As humans, we all reach a point where we hit our capacity. Yet many of us believe we must simply push through. We keep going, even when we're running on empty. But often, this comes at a cost...

Our lives can sometimes feel driven by our traumas or our circumstances. We may feel powerless or ashamed, caught in patterns that seem to repeat themselves no matter how hard we try to change them. Svadhyaya, Sanskrit for self-study, invites us to meet ourselves with curiosity rather than judgment. When we begin to pay attention to ourselves in this way, we may start to notice how much of our self-judgment and expectations have been shaped by what society has told us we shou

As I approach my 37th trip around the sun, I’ve decided to let go of the idea that I am a problem in need of fixing. I’ve spent so long trying to live up to unreasonable standards, spending countless hours speaking to myself in ways I would never speak to another person. In my few years working in the trauma field, I continue to learn so much. One seemingly simple realization I keep coming back to is that no one is ever always okay. Everyone gets insecure. Everyone wants love

I often say that yoga is a practice for life, but it always seems much harder to take the lessons off the mat. How do we balance Satya and Ahimsa, truthfulness and non-harming? To reduce them to “be honest and be kind” overlooks the nuance of the human experience. Satya means truthfulness, but that does not mean approaching every situation with a “truth hurts” attitude. Our perspective is inevitably shaped by our experiences, assumptions, and emotions. Because of this, I beli

When summer rolls around, I like to return to the beginning of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, a foundational yogic text traditionally dated to around the first few centuries BCE. This year, however, after speaking with some students, I found myself wanting to begin even earlier, with the primordial sound of Aum (Om). Many yoga classes begin or end with the chanting of Aum. While it can be a beautiful ritual, I believe it's important to understand why we practice it so that we can h

The concept of community has always been a struggle for me. As a recovering people pleaser, I have been burned many times. For a long time I thought community meant only people I could trust completely. Over time, I've come to realize that community is much broader than that. In just the last few weeks, my fiancé and I hosted a Jack & Jill fundraiser where people from many different chapters of our lives showed up in support. I also had the opportunity to work with the Resour

A few weeks ago, I was having breakfast with a friend who asked me as seemingly simple question: "Do you know who you are?" It caught me off guard and I realized the honest answer was no. I have spent so much of my life pushing, striving, and reaching that I lost track of what I was doing all of that for. In yoga there is a concept called pratyahara. It means turning inward, but not in an escapist way. It is more like pausing long enough to notice what is actually going on un

As the sunshine warms the earth, inviting up the first sprouts of the season, I am reminded that even when things seem cold and bleak, there is always hope under the surface. The cacophony of birdsong and mischievous squirrels remind me that change is the only constant. In these difficult times, I invite you to let yourself take in the light. Allow nature’s revival to renew (or spark) your inner fire. Whether it is for your children, for the planet, or for human de

February marked four years of Mitra: Healing Centered Yoga! When I look back, I’m honestly a little stunned. Not just at how the business has grown, but at how I’ve grown alongside it...

One of the most effective tools of oppression has always been convincing people they are small, disposable, or powerless. When that belief takes hold in the mind, the body tightens around it and freedom narrows. So part of the work right now is the seemingly simple yet radical act of remembering that you are somebody . You are a human being with dignity and honor. Your life has value. Embodied resistance doesn’t require a costume or a performance. It doesn’t have to look lo

For many, the new year signals a new beginning. But the idea of beginning again is often misunderstood.

This time of year can stir up a lot for many of us...

As I prepared for the last session of the 11th series of Thrive, thoughts of my participants reminded me of the Yogic concept of adhinivesa. It is one of the kleshas...

Last week I had the great honor of offering a workshop to Learn to Cope , "a peer-led network that offers support, resources, education,...

This month, as I celebrate another trip around the sun, I’ve been reflecting on Maya Angelou’s words: “Most people don’t grow up. It’s...

Recently, during a check-in on Zoom, I heard someone say, "if you're doing well right now, I don't trust you." I quickly pulled my hand...

The Yoga Sutras are one of the first texts on yoga, attributed to Patanjali about 2,000 years ago. The Sutras begin with a simple yet...

Standing in our truth isn’t always easy. For many of us, it’s a lifelong process of unlearning the ways we were taught to shrink...

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of volunteering at Goat Yoga, hosted by the wonderful McCoys of Sage Meadow Farm. Amidst the...

Since the new administration has stepped in, each day seems to bring another piece of devastating news about the choices being made for...