Yoga Nuggets

I feel compelled to share a beautiful speech made by our ancestors of Indian descent. They not only talked the talk, they walked the walk. May I, me and many others learn to understand and follow these simple directions of life. Chief Blackfoot is one of the "giants", in my mind, that has shoulders we should stand on to see further so we can be more, live more and love more.... "Believe   in the beauty and strength of your own being. Forget the foolish belief that you and your fellow human beings were born evil. Those who would control you all the days of your life on earth perpetuate the belief The Source of Life made things to have a bad spirit. Live a life of truth and honesty. This makes you a person of quality and dignity. Truth and honesty are the kind of leadership qualities that attracts others. Give honor and respect to others regardless of age and situation in life. This quality makes you and others worthy of honor and respect, which makes others, feel ...

You have heard it before that yoga is an integration of mind, body, spirit. It takes practice and time for the subtle, yet powerful benefits to embed themselves in the various places of the Self. The physical benefits are usually the first ones that you notice. Truth be told, it is fun to be stronger and in better shape. However, it is the deeper layers of the cellular structure that are not obvious until situations arise that really show what your yoga practice has accomplished. Before I found yoga, I went through a period of having panic attacks. If you have not had one, it is crippling at all levels. The heart starts to feel a slight piercing of a knife in the middle of it. That pierce turns into a tight grip and it feels like the heart is using every ounce of strength to squeeze any blood it can to keep you alive. Your sense of control goes haywire and the energy of fear overtakes every cell. Rational thinking is covered with a dark blanket. You want to escape. The problem is...

Excerpt from diary: 7/24/2009 It is so rewarding to cross paths with someone who comes to my yoga class and leaves inspired. Today, I met a woman who had an aneurysm at age 50 and survived. Her brush with death compelled her to make some changes in her life. She had never done yoga and came to my class. It was very moving and gratifying when she told me how moved she was by the class. It touched her heart. She realized her medical scare was a push to move forward in life. Having had a similar experience, I totally understood what she felt. Her kind words further compels me to share my story and motivate others to overcome their fears, obstacles and discover they are stronger than they realize. We have this life to live now. I have to find a way to share it with the masses of people who live in fear. Once people learn the power they have to truly live and are their best source of strength, so much can change. I want others to know that whatever happens in life serves a purpose. There ...

Most of us have something that we have not released from our past. Call it the "ghost in the closet" that may have hidden itself so well that you forgot it was there. However, it will re-appear when provoked. One of the most powerful ways to grow spiritually and free yourself of negative thinking and energy is to truly forgive. It might have been in individual's action or a cataclysmic event, or it might even be something that you did. Whatever the event or whoever the source, it is truly freeing to surrender your heart to the power of forgiveness. The only person who can determine how to forgive and release something from the past is yourself . The true first step is to simply face it directly and acknowledge it only exists in the past. You keep it alive with your thoughts. There is much truth in the saying that the most challenging people in your life are your best teachers. Once you understand you are the one responsible for your mindset and truly forgive, your heart w...