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Suffering is Optional: How to Use Mindfulness As a Tool For Redemption

by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment
making sense of suffering

Do you know that suffering is optional? Spiritual traditions tell us this, but many of us are slow to accept it. Spiritual masters like Buddha and Jesus advised their followers that they would suffer, but they also offered hope for redemption. Yes, suffering is inevitable, but we can transform it. A friend of mine recently … [Read more…]

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Posted in: Yoga Circles, Yoga Practice and Philosophy Tagged: making sense of suffering

Charting a New Course: Where Will You Choose to Go This Year?

by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment
charting a course for the new year

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…]

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Posted in: Mind, Body, Spirit, Yoga Circles Tagged: New Year's Resolutions

The Power of Yoga Can Make You a Superhero: What Magic Will You Do?

by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment
yoga superpower

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…]

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Posted in: Mind, Body, Spirit Tagged: yoga superpower

9 Great Ideas for Re-purposing Old Yoga Mats

by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment
repurposing old yoga mats

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…]

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Posted in: Mind, Body, Spirit Tagged: yoga mats

Share the Light: It May Illuminate More Than You Know

by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment
share the light

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…]

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Posted in: Mind, Body, Spirit, Yoga Circles Tagged: enlightenment

Self Love for Yogis: Here’s How Practicing Mindfulness Can Help

by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment
need self-love

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…]

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Posted in: Mind, Body, Spirit, Yoga Practice and Philosophy Tagged: mindfulness, mindfulness meditation, self-love

The Serenity Prayer with a Yogic Twist: The Wisdom to Know It’s Me

by Maria Kuzmiak 2 Comments
Serenity Prayer

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…]

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Posted in: Mind, Body, Spirit, Yoga and Western Religion, Yoga Circles Tagged: Serenity Prayer, yoga wisdom

Yoga and Christianity: How to Connect The Practice With Jesus’ Teachings

by Maria Kuzmiak 3 Comments
why Christians should practice yoga

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…]

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Posted in: Yoga and Western Religion, Yoga Circles, Yoga Practice and Philosophy Tagged: yoga and Christianity, yoga and religion

God is Always There, Even in The Depths of Despair

by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment
God is there

This morning during a guided meditation practice, I heard words I needed to hear. The words, which my yoga teacher read, were Swami Satchidinanda’s. Since I don’t have the text, I’ll paraphrase. The basic idea is God is always there. Things often seem mysterious, and the meaning of life eludes us. We question why we’re … [Read more…]

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Posted in: Mind, Body, Spirit, Yoga and Western Religion, Yoga Practice and Philosophy Tagged: God, higher power, union with the divine

Saint Ignatius of Loyola: How To Practice Yoga Like a Christian

by Maria Kuzmiak Leave a Comment
Saint Ignatius of Loyola

As a devoted yogi with strong Christian roots, I’ve been scolded more than once for practicing yoga. Happily, I’ve found far more support than not among Christians. That’s good, because it turns out there are many yogis in Church history! Of course, they’re rarely identified as such and probably would not have thought of themselves … [Read more…]

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Posted in: Yoga and Western Religion Tagged: non-attachment, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, yoga and Christianity
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