We all feel pain. Last weekend, my new Hatha teacher training started and as we went around the circle introducing ourselves for the first time, students bravely and candidly shared some of the struggles they've faced: grief, depression, discrimination, abuse, assault, anxiety, disordered eating, miscarriages, divorce and cancer. The pain takes on different external forms but suffering is universal. The same students also shared how their pain led them to yoga as a way to cop

1) Think of someone you admire. How would you describe them? Do they have one or two qualities that stand out to you above the rest? Maybe it's your mother's compassion, Buddha's wisdom, Picasso's creativity or Batman's courage. I admire Oprah for judiciously standing by her convictions and for the unwaivering faith she has in God and in herself as a child of God. The qualities that stand out to you are the qualities that want to grow in you. They are qualities you already po

The Sanskrit symbol for OM There are few more intimidating things for a first-time yoga student than having to chant OM at the end of class. Some people fear it will go against their religion, others snicker at the ultra Yogi stereotype it embodies and others still are terrified of hearing the sound of their own voice. To set the religious record straight, Om isn't the name of some obscure Yoga God. In fact, it isn't even a word at all - it's a sound. Through cymatics, the st