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Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and always has been. That's not because of the food or the season or even the two days off from work. I love Thanksgiving for two simple reasons: it's nondenominational and it's about being grateful. I think of Thanksgiving as a simultaneously fun and contemplative affair, just like yoga, so I thought I would poke around to see what like-minded folks will be doing for the holiday this year. If you don't yet have plans, explore these yogic options: • Do the Thanksgiving Renewal Retreat with Chrisandra Fox and chef Meredith Klein at Tara Bella Villa in…

Last weekend I signed up to join 478 Kundalini yogis for a one day White Tantric meditation workshop. It was a leap of faith for me and the other White Tantric virgins who, wore all white, covered our heads and gathered in the Ackerman Grand Ballroom on the UCLA campus. Sure there were many who had been there and done that, but for us novices, we had a case of the unknown jitters. (Yes that's me on the right with my lovely partner Regina Gelfo). The White Trantric tradition was initiated in Los Angeles by Yogi Bhajan in 1970 and ever since, it's taught annually all over the world. Since Yogi…

This weekend marks the 7th annual San Francisco Green Festival, and yoga is playing a special part. Not only will there be a yoga and movement room onsite at the festival, but on Friday, November 14 at 6pm, Yoga Journal is hosting a demo and discussion panel in the East Hall. Stephanie Snyder (left) will be performing a yoga asana demonstration to encourage non-yogi greenies to start practicing, and Baxter Bell will lead a discussion on yoga as sustainable health care. So, what's yoga got to do with greenness? Everything. As Stephanie said, when we spoke on the phone about her demo, yoga is…

Lately, I've been drinking lots of GT's Kombucha tea, without knowing too much about it except that it's fermented, it quenches my thirst and it tastes good (gingerade and guava goddess are my favorites). It's also supposed to have probiotic and immune-boosting properties. But it's not cheap (about $3.50 a bottle) so it's a yoga indulgence. With the expense in mind, I considered fermenting my own at home but was a little scared because growing bacteria isn't really my forte. When I picked up the L.A. Times this morning, a very informative article about Kombucha confirmed my concerns. When…

For vegetarians or clean-food loving omnivores, Thanksgiving can be a bit stressful. Especially when in the homes of folks who don't share your sensibilities. So if you can escape family obligations, don't have any, or can get the whole troupe away from the stove and into a restaurant, NYC has a cornucopia (seasonally-appropriate metaphor! yay) of T-day veggie options. I was just clicking around and found this post from Super Vegan, from which I am now shamelessly borrowing--and updating for 2008. Angelica Kitchen is having its Thanksgiving 5-course Prix Fixe again and it sounds delish. It's…

Today was one of those days that had a less than auspicious start. In all honesty, I started the day passionately and all-encompassingly angry. Before yoga, this would have set the tone for my day and it would have been "downhill" from the start. Now that my life is imbued with yoga bliss, things like this don't last that long. The first thing I did this morning (after taking a dance break to let the anger move through my body) was call upon my yogic breathing. By the time I sat on my mat for my final pranayama/meditation (after a delicious yoga practice), I was feeling calm and happy. What a…

If you ask me, the days of "exercise isn't fun" are over. There are so many wonderful ways to exercise available to us nowadays (whenever I see folks lined up in a gym running on a treadmill that's pointed at a TV, I wonder WHY!), whether it's getting out in nature or taking a class or exercising at home with a DVD. I enjoy augmenting my yoga practice with fun methods of exercise when I'm in the mood. One of my favorite sources for fun workouts that have an Indian flare is Hemalayaa Behl. My first Hemalayaa experience was Dance of the Kama Sutra. I was taken in by the sensuality of the…

A few months ago I was at a workshop in which we were asked to do something a bit outrageous. Some folks sat out and watched the braver souls carry out the exercise. Others quickly fled the room to hide until the exercise was over. While some jumped right in -- enthusiastically. I stayed and did the exercise, as I'll usually try just about anything at least once.Still, it was interesting to notice the process that occurred -- my first reaction was that of a truculent toddler -- "NO!" I got over that and then my prim-and-proper-follow-the-rules-stickler showed up -- "That's weird! You can't do…

“All beings are suffering, so extreme kindness is the natural response.” – Mark WhitwellIf you've been practicing yoga for any length of time, you probably know that yoga brings peace -- peace of mind and peace to the body. Yet what about beyond ourselves? How can the practice of yoga bring peace to those around us and those around the world? I like to think of it as the trickle down theory -- you practice yoga, which brings about a personal change, which affects your actions and how you treat those around you, which, in turn, affects change. Like ripples in a pond, the changes can be…

As I chanted three oms to bookend my morning yoga practice, I was reminded at how yoga skeptics often use the phrase "are we going to be doing weird stuff like chanting om?!?!" I suppose I thought chanting om was a bit odd before I started practicing yoga. Yet the first time I stood in a yoga class and felt the vibrations running through me, weird was the furthest thing from my mind. Magical was more like it. I think Om gets a bad rap. Here's a lovely video that is what I like to consider the infomercial for om (without the cheesiness and the hard sell, of course). For the first time in a…

We have changed the dates of our 2009 Costa Rica  retreats by just a few days. The new dates are:FINE TUNING YOUR TEACHING SKILLS -  March 16-20 (M-F)YOGA LIKE A MONKEY -  March 22-29. (S-S)Please contact me for more info  sofi@bowdownyoga.com

 "YogaPeeps Episode 56 is an interview with Sofi Dillof, of Bow Down Yoga, in Burlington, Vermont, and Lara Hedin,  of YogaPeeps.com. In this episode, Sofi and Lara talk about the ego, enlightenment in this life, devotion, isvara pranidhana - surrender to god, and kindness to others." For those who are interested you can check out an interview with me by Yoga Peeps at by clicking here.p.s. isn't it weird to hear your own voice?

Have you have considered the Cat in Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat as an Advaita Vedantist? Or dare I say, a Jnana Yogi teacher supreme right up there with Sri Nisargadatta (well maybe that's going a little too far)? If you haven't, don't worry about it. My guess is that most have not. Perhaps I have a bit too much time on my hands as of late but here's the way I see it...The story of the Cat in the Hat begins on a dreary day at the home of two sad and hopeless children who are yearning for the weather to change so that they can go outside and play. I think we can all relate to these…

I was just down in the city where I attended the c.d. release party for my great friend/teacher Uma Nanda Saraswati. Her debut album, Lokah - The Ivory Ceiling, was recored with Shri Micheal and features Sting and Russel Simmons. It's a rocking east meets west meets out of this world. You can listen or down load tracks at http://www.digstation.com/AlbumDetails.aspx?albumID=ALB000020027 Let me know what you think!!

"Beginner's Level - for Children Just Starting to Learn Yoga"This award winning Children's Yoga DVD is packed with children's yoga poses. If you aren't sure how kids do yoga it will give you a look at just what kids can do. A Word of Caution: Use with supervision and good Padding!Although this DVD says it is for Beginners from ages 3 to 8 years old, I have a word of caution: some of the poses may take a little more direction than what is given. I suggest to do it together with kids and adults as it shows at the beginning of the DVD.Also balancing on you hands (crow - or quail in this DVD)…

Pictures from the "I Can Do Yoga" website. Sometimes things work out so nicely! This post is about how I got the kids to write my blog for me, had more time for work, learned something about getting testimonials , and discovered a couple Kids Yoga DVD's that were a hit as well.Getting Free Stuff by Blogging - Who knew!When I started blogging I discovered that people sometimes send products to me to review. It has given me some fun stuff to give away to readers. For example Robin/Tani Media Factory, who sent me 2 kids yoga videos from their I Can Do Yoga series. I am going to review them this…

Last weekend was the Teaching Kids Yoga training and it was a fun and full event. We packed in a lot and covered the whole Six week curriculum. Everyone has kids yoga, stories, games, and ideas for teaching kids in their classes. My only regret was I didn't bring my still camera so I could post a picture. But my partner was there and he videotaped most of the weekend so stay tuned for some footage. I have about 12 hours of tape to work with so I hope there will be some good stuff for the blog and for using for on-line trainings - especially for those in small towns who don't have access to…

Learn Bhangra!This week I've been going on about how much fun dancing can be in yoga class. If you have no idea how to get your Bhangra moves on - then this DVD will help you.I love Bhangra dancing and it really gets you moving. The music in this video and the Bollywood movies have a driving drum beat that gets the blood flowing and makes you want to dance.I found this video had some good moves to use for kids classes. The warm-ups were especially good for the younger kids (3 - 5 year olds) I taught this week. The other moves in the DVD are more complex and would work with the older children.

Video: Mitwa: We used this song our Kids Yoga Bangara ClassLast week I taught the kids some Bangara Dancing in yoga class to celebrate Halloween. One things kids love is music, songs, and poetry. Every song is poetry.Poetry Talks to the SoulI often read poetry in kids yoga classes - like these lyrics from this song, Mitwa. This is the song we did Bangara Dance to. I choose it for the message, and the beat!So many of the great Masters and Sages taught through songs, stories, and poetry. Look at teh message from Mitwa: Loved one, listen loved one, what fear do you have?This earth is ours, ours…

I dusted off my 10 Minute Trainer DVDs this weekend and decided it was time to get moving. A recent injury has kept me completely unable to do any form of exercise for the past three weeks and it’s been Hell. I thought that 10 Minute Trainer would be a good way to jump back into an exercise routine.Yesterday I started with my favorite of the 10 Minute Trainer videos — Cardio. That name is so deceiving because it leads you to believe that it’s only going to give your heart a work out. I think they should rename the video to Buttinator because, just as I suspected, my butt is killing me…

I featured this quote in the November YogaDudes digital newsletter and what great timing that I found a free desktop wallpaper with the same quote and a nice November calendar on it. Please use the following link to download the full size version. Once the full size version appears in your browser, right-click and choose "Set as Background."Click here to get the free download.

Debbie Bennett, a CYI from Virginia, will be in Eastern CT for a few days and is hosting a free yoga retreat. Her retreats focus more on the esoteric side of yoga practice, importance of ahimsa or nonviolence (including vegetarian diet), meditation, yamas and niyamas. She has brought it to the level of the everyday practitioner and the retreats are very powerful for transforming our life intent. Her retreats are always free, sponsored by Science of Spirituality as a community service. The event will take place on Saturday, November 8th, from 10 am - 3 pm at:First Church Fellowship…

Have you ever heard of Doga - Yoga For Dogs? When I saw an ad in my local newspaper for this last month I just had to check it out. Was it a joke or was the studio really holding a yoga class . . . for dogs?Well, it was a real yoga class for dogs. Now you may have to stretch your imagination a bit and use the term "yoga class" a bit loosely. But there was a real yoga instructor and a handful of people with their dogs and their mats. I knew this was going to be a challenge for me because my greyhound (Peanut) doesn't know how to 'sit' and is not very fond of obeying commands – unless the…

I started off this week with my first trip to the gym in months. I can really only bare to be working out indoors when the weather is too cold be outside and I haven't lifted since completing P90X. For some reason I assumed completing the P90X program would keep me in tip top shape for a year. Boy was I wrong. I lifted on Monday and Tuesday with my insane husband trainer. It was hard and I felt weak. I hated it.On Monday we concentrated on chest and I didn't find it too bad. I was sore the next day, but it was a good sore. I like it when I know that I did something the day before. I went back…

Kathryn Nicolai, “The person I was ten years ago would never have done yoga. I was obese, unhappy, and very unhealthy. The only physical activity I experienced involved moving from the couch to the fridge and back again. Although I was a vegetarian my version of a meat-free diet was chocolate cake and french fries. Over the next few years I bounced from one addiction to another. I went from overeating and never exercising to frantically counting calories, skipping meals altogether, and working out for hours everyday. One night after my 3rd kickboxing class in as many hours my shin…

From www.pranaflownz.com, Kara Leah writes, “I’m someone who’s life has been profoundly changed in every way because of yoga. I remember walking into my first class when I was 20 years old - it was held on Auckland’s North Shore and was an Iyengar class. I’d had a spinal fusion four years prior and I was the stiffest person in the class by far. When we went into a standing forward bend, I was hunched over like an old woman, struggling to reach my knees. Yes - my knees! I knew then that yoga was something I was meant to do, but it was another three or four years before I found my…

Connie’s Influential Teachers: Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Books Connie loves: Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte Yoga Anatomy, Leslie Kaminoff Total Freedom, Krishnamurti When Things Fall Apart, Pema Chodron Yamas/Niyamas: Samtosha (Contentment) YogaPeeps Colleen would love to hear: Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Yee Patanjali Her Studio & Website: www.leviateyoga.com 780 Eighth Avenue, 3 rd floor (Between 47 th and 48 th Streets) New York, NY 10036 tel 212.974-2288

Episode 59 is an interview with Connie Chan, Levitate Yoga in Times Square, New York, and Lara Hedin,  of YogaPeeps.com. In this episode, Connie and Lara talk about the Summer Solstice Yoga Celebration in Times Square,  yoga teachers as tour guides inward, walking meditation, VOTE-ing, and Santosha. To listen click: YogaPeeps_103108_ConnieChanInterview Subscribe with iTunes ShowNotes Connie’s Bio Slower Connections: If you have choppy playback, right click the link and download the mp3 to your desktop (Firefox “Save link as”) (Internet Explorer “Save target as”)

