Every year I share a list of holiday self care reminders. This year I want to add something to the list. You are allowed to pause. When you’re busy, emotions are running high, and you feel like you need to be in 10 places at the same time, it’s tempting and possibly even automatic to tune out your needs and your body’s signals. Sometimes you do really need to disconnect to put out fires and ensure that everyone is safe. But many times checking in with yourself can be don

Relaxing your jaw can be helpful for coping with stress, TMD, and migraines. Even if you aren't experiencing any of those right now, you may find that there's a surprising amount of tension in your jaw! Take just a minute or two to bring your attention to your breath and release tension in your jaw. #mindfulness #breath #stressrelief #relaxation #stress #littlehabits #meditation

As 2017 seems to rush to an end, I'm steadying myself in an intention that feels grounding when it seems like time is flying. (Because wow, wasn't it just Halloween?) This intention is also a solid first step to offering myself compassion when things get heavy and I'm teetering on the edge of overwhelmed. It's really simple. Take a breath and ask, "What am I willing to notice?" This question isn't meant to withdraw us from participating in the world, but to engage a lit

I've been trying to write this for days. Although I want to write about why it's ok to risk imperfection in our actions against injustice rather than doing nothing, in all honesty I've been scrutinizing every single word to the point I've considered just sending you a list of links. I've softened the language. I've made it more direct. I've scrapped everything and started from scratch, then edited again. Bear with me as I now try to walk my talk. I may still put my foot in my

Even though seated meditation can be restorative and powerful, let me be honest. Some days, it's really hard. Sometimes sitting is physically uncomfortable – your back feels creaky, your foot falls asleep, or you have indigestion. Sometimes being totally still and quiet means that painful emotions bubble to the surface. You may not be ready to deal with them yet. Sometimes it just feels boring. On the days those things are true, we can notice the discomfort object

One of my long-time yoga students recently pointed out that my answers to questions in class are usually a variation of, “It depends! Here's why...” Today, I thought I’d offer a similarly squishy answer to a question I field often. “What’s the best way to meditate?” Meditation can seem intimidating and mysterious when you’re new to it, can’t it? There are endless techniques out there and you may have heard just as many rules about how to do it “correctly:” You

After what feels like weeks upon weeks of rain, the sun has finally emerged here in Chapel Hill. The past few days have been beautiful, balmy, and nearly 90 degrees, and after being in a bit of a funk, the lure of light is irresistible. My yoga mat has a few bits of fresh bark ground into it from practicing on the porch, and I’ve got a funny tan on my lower legs from wearing my capris for meditation in the sun. In honor of one of my favorite outdoor yoga seasons, I’m off

The summer before I started yoga teacher training, I aggravated an old running injury and found myself with continuous knee pain. Most movement and even some sitting and lying positions hurt. So nearly every evening that summer, I showed up to my yoga mat with the same intention: to be gentle. I chanted it to myself before every sun salutation, every forward bend, every hip opener, every last movement: “Be gentle.” If any hint of pain or tweaking arose, I would again finel

Last February, I felt lost. There was a great deal of messiness and pain in my personal life and I wasn’t entirely sure what to do or how to cope. I felt as though, in the midst of stress and busy-ness, I was in the process of losing touch with myself. What I craved was a chance to slow down long enough to figure out what I truly needed to be grounded and purposeful again. I needed a deep breath. An interruption. Not just a few minutes of meditation or an hour of yoga here an

​ Falling asleep (and staying asleep) has been a struggle on and off for much of my life. Even though a few years ago and after a LOT of trial and error, I managed to find a set of habits that work nicely for me, my system isn’t foolproof. During a recent string of rough, nightmare-filled nights, I started to dread and avoid bedtime like I used to years ago. I was convinced I’d repeat the same story of the nights before, living out worst case scenarios once I finally and fitf