Author: Ki McGraw

Happy Memorial Day weekend. As we pause to honor the fallen, we celebrate their dedication to service. Each of us has benefited from their efforts, whether or not we are aware of it.

What we remember of those who have gone before us is their legacy to us. They fought for us. We are forever blessed by their efforts.

What legacy will remain of your efforts? Who do you fight for? Ki to Happiness prays we would stop fighting in the awareness that we have the legacy and inheritance of Divine peace within.

Hatha Yoga Center‘s mascot returned to class after 2+years of the pandemic. Merle Girl entered and wagged her tail as she sniffed the scents that remain in the studio. She made a cameo appearance on the live stream as I reclined for core work.

She came close to me, sniffing, then licking. She sat on me, obscuring the camera’s line of sight. I could only surrender to the joy and pleasure.

What helps you surrender? Can you let go of control? Ki to Happiness recognizes Dog is God spelled backwards.

We were different people 20 years ago when we married in Seattle. In our vows, we committed to being together as long as possible. Despite the many great challenges, it is still possible!

We support one another most often by giving each other enough space to take care of ourselves. Our shared yoga philosophy, lifestyle and habits give us common ground. Hatha Yoga Center classes, students, clients, cats and our son all are expressions of our commitment.

What love is still possible in your life 20 years later? How do you express that love? Ki to Happiness shares Eternal love with The Great One who we are all madly in love with.

When we experience stressors in our personal life, all our energy goes towards us. This distracts us from the greater issues on our planet, in our country and closer to home in our community. I like to apply the serenity prayer to both, the inner and the outer.

There is much to be done in our inner realm, changing what we can about our selves and our circumstances. This may motivate us to effect change in the outer realm, although there may be much we need to accept. Let stress grow your serenity muscle as you wisely learn the difference between what we can and cannot change.

What can you change in the inner/ in the outer? What must you accept in the inner/outer? Ki to Happiness grows wiser and more serene as she knows the difference.

In my walking and chanting practice to the woods yesterday, I freed myself from the leftovers of the street fair. In Bali we call taking a walk “cuci mata”. That means wash your eyes.

Deep in the ravine the afternoon sun shown on the giant redwoods. Inspiring green glowed from within the Alder leaves. Rabbits munched on the new grass as crows gave me the side eye, perhaps recognizing me from all my years of feeding them.

How do you wash your eyes? What do you see after you do? Ki to Happiness sees a natural world and takes her place in it.

Demonstrating for Bob’s classes with the street fair raging just outside our windows used up my reserves. My practice was solid, and the students were appreciative of the classes. Afterwards, both Bob and I hit a wall.

We each took responsibility for our coming to the end of our respective patience and tolerance rope. Separately, we rested and resourced. When I got up, I went into the fair and immediately changed my perspective as I became one with the sea of humanity.

Are you able to take responsibility for your limitations ?How do you shift perspective? Ki to Happiness rejoins humanity once resourced.

Teaching yoga during the University District Street fair gives me an opportunity to practice what I preach. In the midst of upheaval, chaos, and full catastrophe living, yoga gives us tools with which we can remain balanced and centered. When the performing artist started up his amplified show, juggling, singing, making jokes and involving the audience, I led the students in one legged balances and inversions, focusing on our breath.

Going out into the human zoo after teaching, I continued to remain centered. In the throngs of every kind of people, I saw the light radiating from their eyes connecting us. I wanted to pet them, but I knew it was not that kind of zoo.

How centered can you remain amidst the throngs? Can you see the light connecting all of us in this human zoo? Ki to Happiness balances and centers with Hatha Yoga.

The longest running street fair in the country resumes today after the two-year Covid hiatus. In anticipation, our area was full of preparation yesterday. Lots of traffic snarls, shoppers, pedestrians, booths being set up, security guards and cops everywhere.

This morning all is peaceful and quiet. It reminds me of the end of school picnic when our school would have carnival rides and booths for cotton candy, snow cones and contests to win stuffed animals. The kid in me anticipates skipping through the crowd after teaching my morning classes.

How is the kid in you? After yoga, how about some skipping? Ki to Happiness let’s her inner child out in safe places at right times.

Sometimes the world and its problems feel like a big puzzle. All the pieces of the puzzle are intricately connected, but only in one way. I can only figure out a bit at a time.

When I try too hard, I feel stress, like you. Then I look in my cat’s eyes and smile. There’s nothing more to figure out.

How’s your puzzle? What shifts you from stress to smiles? Ki to Happiness chooses yoga and animals.

In Bali, the cooks are considered the home doctors. If the cook has suffered loss, illness, or stress, they do not go into the kitchen as those energetic ingredients are not welcome. Someone else prepares the food, to allow time and space for the cook’s healing.

I share this as another practice I participate in. Sometimes dodging issues require soaking the garbanzo beans one day and cooking them on another. Once cooked, all other ingredients are added… peace, contentment, acceptance of life on life’s terms, in addition to turmeric, cumin, chili powder and cinnamon.

What is cooking in your kitchen? What is the state of the cook? Ki to Happiness cooks what the Doctor orders.