Heart and Core Yoga Studio

Change

A new chapter in life usually starts with something uncomfortable. Loss, gain, and stagnancy can all result in discomfort. Really the most uncomfortable part of it all is uncertainty. We want predictable. We want routine. Even adventure and spontaneity hold elements of predictability. It is the point in our lives when we learn to embrace uncertainty, that some of our…

Visualization Tools for Meditation

Absorbed in the images before me, I visualize my success. The page before me has on it the curled corners of magazine cutouts, stickers with encouraging phrases, descriptions of my future, and images I’ve printed with inspiring quotes. Today, I focus solely on my professional visions. Establishing a reputation in my field that allows the flexibility I seek. I visualize…

Everyday Mindfulness

An array of colored pencils lay before me as I find the exact shade to compliment the last. Doodling, nevertheless, but still strategic. The repetitive back and forth of the pencil on the page. The hushing sound it makes as it dispenses the color to the sheet. I notice the imperfect strokes. Some darker than others. No lines to stay…

Meditation on Hope and Dreams Come True

To hope for something is to desire a certain outcome. We all have hope at times, but how can just having hope make our wishes come true? Hope is indeed significant. It is a fundamental ingredient to having what we desire, but having hope with nothing else is rarely enough. We must incorporate faith and trust for our dreams to…

Blue Skies Are All I See

Each day I enjoy taking in the sights and sounds of my surroundings. While on a walk with the dogs, I came up with the following meditation. Watching lazy sunsets has also been an introspective learning experience. I have never been so in awe of the beauty high up in the sky. Our minds are much like the sky. However,…

Expect the Unexpected

Challenging times offer the opportunity to be still within the chaos. They are an invitation to set anchor, and be calm in the choppy, rough waters that surround us. Feeling as if we are floating completely out of control is not fun, but we do have the ability to find our center no matter where the current of life takes…

Procrastinators Rejoice! Time is Relative

Procrastination. We have all been guilty of it. While we might be fully cognizant of a looming deadline, some of us will wait until the last minute to start something that is too soon due. Ironically, the definition of procrastination is, “the action of postponing something,” as if procrastinating was an active pursuit. Quite the contrary. When we procrastinate,…

3 Tips for Mastering Balance Poses

Most yogis I know have a love-hate relationship with balance poses. Some days balancing comes easy, and other days standing on one leg feels like torture and humiliation. There is a reason for this, and it might have little to do with your physical ability. Get out of your head If yesterday you rocked half moon pose but today you…

Love > Hate: A Peaceful Meditation in Violent Times

Waking up to to violence in our communities is like being served burnt toast for breakfast. When malicious behavior mars our heavenly slice of life, we too become burned, crusty, and our hearts blackened by the devastating acts of those around us. While we try and scrape off the darkened edges of society, we still end up having to ingest…

A Walking Meditation to Release Negative Thinking

Walking is a wonderful form of exercise. While some rave about the physical benefits of walking, taking a stroll in nature is also very good for the mind and the spirit. This walking meditation has a remarkable way of turning your habitual negative thought processes into constructive and creative thinking. Why not make your next ordinary walk in the park…

Yoga Nidra: Reflections on a Very Personal Vision

Yoga Nidra is a unique, guided imagery meditation designed to bring us into a deep state of relaxation. During Yoga Nidra, interesting visions and thoughts may arise. Our experiences through such an inward journey teach us so much about ourselves. A recent Yoga Nidra practice gave me some insight into something I had unknowingly been struggling with, and spurred a…

A Meditation for Aging Gracefully

For some, the thought of getting older is terrifying and the experience, painful. Dying young is indeed a tragedy, but so is defying or denying the grace and beauty of the aging process, no matter how physically and emotionally challenging it is to get older. The wisdom we can gain from life is precious, provided we embrace it, rather than…