Master yogi Debbi Murphy shares the 9 distractions that prevent us from living our dharma. She provides several questions for you to ponder and then journal and meditate upon, to help you discover and ignite your passion.
Category: yoga
Living With Intention
Every New Years thousands of people worldwide create a resolution for themselves for the year to come. This “goal” is usually set around health and happiness and may include shedding a few pounds, getting organized, or making time each day for numero uno (that’s you!). As January slips by, many still incorporate their resolution or… Continue reading Living With Intention
A Feather Tipped in Glitter: Teaching Yoga as Creative Expression
I have been saving a particular picture of white feathers with their tips dipped in silver glitter as inspiration for my holiday decorations. I could envision their creation long before I had them dangling from a simple piece of string. I strung them as garland outside the entrance to my yoga studio. I decorate the… Continue reading A Feather Tipped in Glitter: Teaching Yoga as Creative Expression
Selfless Service: How can I help you?
This time of year is filled with delicious meals surrounded by family and friends, decorations and lights, and gift giving. Many of us get wrapped up in the cycle of wanting, giving, and expectations of happiness. I have felt this cycle take over in the years past and at the end of the holiday season,… Continue reading Selfless Service: How can I help you?
The Gift of Gratitude: How to Apply a Theme to a Yoga Class
Our teacher started class by placing the heels of her hands together forming a small cup shape. Next she softly brought her fingers to touch leaving the middle space open. She said, “Anjali mudra is like holding a little bird between your palms”. The image was so light and childlike. I could imagine holding a… Continue reading The Gift of Gratitude: How to Apply a Theme to a Yoga Class
Compassion by Example: My Personal Story of Healing
Admittedly, my yoga journey began as an accident or possibly divine intervention. A writer that I admired was co-teaching at a yoga and writing retreat in Mexico and I planned to attend in hopes of practicing wordplay with like minds. It just so happened that my divorce became final two days before the retreat began.… Continue reading Compassion by Example: My Personal Story of Healing
3 Steps to Creating a Home Practice
In October of 2014, I attended a workshop that focused on developing a sustainable home yoga practice. There where students ranging from 19-67 years of age and we all created a semi-circle around our teacher. We listened intently for the secret of creating a vigorous, engaging yoga practice that would keep us busy for a… Continue reading 3 Steps to Creating a Home Practice
Teaching Compassion for Yoga Teachers: Stage One
The heart is like a garden: it can grow compassion or fear, resentment or love. ~ Jack Kornfield One of the first questions I ask of my YTT (Yoga Teacher Training) students is: “Why is ahimsa, compassion, the most encompassing of all the yamas?” Students answer with beautiful replies like this one from Jennifer Fogle:… Continue reading Teaching Compassion for Yoga Teachers: Stage One
Teaching Forgiveness: 4 lesson plans for yoga teachers
We need to build a society that is strong enough to fight intolerance ~ Pope Francis This morning I woke to the inspiring words of Pope Francis speaking on the White House lawn. He asked us to step up to this “critical moment of history” to ”build a truly tolerant and inclusive society”. Love and… Continue reading Teaching Forgiveness: 4 lesson plans for yoga teachers
Feather Shaped Forgiveness
Forgiveness. A word that instantaneously tastes bitter on my heart. When I was invited to write about forgiveness, I knew it was calling me. Despite every nerve ending that preferred not to have another go round with that particular healing opportunity. I love yoga and personal growth yet, sometimes, I really want to pass on… Continue reading Feather Shaped Forgiveness
Forgiveness Begins Within
As I sit on my mat, soles of my feet pressing together, knees floating above the ground, my hips trying to release some deeply-held tension, I bow down over my legs and dangle my head over the soles of my feet. In this position I feel the tension in my back begin to soften, but… Continue reading Forgiveness Begins Within
A Bump in the Road
After listening to the Buddhist monk Jack Kornfield describe ‘Labeling the Thoughts’ as a meditation, I decided to try it for myself. As I move through life, I am constantly weeding out the good, the bad, and the bullshit. I realized that this technique of labeling my thoughts aided me in this process. For instance,… Continue reading A Bump in the Road
Channel Clearing Breath – A Basic Introduction to Alternate Nostril Breathing
This breathing is a voluntary doorway to the involuntary body, a conscious doorway to the subconscious mind. ~A.G. Mohan Nadi Shodhana, commonly referred to as alternate nostril breathing, is a simple but highly effective practice that cultivates a feeling of centered calm in the mind and body. It is clinically shown to have a beneficial… Continue reading Channel Clearing Breath – A Basic Introduction to Alternate Nostril Breathing
Santosha: Root to Rise with the Five B’s
Like the lotus, live joyfully among the sorrows of the world. Parmahansa Yogananda Last week as I sat down to write about Santosha, I was side-tracked by the dramatic news story of the furling (taking down) of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State House. The furling of this symbol of racism was a result… Continue reading Santosha: Root to Rise with the Five B’s
The Journey to Contentment
For most of us, when we think of contentment, we picture something like a beach, a cozy cabin, a warm fire, being surrounded by loved ones, or completely alone, but the idea is the same. We have our feet up, no worries, everything is peaceful and perfect. It is then we finally find contentment. Is this… Continue reading The Journey to Contentment