Archive for 'General'

A myriad of spiritual teachers have talked and written about the realization that we humans are more than our bodies and thinking minds. Many names are used to describe this larger consciousness, like consciousness spelled with capital C, or larger self with capital S. Some call it universal consciousness, open awareness, the force or god. I personally don’t see that it matters what we call this felt sense of being. Something much larger then our physical bodies, through which we ...

Just this past weekend I was sharing my knowledge and experience of this form of meditation with the students at the yoga teacher training at Ramapo College. As I was driving back home, I thought it would be a good idea to write a blog about all the great benefits of this practice, as there are lots of them.

Yoga Nidra translates into “yogic sleep”. It doesn’t mean that you are actually asleep, although that might happen at times as you ...

On some regular basis I will start class by asking everyone to simply stand on two feet. I encourage all that are comfortably capable to place their feet hip-width and parallel, but that is all the guidance I give initially. From there we start to observe. To feel where the weight falls in the soles of the feet, without trying to do anything about it. To get a sense of how we are standing at that time. Am I heavier ...

Most of us want to be good students, no matter what it is that we are learning. So we bring that mindset into the yoga studio,  which in some ways doesn’t serve us that well. It actually can get in our way. So I will share a few tips on how you can get the most out of your teacher’s cues, be it verbal  or hands-on adjustments and suggestions.

Your teacher’s job is to be your mirror. To show you what ...

Just the other day I read a short blog regarding the extent of the yoga practice. As I read it, the Serenity prayer came to mind. I am going to guess that you have read or heard this prayer more than once in your life. No matter if you have any affiliation to Christianity or not. Personally I have seen it in many places over the years, never actually looking for it. It goes something like this:

“God, grant me the ...

Now and then I encounter a lack of understanding within the yoga teacher community. I have decided to try to shed a little light on a pivotal point today. The misunderstanding related to why we yoga teachers need to have a deep understanding of the workings of the physical body. And why, what often is called form or alignment, is crucial to a posture practice, as well as a pranayama (breathing) and seated meditation practice.

My role at the teacher training ...

If you have ever listened to, or read books by some of the wise spiritual teachers in the world, you might have come along the encouragement to not only accept the challenges of life, but even to welcome them. Some go so far to encourage us to actually invite change and challenge in to our lives. Quite a stretch, wouldn’t you say? To actually ask for the painful events that we all go through at different times? Why would anyone ...

If you have ever stepped into a yoga studio you probably noticed a variety of props in a corner.  You might even have used some of them in the class. Things like blankets, bolsters, blocks, belts and folding chairs. And most likely you were asked to put away these props by the end of the class.  Which is what happens at the end of all my classes as well. There is not a single class that takes place without us ...

Some days what is needed the most, is one step.  One little step that then can be followed by another little step. And yet another.

It is what it takes to get out of bed. To make a cup of tea. Get into the shower.  To get dressed and to move towards my  responsibilities towards others and myself in one given day. And if I keep taking that one little step, at some point, there seems to be some sort of ...