Making Waves Great Salt Lake & Live Yoga Nidra Teacher Training

Yeah, today I’m excited to share about a collective poem I contributed to about saving Great Salt Lake as well as my next live Yoga Nidra teacher training.

A Word To Save The Waves

My very good friend,Nan Seymour—a dear friend/sister with whom I’ve been co-leading nature + yoga + writing retreats for the past 9 years—has been doing an incredible job, tirelessly raising awareness about the endangered Great Salt Lake. 

I love this lake and love Nan and so when she asked if I would write a poem about this majestic but imperiled lake, I jumped at the chance. 

Many people contributed and the results were a collective poem. I was thrilled to see that it was recently published as a book called Irreplaceable, A Collective Praise Poem For Great Salt Lake.

Tonight, you’re invited to a FREE event, a collective reading of this poem and I’ll be privileged to read my humble poem.

I’ll also get to blow my sax a little bit. 

At this free event, we will be honored with opening remarks from Lisa Bickmore, Poet Laureate of Utah as well as a screening of the short film Irreplaceable, directed by John Meier. 

Can’t wait!

When: Wednesday, November 20th from 6–7:30 pm 
Where: Natural History Museum of Utah located at 301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Cost: FREE

Please come!

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Live Yoga Nidra Teacher Training

Also, I am excited to let you know about my next LIVE Yoga Nidra teacher training, January 24–27, 2025

I’m excited to be hosted by Rianne Maldonado of Wrae Aesthetics in Tucson, Arizona. 

Training available via Zoom or in person, Tucson, Arizona. 

 
Stand Out As a Teacher, Coach, or Therapist

Let’s face it—there are a billion yoga teachers, coaches, and therapists. This Yoga Nidra teacher training will help you become a Yoga Nidra expert and will help you stand out from the rest in your industry.

Yoga Nidra is SO more than just guided visualizations. Explore how this powerful but gentle medium facilitates massive and lasting transformation from anything to confidence, addiction, stress, sleep, and even spiritual awakening.

This engaging and nourishing training empowers you to become an effective teacher to meet the unique needs of your students and clients, to help them make important transformations in their own lives.

People are waiting to experience Yoga Nidra in only the way YOU can deliver it!

Stand out as a teacher and to facilitate lasting transformation for your students and clients.

What’s Unique About This Training:

• Superb quality—Organized, easy to follow, flexible for your schedule, dynamic as per your learning style.

• In-depth study—you’ll learn from a Yoga Nidra master and graduate a Yoga Nidra expert.

• Highly effective—this training is ranked the top Yoga Nidra trainings in the world by Mind Is the Master.

• Be Original! Most trainings teach you to be a rote version of your teacher. This training teaches you the larger principles, roadmaps, and concepts that allow you to tap into the wise teacher inside of you to be a truly effective teacher by teaching from the power of your own voice

• Yoga Alliance Continuing Education credit.

What Is The Price Of Wearing The Mask?

Happy Halloween!

Regardless of whether or not you’re dressing up for Halloween, we all wear masks. 

I’m not talking about Covid masks.

I’m talkin’ the happy mask. 

The helpful mask.

The promise that I’m not really really really bugged by what you’re doing right now—I swear!— mask. 

The other day, in a mentor session with my mentor student Danielle Washington (check out her stuff, she’s amazing!), we were exploring this theme of wearing masks and how to use this in a theme while creating a Yoga Nidra practice and a great question came up:

What is the price of wearing the mask?

Sure, some of those masks may be necessary sometimes. 

But ever feel like you’d like to get to know that person under the mask a little better? 

Ever feel like you just can’t be yourself?

Ever feel the need to just take the masks off and be exactly who you are, without filter, without the need for anyone’s approval?

Yoga and Yoga Nidra help us to first recognize the masks we are wearing, then to see that what we are is something infinitely larger and more complete than that mask. Once we understand our True Self, we can go back and choose to wear or not wear the mask.

Point is, that the mask is actually a pointer to what you really are. 

I invite you to get in touch with your True Self, regardless of the masks you may or may not wear.

Please join me for yoga or Yoga Nidra this weekend where we will get a chance to connect with our True Self. 

This month in my once-a-month Restore Yoga and Yoga Nidra workshop (2-hour rest-fest), we’ll be exploring masks and the cost of wearing masks. 

