Month: November 2025

On this chilly morning, we look forward to a special gathering this afternoon. One of our international students has invited us to her home for a small house warming. It’s her first time living alone.

She selected just a few of us from our community to come. We each were involved with her medical emergency last year that nearly took her away from USA, Seattle, HYC, and any dream of independent living for good. Her return to health, us and her first studio apartment we joyously celebrate as her HYC family.

Who do you count as family? What determines that designation? Ki to Happiness counts all HYC community members as family members who’ve found this path helpful as we face life transitions and continue to practice together.

Our small business, Hatha Yoga Center, welcomes any increase in attendance whether in person or at a distance. Gift certificates are available for anyone on your holiday gift list. Discounts are available on request, like 1 year of unlimited classes for two people for $1500.

We’ve begun to take nominations for Posture of the Year 2026. Voting begins 12/21. While there’s no mail-in votes, remote participants can nominate and vote from a distance digitally.

What small businesses would you like to support today in your area? Who on your list may appreciate the gift of Hatha Yoga Center hybrid classes? Ki to Happiness wishes all small businesses a prosperous new year.

Today’s commercial holiday of Black Friday is upon us. I always uncommercialize it by abstaining from making purchases. Instead, I feel the glow of the day before and keep radiating gratitude for what I have and what I’ve already given.

The brightness of yesterday’s gatherings shine light onward. Our yoga gathering, calls and messages from those elsewhere, and our feasting make me smile from deep within. I extend healing and forgiveness all around from the bounty of my full heart.

Is your heart full from giving thanks for all you have? How will that affect your observance of Black Friday? Ki to Happiness shines the light of Thanksgiving, brightening all that is seen and unseen.

Hatha Yoga Center and I wish you a very blessed day of giving thanks. The studio is set for class at 10 with service of a few healthy treats after practice. Our son joins us for our humble feast later in the afternoon.

I’ll have a FaceTime call with my mom and brother. There’ll be a neighborhood walk, maybe in the rain. For all of this and so much more, I give thanks.

How will you observe this day? For what are you thankful? Ki to Happiness approaches this day and every day with an attitude of gratitude.

Today as the preparation for the holiday ramp up, I’m already ready. My grateful heart awakens me to the life I love. Healthy body, mind and spirit integrate into simple joy bubbling up as if from nowhere.

I sit on the chilly floor for practice with a candle lit, incense burning, and jasmine green tea cooling. Smiling from my heart, I recognize how my whole life leads up to this day, It’s been worth everything it’s taken to get me Now Here.

Have you deepened into nowhere enough to to find Now Here within? What practices will help? Ki to Happiness is already ready to give thanks for the many practices that bless me with conscious Presence.

Each morning, I wake up to my needs. I bow to them as I’ve learned to, and begin again to ask for help meeting them. I open myself to receive the assistance I’ve requested, whenever and however it comes and let go of the outcome.

The humility of recognizing my limitations turns into petitions and prayers. I’m willing to seek, and in doing so I find what I need. We are not alone, as there are nonphysical Helpers everywhere who need to be needed, for which I am forever grateful.

Are you willing to seek? In doing so, what do you find? Ki to Happiness seeks peace and finds it within the communion of Spirit.

Among my holiday preparations, I made a yam crisp. It was an afterthought, with ingredients on hand and a warm oven leftover from other purposes. The moment’s inspiration set us up for a spontaneous lunch with our friend.

14 students attended the second class. I offered some healthy treats to those gathered as I put the yam crisp in the oven to warm up. when everyone else left, Bob and I sat with our buddy and enjoyed the sweet warmth of our togetherness as we nourished ourselves.

When inspiration strikes, do you let it move you? Have you been rewarded for that? Ki to Happiness lets inspiration flow, moving her to the reward of seeing what It has in Mind.

Bob selected this movie for our viewing. Shot in the PNW, it tells the story of a logger’s life of love and loss. Slow and deep, it holds relevance whether or not it wins the awards it’s up for.

I was raised on train dreams, as my grandfather was a career inspector on the railroad, which allowed us to ride for free. Like the protagonist in the movie, some of my earliest memories took place as we rocked away the miles. Those dreams have also brought me to lessons of love and loss which I connected with through the deep slow development on screen.

What are your earliest dreams? What have they brought you to? Ki to Happiness remembers what brought her Here.

In preparation for the upcoming holiday holidays, we did a deep cleaning yesterday. With all the crud removed, I rolled out the red carpet runners to brighten and warm our space. Day by day, we will get more festive.

My favorite aspects of this time of year are the most ancient. Reminders of the cyclic nature of life and staying focused on the light at the darkest times tether me to the meaning of most of our seasonal rituals. Honoring all traditions, yoga embraces those that preceded commercialization.

What traditions do you observe? Are you aware of their deep origins? Ki to Happiness observes the symbolic elements inherent in all Ways.

In addition to having several students for both of our classes yesterday, we also had two dogs. They got along well. Our three cats didn’t object.

Neither did the students. Instead, they suggested that we offer zoo yoga. While we won’t do that exactly, we do welcome all good animals and their owners who know how to behave and always have.

Are you an animal lover? Does that include their presence in your yoga classes and practices? Ki to Happiness’ love for animals includes them in class when agreeable with all who attend.