Returning home for my grandfather’s funeral was more than a moment of remembrance—it became a journey of transformation. From the solemn beauty of his military service to an unexpected speech at the reception, I found myself reflecting on presence, letting go, and the quiet ways we step into new roles within our families. In honoring his life, I also recognized a shift within myself—one that felt like both an ending and a new beginning.
Read moreEmbracing Impermanence: Lessons from Losing Nearly Everything
Losing my Topanga home to the Palisades Fire has been a heart-wrenching journey, but it’s also been a profound lesson in impermanence and resilience. Among the ashes, I found two items untouched: a Buddha statue and a lava-formed obelisk crystal. These symbols of serenity and transformation remind me that even in loss, there is an opportunity for spiritual growth and renewal.
Read moreFinding Peace Amid Devastation from Palisades Fire
Losing my Topanga home in the Palisades Fire has been an unimaginable heartbreak. Amid the ashes, only a serene Buddha statue remained, a powerful symbol of non-attachment, resilience, and inner peace. This tragedy has deepened my understanding of gratitude—finding appreciation for what remains and the lessons life continues to offer, even in the face of profound loss.
Read moreThe Case for a Flexible Spiritual Practice When Life Gets Overwhelming
Life isn’t a series of perfect routines—it’s a dynamic, unpredictable journey. While spiritual practices like meditation and yoga can ground us, it’s just as vital to embrace flexibility when life disrupts those routines. Missing a practice doesn’t diminish your spirituality; instead, it offers an opportunity to practice self-compassion.
Read moreThe 4 Yoga Steps You Aren’t Taking
Purification in yoga goes far beyond physical fitness; it's a holistic process that refines actions, body, breath, mind, and spirit to foster self-knowledge and inner peace. By understanding and practicing these five levels of purification, you can move closer to a balanced and enlightened state. Each level represents a vital part of this journey: from ethical conduct and physical fitness to breathwork, mindfulness, and spiritual meditation. In this article, we’ll explore how each level contributes to the ultimate goal of yoga—achieving unity within yourself and with the world around you.
Read moreClimb These 8 Limbs of Yoga for Total Purity
Patanjali, the ancient sage, distilled the essence of yoga into the Yoga Sutras, a collection of concise aphorisms that form the foundation of the classical yoga system. These teachings, rooted in the eight limbs of Raja yoga, provide a roadmap to refine the body, mind, and spirit. From ethical practices (yamas and niyamas) to physical postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), and deep meditative states (samadhi), the path of yoga is a timeless guide to inner peace and spiritual growth.
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