We Are All Tied For First Place In The Human Race

There’s Something Going Around

I’m getting over a cold. 

It’s been no fun.

But today, I want to talk about something else that’s going around and that is even more nasty and lugubrious than a cold. It’s uber-contagious and gross and it’s making a lot of us very, very sick. 

I’m not talking about sniffles and coughs, but something that is far more pernicious, something that is clouding our minds and hearts. 

It’s an election year and what’s running rampant is a scourge of fear, negativity, and division. 

I see it in my friends, my neighbors, and community. 

I feel it trying to creep into myself. 

It’s strange how we so willingly pass along the virus of negativity and fear to each other.

But yoga and meditation can help.

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My Precccioussss …

I know people, and so do you, whose health is truly suffering because of this political “news” binging. They are losing sleep, experiencing anxiety, looking at the world increasingly in fear and paranoia.

The reason that all this negativity is so pernicious, so vile, so harmful,  is that in truth … there's a part of us that loves it.

Outwardly, we might vociferously complain about our supposed political enemy but, if we are really and truly honest with ourselves, we cherish that displeasure. We’re like Gollum from The Lord of the Rings who holds onto the malevolent ring of power, the object of his deepest desire that is simultaneously eclipsing his heart and poisoning his mind so completely that he is utterly unable to release it. It’s like evil Sauron has given us all a golden ring of political negativity that is slowly poisoning us all. 

This negativity conjured by this political season is as addicting as any drug, because it is a drug. 

There’s a part of us that gets a massive emotional reward from all of this negativity—a heroic dose of dopamine that keeps us glued to our screens and refreshing our social media feeds for more and more of it. We become veritable “news” junkies, addicted to this bitter poison, lost in the continuous “pleasure” of the pain, and deafened by the echo chamber of our fears and one-sided opinions. 

Like a pusher on the corner, politicians and sensationalist media alike understand exactly how addicting all this negativity is and are purposefully serving us an overdose of this junk for the simple and sinister purpose of power and profit.

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The Peace Chant

One antidote to this suffering is The Peace Chant Om Sahana Vavatu, an ancient chant which I love, one that has been a sacred guide along my own spiritual journey. One of my favorite translations of this chant has a few lines that are so poignant, so right on. 

It says:

May we not cherish hatred, anger, and displeasure. 

May our hearts be full of love and may perfect friendship reign between us. 

This prayer beseeches us to draw near to the best and most honorable parts of our hearts and to turn away from our natural propensity for negativity. In not so many words, it’s admonishing us to “Just say no to the drug of hatred, anger, and displeasure.” It’s a reminder of our innate True nature, that of love, friendship, and inclusion.

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“But I Saw It On The News!”

We have to be discerning about both where we get our news and how much exposure we will allow ourselves to it. Sensationalist news sources are no different than “reality TV” that feed us selected and curated sound bites or scenes of an event, information that’s been edited with an agenda and designed to feed us an emotion and a story, one that often puts us lightyears from the entire truth. 

This political “reality forming,” this fear mongering, these sensationalist soundbites, are not about informing us. They are designed to tie us in knots while simultaneously un-tie us as a people.

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So What News Should I Consume?

We must be discerning enough to inform ourselves as best we can about the facts without abusing ourselves with sensationalist media. In your heart you know the difference. 

We must search for balanced sources for the news. 

My father-in-law is a prof of journalism and gave me some very helpful recommendations for exploring balanced news sources. I encourage you to check these out in a blog post I wrote called The News Is Consuming You.

No matter what news source we listen to or watch, we must always think critically, avoid extremes, use common sense, and above all, remain connected to our hearts. 

Then we must turn off the talking heads, close social media, roll out our yoga mat or go on a fucking walk, to clear your head and ground yourself in your breath and body. 

“Perhaps / The truth depends on a walk
around a lake”

— Wallace Stevens, Notes Toward a Supreme Fiction

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Draw Inward But Not In A Cave

Don’t get me wrong. What we should NOT do is hide in a cave, close our eyes to the world, and sit self righteously as we meditate in our own personal campaign of spiritual bypassing. On the contrary, I believe it’s a distinct privilege to be part of a democratic process and get to vote, to act to help make the world a better place. 

