Author: Ki McGraw

Hatha Yoga Center website has been down for two days. Soon it will be back up. We are as open as always since 1977. Thank you for recognizing that, and continuing to participate online on our Facebook page.

Those of you who know us are aware that we are practicing yoga and teaching yoga every day in the traditional way with or without digital aspects. I’ve been blessed to have traveled to India in order to learn traditional Hatha Yoga in its birthplace. No Wi-Fi in the Himalayas when I was there. No mats, straps, or blocks either.

In this digital age, how well do you adapt to technological challenges? Can you continue on your efforts without digital interface? Ki to Happiness practices and teaches with or without props…digital or otherwise.

I shared a post of the old writing titled Desiderata yesterday. It was the first spiritual writing that captured my attention as a child. I used to have it hanging on a plaque in my psychotherapy office.

This morning I heard from another psychotherapist. She was inspired by the work I offered and shifted in that direction as a career path. She saw my post and let me know she still has the plaque hanging in her office decades later. I’m so glad she still appreciates the gift all these years later.

What was the first spiritual writing that moved you? Does it still work for you? Ki to Happiness continues to “Go placidly among the noise and haste…”

Hatha Yoga Center is warm and safe and lovely inside. Our adjoining live in space is similarly intended to support our yoga practices. It is lively and fresh, with healthy plants and cats, inviting aromas, and sunlight reflected from the neighbor’s building through our large windows.

When outside is stormy, cold, wet, dark, littered with human waste, and homeless encampments restricting our ability to enter and exit, it helps to focus inside instead. All the years of practicing meditation strengthens my ability to choose where I place my focus. After calling 911 to take care of the encampment, meditation flowed toward gratitude for both, inner and outer.

Hows’s your insides? And the outside? Ki to Happiness thanks those who police the outer so I can work my inner.

My open window rattled in the night with each gust of wind. The cats came close and wanted me to get up. We all remember the same kinds of sounds that came in the Spring, although they were from a different source.

I let the cats experience the full force of the gusts before securing the windows. We all felt the calmness after, our breath, like the wind, also calmed down. We are safe.

How is your breath? Can you let it calm down as you recognize that you are safe? Ki to Happiness is safe enough to feel the full force of the gusts of life.

I finally heard back from my old supervisor’s in-laws. When she and I met nearly 40 years ago we worked at a hospital together until setting off in our private practice association. Daily contact and mutual support continued for years.

My efforts at contacting her last year resulted in silence. Now I have learned that she’s having short term memory issues. She doesn’t remember the name of the hospital where we worked. Interesting to consider 40 years as short term.

What do you consider short term? What’s long term? Ki to Happiness reMembers.

A couple of days ago I was inspired to make a small instructional video for one of my clients. I chanted mantra and did the mudras for the Gayatri, one of the “steamroller” chants of great power from the Yoga tradition. I tried about a dozen times to find one that was acceptable to me. Then I deleted them all.

Yesterday, that very client asked if I would make something like that. Joyously, I resumed my efforts. Each video was well received. None were perfect. Yet all met the present need.

What do you feel moved to offer? Is it ok to do so if imperfectly? Ki to Happiness feels the love of being received.

Today we honor those who have served our country in the military. I honor my brother, my father, and step dad all of whom were in the Navy. Being a peaceful warrior myself, I recognize the blessings of my peaceful life which came about in part from their willingness to serve.

Daily with my 22 push-ups, I reflect on those who have served and ended their own lives. Awareness of them and donations to the cause of mental health among all veterans is my contribution daily this month. May all who serve be served respect, honor and enough resources to live a peaceful natural life and lifespan.

In what military do you serve? How have veterans affected your life? Ki to Happiness thanks all who have served.

For several months as I’ve been meeting my push-up challenges, I’ve had pain in my right thumb. I never felt it while doing the thousands of push-ups. If I had I would’ve stopped.

Yesterday in an acupuncture treatment session I felt energy move in the area. I allowed a few simple movements before I got off the table. Together, I naturally realigned. No more pain. And another 22 push-ups, these toward the awareness of veterans’ mental health.

What moves your energy? How can you find the realignment you seek? Ki to Happiness is sought by that which she seeks.

Today our son turns 29. It’s amazing to reflect on our family’s journey together. I met this young man when he was only four years of age. Becoming his stepmother opened me up to a love there is no cure for.

Putting his needs first, I recognized my role as supporting his dad to do the best he could to provide protection, guidance and care. This requires me to step in sometimes, and step aside other times. My own stepdad showed me the way.

Do you know this step dance? Are you better at stepping in or stepping out? Ki to Happiness sends all steppers incurable unconditional love for stepping up.

My jet leg bumped right into the fallback day. The combination has me ungrounded. In the state, I notice I am brittle. Rigid and dry.

Recognizing such, I turn to the Willow for guidance. Drinking water, I soften. Practicing yoga, I feel fluid. Able to yield, I am open to this day’s guidance.

How open are you to today’s guidance? What might help you ground? Ki to Happiness thanks the tree spirits.