The Buddha said that the way to become wise is to ask questions. The Yoga Sutras tell us that there are several ways to attain knowledge: through inference, direct (sense) experience, and teachings. Contemporary neuroscience recognizes “multiple intelligences” connected to both the structure and function of the brain and its accumulated experience. There are “street…
As a teacher and student of yoga, I often look to The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali for inspiration. Introducing and inviting my students to apply the wisdom of the sutras with curiosity in asana class is one of my objectives as a teacher. It gives a richness to our practice that keeps yoga relevant as…
Hello all and welcome to my first blog post with Yoga for Mental Health. I am delighted to share my practice with you as well as my story while Margi is away on retreat! I want to start off by sharing with you the first time I tried to practice mindfulness and to let you…
Perfections of the Heart: Renunciation“Most people have something they can relinquish.” This is the quote from Sylvia Boorstein that opened our conversation about generosity. We considered abundance, receptivity, and how to reinforce connections with the practice of giving and receiving. Some of the most radical realizations that came up in our discussions were around generosity…
In my meditation this morning I was cleaning the house. Vacuuming, organizing, moving the painting that’s at the wrong height since I moved the plant that was beneath it. All of this movement was motivated by anticipation. I am going to be hosting. After so many months of meeting online, my book club is coming…
Perfections of the Heart: MoralityThis perfection is our commitment to a virtuous life. It is reflected, with relative consistency, in virtually all spiritual practices. In yoga the moral principles are known as the Yamas. In Buddhism, the 5 precepts. In Judeo-Christian traditions, they are included in the 10 Commandments. The practices are: non-harming, truthfulness, non-stealing,…
Befriend, freeze, run away, defend, help, grieve… our animal instincts, all of them. Along the way we get so much feedback, we learn so many stories. We develop preferences, we choose sides. We change. Everything changes. In the liminal space between what was and what we be… there we are. Shedding layers, adding new ones,…
I bit into a carrot and an explosion of sensation almost immediately gave way to the thought… I want more! My mouth was full of carrot and my mind was back at the buffet. I scowled and then I smiled. I slowed down and chewed that glorious tuber until it was mush in my mouth….
Generosity My teacher Sylvia Boorstein says that “most people have something they can relinquish.” Isn’t it true? Can you feel the weight of what you are carrying? You might feel a strain where muscles, overloaded, are trying to hold on. You might feel agitation indicating a readiness for change. Check in with your body and…
Love yourself, love your baby! in this weekly Zoom class created to ease your pregnancy-related discomforts and help create calm conditions for you and your baby. Designed to be a safe and cozy space for those experiencing what may be both ups and downs during this time in life, the class is limited to 6 participants….
That's it!
That's it!
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