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...

 Today’s blog theme is humility and pride . And let’s be clear: neither word is a bad word. Humility can be a graceful teacher—and sometimes a self-limiter. Pride can swell the heart with joy—or cloud our clarity when we cling too tightly to how things “should” look. Both are necessary. Both are powerful. Both, like all things, dance best in balance. The Humbling Waters If you’ve been following my journey, you’ll know two things: I had pacemaker surgery on April 4th, after a lifelong series of cardiac events. I’m athletic. (Not an “athlete” per se, but athletic —which is my pride talking, and I think that's perfectly okay!) Over the winter, I started training for my first triathlon. I took an adult-level swim class once a week because—confession time—I had spent the first 55 years of my life plugging my nose underwater. Yes, even though I grew up swimming in Kearney Lake in Halifax and the Atlantic Ocean near Chester, NS and despite my mother being a lifeguard and a synchronized s...

  Summer in Fredericton! The sun is shining (maybe a little too hot some days!), the patios are buzzing at places like Picaroon's Round House , and your calendar probably looks like a colorful explosion of overlapping invites. At least, mine does! Barbecues, river excursions, music events at the Garrison District , yoga events… oh, look, here comes another barbecue! And don't forget that spontaneous bonfire, plus you still want to get away for a weekend here or there. Does this all sound familiar? It’s a wonderful problem to have, truly. But with all this glorious abundance, it’s easy to feel stretched thinner than a well-loved yoga mat. You want to say "yes" to everything, be everywhere, and soak up every last bit of summer fun, because our summers are so wonderfully short. But here's the thing: you are human, not a superhero—though some days you kind of want to be! The Gentle Art of "No" One of the biggest hurdles to a peaceful summer is that dreaded ...

  Welcome, beautiful human beings. Today, we’re doing something brave. We’re leaning into the quiet — not the awkward kind, but the kind that heals, holds, and hums beneath all the noise. Today, we explore Noble Silence — what it is, why it matters, and how it can open doors to inner clarity, peace, and presence. One of the reasons this topic arose for me today is, ironically, because I almost had nothing to say. (And yes, that’s chuckle-worthy for those who know me — because I always have something to say.) But what happens… when you don’t? 🕊️ What Is Noble Silence? Noble Silence has its origins in Buddhist and yogic traditions. And it’s a little more than just “not talking.” It’s not the cold shoulder. It’s not retreating into a cave (unless you really want to). It is the mindful restraint of speech, noise, and distraction — a conscious turning down of the external volume so your inner life can speak up. Noble Silence isn't the absence of sound. It's the amplification o...

 his week’s theme: Pivot. P-I-V-O-T. Why it’s important. When it’s not appropriate. And all the messy considerations in between. You could also call this transition management , but that sounds like a beige corporate seminar — and honestly, pivoting in real life is a lot messier, sweatier, and occasionally swearier than anything with a PowerPoint slide. The truth is, many people I know — myself included — have been in pivot mode over the past couple of weeks. Not the trendy “quit your job and move to Bali” pivot, but the “well, crap, this is not going to work, what’s Plan B?” kind. The Lake Yoga Pivot My biggest pivot this week? It started with boxes. Badly packed boxes. The “throw random things in so you can move fast” kind of boxes. Which meant that, when Wednesday morning rolled around, I drove toward the yoga studio only to realize: I did not have my studio key. I zipped back to my apartment, tore through the hodgepodge piles like a caffeinated raccoon, and — nope. That key wa...

 I usually write these blogs on Thursdays. That’s the flow. That’s the groove. But this past weekend was just… too rich. Too big. Too beautiful to write about before it even happened. So, yes—I’m behind schedule. And now I’m heading off to sweet, social, soulful Nova Scotia for the weekend, which means this will knock me off next week’s schedule too. But honestly? Worth it. Completely worth it. I have so much more to say now. Because something huge happened. I DID A TRIATHLON Not just any triathlon—the GRAVELMAN Canada Triathlon & Duathlon for Cancer . And yes, it rained. It poured. It dumped . And it was glorious. I’m a Triathlete Now (!!!) Oh, it feels so good to say that out loud. You may have heard snippets in earlier posts about the lead-up to this moment—training between pacemaker surgery, evening swims that tested my breath (and my bravery), slow re-entry into a body learning to trust itself again. And now here I am: soggy, smiling, slightly bruised—and proudly wearing...