As humans, we instinctively turn away from pain. Yet, great thinkers guide us to move toward pain as the shortest route for curing what ails us. Pain is the messenger that directs us towards a pain-free life. Yet, we are hard-wired to turn away from pain. Physically, we take pills and see docs who give …
Category: Inspiration
Checking in
For the past month or so, I've been hosting a weekly yoga class. My intention was to gain teaching experience while helping my friends better cope with the challenges of the difficult times that we're living in. I've realized that the real value of the weekly sessions are to connect and check-in. While I usually …
The eye of the hurricane
I've heard times of great difficulty expressed this way - to find stillness in the eye of the hurricane - and it has never been more challenging in my lifetime. CBS This Morning interviewed Bishop T.D. Jakes and he described it as a trifecta of crises that the country is dealing with - economic, physiological, …
Starting with OM
OM. That's right, OM. I started with OM. Despite the fact that I have a blog called Start with OM, it is very rare that I actually start with OM. A centering technique to remind me to be here now. Irony. I am starting with OM. This time. This is my practice, and this is …
12 Habits
The focus of the closing session at most retreats that I've attended is how to bring what we have learned and discussed into everyday life. This is often the challenge - not the lack of brilliance or discovery in these sessions but rather the discipline to put the lessons into practice. Each year, I try …
messengers
In yoga class, we often talk about "messengers." Aches and pains in the body that provide information and call to us - or even scream at us - to pay attention to alleviate the suffering or address a small issue before it becomes a bigger issue. It's also called "tuning in." But it extends beyond …
OKT: Yogaville 108k
The Spiritual Life Board at Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville has approved my request to run 108k on the trails of Yogaville to honor Sri Swami Satchidananda, the 'Woodstock Guru' as this year is the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock. I'll be running the "Only Known Time" for 108k at Yogaville on my birthday weekend at the end of …
Go with the flow
This book - Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi - was on my reading list for as long as I can remember and it did not disappoint. It is a book about yoga... it is a book about running... it is a book about life and how to find happiness. Not the superficial kind of happiness that …
