Last week’s blog touched on the idea of emotional intelligence within the practice of yoga. If you’ve not had a chance to read it, click HERE to have a gander. I wanted to dive a bit deeper this week and talk about ways we can use the yoga practice to increase levels of emotional intelligence. This blog is all about taking yoga off the mat and into our day to day existence by using asana work to become nicer, more emotionally aware human beings. This is pretty much the ...
The Graceful Art of Giving The Right Kind of Fuck
I recently saw a movie that was a total game changer. Ai Wei Wei’s “Human Flow”; a documentary on the refugee crisis playing at TIFF theaters here in Toronto. A friend and I decided to check it out. At the risk of sounding trite, but also believing this with every fiber of my being - this is one of the must see films of our time. If you have not seen it, find two hours of your life you will never regret and GO SEE IT! It’s not an easy watch. It asks a lot of the ...
Maybe This Happens To You
There are many ways we can discover our personal patterns. Yoga happens to be one of them. Any type of practice asking us to examine ourselves regularly will show us, whether we like it or not, our habits and patterns of behavior. It is so helpful. Notice, I did not say super fun or enjoyable. It is helpful. Half of what makes the practice of yoga and self awareness so necessary is the "check in". The chance to ask, "How the heck am I feeling today?" or "Why the heck ...
I Do Yoga, But I am Not a Pacifist #metoo
When you tell someone you’re a yoga teacher there’s an inference you are a being of peace with Hippie-like qualities. “Coexist” is the bumper sticker on your electric car as you drive to the farmer’s market to buy more kombucha scoby, right? Not exactly. If you practice the precepts of yoga, there is a desire lived out that all beings everywhere know peace. However, I firmly believe peace, and beings that desire peace, need to be protected. And sometimes protection means ...
Screening Screen Time
I’ve always had a contentious relationship with social media, but recently it’s taken its toll on my brain. I could feel the effects of reaching for my phone. The little pleasure receptors in the brain would fire at the mere thought of screen time. I also noticed how I used it as an avoidant. Something unpleasant was occurring? Having to wait in line, wait for a streetcar, an uncomfortable emotion, an unwanted social interaction? Solution? Reach for the ...
Vlogging My Way Out of Conclusions
"If you need certitude, you will surround yourself with your conclusions” -- Richard Rohr A few weeks back my friend Sharon and I went to NYC for our birthdays. Sharon, a talented TV producer, brilliant Life Coach, and all around great person decided to make a VLOG (video log) of our time there. It is because Sharon is a brilliant, all around great person whom I love and trust that I decided to say yes to taking part in the project. In truth, I was nervous ...
Learning To Cultivate Calm
Do you remember road trips with the family? When you were a kid, brimming with anticipation, unable to contain your excitement. Heading to Grandma’s house, the cottage, a theme park or maybe just a quick jaunt to the ice cream shop. These trips were usually riddled with, “Are we there yet?” “But seriously mom, are we there yet?” If you have parents like mine, they probably set a limit to the number of times this question could be asked. I was allowed three “are we ...
