I’ve always been uncomfortable with failure. As a child, I established, through some association, the belief that trying something and not achieving the expected outcome was a bad thing. I […]
Body & Soul
Outermost ways for nurturing body, mind, and spirit.
Browse all Body & Soul stories below or dive into a topic:
TO THE MAT
The Bridge Pose Prepares Us for New Beginnings
Building strength and openness to experience the good
I can feel September in the air. I like to think of this time of year as one of new beginnings. The light changes, and the crowds on the Cape […]
METAPHYSICS
The Song and Stillness of Taizé
An ecumenical tradition from France is celebrated quietly in Wellfleet
During a Taizé service at the United Methodist Church in Wellfleet, Tony Pastucci, a retired Catholic priest, serves as the cantor, his sonorous voice weaving through the simple, chant-like songs […]
MOVEMENT
Kayaking as a Way to Quiet and Connection
A low-key, low-impact workout that’s best done with a friend
I’ve seen them, in couples and small groups, gliding low on the water in brightly colored boats. It looks like fun, and it’s got to be a great way to […]
SURFING
Why I Stopped Wearing a Wet Suit
Deciding to say yes to experiences that are uncomfortable
It was a sunny, warm day in mid-May — my first real beach day of the year. I decided to spend a good chunk of the day in the warm […]
TO THE MAT
Summer Is for Butterfly Poses
Yin yoga’s cooling effect on the season’s hot energy
Butterfly pose comes from a yoga tradition that is less well known than the one most people are familiar with. It grew out of the Taoist tradition, incorporating Chinese theories […]
GOOD FIGHT
In Provincetown, the Patriotism of Monuments and Freedom
How the virus of extremism denies the everyday truth of what we share
It’s not unusual, on a walk in Provincetown, to be reminded of townspeople’s military service. There’s the Civil War Monument in the cemetery, the World War I Doughboy statue in […]
MOVEMENT
Parallel Play at Puma Park
Good things happen when grown-up exercise equipment comes to a playground
TRURO — It’s not easy for everyone to get to a gym. We all have our reasons. Sometimes it’s the cost, or the time spent traveling back and forth, or […]
TO THE MAT
Moving Into Balance for Summer
‘Empty coat sleeves’ is a gentle twist that warms up the body and clears the mind
“I am letting go to the right. I am letting go to the left.” These few words coax me along as I swing into a simple standing movement that has […]
MOVEMENT
Come On In, the Water’s Fine
Gaining strength, losing stress, and finding something spiritual in our Outer Cape ponds
For a lot of people on the Outer Cape, summer officially starts with that first swim in a pond. But I’ve noticed people have a wide range of opinions on […]
TO THE MAT
To Be Fierce, First Be Grounded
A warrior pose balances determination and patience
In these times, it seems clear that we need courage and strength as well as a bit of fierceness to carry on. Maybe that is why the Warrior I pose […]
TO THE MAT
Yoga Twists: Like Spring Cleaning for Your Body
How to breathe your way gently into a pretzel-shaped pose
It turns out that our bodies need a spring cleaning just like our homes do. Have you noticed feeling sluggish or stiff as spring comes on? In the winter, we […]
MOVEMENT
A 15-Minute Core Workout That Gets Beyond the Belly
Stability exercises are subtle but powerful strengtheners
If you read my 15-minute workout advice this winter, you know what’s coming. I promised to add a core routine to those basic upper- and lower-body programs. An effective set […]
HARD QUESTIONS
Existence and Nonexistence
A Four-Year-Old Considers Death and Rebirth
Around his fourth birthday, my son, Noah, started asking probing questions about life and death. It began innocently enough. He wanted to know if he would become a baby again. […]
MOVEMENT
Armed for Spring With a 15-Minute Workout
Get toned in time for sleeveless-shirt weather
Two months ago, I wrote about how you can build strength in as little as 15 minutes a day. That piece covered the legs. Of course, you can’t just work […]
