Yoga Philosophy
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11 Things You Didn’t Know About the History of Yoga
I’ve spent the last year fine-tuning and teaching a History of Yoga workshop curriculum. It’s meant listening to endless history podcasts, combing through interviews with senior teachers like Judith Hanson Lasater and Richard Rosen, reading arresting new scholarship from academics like Mark Singleton and James Mallinson, and thumbing through primary…
Truth & Unity: Lessons from Yoga & Travel
Yoga is the tool I use to clarify who I really am. Illusion, delusion and in-authenticity melt away in the fiery physical, mental and spiritual work, and I am left with an honest expression of myself. With continued practice, I cultivate sensitivity around this honesty and find contentment in who…
A Consolation to the Future
Many moons ago when I was about 14 years old, I was creating a collage in my room out of a (unbeknownst to me) relatively common Japanese print from a series that I had acquired from a garage sale. I had barely finished when my dad came to me and…
Heart Activism
It wasn’t clear to me at first but I was amongst great activists – humans utilizing this precious life and the power we all have to ignite change through positive action. “Action is movement with intelligence. The world is filled with movement. What the world needs is more conscious…
What To Do When You’re Teaching In 15 Minutes & You’ve Got Nothing To Give
Teachers, does this sound familiar? You’re drained, running on empty, burning the candle at both ends. You’ve taught 12 classes already this week, and with four to go, you wonder what you have left to give anyone. You haven’t gotten much sleep. You’ve not eaten all day and you’re super…
This is Not a Test
This is not a TEST! From a peaceful slumber you awake – slowly the precious darkness of sleep rolls out of your body into the warmth of the daylight that softly melts your eyes open… And then all of a sudden, your peace is broken and you pop up. Completely…
Embrace the Unknown
Location: Palmar Tent Lodge, Isla Bastimentos, Bocos Del Toro, Panamá Living on a beach in the jungle for over a month in a rural, environmentally conscious setting proved to have its challenges. Sand is to the beach, as glitter is to arts and crafts. It sticks to you everywhere you…
Being Genuine
We are made up of molecules. All of the parts of our bodies are created by the multiplication of our cells. This goes for our emotions as well. Every single thing we think becomes a part of our reality. Multiplying ideas literally vibrate out from our individual entities. These are…
You Are Ready Now
“If not now, when?” This is a question that has stayed with me ever since my 200-hour teacher training back in 2013. When I was applying for the training I remember experiencing constant flashes of doubt and fear. I had only been practicing yoga for a few years and I…
4 Ways To Find More Santosha In Your Everyday
In yogic philosophy, the word Santosha basically translates as “contentment.” This isn’t contentment as in, Hey, let’s get stoned and sit on the couch eating donuts and bingeing on Netflix for the next five hours. It’s not contentment as in Eh, my life is pretty decent as it is, so…
The Dharma of Cycle
Beginnings, always the hardest part of writing anything. Ok, let’s start with me just introducing without any bold bragging that I am a yoga teacher at a thriving yoga studio at the end of the world in Anchorage Alaska. I love this place immensely and the community surrounding it. This…
To Stay or To Go
To stay or to go. The travelers dilemma. The two best things I own right now are my single fin surfboard and a half of croissant that I’m saving for lunch. I’m in a dream — I’m so excited about both. So excited in fact, that I changed…
Yoga for Self-Confidence: Bending to Breakthrough
Everyone has experienced a sense of insecurity—missing the winning goal; unrequited love; unexpected unemployment…the list goes on and on. It’s human nature after all, to recognize and learn from our experiences…and move forward. However, when these experiences build-up over time, growing into a lack of self-confidence and paralyzing fear,…
Sustain the Flow: Doug Swenson
I had the pleasure of meeting Doug Swenson in South Lake Tahoe, California where he holds annual yoga teacher training courses. As the years pass by, I am becoming more and more inspired and intrigued by people like Doug who have dedicated their life to the path of yoga….
The Word “Namaste” is Overexposed. Played Out. But Here’s Why We Need It.
The word “Namaste” is pretty played out these days, isn’t it? You can find it everywhere: on yoga mats, on bumper stickers, on water bottles. You can buy a “Namaste In Bed” t-shirt on Amazon. You can pick up Namaste bracelets and handbags and trucker hats on Etsy. You can…
This Little Light ‘o Mine: Reflections for When the Path Grows Dim
I have been awash with jealousy. It is not a thing I am eager to admit. I met her when we were both newish teachers, a year into the game, about 5 years back. We solidified our bond when we both had babies in our bellies. Both our firsts. Both…
Give Your Face to Sunshine
‘Give your face to the sunshine and you will not see the shadows’, is an Aboriginal proverb I learned as a kid and always kept with me, but do I actually agree with this statement? Without the shadows you could not step into sunshine, without the dark there will…
Get Lost, Start Over: Why Yoga Starts When Things Fall Apart
It’s a cool, grey Saturday morning in Portland. 7:45am. I’m on the road, cruising along about 45 mph, pleasantly caffeinated, smoothie in hand, headed to teach my 8:15am class. Life is calm and quiet and good. (The caffeine helps). Good, that is, until, out of nowhere, smack in the middle…
Svadhyaya: Understand Yourself, Understand Your World
“You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day – unless you’re too busy; then you should sit for an hour.” – Zen proverb This quote is one that I often refer to. It’s one that I come back to again and again when I feel like I am…
The Yoga of Inspiration
Yoga is not an exercise. It is a philosophy. A way of living. Yoga includes exercise (asana), but to limit it to just this part of the practice would mean missing out on everything else it has to offer. It would be like sitting down to a fabulous five-course meal…
Waves of Experience
I was on the train to Cinque Terre gazing out the window at the gorgeous waters of the Italian Riviera and reflecting on my travels. I realized how traveling is a vast ocean of lessons and helps bring out the essence of who we truly are. We’re all like rocks…
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