Don't Forget Yoga! My Journey of Remembering.
Celebrating today’s launch of the "Don't Forget Yoga Podcast," helping new yoga teachers absorb yogic wisdom with music, mantras, and mnemonics. This post tells the story of my journey as a yoga teacher who struggles with memory, the mnemonic systems of music and wordplay that I developed to help me remember things, and the vision I have for helping other yoga teachers with the podcast.
Conspirituality, Duality, and Reality.
The Covid era has brought us conspirituality, a neologism describing the overlap of conspiracy theories with “new age” spirituality. The algorithms of A.I. are pulling us away from the center, into our thought bubbles and alternate realities. What do the teachings of Yoga have to tell us, and how do we find common ground in an endless ocean of uncertainty?
Witch Words? Vexing Hexes, A.I., Christianity, and thoughts on thinking.
When casting a spell, all it takes is the right words, in the right order. You have been hexed all your life, and only you can break free. All you have to do is overcome the influence of family, friends, religion, culture, and killer robots.
The Evergreens, the Iroquois, and The Appropriate.
A letter from my father about a YMCA summer camp I used to attend changing its name, got me thinking about cultural appropriation. It has shaped all of us, in one way or another, for good or bad. How do we disentangle who we are from the culture and experiences we came from?
The Carpentry of Yoga Anatomy
How does alignment in carpentry relate to alignment in the human body? Pashupa explores the concepts of level, plumb and plane in yoga anatomy and carpentry. Featuring a video demonstration exploring level, plumb + planes in the yoga pose agni stambhasana, also known as double pigeon or fire log pose.
Metamorphosis: the journey of the cosmic caterpillar
Pashupa shares Hindu mythology about the sun god Surya, mixed seamlessly with the scientific story of stars becoming of supernovae. Through the metaphor of a cocoon created by a cosmic caterpillar, we see how this drama plays out so that carbon-based biological life can become manifest on Earth. Surya’s sacrifice teaches us how to serve the world around us.
Easter, The Eclipse, and the Corona
Pashupa takes us on a journey beginning with the mythology of Easter, through the Great American Eclipse of 2017, to Hindu gods that swallow the sun, the appearance of the coronavirus, the meaning of life, the mysteries of the universe, and then back to an essential question posed by poet Mary Oliver. All through the lenses of yoga and science. Swaha!
Love and Fear in the Age of Covid-19
Covid-19 has changed the way we interact in the world, slowing down commerce and giving us all a moment to think more deeply about life. How do we respond to fear? How do we cultivate love? How can the teachings of yoga help us through these times?
The Modern Rime of the Ancient Mariner: Plastics, the Ocean, and the Albatross
Does The Rime of the Ancient Mariner contain a message for modern humans? The fate of the majestic Laysan Albatross is metaphorically hung around our necks, reminding us that our consumption of plastic is creating an environmental nightmare not unlike the one the mariner experienced in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem.
Yoga and the Search for Spock
The yoga of Spock, including the origins of the Vulcan mudra, and spiritual quotes from Spock. In memory of Leonard Nimoy who portrayed Spock in the original Star Trek TV series and movies.
Sri Argala Stotram (Selected Verses) as played by Krishna Das
Lyrics and commentary on the Sanskrit mantra Sri Argala Stotram (Selected Verses) / Show Me Love as played by Krishna Das on his album Kirtan Wallah,
Beyond Form: Embodying the Animal
To realize yoga we must transcend the misperception that we are separate from the rest of creation. Consciously taking the form of animals in our asana practice can lead us towards enlightenment.
I, Persephone
I am the goddess Persephone, riding on a train into the underworld of New Orleans.
Yoga & Vegetarianism by Sharon Gannon
A synopsis of Yoga and Vegetarianism: The Path to Greater Health and Happiness by Sharon Gannon, adapted from an essay I wrote for my Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training
Gratitude for my Jivamukti Benefit Class
Photographs and gratitude for the benefit yoga class at Swan River Yoga in New Orleans, led by Libby Bryan and Jacksun Slaughter, to raise money for my Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training