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Archives of My writing

My Version of Why this Buddha is Reclining

I was in Thailand earlier this month. The first thing I wanted to see after arriving in Bangkok was the magnificent “Reclining Buddha.” This amazing work of golden art is so large it takes at least 10 minutes to walk around it. I took much more time to walk around it.  I was so struck […]

5 Plain and Simple Tips for Staying Warm in Winter Rainy Season

We know this. The ground we stand on might be hardened with cold and appear barren, but underneath is the raging fire of the earth’s heart that is always stoked and healing the planet from the inside. Above, the sky might be all-day-grey, but we know that the clouds are just a layer, a curtain […]

Sincere Gratitude: A Real Thank You or None at All, Thanks

So this month we are supposed to feel Gratitude. Everyone has gratitude, and likes to feel it. The spontaneous arising of authentic appreciation feels warm and fuzzy, sometimes really exciting. But what about those times when we fake the form of gratitude without any feeling whatsoever? We’re obligated at times- especially during this month- to give […]

Autumn: Season of Dissolution and Dark Mirrors

I feel moved to share something I’ve been mulling over   regarding the whole Autumnal seasonal association with loss, death, or finality. I have always tended to feel dread in the fall. The animal body shrinking from the colder and darker days, perhaps. On a deeper level, though, I was totally buyimg into the idea […]

No Time to Meditate? Try “Most-of-a Minute-Meditation”

No time to meditate?  (Sigh.) Think again, my friend! Here’s how you can work magic in just 1 little minute.    No timer is required. Do it anytime, anywhere….when you’re alone in the stairwell, the elevator, stuck in traffic, while the kids are occupied with something besides you….. Eyes closed, unless open feels better. Note […]

Yoga Nidra, Part 2

What does the practice of Yoga Nidra look like? Yoga Nidra is usually practiced in a supine position (on the back) for at least 20 minutes.   The head might be supported by a cushion. The practitioner might appear to be sleeping. The only physical challenge to the practice might be getting the body comfortable […]

What is Yoga Nidra? (Part 1 of 2)

In Sanskrit, Yoga Nidra means “Sleep of the Yogi.” As a practice, it’s about learning to fall into deep states of rest without getting sleepy or spacing out. The practice is not something we create, but one of using natural states of mind we are very familiar with.   What is this experience like? Here’s one […]

The Yoga of Tears

“Do you know a cure for me?” “Why yes,” he said, “I know a cure for everything. Salt water.” “Salt water?” I asked him. “Yes,” he said, “in one way or the other. Sweat, or tears, or the salt sea.”       Isak Dinesen, “The Deluge at Norderney”      Tears seem to be a […]

Five 5 min Holiday Yoga Breaks and What They’re Good For

Just do it!!  This is your mantra during chaotic situations when you find yourself making rational excuses about why you can’t just stop, pause, reflect for a yoga break.  Here are 5 ways to spend the break and some intentions you can connect to them. Knowing what an exercise does for you while you are […]

10 Modern Yoga Books I Hope Every Living Yogi Reads

The timeless classics like the Vedas, Upanishads, Sutras and The Gita are “must reads” because they are a window into the rich world of ancient yoga culture, language and thinking.  These classics of the yogic tradition have endured through countless ages and spread through so many cultures right along with the yoga practices such as […]