But outward actions must be informed by our inward attention. Practices such as yoga, meditation, and Yoga Nidra are essential because they remind us of that part of us that is already whole, that is part of the Oneness, the part that is fundamentally tied to inclusion and compassion. Once we are “yoked” to our highest self, then we must go out into the world and respond compassionately to the needs of our world, doing the work that helps us all to unite in a spirit of friendship as together we build a brighter future. 

Oh, and I might suggest meditating BEFORE looking at the news. 

Compassionate responsiveness is anathema to fearful reactivity. 

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MLK, Gandhi, and Buddha Walk Into A Bar …

Nonviolence to others and ourselves is surely at the heart of our yoga practice, our practice as human beings, and another antidote to this nefarious negativity. The first observance of yoga is Ahimsa, or non-violence. 

The world’s middle-weight champion of nonviolent social revolution, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. understood how essential nonviolence was to the lasting effect of social revolution. Many of his views on nonviolence came from studying the works and words of Mahatma Gandhi, the world's light-weight champion of nonviolence. Dr. King even traveled to India, in part as a pilgrimage to Gandhi's homeland. Ghandi understood very well the yogic texts along with their primary tenant of nonviolence as the genesis for revolution, both for individuals and peoples. Expounding on the principles of nonviolence taught by Gandhi, Dr. King said, “The nonviolent resister not only refuses to shoot his opponent but he also refuses to hate [them].” This malcontent, this hate for another person, people, or political affiliation is “the poison we ingest,” like the Buddha says—the world’s heavy-weight champion of nonviolence—“hoping that another will die.”

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Violence Is Making Ourselves and Others Wrong

Violence is more than harming someone with force. It’s also violent to make someone else wrong or to vilify them. We don’t have to agree with other people’s opinions but, we must cultivate a clear enough vision not to also vilify them, to still see them as family. In truth, opposing opinions can be a marvelous illuminator for those things that are important to us, things which may have been dormant in our hearts until someone voiced a different opinion. Then, fueled with the fire of determination, we can practice compassionate responsiveness to act upon those desires. 

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What We Say Matters

I’m very proud to live in the shadow of the University that created something called The Dignity Index which scores speech with an eight-point scale, ranging from contempt to dignity. The creators assert that it’s not our disagreements that causes division between us, but rather the language we use to voice those disagreements. Their mission is to prevent violence, ease divisions, and solve problems. By drawing attention away from the speaker and more to their speech, they wish to negate the biases of partisan politics. They want to emphasize the power that each person has to heal our country and each by using dignified language. 

My kid’s school district is even using the Dignity Index with a goal to teach our children how to use dignified language from a young age as well as to minimize things like bullying at school. 

The Dignity Index recently scored the presidential and VP debates. You may or may not be surprised by the results. 

No Matter What You Say …

And until we can all start to use language that promotes dignity, even within a disagreement, how might we respond when someone uses contemptuous language toward us?

The truth is, nobody can make you feel any particular emotion, regardless of whether or not it was intended to hurt you.

Sticks and stones, my friends. Sticks and stones. 

Marshall Rosenberg, (author and founder of Nonviolent Communication, Ph. D. in clinical psychology and awarded Diplomate status in clinical psychology for his international work in personal, corporate, and international conflict resolution and peace talks) also teaches this essential yogic principle of nonviolence. He says that before we can practice nonviolence outwardly, we must first practice it inwardly by doing the work to eradicate negative self-talk and shame. This is yet another reason to practice yoga, meditation, and Yoga Nidra.

He says that in every circumstance, when we feel an emotion as the result of what someone did or said, it’s an invitation to lean into our heart, to understand what we feel, and to explore what needs that emotion expresses. 

Here’s an example, “When _____ said ______, I felt [emotions: anger, sadness, fear, resentment, jealousy, disrespect, confusion , etc.]. I felt that emotion because it didn’t meet my need for [needs: justice, fairness, kindness, compassion, inclusion, listening, understanding, etc.]. 

Accepting personal responsibility for our emotions coupled with strong intrinsic practices of nonviolence (gentle yoga and meditation like loving kindness) help us to gain the vidya (clear seeing) that we are responsible for each of our emotions. Even more, that each emotion is a pointer to something else far greater than our emotions, something that is tied to the immutable and fundamental compassion of our being. While it often feels easier to blame someone else for our emotions, to truly be responsible for our own emotions is both humbling and immensely empowering. 

