Freshly blended citrus juice for the morning...

Refreshing and energizing! YUM!

Don't look toward the goal...

Constant practice alone is the secret of success.

Quote from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Everyday practice...

Laghu Vajrasana - Deep back bends have always alluded my body.

Before I even get here, I open my back by laying on a block at the highest height and slowly open my upper back. (I will do a short video to show you what I do soon).

Slowly as I work, I will work out the tight quad muscles and upper back. I will eventually get my hands on my knees and my head closer to my feet.

All in good time…Right now I just breathe! :-)

Strive to be Authentic . . . not Perfect!

I'm not perfect in my practice of yoga . . .

A lot of people applaud perfection - or what looks like it. It's easy to look at a person doing a perfect looking posture and admire the person and their ability thinking that's where the Divine lies. I'm sure this comes from thinking that we need to be perfect (at least look like it) in order to know the Divine; to be able to touch enlightenment or god. In this perfect posture then maybe the person's perfect and they must be closer to god then any of us imperfect beings?
But this isn't so. The more work there is, the more unraveling we do. As Suzuki Roshi said, "Everyone wants to be the best horse, but it's better to be the worst horse than the best horse." The work is essential, and it's good to work with sincerity. First for some of us the work is physical, that's why we do yoga. Together with the work on the mind, psyche, and the emotions, we'll be finally deep in the heart. Open and honest! In the moment . . . There we will find god!

If you want to ask a question...please feel free to email me...

. . . shamabhakti@gmail.com . . . If it's a good question I will want to share it on my Blog. :-) But if you need the privacy, please feel free!

Headstand (Salamba Sirsasana) from Prasarita Padottanasana