snails, seeds, hermit crabs, nuts, mollusks, bivalves, clams, crustaceans, turtles, armadillos, husks, and hulls. nature is full of shells. these organisms are our teachers for how to live well in winter. and while the signs of spring are already punching, popping and tweeting around us, it’s still cold outside. we are still in the season of preparing for spring, rather than being spring - the winter of winter.
Read MoreHave you ever watched one of those time-lapse videos of plants filmed over the course of a day? It's so incredibly beautiful- almost like watching a dance. Their leaves rise and fall, pulse and sway. And as the sun travels its way across the sky they subtly seek its nourishment.
Read Morethere is no rush to finish, no rush to figure it all out. self-imposed, or even societally-imposed, timelines often cause unnecessary suffering. suffering because we did not meet an expectation or life did not meet our expectations. an expectation we ultimately placed upon our own shoulders. often leading to frustration, disappointment, dissatisfaction, sadness, temporary insanity, you name it.
Read MoreI am an artist. When I create new work it’s only after trial and error, discovery and challenge that I can say I’ve created artwork. Teaching and practicing yoga asana have always been an anchor in the cyclone of the creative process. I often return to the idea that inspiration is another word for inhalation.
Read MoreI was listening to Armchair Expert a few days ago (Thank you Sarah Cook for recommending this podcast). The guest on the show was Gabor Mate'- a physician and author with a lifelong interest in how trauma affects our physical health. In the course of this interview, he relayed a joke which I will do my best not to butcher:
Read MoreAs a recovering perfectionist, I know all too well the plight of "Get it Right". I yearned for A's in school as if my life depended upon it. To ensure that sweet peaked shape on my report cards, I would spend more of my semester trying to figure out what the teacher wanted to see in a paper than I did actually learning. Perhaps that got me through school with a relatively high GPA but it robbed me of the curiosity and exploration that lead to real learning.
Read MoreWe are looking for images that speak to the essence of this space and the classes that are offered here. We plan to use the images for some fresh swag (bumper stickers, tanks, and tees).
The winner will receive a year of free yoga with members of the “Collective at Soulage” and will receive credit on socials, newsletter and website for their amazing creation.
Read MoreIf you've been to a yoga studio before, you may be familiar with the way business is done there. It's a lot like a gym. You sign up for a membership and get access to classes. And while it’s a lucrative model for the gym itself and a convenient model for students, it’s not always great for teachers. We grew up under the studio model of yoga and there was a time it served. We met thousands of students, were able to offer so many styles of classes and workshops and tapped into a strong community of students and fellow teachers.
Read MoreIn yoga, is it just that much harder to share the inner workings of the mind than it is to stumble in half moon?
All I know is that it’s a practice. I hear that a lot, and I say that a lot, and Patanjali tells us in the Yoga Sutras that we must practice, but it’s not always so simple to internalize. That’s okay, I remind myself. It doesn’t have to be simple. It’s a practice.
Read MoreMy parents were firm believers in trying new things. If the meal entailed something outside of our young pallets, we, at least, had to partake in a bite of the new offering before concluding that it was not for us. I had pretty adventurous tastebuds but asparagus was amongst the few foods that I could not find a place on my plate to enjoy.
Read MoreConscious connected breathing (CCB) is a breathwork technique that involves taking deep, rhythmic breaths through the mouth without pausing between inhalation and exhalation. During CCB, we typically lie down comfortably and breathe in a circular, continuous pattern.
Read MoreWhat enhances my life that I can share with you?
I meditate.
I know a lot of you will opt out at this point. Not interested, tried, doesn’t work for you, I've heard it over and over . . . all the reasons people can’t meditate, sit still etc.
Read Morea curtain is being lifted, the curtain of winter. the curtain of closed eyelids. slowly spring awakens. within us and around us. more daylight, more warmth. slowly, and then more quickly. the buzzing underneath the surface is intensifying. potential is potentiating.within us and around us. of all the seeds scattered, some are taking root in the soil of your being. some of your dreams are demanding to become reality. when the time is right, they will push up and out of you. they will find a way. they will sprout.
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