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Do you ever feel stressed when you can’t seem to accomplish everything you set out to do? Well, if so, it’s not a surprise. You see, when we have high expectations of ourselves, we [...]

There’s a lot of difficult stuff going on in our world right now, from mass shootings to California fires, political news, environmental disasters, abuse,  and more. I notice that if I dwell on [...]

Trauma has become a buzz word in the last few years. It’s great because we are all learning about the important impacts that trauma has on our lives. I want to help you understand more about [...]

“We are having a crisis of disconnection – humans in western countries report being more lonely, untethered and scared than ever before. True belonging is the spiritual practice of [...]

I just returned from a sweet weekend of communing with the local and visiting Sufi community at Sufi Camp on the Van Duzen River.  I always feel like my heart gets filled up through the numerous [...]

I have been exploring heart-opening themes in my life through various means for a long time.  In Anusara Yoga, we emphasized Opening the Heart through the practice of chest-expanding poses like [...]

We wouldn’t blame you if you are because we, too, were scared before we experienced it.  The concept most people have in the West is that Tantra is entirely sexually based.  However, Classical [...]

Spring is here.  It’s a season of new life, fresh energy, clearing out the old and bringing in the new.  I think of creativity as “bringing in the new.”  If we want to create [...]

I’m currently finishing two trainings, one learning how to work with clients with developmental trauma and the other in learning how to teach and coach tantra.  I’ve been marveling at how [...]

Patrick and I have been in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica for the last ten days.  Our intention in coming was to take a retreat together:  to rest, rejuvenate and connect with each other.  We [...]

Updated 10/16 Most people think of sexual orgies when they hear the word, Tantra.  At least I did.  Because it has been popularized in the West as a scene for singles to hook up and explore their [...]

If you’d like to understand what happened for us at Community Yoga Center, here’s a brief synopsis: On July 7, we were told Inner Freedom Yoga could not return to The Community Yoga [...]

I don’t think I would’ve identified myself as having low self-esteem if someone had asked me 10 or 20 years ago.  And I don’t think most people who knew me then would’ve [...]

I wasn’t planning to attend the Symposium this year.  I had other priorities, I told myself.  But when I noticed that my eyes welled up with tears both times I encouraged others to attend, [...]

I’ve just returned from a week- long meditation and movement retreat with two beloved teachers, Lama Drimed Norbu and Susan Harper.  It was exquisite!  What I enjoyed the most was the time [...]

To me, yoga is about making a true connection, first to myself and my Essence, and then to others.  Yoga is often defined as Union – with our own body, mind and spirit.  But we are social [...]

In yoga, the word spanda refers to the constant pulsation or vibration in all things in the universe- down to the smallest particles.  And Physics now confirms this.  Everything expands and [...]

When things seem to be out of our control or upsetting, it’s natural to focus our attention there and lose sight of the bigger picture.  When we focus on what’s not working, we tend [...]

I am fresh out of a solo 9-day meditation and yoga retreat and have several insights to share.  As you may know, I’ve done several solo retreats over the years, but this was the longest.  [...]

For most of my life, and especially my life as a yoga teacher, I did not identify with anger; I didn’t think I ever got angry.  And as a yoga teacher on a spiritual path, I didn’t [...]

I had a few ideas about how I wanted the visit to go with my niece and nephew last weekend.  I wanted to have fun, to play and to make a nice connection.  I’m happy that some of these [...]

Recently, in a communication with my Hendricks buddies over an issue I was having, a friend said, “I appreciate your wide open undefended curiosity.”  I took this as a huge compliment [...]

This year, I set the intention to play and have more fun.  And I’m happy to say, I’m well on my way.  One of the ways I like to play is by dancing.  I just came back from a Bay Area [...]

One of the things that makes me feel the most joyful and proud is receiving positive feedback about our IFY teachers and the teachers I’ve trained.  I love how each teacher finds their own [...]

This Summer, I decided to change my teaching schedule, but it was a decision fraught with confusion and fear.   I was afraid of a few things:  disappointing my regular students;  that I [...]

Recently, I’ve decided to up-level my spiritual practices by reducing my busyness and especially my multitasking habits.  I’m wanting to create a more spacious mind and I think [...]

This year, after I signed up for an immersion with a spiritual teacher, I was asked to embark on a Spring Cleanse as part of the course.  The idea was that cleansing the body clears toxins and [...]

One of the things I’ve learned from teaching yoga now for over 20 years, is that if I’m not having a good time, I won’t want to continue.  One way I keep it interesting and [...]

One of the concepts I appreciate from my Hendricks training is called the Upper Limits Problem.  It says that we all have a set thermostat for how much positive energy we can sustain for long [...]

      This upcoming new course, called Come Home to Yourself, a Self-empowerment Journey for Women, feels like the new baby that I’m birthing; a synthesis of my favorite loves: yoga [...]

    Discipline gets a bad rap.  It conjures up the notion of a child getting reprimanded or the harshness of an army sergeant.  Even in the yoga tradition, you may see intense images of yogis [...]

When I was 13, my mom asked me if i wanted to go to yoga class with her. Even though we had done some similar types of things together, being that 13 year old boy, I said No. Unfortunately it [...]

This last couple weeks in classes, I’ve been discussing appreciation of the body. It’s been perfect timing with Thanksgiving and the Holiday season, when we often get upset with how [...]

Happy Samhain (pronounced Sow-In). Samhain is the Celtic festival of endings and new beginnings from Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 and said to be one of the roots of Halloween. It’s the end of [...]

Meet Inner Freedom Yoga student – Deja! She is a regular at Monica’s Community Flow class on Wednesdays at 9 am. This sweet lady honestly expresses what so many of experience before [...]

Amy Day is no stranger to the Inner Freedom Yoga family and we are so happy to officially welcome her as a new teacher at the studio. She is a beautiful being and teaches an all-levels class on [...]

Patrick and I just returned from our first trip to Harbin for our 10-year wedding anniversary celebration.  I was so happy that we committed to ourselves in this nurturing way.  It was a big [...]

As the summer ends and we head back to school and work, we may find ourselves sitting quite a bit, tightening our psoas muscles. This easy exercise will gently lengthen your psoas muscle and [...]

Recently, I came back from 5 days of Creativity Camp with my teachers, Kathlyn and Gay Hendricks.  What I most appreciated was all the ways we explored expanding our creativity.  Some of the [...]

I had an incredible 10 days of training in So. California with my teacher, Kathlyn Hendricks.  Going in, my intentions for the training days were deepening presence, living from appreciation, and [...]

I’ve had a fabulous time leading my course called Self Esteem Group for Women.  It has way exceeded my highest hopes.   There are 13 women of ages approximately 14 to 55.  They are all very [...]

Last week in classes, I was teaching about the power of letting go of ego attachments.  One term for this in the Yoga Sutras is vairagya, which refers to letting go of our attachments to others, [...]

I’m in my 20th year of teaching and believe me, I’ve had my ups and downs,  It’s really important to me that I’m enthusiastic about what I’m doing, so I’m [...]

This is my new tagline for Inner Freedom Yoga.  It feels so aligned with what I’m up to in my teaching.  To me, this is ultimately what yoga practices are about.  They’re about [...]

I think having a dedicated spiritual practice can generate self-esteem. Here’s how:  Self-esteem is a feeling of confidence in oneself.  And to me, it’s related to commitment.  The [...]

We’ve recently changed blogging platforms. Please visit our old blog for archived articles. – Namaste