Category: Yoga 411

We all possess powers and gifts that, when expressed, have a positive impact on more than just ourselves – an ease in appreciating beauty or tenderness, an ability to speak out against hurtful acts, the capacity to see a project through, etc. Earlier this month Anne Phyfe Palmer wrote about the yogic concept tapas, energy […]

I call Astrud Castillo my Guru. In this modern age I’m sure that word scares and confuses a lot of people. Astrud has been my mentor for many years, guiding me through life. She has made herself available to all my questions on Yoga, relationships, and yes God. My first time seeing her had such […]

And it’s alright. In Seattle, we make it to this month and everything feels a little more possible. The days are longer, the windows are open, and we know (at least we hope) there are a few months of shorts and t-shirt weather. The sun is provides the ultimate tapas, a Sanskrit word that means to […]

As I write this I’m looking out into my yard and seeing a lot of weeds. Considering what to do about this I’m reminded, weeds are a lot like stress – they’re most effectively managed through regular tending. Tending that may or may not spark dramatic results in the moment, but over time does foster […]

“I want to do with you what spring does with cherry trees.” – Pablo Neruda Yoga in its full expression is a lifestyle. It invites us to fully express our being by nurturing our bodies and minds, in the context of an interconnected and natural world. Ayurveda (Yoga’s sister science), offers a wonderful tool to […]

Whether you’re in the home stretch of your 28-day commitment, in the midst of a busy week or not quite sure if your head is fully aligned with your heart, it can be helpful to feel into where you stand, so that you may then respond in kind. Here are four ways to skillfully and […]

A couple years back, during a guided meditation on retreat, I was given the prompt, “Why are you here?” I don’t remember exactly how I silently answered that question but I think it was something along the lines of, to deepen my meditation practice. Whatever it was, it was a pretty standard response for the setting. And […]

Our 2019 theme, Roots of Yoga, comes from a commitment to link our modern day practices of yoga to their source teachings and teachers – both to show respect and to inspire a deeper understanding of this powerful lineage. This blog will be updated daily. We’ll share kriya (cleansing) practices on Fridays, postures from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika […]

I hear there are other ways to say it these days, but steady once meant committed, longterm. In Sanskrit the word for steady is sthira, one of two qualities prescribed for the practice of asana in The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali:  Yoga Sutra II.46 – sthiram sukham āsanam – The pose must be steady and easeful. […]

As 2019 gets underway we’ve been exploring the theme Ditch Your Distractions. Sometimes though, the easiest and most compassionate path to not doing something is to consciously turn one’s attention towards something. Here are five ideas for doing just that, including a 5-minute audio sound meditation. Create an opening practice ritual. Consistently rolling your mat […]