The concept of the “Jivan Mhukta” describes a state of no-otherness. The Jivan Mhukta is a liberated being who lives soulfully on earth, engaged in the realm of human realities. They are here, now. There is no need to escape from life, because life becomes an experience of presence, curiosity, and harmony.
For the Jivan Mhukta, yoga is freedom.
Tag: Yoga
The Suicide Blog (Or, How To Keep Living, When You Feel Like Dying)
If you met me today, you wouldn’t guess that I tried to kill myself one year ago. You would see me teaching trauma-sensitive yoga, playing percussion at concerts, loving my Metro commutes, inhaling deeply under flowering trees. You would see my near constant smile and note my “spark of life,” my “inner light” and “glowing beauty.” You would ask about the “.02%” tattoo on my forearm and overlook the telling scar on that same wrist. You would listen to my story and call me “resilient.”
Yoga Class Focus: Gratitude Trumps Adversity
Sometimes, gratitude does not come overnight. Sometimes days, weeks and months can pass before thankfulness finds its way into a broken heart. But from experience (and lots of it), I know there will be a silver lining to every story of challenge, hardship and adversity. If you’ve read my blog before, you are familiar with…
Pick Yourself Up, Dust Yourself Off (from the uyd archives)
November 2014: When I am struggling, friends sometimes say: “Go read your own blog!” Well, this past week has been a doozy of curve balls and losses. I recalled the blog below, from December 2010. I’m a bit embarrassed to share it, because it feels like I’ve been mostly depressed since then! Truth be told, the…
ATONEMENT
“We cast into the depths of the sea Our sins, and failures, and regrets. Reflections of our imperfect selves Flow away. What can we bear, With what can we part? We upturn the darkness, Bring what is buried to light. What hurts still lodge, What wounds have yet to heal? We empty our hands, Release…
Turning, Churning & Balance
“Life is to challenge you with its ups and downs. Ride over them without losing your balance.” – Sri Swami Satchidananda What a beautiful week of teaching at my fave neighborhood studios, Embrace (Adams Morgan, DC) and Past Tense (Mt. Pleasant, DC), beginning last Saturday and wrapping up this morning. Students are so darn devoted…
How May I Serve You?
“For as long as space endures and the world exists, may my own existence bring about the end of suffering in the world.” – Shantideva (8th Century Indian Buddhist Scholar) * * * I’ve written countless blogs, posts, comments and remarks about suicide, addiction, depression and trauma. I’ve described how the power-trio of recovery programs,…
Jumping Off Of Bridges (From The UYD Archives)
19 JUNE, 2014 A couple of months ago, I heard about a California yoga teacher trainee who committed suicide. Everyone in her yoga circle was completely shocked. They said there were no signs… Last week, I received a gutsy, honest message on my Urban Yoga Den Facebook page about my “Jumping Off Of Bridges” post from March…
My Father Is My Super Hero
My mother is my Guru. And my father is my Super Hero. You may have read my blog about Mom being my greatest teacher. I’ve re-posted it on her birthday, her death anniversary and Mother’s Day… Why have I not celebrated Dad in a blog? The man has supported me – carried me, really –…
Be My Valentine
It’s amazing how far from my own heart I can wander. And not even know. Until a massage therapist hunts me down and kindly reunites us. “Come back to your heart, Holly.” The heart does not go anywhere! It’s right there, in my chest; it’s right there, with my head; it’s there, around and within…
The Urban Yoga Den 