Episode 58 is an interview with Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Yee, of Sag Harbor, New York, and Lara Hedin,  of YogaPeeps.com. In this episode, Rodney and Colleen talk about talk about their Gaiam Yoga Club, UrbanZen.org, their influential teachers, books they love, their practice now, nonviolence, truth and contentment. To listen click: YogaPeeps_102008_RodneyYeeColleenSaidmanYee Subscribe with iTunes ShowNotes Rodney & Colleen’s Bio Slower Connections: If you have choppy playback, right click the link and download the mp3 to your desktop (Firefox “Save link as”) (Internet…

“Listen before acting” There is an elegance in this simple statement. First of all, it recognizes the fundamental aspects of the way we interact with the world. Active and passive, giving and receiving, asserting and yielding. Effectively, Yin and Yang. Yin is the receptive and yielding and Yang is that active and asserting. So often we are active in the world. Convincing others of the validity of our values, of trying to shape things so that they match our internal map. This is healthy, to a certain extent. Who doesn’t want to see more of what they like in the world? Anyone who has…

Tea time as the sun rises here in Vancouver. We just had the most inspiring 10 days of teacher training. I can’t wait for you to experience this generation of yoga teachers. In spite of the deep sense of tiredness I feel from running such an intense course, last night was not a restful one. A Conservative Minority Government in Canada? How did this happen? It flies in the face of every value I believe in. A leader who was voted the worst in the world for his environmental policy by the UN in Bali last year? Who adamantly opposes Kyoto and supports his Alberta oil cronies? Who has us tangled…

Check out these ideas on Eoin’s BLISS FM Podcast This is the start of the next session of our yoga teacher’s training and I wanted to share this with you. The first two terms are borrowed from a great friend and teacher, Joel Kramer, the latter two are ideas that I have been forming for a while. Pushers The mindset of a pusher is one that is motivated by achieving a goal at any cost. It is a result of our intensely competitive society where we have to rise to the top no matter what. It is a tempting mindset, but the pushing approach to yoga eventually means ignoring vital bodily…

U.S. Elections, Vancouver Elections, Canadian Elections… It is unreal that the shape of our world will be moulded in the next few months. This could be a huge turning point for what David Korten calls the “Earth Community” or we could plunge back into self interested foreign and domestic policies. In one sense, we have become a huge global village here on Planet Earth. In another, the borders are getting tighter and tighter. With the drive to make “homelands more secure,” our hearts are becoming more rigid with each ‘us and them judgment’ we are…

“What do you do for cardio?” is a question that I often get asked. “Nothing, just yoga and surfing” I casually reply. With our Ukee Beach House rented for most of the summer and the outdoor classes rocking, I decided this summer to put surfing on the back burner. But “how am I going to get my nature and outdoor exercise fix?” I thought. I realized I had to do something because for one I love nature and have to play outside. Secondly I love creamy desserts and Crème Brule shows up on your body more as I approach 40 than it did in college. Then last month I was meeting up with Chip…

Best Self Help & Spiritual Blog Articles Yoga, Meditation & Spiritual Growth Blog Carnival #23 Welcome to the 23th edition of the Meditation, Yoga and Personal Development carnival.  This is really an excellent edition, with a ton of great articles.  There is lots of stuff on meditation, stress relief, changing your life, health and spirituality. For my fellow active stumblers if you are interested in networking on Stumble Upon, please go ahead and reach out to me.  My stumble upon id is http://anmolmehta.stumbleupon.com. Please link back to this carnival from your…

Advanced Kundalini Yoga Technique Kundalini Awakening Technique An important aspect of dealing with Kundalini Shakti (energy) is to concentrate your efforts on the purification and strengthening of your systems and nadis (energy channels), and not prematurely use direct methods to awaken Kundalini.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with Kundalini Shakti and Kundalini Yoga, you may want to first read the following 2 articles: Introduction to the Science of Kundalini Yoga & Kundalini Yoga’s Seven Chakra System Overview. Having said the above, there are techniques, of course,…

Obama or McCain Better for Spirituality Last week we ran the fun survey, which candidate would be most qualified to uplift the world spiritually, Barack Obama or John McCain.  Well, the votes have been counted and pretty much, like the general election, this was not very close either.  Barack Obama won comfortably and here are those results. Summary Value Count Percent % Barack Obama 43 91.49% John McCain 4 8.51% You can see that Obama received 91% of the votes, with only a handful feeling that McCain would be the better choice from a spiritual perspective.  Let us hope…

Yoga Plank Position Yoga Pose to Strengthen Arms & Back Plank Pose is a yoga position which, in general, women find a bit more challenging than men to do.  Especially, if they have not consciously developed their upper body strength.  So if you looking to tone up your arms, as well as strengthen your back and spine, this pose is perfect for you.  Plank pose is simple enough for beginners to do and is a good way to balance your yoga workout by adding some upper body work into it. Plank position is a fundamental yoga pose, and is part of most schools of yoga.  Here on…

Best Yoga & Meditation Techniques Most Popular Meditation & Yoga Techniques Mastery of Meditation & Yoga now offers hundreds of time tested yoga and meditation techniques to help you achieve your highest potential.  The techniques range for helping you develop your charisma (Eagle Pose) all the way to helping you bring about the cessation of thoughts (SM Meditation Technique).  Since there are so many techniques now available though, I thought it would be valuable to point out which are the top 5 yoga and meditation techniques, that the readers have most benefited from…

We’ve just witnessed the power of metaphor on the national stage, and yoga asana practice is direct, personal engagement & embodiment of the power of metaphor. We embody particulars and so transcend the generalities of natural forms in postures,  as when we engage the majestic conversation with air that is the Eagle in Garundasana, the enduring stability of the Tree in Vrkasana, the open reflectivity of the Moon in Ardha Chandrasana.  While performing asana, the student’s body assumes numerous forms of life found in creation, and he learns that in all these there breathes…

“Yoga” means “union”.  Today in the United States of America we vote for who will lead our union for the next four years. Whatever you think of the last 4 - or 8 - years, whatever you think of our war, our economy, our taxes or our infrastructure, you have a voice today. Excercise it. Then remember to exercise yourself. Breathe deeply, look next door and remember that the neighbor with the McCain or the Obama sign is … just like you. Just like you, a citizen. Just like you, struggles with fears, lacks, limitations. That’s the deep challenge of our yoga: to…

First Guerilla Yoga Event was a quiet Gorilla success, thanks to all who brought their presence and energy to our practice!!!  All we need is a drummer, a gorilla (or costume…) and the next event, so here it is!  Yoga to the People, All People, All Places, Any Time! Guerilla Yoga (n.) to participate in yoga outside a studio, home or private place; to do yoga in public settings, i.e. a park, mall, school, boardwalk, etc. Guerilla Yoga is FREE, INCLUSIVE, happens in PUBLIC PLACES & IN SURPRISING WAYS. The point of GY is to break down barriers to yoga practice: social barriers,…

