Yoga in India is Not the Same as Yoga in the West
It's my opinion that the method of awakening for a classical Indian seeker is not the same for a Westerner. And so as teachers in the West, it is critical that we translate the teachings of…
Writing
Isvara Pranidhana: Sticking With What We Truly Know
In my previous blogs, I have been discussing Sat-Chit-Ananda, which is really a description of the experience of yoga. If you've been following the series, you'll notice that I give…
Sat: The Sanskrit Term for "The Real Deal"
In the last two blogs I've written, I have been discussing Sat-Chit-Ananda, an ancient yogic compound that describes the experience of yoga. Each of the three Sanskrit words, sat, chit, and…
Chit: Noticing What Is
In my previous entry , I discussed Sat-Chit-Ananda, an ancient yogic compound of three Sanskrit roots: sat , chit , and ananda , that describes the qualities of the experience of yoga. I…
Choosing "The Yum": Sat-Chit-Ananda
As Ashtangis, I think we're missing a pretty significant tool, the tool to describe and put us in direct contact with our inner experiences. So much of what we learn in the classroom is…
The Marriage of Yoga and Modern Medicine...Ugh!
New York Times science writer, WIlliam Broad, is making the rounds to speak about his book, The Science of Yoga .1 In his interview with NPR host of "Fresh Air", Terry Gross, he suggested…
The Drishti: Looking Out & Looking In
A friend of mine is struggling in her relationship with her boyfriend. They've been together for quite some time, but he's feeling stuck and wants to move on. He tells her that he's in love…
Sharing Appreciation
The client in my previous blog has begun asking her boyfriend to tell her that he loves her. When she introduced this idea of requesting that he verbally appreciate her, he responded: "I'm…
Loving Yourself Is Bullshit: Stop Going It Alone
One of my clients feels badly that she wants her boyfriend to tell her he loves her. She thinks that she shouldn't need the acknowledgment. She says she should feel solid enough about…
Soul Mates...Do They Really Exist?
Recently a coaching client had been complaining about the various partners that showed up in her life. Mostly she felt a maternal instinct for them, and more often than not, they turned out…
Ashtanga Yoga: The Tradition and The Dogma
A few days ago, while a student was coming up from backbends, I noticed that she was breathless and grimacing. I asked her what was up. She said that her previous Ashtanga teacher…
Asking "Why?"... is the Wrong Question
I stopped to talk with a student in Mysore class today. I wanted to check in to see how she was doing, if she had any questions or needed a little support or encouragement. I thought the…