I once heard an elder in recovery share that, when consumed by great emotion, it’s essential to “stick a pin in it” by sharing. I’ve followed suit ever since. For me, to harbor negative emotions is to go toward a drink. As a recovering addict, to drink is to die. So, being open and honest is essential….
Tag: Pratipaksha Bhavana
Gratitude, Samtosha and Pratipaksha Bhavana (From The UYD Archives)
This post was originally part of my “Ahimsa Now” series regarding Peace Tools – everyday yogic actions that can create peace in our inner and outer worlds. Today I post it as a NOTE TO SELF: reminding Holly to put these tools into action, particularly during this difficult time of transition, responsibility, instability and sadness….
Out Like A Lamb
By its nature, Spring brings sudden and intense change. In my March yoga practice and classes, I like to focus on transition and balance on the mat, often taking the 75 minutes to bloom from an earthy Tadasana (reclining on the back in Mountain Pose), into mindfully flowing, heating sequences, and then peaking with an…
Spring: Transition and Balance
This morning I rose pre-dawn to rumbling thunder and bright lightning. Stormy downpours soon yielded to an orange-grey sunrise. As I stepped out for my habitual dawn stroll, the smell of rich, wet earth halted me. I inhaled deeply and realized – almost as if by surprise – it’s Spring! My heart swelled and tears…
The Happy Heart Project: Days 1-31
I’ve read that we replace 1% of our cells daily. Every 100 days we have a new body. What that new body consists of is the food we eat, air we breathe, water we drink, exercise we take and thoughts we think. – A friend Three-plus boxes of incense and 31 days ago, I launched…
Healing Kids’ Scars With Yoga
I grew up in the suburbs of Washington, DC – Potomac, MD to be exact. Potomac was once known as “The Beverly Hills of the East Coast.” The town was quite wealthy and had its own brand of celebrities – diplomats, politicians, famous doctors. Yet there were some plain-old middle class neighborhoods, as well. That’s…
Focus Wrap Up: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
“If I wasn’t making some people uncomfortable, I wouldn’t be doing anything important.” – Justine Siegel, 1st woman to throw batting practice for Major League Baseball and founder of “Baseball for All” I didn’t plan to write this today. I have cleaning to do, laundry to fold, breakfast to cook. But I feel compelled. Plus,…
Focus: The Yoga Sutras – Love & Murder
Each morning when I rise, I try to spend about 30 minutes praying, meditating and doing some Pranayama. When I do, my soul feels infinitely more peaceful throughout whatever the day tosses my way. For me, this is the point of yoga. From what I’ve learned, this was also the point of yoga for the…
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…
The Urban Yoga Den 