Amy Nobles Dolan teaches yoga in Wayne Pennsylvania and writes a blog at Yoga With Spirit.  She exemplifies the addage that you’ll know you’re ready to teach when students come to you, and her expansive sense of generosity and gratitude, grounded in experience, wisdom and knowledge illuminate her writing. She’s an Ashtanga Yogi who brings an embracing perspective to both her choice of tradition and her teaching. On her website bio, she affirms, “…yoga works for everyone.” Here’s her reflection on why Ashtanga works for her. Thank You, Amy! ps: also…

One of the most delicious and maddening things about being human is having dreams. I’m not just talking about goals:  this house, that sales figure, that asana, this number of pounds lost or muscle gained. I’m talking about a vision, a feeling of how the world could be, will be how we want it to be. It’s called being attached, and any first time visitor to meditation hall or yoga class knows that attachment is the cardinal sin of those who seek “Enlightenment”. According to some ways of thinking, it’s the number one cause of dukkha, suffering. But simply…

Debby Harris, Bloomington’s favorite Ashtanga teacher, will be joining Bloomington Power Yoga in December. Her first Ashtanga class at BPY will be Tuesday, December 2, at 6:00 PM. Note: My usual Tuesday night 2/3 Flow class will be on hiatus until further notice. Also Note: Class packages with Debby are valid for all BPY’s classes. And BPY students may use their class packages to take Debby’s class.       

I’ve heard a lot of talk recently about the differences between “real” yoga and “gym” yoga. I don’t know if this is really a useful distinction to make, but quite a few people who practice at yoga studios stick their noses up at the yoga being taught a gyms. And a lot of yoga teachers quietly think of their gym yoga classes as watered down yoga for the masses. Many yoga teachers I know teach at gyms primarily for the money, and for the cachet of having, say, Equinox or Beverly Hills Sports Club on their resume. But what is the difference between yoga at a…

This recent article in the NY Times has some interesting information about about stretching. The old and persistent myth is that stretching out before exercising is a good thing. Apparently, though, static stretching really isn’t so great for your body, and it may even make the muscles less able for athletic performance, and more vulnerable to injury. The good news is that dynamic stretching is very good for you, and it’s the new trend in pre-athletics warm-up, especially among professional athletes. Check out the video at the end of the article. There’s a good demo and…

I’ve recently been playing some more Kodomo in my yoga classes. If you enjoyed Om Yoga Mix 2 CD, which I reviewed several weeks ago, there’s a good chance you’ll also like Kodomo’s latest CD Still Life. (Kodomo appears on the Om Yoga Mix CD, and Still Life is his first full length album.) Kodomo’s style can best be described at melodic electronica, so it’s not only suitable for yoga, but also for general chillin’ out. Comparable artists are Brian Eno, Kraftwerk, Air, and Boards of Canada. My favorite tracks on Still Life are Concept 15, Concept 13,…

My Sunday 5:00-6:30 will no longer be a Level 2/3 class. Starting today, October 19th, this class will be a Level 2 Flow class.       

Ilchi Lee recently discovered an acupressure point that makes laughing easier. He describes it in his journal on www.ilchi.com. I think it’s pretty amazing for someone to be pressing points on his body and discovering a point that helps you laugh more easily. He says he’s “always experimenting with my own body, trying to uncover new ways to heal and grow, which is how I invented Brain Wave Vibration and Jang-saeng Walking. “This point is behind the ears and, like most acupressure points, is often painful when pressed. But if you focus on the sensation there after…

I’ve noticed many people have trouble with some of the Dahn Yoga Energy Breathing postures, otherwise known as Jung-choong breathing. So I thought it would be helpful to describe some alternate poses that you can do until you body is able to make the full posture. Posture No. 2: If you are in Posture No. 2 and are having too much trouble, pull your knees in toward your chest. Grasp your knees with your arms and touch your chin to your knees. Breathe in deeply, and then exhale as you release your knees. Return to the correct posture or hold your knees slightly more toward the chest.

Earlier this week I noticed a News Feature article on www.brainwavevibration.com about the controversial movie Zeitgeist. I’ve seen the movie and it definitely shocked my brain. It provides compelling, although maybe not complete, evidence for a number of different conspiracy theories. Both the article and the movie made me think more about what a practice such as Dahn Yoga can do in the face of fear and negative information, whether legitimate or not.  It shows me how important it is to be rooted in your own center, your dahn-jon, and to hold your own vision for your life and for the…

I found this fun video on www.brainwavevibration.com that shows Dahn Yoga founder Ilchi Lee doing his morning exercise. It’s gives you a little peak into his life and what he’s like. It also shows you the HSP 12 step training that he developed–12 steps to walking on your hands. I hope you enjoy it! YouTube Direktvideo link

Dahn Yoga, like other forms of yoga, sometimes uses sound. Like meridian stretching, joint rotation, and vibration exercise, sound can help get your energy flowing properly in your body. Different sounds have different effects. As I’ve mentioned before in this blog, the “Ah” sound helps relax the chest and open the fourth chakra. Sometimes specific words are repeated that have a healing effect. One example is the Korean phrase noe-kyung, which means “brain scripture”, or in other words, “the truth embedded in the brain”. Another is Brain Wave…

I'd like to share with you a wonderfully written article (below) on how to cultivate compassion by Leo Babauta of ZenHabits.net. In Leo's article, there is an emphasis on cultivating empathy for others. However, for some it is much easier to empathize those around us and find it more difficult to apply the same compassion to ourselves. One thing I learned from my meditation group is the compassion for oneself is equally important as the compassion for others. One practice that is helpful is meditating on a mantra such as: "May I be well and happy." "May I be free from conflict." "May I be at…

Following the loss of our formal studio in Southport , N.C., a few of us southern yogis have created an open space to teach and practice. We call it Offerings and it is located behind the Adventure Company on Howe Street. Just a room, with old wood floors, donated blankets, blocks, straps and the like. Soft lighting and dedicated teachers... and no computers, sign up sheets or even fees. We have a donation bowl to help us cover the small rent... and that's it. So come one, come all. E-mail me for more info on classes.

Anyone else have trouble with morning practice? (posted from the Yoga Journal community forum, 11/19/08) I am not a morning person. I admit it and my best friends can attest to it (one of them will only wake me up if she has a cup of coffee in her hand). Although I’m MUCH better than I used to be in the morning, I still have trouble finding the energy to do anything other than force myself out of bed and do my morning routine in a zombi-like state. I know a morning practice can influence your entire day for the positive and would love to have that, but it’s just so hard to get up and do…

I thought I'd put together a few interesting and thought-provoking reads I've stumbled upon around the web. I hope you enjoy them - Happy Wednesday! The Problem of Free Yoga & Meditation - The author, Anmol Mehta, questions whether yoga and meditation that is offered for free is deemed beneficial and valuable by the recipient since in today's culture money is often used as a measuring stick to determine an item's worth. Would the recipient have a more casual approach to her practice if it was offered for free vs. if the recipient had paid for it? Malaysian Muslims Await Ruling on Yoga - A…

Have you ever made an impromptu stop at your local supermarket and realized that you didn't have your reusable grocery bag with you? For me, that happens almost all the time and I resort to carrying the bought items in my hands or resentfully use plastic bags. Those times I wished I had a bag small enough that I could carry with me at all times. Read complete review...

