When we embrace the reality of impermanence, understanding that everything is impermanent, we open to a refuge of deep inner peace. 10,000 joys, 10,000 sorrows –Chuang Tzu The tendency of the mind is to cling to the idea that a moment of joy or a moment of suffering will last forever, and this causes us […]
Best Practices for Yoga With Veterans is a must read for all yoga teachers. It offers a skillful and comprehensive approach to teaching veterans yoga. Before you stop and think to yourself, “This doesn’t apply to me, because I don’t teach any veterans,” I invite you to reconsider. In 2014, the VA indicated that there […]
Practicing self-compassion can result in increased peace and happiness and a more loving relationship with yourself and others. One of the best kept secrets about being human is that most of our suffering is not personal. Even though much of the time we compare our insides to other people’s outsides and often conclude that everyone […]
These days it’s challenging to know how to stay calm in the chaos. These are uncertain and chaotic times in the U.S. and globally. The creation of chaos is an age-old tactic used for distraction. While you’re busy reacting to the chaos, you may miss what comes next. Become intent on letting the chaos be your […]
Creating mindful intentions is one of the most powerful things we can do to create change in our lives. I’ve been devoted to a creating mindful intentions practice for a number of years, and it’s one of the practices that supports me in creating an intentional life. It’s easy to go through life meeting whatever demands arise […]
Practicing mindfulness in difficult times can help us to cope more skillfully and be resilient during times of future stress. Some of the habitual patterns of the mind during difficult times include denial, anger or wanting things to be other than they are. Mindful Resilience in Difficult Times Mindfulness practice teaches us that skillfully turning […]
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How to Reduce Stress
It is possible for us all to learn how to reduce stress. If you’re feeling incredibly stressed after the 2016 election, you’re not alone. This election highlighted the divisions in the US political culture and seemed to bring out the best in some people and the worst in others. Following are some suggestions for how […]
We all have invisible wounds as a byproduct of being human. The depth of our pain often comes as a result of the things we do to turn away from our pain. When we turn toward ourselves with kindness and care, we not only nurture the possibility for healing our invisible wounds, we also open […]
Rebecca Solnit is one of the most inspiring writers that I know. Here are some things that are inspiring me this week: Rebecca Solnit A Field Guide to Getting Lost (and all of her work) Hojicha green tea The sound of rain Pastel colors of sunset over the ocean My favorite Retro51 fountain pen (discontinued […]
Emotional coping is a skill that all of us can learn with practice. Feeling states tend to come and go. When we learn to cope with difficult emotions states skillfully, we may minimize their tendency to overshadow everything. It’s not the events in our lives that cause our suffering but our reaction to those events. […]