On the longest night and shortest day of the year in the Western Hemisphere—the Winter Solstice—we traditionally celebrate the return of the light. From this point forward, the days gradually lengthen, and we are gifted with more sunlight. It’s a time when themes of hope, growth, and potential come to the forefront. A beautiful opportunity to look to the horizon and dream.

As you think about gifts for your loved ones this season, I encourage you to reflect on what you need too. What would bring you joy or peace right now? Maybe it’s saying “no” to an invitation that doesn’t spark excitement. Or perhaps it’s granting yourself the gift of grace and forgiveness. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup, so take time to nourish yourself.

But life is, indeed, calling each of us to do our best to fulfill our unique set of duties.  What can we do to make sure we are ready to meet the need of the hour?   One of my favorite ways to prepare myself is to get on my yoga mat to cultivate presence, awareness, strength, flexibility and balance.   Acting to the best of our ability, bringing an intention to be of service and relinquishing attachment to any particular outcome.

I have set an intention to start the 21-day challenge on Thanksgiving day. I don’t think of myself as a chronic complainer, but I’m quite sure I’ll find that I complain a lot more than I thought. The book says most people take 4-6 months to get to 21 consecutive days!  Have you done this challenge? How did it go? Join me!  

The perception that we are all one soul underneath (ALL – the plants the animals the cosmos everything) – changes the game. Changes utterly how we show up in the world. Yoga literally means “union,” and it means being in this state of unity with everything. I know that you know this to be true. Because I see this incredible community showing up in that way.

Later, the sun will set. In between we’ll do things, we’ll think things, things will happen. I think of Shakespeare’s famous quote from the Tempest: “We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with sleep.”  It is all fragile, dreamlike, temporary. This too, shall pass. Whatever “this" “may be.

In the spiritual teachings of Yoga – as in many traditions- death is not the end but a shedding of the body. Here’s an overly simplistic summary: The Yogic view of the soul is that we are all one connected spirit or soul, called Brahman. We have individualized, localized versions of the soul, called Atman. Atman expresses itself as “Lexie” or “Meadow” but that is not who we really are. It is like an Avatar we use during our embodied time(s). Who we really are, is timeless, formless, and Divine. So shedding the body? Not a tragedy, especially if, during this life, we have come to really understand and connect with Brahman.

Most impactful has been drilling deep into the “why.” Yoga was not developed over thousands of years as a tool to sculpt a nice butt (though that may be a nice side effect for some of us). Rather, it is a set of tools to help us refine our state of consciousness. Skillfully applied, these tools have the power to help us be whole, be held, be loved and be love.

How to sustain a yogic mindset amidst the drama and challenges of life? Practice.

One of the more well-known sutras in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras describes the need to live your yoga with such commitment that it becomes completely established in you. Towards the end of our program we discussed at length the importance of maintaining our daily Sadhana – our practices. Our amazing teachers did not mince words – to teach yoga from a place of authenticity and skill, we need to live our Yoga. Learn to prioritize our inner world over the external world.

A tall order in this busy life.

I find I most always want to say “yes” when there is an invitation to go deeper or rise to a challenge. I am learning to lovingly push myself when my own ego or laziness becomes an obstacle. We are taught here that the peaceful and loving yogic presence needs to be powered by a warrior spirit, a deep inner strength. This resonates with me a lot.

And I am also learning to discern when something isn’t for me. Anandji reminds us often to not look to our right or our left, but to stay on our own path. Every obstacle in our unique path is an opportunity to learn and evolve. I can’t hear this enough. 

One thing that makes this training so powerful is that there is no faith required. The miracles of existence and awareness are ever present. With a bit of mindful practice, each of us has the opportunity to see the miracles and understand that each of us is an integral part of them.

The wise & compassionate Teacher here at Sattva, Anand Mehrotra, says: “Master your mind, master your energy, master your life.” So by 8:30 we are in Bramanda hall for the 90-minute Morning Journey with Anandji. Learning to master our energy. Young Jedis. [...] Experiences may include but are not limited to: healing, detoxifying, powerful emotions, releasing old patterns of thought and behavior, transcendence, deep love, bliss. These practices are powerful.

A wall carving at the Shiva temple reminds us that to be here on this planet as a human being is an improbable karmic miracle not to be squandered. As spiritual beings in a human body we have a unique opportunity that other life forms do not have: to learn, heal, grow and transcend.

I don’t want to waste this precious appointment with life. How fortunate I am for this opportunity to learn, to grow, and to see the world through fresh eyes. I am beyond grateful.

Our bodies are our gateway to experiencing the world. Through yoga, we can transform our relationship with our bodies, turning them into allies on our journey. In the quiet of the practice, we learn to listen deeply, nurturing a compassionate connection with ourselves.

As September rolls in, we’re refreshing our weekly yoga schedule to align with our shifting routines. Each of our teachers brings a unique and important interpretation of yoga. Finding the right class with the right teacher at the right time can be a challenge, but we hope you'll find your rhythm with us this fall. As the well-known yoga teacher Ganga White once said, “In truth, yoga doesn’t take time – it gives time.”

In Yoga, there is a wonderful concept called “Samskaras”—those impressions or imprints left on us from past thoughts, life experiences, and cultural conditioning. Imagine them as seeds planted in the rich soil of our unconscious minds, sprouting into our belief systems.

In our overscheduled world, the simple act of showing up—physically being present—is significant. We all have countless valid reasons not to do something: time constraints, energy levels, or other commitments. Time is a precious nonrenewable resource, and how we choose to spend it speaks volumes about our priorities.

This “all-in” quality of bringing all of your attention, energy, and effort to what you are doing without reservation or distraction is a core value of Yoga. The teachings of Yoga tell us that scattered thoughts, attention, and energy hinder our progress at many levels.

This week I am spending a week with my family. Spending time with the family of origin does sometimes feel like a good litmus test for how well I can retain my equanimity when poked. In Yoga the act of self-study, called Svadhyaya, is important. I find that the simple act of turning the lens on myself can cause me to detach from my emotional baggage. When I’m busy watching my reactions, I’m not lost in them.