With this consciousness toward nonviolence and taking responsibility for our own emotions, we are more capable to see that someone who pushes our buttons can actually be a gift, someone who illuminates what’s important for us and inspires us to compassionately respond to those important issues. 

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I DO Need To Have An Opinion About That

If you’ve been reading my writing for a while, you might be familiar with my beloved mantra, “I don’t need to have an opinion about that.” It’s truly been a game-changer. This mantra has helped me to recognize and release those things about which I truly don’t need to have an opinion—truly stupid stuff that truly doesn’t matter, like whether or not my dad listens to soft rock (two compound 4-letter words, deplorable doubled down). 

Introspective practices like yoga and meditation also empower us to own our feelings and opinions, to see them as such. They teach us to listen to our hearts and discern between those things that truly matter and those that truly don’t. 

“One only sees correctly with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eyes.”

—The Wise Fox in The Little Prince

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By letting go of the stupid shit, that detritus that’s not worth the cognitive calories, by simply choosing not to engage with it, we save the energy and bandwidth necessary to go out and respond compassionately to the urgent needs of our world. And because our practices root us to the compassion that is fundamental to our being, when we do go out and act, we do so from a place of love, not from fear, or worse, hate. 

Compassion Takes Courage

This kind of compassionate engagement with the world takes courage. The word courage comes from the latin root, cor, which means of the heart. We must stay connected to our hearts and courageously respond to the world’s needs. 

We must be courageous, not just because it feels like the world is burning and we need to do something—it is and we do—but because the world’s problems are not going to be solved with another sign in the yard and another rant to our friends who only commiserate and confirm our complaining.

What Do We Do?

Voting is essential but isn’t enough. We must also walk across to the other side of the political street, knock on our neighbor’s door armed with warm hearts, warm cookies, and weapon-grade love. We must be willing to discuss the hard issues in between bites of chocolate chips and learn about our neighbor’s values, their hopes, and their fears. 

We can learn to listen. Mark Nepo, poet, spiritual adviser, and author of The Book Of Awakening said,

“To listen is to lean in softly with the willingness to be changed by what you hear.”

We must practice seeing the human on the other side and see that at their core, they are not so very different from us. 

We are all tied for first place in this human race. 

We must refuse to be manipulated by sensational media who would encourage us as people to fight one another, like animals pit against each other in a cage for sport or profit. 

By practicing yoga and meditation, compassionate action, balanced doses actual news, and a commitment to heart-centered discourse is what will change us from being the un-tied states of America to the United States of America.

(And if you’re dyslexic like me, you might have to read that last sentence like 4 times).

May we all learn to become united in the politik of the heart so that when this election is over, no matter who wins, we can look around at the aftermath and count our friends on both sides of the street. 

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To end, I’d like to offer the Peace Chant:

Om Saha Naav[au]-Avatu |
Saha Nau Bhunaktu |
Saha Viiryam Karavaavahai |
Tejas vi na vadhi tamastu
Ma vid ve sa va hai
Om shanti shanti shanti

Translation: 

May the divine protect us while we are together

May all obstacles be removed which stand in the way of our understanding the truth that all is one and that there is no division or separation between us.

May we grasp this understanding with full comprehension and without doubt so that all misunderstanding will be dissolved within us. 

May we not cherish hatred, anger, or displeasure

May our hearts be full of love and and may perfect friendship reign between us.

May the space around us be free of fear.

May the north and south, east and west be free of fear.

May the earth be free of fear

May the past and future be free of fear.

May we have no foes

May we all be friends.

And may the entire human race unite in one fearless friendship.

Om. Peace, peace, peace.

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A Yoga Nidra Recording For You

I’ve made a Yoga Nidra recording that is designed to help you stay grounded during an election year as we practice compassionate inclusion.

Namaste,

Yoga Nidra and Archetypes: You're Every Card In The Deck

I love the subway. 

I love that everyone gets to where they need to go sans car. 

I love how you get to experience all parts of humanity on the subway: people sleeping on the subway, people breakdancing on the subway (like, seriously, breakdancing on the subway), people crying on the subway. 

