Video: Transforming the Yoga Industry Post-COVID: A New Era

Is it telling that I slept on the car ride from Bangalore to Mysore? The last two times, I was wide-eyed, heck, WILD-eyed, sitting on the edge of my seat. Not unlike my dear pooch Sebastian with his head out the window, I couldn’t help but marvel. Everything was so foreign! I had never seen anything like, well, anything I was seeing. It was all so new. It was all so different. How had some of it become a bit… pass the salt? I’ve brought a plethora of books to read. Unfortunately, other than a 30 page smattering on the Mirror of Yoga, the only thing I got a really good read of on this trip was the back of my own eyelids. If all…

This is an introduction to the Functional Ashtanga Yoga Training Program

Today’s post intertwines the wisdom of my mentor, Kristen Krash, with my work as a mysore style Ashtanga Yoga teacher. Kristen, an inspiring figure in both my life and in her groundbreaking work regenerating a cloud forest in Ecuador, offers profound insights into the interconnectedness of all things.  Kristen’s article “Why those big-tree planting projects fail. And why ours is succeeding”  is a story of resilience, regeneration, and the intricate tapestry of community building— all in a forest environ. The gist of it is that it takes more than a bunch of big trees to make a forest. I see parallels between Kristen’s observations about forest regeneration and the nurturing environment of a Mysore yoga community. I believe these insight offers a unique perspective on how…

What is Pranayama? Pranayama, or breath control, is an ancient practice that is a cornerstone of many forms of yoga. The practice of pranayama is said to improve overall health through deep, mindful breathing exercises and techniques. Through its ability to strengthen the connection between the mind and body, pranayama can be used to reduce stress and tension, increase focus, increase energy, and improve general wellbeing. Though it has been practiced for thousands of years, in recent times pranayama has become more popular and accessible to the public. In this blog post, we will explore what pranayama is and how individuals can benefit from its practice. 1. Pranayama is a yogic practice that involves controlling the breath If you’ve ever heard of pranayama and wanted…

Seamus Heany passed away.  Sparked into a flush of memory by a friend’s lament towards the end of summer, I was coated in the thick stain of Heaney’s lingering words: A extra juicy reading of the poem can be found here, at good ol’ NPR. Blackberry Picking – Seamus Heaney [quote style=”1″]Late August, given heavy rain and sun For a full week, the blackberries would ripen. At first, just one, a glossy purple clot Among others, red, green, hard as a knot. You ate that first one and its flesh was sweet Like thickened wine: summer’s blood was in it Leaving stains upon the tongue and lust for Picking. Then red ones inked up and that hunger Sent us out with milk cans, pea tins, jam-pots Where briars…