Blog

Many people reach a point where exercise and healthy habits stop being enough to manage stress. I have found that meditation can build inner strength, calm the mind, and create real change. And it starts with the smallest moments of daily life.

While biking through Carver Park, I imagined a woolly bear caterpillar as my child. That simple thought softened my heart and reminded me that karuna, or compassion, begins with how we move through the world, whether we’re pedaling, walking, or scrolling.

Practicing ahimsa, non-harming, doesn’t mean never getting angry or always being serene. It’s about meeting each moment with care. Small, everyday choices, like pausing before speaking or taking a mindful breath, can become acts of compassion. On a recent bike ride, a road called Peaceful Lane reminded me that peace isn’t only the destination, but also the way we travel.

At my cousin’s wedding, I noticed how yoga shows up in unexpected places: on the dance floor, at the candy bar, and in the vows themselves. Taking yoga off the mat doesn’t always look heroic, but it can shape how we meet each moment with presence and joy.

Life moves in cycles. So does kindness. A hug, a mantra, or a single breath are small acts that ripple outward. At the Minnesota State Fair, I wore a “Free Dad Hugs” shirt. I hugged strangers, we laughed, and we connected. Samsara (the endless cycle of birth and death) turns, and we can turn it with compassion.

Amid a summer full of family time, I began to notice the subtle ways I postponed living in alignment with my yoga values. This reflection explores how the yamas and niyamas can guide practice even when life feels full, and how imperfect, everyday moments can still honor the heart of yoga.

Each July, I take part in a global movement to reduce single-use plastic. I do this not out of guilt or a desire for perfection, but as a practice of presence, care, and alignment with values. This year, I invite you to join me.

As one chapter of parenting ends, another begins. In this reflection on yoga, family, and the practice of vairāgya (letting go), I share what I’ve learned from sixteen years of walking to the bus stop, and how love endures even as rituals change.

Yoga is more than movement. Beyond the postures and breath lies a rich ethical tradition that’s often left out of research, teacher trainings, and studio classes. In this post, I explore the yamas and niyamas, the often-overlooked principles that can transform yoga from a wellness trend into a meaningful, values-based way of life.

After subbing a Mindful Yoga class at Common Ground Meditation, I reflect on how my journey through Buddhist meditation and yoga teacher training shapes the way I teach. I explore how breath, movement, and ethics come together as an embodied practice of mindfulness and letting go.