say the word "permission"? Do you think of a certain person giving permission to you, or permission you would give to other people? Maybe it's an age-based thing: older people give permission to younger people; or a...
In touch with your feelings?Do you feel more "in touch with" feelings that are challenging in nature or those that are easier? If there was a spectrum from sorrow to joy, do you feel more aware of one end or the other? Personally I've always felt...
Sharing your experienceDo you talk about your yoga practice to anyone else? Do you journal about it? Do you think on it? There are a few of you that I talk with regularly about your practices, and at the end of Zoom classes we've started to share...