Albuquerque Yoga Studio Blog: Yoga Art Space

The Practice of Allowing

When you look at your own life or the life of others, you can actually begin to watch how suffering is created. There is a Buddhist teaching that pain is short-term and if we do allow our attention to focus on it then it stays and we create suffering. Wherever our attention is going, our energy flows in that direction as well. Think about times in your life when you get stuck on a certain idea, be it anger, sorrow, or even excitement. How does your day pan out around these areas of focus? Recently, I was listening to a video by Wayne Dyer on creating happiness. One of the major teachings I took from it was the practice of not trying to change anything in our present moment. In other words, t

Compassion in Action: Being a Peaceful Warrior in Troubled Times

As I sit down to write this, the country is still reeling from the terrible, tragic events in Charlottesville, Virginia that happened last weekend, during which a neo-Nazi, white supremacist drove his car into a crowd of anti-racist protestors and killed Heather Heyer, a 32-year old woman. Today was Heather's memorial service and her mother took the opportunity to encourage all of us to rise above the anger, fear, and hatred Heather's senseless death may have triggered in us and to "channel that anger into righteous action." More specifically, she challenged each of us "to find in your heart that small spark of accountability. What is there that I can do to make the world a better place?

Cleansing the Mind, Body, and Soul

We all go through a time in our lives where we need to cleanse ourselves from situations, people, habits, etc., that no longer serve us. This type of cleanse can come in the form of a juice cleanse, a spiritual journey, meditation, rituals, a yoga retreat, or journaling for example. Whatever you decide as your method of cleansing and ridding your life of these negative vibes, be mindful that the process is one that you’re comfortable with and that you’re willing to truly let go. The rituals I’m sharing are ones I practice daily or when I need healing. Palo Santo – Holy Wood If you’ve never heard of Palo Santo, then you are in for a treat. Palo Santo is a sacred wood that is found on the coas

At Your Next Yoga Class, Set An Intention

In many yoga classes, you may hear the instructor at the beginning of the class ask the students to “set an intention”. While many of us have heard this request, do we really know what or how we are supposed do this. What does this mean anyways? Well, I decided to do a little research and see if I could get a better understanding of what this “intention” stuff is all about. The classic Vedic text known as the Upanishads declares, “You are what your deepest desire is. As your desire is, so is your intention. As your intention is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny.” Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (IV.4.5) An intention is a thought of conscious