Dear friends and students, I grew up in a refined suburb of Pittsburgh: Upper St. Clair. I spent Sundays at church followed by the Country Club, surrounded by my sisters, grandparents, and oh-so-many cousins. In many ways, it was an idyllic childhood. But the thing is: I never quite fit in. I was always “too” something. As a child, […]
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Happiness is an Outside Job
Modern day self-helpers – of which I consider myself one – face a difficult Catch 22. On the one hand, we tell people happiness is an inside job, not at all dependent on circumstances or possessions. On the other, we tell people they’ll be happier if they’re more grateful for what they have. Which is it? […]
When yoga doesn’t ‘feel good’
We hear the line repeatedly in modern, Western yoga classes, “Let it feel good. Let it feel juicy. Let it feel yummy. Doesn’t this feel blissful?” I’ll start with a simple promise: You’ll never hear me say juicy or yummy in a yoga class. Similarly, you’ll never hear me say “brekkie” when referring to breakfast, […]
Let go
We hear it: “Inhale the good shit, exhale the bullshit.” And we all laugh. It’s on coffee mugs, it’s in self-help books, it bookends yoga classes. This notion that ”letting go” means releasing negativity and holding on to love and light is at best silly and at worst damaging. As humans, we have a tendency to […]
Abandon Perfection
My dear friend and neighbor gifted me this rock from her travels to healing places of the country. I knew I wanted to use it in our studio design, and the inspiration struck one day after a long afternoon of physical labor. I would write “Leave your shoes and your ego here,” like so many […]
The 1 Key to Health
Last month, we talked about getting started and trying something new. Welcome to yoga; it’s the best! Yoga will bolster your circulation, improve your joint health, regulate your blood pressure, build your bone density, increase your flexibility, and help you sleep. But none of it matters if you don’t actually do it. The only thing you […]
My first time? Okay, I’ll tell
I am what my husband refers to as an “Appalachian woman;” it’s true, I sold my F-150 pickup truck in order to move to California. After seeing them everywhere, I now drive a Prius. The same thing with my yoga mat. When I first landed in the South Bay, I saw them everywhere, so I […]
Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.
I had the same soccer coach from the time I was 5 through my departure for college. He was a child psychologist, and looking back I can only imagine what he thought of me. Of the many impressions he made on me, one that stuck was his repetition of John C. Maxwell’s line, “Change is […]
Abandon Hope
Last month, I wrote about abandoning perfection. That statement likely came to you like a breath of fresh air. This month, I’m writing about abandoning hope. That statement likely brings up a different reaction. You may feel immediately angry, confused, panicked, or contentious. It’s true, abandon hope is a hard piece of advice to follow. […]
Abandon Perfection for Something Better
My dear friend and neighbor gifted me this rock from her travels to healing places of the country. I knew I wanted to use it in our studio design, and the inspiration struck one day after a long afternoon of physical labor. I would write “Leave your shoes and your ego here,” like so many […]