There is a story about a landowner who had a hard time securing and keeping good workers. So, he was surprised, delighted and more than a little sceptical when, after a day of trial work, a young man tilled several more rows than anyone else he had every employed. To ensure this productivity wasn’t just a fluke, he asked the chap to spend the next day picking beans. Again, the young fellow was astoundingly efficient, and seemingly happy, too. So, the landowner asked him to separate the stone-fruit harvest into small, medium and large categories. At the end of the day, the trial worker once again proved himself more than capable, so the landowner decided to offer him permanent employment. You might imagine the landowner’s shock when the young man turned away in derision and said, “you can have your job. I don’t mind tilling earth or picking beans, but having to discern which fruit to put in which bin,” exclaiming with a shake of his head, “well . . . “
It turns out that, for many of us, deciding what to do is often difficult, even daunting. Stymied by doubt, overwhelm, or uncertainty, perhaps immobilized by some underlying claustrophobia or a primal fear of reprimand . . . Maybe simple procrastination due to __? I’ve noticed that my own tendency is to tie myself up in knots sorting through principles, beliefs and selfish and selfless repercussions, somewhat irrespective of the magnitude of the decision.
What I’ve come to understand (and sometimes actually remember) is that when we don’t consciously make a discernment or decision, by default we make one unconsciously.
Deciding by default seems like a sad way to live life.
Philosophers, the world’s spiritual traditions, and yes, yoga, have something to say about this weighty subject, discernment.
The pieces of yoga and the set of other wisdom traditions with which I have resonated over the years have come into a loosely woven set of guidelines for me. It isn’t about thinking, fixing, making things happen according to expectations or even admirable principles; rather, it centres on becoming harmonious with the larger Mystery.
. . . it centres on becoming harmonious with the larger Mystery
First, become present, adopt a contemplative stance an abiding disposition, drop all but pure perceiving, be lovingly attentive in and as This. I have come to understand this way of being as the “interior freedom” of which St. Ignatius of Loyola wrote and spoke.
Secondly, in each moment, feel or sense into the appropriate response.
Then, enact that response.
Rinse and repeat.
Sounds simple? It is. And yet, each of these steps is ripe with nuance and potential obstacle. Undertaking them might require some resolve. It might require on-going study. It might require guidance. It might require course corrections, comparing notes with others who are similarly motivated. It might require honesty, modesty, grandiosity, courage, meekness, insert endless stream of qualities here, depending on the demands of the unknowable aggregate of factors coming together in the moment. It is awe-inspiring, really . . .
This way of approaching life, in my humble opinion, is the purpose of our yoga practice, including yoga āsana or postures.
Having a hard time deciding or acting? Feeling like you just can’t win? Noticing the burden of or your own or others’ expectations? If for nothing else, I’d like to encourage you to come to your yoga mat or practice yoga-in-the-moment, for the simple reason to practice living each moment on purpose, in harmony with and as this wondrous Essence, Mystery . . . that which is beyond name. If not now, when?
Arrive. This moment. And this. And this. And this . . .
Permanent link to this article: https://yoginsight.com/living-life-on-purpose/
My most influential teacher(slightly edited fromoriginal posted on Sept 30, 2021)
2006 – me demonstrating a safe form of halasana with David McAmmond’s guidance
David was my teacher from 1998, quietly there whenever I decided to practice with him.
His dear friend and collaborator, Anita Sielecki, kept some of us informed as he recovered from June’s open-heart surgery for problematic valves and other issues surgeons discovered during the procedure. He hadn’t been sleeping well when I saw him at the beginning of an on-line gentle yoga and meditation retreat he co-led with Kavindu Alejandro Velasco in July. Lo and behold, two days into the retreat, he was sleeping normally again! it seems that sharing yoga sustained him. Or rather, sharing yoga, his lovely wife, Tu, and riding his bicycle, which he had resumed ardently.
As a matter of fact, David led an in-person retreat in Edmonton just this past weekend. For a variety of reasons I didn’t attend. However, I imagined the practice room and my long-time yoga friends many times over the course of those days. Even now I hear the words, see the movements, feel the energy of being there. I probably had been on seventy to eighty different retreats and workshops with David over the time I knew him. Osmosis happens. I can’t help but be informed and influenced by his simple presence.
There’s much to be said about this man who , while not a saint, was remarkable in so many ways. A couple of years ago the YAA asked me to write an article about David. Here’s a link to The Bridge; the article starts on pg 29.
Image of the beginning of my 2019 article about David, published in the Yoga Bridge
Although I know in my bones that David’s passing marks a time of huge transition, I am not sad. I feel satisfied with the time I spent with him and believe that he shared what he was meant to share in all the right ways and places.
Jai! Om shanti, teacher.
Permanent link to this article: https://yoginsight.com/david-mcammond-passes/
Most people will face at least one time when everything they depend upon either falls short or is irreversibly altered.
Consider for a moment the assumptions we have about institutions, social mores, job, family, beliefs, and varied personal capabilities. Is it not the case that we rely on these seemingly steadfast constructs to guide our way, to help us make decisions, and to provide a sense of ground and security?
