Author: Ki McGraw

While I am on my way to celebrate my mother‘s birthday, I appreciate all the other travelers. Summer trips, family vacations, reunions all call us out from our comfortable habits. We give that up for the adventure.

I bring my most comfortable habits with me. Eating healthy, vegan snacks from home, watching uplifting funny movies on flight, and keeping to my yoga practices enable me to enjoy the journey. I also appreciate those non-travelers who enable me to take this trip: my husband, my friends who dropped me off and picked me up, those teachers covering my classes, my clients who adjusted their schedules to accommodate me, and my mom for having another birthday.

Are you traveling this summer? Who takes care of things for you to have the freedom to travel? Ki to Happiness travels lightly with gratitude for all that brings me Here Now.

Our record-breaking heat wave has subsided.  With more comfortable temperatures, it’s easier to make better choices about where to place one’s attention. Cooler heads focus on gratitude, diplomacy and integrity. 

When we are in the heat of the moment, we are more likely to be reactive instead of responsive. Walking away from conflict, taking time and space to consult one’s Higher Self empower consciousness. Taking the high road can give a better view of circumstances. 

Can you take time and space when things get too heated? What helps you chill so you can see your best choice of action? Ki to Happiness chills with Hatha Yoga.

Last night students were talking about how some classes are hard, as either others are easy. We learn through the Yoga Sutra, that the “the posture is to be firm and soft.” This refers to the seated position in meditation, for which all asana prepares us.

It all depends upon the practitioner. Some of us need to get stronger enough to have a firm meditation position, which means practice can be hard.  Others need to stretch and soften which may make practice seem easy.  Overall, we are looking for balance between these principles “to set our hearts on what is Everlasting” in meditation as the Sutras say.

Do you need to strengthen or stretch? Which practices will help you balance these principles so you can meditate on the Everlasting? Ki to Happiness stretches, strengthens and sets her heart on the Everlasting.

My appointment with our neighboring naturopath and Ayurvedic physician occurred during record breaking heat.  It’s taken me six weeks to get in to see him, and I felt excited and apprehensive.  Warm medicated oil treatment on a hot day sounded counterintuitive. 

With his careful attention to every detail, the treatment facilitated significant realignment of my body, integrating my left wrist after its healing these past 6months with the rest of my totality. It gave my 9year old a chance to integrate her experience of my first wrist injury with this method of healing. Overall, my chiropractor, acupuncturist together with my new MD/ND are facilitating wholeness on many levels.

Are you open to diverse methods of healing? When treatments seem counterintuitive, do you yourself to experiment with them? Ki to Happiness opens to all forms of healing and allows others to help.



In the cool of morning, yoga practices refresh and awaken me. Later on when I’m teaching, it will be hot enough to warrant the use of the cooling breath.  During deep winter, we utilize the fire bellows breathing. 

Adapting and adjusting our practices to the presence circumstances empowers us daily to be flexible not just in the hamstrings. Yoga offers tools for every situation.  While mouth breathing is generally ill advised, doing so consciously with the tongue either behind the teeth or rolled into a straw will allow cooler heads to prevail.

Which yoga practices appeal to you in the heat? Which do you select in the cold? Ki to Happiness chooses practices to balance and harmonize with the ever changing present reality.

One of our committed students returned yesterday after several month’s mysterious absence . She arrived late for my beginners class so I didn’t have a chance for a private check in.  She practiced well and stayed to visit.

She shared the good news that her baby was born healthy and strong a couple of months ago. She herself has been been dealing with some postpartum medical issues. With lots of support from family and her medical team, she is able to return to practice and soon we will meet our new community member, her son. 

What do you make up about people when they are mysteriously absent? How do you handle the mystery when they return? Ki to Happiness embraces the mystery and celebrates its resolution in right timing.

The combination of fireworks and hot weather resulted in poor air quality yesterday. Gentle winds cleared the air by nightfall. This morning dawns fresh and bright.

We adjusted our plans to accommodate. After smudging to release any negativity from the last lunar cycle, we shook out all the area rugs, hung them on our railing in the sunshine and got out the fans. We blew away the remnants of the smudge, the smoke, and Junuary as we intend to stay cool and calm through this heat wave.

What air do you need to clear? Can you adjust your plans to accommodate? Ki to Happiness helps clears the air.

The new moon enters the sign of its rulership in Cancer later today. This gives us an opportunity to clean up after the Fourth of July festivities, burn some sage to release any negativity and set intentions for the next month.

Many may be caught off guard in the midst of holiday this time. Don’t forget to align with the energies around us. Get ready for the next month by finishing up anything left over and beginning again, anew for a summertime of family, friends and functional health.

 What do you need to clean up after the festivities yesterday? How can you start fresh even in the midst of your celebrations? Ki to Happiness smudges and starts over in gratitude.

Today we observe our nation’s birthday. By breaking free of England, we set the trajectory towards democracy in a republic. While it is not a perfect system, it continues to inspire others in this direction.

Traveling extensively during my 30s I learned to appreciate the USA more. The blue passport opened the globe for me to learn from other cultures. I am forever grateful for the multiple freedoms our constitution and Bill of Right insure, even as I’ve integrated the blessing from experiencing other forms of government.

What do you appreciate about the USA? How will you celebrate today? Ki to Happiness offers private sessions and yoga classes independent of fireworks or BBQs.

There are many daily habits I have cultivated in my life. Slow and steady practice is advised by the yoga sutras for progress along the path. Following those recommendations has resulted in balanced energy moving me forward as an agent of service to the One in All. 

In addition to brushing and flossing my teeth, I pray in my bathtub surrounded by crystals, amplifying my intentions, following my morning rituals of chanting mantra, Pranayama, meditation, and asana as well as writing, walking later in the day. I’ve decided to add another daily practice so that I improve my guitar skills.  My wrist is healed enough that I can resume playing, I’ve got a new instrument, and an ongoing desire to accompany myself to sing the praises of what’s good and right.

What would you like to get better at? Can you find time to consistently practice? Ki to Happiness constantly practices slow and steady effort to a principle as recommended by the sutras.