There's a certain magic that occurs in travel. Navigating unfamiliar terrain keeps the mind alert and the senses sharp. Even a mundane trip on public transport or a walk along what might be seen by the locals as an unremarkable residential street is seeped in intrigue. Strange bird song, a shocking scent of juniper, a crescent moon hanging in the sky so close it can't be real. My time in Australia, on the other side of the world, quite unexpectedly turned my world upside-down.
Read MoreI'm crazy about this poem by Roger Keyes. Susan Lip Orem shared it in her class at Heathen Hill Yoga a few weeks ago. It's been near to me ever since. Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) is a famous Japanese painter of the Edo Period. You may have seen his iconic images of waves.
Read MoreA dedicated home practice is a rich playground for exploration, living with questions and treating yourself right. Yoga teachers: This is an absolute must for honing an authentic voice and clear point of view.
I've listed the top five reasons I cheat on my yoga classes with frequent (sometimes twice daily) practices at home. My list includes some tips for getting started and inspiration for falling deeper in love with your own yoga at home. I intend to add to this material in the coming months -- to flesh out the information below with practical guidance on your personal journey.
Read MoreAccording to the Yoga Sutra, one of the five Kleshas (afflictions of the mind) is Abhinivesha, most often translated as “clinging to life” or “fear of death.” This affliction dilutes mental focus and compromises one's ability to discern the real from the unreal – an obstacle on the path towards liberation. It's not that I actually thought I was going to die out there in the water, but deep down we all have an innate survival mechanism that signals a flashing red light when danger is near. The tough part is discriminating between legitimate danger and an overactive mind.
Read MoreI don't make new year's resolutions, but I do place great importance on process. Whatever grand aspirations we have for the new year, they are as blank as the pages in this book until we act.
Read MoreStriking a balance between overusing social media vs. confronting feelings of isolation is a challenge I face living alone in a foreign country. My life in Japan presents both challenges and opportunities on many levels, but an interesting conundrum arises where technology and communication are concerned.
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