While some of us may have been attuned to the inconstant nature of life, this time of COVID has forced virtually everyone to question what previously was taken for granted.
I am reminded of the end of my father’s life. Dad was known to be agile, powerful, and bright, an avid puzzle-solver who was a champion Scrabble player, crossword afficionado and Sudoko wizard. He especially loved to play golf, often venturing out in bad weather to play 36 holes by himself.
We knew something had gone awry when, at age 70, Dad suddenly started to take wrong turns, drop items for no reason, and struggle with signing his name. The medical people thought he had dementia. That he was having intense headaches made them examine further, leading to an eventual diagnosis of extensive cancer that had metastasized to his brain. His prognosis was grim.
In the short term, heavy-duty steroids and painkillers miraculously restored some of Dad’s previous abilities. But over a couple short months, everything by which my father could be defined was taken away from him. He was reduced to a barely-functioning mind in a failing body.
Dad had always been a jovial and caring fellow who worried but kept his concerns to himself. Despite his rigorous Catholic upbringing, most would not have considered him to be a spiritual person. I was taken aback, therefore, by his answer when asked what advice he had now that he was at the end of his life. He responded, “Be kind to everyone,” and with an arresting look in his eyes, he emphasized, “and I mean EVERYONE.” I couldn’t help but feel that he had tapped into the unity of the universe. His simple response restored my faith in the goodness of the Essence from which we all arise, in which we all live and to which we all return.
“Be kind to everyone,” and with an arresting look in his eyes, he emphasized, “and I mean EVERYONE.”
Yoga often brings to mind pretzel-like poses performed by lithe and serene-looking people. But, in my estimation, it really is about remembering who we truly are and to more and more rest in this truth . Formal practices and spontaneous life events can precipitate and encourage abiding in such recognition. Grace lands and enlightens even, and sometimes especially, in the darkest and most dire circumstances.
What do you know to be true when all has been stripped away, when you drop agenda and simply rest in BE-ing? Might you ask yourself this at every possible moment?
Permanent link to this article: https://yoginsight.com/coming-to-trust-your-inner-wisdom/
Do you live by slogans? I tried these popular words of wisdom on for awhile, a few times. I still catch slogans landing in my thoughts, as if by rote. I suspect we all depend upon these catchy sayings to a certain extent. They can get us through difficulties, help us to maintain focus on something-other-than-default way of being.
Those of you who are members of Twelve-Step groups may recognize that slogans are significant tools in those programs. Over time, through involvement in one such group, I discovered that I had to switch from one slogan to another to another as circumstances shifted. In the final analysis, I realized that, individually, slogans do not stand the test of change. Even used together, they are too simplistic to serve as reliable guides through the complexity of life.
Essentially, slogans are encapsulated beliefs.
Essentially, slogans are encapsulated beliefs. Beliefs are enduring “statements of ‘fact'” that we take to be true. When we believe something is stable, we cling to it as foundation, as reliable.
Then there are times in life when everything falls out from under us, times that are especially challenging occur when our beloved beliefs related to how life should be, how events should unfold, are called into direct question.
. . . there are times in life when everything falls out from under us.
We are facing, collectively, such a time, precisely and to a degree not likely to be seen again in our lifetime. What are we to do?
Transformation
When we perceive everything we encounter as grace, as gift, all beliefs are potentially true. The paradigm gets turned on its head, and beliefs become pointers or messengers that remind us of the Great Mystery – the one truth on which we can rely.
How do we shift our perception to “see” this way? Some call this pure perceiving the contemplative stance, others, “Interior Freedom,” yet others, “Presence.”
. . . an almost-childlike willingness to experience life first-hand . . .
Integrative Restoration (iRest)(R) provides an empirically-validated, modern, Westernized framework for nourishing this way of approaching all of life, including welcoming challenging material. You might consider the first step to be an almost-childlike willingness to experience life first-hand, fresh in each moment.
From time to time I offer experiential sessions, teaching sessions, and one-on-one co-meditation employing iRest principles. Join my mailing list to find out when these events are happening.
HeIlo, friends. It’s been awhile. I have held you in my heart, regardless.
My hope is that you are finding your way through this crazy, confusing, confounding time. Perhaps you have even found some gift in all of it. I know some people have had significant additional challenges to navigate in the midst of it. No two people’s experience will have been the same.
I do know that the practices and attitudes that I have cultivated over the last four decades have held me in good stead. It may be unbelievable, but I have felt largely at ease during the last six months, filled with ease and gratitude for all the grace and goodness I have in life. And yet I know it could just as easily be the opposite.
In spring, in addition to pivoting private clients to on-line meetings, I offered on-line group yoga via Zoom to a small number of students a couple times a week. This quick alternative provided all of us with
social connection,
a sense of purpose,
regularity in schedule,
connectedness with the body, and
effective action to meet the stress of a virtual lockdown.
I didn’t offer too much group practice over the last couple of months because summer found me wanting to have the freedom to garden, hike, and practice for myself.