Why Superfoods? Superfoods are a category of foods found in nature, they are superior sources of essential nutrients-nutrients we need but can not make ourselves. We all may be adding more salads and vegetables to our diets, but concern for the quality of foods grown on mineral depleted soils makes superfoods popular. They are nutritionally more potent then regular foods and are wonderful food sources of anti-oxidants for healthy healing. Superfoods are nutrient dense and calorie sparse. Click to Learn More about the 5 Categories of Superfoods: GREEN Superfoods BEE Superfoods SEAWEED…

Inform yourself of the dangers of consuming artificial sweeteners, such as Aspartame and Saccharin, with our latest nutrition article by Joan Ullyett BA, RHN-Registered Holistic Nutritionist. Find out the history of these dangerous sugar substitutes and discover health, natural alternatives. Many of us over the age of 30 will remember the Sweet n Low craze that seemed to reach its height in the 1970s. Messages were all around us about the evils of sugar: it caused cavities, made us gain weight, wreaked havoc on blood glucose levels and was simply unhealthy. To the innocent, media-bombarded…

My Yoga Online has posted a new article by yoga instructor and writer, Insiya Rasiwala-Finn, titled Fall and Winter Cleansing-A Tune Up for Your Body. This yoga and healthy living article has many amazing tips to keep your body full of vitality during this busy time of year. So, it is that intermittent season, autumn, replete with rain and dampness. The perfect time to reminisce about summer, to catch that cold that is going around, (the constant temperature variations do not help); and to begin to accept the inevitable approach of winter. The fluctuations of late fall and early winter also…

Neck pain and discomfort is experienced by most people, especially for those who spend extended periods of time sitting at a desk or computer. This neck pain is often generated by poor posture habits and head positioning. To relief this discomfort, we have a few simple and quick yoga exercises that can help restore the balance needed for neck health. Cause of Neck Pain While Sitting Prolonged sitting with activities that position the arms forward of the body (like using a computer) have a tendency to collapse the spine forward. This forward collapse is most prevalent by the head. The…

My Yoga Online added a new yoga anatomy article by Dr. Robin Armstrong, chiropractor, titled Neck Safety and Yoga Inversions. If your yoga practice includes, or may one day include yoga inversion postures, than read this important safety article. Turning the World Safely Upside Down-The Safe Practice of Headstand and Shoulderstand Yoga Poses Yoga inversions can be a joyful, empowering, perspective-altering experience. They require us to do things with our body that we might not have experienced since childhood. What makes yoga inversions so exciting is the fact we are using our arms and heads…

There are many poses I avoid teaching to my class because the poses are too advanced for the students. And then there are those poses that I omit because, well, I hate them. These are the poses that when they come around in classes that I'm a student, seem like the perfect opportunity to take a break to adjust my pony tail or my yoga pants because that will cut the pose short by at least a breath or two. Then, when I actually make it into the pose, I might be so uncomfortable and frustrated by it I'll mumble profanities under my breath (or at least in my head). It's not that I intentionally…

This is an email I wrote to send to my students as an attempt to inspire them to come to my next yoga class. I thought I'd share it with you. DISCLAIMER: It's meant to be fun and playful, not totally serious. 10 Reasons to Do Yoga 1. You noticed your shoulders creeping up toward your ears . . . again. Yoga helps manage physical, mental, and emotional signs of stress. 2. Your yoga mat really brings out the color in your eyes. ;) 3. If someone gives you one more thing to do you feel like your head might explode. Yoga lets you slow down, take deep breaths, and encourages you to do one thing at a…

Once upon a time, in a far away land, a college student sat down at her local Barnes and Noble to flip through Yoga Journal for the first time. She wouldn't dare actually buy the publication, much less anything advertised within it's pages because, frankly, yoga classes were expensive enough. The articles were about massage, organic food, and exotic yoga vacations. Puzzled, the student (OK, it was me) scowled, closed the magazine, and placed it back on the shelf thinking, "Who has the time, money, and dedication to live that kind of lifestyle?" Fast forward a few years, and today I sit in my…

After my first experience as a yoga sub, I couldn't wait for my next attempt. If there's one thing I love more than a perfectly aligned pose, it's a second opportunity to redeem myself after I've failed miserably. Luckily, this week the asanas AND the stars aligned for the class I was subbing. It was one of the most fun teaching experiences I'd ever had. Ever! Unlike last week, I knew when class was scheduled to end, so I planned accordingly. Some of the students who were there to witness my not-so-great class the week before actually came back for more (so it must not have been THAT bad). As…

I've never subbed for another teacher before. It's not that I haven't had the opportunity. I was just too scared. Why? All of the students would be total strangers to me, which means I don't know the level of their practice or their injuries. If my teaching style is different from the teacher I'm subbing for, I run the risk of surprising or upsetting the regulars (and I know they'll tell on me when their teacher returns). And let me count the ways adult classes are different from my teen classes. Many of these, I realize, are preconceived notions and generalizations. 1. Adults pay for their…

I've always thought someone's strengths were something they were good at--even if they hated doing it. That's why I get stuck cleaning the bathroom every week. It's definitely not a love affair with the bathroom--remember that's with the kitchen floor. I just do a more thorough job than anyone else in the family.This view may not be a big deal when it comes to divying up household chores, but when selecting a career this view is a great way to really mess things up!Marcus Buckingham, author of Go Put Your Strengths to Work and presenter on Oprah and a PBS special on strengths, has a different…

I used to think meditation was listening and prayer was talking to some higher force. As a child, prayer was a part of my evening ritual; I had even made up a bedtime prayer to use along with the Lord's Prayer. This "home made" one had more meaning to me as the church's version of the Lord's Prayer was not very relatable for a 7 year old.As time passed, I came to realize that the prayers felt completely empty and void of any meaning. I could recite them backwards, forwards, and sideways while not actually paying any attention to the words. By high school, the ritual had become worthless; so I…

Last week, a friend and I were having coffee when she shared her dismay at couples shopping together. "The men are so controlling. I watch them walk around the market dominating their wives and pushing them around."Now this is interesting to me; I tend to have a great time grocery shopping with or without my partner/husband. A matter of fact, when Mike and I go together we operate like a well-oiled machine cutting the time spent gathering goods in half (or almost half), and it's nice to chat about upcoming dinners and "plan as we go." Other couples in the store appear to get along just fine.

