We are currently in our fifth week of quarantine, and like most of the world, the wide spectrum of emotions that fill this house vary wildly day by day, hour by hour. If there's anything years of meditation has taught me, it's that emotions are typically fleeting. The hard work comes in trying not to … Continue reading I Nearly Broke it Off with Yoga
Aparigraha or Bust
Aparigraha, or nonpossessiveness, can also be interpreted as nonattachment, nongreed, nonclinging, nongrasping, and noncoveting; we can simply think of it as being able to "let go". -The Yamas & The Niyamas, Deborah Adele For the past three years, my husband and I have been planning to move. We kept our plans to ourselves for the … Continue reading Aparigraha or Bust
You Don’t Need Me, but I’m Here if You Do
Last week I was teaching a slow, meditative, non-flow yoga class and I heard myself say, "It is my goal as a yoga teacher for you to not need a yoga teacher. My goal for you is to feel so connected to and empowered by your own knowledge of Self, your body and the path … Continue reading You Don’t Need Me, but I’m Here if You Do
What is your “Authentic Voice”?
There's a line that gets tossed around many a yoga class that makes me cringe: If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you. When I had first heard that line, I was at a Cirque de Soleil -style yoga class in a 100*F room with really loud music and too many people. I had a 14 year yoga practice that was mostly … Continue reading What is your “Authentic Voice”?
Comparison is the thief of joy…
Yoga Sutra 11.6 False identity occurs when we identify with tools of perception instead of the True Self. At the end of every August the town comes back to life as kids from all over the world, make their way to the university for a new fall semester. These kids have worked hard to maintain … Continue reading Comparison is the thief of joy…
Ahimsa. No, really. Back off.
You know how there are buzzwords that have their hey-day in popular culture for a while and then fade away? People use them so often the meaning tends to get diluted. For example, there are folks who claim to "eat clean". You know that likely means plenty of fresh, unprocessed whole foods, but then it … Continue reading Ahimsa. No, really. Back off.
On Ashtanga. To Whom Do You Give Your Power?
Lately I've been listening to podcast interviews of Ashtanga teachers on J Brown Yoga. If you're not aware, there has been a lot of chaos in the Ashtanga community as victims of Pattabhi Jois come forward to speak of the sexual and physical abuse they suffered under his teaching. Karen Rain has spoken and written … Continue reading On Ashtanga. To Whom Do You Give Your Power?
Autodidacts, Unite!
autodidact: (n) a self-taught person Q: If you don't have a teacher, a mentor, or a guru, how do you learn? A: Svadhyaya! (And a lot of books.) In the past I've had yogis essentially tell me that I can't know/live/teach/practice yoga because I didn't have a guru. I didn't have a mentor or a … Continue reading Autodidacts, Unite!
