Soul Expression

As my initial training to be a yoga instructor is coming to completion, it is natural I think to turn introspective on that journey. I sit and look back over the course of the past 10 months and marvel at how dramatically my thoughts, my feelings, my beliefs, and my paradigms have shifted. I laugh now, as I recall the me who entered into that very first training weekend of our teacher training program. That version of me had no intention of being a yoga teacher, no intention of learning Sanskrit, no intention of ever sporting a mala (similar to prayer beads). I in fact scoffed at such things. Learn Sanskrit? How arrogant! Nobody in my yoga classes will know Sanskrit so why would I speak it to them? Isn't that just showing off? Wear a mala--and jump on the "yogi bandwagon" since every yogi I know is sporting one? Seems like another form of being sheep to me! Such were my thoughts 10 short months ago as I entered my training program. The sole reason for even joinin...

Very little of yoga is actually about the asanas , or physical postures. The yoga poses are a very small fraction of the practice. The bulk of the yoga practice is in living the principles, or ethics, of yoga. Very simply put, this involves moving towards greater kindness, tolerance, and patience. It is a way of life in which we become supporters of loving kindness and become consciously aware of what we speak, how we treat others, and the way we live our lives. Yoga, in part, is learning and practicing compassion, contentment, non-violence, and merging with the One. So as a blossoming yogi, I had to ask myself (in light of the presidential election) how to approach politics from a yogic perspective. As we are rapidly approaching November 6 and the moment of truth (who’s it gonna be?!) I have turned introspective, not so much about the nature of our political arena but about our personal approach to it. I firmly believe that global change starts at the individual leve...

We all need healthy boundaries. No doubt about it. And learning how to create healthy boundaries in and of itself can be challenging. We have been raised in a society that teaches us to be people pleasers. People pleasing and boundaries don’t often go hand in hand. But how do we know when we are setting healthy boundaries instead of putting up walls? There can be a fine line it seems, right? I’ve recently been examining some scenarios in my own life where I see a tendency to “put up the walls”, rather than remaining open, yet with a firm understanding of where my boundaries are (in case I need to reinforce them).   In looking at this distinction between walls and boundaries, I felt like I needed some help. So I checked in with ‘the other side’ to see what my teachers had to say. My guides promptly offered a definition for each term. They are as follows: Boundaries: Personally established and defined parameters regarding how one wishes to be treated...

It is a beautiful day here in Charlotte, NC where I am house and dog sitting for friends. I am enjoying some reflective time and thinking about a birthday party I attended last night at a swanky restaurant. We had a fabulous good time and I enjoyed myself very much. I couldn't help noticing that this particular restaurant, and it's surrounding bars and restaurants, seemed to be a place for those who wish to be "seen". As I gazed around at the $500 haircuts, women trying their very best to move with grace and elegance in dangerously high stilettos that is the current fashion, and all the high end designer fashion, I began to think about where our sense of validation comes from. It made me wonder how many people were presenting themselves in a way that was a true expression of their authentic self and how many were trying to convey an image they thought others would see as desirable. Don't get me wrong--I am in no way judging or criticizing anyone; in fact it...

I was gazing at the picture hanging above my fireplace yesterday afternoon--a beautiful photo of a quiet, serene beach. White sand, calm blue waters, with a storm building in the distant sky. I got to thinking just how much our life can be like the ocean, and how our perceptions of that shape our experience of life. The ocean is in constant flux, much like life. Sometimes it's calm and serene. Sometimes it's incredibly rocky and choppy. Sometimes the waves are gentle and soothing. This is how life comes at us, yes? Sometimes full-force and we feel like we have to hold on for dear life. Sometimes it's calm and smooth and we sigh and relax into those periods of tranquility. But it's not so much how the waters of life are that affect us. Rather, it's about our attachment to how it should be, and our resistance to what is that shapes our reality. We so desperately want the waters to remain calm. We get scared, frustrated and angry when they are not. Everything...

For many Mother Theresa is a guru. For many others, Mahatma Gandhi. Others consider Jesus their guru. For me, my guru is a domestic shorthair feline named Daisy. And I believe that in the areas of Love and Wisdom she is right up there with the aforementioned beings. This beautiful soul truly made more of a difference in my life than just about anyone else. She proved that the Wise Ones don't always necessarily show up on Earth in human form alone. "Divinity in a fur coat" is what I used to call Daisy. Daisy made her transition to the other side on October 31, 2011. And such a bright beautiful loving light that she is, she continues to be with me and show me love even now, from her new home in the realm of spirit. In life, she taught me the art of unconditional love, peace, serenity, and calm. Not much ruffled her feathers. When she was faced with adversity and forced to choose between standing her ground and fleeing, this wise beautiful soul always stood her ground. S...