But perhaps what I love most about the subway in NYC is the poetry bombs.

When I lived in NYC, there I was, minding my own business, zipping uptown on the 1 train to teach a yoga class and I glanced over and saw this …

The Lovers

By Timothy Liu

I was always afraid
of the next card

the psychic would turn
over for us —

Forgive me

for not knowing
how we were 

every card in the deck. 

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Boom. 

Suddenly, I’m the guy who’s crying on the subway. 

I love this poem because it reminds me that we all have a litany of different characters within us that make up our general character. Also, there are parts within us that sometimes express different kinds of wisdom in different kinds of ways, characters like the joker, the victim, the boss, the super hero, etc. 

What are the different characters inside of you?

These separate parts are our internal archetypes and can be very helpful to understanding ourselves on a very important level. 

For example, I had a profound experience once during a Yoga Nidra practice where I used the layered Awareness and systematic relaxation of the practice to source an archetype within me, the archetype of the Oracle or wise teacher. In this practice, a vivid visualization opened in my mind … 

There I was sitting in a chair in the office of one of my favorite profs from college. He was leaning back in his chair thinking about something, rather, deciding how he was going to say what he wanted to say to me. As clearly as I’m hearing my fingers tap across my keyboard, in this vision, I could hear the squeaking of his chair as he leaned back, see the tawny grain in his desk between us. I watched as he scratched his beard. Then, looking at me sideways with a glint in his eye and a wry smile on his face, he broke the silence. 

“You know … whatever you believe in, practice it every day.”

Boom!

Such a simple message with such profound implications. 

I think about that message all the time. In fact, I have to remind myself that the image and message from my professor came from me, that it didn’t happen in real life. Regardless, the message is as valuable (or more) than if it had. 

That’s an example of the power of leaning into an archetype. That wisdom existed inside of me and I needed to get relaxed and receptive enough to hear it. 

Yoga Nidra can help do exactly this. 

It helps us to relax into a conscious daydream state which is like a secret passageway to the roof of our ultimate consciousness. In this state, we can learn to see and appreciate all the intriguing and multifaceted parts of our being and learn what they have to say to our conscious mind. 

Yoga Nidra facilitates conversations between our imperfect humanness and our perfect beingness so we can go back out into the world, zip across town on the 1 train, and see our life all as the miracle that it is. 

Thanks 1 train and Timothy Liu for reminding me of this. 

What a gift!

Now, I want to share with you another amazing thing that happened regarding archetypes. It happened yesterday, in fact. 

It might involve you. …

So, I’m heading out of town this week to host my yoga retreat in the French Riviera. And normally, I teach a live online Yoga Nidra class on Sundays mornings but since I’m going to be busy doing yoga while overlooking the emerald green ocean of the French Riviera, a beret on my head and croissant in my mouth, I pre-recorded Yoga Nidra class. 

In this pre-recorded but original class, I decided to explore archetypes. As always with my live online Yoga Nidra class, I start with a hello, I open to sacred space through grounding and breathing practices and lead us in chanting a mantra (you can join or listen. Hell, it’s on Zoom so who cares), then in this class I offer a bit of a teaching on archetypes and how they are accessible and useful in a Yoga Nidra practice. 

And to add some flavor to the idea of using archetypes, I did something I’ve never done before. I grabbed a deck I own, 52 different cards featuring all different types of archetypes symbolized by an array of nature elements, people, and animals—very cool. I shuffled the deck and the spread them out. 

But, before picking 5 cards, I infused them with spirit by breathing on them, clearing out any past energy (cuz I’m good like that) and held the intention and possibility of us ALL (including you) regardless of when you watch the class, to pull the precise cards we need in order to get a deeper message and clearer direction about ourselves individually and collectively. 

Oh, the implications!

Now, believe me, I’m usually more than a little skeptical about this kind of thing but I shouldn’t be because, like every time I use this deck, the cards I pulled were nothing short of A–MAZING! The card choice was completely cosmic and worked PERFECTLY for our session. But I can’t tell you what they were cuz that would ruin the surprise. 

I can’t wait for you to check this out. 

So, in class, I read each card and discuss their meaning as suggested in the booklet the deck comes with but also to consider what wisdom each card may present outside of the suggested meaning. 

