The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are sacred verses that teach us why we need yoga and how to practice. First, we’re told to take a seat and listen. We will now learn about yoga. Yoga (or union) is the cessation of the modifications of the mind, specifically five types of thoughts. Patanjali then describes the … [Read more…]
A friend of mine recently shared his thoughts about making sense of suffering. “I want to believe there’s a reason for suffering,” he said. “But what if there’s not? What if people suffer for no reason?” This friend is a Christian. We are taught to bear our trials the way Jesus did, trusting that God … [Read more…]
This week, I’ve done my best to avoid the theme of letting go of what doesn’t serve me or making New Year’s Resolutions. But it seems every email, social media update, or blog post I’ve seen in the last several days is about charting a new course in one way or another. So I’ll stop … [Read more…]
In a yoga class one morning, I considered the power of yoga in a new way when my teacher asked what I’d like my yoga superpower to be. Not the kind of question you expect a yoga teacher to ask, though there was a context to the question. Our teacher had just told us about a … [Read more…]
I’m hoping to get a new yoga mat soon. The one is I use daily is getting worn. Also, my knees are getting more sensitive, and it seems they’d benefit from more padding when I practice. I don’t want to simply throw my old mat away, so I started wondering about re-purposing old yoga mats. … [Read more…]
You never really know what affect you’ll have on someone’s life. Simple gestures can make a lasting difference. Sometimes we hesitate to reach out in a simple gesture of kindness, because we’re not sure how it will be received. When you feel this way, share the light anyway. Believe it will make a difference! No, … [Read more…]
Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough? Of course. We’ve all felt that way at times. But is it a transient feeling or a belief deeply ingrained in your psyche? In other words, do you need a dose of self love? Why We Need Self Love A big reason you may need self … [Read more…]
At a yoga class one day, my teacher read a simple quote that is a spin on the Serenity Prayer. It goes like this: God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, The courage to change the one I can, And the wisdom to know it’s me. The quote, like the prayer itself, … [Read more…]
Since I started practicing yoga decades ago, I’ve had lots of discussions with folks brought up in the Christian faith who are curious but skeptical about the practice. For me there’s no reason to separate Christianity and yoga, but I understand some of the hesitation I’ve encountered. For whatever reason, some people believe yoga is … [Read more…]
This morning, I attended a meditation and heard some words I needed to hear. The words, which my yoga teacher read, were from Swami Satchidinanda. Since I don’t have the text, I’ll paraphrase. The basic idea was God is always there. Things often seem mysterious, and the meaning of life eludes us. We question why … [Read more…]
