Yoga Nuggets

Now this may sound a bit off the wall; however, when you are not physically able to practice yoga, you can practice in your mind. This revelation emerged as I was on the plane headed to one of my favorite places, Sedona, Arizona. I tried different arm and wrist moves and a twist to get the kinks out as I felt the body compress a bit. It helped, but was not exactly what I needed and then I found myself getting impatient with two more hours of flight to go. I found myself desperately wanting...needing to do a Downward Dog! Well, if I even attempted it, I would have my rear end in someone's face and secondly, I am sure someone (of no yoga experience) would think I was up to something suspicious. Not a good way to expose the magic of yoga to the potential yogis! Then, it came to me. Envision myself in Downward Dog. Kind of like...BE the Dog. I closed my eyes, inhaled as I envisioned myself raising my arms and found myself doing a mental Sun Salutation. Once I was in my Dog, I env...

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...

Sometimes it is good to take a refresher course on what you do. It is easy to get in a monotonous routine of habitual moves or thoughts. This truth applies to more than just your yoga practice. Being a teacher of yoga, I introduce new ways to pursue a move or get to a new edge. After having the same students for over three years, I assumed they understood the most fundamental part of yoga...breathing. A brand new student to yoga ignited me to ask the class: "Does everyone know how to practice ujjayi (ocean) breath?" To my surprise (and disappointment in myself), most of the class admitted they did not. It was a humbling reminder that it is imperative to re-visit the foundation of what you build yourself on...whatever it is. One can add various structures on this base; however, it is wise to check on the foundation to make sure you're on solid ground. This realization about the folks I have been teaching was a divine reminder that they did not necessarily make it to t...

To start, learn, and truly experience the practice of yoga is a life changer. Being a writer of truth, I express what is true for me. Being a teacher of yoga, I have been graciously blessed to witness the changes that emerge over time for the people I share the journey with. It is so much more than getting to that "advanced" pose. It is more than being able to stay balanced longer. It is a practice that slowly integrates in your mind and heart. It expands your awareness beyond your initial capacity. Yoga ignites an inner calmness with conscious breathing. Your physical moves get those muscles lengthened and stronger. As the exterior gets stronger, strength and flexibility goes deeper. The skies become bluer, the grass greener, and the gift of life more beautiful. Passion for what speaks to your heart is ignited. Purpose of life extends beyond paying the bills. Life falls into place in a magical way full of synchronicity. As you learn to pursue physical "edges" or su...

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 ...

Let's use our yoga practice to learn a little more about anatomy. I must confess, I was never that interested in science when I was younger. As I have gotten a little older, experienced a few personal medical challenges, noticed subtle changes each year and the desire to learn has been ignited. Practicing yoga since I was 41 has made a significant impact on my physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. Six years later, I am in the best shape I have ever been...ever. So, with that said, let's see what is going on with this ancient practice of yoga. Last article gave a synopsis of the seven chief glands. To keep it simple, (good philosophy, by the way) the first gland to be addressed is the adrenal gland. The adrenal gland is right above each kidney. Their primary function is to release hormones in response to stress. These stress hormones are cortisol, epinephrine and aldosterone. Cortisol and epinephrine get the heart to beat faster, gets the digesti...

"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...

Yoga is whatever you need it to be each moment of your practice. If you need a boost in your energy, an active flow of moves and breathing can ignite that spark within you. If your body needs to let go of tension, a more passive practice of stillness in poses can guide the body and mind to release. Physically, yoga will help you learn the power of persistence and the strength of surrender. Awareness is the key that unlocks the body and mind. Once you are truly aware of where you are now, the yoga practice will link the parts together. This link of movement, breath and awareness will take you where you need to be. The magic of a yoga lifestyle is that it opens up so much space far beyond the physical realm. It opens cracks that allow your Light to become more visible to you and others. To better understand the concept of "cracks", listen to the words of Leonard Cohen's heartfelt song, Anthem. The initially unseen Light that becomes apparent will ignite revelations of chang...

I just returned from a week long advanced yoga training course with Ganga White at the White Lotus Foundation. It was truly a powerful time of self-discovery, sharpening yoga skills and connections. This thought provocative poem was written by Ganga White. When I first read it, I immediately thought of one my favorite songs by John Lennon, Imagine. Take time to read and feel the words. Ponder the "what if"; imagine the "what ifs" being the world's reality. Nothing has ever changed until one started to question and imagine another way of doing things. "It is easy if you try." We simply have to slow down for a moment and understand that each of us makes an impact on the planet's energy. Imagine what would happen if even half of the world lived with the mindset this poem conveys. The ripple effect of the positive energy would ignite a change for all... What if our religion was each other If our practice was our life If prayer, our words What if the t...

The practice of yoga benefits you physically, mentally, and spiritually. As you practice, the benefits emerge little by little. Just like the eating of an artichoke, you enjoy each leaf as you get the little morsel of food it provides; however, it is the heart of the vegetable that is the part you truly enjoy the most. Just as in yoga, your physical (or, exterior) part of Self enjoys the benefits of yoga practice; however, the more you practice, you eventually get to the heart of your inner Self. In an effort to increase the awareness of yoga's benefits from the outer level, I have started a new article series on Examiner.com. As people become more aware of the benefits from the physical standpoint, the deeper benefits will emerge as they practice. We all start at the beginning and the first way to begin is to eliminate fear or misconceptions. http://www.examiner.com/x-23147-Nashville-Health-and-Happiness-Examiner

If you are experiencing a challenging time in your life, always remind yourself..."this too shall pass". The journey in life can be compared to the ebb and flow of the ocean waters. The waters rise and fall without end. Sometimes it is flowing smoothly and sometimes the waters can get rough. The key thing to remember is that it always stays together as it flows through both the smooth and rough cycles. Just remember that when life's waters rise, use it as an opportunity to get the board and ride the wave. Before you know it, you will glide back to shore.