In meditation, we notice thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations, and then return our focus to the breath. This photo of a Buddha from the Metropolitan Art Museum in New York shows bhumisarsha mudra: the right hand reaches down, marking the moment of enlightenment when Buddha called upon the earth goddess to witness his resistance to the […]
No Mud, No Lotus: Growing into our fullness
No Mud, No Lotus, Thich Nhat Hanh Many yoga practitioners are familiar with the lotus position, a classic meditation pose. Sitting with legs crossed, feet on opposing thighs, and hands cupped helps centers the body on one’s breathing, just as the petals of a lotus all link to the flower’s center. But the symbolism of […]
The Tree of Life: Vrikasana Pose
Tree Pose: Vriksasana The tree is a symbol of rootedness and reach, of sturdiness and balance. Trees find nourishment underground, feeding off the earth; they also reach toward the sky, capturing the sunrays. From the smallest seed, the tree shows us how life moves toward growth. The Tree Pose, Vrksasana, is a powerful asana. By […]
Yoga Poses to Counter the Effects of Sitting
You are only as young as your spine We live in a sedentary culture. With the abundance of email, social media, iPads, and computer work that many of us do on a daily basis, our bodies pay a price. Wired Magazine wrote, “Sitting is the new smoking.” The series of 12 asanas from this post […]
Finding Your Inner Ganesha to Remove Obstacles
Ganesh, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is considered to be the remover of obstacles. The symbolism attached to Ganesh as the remover of obstacles is expressed in this common chant: You of the twisted trunk and the massive body With the dazzle and light of millions of suns Lead me on a path that […]
