By Mary Hilliker, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT “Each cakra represents an essential chamber in the temple of the Self. Each one houses an aspect of the sacred and is necessary for wholeness. The more we clean and properly decorate the temple, the more we court the presence of the divine.” – Anodea Judith in Eastern Body, […]
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By Mary Hilliker, RDN, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT We plant seeds, sometimes with great intention and clarity. We have a plan and things are working out. The harvest is bountiful and rich beyond measure. The more common situation in life is that seeds are planted but there are obstacles. We’re still open to the process and […]
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By Mary Hilliker, RDN, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT How can we emerge from this year? Let’s just say it. It’s been a crazy year. Uncertainty and quickly changing circumstances have dominated our lives. Situations and events that tear at the heart have happened with greater frequency. Even the most balanced and steady among us have […]
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If you take a moment to sit and notice what you are feeling right now, there is probably a mixmaster of thoughts, emotions, beliefs and feelings running around your body and mind. Continued worries about the pandemic, worry about the future (health, finances, relationships), interacting with people in public again — a mixture of longing […]
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What have you had to give up an attachment to this year? Some of the attachments may be more superficial, some more deeply difficult. Your list might be long. Family rituals, friend gatherings, travel, work, school life with in-person contact, in-person volunteer work, shared interest with others in hobbies, sports or causes, in-person entertainment. You […]
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By Jessica Jordan Yoga Sutra 2.42 santosha anuttamah sukha labha Santosha: Contentment Anuttamah: extreme, ultimate, unparalleled Sukha: pleasure, happiness Labha: arises, gained, benefit Yoga sutra 2.42 focuses on contentment, achieving unparalleled happiness by engaging the contentment already within us. But how do we put this into practice? We are constantly exposed to a barrage […]
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Change in our life comes in many different ways. Sometimes we plan for the change. A retirement, career change or getting married are examples of things that we often consciously choose. And then some changes blow in like a strong wind taking with it any sense of order and stability. There are many teachings in […]
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By Karey Krampota, RYT-200, Certified Viniyoga Wellness Instructor “In Yoga Sutra I.12, Patanjali explains that to achieve a state of yoga, or focused concentration, one must utilize both practice (Abhyasa) and detachment (Vairagyam). Practice and detachment are two of the very first tools Patanjali offers to help in this process of refining the mind toward […]
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Feeling connected to other people is a fundamental human need. Research for decades has shown that babies will fail to thrive if emotional connection is missing, despite having all physical needs met. Susan Pinker has a TED talk titled The Secret to Living Longer Might be Your Social Life, which describes how social ties extend […]
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By Pauline Zweck, RYT-200, Certified Viniyoga Wellness Instructor, 5 Koshas Yoga & Wellness “There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life […]
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Grief is a unique combination of sadness, memories, fog, strong emotions, bodily experiences and occasional moments of peace and clarity. This simple quote reveals so much about what we are just beginning to understand about the science of chronic stress and the effects of grief. Dr. van der Kolk, a researcher who studies the effect […]
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“Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” -John Muir Free yourself from winter hibernation + Free yourself from cold weather tension and stagnancy + Free time to be outside, breathe, […]
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Cakra-s as a Map for Energy, Personality, Potential & Transformation As we navigate the journey of life, there are times of re-evaluating our priorities and values, our challenges and their impact on our relationships, our goals, and how we derive the most meaning in life. Most of us have a deep calling to continue to […]
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Resolve – settle or find a solution; decide firmly on a new course of action Revolution – to overthrow a social order in favor of a new system (Google.com) Could ‘New Year Resolutions’ be overthrown? What if they were erased from our culture? How would we react? What would we talk about? Would we still […]
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We are light. Within us is a light, very much like the Sun, that is unchanging and brilliant. This is one of the fundamental teachings in yoga philosophy. The darkness of the winter creates an inward movement of our attention that creates opportunities to experience our inner life and radiance. As we move into this […]
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3 Quick and Easy Yoga Tips for Energy, Calm and Clarity for the Holiday Season Tis the season to get really stressed out! We tend to compress a year’s worth of entertaining, professional networking, cooking, baking, connecting with family and friends, extra school activities for kids, family traditions, shopping, and decorating all in one month. […]
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Just the word ‘violence’ catches our attention. We are inundated with violence in movies, media; an overload of destruction and hurt and an ‘underload’ of kindness and compassion. For many, MMA – Mixed Martial Arts – is synonymous with some type of combat, rough and tumble contact and yes, even violence. So where does the […]
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So what exactly is meditation? Meditation can mean different things to different people. To some, it is something weird or eerie that Buddhist monks do. To others, it is something they think they could never do because they don’t have the patience. To others, meditation is a life-changing experience that gives them mental clarity, less […]
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How do you fuel yourself? Working-out Outdoor activities Food Family and friends Music Quiet…? Recently a student stated, “Remind me what the 5 Koshas represent.”
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Change in our life comes in many different ways. Sometimes we plan for the change. A retirement, career change, moving, or getting married are examples of things that we often consciously choose. Other changes blow in like a strong wind that destroys any sense of order and stability.
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