Life is a dance. Freestyle. Non-choreographed. Going with the flow. Modern vs. ballet. Freedom in movement. Expansive or binding. Freedom to paint your world. Your community. Friends and family. Your lifestyle — and your life view. A black box theatre, an orchestral pit, or an open-air amphitheater. Silence vs. symphony. Whereas even white noise is […]
My Prayer for the Planet I speak for the planet. Mother Earth. Nature. All sentient beings. Everything that grows, and yes, dies. That is what I visualize with my prayer for the planet. I speak for the planet when I extol the silver lining in what may seem like an infringement on our freedom. As […]
Covid 19 Breathwork Techniques for Physical and Emotional Wellbeing Beset with chronic pain, I discovered the benefits of pranayama (breathwork) as a teen. Today, pain-free, I practice six different breathwork techniques daily. Furthermore, as a yoga therapist, I routinely prescribe breath work tailored for my clients’ needs. Because of the current pandemic, most everyone should […]
Social distancing and quarantines are no fun. Fortunately, virtual sanghas are forming to keep us sane. For example, the other day, Gov. Cuomo mentioned an extremely heartfelt talk he had, virtually, with his daughter who was in self-isolation. Without a doubt, technology is providing us with a welcoming doorway. A bridge to keep us connected. […]
Yoga is not just about 60 minutes on a mat. For me, anyway. It’s a lifestyle that follows ancient tenets. Among them, loving-kindness. Act selflessly and be in harmony with the universe. In his book, “Krishnamacharya: His Life and Teachings,” A.C. Mohan says, “if the yamas and the niyamas are practiced, one will have universal […]
Bhakti is big for me. Devotion often expressed through group chanting, or kirtan, is my favorite of the yoga branches. So, my heart’s humming, knowing World Bhakti Festival is coming up. In Dallas. Feb. 28, 29, and March 1. World Bhakti Festival is a yoga and wellness festival. However, it features Bhakti leading lights Sean […]
Cacao: A Treat for the Heart I enjoy cacao as medicine. It’s heart-healthy, and a heart opener. Sunday afternoon. Feb. 23., I’ll be offering cacao as medicine workshops at The Namaste Getaway. Pick from Partner Play, or, First Love Yourself. All will include gluten-free, vegan low-glycemic cacao treats. Made with love. From my heart to […]
Today is Thanksgiving. I don’t celebrate traditional Thanksgiving. Rather, I try to abide by the age-old Yoga Sutras. The lessons of the Yamas and the Niyamas. No stuffing myself on holiday fare. Not interested in Black Friday or CyberMonday. I don’t need anything. Rather than amassing more, I give. Seva (selfless service) is a part […]
One of the newfangled yoga trends is goat yoga. It’s not about a new style of yoga where you imitate goat poses. Rather, you practice your cat/cow or downward dog as baby goats walk around—or on top of— you. If you’re lucky, maybe a goat will cuddle next to you in your savasana. However, on […]
In the Western world, too often, yoga means physical fitness practice. People focus on mastering a pose or hope to work up a sweat in a yoga class. But, that’s not what yoga really is. Patanjali, in the Yoga Sutras wrote Sthira Sukham Asanam. To me, that means stillness in your seat or space. Sounds […]
In keeping with the theme of Ahimsa for the planet, people should be mindful of their yoga gear. The vast majority of yoga mats in the U.S. are made out of a toxic, non-biodegradable ingredient that may be a carcinogen. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). As a result, knowingly, or unknowingly, yogis are harming our environment by […]
Ahimsa (non-violence) is at the core of a yogic lifestyle. It may include a vegetarian diet, seva (selfless service or karma yoga) as well as ahimsa for our planet. According to an Earth Day article in the Hindustan Times, half the world’s wetlands have been lost since 1900. Global warming is on steroids, with the […]