Beautiful yogis,

Thank you. Thank you for the gift of your presence in my life. It is a joy and a privilege to be alongside you on this journey, and I am grateful for the light you shine in my world.  

Let's transcend this day of giving thanks; let's live a life full of gratitude. 

First, let's get clear about what it means to practice gratitude. According to Robert Emmons, psychology professor and gratitude researcher at the University of California, Davis, there are two key components:

• We affirm the good things we have received;
• We acknowledge the role other people play in providing our lives with goodness.

​You know I'm committed to participating in practices that have a transformational impact. I only want to spend my time and energy in ways that help me on my path. Thanks to hard-working researchers, we now understand that gratitude benefits us in each of the following ways:

• Emotional benefits
• Social benefits
• Personality benefits
• Career benefits
• Health benefits

Yes, please!

If you're interested in learning more about the benefits in each of these categories, click here to read this article. 

To learn more about practicing gratitude, and to try my 3 favorite gratitude practices, click here. 

“The body benefits from movement,
and the mind benefits from stillness.” 
~Sakyong Mipham​

Hello, yogis! 

It's beautiful to connect with you today. Let me get straight to it. We are heading into the holiday season. I know this makes some of you giddy with delight and anticipation. If you belong in this category? Fantastic!
​
Please, keep spreading the cheer. 

And yet, for many, the holidays add extra layers of stress, anxiety, and/or depression.

I find myself placed firmly in both camps. There are moments throughout the holiday festivities that I truly look forward to and that I treasure. Also, there are some aspects of the holiday season that do not add sparkle to my life.

So, when things become a little extra, in every way, I know it's time to double down on my active self-care. That's correct. Extra everything in our life means we need to be extra attentive to ourselves. 

Click here for a beautiful practice to enhance presence.

“The soul is here for its own joy.” 
~ Rumi
​
Hello, radiant yogis!
Checking in: how are you doing? 
How is your body? How is your heart? 

My truth? This past week brought some challenges: grief paid a visit and sat close for a while; my energy and mood dipped lower than I like; and, I recognized some deeply worn grooves of not-so-nice thought patterns re-emerging. None of it felt fantastic. 

And that's okay. I know that all of this will continue to shift. I can use my own internal investigation to learn, heal, and evolve. And, even amidst the challenges, I spent a November afternoon in one of my all-time happiest places: behind the wheel of our 1964 sailboat. It. was. GLORIOUS! 

A Powerful Practice For Self-Love

Click here to see and read more . . . 

Happy new moon, yogis! 

I always view a new moon as an opportunity to realign and recommit. To spend a little extra time in stillness and silence in order to explore how I am and what I might need. 

This self-examination and stillness are essential for my well-being and continued growth. For me, some extra time spent in shavasana, an added yoga nidra, a longer meditation, or a lengthy hike helps to carve out that space for internal investigation. 

If I keep myself overly busy, or constantly distracted, I find it more challenging to remain curious, let alone stay centered. Turns out, I need stillness and silence in order to ease my way into spaciousness. And once I feel more spacious, everything flows more naturally. I need that space between the inhale and the exhale in order to respond, rather than react. 

I'm curious: What kind of relationship do you have with stillness? Do you regularly carve out time and space for internal investigation? Do you ever find yourself wanting to be busy and distracted at every moment? I encourage you to welcome all answers. And, take time during this new moon energy to truly check in.
Stillness = Luxury & Necessity 

"Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
~ Viktor Frankl

3 Simple Tools To Help You Settle Into Stillness & Create Spaciousness:

Hello, dear yogis! 

Fall is definitely here in Michigan: longer nights, cooler air, spectacular sunsets, and easier parking when I pick up my prescription.

Less outdoor teaching means expanded opportunity for me to dig back in to studying and writing. My desk may look a disaster, but I promise, something beautiful is being built with YOU in mind. 

Questions: When life gets extra busy, or there are lots of demands on your time, how do you stay grounded and clear? What helps you remain present amidst the constant demands of daily life? 

Don't Ruminate. Rejuvenate! 
A few simple techniques to build better balance into your daily life:

Every summer Mike and I dream of sailing to Beaver Island. This year, we decided we could get there another way. The gorgeous views during the quick flight from Charlevoix were worth the queasy stomach.

Our island getaway was only for a few days; I am amazed at how impactful it was. I live in a gorgeous place, but the change of scenery was super rejuvenating. There's something truly magical about the stillness, the darkness, the ruggedness, and the quiet that permeates Beaver Island. 
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Island Reflections
Lessons from an island getaway:

Wow! It's mid-October, and when I look out my window, I still see green leaves. Michigan's extended summer season is cause for celebration. 

THANK YOU for the opportunity to connect with SO MANY of you in summer 2021! It has been wonderful. We've done yoga on decks, lawns, beaches, studios, farms, and even inside the "Pickleball Palace!" Amazing. 

Summer Highlights
This summer brought so many joys: