At least twice a year I recommit to stop buying books on Amazon.com and instead read one of the many I already own (and this is one of those times!). Regardless of this commitment, almost daily I pick up one of my many versions of either The Yoga Sutras or The Bhagavad Gita - both are key if you wish to delve deep into the philosophical heart of yoga. So while the rain poured and poured outside this morning, I huddled reading a few slokas (aka verses) of my favorite version of The Bhagavad … [Read more...]
Kindness All Ways, Always
We are taught as children to be always be kind to others. Play nice always. Share your toys and snacks always. Always help others in need. Yet somewhere along the way to adulthood, many of us fall off the kindness track. Expressions such as "please" and "thank you" are no longer the norm, they seem to be the exception. Why is that? Maybe it's in the drive to succeed in life, to get ahead, that we forget (or elect to forget) the manners of "kindness all ways, always" that our parents, … [Read more...]
Anywhere, Anytime
A few nights ago I had the pleasure of teaching yoga outside to a local Mom's group. For a summer evening, the weather was perfect! The sky was clear and it was much cooler than the usual Washington, DC hot, humid nights we've been accustomed to lately. The location for the yoga class was amazing - Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria, VA which is a historic spot about 10 miles from DC. There were 9 of us enjoying the lush green space and open sky. For me it was a nice reminder the beauty of yoga … [Read more...]
Warning: Slow Down
Other than your yoga teacher or local police officer, no one in today's world really sincerely says SLOW DOWN. Life is moving at such a fast pace. How does one keep up? Personally, just yesterday it seemed like May and now we're more than halfway through July/summer. People barely say please, thank you or even hold the door as you walk-in behind them entering Starbucks. Technology was once touted back in the 90's as the way to make life simpler. Unfortunately, I think it's made life more … [Read more...]
Karma Yarma Smarma
No, the title of this post is not Sanskrit for something particular or grand. It's simply me being frustrated with myself for not fully understanding karma. I realized today (after pondering this topic the entire month of September & not posting a single thought about it) that maybe that's the point of karma. As with many of the yoga sutras & other yoga philosophy, they're often easier to read about and get vs. live. Further try to apply them in full-blown action and whoa! life wakes … [Read more...]
Santosha – Discovered in a Bad Yoga Class
"By contentment, supreme joy is gained." sutra 2.42 "Niyama consists of purity, contentment, accepting but not causing pain, study, and self-surrender. sutra 2.32 Santosha is Sanskrit for contentment. The word contentment/santosha is first mentioned in The Yoga Sutras among the list of five niyamas (sutra 2.32). Side note: My take on the niyamas is they guide our internal compass. They're ethical principles (or observances) that strengthen our character and guide us to live life in the … [Read more...]