“Hey, I’m trying to hard to see the light, to see the light – to see it burn thru.” – Abigail Washburn When it comes to maintaining and manifesting an intention over 100 days – and that intention is to overcome a nagging internal darkness and move deliberately toward joy – it is imperative to…
Category: Eight Limbs
Clearing the Obstacles
I am sorry to hear your pain. You are a wonderful human being and deserve tranquility, peace, and love. I would suggest that you stay focused on what is good for YOU, rest will follow. – letter from a friend This quote sounds like something I would say to a student or friend. Instead, it…
Focus Wrap Up: The Eight Limbs – Yama
It was 10:38am on Sunday, April 3rd when I started writing this wrap up, and the New Moon hung invisibly above. In that Sunday’s classes we wrapped up our March focus on the 1st of the Eight Limbs of Yoga – Yama, or, abstinence. I extended the March focus through April 3rd so the New…
March Focus: The Eight Limbs of Yoga – Intro & Yama
As I’ve said before, I wouldn’t dare try teaching the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali to my classes. First, my knowledge of this ancient text is based on my four-week Teacher Training, during which we primarily studied the 1st two books; since then, my study has been on my own. Second, there are some great Raja…
February Focus: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
From the title of this blog, one might think: “Wow, Holly’s really going for it this time.” “She’s taking on the ancient text of Yoga (with a capital “Y”)!” “How in the world will we cover four books of aphorisms in one month?” “Who does Holly think she is, teaching the Sutras?” Hahahahaha! Believe me,…
Focus Wrap Up: Back to Basics
Over the weekend I taught the final classes in our January Back to Basics focus. To complement our fine-tuning of alignment, review of three-part breathing and return to proper resting, these last sessions invited students to deepen their commitment to setting an intention. Personally, I can’t imagine getting on the mat without exploring some kind…
December Focus: Abundance
Snowflakes are falling on the homepage of WordPress. I’m listening to Arcade Fire’s “Neighborhood #1” in which young lovers dig a tunnel from house to house after the neighborhood is buried in snow. And outside, for real, it’s finally Winter cold. I’m fasting today. Liquids only.* There’s nothing like an empty body for writing about…
Monthly Focus: November – Gratitude
Today I feel really, really lucky. The amount of joy that I get to experience throughout the days is beyond what I might have imagined years ago, when I was stuck in shadows and pain. I dare say, life IS a bowl of cherries – sweet fruit, crunchy pits and all! And because of this…
In the OM Zone
You can hear the OM sound everywhere. It vibrates every cell in your body. It brings such a nice feeling of peace. – Swami Satchidananda There are times, at the end of a yoga class, when the closing OM is so sweet I have cried. And there are times when it is so cacophonous that…
Focus: Yoga In Action – Surrender
I like the peace in the backseat, I don’t have to drive, I don’t have to speak, I can watch the country side, I can fall asleep. I’ve been learning to drive my whole life. – Arcade Fire, “In the Backseat” A few weeks ago, I completely unplugged for five days – no phone, no…
The Urban Yoga Den 