Pennsylvania yoga teacher Raymond Daniel Fogleman is committed to inventing new ways to encourage people to try yoga. As he tells it, while sifting through a pile of toys one day, he came across a toy soldier, which gave him the idea of creating a new kind of action toy – the yogi or yogini action figure. (more…)

All things share the same breath - the beast, the tree, the man, the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports.
Chief Seattle

Chief Seattle was a leader amongst the Puget Sound Indians. He was recognized for his natural abilities as a leader and an orator. He was a keen observer of how the land and his people were in imminent danger of the European’s intentions and he offers this blessing as a commitment to the protection of all living things. (more…)

Yoga teacher Shiva Rea, British pop star Sheila Chandra, the Agape International Choir and many others will join together at the Global Sound Conference in Los Angeles. From May 9-12th musicians, composers, Tibetan vocalists, along with professors and researchers will bring awareness and a “deeper understanding about the power of sound.” (more…)

Each year in April, we celebrate the richness and spirit of the earth. On a local, national and global field individuals are creating projects, websites, gatherings and environmental statements on behalf of Earth Day. I want to share with you over the next week as we build up to April 22 some of the sites and information that I found inspiring, humorous or informational. (more…)

Talk about feeling the effects of the spring equinox; I woke up Thursday morning and there was no choice but to clean my house. It was as if someone had set off an air raid siren and cleansing was the only action available to ease off the rush of energy flowing through me. I got a lot done that morning in a very short amount of time and it felt good to relinquish the rubbish that had accumulated in my space.

So what is an equinox? The word equinox actually means “equal night”; so the length of the day is equal to the length of the night, a unique event occurring only twice a year to mark the beginning of Spring and the end of Summer. For many ancient calendars it also marks the beginning of the New Year. (more…)

It has always been a dream of mine to settle into a life with elephants. Just to be able to walk amongst them and observe their innate greatness of spirit and dignity. In the past I had heard of the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee and the devoted work of the staff to provide a haven for previously captured elephants.

In this month’s Yoga Journal, it was to my delight to read a brief story about Carol Buckley, the co-founder and director of the sanctuary and an avid yoga student. She says.” If I didn’t do yoga, I would keep zooming toward tomorrow instead of living for today.”

From her first rescue of an a baby elephant being on display at a tire store to now managing 19 female elephants on 2,700 acres of land in Tennessee, she has incorporated her yoga practice.  “ My yoga reminded me to breathe, to let go of needing things to go my way, to allow others to help.”

The Elephant Sanctuary was founded in 1995 and continues to be a model of progressive humane treatment of elephants.

Tags: yoga practice, elephant conservation, elephant sanctuary, breath, yogini, elephant rescue

“Who am I really, and how do I want to be today?”

How many times have you been asked the question “What do you do?” At parties, during first introductions, at a family gathering, people find it easy to define us by asking what we do and placing that answer in their frame of reference. But what happens when we choose to shift that question slightly and examine within ourselves the deeper question of “How am I a part of my life today?” This simple question has the ability to transform our sense of authenticity and inspire a renewed sense of honesty with others and ourselves. (more…)

In this month’s issue of Yoga Journal, there was a thoughtful article entitled “10 Tools for Creating Your Happiest Life.” In this article it covers areas such as “Plug in to your spiritual self, get energized about your future, let go of the old and honor your physical self.” This last one seems to parallel closely with our yoga practice. (more…)

Since 1999, Yoga Alliance has ignited the effort to bring yoga awareness across the U.S.  On January 26, 2008 yoga studios will offer classes for low or at no cost fees in order to share the benefits and gifts of yoga.

This annual celebration has provided the opportunity for new and returning students to renew their commitment or to experience how yoga can bring focus and inner strength into ones life. Many of the yoga studios are also using this day as a fundraiser and to bring additional awareness to well deserving charities. (more…)

It is not just about showing up on the mat; it is about how you work with your mind and the experience. – Cyndi Lee

So have you done it to yourself again, started the year with a lengthy list of “resolutions” for the New Year? Well you are not alone or uncommon. It is our human instinct to want to seek change and growth and to try to achieve them all in one year.

We desire success and fear failure, so often times we can be our own obstacles to achieving our goals. Even in our approach to an ongoing yoga practice, there can be nagging thoughts that hinder us from being fully present, fully open to the practice. (more…)