There are three pillars that connect us to the here and now; Breath, Sensation and Sound. These three are happening virtually constantly, yet our attention flits about on the waves of memories and plans, ideas and dreams. We have all been jolted out of our busy trains of thought by a loud sound and brought [...]
Some of you remember this line from Joni Mitchell’s song, The Circle Game. She playfully, and wisely, describes the seasons of our lives as going ‘round and ‘round. As Yogis, we bring awareness to this in our daily practices, observing how our needs and our goals shift over the years. The ancient Yogis described the Stages of [...]
Yogis, I am going with the flow. Following my body’s lead of adapting to current conditions, my ‘maturing’ asana practice is teaching me what SmartFlow Yoga really means. I’ve been letting my current interests guide me to the feeling of awake-ness and presence that yoga promises. Listening to birdsong, delighting in all the new waterfalls [...]
Why do we Yogis call standing upright Mountain pose? If standing well is akin to a mountain, what is that metaphor meant to teach us? I don’t think it’s the challenge of scaling up and then back down the other side; nor do I think it’s getting to the top to enjoy the incredible views. [...]
As I think about Gratitude this year on Thanksgiving I scroll through my photos and see, well, the things I love: big old trees, yoga poses, (blurry) pics of birds, friends and Sam, my partner. All things I love and for which am grateful. Sitting with this blending awareness, I become aware that gratitude is [...]
In 1970, the US created Earth Day. One day, each year, to remember and celebrate our home and all the myriad life forms that inhabit her. For many this day marks not a celebration but a deepening sadness and feeling of hopelessness that is difficult to shake. For truly, the heavy load of the sheer numbers [...]
Last spring, I watched a gorgeous cooper’s hawk swoop into our yard and perch in stillness on the fence pole at the back. At the feeder above, the rowdy twittering of little sparrows, wrens and finches was constant. All the birds were sporting their mating colors: the house finches in their reds and the gold finches their [...]
Hey— Does anyone else sit in meditation and have errant thoughts drag you away? Oh, come on— we all do. It’s the nature of the mind to be vigilant: to look out for anything that might be dangerous, or at least perceived to be dangerous. It’s part of our inherent survival instinct. We are hard-wired [...]
Namaste Yogis, I hope you are feeling some relief, some freedom and even a taste of joy as we begin to emerge from the relative safety of our Covid hibernations. But perhaps you, like me, have noticed a bit of reticence or a lingering anxiety hanging around. Or maybe you sense a pocket of tension or tightness somewhere in [...]
Sun Salutations This is a love story. And if you’re reading this, it’s probably your love story too. I love to move, to feel my body moving in space, and to move in such a way that I can feel the movement inside of this body. To explore the edges of movement possibilities and to [...]
