Month: January 2025

Right before the evening class, I heard a disturbance at our door. I asked Bob to assist me in investigating its source. Together, we discovered the need to call 911 to have assistance in removing the trespasser who blocked our doorway and aggressed at our insistence that he move on.

After the trespasser left, we cleaned up the trash he left behind, smudged the area to remove the negativity and lit incense to bring in positive intentions for a peaceful class. Bob and I shared a high 5 for good teamwork and welcomed the teacher into a safe and calm studio for her class. We learned class proceeded without further disturbance. 

How quickly can you remove negativity and invite positivity in to replace it? Who is on your team? Ki to Happiness alerts her team immediately to restore peace and shares a high 5.

As the California wild fires burn, I light extra altar candles safely. I let in the fresh moist air as wind and rain bestow blessings on us. I send these blessings and prayers to those in need.

My near world is safe and holy as far away horrific destruction continues. Reconciling these irreconcilable realities, I find peace and joy within my heart. I dare to “fight fire with fire” in this way, accepting life on life’s terms and playing my part in these dark times.

What helps you reconcile the irreconcilables? Can you extend your peace within to those in need without? Ki to Happiness fights fire with Altar fire.

I celebrated my one year anniversary with my chiropractor by spreading white and pale pink rose petals from my altar along the sidewalk as I went for my treatment. I gifted him a red Primrose plant as a symbol of the hope and renewal my sessions with him facilitated. I offered them to all of our students who attended classes, spreading gratitude and optimism.

White roses represent completion and pale pink roses represent gratitude for a job well done. Together with the tough hardy beauty of the Primrose, I appreciate the language of flowers. Especially in the deep dark of winter, they remind us that Spring will return and grace us with loveliness.

Are you aware of the spiritual significance of flowers and the healing potential of their essence? Have you worked with aromatherapy or Bach Flower remedies? Ki to Happiness spreads gratitude and optimism with flowers, petals, fragrance and plants.

In my class last night, two students reported having some unusual symptoms in their low backs. In my year of working with Dr. Lee to heal my broken wrist, he also taught me techniques to help with such symptoms since my back suffered from my injury and ensuing compensation patterns. After warming up the students with Sun Saltations, I set them up in trios for spinal decompression and shoulder release in Downward Dog.

Once all three students had a chance in their trios to take turns changing places, each reported relief and joy.  Class proceeded onward from there, integrating and stabilizing the improvements. As class ended, I expressed gratitude for them, their willingness to experiment with the 3 Dog variation in my evening class and for Dr. Chong Il Lee helping me heal in many ways.

Have you ever been grateful for an injury since it taught you how to heal? Have you shared that healing process with others? Ki to Happiness is giving thanks for everything that has resulted in tools to share with you, dear readers, students and clients.

Whenever I lay back to rest, if it’s at bedtime or nap time or corpse meditation, I fold my hands in prayer. This joining reminds me to express Gratitude to the One for those things that occurred since my previous prayer. In addition to my ritual prayers in the morning and in the bathtub, I’m sure there are at least five times daily that I express my thanks to the Great One.

This does not require a prayer rug, a candle or any other external object. It simply requires two hands and a humble heart recognizing I do nothing on my own. I started doing this as soon as my wrist would allow me last year when it began to heal from its injury.

How often do you pray? Can you put your two hands together right now and offer a simple prayer of gratitude? Ki to Happiness balances prayer with meditation throughout each day.

After the morning classes, I went outside to sniff around. Guidance directed me to walk a different path. There I found a left behind shovel which I borrowed to plant our Christmas tree in the nearby Victory Creek Park.

Gentle rain watered the tree as I returned the shovel to the place where I found it. If the mild weather continues, our little tree may take root and spread the memories of this holiday season for years to come. That last task opens me up for today’s Feast of the Epiphany on this first Monday of 2025.

How did you conclude your holidays? What will remain of your festivities? Ki to Happiness follows Guidance in conclusion of this Season of Light and plants the Evergreen to anchor the Joy.

Today concludes the 12 days of Christmas. It is the eve of epiphany. With it, we start to return to our regular schedules and rhythms.

Maintaining consistent practices throughout the festivities helps us stay healthy. Keeping a regular sleep schedule and eating wholesome foods makes a huge difference so the “flu season” is mitigated. Every effort to ground in the truth of our being responsible for our Selves rewards us.

How do you feel at the end of these holidays? Heavy, bloated and confused or light, uplifted and clear? Ki to Happiness takes responsibility by caring for the Higher Self through all seasons.

With this new year upon us, I am continuing to maintain my changed habits from the fall even as I add additional improvements. It takes discipline and commitment. Overall, it humbles me and deepens my compassion for students and clients who are making changes in their lives, too.

Fortunately, my disciplined yoga practice supports these efforts. Good habits invite other good habits like drums that resonate with other drums when percussed. The same is true of undesirable habits, which makes our choices important.

Are you maintaining the positive changes you made in 2024? How are you doing with the improvements you have intended for 2025? Ki to Happiness builds upon the progress of last year with conscious choices.

This holiday season has thrown off our regular rhythms. With midweek days off, this Friday feels more like a Tuesday. It makes me happy for my daily practices, stabilizing me in grounded gratitude.

No matter what the day on any calendar, or what the weather, conscious breath work and movement, meditation and prayer, walking and drinking water all center me. These choices have helped me face injury, illness, loss, change and all that life brings. “Absorbing the shocks of infatuation and sorrow” is how Charles Johnston translates the Yoga Sutra passage which I embrace on this Tuesday Friday.

What practices are independent of weather conditions and schedules? How stable are you when presented with the shocks of life? Ki to Happiness faces the fluctuations of life with the stabilizing tools of Hatha Yoga.

Bob and I tallied the votes of our participating 53 community members. The arm balance posture, Crow, Bakasana, won. Pranayama came in 2nd place and Happy Baby, Ananda Balasana, came in 3rd.

For those that have a hard time with their wrists in Crow, we will offer alternatives of forearm plank, Phalakasana, for arm and core strengthening, or Happy Baby for stretching. Other alternatives are also welcome like Horse, Vatayasana, for stretching and strengthening without upsetting wrists.

How do you feel about the results? Are you willing and able to adjust and adapt to your needs with the option of variations? Ki to Happiness respects the votes and variations.