Yoga is known to help with emotional regulation, resiliency, and stress management. However, we avoid discussing distressful reactions that take us by surprise. These types of situations are similar to sleepless nights, when we are simply too distracted to relax. Other times, an ordinary movement or breathing technique triggers muscle spasms, discomfort, heart palpitations, shallow […]
I discovered yoga at a local gym after my physiatrist suggested it for chronic back pain. In the first exciting months, I discovered my body’s capabilities and the peacefulness I felt at the end of each class. When the facility decided to adopt a hot and competitive power format, my experience as a yoga student […]
When I’ve discussed detachment with friends, I often get remarks like these:
“I’m trying to understand this concept… and I’m concerned that I’d lose my ability to care about things…”
“If … happens, I won’t be able to …”
As a novice with four years of mindfulness practice, I struggle how to explain a seemingly simple idea that […]
This past fall, my Soulful Flow Yoga class started donating all proceeds to different charities as part of our mission to heal others. For February and March, we are collecting funds for CCChampions, a nonprofit helping children diagnosed with cancer.
In October, I met founder Sidney Kushner and “friendship champion” Coy Thompson at a workshop on stress […]
We always remember when a significant loss and grief occur. We can vividly recall where we were, what we were doing, how we heard about it, and what happened. Last Monday was one of those unfortunate times.
I was sacked out on the couch, recovering from an ER visit for pneumonia, determined to be home for […]
Dear Grace and Sylvia;
San Bernardino; Brexit; Turkey; xenophobic politicians; senseless shootings; Islamophobia; homophobia; racism; intolerance toward anyone different. I write this with a heavy heart, but as the Republican National Convention unfolds near our adopted hometown, I knew it would be a teachable moment about the many issues that have brought our country and the world to a boiling point. […]
You’ve spent a fortune seeking a solution, going to many kinds of doctors, undergoing many tests. You have no answers, feel sick, and emotionally spent. You wonder if you are going crazy, or are destined to remain what the medical world calls a Super-Utilizer. That was my story for much of my life. I was ready to give […]
Happy Mother’s Day. There are many ladies whose influence have a significant impact on our lives. Today we celebrate and remember our mothers, and I, like so many children, will honor my mother today, even if 500 miles separate us. Two of the other principal female players in my upbringing are missing – my great […]
I’ve been taking courses from Mindful Schools to add a different perspective to my professional and personal life. Because of this program, I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflection. After seeing a lot of “doozies” in a recent class I attended, I wish I’d learned about the common mistakes we make as yoga students “new to the […]
Mindfulness is…
… The stillness in my house and the trills of songbirds I hear every morning. Breathing deeply in and out. Finding my center before I rise.
… Savoring every bite of my meal. Eating slowly, mindfully. Noticing the food’s texture and subtle flavors. Focusing all of my attention on the moment without distraction.
… Noticing I’m on […]