Then I invite you to lie down and get relaxed as we enter into a long Yoga Nidra practice. After relaxing into a deep state of receptivity, I lead you through a vivid and detailed visualization that incorporates each of the cards in a way that gives you personal direction for your life. 

It’s SO cool! 

You could do this Yoga Nidra practice a thousand times get a different message each time it. That’s the power of Yoga Nidra and archetypes. 

You gotta check it out! 

Whatcha do is click the button, fill out the form to register for class (drop-in, pass, or membership), and you’ll get the class emailed to you around 9 am MT on Sunday, September 8. 

The following week, I’ll be back from my Riviera romp and class will be live. 

And if you want to share, I’d love to hear about what your archetypes said. 

Please check this out and seriously consider becoming a monthly subscriber. As a subscriber, class is only $10 and if there are 5 sessions in a month you get the 5th one for free. Plus, you get access to literally HUNDREDS of previous Yoga Nidra class. Cancel anytime. 

What are your archetypes telling you?

AI, French Beaches, and Stretches

TGIF!

(Thank Ganesha it’s Friday!)

I hope that the sun is shining on you today, that your heart is peaceful, and that you’re looking for ways to share your own light with the world. 

The world needs your special kind of special. 
You matter and we are lucky to have you on our team. 

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French Riviera Yoga Retreat: One Spot Left for You!

A little bird told me that you might be ready for a luxurious European adventure. 

So, I’ve made arrangements to accommodate ONE MORE PERSON to join me in my French Riviera yoga retreat going down Sept. 7–13th. 

You’ll be sharing a luxurious suite overlooking the sea in one of the most beautiful places in the world. We are going to practice all-levels yoga and meditation, eat decadent food, tour the Riviera coast, walk the cobblestone streets of medieval towns, and relax on some world-class beaches. 

I just saw some flights to Nice for less than $800. 

Our seaside villa while on the retreat

Seriously, jump on this. I want you there with us. 

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OR, if you are looking for some soul nourishment in the deep woods, there’s one more spot at my Nature + Writing + Yoga retreat I’m co hosting with Nan Seymour and Amy May, Aug 29–Sept. 2 at Harriman State Park, Idaho. 

Enjoy 5 days, 4 nights at a pristine wildlife and bird refuge located just south of Yellowstone Park, on the banks of the Snake River, in the heart of the Henry’s Fork caldera. You can expect a morning meditation ritual, deep and soulful writing sessions, exquisite food, connection with self and others, and the copious bounties of the natural world. We plan to deeply connect with the earth and each other as we weave together an authentic and caring community. This year we will have more time than ever built in for connection to nature and contemplation, along with meaningful practice, strong community, and space for personal growth.

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 The BEST way to start your weekend is at my Yoga For Stiff Bods class. Join live in person or via Zoom. This gently dynamic class starts with a generous warm-up, move into some invigorating but approachable poses, then wrap  up with some long, slow, deep stretches to help you feel like a million bucks all weekend. You’re done early enough to still make it to the Farmer’s Market or do whatever else your weekend is calling for. 

7:30–8:30 am Available via Zoom (link below) or in person at Mosaic Yoga, 1991 South 1100 East, SLC, UT. 

By donation—donate via Venmo, donate via PayPal

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AI Workshop For Conscious Entrepreneurs

Finally, I’m so excited for my online workshop happening Sat. Aug. 17th 10 am to 1 pm via Zoom. 

AI Alchemy: Amplify Your Gifts, Preserve Your Voice

Understanding how to use AI ethically and effectively is becoming essential for conscious entrepreneurs like us.

I'm excited to share with you what I've learned about how to harness the power of AI to share your message with the world and elevate your conscious business while maintaining your own human voice.

Here's what we'll dive into:

• Prompt engineering: The art of 'talking' to AI effectively

• Creating content that resonates with your audience (without losing your unique voice)

• Ethical considerations: Using AI in alignment with your values

• Practical applications: AI tools for yoga, meditation, and wellness businesses including coaching, therapists, energy workers, etc. 

• Balancing technology with mindfulness in your practice

• Real-world examples of how AI can boost your income potential

This workshop is a MUST for the emerging technology of our time. 

