“We’re in the middle of a sea change,” said Jason. “Most yoga teachers now are erring on the side of not giving manual adjustments, and for good reason.” It was the second day of our two-week module (the first part of a 300-hour training), and the conversation had shifted from “How to give hands-on assists” […]
You ever have one of those days? You know the ones. One of those infamous days where everything seems to be going wrong. You’re late to all of your appointments, there are big rifts in your communications with others, and no matter what you try to accomplish there seems to be something blocking you. By […]
What does it mean to truly show up? How can our yoga practice touch all aspects of our lives? How can this practice be inclusive and relational? I am a yogi. I am also a mom, artist, friend, teacher, and wife. But in the freshness of the moment, all these stories drop away and I […]
If you’ve ever taken class with Gina, you know that her transitions and energetic cues are as artful as they are sensible. Below is a piece she wrote on the influence Gyrotonic has had on her yoga practice and teaching. Circles. Spirals. Undulations. Wow! The first time I was introduced to Gyrotonic was back in […]
We expect that our mind should conjure up new ideas, solve problems, and provide deep insights. Unfortunately, our minds and our senses are often misused, overworked, and overstimulated. Our mind can only function to the degree in which we understand its internal workings and our lives are a reflection of our awareness. All day long, […]
“The quest for certainty blocks the search for meaning. Uncertainty is the very condition to impel man to unfold his powers.” – Erich Fromm As uncomfortable as it may feel, uncertainty is at the foundation of our lives. We want to know, always, especially when it comes to our loved ones and our future. These […]
Start your summer off on the right track with Morning Flow, an early morning yoga practice that invigorates the body and calms the mind. It’s true! Waking up is hard to do! But so worth it when you start your day in a way that honors your life, your body, your mind, your spirit and […]
Ahhh, that gorgeous golden globe in the sky is once again bestowing it’s radiance and joy upon us here in Portland. Time to break out the shorts and camping gear and get outside. It’s about time! Seasons, cycles, rhythms. When we look at the seasons as Yin and Yang, we see that Spring and Summer […]
“Body like a mountain, Heart like an ocean, Mind like the sky” –Dogen I switched my headlamp off as the first light of dawn exposed my otherworldly orientation with the sea of clouds below me and the mysterious snow covered formations looming above. The cold wind chilled the exposed skin on my face. The secure […]
Greetings Yoga Heroes, Spring. In Portland. Spring in Portland!!! I never knew the power of daffodil yellow until I spent a few winters under the low grey skies of the Pacific Northwest. I hope this email finds you in a sea of it – a sea of daffodil technicolor beneath a tulip rainbow. I’m writing […]
“Some people find peace in finding God, others in finding the self, yet others in exercise. But, there is one thing which has been a source of comfort and helped countless individuals recover: Yoga. This age old practice has the capacity to restore your confidence, physical health, and mental acuity to a great extent. It […]
It’s hours before dawn and I sit here listening to a heavy Portland winter rain come down. The dog is asleep, the house is lit by the glow of our small and delightful tree. It’s dark, and we meet the Winter Solstice tomorrow. Soon after, we’ll cross the threshold into a new year. We’ll make […]
I grew up deeply embedded in the seasons. In the small ski town in Idaho where I’m from, the mountains are church and the weather is God. When I remember being a child, I remember temperature and light and how these delicious and fleeting touches of time carried everything I trusted and looked forward to. The […]
We had been staring at each other for three minutes. And in case you’ve never held sustained eye contact with someone for three minutes, let me assure you: it’s a lot longer than it sounds. We had started out smiling, faded to comfortable recognition, then spent a few seconds blinking and moving from left eye […]
After class at TPY NE a few weeks ago, a student visiting from Germany asked me to fill out a survey that was part of her work for an educational exhibit in Berlin. She and another photographer are asking Americans and Canadians about “What makes it so special to live in their respective countries.” My answer was […]
My journey with yoga and scoliosis began when I was a teenager living in a small town in Wisconsin. I starting having some discomfort and pain in my back and was soon diagnosed with a significant curvature in my spine. The options for treatment sounded bleak – bracing and the possibility of having surgery for a […]
When I first stepped into a yoga class I was incredibly scared of my body and the idea of embodiment. My body felt incredibly vulnerable and foreign to me. During that time of my life, I thought that if I was in control of my body than I would be loved, I would fit in […]
My first dip in Yoga philosophy as an adult was inadvertent – I went to Yoga class expecting it to be something like jazzercise and instead was introduced to a holistic form of moving meditation that integrated aspects of philosophy I had first become acquainted with as a college freshman. In addition to moving in […]
Practice. I just love it. The word, the idea, the habit. There’s such a softness to it. No beginning, no end. It’s forgiving and challenging at once. My seven year old daughter says, “I just can’t get the hands right!” She’s bummed because in a drawing that otherwise looks about how she means for it […]
One of the highlights of my summer has been taking my yoga teaching outside. The recent People’s Yoga Campout was no exception! Longtime friend and yoga buddy Alison Alstrom and I co-taught at the really, truly beautiful sanctuary of Big Bear Camp outside of Walton, OR. Paige of Eatin’ Alive made us delicious meals in […]
