This is the time of year when you open a cluttered closet and you say, “That’s it. This stuff has got to go!” The Sauca bug gets under your skin and you cannot help yourself. Sauca, the first Niyama, or observance, is translated as ‘cleanliness or purity’. Simply put, it is the energy of renewal, organization and clarity. Put that energy into motion and you’ll finish one closet and start in on the junk drawe r. It’s refreshing this energy. It sweeps in on a spring day and sparkles in the corner just waiting to seize you, not resting until there’s less of what you don’t need and clean, clear living spaces left to enjoy. When we let this energy help us to cleanse our environment it is an outwa
While in Mexico on retreat I was treated to a wonderful lesson on my self-limiting behaviors. The lesson wasn’t imparted to me by a fellow yoga teacher or one of my students. Instead it came from a beautiful waiter (Manuel), who had a huge smile and even bigger heart. Manuel exuded happiness in every way of the word. When a salsa song came on in the restaurant he would begin to dance around and take the hand of any willing partner. I hate to turn down a good time, so I readily accepted his invitation when it came my way. His mantra throughout the week was “porque no?”, or “why not?”. Any time we would ask him for something, with a huge smile and shrug of his shoulders, he would recite his m
During my college years (we don’t need to mention what decade that was in) I spent a great deal of time dreaming about what my life was going to look like as an adult. Over cheap wine and bad food my friends and I would compare our stories of what we would be doing five, ten, and twenty years down the road. For some of my friends, a full life included a small army of kids, the ability to be a soccer mom running from parent pick-up to sports, to making dinner for the family. That wasn’t me. I had dreams of adventure and traveling around the world. I wanted the freedom to explore and the money to stay somewhere a step above a hostel. I had big vocational goals too; I saw myself in business sui
My dad is embarking on an amazing journey today. He is untying the lines of his sailboat, The Mesmeriah, and sailing from St. Petersburg, Florida to Cuba. I can only imagine the excitement, the nervousness, and possibly bit of fear he is feeling as his vessel, of which he has prepared diligently and is profoundly proud of, is carrying him off to sea. My dad has always had an adventurous spirit and go with the flow attitude. As a life long planner and list maker, I have appreciated his laid back style and have learned from him to loosen my grip and ride the waves a bit more. His love of and respect for the sea has taught me to be in awe of the great lakes we are privileged to have in my home
