First, a series of questionsDo you have a morning routine? Don't be so quick to say no if you don't have an elaborate ritual you move through each and every day. Chances are you brush your teeth and feed your dog, or look at the...
Yoga Prop ExcitementThis past week brought all kinds of excitement in yoga prop land. I had conversations with some friends/students/practitioners about how useful the wall is in asana practice and other friends/students/practitioners have acquired new props or inquired about which ones to buy.All these happenings have made...
Prakrti & The GunasYoga philosophy holds that all things in nature (nature: prakrti) are in a constant state of change. Specifically, this system says that everything is a mix of the three gunas with the proportions arranging and rearranging forever.The three gunas are rajas, tamas, and sattva. To put it simply, rajas is activity...
Early Memories of BoundariesWhen I was little and going to church on Sunday with friends' families, I remember having a terrifying realization. It was this: I could literally stand up and scream a cuss word. I could do it, I really could. No one could...
This week I want to highlight Yin Yoga poses for beginners. On Wednesdays we practice together for 45 minutes on Zoom, but I know not everyone can make class live and besides, some of you might be wondering what Yin Yoga is in the first...
Here's a cool thing about life: nothing happens independent of anything else. No one exists in isolation. No action exists out of context. You are the sum total of everything that's ever happened to you (and a fair bit of what's happened to your ancestors,...
Yoga revolves around breath. All human life revolves around breath. To be alive requires breathing. As long as you're breathing, you're alive. When your breath stops, your life stops. Breath is literally life. It wouldn't be surprising if the first time you consciously notice your breathing today is right...
No experience goes wasted if you have some awareness during whatever you're doing. Even if you weren't so present, reflection after an experience goes a long way towards integration and growth. I can get a little caught up trying to do things well, the "best" way. If...
What does it mean to be at center? The answer could be many things. To center could mean to find a place that feels like the center of your body, your center of gravity, or a center from which you approach the world. From a decision-making perspective,...
We're well into April and on to another monthly theme: principles of Open Awareness. Last month we talked about yoga philosophy from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and I tried to stay as true to traditional interpretation as possible. After all, these roots are what makes it...