Beyond Myself
Where there is gratitude, there is joy, and desire is silent for a moment. It is in our human nature to worry and hold fear in our bodies in order to protect ourselves. When I meditate, I feel those worries and fears lift away for a few minutes. When I become fully present to my body and lose all judgement about my reality, I feel utter peace and gratitude. I breathe and feel grateful for life. I feel it in my body, not just my mind. I become lighter and... Read The Rest →
How to Change your Life with Sadhana
The Hindu concept of Sadhana is not something that can be described with absolute precision, because it is often different for each person who experiences it. One definition of Sadhana is given as spiritual practices or disciplines which lead to perfection, these being contemplation, asceticism, worship of a god, and correct living. Not aspiring to perfection or being a big worshipper, I tend to prefer the straightforward Wikipedia take on Sadhana, which is defined simply as: a means of accomplishing something. This means can include practices from a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain... Read The Rest →
Suicide and self-acceptance
I have been struck recently by the deaths of two celebrities. First, Kate Spade and now Anthony Bourdain. Suicide, which many call selfish, I find to be a large mirror, an outward act of the immense suffering one is experiencing. When you feel that your only option for relief is to no longer live, your mind has wandered down such a dark hole you feel there is no way back. My heart breaks for those impacted – both with the internal darkness they feel they have to bear, and for... Read The Rest →
Congratulations Graduates!
We are very pleased to announce the completion of our most recent graduates! These are all extensive programs that take diligence, professionalism, and passion to complete. On behalf of your PRYT community, we’re wishing you all much growth and success as you create and enhance your life and careers. Join us in a shout out of good wishes and celebration to our newest graduates! Yoga Therapy Practitioner Training/600 hr Clair Convery – Vernon, BC Lisa Cummings – Warner Robins, GA Arian Deihim – Keene, NH Jennelle Dodd – Saskatoon, SK Misa Dikengil... Read The Rest →
Love – A noun or a verb? Valentine’s reflections.
Love was in the air! Valentine’s Day came and went and we turned our thoughts toward love for a day, and perhaps, that someone our lives. I have a someone in my life that I’ve loved deeply for 32 years (my wife) and usually find the pressure of this day a little challenging. Should I take her out to dinner? Buy her a dozen roses? Or, go big and take her to Paris for the weekend? I ask myself, “How do I express the depth and extent of this significant... Read The Rest →
Groundhog Day: Embracing transformation and change.
According to the Buddha, the three things that prolong suffering in life are greed, hate, and delusion. In my own experience, these are not that easy to shake. However, the Buddha offers us a way out of this suffering – the Eightfold Path. This hit home for me last night as I watched the movie, Groundhog Day, with my wife and friends. I’ve seen it before, so I was very reluctant to go. I don’t much like going to the movies, especially ones I’ve seen before. But, our good friend, Ditte’s... Read The Rest →
PRYT Celebrates its First IAYT Program Graduates!
“I’m so pleased to announce the completion and graduation of Ayano Atsumi and Stephanee Howell from our 900 hour, IAYT-Accredited Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist Certification Program. They are our first two graduates from this extensive program and I’ve had the pleasure to work with both of these students in various stages of their training. I can affirm their diligence, professionalism, and passion in their work. I’m sure they will both be a credit to both the Yoga Therapy profession and to Phoenix Rising as they embark on their careers. Join... Read The Rest →
Anger and Peace
Anger is a great emotion. So much power lies within it. It stirs our entire being and is like a climax of energy when released. And like everything powerful it comes with it holds the power to create and to destroy. Creatively, anger can transform us. If we understand its source and seek a way to manifest the purity of the energy dwelling there, it is a vital force of empowerment. Anger always has something underneath. Most times when I’m angry it’s because of feeling powerless, feeling disappointed, or feeling... Read The Rest →
A Wish on the Womb of the Mother
It had been a long and rainy day on my self-guided tour of the shrines and temples of Kyoto. I had heard of Kiyomizu-dera and had saved it to last. In Zuigudo, one of its “halls”, I descended a set of stairs that was to take me into the womb of the mother of the Buddha – Bosatsu (a female bodhisattva with the ability to grant a wish). It was dark like I’d never seen dark before. My hand reached for the next round wooden ball on a long thread... Read The Rest →
Moms Benefit from Yoga Therapy for Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Beyond
“The job of a birth partner or a laboring mother is to look deep within, past the intellect, into the realm of body wisdom, and trust the process. This is the heart of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, and it works in the delivery room like you can’t believe!” ~Lela Beem, Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Professional, Evanston, IL. Recently, as part of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy’s Professional Spotlight Series, I had the honor of interviewing Lela Beem, PRYT professional in Evanston, IL. It was Lela who I received my very first... Read The Rest →