The Everyday Yogi

   💙Even Yogis Get the Blues Alright, let's get real for a sec. We've all been there, right? That feeling when the universe decides to dial down the sunshine and crank up the grey. Even for those of us who regularly twist ourselves into a pretzel on a yoga mat, sometimes you just feel... blah. And you know what? That's totally okay. Because, and I'm sure Tom Robbins would agree, even yogis get the blues . (See what I did there? A little nod to "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" – great book, by the way, if you're into quirky, philosophical adventures.) ☕The Uninvited Guest: Sadness  We've somehow, as a society, decided that sadness is this unwanted guest we need to kick out immediately. Low energy? Must be fixed! But what if we just... let it sit for a bit? Offer it a cup of tea, maybe. Unless you share the same aversion to tea as Ted Lasso (and me):   "How do you take your tea? " Ted:   "Well, usually I take it right back to the counter bec...

 When I was in India and Scotland on yoga retreats, it was so easy to put the trappings of Western society aside and lean into the true essence of yoga. Coming back to North America, especially after my India trip, it took a couple of days to adjust. I was still walking around probably smelling like cow poop and chanting mantras, marveling at the size of everything here—big houses, big cars, and all the "access" we have. Within a couple of weeks, I was swirled back into the trappings of the modern mind, specifically digital overload and constant connectivity. This isn't to say that our digital lives are 100% evil—they're not. They're quite necessary, and there are lovely aspects to them. However, for a person with an ADHD brain like me, with two jobs and lots of demands on my time and energy, adding the digital noise and constant connectivity is enough to sometimes put my brain into a tailspin. I'll completely shut down, napping midday when I could be enjoyin...

  Good morning and happy Monday, everybody! Now, let me be upfront: this isn’t really a yoga blog post. It’s about running. But I’m going to pull the yoga philosophy card here (again), and say: yoga is not just poses on a mat. It’s a mindset. It’s a way of living, breathing, moving, and healing. So yes, I’ll say “yoga” here and there, but this story is really about what happens when you literally listen to your heart. Nine Weeks Ago Nine weeks ago, I had a 24-second cardiac pause —the final diagnostic straw that led to me getting a pacemaker. The surgery happened quickly, with little time to process what it would mean for my lifestyle. In the recovery room, high on hospital meds, my surgeon (who happened to be a runner) told me: "No running for six weeks." To which I replied, “Is that negotiable?” (It was not.) I told him I was already registered for the Fredericton Half Marathon and the Cabot Trail Relay —a dream I’d been holding onto for years. The surgeon understood. He...

 This morning, between sips of coffee, I skimmed an article that stirred the yoga-teacher part of my soul. It was about a controversy (oh yes, the yoga world is full of controversy) involving a hot yoga teacher who committed the ultimate scandal: they took a sip of water during class. Yes. A sip. Cue the social media tsunami. Some hailed the teacher as a hydration hero, others practically lit a candle for the purity of the practice. Truly, yoga should never make you feel like you’re in trouble for listening to your body and should never put you into distress. And it should never, ever leave you thirsty. I say this from experience as a person with chronic dehydration and heart issues. When I need a sip, I take a sip or maybe even a gulp. I was not aware that sipping water is frowned upon in hot yoga. Truth bomb that may be unpopular: I have never been a fan of hot yoga. My primary concern is the increased risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and potentially heat stroke due to the ...

 Something that keeps coming up for me this week—my birthday week—is the idea of innocence. Or maybe it’s the lack thereof. I’ve been quietly reflecting on it. This question keeps tapping on the door of my mind, uninvited but persistent: When did you lose your innocence? Now, before your mind jumps straight to trauma—because sure, that might come up, and that’s okay—this question feels less about events and more about essence. It’s not so much about what happened to me , but rather… when did I stop floating through life with wonder, with the unfiltered joy and lightness of being? So I ask you: How would you define innocence? How does it show up for you? For me, innocence is awe. Wonder. A kind of unshaken joy in the moment. A time before pressure and performance, before fear and comparison crept in. Before I felt the world expected things of me. When I reflect on that question, I go all the way back—maybe before I was five years old. And yes, something traumatic did happen to me ...

 Yes, I made that word up: enoughness . Doesn’t it sound delicious? Like a deep exhale after a long day. Santosha, the Sanskrit word for contentment, is about exactly that: being at peace with what is . Enough as it stands. But before we dive in, let’s do something a little unusual for a blog. Take a moment to pause. Gently close your eyes. Slow your breath. Just breathe consciously for three to five rounds, inhale... exhale... and then open your eyes and keep reading. (How did that go? That might be the first time I’ve ever guided breathwork through the written word!) What Is Santosha? Santosha is often translated as contentment, satisfaction, or acceptance . It’s one of the niyamas , the personal observances in the eight-limbed path of yoga outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Now, contentment can sound a little passive, like giving up or settling. But true Santosha isn’t resignation, it’s peaceful participation. It’s the art of being in the moment without needing to fix, f...