Who’s to say what is the right and the wrong way to parent a child? We do what we think is best … until we discover something that may be better. Then we do better. After reading a fascinating article written by a school teacher introducing in increasingly prevalent style of parenting called “lawnmower parenting,” …
Strength and grace - words that describe Aṣṭāṅga (Ashtanga) Yoga. I smile as I write these words! I was a dedicated Ashtanga practitioner for many years and never felt stronger or more comfortable in my own body. Ashtanga asana moves your body towards flexibility, grace, and strength. We learn how to link the breath to movements …
Yoga texts teach us that a peaceful world begins with a peaceful Self. We MUST know ourselves, inside and out. What drives us? What do we value? How do we utilize our resources? What underlying beliefs influence our behavior? There are many ways to learn about ourselves, svadhyaya (self-study). We have different life experiences. We …
Santosha is Sanskrit for contentment. Yoga encourages us to embrace contentment. Contentment sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Peaceful. Calm. So just go do it! Be contented. Did it work? Nope. Why? Because contentment is not a well defined goal to accomplish. It’s not like “go bake cookies.” As Deborah Adele puts it, “Contentment can only be …
If not now, when? We need to love ourselves, now. Why not now? Are you too busy? Of course you’re busy. We’re all busy giving. We give and we give until... we have no more of us to give. No more of anything left for ourselves. Then, we get to wake up and do it …
How does a Yogi celebrate Mardi Gras? The carnival season culminates in Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent. When the entire city of New Orleans shuts down for Mardi Gras revelry. We indulge without guilt, people united together in one big party. FUN! How can we overindulge for the entire carnival season and remain guiltless? …
What word do I most associate with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? Nonviolence. In Sanskrit, nonviolence is translated as ahimsa, and is the foundation of a Yoga practice. Ahimsa is so much more that simply not thwacking another person in the face. Not thwacking people is the easy part. The hard part is living in …
“Nicole is the Master. To see her with children is nothing less than spectacular-she reaches them and communicates WITH them on THEIR level. How do I know this? My children who are now college age once attended her kids’ Yoga classes!” ~Nadya Matychak Children learn what they live: Compassion. Patience. Self-Love. Yoga introduces accessible tools …
