All the pleasures of summer are upon us. And so are the crowds. If you’re one who really loves the hubbub, lucky you. But for many of us drawn to […]
TO THE MAT
Natarajasana Is a Dance for Summer
Getting into a groove with June and maybe the whole universe
After all those quiet months, suddenly there is so much to do. June’s arrival on Outer Cape Cod can make a person feel scattered. That is why this month I’m […]
TO THE MAT
Reach for Your Toes
You’re not too stiff to do yoga. You just need a little time in Padangusthasana.
If I had a nickel for every time someone has said, “I can’t do yoga because I’m not flexible,” I’d have enough for a trip to Kripalu. You do not […]
TO THE MAT
Gentle and Slow Is the Path to Warrior 3
Strength, balance, and orientation in space are benefits of this challenging pose
Strength, balance, and fortitude. These are surely the qualities a person who is pursuing a spiritual path would need. But it seems to me they are also important qualities for anyone […]
TO THE MAT
Gomukhasana Summons the Sacred Feminine
In the face of cosmic chaos, be nurtured by a cow
The idea of the sacred feminine goes back through ancient history. It’s also an idea I’ve been thinking about a lot in relation to the anxiety so many of us […]
TO THE MAT
Stoking Your Inner Fire for Winter
Kapalabhati breathes energy into mind and body
With the shortest day of the year approaching, we feel the cold and dark of winter wrapping around us. There is no better time to harness the power of the […]
TO THE MAT
Stretching Toward Inner Peace
Let your mind follow your body into Uttanasana
The world feels unsteady these days. At times like this, I lean on my regular yoga practice for help finding equilibrium and grounding. It works by connecting body and mind. […]
TO THE MAT
With Fall’s Arrival, There’s Reconnection
Find your place in the cosmos again, or at least within your own body
I think of this newly becalmed time of year as right for reconnecting — with ourselves and with the world around us. And I turn to yoga for this. The practice […]
TO THE MAT
Taking Root in the Tree Pose
Getting grounded before the busy season, in body and mind
If you are anything like me, you suddenly have many things you want to do — too many things. As summer begins, it is easy to become scattered. This is […]
TO THE MAT
Parighasana Opens the Gate to Your Inner Landscape
Resting afterwards, imagine the spring garden you’ve cultivated there
I love this time of year. It seems so full of possibility and promise. There is a new energy in the air, and practicing Parighasana or Gate Pose is a […]
TO THE MAT
Spring Back With the Dragon Pose
A quiet approach to holding, then feeling, new energy
March is a lonely, windy month on the Outer Cape. But as it unfolds, we feel the good it brings. The days grow longer and the light brighter. Gradually we […]
TO THE MAT
Happy Hamstrings, Happy Life
Parsvottanasana means stretching your legs for your back, knees, and mind
February can be a sedentary time of year for many of us. Short days, long nights, and cold weather and wind can keep us indoors and sitting around more. On […]
TO THE MAT
The Mighty Chair Pose
A strengthening pose that’s like a smile against midwinter’s darkness
These short days and long nights of deep December can bring an inner sense of darkness. Psychologists have even given a name to this phenomenon — Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). […]
TO THE MAT
The Energy-Balancing Effects of Nadi Shodhana Pranayama
Take a deep breath (in one nostril and out the other) for the holidays
Both the ancient yogis and modern-day psychologists know the power of the breath in calming the body and clearing the mind — something many of us need as we head […]
TO THE MAT
Standing Strong and Breathing Easy in the Mountain Pose
A yoga pose that can steady you and lift your spirits
At first glance, Mountain Pose, or Tadasana, as it’s known in Sanskrit, looks simple. One just stands there, right? On closer inspection, there are many things happening in this foundational […]