What you'll receive:

✓ Live, interactive 3-hour workshop via Zoom

✓ Replay access for unlimited reviewing

✓ Exclusive list of AI prompts designed for conscious entrepreneurs

✓ Step-by-step guide to effective prompt engineering. This is GOLD!

✓ Detailed PDF manual to guide you during and after the workshop

✓ Access to a community of like-minded conscious entrepreneurs

This workshop is about amplifying your unique gifts, not replacing them. Together, we'll explore how AI can be a powerful ally in reaching more people, creating more impact, and growing your business—all while keeping the heart and soul of your practice intact.

Spaces are limited to ensure personal attention. 

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Whether it’s joining a yoga class, retreat, or workshop, or just by being your own incredible self, I invite you to stretch into the person you are meant to be by practicing wellness, kindness, and inclusion as we explore that fascinating intersection of our humanness and our beingness. 

Drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you.

Namaste,

White-Eyes—Seeing The Divine In Everything

Today, I want share one of my favorite winter poems, White-Eyes by Mary Oliver. 

First of all, if you haven’t already, ‘tis the season to sign up for my 31-Day Meditation Challenge. It starts January 1 and lasts all through the month. The challenge is simply to meditate any way you wish for 15 minutes a day, every day for the entire month. I’ll be supporting you every step of the way with daily emails, live group meditations sessions, and plenty of recordings, poetry, links, and stories to make the experience very rich. 

Give the world a gift by practicing drawing inward, getting quiet in heart and mind, so you can present a YOU that is more mindful, less reactive, and rooted in compassion. 

It costs only $31 and you can get your tuition back if you complete the challenge. Make a meditation posse and sign up!

Onto the poem!

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Mary Oliver

What I love so much about Mary Oliver's poetry is that so often in her poetry she is speaking to the eternal, the Everything, God, or the Universe by simply reflecting what she sees in nature.

And like in her poem “Bone” I love how she willingly admits that she doesn't fully know what God is but is "playing at the edges of knowing" and that perhaps it’s not about knowing at all, but rather it’s about “seeing, touching, and loving.”

It’s about being present with senses and heart.

Through her poetry, Mary Oliver helps us all to create a touchpoint to the Divine that is present both in our outer and inner worlds and opens us to seeing, touching, and loving as she steers us away from trying to make it all make sense. 

Her poem White-Eyes is about seeing the Divine in something as simple yet complex as the wind dancing through the tree tops and the snow silently drifting down from the heavens. It’s an exposé about how with the “right eyes” or with attuned sight, we might be able to see the loving Divine present in all things.

I hope you enjoy it. 

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White-Eyes

BY MARY OLIVER


In winter

all the singing is in

         the tops of the trees

          where the wind-bird


with its white eyes

shoves and pushes

         among the branches.

          Like any of us

he wants to go to sleep,

but he's restless—

         he has an idea,

          and slowly it unfolds

from under his beating wings

as long as he stays awake.

         But his big, round music, after all,

          is too breathy to last.

So, it's over.

In the pine-crown

         he makes his nest,

          he's done all he can.

I don't know the name of this bird,

I only imagine his glittering beak

         tucked in a white wing

          while the clouds—

which he has summoned

from the north—

         which he has taught

          to be mild, and silent—

thicken, and begin to fall

into the world below

         like stars, or the feathers

               of some unimaginable bird

that loves us,

that is asleep now, and silent—

         that has turned itself

          into snow.

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I’d love to hear your thoughts on what this poem says to you.

Drop me a line, I read every email I get. 

May we all be our best by remember those essential phrases:

• I love you.

• I’m sorry.

• How can I help?
  
  

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Live Classes, In-person and Online:

• Yoga For Stiffer Bodies on Saturdays at 7:30–8:30 am at Mosaic Yoga

• Live online Yoga Nidra class Sundays at 9 am. Access the live class or its replay from anywhere in the world.  

• Vinyasa Mondays at 12 pm at Mosaic Yoga

• I teach a Restore Yoga and Yoga Nidra workshop on the first Sunday of every month at Mosaic Yoga

• Plus, mark your calendar for January 1 because I’m hosting an in-person yoga class to begin the new year. Together we’ll plant our Sankalpa, the seed of our intentions, through ritual, movement, meditation, and breath. Mosaic Yoga.

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Yoga Retreats 2024