This question came up during a class and I thought it was worth exploring. It is common belief here in the West that we must do cardio exercise in order to strengthen and keep the heart healthy.

I think we have all heard it is best to get our heart rate up at least a few times a week with some form of vigorous exercise. To learn more, I have been reading up on why we want to do this. What I found was very interesting.

Most of the research points to weight loss and lowering cholesterol levels as the main benefits of participating in exercise that raises your heart rate.  Many articles I read also talked about the benefits of improving the immune system, mental health and regulating blood sugar. 

There is no dispute: moving our bodies is good for us for more than one reason.

But through all the reading I did it seems to be basic common sense that keeps us healthy. We may be overthinking all this cardio and making health seem like something we have to train for and something that has to hur...

Yoga helps us to become more aware of ourselves. Not just our physical body, but also the more subtle aspects of who we are.  

You may have heard Yoga defined as 'union' or 'yoking' of mind, body and soul. The goal of Yoga being to bring all the different aspects of Self into harmony and alignment.

In Yogic Philosophy it is said we have five different bodies or sheaths (Koshas).  

The most obvious being the food sheath, or Annamaya Kosha. This is the physical body made up of what we eat. It is the expression of energy in it’s most condensed form. It is built from the elements: earth, water, fire, air and space. It is the most tangible, dense and least easy to change.

The next sheath is called Pranamaya Kosha, or energy body. There are of five vital energies which flow through the physical body via the astral plane; prana, apana, samana, udana and vyana.  Within this energy body we experience hot, cold, hunger and thirst. It is said that the organs of action are contained in this body: mout...

I am looking forward to moving through this book by Julia Cameron. It won't be my first time. Each time I have gone through it it has had an enormously positive impact on my life.

That is no exaggeration. I have also had the honor to witness others move through the book and it seems everyone who commits to the process also gains enormous benefit.

This book is a beautiful gift from Julia Cameron. A guide. A roadmap. It is not necessary to do this book with a group, but it is helpful. So I put it out there.

I wanted to do it again and I thought others might also be interested. September is such a good time to start new routines and all.

I am blown away by the response. People are ready to do inner work! I am grateful so many of you have showed up and said YES! I can see this is going to be an incredible group of people.

It is my honor to bring us together and help to facilitate the journey. May it bring much clarity, understanding, compassion and Joy to your life.

For those of you ...

One aspect of the journey of self awareness or self realization that shows up again and again is the importance of taking SMALL steps. This doesn’t mean we can never leap, or test our stride, it is that small, consistent daily action makes the most difference.

If you look at people who consistently reach their goals, you will see they commit to daily action. Taking steps ~ CONSISTENTLY. This does not imply there is no falling, or failing. Quite the opposite. There is much trial and error that goes along with this daily commitment of taking small steps.

Nobody does it perfectly. The structure is not rigid. There is movement in all directions. This does not have to be a linear journey. Taking steps is a part of learning how to dance with your dreams.

I see it in myself and in others. We hesitate. Freeze. We find ourselves disabled by inaction. Procrastination. Doubt. Over-thinking. We find reasons to wait. Put it off. The thing we know we have to do. And often this thing would only take min...

I am staying at a friends in Vancouver and got up early to do my meditation practice. The whole house still quiet. I first did a little Yoga to get into my body which always makes it a bit easier to sit. I closed my eyes and went inside.

It takes me some time to drop in. I allow myself to do a few sweeping body scans to see if I am comfortable. I make micro adjustments so my body is set up well to sit. I find a place to rest my hands and figure out where my head wants to rest. Once I am comfortable I let myself witness the breath.

I watch it come and go. I explore the journey it takes, the spaces inside myself and the movement it creates. My attention gets drawn into feeling sensations of the body, and at that point I begin a slow scan from the top of my skull to the tips of my toes.

I pass my attention part by part, and piece by pice witnessing these different experiences. Tingling. Or heat. Pinging or maybe cool. Itching or discomfort. Even pleasant sensations. I practice equanimity. I ...

I have made a promise to myself to write a blog post each week. I write ALL the time.

Mostly for me.

To put myself out there is another story. This promise I made to myself is challenging me. Can I continue to come to the keyboard and get something out, down?

Type the words. Even if they aren’t great. Profound. Or interesting. But challenge myself to keep up the discipline of writing. I have this dream to write a book. More than one. I have discovered that unless I write, I won’t write.

So today when I was procrastinating about getting this blog post done, it came to me. This is similar to ‘tapas’ in Yogic traditions.  The idea that you hold yourself to a goal with burning enthusiasm. Discipline.

It’s tough to keep showing up. But it is possible.

I can see the parallels between asana practice and a writing practice. I think applying what I have learned about developing a discipline with Yoga to my writing might help me, and maybe sharing these thoughts will help you on your journey too. ...

I love my daily practice. It keeps me sane. Gives me a chance to clear my blocks. Reminds me how important breath is. It allows me first thing in the morning to check in with myself. I have NEVER regretted bringing myself to my mat and doing some Yoga.

So why do so many people struggle to develop a consistent practice? I have been teaching Yoga for over 20 years and it is one of the most common challenges I see people run into.

When we come to our mat, we get to meet ourselves in very real way. We get a glimpse of what is happening inside. We are asked to muster the courage and look at ourselves with honesty. And when we get in touch with the truth of what is going on, it can feel challenging stay with it; to be with it.

That is the tough part. Facing the truth of what we feel. And not knowing what to do with it. Maybe this is why we hesitate to go to our mats. To be on the mat is to really meet ourselves.

We don’t have much practice with going inside. Nobody taught us how to face the rea...

People ask me all the time: “What is the proper way to breath?”

It is a good question. But impossible to answer. I think you cannot put it that way: right and wrong.

Breath is something we want to become aware of, not control.

Breath is an entry point to go inside of ourselves. An anchor to the moment. It is a link between the unconscious and the conscious mind.  It takes us into the most intimate spaces inside of ourselves. It gives us life.

How could breath be wrong. Breath is a miracle. Breath is a sign of what is going on.

If we start to pay attention to breath it will show us so much about ourselves. We will find tension.  We will find where we close off. Hold.  We will see opportunities to let go.

So should we try to breath deep? You can try. Observe what happens.

Should we sit up or lay down when we practice breath awareness? You can try either. Observe what happens.  

Should we start expanding at the top of the lungs or more from down below? Try. See what happens.

If you do nothin...