For as long as I can remember I've been a pretty driven dude. Pushing to score higher, run faster, rank better, and so on. And while my fiery side has served me well, it's also been a curse. You see this competitive, yang, or masculine spirit has the unending appetite of a growing teenager, always … Continue reading When Yin Dances with Yang
The Gift (Helping Others) and Curse (Harming Others) of Power
One of the blessings of having my life wrecked like a ship in a storm when I should have died in a hiking accident 12 years ago, lost my job as an officer in the air force as a result, and when I went through two divorces, is it helps me see things from a … Continue reading The Gift (Helping Others) and Curse (Harming Others) of Power
Being a Peaceful Warrior
What is peace to you? How many people would honestly say they don't want peace? Why is it such a broadly and highly valued virtue is in such short supply in our world, and perhaps our lives? What is the path to peace within us, around us, and across the land? One of my favorite yoga … Continue reading Being a Peaceful Warrior
America the Beautiful and Brutal: How Owning Both Makes a World of Difference
In our rush to point out, fix, and dwell on the wrongs in our country (past + present), let's not forget we've done an awful lot of good as well! We become what we focus on, and stay what we ignore! So, while we definitely need to see, name, and heal our junk, I think it's vital … Continue reading America the Beautiful and Brutal: How Owning Both Makes a World of Difference
Crying Our Way to Life
I taught 3 classes in a row where someone cried at the end. What a gift and inspiration!!! You see yoga is a practice of becoming more human and alive, and tears are a sacred and important part of what it means to be fully human. FAR from the cultural conditioning that says waterworks are weakness and … Continue reading Crying Our Way to Life
Shalom: A Vision of Justice That Gives Life, Liberty, and Love
What is justice? Like real, life-giving, healing, and unity-building justice? Recently, "No justice, no peace" is one of the sayings going around in the peaceful demonstrations and posts. I don't know about you, but justice as punishment, finger-pointing, and shame (go to forms), has never helped me. Quite the opposite, actually. I think of my 15-year … Continue reading Shalom: A Vision of Justice That Gives Life, Liberty, and Love
See, Name, and Speak Goodness
What would change if you woke up each morning believing you are amazing? What would shift if you went into each day trusting others are intrinsically incredible? While I was running the other day, the following thought came to me: What if the solution to all our problems and key to a fabulous world and existence is … Continue reading See, Name, and Speak Goodness
What Gives You Meaning and Purpose in Life?
When life, or the world, gets crazy, what keeps you centered, hopeful, and Loving? I could be wrong, but it seems to me we're like satellites, and without something Big, Bold, Beautiful, and Beyond our small selves to orbit around, we go careening off into space or crash into the ground like a satellite that's lost its … Continue reading What Gives You Meaning and Purpose in Life?
Don’t Laugh it Off, Laugh it In
Sometimes you've just got to laugh at yourself! And not because you're hilarious, tho I totally am! I was listening to a podcast by a philosopher and comedian on my run and they sounded like Dory talking to whales. In other words, they sounded like they were high and talking extra slow. I figured it … Continue reading Don’t Laugh it Off, Laugh it In
Let Go and Let Love
For as long as I can remember, I've measured success by numbers. My score on a test, rank in a class or on a performance report, weight on the scale, speed for a run, number of students in my class, the number of "likes" on a post, the bottles of wine we own, and so … Continue reading Let Go and Let Love
