"Looking intently with an unwavering gaze at a small point until tears are shed is known as trataka..." (Hatha Yoga Pradapika, 2:31) Trataka Sadhana is a deceptively simple practice. To the outside observer, you just stare at a candle. That's it. How can that be...
The 31st Olympics in Rio may be over for the athletes and spectators, but the Olympic spirit can still be alive-and-well in your kids' yoga class. With a mat, some music, and a lot of imagination, your students can all be Olympic medal winners. Musical Mats: Played...
The number 108 has sacred importance in Hinduism and yoga. You may know that mala (prayer) beads traditionally have 108 beads and that people sometimes do 108 Sun Salutations on the Spring Equinox. But why 108? There are several theories. The first set details the...
Ship’s ahoy! Boat Pose (navasana) is a simple –yet challenging – yoga pose that builds abdominal, hip, and lower spinal strength. Practicing Boat Pose also enhances digestion, stimulates the thyroid, and aids in kidney, prostate, and intestinal function. Plus for...
I'm the first to admit it - I have a wicked sweet-tooth. Always have, probably always will. And, it seems that it has been genetically passed down to my children, as well. So how do I find that yogic balance I'm always preaching about between what your body wants, and...
Want to grab any kid's attention? Just say the word "snack" and BOOM. Use this to your advantage with a food theme in your next yoga class: Yummy Yoga: Kidding Around Yoga has written a wonderfully creative song called Yummy Yoga. In it, you fly around the world...
Which will make you happier and more successful: a high IQ score (Intelligence Quotient, a measure of intellect) or a high EQ score (Emotional Quotient, a measure of emotional intelligence)? Some psychologists believe that the ability to understand, express, and...
After teaching Yoga to people from 2 to 92 for the last eight years, I have compiled a list of reasons to NOT practice yoga...and why those reasons are just excuses. 1. I can’t touch my toes! Guess what? Most people come to yoga stiff and tight, and many may never...
To a small-town Colorado girl, the Ryoanji Temple Zen rock garden in Kyoto, Japan, was one of the strangest sites I had come across as a high school exchange student – and that’s quite a feat, since my entire trip to Japan had been filled with sights and tastes I had...
I am an accidental Yogi. I wasn’t born in an ashram. My parents weren’t hippies. I was never (and still am not very) flexible. There’s junk food, beer, and meat in my refrigerator. In school I was more competitive than the average kids – both physically and...
As my daughter begins to seriously consider her future after high school graduation, I find myself looking back and reevaluating my goals for her. When I was pregnant, my only goal was to have a healthy baby. I didn't care about gender, appearance, or IQ. I simply...
School is back in full swing, so days are packed and schedules are tight. The holiday season is coming on strong, too, with its own hectic fun. It all adds up to a recipe for junk food overload. To keep everyone satisfied and healthy, try these alternatives for...
So you want to be a Yoga teacher? That's awesome! The more people spreading Yoga's love, the better. The world can use all the positive, strong, peaceful energy it can get, right? So go for it! Um...but where? Do a web search for "Yoga teacher training" and get ready...
If your schedule is anything like mine, you and your kids spend a ridiculous amount of time in your car. Driving to and from school, activities, sports practices, and lessons plus waiting in the car for all of the activities, lessons, and practices to finish adds up...
When I tell people that I’m a Yoga teacher, they automatically assume that I’m a tree-hugging, vegan, hyper-flexible hippie. And while some of that description is true, it leaves out so many descriptors: competitive athlete, harried mom, wine lover (did I mention...
Watch at your leisure!
Watch at your leisure!