Nadine Fawell recently wrote a fantastic post regarding injuries and yoga. This has been a subject of great interest to me for four years now--since injuring my back through various means and then going downhill from there. I am a devoted yoga practitioner and yet have experienced back pain, neck tension, joint inflammation, insomnia, constipation, and knee difficulties. Oh yeah, there was foot pain as well. I even wrote an article about this topic that the International Association of Yoga Therapist was kind enough to publish.For the longest time I thought I was alone; as Nadine alluded to…

This past weekend I had the honor of attending a workshop with Gary Kraftsow at City Yoga in Indianapolis, Indiana. Gary is the founder of the American Viniyoga Institute with a strong therapeutic approach to Yoga. "Increasing breath threshold is something that can benefit almost everyone, aside from someone on a respirator," Gary commented. I have to agree with this whole-heartily. Time and again I see people push themselves into down dog even though they have carpel tunnel or take a deep twist with back troubles. (I've been guilty of this last one....) As wonderful as asana can be, the…

CONTEST • CONTEST • CONTEST • CONTEST • CONTEST • CONTEST • CONTEST ENTER NOW TO WIN MY YOGA DVD!!!! Take 2 Action Steps NOW: 1. Sign up for my newsletter and you will be one of the first to know when the new site is launched, save a spot for my free upcoming tele-seminar and other groovy discounts for products I LOVE!!! 2. Leave a Comment and share how you are Dancing Fearlessly in YOUR Life! _____________________________________________________________________________ Join Intent.com - This is an amazing community - set your Intent today! Join my community networks: ADD your…

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR LOVING SUPPORT!!! YOU MAKE MY LIFE RICH AND MEANINGFUL!!!!! Please enjoy this free online podcast you can enjoy at the end of the day, in the morning or anytime you want to de-stress and connect to the true essence of yourself. Mentioned in this yoga podcast: Yoga Month Denver - Sign up and share with your friends…… check out the zine Fit Yoga pg. 67 - buy the issue (The lovely Sara Avant Stover - check her out) Twitter Itunes - write a review and share with your friends & family they will love you for it!!!! (Please forgive me for not posting yoga…

Become part of my foundation & BUY my new I AM NOT A MESS ™ YOGA DVD FOUNDATIONS - this is where you begin from the base to become stronger and feel better! Get to the foundation, your feet how do you walk and if you want to find better health in your knees, hips let’s begin with our feet. Check out these great products (the clothing I am wearing & props) to better assist YOU with your foundation off the mat: Earth Footwear - These shoes rock and keep your in great alignment Beyond Yoga - Great clothes and listen to my interview with the designer/owner Jodi Guber…

It’s been a while and busy with creating products to assist you at home and on the road. You may be thinking what is she been up to - YOGA DVD’s. I am excited to share and be working on the first one for a Sept 2008 release while I travel with Yoga Month 2008 around the states. Enjoy this free Yoga podcast class - the focus is on seeing if we give or receive more in our life. Use this yoga class to make your vessel stronger for both. Let’s make this world work for us all and see its important to be on both ends as this is how our breath works and nature works! CHECK IT OUT -…

HAPPY TO BE BACK with a VIDEO - SEE BELOW!!!! I am so grateful for every breath and for your being on the path with me. It’s been a while as I have been on hiatus and happy to be back. There is a lot happening with my life since my accident (no accident at all really) and I am in an super expansive mode creating to better serve all of you. More details to come stay tuned. Peace & blessings, Hillary

Many people who haven't tried yoga (especially men) think they can't do it because they are not flexible. But the idea that you need to be flexible to do yoga...

Gaiam had a new game on their website that tests your memory and your knowledge of yoga pose names. It's kind of like Husker Du, but with yoga poses. Warning:...

If you are feeling like side plank is no big deal and you are pretty open in your hamstrings, it may be time to give full side plank a try....

The great thing about this standing poses video is that you get instruction from an experienced teacher and you get to see how to transition from one pose to the...

Lately, I've taken a couple of classes that focused on restorative yoga. In this teaching method, poses are help for long periods, perhaps up to 10 minutes, with the use...

Several Phoenix area yoga studios have closed, reports the Arizona Republic. All were in the Ahwatukee Foothills neighborhood. Teachers and students say it's because yoga is free at local churches or included in health club memberships, including the Ahwatukee YMCA, which costs $48 a month. "It makes sense to have a membership at a place where you can get all your wellness needs," says YMCA senior program director Sandra Franks. Have any yoga studios in your area closed?

Free Spirit Spheres, round wooden rooms set among the trees of the west coast rainforest of Vancouver Island, Canada, are sort of like tree houses for adults. "Uses for these spheres are limited only by one's imagination. Healing, meditation, photography, and canopy research" are just some of the things you can do. Creator Tom Chudleigh, when asked how he came up with the idea, says this: "The trouble I have is that I do not exist in a meditative state often enough or long enough to completely escape my attachment to the physical world. This led me to pose the question, 'What can I do to…

Reports the News Observer, "The ancient practice of yoga is finding a new following -- among doctors and medical researchers who work to discover its benefits for a variety of illnesses. 'There's been an explosion of data using yoga as a treatment option,' said Dr. Shelley Wroth, an obstetrician at Duke Integrative Medicine and a yoga teacher. 'It shows so much promise.'" Do you really think the medical community is embracing yoga? Or do you find when you or friends or family visit a physician, it is still the status quo? Do you feel comfortable talking to your MD about alternative practices?

According to the Malaysian Star, "Recently, lecturer Prof. Zakaria Stapa of Universiti Kebangsaan advised Muslims who had taken up yoga to stop practicing it for fear that they could deviate from the teachings of Islam." This triggered a national debate, resulting in the announcement by The National Fatwa Council that it would issue an official ruling about yoga. This decision has been temporarily postponed. Reports Brunei News, "The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia Director-General Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz said his department had carried out an in-depth study on the issue over…

Yogini Alicia Bay Laurel, who lived on the Wheeler Ranch commune in the early '70s where she wrote Living on the Earth, will be giving two concerts in the Bay Area with Joe Dolce. The first is on 11/14 in Sebastopol, the second is on 11/15 at the Community Music Center in San Francisco. Says KPFA: "Joe Dolce matches amazing cover versions, including 'The Wind Cries Mary,' with heralded originals, including the international hit 'Shaddap You Face' and 'My Home Ain’t in the Hall of Fame' and Alicia Bay Laurel is a poignant and humorous songwriter." For more information, visit…

[ November 30, 2008; 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. ] You are invited to attend our next free Sydney One-day Meditation Workshop, to be held on Sunday 30 November, 2008.   The Workshop is suitable for both regulars and beginners. The meditation is very easy, with no prior knowledge needed. Everyone will have the opportunity to learn and experience the peace and joy that true meditation can offer.   Workshop [...]

