Category: Musings

“Yama,” the first limb of the eightfold path of yoga, is sometimes translated as “restraint.” (8 Limbs Owner/Director Anne Phyfe Palmer wrote about her relationship with Yama in her May and June blogs.) This first limb essentially shares what skillful restraint looks like in practice. And by practice in this context, I mean life – […]

This weekend 8 Limbs is hosting a workshop that I would have never imagined ten years ago. I was a yoga teacher who made adjustments without asking, because I hadn’t considered that for some, this would be invasive, or even harmful. I regularly asked folks in class to “close your eyes and go within” without considering […]

I first learned of the acronym W.A.I.T. (Why Am I Talking?) from 8 Limbs Yoga Teacher Sally Carley. When she shared it’s meaning I laughed and paused. It’s a question most of us could benefit from pondering more often than we do. Why do we say the things we do? Why do we feel compelled […]

I have a confession to make. I skipped a limb. As an ambitious 26-year-old, I named 8 Limbs after the eight aspects, or limbs – anga in Sanskrit – of yoga. I did what some of us do when we find something we love, and want to share it with others, urgently, I bypassed the deep learning […]

“Between stimulus and response there is space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” – Vicktor Frankl* Last month I wrote about sitting with discomfort. Earlier this month 8 Limbs Director Anne Phyfe Palmer wrote about taking space. Today I want to talk about a […]

There are times when life feels incredibly complex, when the threads and strands of responsibility and purpose are weaving a new pattern, one that is yet to emerge. For me (and I am guessing for many others), this is such a time. Sitting down to write this newsletter I felt overwhelmed with both how much […]

My primary identification right now is mother of a toddler.  This role colors every aspect of my life and yoga is no exception.  My son is two and a half. Three and a half years ago, I had a strong home practice alongside consistent twice weekly studio visits.  Mornings included 10-15 minutes of asana before […]

Happy Saturday everyone! It’s going to be a gorgeous day. First of all, we like to give those who participated in the 28 Day Commitment a big CONGRATULATIONS! You did it! You did your best to show up on your mat or cushion for 28 days straight. You stretched your idea of what practice is, […]

Dear Community, We are writing to address, or perhaps bring your awareness to, an incident that continues to reverberate through many hearts and minds within the Northwest yoga community. On February 22 at the Northwest Yoga Conference (NWYC), a problematic interaction transpired involving an Indian woman and a white woman who also happens to be […]

Pausing now and again, although simple, can be a profound act of kindness. Making space to generously listen to our bodies supports us to graciously tend to our ourselves and practices. Whether you’re entering into the second half of your 28 Day Commitment, or are practicing in your own way, here is a simple meditation […]