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The Universal Story

Posted on: May 16th, 2012 in Practice Intentions, blog

I have a wooden jewelry box from India. It’s too large to place on an armoire so I put it on the floor in my closet. The other day I thought to myself, “I should clean that out and get rid of the old jewelry that has accrued over 30+ years.”
Yesterday, James talked me into giving a presentation on Africa to his niece’s 4th grade class. I mentioned how nomadic lifestyle is different from ours, and asked the children if they would have as many toys if they moved consistently and had smaller houses. What would it be like to pack up everything you owned and put it on a camel’s back? They agreed they would have few things, but hopefully the same happiness.
James brought his memorabilia to show the …

Spring’s Wisdom

Posted on: May 9th, 2012 in Practice Intentions, blog

Desi’s back! She’s been working on the Vital Roots Series. When we first created it in 2008, we were on the floor, in her kitchen. We had a clear objective. We wanted a practice that was sustainable, therapeutic as well as challenging- a series with a grounding effect-more meditative than invigorating. Apparently we did it. The Vital Roots series continues to inspire and heal this community. We have heard you. But along with all living systems, the Vital Roots series will evolve. That’s its genius. Spring reminds us that if we’re not growing, we’re dying. Watch the buds and you’ll know the health of your plant.
Desi asked for guidance and she didn’t stop short of the top-she got counsel from Anusara Yoga’s founder, John Friend! When she told me that …

Continued Evolution

Posted on: April 25th, 2012 in Practice Intentions, blog

One way I know that I am growing and expanding my capacity as a human, is that the quality of my love, and loving ability grows deeper and expands further. I test it regularly. Humberto Maturana said that the only root emotion which has the ability to expand our intelligence is love. When we love, rather than love’s opposite in fear, our perspective opens and we are suddenly privy to concepts and connections that weren’t previously visible. We are able to understand, literally to stand under and observe all that surrounds us. Our minds stretch and our bodies heal. We can see many solutions as opposed to feeling victimized by the circumstances in our lives. We also see one another and genuinely want the best possible outcome for everyone. Maturana’s …

Back from Kenya!

Posted on: April 18th, 2012 in Practice Intentions, blog

Twelve people travelled, twelve people returned safely, and with expanded vision. A few expressed they would like to stay, weren’t ready to come back home. I brought them to the land of dirt and sticks, and trees with nasty thorns as well. The people are impoverished by our standards, but they would never know it, if it weren’t for our apparent wealth, clothing, watches, and shoes. They are illiterate, though I’ve never been read so well by anyone. Lepakiyo in his visits to the United States has never expressed wanting to stay. The United States Immigration Department makes it difficult to acquire a tourist visa for fear that the applicant won’t return home, will get lost in our system and become a drain on our resources, a liability. But they’re …

The Evolution of Pleasure

Posted on: April 5th, 2012 in Practice Intentions, blog

I read somewhere recently that you can gauge the evolution of a society or individual based on what they find pleasurable. It’s true what one person or culture finds pleasurable, may inspire indifference or disgust in another. The author went on to say that if a society found war pleasing, they would continue to fight, until their tastes evolved. I began observing the thoughts or behavior that I found most pleasing and I was shocked to discover how simple they were.
I can often be found staring into oblivion from the world of my bath tub, or the outside patio, a cat flanking my sides, or meditating for more time than required by my self- imposed limit. I find pleasure in bathing, feeding, sleeping, visualizing and dreaming. Making love, watering a …

Homework while Micah is in Kenya

Posted on: March 28th, 2012 in blog

I gave my Saturday class homework before I left. It was inspired by my desire to make our yoga practice a more integrated aspect of our everyday living. Lately, a larger community of yogis have been behaving badly and I found I was disheartened. I expect more of us. I expect greatness in conduct, in contribution, in application of the principles we teach and explore. I can’t help it. The disappointment is easy to live with when I am, but without holding the bar high, I feel I am complacent and I can’t live with that. So, I gave us all homework. Literally, something to take home and practice.
A quote and an adage made the homework easy to recall. “The unexamined life is not worth living.” And “If you don’t …

Fear of the Somewhat Known

Posted on: March 21st, 2012 in Practice Intentions, blog

Checking in for my flight to Kenya, the customer service rep asked doubtfully, as I was turning from her, “You feel safe over there? You’ve been before?”
I responded genuinely, “Very. Yes, I’ve been many times. It’s amazing.” I wanted both to ease her mind as well as make her aware that the little she knew of Africa was why she feared me going.
“There are crazy people there.”
“Yes. There are crazy people here.”
“Be safe.”
“Thank you.”
It happens like this often. I will somehow make known that I’m traveling to Kenya, and immediately fear or awe, or sometimes envy will be the next emotion I encounter. Mostly fear, followed by awe. I’m grateful that my first trip to the continent was when I was too young to give the media any credence. …

Springs Innocence

Posted on: March 9th, 2012 in Practice Intentions, blog

I write this as we’re experiencing our first rain of the season. It has an entirely different quality to snow, both beautiful. Rain refreshes, washes, and wets us. The birds sing louder, the air seems cleaner. Spring is near! Last month in Hawaii, I had an exceptional encounter with a mother humpback whale and her new calf. We were on a sea kayak and the baby played with us for thirty minutes. We can assume the mother was watching closely from down below, signaling her baby with tones and body language. Still, she allowed the calf to play. After birth, the mother and baby brave the open sea and migrate to Alaska, colder waters, and krill. They also encounter whaling ships and killer whales and sadly, some babies don’t return …

Spring’s Innoncence

Posted on: March 7th, 2012 in Practice Intentions, blog

I write this as we’re experiencing our first rain of the season. It has an entirely different quality to snow, both beautiful. Rain refreshes, washes, and wets us. The birds sing louder, the air seems cleaner. Spring is near! Last month in Hawaii, I had an exceptional encounter with a mother humpback whale and her new calf. We were on a sea kayak and the baby played with us for thirty minutes. We can assume the mother was watching closely from down below, signaling her baby with tones and body language. Still, she allowed the calf to play. After birth, the mother and baby brave the open sea and migrate to Alaska, colder waters, and krill. They also encounter whaling ships and killer whales and sadly, some babies don’t return …

Wednesday Musings

Posted on: February 29th, 2012 in Practice Intentions

I once heard Deepak Chopra respond, when someone asked how he had such energy for his prolific service and books, “I am driven by my discontent.” That statement affected me. I realized I was also discontented with the world, myself included. Yogis have said that the art of yoga assists us in self-realization, which then offers God-realization. Will we ever realize our true potential? Is that possible in this incarnate form? I’m not sure, but I live for the challenge of it. On a moment to moment basis, I recognize the subconscious thought that underlies all my decisions to improve myself, my contribution, and thus the world, is a product of this question. Can I actualize my potential? Most days I feel very far from this. Some, I imagine the …