Often when you strain or injure your back, the back muscles and muscles that support the back, seize up in an attempt to brace your back and prevent further injury. This natural reaction is a good thing. But... sometimes the muscles have a hard time letting go of the tension. When you add chronic tension to a low back strain or injury, a chain reaction is enacted where stiffness, tension, and pain get caught in a feedback loop that limits mobility and slows healing. This shor

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

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

The big star we call the Sun will be moving into the constellation Leo tonight (July 22, 2015) at 11:30 pm. Can you feel the shift? It can be quite noticeable since we are leaving the lunar ruled sign of Cancer, that can have us feeling moody and deeply self reflective, and entering the self confident energy of Leo. On the personality level you may find yourself standing up straighter, more energized to go out and do things and move away from self doubt. Cancer and the moo

In order to support my great teacher, Sianna Sherman, along with Yoga Journal, who are kicking off the #yjgoddesschallenge, I wanted to take some time to share a little bit more about the focus of today’s challenge as well as make the most of an opportunity to share how goddess meditation & practice has been helpful in my life. Today’s challenge pose is Astavakrasana and in this challenge is dedicated to the fierce and loving goddess, Durga. I offer my thanks to Erin for pla

Putting this series of AstroAsanas together has changed me on a very deep level. It has allowed me the opportunity to deeply dive into each sign of the Zodiac in a different way that I have done before. Like an actor preparing for a role, I allow myself to submerge into the energies of each sign and try to experience life from that perspective for a month or so. Swimming in the waters of Pisces, the last sign of the Zodiac, has brought me to my knees, in a good way. To my kn

While I'm not a huge fan of "January Resolutions" (because our energy level and moods are generally lower) I believe this time of year is the perfect time for reflection and planning for the new year. I designed this little New Year's Reflection worksheet for my young family and thought that you too might benefit from me sharing it. I wish each of you deep peace, empowering growth, and moments of joy to treasure this year. With love, Kate Click Here to Download a pdf of this

“ I went on this journey to find an image of the human being that I could feel proud of. I wanted to reassure myself of mortal strength, of man's power not only to survive on this earth but to continue growing in stature. I wanted the faith to believe that we can fulfill our role in this evolving universe of which we have been given such awesome glimpses.” Quote by Sagittarius Lillian Smith from “The Journey”— her take on the world and life after seeing the effects of the Wor