[ November 7, 2008; 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. ] Sahaja Yoga is again holding a Self-realisation Stall in Chatswood Shopping Mall, Chatswood in Sydney, on Friday 7th November, from 9.00 am till 4.00 pm.   This will be held as part of the twice-yearly Charities Day held in Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, just down from Chatswood station. Please come along. We would love to see you there!

Trees reflected in lake “Why has God created this beautiful universe?” has been a question asked for thousands of years. The reason is very simple to understand. This beauty that is created cannot see itself. In the same way, God who is the source of beauty, cannot see His own beauty. Like a pearl cannot enter into [...]

I was gardening, or should I say weeding. As I did so I asked that Shri Ganesha would cleanse my chakras and take away all the obstacles to the success of the Sahaja Yoga programs in Newcastle, Australia, as well as to my own ascent. Financial concerns popped up for a moment, as my mind went to the [...]

Gurrumul Yunupingu A reader has written to recommend listening to two recent releases of what he describes as remarkable Australian music. “I have just heard a most incredible Australian CD, Cannot Buy My Soul - The Songs of Kev Carmody.   The musician and songwriter, Paul Kelly, pulled together a stellar cast of the cream of the Australian music [...]

Why do you practice yoga? For some people, it’s because they want to feel better, whereas for others they want to look better. Most of the time, though, it’s a combination of both – and we all know how satisfying a regular yoga practice can be. That’s why so many actors practice yoga – being and looking fit in both mind and body is absolutely vital to their careers. Recognizing this essential fact, Govinda Arun Ahuja, a popular Bollywood actor, recently decided to make yoga his exercise of choice. In an effort to shift his career from a comic actor to an action hero, Govinda has…

Recently, I had to take yet another flight with my son, who’s not yet two years old but is already becoming a frequent flyer! Unlike the last frustrating time, however, when I had to do everything but jump through hoops just to get my son and me on the plane, I was determined to be better prepared this time – just in case the airlines decided to change their check-in procedure or come up with countless other ways to make life challenging. So the first thing I did when I booked my flight was to draw up a list of questions for the airline staff. Even though I did an online check-in, I…

Feeling stressed and in pain? There are so many factors that can cause us to feel tension – anything from a having bad day to the pressure of dealing with the recent downturn in the economy. And these stresses can so easily manifest themselves in our bodies. Even with a regular yoga practice, we are susceptible to nagging aches, pains, and lingering tensions – all of which can be difficult to relieve. One of the most common areas of tension strain occurs in the neck. A crick in the neck can happen for a variety of reasons, ranging from sleeping in the wrong position to spending too much…

Poverty is all around us. Perhaps some of us are fortunate enough not to have it right on our doorstep, but we’ve all seen and read about the devastating conditions that many people live in. And I’m sure, like me, you’ve often wondered what you – as only one person – can do to help alleviate all this suffering. There are so many opportunities to get involved in making a positive difference in people’s lives – and one way is by participating in the “Fire and Grace Yoga Ritual and Kirtan Dance” with Suzanne Sterling, Hala Khouri and friends on November 29 at the Santa Monica…

Are you in the military forces or do you know anyone who is? Well, how does the idea of yoga for the Military sound to you? Okay, so now you’re probably wondering how on earth yoga would fit into the military forces. Think about it – we all sometimes feel like we’re carrying a huge boulder of tension on our shoulders throughout the day. As yoga practitioners, we have the benefit of knowing that any stress we carry can most likely be relieved after a focused session of yoga. Whether we’re with a group or in our own homes, the alleviation of tension after an exhilarating practice can…

The flagship store of the trendy and sporty bag people, Bratpack, opened recently at Greenbelt 5. I was there at GB5 for a lunch date with friends at Cibo and saw the Bratpack people setting up in the lobby area right outside Cibo. Seeing all the bags hanging on display made me recall my school days [...] yoga therapy; Self Improvement;

Ah, yes, so that’s why I do yoga. Daily. It keeps me sane. Or I suppose a better word is grounded- - more calm and connected to reality. Less neurotic. Unfortunately, I had to have a couple months of somewhat sporadic yogaing and increasing crazy-going to remind myself of that. Bleh. That’s over, thank goodness. [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

Yes, today, I easily touched my toes in Kapotasana (with assistance from Val). If you've been reading this blog for a while, then you know it's not the first time I got hands to feet. BUT....it is the first time that they got there without the searing feeling of skin, tendons and muscles tearing, and without the numbness that followed. It was AWESOME!!And it's all because of the

Inform yourself of the dangers of consuming artificial sweeteners, such as Aspartame and Saccharin, with our latest nutrition article by Joan Ullyett BA, RHN-Registered Holistic Nutritionist. Find out the history of these dangerous sugar substitutes and discover health, natural alternatives. Many of us over the age of 30 will remember the Sweet n Low [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

My Yoga Online has posted a new article by yoga instructor and writer, Insiya Raiswala-Finn, titled Fall and Winter Cleansing-A Tune Up for Your Body. This yoga and healthy living article has many amazing tips to keep your body full of vitality during this busy time of year. So, it is that intermittent season, autumn, [...] yoga; Yoga Poses; Health and Wellness;

I'm in the midst of my next YJ article, so I've been a bit quiet (not to mention, lax in my daily Up Dog). I've enjoyed my interviews, tho, as this is a subject near and dear to my heart: Teaching Yoga at a Gym.There is often the implication (from YJ, among other places), that the ideal place to teach and practice yoga is at a studio. That was even my attitude, back in DC, where the studios I went to were much more dedicated to the practice than the gyms (not that the gym experiences were bad, but they were a lot more generic). I wanted to write a piece that would show the benefits of…

As I've thought about it, I'm not sure I have anything else to say about Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose. There isn't much in the way of modifications...either you stretch down to your foot, or you use a belt. What I've found to be the most interesting about it this week is how variable it is. For me, the more straightforward poses (Tree, Triangle, Down Dog) are pretty easy to assume without a lot of warm up--altho check out Nadine's discussion of Dog to see what a difference a warm up can make. Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana, on the other hand, is all over the place depending on the time of day, muscle…

We did twists and spine lengthening this week in class. When I have a class that is a bit more advanced, I have them try Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana, for an intense arm/torso/hip/inner thigh stretch. Everyone tried it, but most of them groaned...especially when I demo-ed stretching the upraised arm towards the foot. "Oh, right," was the exact quote.Once I had everyone stand up and move into Trikonasana (Triangle), though, I got to thinking about how similar these two poses are. Legs are spread, spine is lengthened and then twisted, arms reach down and overhead. The knee cap has to keep lifting…

One of my favorite vacation poses is Vrksasana or Tree Pose. When you're out in the wilds camping, on a lanai overlooking a Hawaiian sunrise, or even just visiting your parents for the weekend, popping into Tree for a spell is a nice way to realign, get your daily yoga fix and find some balance in your new environment. It's fun, it's pretty easy (except for the balancing part) and it just feels so yoga.I teach it early, even to complete beginners, because it is easy to assume (modifications next post) and it gets people thinking about alignment. Plus, it's sort of the "international sign of…

