Beyond Asana Blog

We will never be able to build what we have not first cherished in our hearts.

– Joanna Macy

At a time when we are constantly asked to be against so much, it’s crucial to remember what we are for.

This encouraging insight from Anand Giridharadas resonates with what I see as one of the core purposes of yoga in these turbulent times: to reconnect with our fundamental values.

The uncertainty surrounding us offers an opportunity to clarify our deepest intentions, independent of potential outcomes. What do we stand for no matter what happens? Given that we don’t know how things will unfold, what do we want to devote ourselves to anyway?

The Sanskrit term for intention is sankalpa; it refe...

A few days of springlike temperatures melted the impressive accumulation of snow and ice here in record time. During a walk this past weekend, I passed torrents of muddy snowmelt cascading down the mountainside and paused to feel the invigorating, raw power of the rushing water.

In some places, the current moved with such force that instead of gliding over the rocks, it formed small, turbulent pools flowing upstream, against the main current. It occurred to me that I too sometimes find myself stuck in similar patterns of resistance, fighting against life’s greater flow.

In these moments, it helps to remember that just as the rushing water follows gravity, we're carried by a force bigger than ...

A powerful moment unfolded during our recent Yoga and Work That Reconnects retreat when our group was practicing Mountain pose.

As we balanced the weight on our feet, strengthened our legs from the ground up, and anchored ourselves in the steadiness of the breath, a palpable shift filled in the room - each of us embodying the mountain's unwavering presence.

Through our physicality and imagination, we connected with something beyond ourselves. The mountain’s strength and steadfastness became our own – not just in a physical sense, but as a source of grounding and resilience to meet life’s daily challenges.

This is just one example of how yoga deepens our connection to something greater tha...

One of the highlights of my recent visit to Berkeley, California was the great honor of spending time with Joanna Macy, a Buddhist scholar, eco-philosopher, and root teacher of the Work That Reconnects.

On several occasions, we sat at her kitchen table in intimate conversation. I shared my deep gratitude for the inspiration I’ve found in her work, and we discussed the enduring timeliness of her writings and insights spanning seven decades.

At one point, Joanna asked me to read aloud the legend of Avalokiteshwara, a Buddhist story that powerfully illustrates the challenge of maintaining bodhichitta - the desire, born of compassion, to contribute to the upliftment of all beings. It’s a st...

If there’s one thing I love in the morning, it’s a strong cup of coffee, and I’ve become particularly fond of the pour-over method.

While travelling this month, I packed my high-quality Japanese glass cone and some premium filters. When those ran out, I switched to cheaper, flimsier ones.

The difference was stark – just as the water began flowing, the bottom would give out, sending coffee grounds cascading into my cup. What a waste!

This failing coffee filter strikes me as an apt metaphor for how many of us are feeling these days – our familiar ground is shifting beneath us in unpredictable ways. It can feel unsettling and overwhelming.

Where do we turn when it feels like the bottom has fa...

Running out of time at my recent Yoga for Strength and Resilience workshop was serendipitous – because the concept I wanted to share about harnessing the inner warrior deserves a broader audience.

Think of your inner warrior not as an abstract mythological figure, but as a flame already burning within you.

This warrior spirit appears in many forms in the Hindu tradition: Arjuna standing resolute on the battlefield of life in the Bhagavad Gita; the fierce Virabhadra, whose power we embody in our warrior poses; and perhaps most compelling, the goddess Durga, summoned in the universe's darkest hour to face what seemed undefeatable.

The righteous warrior archetype transcends gender, though, off...

High up in the hills of Berkeley, California, I paused beneath a brilliant, cloudless sky to take in the magnificent sweep of San Francisco Bay below.

"Wow, what an incredible view," I said to a young man working in a nearby yard. With characteristic Northern California friendliness, he stopped to take in the vista with me.

“Yep…this view’ll make you live longer,” he replied.

His comment struck me as quite yogic – this intuitive connection between expansive views and longevity. Who’s to say whether the spacious perspective we cultivate in yoga extends our lives, though it surely enriches whatever time we do have here.

From the broader vantage point of witnessing our minds, we gain equanimity...

A student in our Bhagavad Gita course recently shared that her usual grounding practices were no longer working. It echoed an article I read a few days ago about how our typical self-care routines might feel insufficient in these chaotic times.

If you're experiencing this, know that you're not alone. Even when we faithfully maintain all our trusted methods for staying centered - the morning meditation, the evening yoga, the mindful walks - we may still find ourselves frazzled, anxious, and overwhelmed.

What can you do when your tried-and-true self-care strategies fail to calm your nervous system, quiet your mind, and lift your spirit?

The answer is simple, though not necessarily easy: lo...

 
When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But … that is not what great ships are built for.

- Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Like great ships, we too are built for more than tranquil waters.

In my three decades of teaching yoga, and ten years writing this blog, I've connected with countless practitioners who have spent not just years, but decades – 20, 30, even 40 years or more – practicing yoga.

When I reflect on the many brave, sincere, and kind-hearted people I've met over the years, it feels truly remarkable! More than that – in these troubled times, your presence fortifies my spirit.

I think of all the many “great ships” out there, in all corners of the ...