Our loyalties must include the whole human community, the entire planet Earth

Parabola Magazines Facebook status update today:
Human history can be viewed as a slowly dawning awareness that we are members of a larger group. Initially our loyalties were to ourselves and our immediate family, next, to bands of wandering hunter-gatherers, then to tribes, small settlements, city-states, nations.

We have broadened the circle of those we love. We have now organized what are modestly described as super-powers, which include groups of people from divergent ethnic and cultural backgrounds working in some sense together — surely a humanizing and character building experience. If we are to survive, our loyalties must be broadened further, to include the whole human community, the entire planet Earth. 

Many of those who run the nations will find this idea unpleasant. They will fear the loss of power. We will hear much about treason and disloyalty. Rich nation-states will have to share their wealth with poor ones. But the choice, as H. G. Wells once said in a different context, is clearly the universe or nothing.

–Carl Sagan, "Cosmos," Random House, 1980, p. 339

"The affairs of the world will go on forever. Do not delay the practice of meditation." -Milarepa

In a group, alone, while eating, while walking...make friends with yourself.

Heres the video on the making of Sophie the giraffe

It's not a wonder why its so expensive, and babies sure love it. It's too bad more things weren't made with such care.

Get out and play!

The opposite of play is not work. It’s depression. Brian Sutton-Smith  

A reminder to get out and play! Or stay in and play. Just include a little play in your life day to day if you can. 


Get giddy, be wacky, and have fun! There's lot's of research to support the benefit of play. 
It gives our immune system a boost, gives us vitality and clarity, releases endorphins, and is HUGE for stress reduction. Its a great investment for our well being much like yoga. And remember: "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." There is truth to that old saying. Happy Spring! Giddy up and play! And by doing so you may even encourage others to do the same. its sort of contageous ;=) Namaste.

Wishing you all a very Happy Mothers Day

A few of my favourite Mothers Day quotes. 

image courtesy of Michael Kalatsky

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her. 

George Washington 

No one in the world can take the place of your mother.  Right or wrong, from her viewpoint you are always right.  She may scold you for little things, but never for the big ones.  

Harry Truman

My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.

Mark Twain

A man loves his sweetheart the most, his wife the best, but his mother the longest. Irish Proverb 

My mother is a poem
 I'll never be able to write ,
though everything I write
 is a poem to my mother.

Sharon Doubiago

My sincerest thanks

Without getting into any gory details I'd really like to say thanks to so many of you. Friends, family and students alike. You know who you are (and there are lot's of you).


These past weeks have been a difficult time in my life and you all mean the world.
And my partner Silas thanks you too.


Ahh..life. We all have these periods. Thanks for making me smile through it all. :) None of us gets out of here unscathed and while at times bittersweet, it is still a beautiful world. And mostly because of friends like you.

Why we practice

The question we need to ask ourselves is whether there is any place we can stand in ourselves where we can look at all that’s happening around us without freaking out, where we can be quiet enough to hear our predicament, and where we can begin to find ways of acting that are at least not contributing to further destabilization.
–Ram Dass
Thanks to Parabloa magazine for the quote

I know I've been a lazy blogger these past weeks...

posting lots of you tube video's and quotes and not much more but...here's another one! haha! I couldn't resist. A huge thank you to a long time student of mine I cherish beyond words Carol for bringing this video to my attention. I thought I'd share too. Miracles happen in yoga class every single day and yoga really is for e-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y. It's all in finding the right class and practice for "you". Us yoga teachers get to see students blossom  in every single class, and thats what keeps us doing what we do (it sure isn't the money)! 


It's better than money. So much better than money. The only thing this video is missing is a scan of the guys brain. I'd love to see it. Weight loss completely aside, this guy got his life back. Yoga is self care in the highest sense of the word. Send yourself and the people you love to yoga. There's no reason to wait. 

Happy International Midwives Day!!

they're always there