When we first begin to meditate, we might notice that there is very little space inside our minds. It might...
Only a week later, my inner yoga teacher shows up again; she too, has gone on retreat. She reminds me of the definition of the word mindful, as used by Jon Kabat-Zinn, the originator of MBSR in the West. Mindfulness is about paying attention in a non-judgmental way. I can pay attention mindfully, I like to think. I have a much harder time paying attention without judgment. So my inner yoga teacher says: What if your discomfort isn’t something for you to analyze away? What if you don’t need to do anything about your discomfort? What if you just noticed it?
Transitions may be the most important part of a yoga practice. At least if we are present to them. Consider the transitions between the poses. Often we don’t think much about them, we are more focused on the posture itself. But pay attention, and there is more happening than we...
Normally, I’d be all about the homework. I am one of those people who’s ridiculously happy to be a lifelong student. I have 2 grad school degrees, for goodness’ sake. I miss taking classes besides yoga. But I have to admit that the MBSR homework is a struggle.
“Mindfulness, cultivated even for a few minutes, draws the heart toward itself. It invites the intimacy we yearn for and...
Photo courtesy of Liz Gill Where can you pause? For me, it started in the fall. I had just dropped my kids off at school. I was walking out of the playground, and I had to stop. The clouds were spectacular that chilly fall morning – streaking across the sky...
“I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” Mark Twain As I went...
My whole young life, I remember my father getting up before dawn and going for his daily run, long before...
I stood at the front of the room, my breath a bit shallow, a little nervous to look at the sea of young faces in front of me. I am not used to teaching children – a room full of adults is far less intimidating to me. I took a...
April 17, 2025 “Meditation helps us defuse stress, experience greater tranquility, find a sense of wholeness, strengthen our relationships,...
LAST CALL FOR LATE WINTER/EARLY SPRING RETREAT WITH ERIN JOOSSE February 29th-March 3rd, Harmony Hill Retreat Center Kalyāṇa-mitta is a...
One of the conversations we have been having in our current Yoga Teacher Training is about the value or detriment of mindfulness hitting the mainstream. When Jon Kabat-Zinn introduced the word and concept of mindfulness to health care in the 70’s, with the creation of the Stress Reduction Clinic at...