Whoops, got a little side-tracked this week helping the husb. put together his tenure package. By Monday nite he was pretty fried and needed some help organizing about a million student evaluations and making everything look pretty. Those of you who are academics, or love an academic, know how lively things have been around our house. Now the waiting begins...So, I've been hearing about the Dog, and thinking about my own Dogs. I've got some modifications for you to try that I often do, anyway, because it shifts things around in the pose and keeps it interesting:Hands around a block at the…

It's been terribly long since my last post! Balancing everything as a new mom is not easy and unfortunately my blogging has taken a hit. However, today I felt I had a good enough topic to make the time to write.My breastfeeding days are numbered, and it saddens me more than I ever thought it would. For some reason, I already had it in my head to stop nursing at six months. Well, first it was let's just make the first month. Then it was three months and once I made this goal I thought, what the heck, let's make it to six months!Now six months is almost here and coincidentally my hubby and I…

About a month or so before we gave birth to our now 4 1/2 month-old baby girl, I began nesting and focused my energies on our screen porch, which was an eyesore to say the least. Rotted wood, screens tattered and torn. Plus the cement floor showed signs of having tile and old paint but unfortunately had been returned to its original, drab natural color of gray.As a woman who was nine months pregnant and jonesing to nest (pregnancy is 10 months long, remember!), I couldn't do much with the porch but buy accessories and clean it out. This did help tremendously, but it definitely needed some…

A quick hello from Yoga Mama and Yoga Baby - aka Brijin Joy! Thought all of you would like to see how much she's growing. This is one of her three-month photos, which is already three-weeks old (without cropping - sorry).I can't believe she will turn four months this Friday. When people say, "Enjoy your baby while you can because it goes so fast," I didn't even fathom how quickly it would fly. I do believe we are truly enjoying each moment of our time with her; although my hubby would probably disagree with this statement had he been asked at 5:15 a.m. today. Seriously though, it's fairly…

Watch this clip of Russell Simmons at the Yoga Health Festival, which was a sidebar during the DNC in Denver.He talks about how we need health care for all, but how we also must take it into our own hands. I began doing this with yoga five years ago, and it's the best prescription I've ever tried. No, it might not be as easy as popping a pill into your mouth, but it's not hard either. Plus, you might actually learn to love it, like I do. Ten to 20 minutes of yoga a day, five to seven days per week is all you need - really even one day a week can do miracles. Trust me, it hasn't been around…

My mother-in-law (i.e., Grandma G) loaned me the book When God winks at You, which has several short stories of how God communicates to all of us by orchestrating amazing "coincidences" to show you He is here for you. God gave me (and millions of other Americans) a wink on my birthday yesterday - there is hope for our great nation. And that hope is Barack Obama.The only major event of historical quantity on Aug. 28 - my birthday - before yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech, "I have a Dream." A monumental event to say the least. Yesterday, 45 years to the day when MLK so eloquently…

Dr. Albert Mason, an anaesthetist, came across an unusual sixteen-year-old boy, who was admitted to a hospital for the treatment of fish-skin disease. His whole body was covered with black warts. As the skin transplant operation did not succeed, Dr. Mason thought of using powers of suggestion. The boy had good concentration and was accepting suggestions well. In the state of relaxation, the suggestion that the warts from his left arm would disappear indeed worked in a few days. When the wonder case was shown to the surgeon-in-charge, he was amazed and explained that this is an incurable…

The forces which interact to produce the phenomena of world history and geography: souls, matter and God, are threaded by the law of karma. when there is mental communication with God, the soul's relationship with matter changer. This means that the internal love-link that the soul has with the Supreme is reflected in the performance of the soul in the material world and in the degree to which the soul has mastery over matter; firstly over the senses of the body and through that, over the colours, shapes and sounds of the material world.We have continually sought to understand which way to…

In a state of high self-regard, the awareness of oneself as a spiritual being performing pure action, brings the awareness that other beings are also souls performing through their bodies. When there is this drishti; this way of seeing another person as a spiritual being, when the attitude of soul-to-soul is maintained, then there is true communication and pure interaction and the desired state of peace, happiness and purity occurs automatically. If you achieve a state in which you are naturally peaceful, pure and happy, you can be sitting anywhere and, because the thought vibrations…

We all realise the importance of practising virtues and qualities in life, such as politeness, tolerance and patience. Many of our problems and much of our sufferings are caused by a lack of politeness and a false sense of pride.An envious person cannot tolerate another's achievements or growth. This happens because we forget our own unique identity and talents. We need no selfish motives. With the virtue of tolerance, we will be able to see wonders happening, not only in us but in others as well, because with tolerance we will automatically practise patience.People always find solace and…

By definition, a Raja Yogi in one who has a mental link with the Supreme Soul, the source of all goodness. This, coupled with an understanding of the laws of action which govern the behaviour of souls, means that one does not have to renounce society in order to achieve enlightenment. Rather, the soul filled with illumination faces society directly with understanding and the compassion to serve it and to elevate it so that it.The soul becomes elevated not by the renunciation of responsibilities or worldly duties but by a renunciation of the negativity that exists within the role being played.

The Ruggs have been a Leanin’ Tree kind of family for a long, long time. And in addition to sending and receiving a truckload of Leanin’ Tree cards over the years, I have written in the past about the Leanin’ Tree Museum of Western Art. (In fact, watch this space for an updated article on ol’ Edward Trumble’s art collection.) So when Twila Green, Leanin’ Trees customer service manager, shot me an e-mail the other day about this season’s holiday cards, I thought I’d pass a little bit of the info on to y’all.

Off in the shadowy halls of government offices, public lands have been stripped of key protections. When a bureaucrat somewhere in the system deems a proposal worthy, there's no worry-it will find a way to sail through the approval process. That's exactly what's taking place in the Helena National Forest in Montana.

Well, I finally got around to taking down the Christmas lights from the house last Saturday. I laid them all out in the driveway, then plugged them in and checked every bulb on each string. Then I carefully coiled them all up, sealed them in a plastic bag, and tossed them into the garbage. I’ve been burned enough times to know that, when I put the lights back on the house in two weeks, half of the strings won’t light up. I could never see the point in replacing nine flimsy bulbs in a $3.00 string of crappy lights, so I always get mad, yank down the dead string, and replace it with a new…

In the November 17th Science Section of The New York Times there was an article by Jim Robbins about the current pine beetle event occurring in the West. There was a lot of good factual information in the piece about pine beetles and their basic ecology, and on the whole, Robbins did a good job of describing some of the concerns that people have about the beetle situation. Nevertheless, the tone and implied message conveyed an overly pessimistic and negative picture of beetles as well as wildfires. It was not so much that it had a lot of false statements as much as the way it was written.

Nothing like a brand new