When the person in front of you on a plane reclines their seat to the max, there are a few ways you can respond. You can accept it. You can get angry about it. You can politely ask the person to move their seat forward a bit. I think a lot of us are a […]
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If My Yoga Mat Could Speak…
If my yoga mat could speak, it would articulate both the indescribable joy and deep sorrow I’ve felt through the thousands of hours we’ve shared. Every morning, I bring this aging body to my practice, grateful for the ways I am still flexible and not-so-flexible. I listen to the sounds my body makes – sounds […]
Ways to Channel Compassion in the Face of Suffering
When someone we know is suffering, one of the most profound gifts we can offer is our presence. Yet it can be hard to know exactly how to respond. Most of us have never been taught how. And truth be told, it can feel easier to step back, walling in our own feelings, than to […]
Finding Sanctuary in Unexpected Places
Of all the places to experience the power of meditation, the Exhibit Hall at the annual meeting of America’s Health Insurance Plans (an industry trade group) would probably not be near the top of the list. Yet there I was in Nashville this past June as a Stress Management Specialist for the Ornish Healthways Program […]
Crossroads, Transitions, Limbo: Successfully Navigating In-Between Times
Recently, I saw the movie Inside Out – the latest and, in my opinion, the greatest Pixar film yet. I’ve not been able to stop thinking about it; especially the main character’s journey through turmoil after her family relocates to San Francisco. Back in Minnesota, Riley was a happy, popular preteen, excelling in hockey and […]
Finding Maggie: The Joys of Adopting a Pet
The loss of a pet is devastating. Everyone’s different, of course, and I admire people who can open their hearts quickly to adopt again, but I’m a person who needs time to heal. After my 21 year old feline companion Noel died, it took me almost two years to feel the yearning to bring a […]