One of my earliest yoga experiences was with a local man, who we’ll call Ed (why not) . Ed taught a Saturday morning donation (pay-what-you-can) class outside by the community pool at his condo. I’ve written before about how magical yoga felt to me in those early days– like falling in love, or coming home,Continue reading “born this way”
Category Archives: Self-Inquiry
understanding cultural appropriation
One of the challenges that we face in the contemporary wellness/healing/spiritual world is how to share, honor and celebrate the indigenous roots of the practices we love, without engaging in cultural appropriation. The practice of yoga feels especially problematic. The long history of yoga has as many twists and turns as the story of IndiaContinue reading “understanding cultural appropriation”
tolerating big mistakes
I’m reading David Epstein’s book “Range” this week– it’s a fantastic book that talks about how generalists, rather than specialists, are primed for success. I love the book because it tells us that those of us who are “frequent quitters” will end up with the most satisfying careers; that failing a test is the bestContinue reading “tolerating big mistakes”
After Gym Class: Learning to Love Movement via Yoga
A few weeks ago, I read an article in the New York Times entitled “How You Felt About Gym Class May Impact Your Exercise Habits Today.” This is something that feels so obvious to me I was kind of surprised that it merited an article, but then again, I think way more about my traumatic lifeContinue reading “After Gym Class: Learning to Love Movement via Yoga”
“I’m Here, But…”: thoughts on making your practice your own
Often, my newer students come into class with disclaimers:Â “‘I’m here, but…” or, “I don’t know how much I’ll be able to do tonight…” they start, sometimes with a shamefaced look, “because I’m just really tired,” or, “Something’s going on with my left wrist,” or “I tweaked something in my back,” or “I’m still recovering fromContinue reading ““I’m Here, But…”: thoughts on making your practice your own”
Moment of Weakness: Hitting the Workshop Wall
A few years ago, when I first became enamored with yoga, I decided to attend my first weekend workshop. In order to get to the studio on time for the first night’s session, I left work early. I’d changed out of my business-casual-Friday-attire and was wearing some sort of yoga outfit and my lime greenContinue reading “Moment of Weakness: Hitting the Workshop Wall”
Karmic Growth and Collateral Damage
I think a lot about karma. How our past choices, our past relationships, draw us together and apart, create dynamics that can cause joy and suffering. Whether you believe in reincarnation or not, you can easily see and grasp the most elemental concept karma on the short-term level. Well, I told a lie, and now theContinue reading “Karmic Growth and Collateral Damage”
Life on Hold
I received some beautiful advice from a teacher a few weeks ago, and I’d like to share it with you. She said: “Anytime that we are left waiting for something to change it is kind of interesting to look at the waiting itself. Â Life is on hold and is this ok? Â It doesn’t mean thatContinue reading “Life on Hold”