Words have always been really important to me. In high school I was such a nerd that I carried around in the front pouch of my backpack (which weighed nearly as much as I did because I insisted upon having all of my textbooks with me at all times) a pocket-sized electronic dictionary. I used … More Confidence

I was talking with my son’s teacher the other day, and she told me that if you ask a group of preschoolers if it’s okay to feel angry, they will answer, “No.” This is heartbreaking. It indicates to me that by preschool age we seem to have already received the message that there are “good” … More Anger & Other “Bad”/Uncomfortable Feelings

“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.”                — Maya Angelou You speak, move, create, and live not because you have “the answers,” but rather because you have something to express in a way that only you can. And so … More Sing Your Song

Every week I get up in front of a group of people to lead a yoga class. Sometimes I begin by sharing a personal anecdote or some otherwise unspoken, secret conversation that happens in my head. But more than that, my intention is to really be present with the human beings seated before me — … More Vulnerability / A Love Letter to “My Students”

I grew up with a strong work ethic. I was extremely driven and industrious. I also grew up with a strong yearning for approval. This meant I worked really, really hard to achieve (external) rewards in the form of attention from people I looked up to, accolades from elders, applause, trophies, high grades, scholastic honors, … More Joy & Pleasure

I was visiting my mom some number of years ago. I woke up early and went into the living room to practice yoga. While I was moving through poses and stretching, my mom woke up and came downstairs. She took a look at me and said, “Oh honey… you are so tightly wound” (she didn’t … More Come As You Are

Jivanmukta is a Sanskrit word which translates to “liberated being” — not transformed being, not created being, but liberated being. We are the ones tasked with and responsible for our own liberation. In other words, it is all you. Ain’t no one gonna free you but yourself. I experience two feelings when I hear this. The first … More Jivanmukta

In case you haven’t heard this yet today, either from yourself or someone else: There is nothing wrong with you. This message bears repeating: There is nothing wrong with you. In fact, whatever you think is wrong with you, whatever you perceive as one of your weaknesses is probably one of your greatest attributes — a … More There is Nothing Wrong with You

Bring to mind the last time a day, or an afternoon, or even an hour got away from you because you were so caught up in, so in love with, or even just having so much fun with whatever you were doing that you lost track of time. Take a moment to scribble down what … More Love, Purpose, & Abundance

The other day I listened to this episode of The Good Life Project Podcast featuring Jennifer Pastiloff who is honest, inspiring, bad-ass, and among many other things a yoga instructor and author. She recounted a time when she was giving a talk to a group of people and accidentally said “monstra” instead of “mantra.” And … More Monstra