Yoga Nuggets

Wow. Another year in the history book. Time for the traditional annual resolution to change something. Being creatures of habit, we resolve to do better at something and the cycle continues. Time to de-construct our approach to time. Resolution's results are the same year after year. You can tell by the attendance at the gym in January. We start with good intentions but relentless habits keep pulling us back. Routine/habit embed their feet as we remain oblivious to it until the consequences are seen or felt. Then, we resolve to change. It is an energetic tug of war. I say, forget resolutions. Start re-construction. We tear down old houses to build new, improved ones. Individually and collectively, we are in desperate need of re-construction. Will-power. Desire. Focus. Flexibility to change. These are the hands on your side of the mental rope. The opposition is one hand on the proverbial rope with its other hand holding a sign..."take the path of least resistance....

"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built." ~Rumi Have practiced yoga ten years; been teaching seven. Despite advanced training, constant self-guided studying, and nearly 2000 hours of teaching post certification; I balance scales of the known and unknown with a college freshman mind. Maybe Gemini energy pushes me in multiple directions; maybe that new candle joining the growing club burning on my birthday cake illuminates a hunger of urgency; maybe my philosophy of no regrets fans a flame. And, maybe it is my spirit making it uncomfortable for me to not venture out of my comfort zone. Maybe Springsteen's song plays in my subconscious to keep me 'dancing in the dark.' Legends that stepped beyond boundaries of outlined yoga declarations of the best way to practice are Ganga White and Tracey Rich. Founders of the eclectic, enlightening and liberating White Lotus Foundation . Their l...

What you're about to read was written by Patsy Hart Bailey upon the death of her life-long friend. It could not express more beautifully one of the "facts of life". I re-read it from time to time to come back to what matters. "Ready or not, someday life as you know it will come to an end. There will be no more sunrises; no minutes, hours or days left. All of the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned, what you owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear. So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and 'to-do' lists will have expired. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won't matter from where you came, or on which side of the tracks you lived. At the end of your road, it won't matter whether you were beautiful, or brilliant; even your gender and ...

I have been practicing yoga for six years and teaching for three of them. It is a journey of learning a new way to do a pose, seeing things from a different perspective and many other assortment of changes. When I teach my students, I read quotes, stories, or do sequences that generate the energy I sense is needed. Ironically, what I sense they need, I need too. Definitely a win-win situation. I recently learned that my calmness and approach to teaching gives the illusion that I am in a constant state of peace. After talking to a long term student and friend about some issues that were bothering me, she shocked me with the statement..."I can't believe you ever get angry"! I immediately purged a bunch of stuff that has been bothering me and saw the relief in her face that I get pissed off just like anyone else. I'm a yogi, not a saint. Whew...feels good to get that off my chest! Here's my revelation for this week: Unless you have become "enlightened", yo...

Just got finished watching a documentary on a man the United States was blessed to lead them out of chaos...Abraham Lincoln. Ever since he was a child, he was horrified from the existence of slavery and the staggering abuse of the slaves. Early in his life, he knew he had to find a way to end it. Overcoming the division of the nation upon his election, the demise of two of his own children during his first term, and the sadness of knowing over 600,000 people died in this civil war within the country he led...Lincoln managed to cling to his inner strength to manifest what he knew was right. All of us have a passion within us that is waiting to be pursued. It does not have to be as earth shattering as the end of slavery; however, if it drives you and is of good intention, you should pursue it. Every action of passion ignites a change. Change does not happen over night. It takes strength, belief, passion, and persistence. Passion builds energy. Energy expands. Believe it or not, negative ...

"No one has the right to consume happiness without producing it." ~Helen Keller So much is said in so few words. If you are not familiar with the law of give and take, it is an important one to know and truly practice. The law of give and take is simple. In order to receive, you have to give. The mindset of expecting to always receive without giving back will backfire at some point. It really does not matter if it is physical or emotional aspects that are involved. You cannot take what you do not give...including happiness. At this time of turmoil in numerous aspects ranging from money, health of the human race and the planet, and fear of violence, there is something important for YOU to do. Take responsibility for keeping the law of give and take in balance in your life. If you are not happy, make the effort to show kindness to someone else...without expectations of a "payback" from them. What you give comes back around at the right time for you. Step outside ...

Initially, the question the title asks may seem strange. Take a moment to detach from the random, unsolicited thoughts that constantly emerge in your mind. Ask yourself...what is my reality? It could be a long list of responsibilities and concerns to stay on top of; otherwise, left mishandled could lead to a perceived crash and unknown consequences. Or, your reality could be one that is less rigid and more of the present moment. The older you get, the less likely you are to be in the second bracket. I say, a balanced blend of both with a dash of taking steps into the unknown. The unknown is the things that occasionally cross the mind in the format of, "I wonder...". Better known as your dreams or undeveloped passions. To never step out of the boundaries of your "reality" is like a bird living in a cage. Always looking out through the bars...seeing only as far as it can...which is not far when in a cage. If your reality is primarily of negative influence, you can tak...

You have heard it before and maybe you have done it...write down your dreams or intentions. It is easy to think and wish for something to come true; however, a spark somewhere in the cosmos gets ignited when you write it down. The action of writing an intention on paper can awaken your subconscious and conscious mind to make it happen. I speak from experience for I have been keeping a diary/book of intentions for around six years now. I am grateful to say that the intentions have manifested over the years. Don't get me wrong, it is not instant. Instead, it planted the seed in my mind and synchronicity put the elements in order for the dreams to happen. As a yoga teacher, I have always set my intentions to learn and link with the best. When I read the book, Yoga Beyond Belief, by Ganga White, I instantly knew I HAD to get advanced training from him. I read it in July, 2009. I wrote in my book..."I will meet and get further training from Ganga White." Now, almost exactly tw...