One of the most common causes of suffering is resistance to what is present in this moment. Part of me recognizes what is actually happening, while another part says, “This should not be happening.” In that moment, I become divided within myself. Life moves in one direction, and my mind pushes against it. This inner conflict creates suffering. I often believe that pain comes from the situation itself. In many cases, the greater pain arises from the attempt to control or rejec

In the quiet moments of my day, I find myself drawn to the gentle rhythm of breath and movement. Yoga retreats have long been a sanctuary for those seeking peace, balance, and renewal. Yet, the world is changing, and so are the ways we connect with our inner selves. Virtual yoga retreats offer a new path - one that brings the calm and clarity of a retreat directly into our homes. This experience is both intimate and expansive, inviting us to explore stillness without leaving

In the quiet moments of life, I find a gentle invitation to pause. To breathe. To simply be. Vipassana meditation offers this invitation - a path to observe the mind and body with clarity and calm. Today, this ancient practice is more accessible than ever, thanks to the availability of online courses. Starting your journey with online Vipassana meditation can open doors to inner peace, self-awareness, and profound transformation. Embracing Stillness with Online Vipassana Medi

Beneath the endless mental chatter — the worries, the distractions, the noise — yogic philosophy points to something profound: a deep, unchanging stillness at the core of your being. This isn’t just silence. It’s the source of true peace. The essence of love itself. Yogic teachings call this the Atman — pure consciousness, untouched by the fluctuations of the mind. A silent witness to all activity. When we reconnect with this stillness, we don’t just feel calmer — we touch so

Love is often seen as an emotion that happens to us, something that comes and goes with circumstances. Yet, cultivating a life rooted in love requires more than chance—it demands intention, awareness, and connection. Yoga and meditation offer practical paths to build this foundation. These ancient practices help us open our hearts, calm our minds, and live with greater compassion toward ourselves and others. Yoga is more than physical exercise. It is a holistic practice that

Yin Yoga In a world that rewards hustle, yin yoga quietly asks you to do the opposite — to stop, soften, and stay. Unlike the dynamic, muscle-focused styles most people picture when they think of yoga, yin is a slow, floor-based practice where poses are held for anywhere from two to ten minutes. There's no flowing sequence, no sweat, and very little movement. Most yoga styles work the yang tissues of the body — the muscles. Yin targets something deeper: the connective tissue

Advaita Vedanta is one of the best-known schools of Indian philosophy. The word advaita means “not two,” and that single idea sits at the heart of the tradition: beneath all the variety of life—people, objects, thoughts, emotions—there is one underlying reality. Non-duality teaches us that the deepest reality is not split into separate parts. The many forms we see are like waves on the ocean—different shapes, but not separate from the water. We usually identify with what ch

We often seek to live our lives with certainty- to plan our future and to know the outcomes. We often resist uncertainty. While there is a place for planning, there are limitations to living from the mind’s need for certainty. The Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki spoke of "beginner's mind" — the quality of approaching each moment as if for the first time, to hold knowledge lightly without the clutter of assumption and expectation. A famous quote of his is that “In the beginner’

The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root yuj — to yoke, to unite, to join. It’s a practice of dissolving the illusions that keep us separated from love in its deepest form. Yoga teaches us to inhabit the body honestly. One who has learned to be at home in their own body brings something essential to love: Presence. The practices of pranayama brings greater attention to the breath. To breathe fully is to feel fully. Many of us have unconsciously learned to breathe shallow

Gratitude has the power to change the way we experience life. It does not erase pain, loss, or uncertainty, but it helps the heart hold both sorrow and beauty at the same time. In a world where everything is changing and nothing lasts forever, gratitude reminds us that the value of life is not in permanence, but in presence. A walk beside the ocean, a shared conversation, the warmth of sunlight, the memory of someone we love — these simple moments become sacred when we truly

Embodiment, in the deepest sense, is the experience of fully feeling your body rather than merely living inside it. Many people in modern life spend most of their time “above the neck,” living without the wisdom body awareness offers. Holding and moving through poses while you focus on feeling sensations is the key. Breath as an anchor draws attention repeatedly back into the body. The breath is always happening now, in the body, so it becomes a connection to physical sensat

Restorative yoga is a quiet, deeply nourishing style of yoga centered on rest, support, and allowing the body to unwind naturally. Instead of stretching deeply or building strength, the emphasis is on resting and letting the nervous system settle. The body is supported with various props like bolsters, blankets and blocks. Each posture is held for 5 to 10 minutes. The focus is on the natural breath and awareness with no muscular effort. Restorative yoga works primarily on the

Yoga Nidra — or yogic sleep — is a guided meditation practice rooted in ancient Tantric yoga. You lie still, close your eyes, and follow a teacher's voice through a structured relaxation. No poses, no movement, no effort. The goal is to hover at the threshold between sleeping and waking. In this state, the brain shifts into slower alpha and theta waves associated with deep rest and healing. Research suggests a single 45-minute session can be as restorative as several hours of

Prana is the Sanskrit term for the fundamental life force or vital energy that animates all living things. The breath is considered its most direct and accessible expression in the body. In the yogic tradition the breath is understood as the physical carrier of prana. When you inhale, you're not just taking in air — you're drawing in vital energy that nourishes the subtle body. The state of the breath and the state of prana are intimately linked. Shallow, erratic breathing c

From the day we are born we are influenced by beliefs, concepts, ideas of other people and culture in general. Without even realizing it, we begin functioning in life based on these forces. This is especially true with the ever increasing prevalence of media- social and traditional. We may begin to gather with people or groups that share and reinforce these beliefs. They can become deeply ingrained in our psyche without us even being aware of it. I know this to be true in

My late wife, Patricia, devoted her life to deepening her spiritual understanding and sharing this with thousands of students over many years. She embodied Love. She loved to write poetry. The following is from her cookbook. SELF-AWARENESS You can’t force the container open Lift the lid slowly with great interest and curiosity. Be patient…. Cultivating a willingness to Simply Stay in the formerly overlooked corner. Yes, there in that corner, with a castaway lodged deep,

In our silent retreats we often speak about “coming home.” Nature is one of the most direct doorways to that homecoming. Here in Maine and Vermont, the forests, fields, water, and open sky aren’t just scenery—they’re part of the healing. Nature supports healing in simple, steady ways. It asks nothing from you. It doesn’t rush you. It doesn’t judge your mind for wandering or your body for feeling tired. It offers rhythm—daylight and dusk, wind and stillness, birdsong and silen

The ability to forgive is one of the most healing and beneficial actions one can take for themselves or others. In my observations and conversations with students on retreat over the years I have been struck by the number of people carrying the burden of anger, resentment, jealousy or hatred toward another. One of the essential purposes of spiritual practice is to develop the capacity to “step out of the box” of our limited perspectives, the conditioning of our limited mind

Many years ago I was in Berkley working with a Breathwork facilitator who was helping me find some clarity in a difficult time in my life. Evenings she took me to a college auditorium where a spiritual teacher named Gangaji was giving a series of nightly talks. Each talk explored ways of letting go of the identification with our body/mind and to live from a much deeper place beyond the limited conditioning of the mind. I had been practicing meditation for some time by then

Love is often seen as an emotion that happens to us, something spontaneous and unpredictable. Yet, many people find that their capacity to love deeply and consistently grows through intentional practices. Yoga and meditation are two such practices that can transform how we relate to ourselves and others, expanding our ability to live in love. This post explores how these ancient disciplines cultivate qualities that nurture love in everyday life. Yoga and meditation both empha