View from Eiffel Lake Trail toward Fay Glacier and Moraine Lake
At the end of July, instead of traveling to California for a ten-day silent retreat, the instructors offered a week-long virtual retreat with no silence required. There were differences from my experience of last year’s live event but I think I liked the on-line offering even better!
some of the 30 or so participants in the July Advanced iRest Retreat
Advantages to on-line yoga, meditation and spiritual direction are many.
Generally, the technology works pretty well.
No travel hassles or costs. So there is less fatigue. And less time expended due to not having to travel.
Use common items from your home as props and for comfort.
No social need to shower or fix yourself up beyond the basics. You can even use highly-scented products if you want and you won’t affect others!
If you are feeling grouchy or tired, you can choose to keep your interaction to a minimum.
You can turn off your camera if you don’t feel like being seen and your microphone if you don’t want to talk. These mean that you can cough, go to the bathroom or have a beverage or eat without disturbing others.
With exceptions, you may not have to resort to babysitters or pet care.
You can practice to your capacity if you are feeling unwell, without exposing others.
You will not be exposed to outside people who may be unwell.
No imposition on your personal space and vice versa.
On-line we can still chant and actively work with breath but during COVID-19 relaunch we couldn’t if we were together live.
Develop your own home practice through the process; incorporate the learning right into your life!
And there are a few downsides or extra effort involved in participating on-line. Here are some of them:
Occasionally the technology is splotchy on the receiving or sending end.
You may have to learn how to use the technology (although it is getting more intuitive all the time and there is lots of help available).
You need to determine how to configure a space for practice.
You may need to spend time experimenting with your computer / device so the camera captures your full figure (in the case of wanting feedback from the teacher).
You need a degree of privacy and quiet in your space.
You need to have even more respect for your physical, emotional and mental limits as the teacher is not as able to sense what is going on for you.
You may have to reign in your attention from distractions of home.
No Recording, for your privacy and comfort.
To honour privacy of participants, I largely have decided not to record Zoom offerings. However, do know that Zoom recordings only include the active screen which presenters can set up as only their own. I also ask students not to record audio, video or to screen shot anything that involves other students’ images, voice or text.
In today’s world, where geopolitical challenges and personal crises can leave us feeling ungrounded and overwhelmed, yoga offers a supportive perspective and practical tools to help us meet these moments with resilience. Through mindful posture, conscious breath, meditation, and the power of other tools like chant and gesture, yoga empowers us to find calm amid chaos and connect to an inner steadiness regardless of external circumstances.
When my husband and I toured stormy historic English dockyards or incredible ancient Egyptian sites this winter, I capably navigated a demanding schedule, bustling crowds, and group dynamics—all while truly appreciating the breathtaking wonders we encountered.
Lonnie and John on Blackfriars Bridge with Tower Bridge in the background HMS Warrior in the Historic Dockyard at Portsmouth, EnglandPyramid of Khefu and the Great SphinxOn Elephantine Island with Nubian Spiritual Leader, Mohamed Fatima Kom Ombo Temple from the NIleFloating hotel pool on the Nile in LuxorDesert to the west of St. Simeon Monastery, AswanJohn and Lonnie with pyramidal-shaped mountain of Valley of the Kings in the background
Whether you’re exploring the mysteries of the pyramids or navigating everyday stress, yoga invites you to pause, breathe deeply, and gather strength from the Mystery that pervades all. These practices remind us that we can approach each challenge with compassion, clarity, and presence. Join us to discover how yoga’s timeless wisdom can support you—wherever life takes you.
Do we really have much, if any, control over outcomes?
How do we manage during times that are as turbulent as these?
Such perennial questions are just that: always appropriate. However, they are infinitely more prominent when uncertainty stares us in the face.
And yet, with passing years we have seen that seasons and weather patterns are not as reliable, even as forecasting tools have become more accurate. Wildlife migration patterns shift, and some species cease to be. Seemingly intractable rules of conduct wear down, diplomacy is not a given, solid relationships deteriorate, a dollar may no longer have value. History tells us that civilizations rise and fall. However, we find it challenging to accept this truth about our own context.
Yogis have long preached about the enduring nature of change and the mutability, or even illusion, of control. We intellectually know that something as gigantic and solid as a mountain is continually changing, yet we take for granted that it will be there the next time we look. The light of day follows the dark of night on a regular basis. Stars reliably show up in expected places in the night sky. 1+1 always equals 2.
We know that concern about uncertainty is reaching a fever pitch when a financially focused news magazine like Forbes published an article in January 2025 called, “Ride The Wave Of Uncertainty: How To Stay Calm And Keep Moving Forward.” The author’s 8-point plan* for dealing with “the ambiguity effect” is at once neuroscientific, psychological, and yogic. All of that, and more, is at work in an iRest-informed yoga session.
From my perspective, yoga is very much about being with, seeing through, and allowing ourselves to be transformed amid our very human propensity to look for enduring steadiness in that which is always changing and over which we have no control.
