January 25, 2022

Self Acceptance is the Key to Contentment

Most of us carry on through life without really understanding who we are. We are in a collective flow that keeps us acting and reacting in a knee-jerk manner. Often this flow keeps us so busy we don’t have time to reflect on our lives or look deeply into our souls to understand ourselves and …

January 16, 2020

What is Holding You Back? …Self-Sabotage?

Whether you want to start a new business, start a new project, look for new employment or start an exercise routine. What is it that stops you from moving ahead? Often, it is self-sabotaging traits, or habits, that repeat themselves over and over throughout our lives. Self-sabotage is when it appears that you want something …

November 16, 2019

SPEAKING UP

Whether it be a seemingly small and insignificant issue or a very big issue, speaking up can be difficult for some. Why don’t we speak up? Is it because we are afraid of offending others; afraid of looking foolish; afraid of getting hurt or think it is not our place? Do we believe it is …

February 13, 2018

12 Things to give up, to find peace.

Yoga practice is about finding peace. In yoga, all our practices, such as our physical practice, meditation and mindful breathing, ask that we be mindful. When we are mindful of what we are doing in the present moment, instead of being caught up in negative self-talk, criticizing others or being caught-up in our fears, we …

June 28, 2013

Yoga and Satya (Truthfulness)

‘Yamas’ are ethical values that involve self-restraint, self-control and discipline. They are the foundation of yoga practice. In my last blog I talked about Ahimsa (non-harming) the first yama.

The second yama is Satya or truthfulness; lack of falsehood; to others and to oneself. You might first think of the obvious…outright lying. You are right. When you tell a lie you are robbing another of the truth. When you lie you also rob yourself of the opportunity to express your truth. This may feel like the easiest route but in the long run will cause problems for you and the other person involved. If you cannot tell the truth then you will never feel the freedom to be you…unedited. If you cannot tell the truth to another; the other will never have the opportunity to learn and grow from your insights and your truths. A no win situation.

April 29, 2013

Yoga & Ahimsa Non-Harming

In religion you go to church to help find your connection to God but also to be reminded of the importance of taking care of moral and ethical values.

In yoga and other spiritual practices, it is no different.
At the very foundation level of the ‘yoga pyramid’ are the yamas and niyamas; a set of moral disciplines that give us guidelines for ethical living. These are much like the morals upheld in religious practices….such as the 10 Commandments.
The ‘Yamas’ include practices of non-harming, truthfulness, non-stealing, greedlessness and directing our energy to the higher good.

March 20, 2013

Fear and Faith Living in the Dis-Comfort Zone

Sigh….if only our lives could be simple, easy and predictable.

If only we could have everything we needed and wanted. If only we were always successful at everything we did or tried. If only everyone could live long healthy lives. Even if we have everything we want or need, we never know what “surprise” is around the corner. Often these surprises involve changes or losses or health concerns and may fill us with fear. Fear is something we all experience; it is inevitable. It is a natural reaction to something that is challenging or threatening to us. How can we keep moving forward in our lives and not be paralyzed by our fear?