“Tadaasana, Pranayama, Sankalpa.” There is a reason I repeat these three words each time we regroup at the top of the mat between Sun Salutations. For me, these three elements – The Pose, The Breath and The Intention – are the basics of yoga. Although mentioned as three unique parts of yoga’s eight-limbed system, in…
Tag: purpose
Full of Shift: 30 Days of New Energy – The Final Word
“The lure of yoga demands from one the highest potential. At the same time it reveals one’s weaknesses. The moment of truth cannot be experienced without the constant play of these opposing forces.” ~ Mary Palmer, Iyengar Yoga Pioneer Within winter’s great grey hibernation is a warm nest, glowing with possibility. “You’ve been doing some…
Full of Shift: 30 Days of New Energy – Week Four
One month ago, on the December 28th Full Moon, I started a 30-day practice. Daily, I lit a stick of Maroma’s “New Energy” incense; asked myself, “How will I sustain my total well-being in order to serve others and live on purpose;” sat to chant 108 repetitions of the “Asato Ma” prayer (Lead me from…
Full of Shift: 30 Days of New Energy – Week Three
“Happiness may arise from fortunate events but true joy comes from growth and goodness. Self-involvement alone is fleeting and ultimately sad; deepening ourselves and touching others triggers spiritual endorphins. Joy is the gift of being of use.” – Rabbi Wolpe Indeed, the magic combination for true joy is deepening myself and touching others. This combination…
Full of Shift: 30 Days of New Energy – Week Two
Remember the “very honest letter to those I can trust” I mentioned at the end of my “Week One” blog? The letter that would kick my butt out of paralysis? That would smash my self-centered, ego-based fear about the part of my life I won’t reveal here? It’s still in draft form. Scribbled on 11…
Full of Shift: 30 Days of New Energy – Week One
I like to say that my personal brand slogan is “Nothing To Hide.” In this blog, I’ve shared about addiction and recovery, violations and PTSD, yoga and non-violence, depression and celebrations, challenges and solutions. Because I have thankfully found my way (and been helped) through a great deal of hardship in life, I like to…
Full of Shift: 30 Days of New Energy – Day 2
12/29/12. Day 2. MAKE ROOM. While lighting my incense this morning, I said a little affirmation (in question form) that I feel complements this endeavor of witnessing the subtle yet abundant shifts happening in my life lately. “How will I sustain my total well-being in order to serve others and live on-purpose?” The question stems…
Full of Shift: 30 Days of New Energy – Day 1
Day 1. 12/28/12 I awoke this morning at 5:15 in order to chant 108 repetitions of the “Asato Ma” prayer (“lead me from unreal to real; from darkness to light; from things that dies of, to that which is everlasting”) as the Full Moon peaked. Yup, it’s that time again – time to utilize the…
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…
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…
The Urban Yoga Den 