In the Beginner’s Mind there are many possibilities. In the expert’s mind there are few. – Zen master Shunryu Suzuki Hey presto! Have you ever wondered how children can laugh wholeheartedly at the same magic trick over and over again? As if it’s happening for the first time? It’s because they’re right there in the […]
Most of the physical movements and postures commonly recognised as “yoga asanas” haven’t been around that long, but have come to be widely accepted as sacred forms. But things are evolving quickly, and yoga is now adapting to evidence-based understandings of the human body. A tailored fit is everything It’s not the suit that makes […]
“It is just within this ‘fathom long’ body endowed with perception and cognition that there is the world, the origin of the world, the cessation of the world, and the way leading to the cessation of the world.” Rohitassasutta, SN 2.26 A changing view of the body In our society it’s all about the body. […]
We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us – Marshall McLuhan Have you ever felt like quietly unplugging your monitor or notebook and hurling it out of an open window and watching with grim satisfaction as it smashes all over the pavement? Maybe you haven’t. But a lot of people have. Office computer […]
Do you love watching a night sky full of stars? If you do, then you will remember those shifts of the attention..sometimes you look at a particular star or a constellation of stars, and sometimes you’re capturing the big picture and for a moment, that wonderful moment, you can see the whole universe on display […]
In our daily life, most of the time we are immersed in thoughts about the past or the future or in fantasies. These often contribute to stress, fear and suffering. Mindfulness practice shows us how to overcome this pre-occupation so we can see clearly what is happening right here and now, in the present moment, […]
When someone says ”I am meditating”, this can mean a lot of different things to different people. Some people, for example, believe they are meditating when they go running, others believe the same when they are dancing to trance at a party, others chant mantras to meditate, and others gaze into candles. In this way […]
A round belly is a happy belly At the end of each yoga class, I guide students through a self-massage. These last five minutes are always quite special for me. Massage not only distributes the chi, or life energy evenly throughout the body, it also helps students to experience metta, or loving-kindness toward themselves and […]
Embrace who you are right now As long as our orientation is toward perfection or success, we will never learn about unconditional friendship with ourselves, nor will we find compassion. – Pema Chödrön Ugly duck syndrome The famous fairy tale about the ugly duckling that turned into a beautiful swan is familiar to many of […]
“The best place to practice Zen is at a busy intersection” – Zen proverb Cultivating mindfulness requires nothing exotic. You don’t need any expensive gadgetry or accoutrements. All you need is to be in the here and now. Daily life – sitting, standing, working, resting – is an excellent ground for practice. Sure, from time […]
There is a power and beauty in silence. In the classical yoga tradition, the Sanskrit word Mauna means silence, and it’s said silence helps a yogi purify her mind; it clears the detritus floating on its surface. This is why many yogis take mauna-vrata, a vow of silence. A dedicated time of silence can offer […]
Breath is our most intimate connection with life. It enters us when we’re born and it leaves us when we die. It’s a constant exchange between the inner and outer spaces. It is a simple yet powerful demonstration of how deeply interdependent we are with our surroundings. Everything is interrelated, and nothing arises by itself. […]
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