Imagine practicing yoga surrounded by the delicate beauty of spring—wildflowers nodding gently in the breeze, the scent of fresh herbs and tea leaves in the air. This is the magic of the Tea House, where nature and mindfulness intertwine to create a space for deep connection. We invite you to embrace the season’s rising energy in our April yoga series.
Meditation is not a linear journey. It’s not about achieving a specific state or reaching a final destination. Instead, it’s a variable practice that shifts and evolves. This fluidity makes meditation an opportunity for exploration rather than a pursuit of perfection. It invites us to let go of binary perspectives such as good or bad, right or wrong, failure or success.
Do you feel like meditation just isn’t for you? You’re not alone. Meditation is often seen as a gateway to calm, clarity, and balance. But the truth is, sitting in silence can feel anything but peaceful. It’s important to understand that meditation isn’t about achieving peacefulness. It’s about learning to focus on a single thought, noticing distractions, and gently guiding your attention back.
As the calendar turns and the new year approaches, it’s easy to get swept up in the tide of resolutions and the pressure to “start fresh.” We draft lists of goals and set rigid expectations, believing that January 1st marks the start of a perfect, linear path toward self-improvement. But what if we approached the new year differently? What if, instead of rigid resolutions, we embraced curiosity, intention, and a willingness to ease into this next chapter with grace?
The sacrum, often overlooked, plays a vital role in both spinal health and overall movement. It's not just a single bone but a fusion of five vertebrae that occurs as we age, usually completing the process in our 20s. Despite this fusion, the sacrum is part of a dynamic system that requires awareness and movement to stay healthy.
Patanjali's Yoga Sutras outline 8 stages for the practice of Yoga, the Eight Limbs of Yoga. The later stages describe how to cultivate a practice of meditation. Meditation offers an opportunity to integrate your experience and notice what is in your Awareness. It is a journey of training the mind to stay present and focused. Identifying where you are in the meditation continuum of practice (Dharna, Dhyana or Samadhi) allows you to find greater awareness.
The Panchamaya Kosha system consists of five interconnected layers of our being from the density of the physical body, to the expansive spiritual or bliss body. The koshas share a dynamic relationship and influence each other. As we deepen our awareness and understanding of each kosha, we move towards greater health and wellbeing through integration and alignment with our true nature.
Even if you don’t notice it or feel it, every time you step on the mat and move your body, you support balancing your inner and outer experience. Yoga practices give an opportunity for Qi (Chi, life force) to flow more freely through the meridians (rivers of energy). You might not be able to see Qi flowing through meridians, however you can experience the effect of your energy. Free flowing Qi allows the energy nourishes our body and improves the health of our organs so we can experience the vitality of life.
Meridian theory is a fundamental aspect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Each meridian corresponds to specific organs and functions, contributing to the overall balance of energy. Qi circulates through the body along the meridians, forming a complex network that connects various organs, tissues, and physiological functions. Balancing the five pairs moves us toward greater well-being.
Every time we show up to our yoga practice we can open ourselves up to learn something new about ourselves. We can invite curiosity to listen and notice how the body, mind and spirit respond to our practice. We should strive to observing without judgment or desiring to fix or change anything. If we are lucky, we can embrace mindfulness and learn something new about ourselves.
For many people, their first exposure to yoga is the physical practice, referred to as yoga āsana. Everyone’s body is different so their physical practice will be different. No matter how you practice yoga āsana, you are integrating the physical, energetic and spiritual body. Yoga āsana offers a tangible tool to cultivate stillness through movement.
Adopting a beginner’s mind can be a powerful tool for cultivating joy and embracing the present moment. As we navigate the journey ahead, let us move with an open mind, embracing each moment as an opportunity for renewal. In the simplicity of presence, the beauty of growth, the release of expectations, and the nurturing of self-compassion, we uncover the true essence of joy that lies within us all.
Before we turn over this new leaf (or calendar page), let us reflect on the year behind us and on the moments of joy, peace, and happiness. True joy comes from the meaningful service we were able to offer to the wider community in 2023. We are all so grateful for the opportunity to be of service and to provide space for people to BE, to LEARN, to GROW.
This December, cherish your traditions and honor your values. Give yourself permission to linger in an embrace of a loved one and at the same time give yourself permission to be alone. Enjoy the beauty in all that surrounds you. As we end 2023, ask yourself how can you connect to your unlimited self? NOW is the time we can practice leading our lives with connection and contentment.
The winter solstice is upon us. Each day the sun’s journey across the sky continues to shorten, and each night the stars have a little more time to gaze upon the Earth. It is a time to reflect on the year that is behind us: on the growth we have made, the joy we’ve shared, and the challenges we have faced. It is also a time to dream about the year ahead: to make intentions and consider the abundant possibilities that may come our way. In our yoga practice, we seek to restore balance to our body, mind and heart, and to carry this balance out into our daily lives so we may come from a place of integrity and compassion.
