I would not have lived to see 47 if not for yoga. The morning of my birthday this past Saturday, I taught my beginner Vinyasa class with the theme of “Yogas Chitta Vritti Nirodhah” (Yoga Restrains Disturbances of the Mind). This early statement from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali has been a powerful promise for…
Category: Music
My Mother is My Guru
Mom’s been on my mind a lot lately. And y’know, it makes sense. I’ve been singing a lot (my mother taught me to sing). It’s Autumn (October 2nd would have been her 81st birthday). Thanksgiving is approaching (my family celebrated our last holiday season with Mom 10 years ago). And I recently celebrated my 9th…
The Happy Heart Project: The Halfway Mark
“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…
Focus: Gratitude – Inter-Faith & Cultural Fusion
Around Thanksgiving, some might grunt and gripe about family dynamics (me included) This year I want to offer huge gratitude to my parents. Because Mom and Dad motivated my passion for fusing spiritual and cultural influences. Mom (rest her soul) was a blue-eyed Church of Christ farm girl born to Irish settlers near Nashville, TN….
Focus: Why Yoga? – Challenge
If we learn to open our hearts, anyone – including the people who drive us crazy – can be our teacher. – Pema Chodron, Buddhist monk and teacher I would take the above quote a step further and say, “Anyone or anything – including the people or situations that drive us crazy – can be…
Wine & Kirtan
I just got home from “The Chant Super Tour” concert with Kirtan musician Krishna Das and spiritual singer Deva Premal. Although I like her lullaby-like versions of Santeria chants for Yemaya and Oshun, and I don’t mind hearing her music in yoga classes, Deva’s work is a little too soft for me. Tonight I enjoyed…
Irish Yoga Music
Indeed. I typically stick to devotional music for yoga classes. But yesterday afternoon I was pinched by my mother’s ancestors. So, in the spirit of St. Patrick, I fused spiritual roots and mixed yoga with Irish rock. Thanks to one of our students for requesting the set list. During warm-up: Damien Rice – Dogs (“The…
God Rest Ye
…Merry Yogis and Yoginis! So, we’re winding down our November and December class focus of “Rest.” We’ve spent two months exploring yoga’s balance of effort and ease. We fine-tuned our Asanam to the “nth” degree, soothed our nervous systems with Pranayama and rested flat on our backs to some pretty Yoga Nidra songs. In addition,…
Comfort Songs for a Restful Holiday Season
Sorry, my dears, you’ll find neither Christmas Carols nor Hanukkah Songs on this list. These are the Comfort Songs. The songs that say, “Everything’s gonna be OK,” “I understand” and “I’ll be there for you.” The songs that paint rich pictures, give you permission to slow down, warm a snowy day and complement clouds, mist…
To Rock or Not to Rock
It IS difficult to please everyone, eh?! What is “appropriate” (or non-) music during yoga classes? As a yoga student, I’ve been through phases of liking/disliking lyric-based or non-devotional music during class. Pop music, like Coldplay, for example. Sometimes I felt “put-upon” by the teachers’ tastes or moods. Many, many years ago, I even wrote…
The Urban Yoga Den 