“Inside of me there’s a mantra going on that reminds me of who I am. It’s that place inside – that niche in the wall where the candle flame never flickers. Always bringing me right to my heart where we dwell eternally.” -Ram Dass A ‘mantra’ is like a beautifully wrapped gift that…
In yoga philosophy, we learn that the greatest causes of our own suffering are due to mental obstacles known as the Kleshas (poisons in Sanskrit). These mental obstacles, when active, serve as the motivation for what we do, while keeping us from a sense of what is real and true. Two of the Kleshas we…
“At its heart, hatha yoga is more than just flexibility or strength in postures; it is the management of prana, the vital life force that animates all levels of being. Prana enables the body to move and the mind to think. It is the intelligence that coordinates our senses, and the perceptible manifestation of our…
“Let it out and let it in;” The lyrics made famous by the Beatles in the song ‘Hey Jude,’ and a quote I immediately recognized when I saw it posted on my sister in-law’s picture introducing her new baby girl, my new niece, to the world. When I read this, I felt an instant connection…
“Asana is a steady, comfortable posture” -2.46 The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali “I mean, it feels good. Is it supposed to?” This was a response I got today from a regular student (who was in a reclined pose, Apanasana) when I asked her how she felt as I was gently grounding her leg. I realized…
There is a profound correlation between the illuminations in the sky, the illuminations of our chakras and our everyday life. In Astrology we look at where the planets are located at the moment of our first breath, the energy of those planets and how they affect us in this lifetime through our mind, body and…
Om Namah Shivaya gurave nada-bindu-kalatmane niranjana-padam yati nityam yatra parayanah “Salutations to the nadam, which is the inner guide and the inner life, the dispenser of happiness to all. It is the inner guru appearing as nada, bindu and kala. One who is devoted to the inner guru, the nada, the inner music, obtains the…
Pitta Season As we approach the official start of Summer this month, Pitta season is slowly arising. In Ayurveda, the ancient science/wisdom of life, the term Pitta refers to the energy of Fire and Water. Since Fire and Water are naturally antagonistic elements, they must work together to create balance in the season of…
Did you know that May is national meditation month? I didn’t, until we were looking for a focus of the month. What a great theme, eh? In my own practice, I have found this to be one of the most positive practices, one that has really changed my life. Mindfulness is being in the present…
As we learn to harness the magical energies of nature and live by and WITH each season, we experience a more balanced body, mind and spirit. Before we became industrialized as a culture, people have been looking to the seasons and living this way since the beginning of time! While winter is more about resting,…