This past week I had a difficult conversation with a loved one. It was one of those rip-your-heart-open-say-what-you-really-think experiences where I felt uncertain and scared. Usually a rational and controlled strategist, I found this heart-driven communication terrifying. Imagine for a moment that you are surrounded by a lovely sphere in which “life is comfortable and […]
I taught this delightful little power sequence in YYoga’s 3-Day Principles of YYoga Teacher Training as a demonstration of sensibly sequencing to peak poses. Keep in mind that access to Dragonfly is limited by the joint of the hip – not just the muscles. For more info on skeletal variation, check out Paul Grilley’s outstanding […]
I’m right! You’re wrong! Ooooo, it feels so good to be right!! Doesn’t it? Being right is brain happy food. “He is soooooo wrong!” I say, outraged (but somehow gleeful). When I’m right, I feel safe, secure, and wonderful. “I’ve got this.” Control maintained. Oh happy day! And then my dad says, “Do you want […]
Your mind is a beautiful cage. Glorious, glittering, shiny, and infinitely complex…but a cage nonetheless. From the time we’re children, we create an understanding of the world and live by the subsequent rules that we create. And for the most part, these beliefs go unchallenged. “I can’t sing.” “I’m not good at math.” “You can’t […]
“No rushing,” my yoga teacher admonishes sternly. She’s helping me with backbends. I’m moving too fast. I take a breath and pause. I slow down. “Good,” she nods, “no rushing.” Ah, yes, as in yoga, as in life. Rushing used to make me feel important. “I’m so busy!” I sighed dramatically, secretly thrilled by the sense […]
It’s the month of November and time again for this most remarkable time: saying no. At first, saying no sounds bad, like a five year old staring at their brussel sprouts. “No! I won’t!” He sticks his tongue out. To me, saying “No” still smells like failure, like I’m a bad sport (bad friend, bad worker, […]
I fall over in handstand. I try, I miss, I get afraid, I fall. I am not one of those effortless inversion mamas, deftly floating from pose to pose. I admire those practitioners, marvel at their grace. I’ve been afraid of handstand since I fell out of it over four years ago. I have other sins. […]
One of the most powerful gifts that yoga provides to us is a safe space to feel richly and authentically. How many of us get caught in days of politeness, with work or with friends, “Why yes, Amanda, while I agree your projections are viable, I respectfully disagree and hope that we can find a mutually […]
It was day one and I was already befuddled. First of all, allow me to confess that I drank a glass of wine. I know, I know! SO not paleo! But I just moved into a new apartment, and a glass of wine was the perfect toast to end my Ikea-bed-assembly-beg-my-neighbor-for-help-adventure. And – I’ll have you know: […]
I relish new beginnings: new diets (oh my sugar free, pegan fads…you know me!), New Year’s Resolutions, yoga practice plans, website launchings. I get this rush, a burst of bright satisfaction. The start is intoxicating: I’m making a plan, I’m doing it, yippee! But then, some way down the line, upholding my intention becomes, well, boring. I’m going to the […]
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