For today's #MeditationMonday moment, I'd like to introduce the mala. A mala is a "garland" of beads used for the repetition of mantra to help focus the mind and clear energetic blocks to allow for a greater state of inner harmony. A traditional mala will have 108 beads (108 is a sacred number). I am in love with my new wrist mala created by Jeanne Verger. This petite beauty has 27 beads that you can use for a shorter chant/meditation session or repeat it 4 times for the clas

I stayed up late to watch and meditate on the moon magic happening in the sky last night. The first of my two big insights last night related to how it seemed as if I was watching a whole month of a moon cycle happen in two hours. As many traditions encourage connecting intentions & wishes with the cycles of the moon, I decided to do a little intention setting for some things I’d like to see happen a little quicker than the casual route. The other insight goes along the lines

I've been working through a few mudras (hand gestures) that add significance to meditation practices. This week I decided to showcase Sankalpa Mudra. This was the first mudra to really pique my interest in that I felt the hand placement create a dramatic shift in my awareness. I first practiced this mudra with my teacher, Sianna Sherman, in my second level teacher training more than 15 years ago. I believe that it was passed on to her by our philosophy teacher, Douglas Brooks

My cursor blinks before me.... reflecting on 9/11 there is so much on my mind. At times like this, the only solace I have is to drop into my heart. It's scary to go there. As much beauty and bliss that lives there, there are also broken dreams, bruised hopes, and daggers of disappointment. These aren't all my own. As my eyes see the pain that grows into anger and even into hate, it's hard not to absorb these feelings and make them my own. For me Yoga was a true salvation. The

​ So far our Meditation Monday series has focused on Mudra and Mantra Meditation Techniques. Today's hand placement may or may not have a particular history but is personally symbolic for me. Placing hands on heart and belly can be very soothing as well as deeply meaningful. Asana practice often focuses on physical body alignment. A complete yoga practice will also help us learn to create inner alignment. By remembering to act in alignment with our gut human nature, spiritual

Some days I'm just really blown away by the synchronicity of events. I'm trying to get ahead of the game and plan these Meditation Monday posts out ahead of time. My daughter took this photo while we stopped for a lunch / meditation / skipping rocks break last weekend during a canoe trip. Today's post is to share Ganesha Mudra. Ganesha or Ganapati, is the elephant headed deity who is said to rule both the placement and removal of obstacles that will aid us on our spiritual pa

I love the “reset” effect that vacation often offers. It’s like taking a little time off just to enjoy yourself and focus on your closest loved ones opens up a window to see your life with a fresh perspective. I’m just back from a busier-style family vacation. This vacation emphasized the need and value of making things a little more simple for this moment in my life. In my yoga practice and classes, I’ve been focusing on the simple but powerful practice of connecting fully t