Author: Ki McGraw

As yesterday morning’s class began, a student entered with a fresh injury. I administered first aid when a knock came at the door. I attended to the interruption which resulted in my getting the phone number for our neighbor who is about to move abroad, necessitating he find someone to take his dog.

I welcomed in one new student in from Texas, collected the first aid supplies and started the live stream to start class. It felt like a full service yoga studio, responding to all the needs presented. Ointments, bandaids, dog care, together with asana, pranayama, meditation followed by a private session all are a part of what is required on any given day at HYC.

What kind of full service do you need? Where can you get it? Ki to Happiness offers whatever we have to serve our beloved community.

I had long and meaningful conversation with an old dear friend. She had spoken at length with my brother the night before. We all went to the same high school together, although we didn’t spend much time together then.

She and I made up for it over the years: living together, traveling together, sharing resources. When my brother’s retina detached, she extended herself on my behalf and took him to appointments in their city. They have become friends, which makes her even more dear to me.

What endears a person to you? What matters most in friendship? Ki to Happiness shares her dear friendship with her brother, reinforcing both relationships.

I had some extra free time yesterday for the first time in a very long time. I noticed my mind wandering towards self doubt. lacking confidence with some of my new activities. and the edge of tears for fears in this unfamiliar territory.  I didn’t want to continue in that direction.

In an effort to turn around my energy, I faced my fears, companioned myself and chose to focus my attention on the present reality. Before I knew it, I was cooking a fabulous meal, walking in the gorgeous afternoon, petting my cats, playing guitar and singing. My fears transformed into safety and joy.,

When your energy is heading in the wrong direction, how do you turn it around? Are you willing to take responsibility for yourself in that way? Ki to Happiness “throws the weight on the other side” as guided by the Yoga Sutras, by choosing where to put attention.

Playing with the name of this month, I’m highlighting the awesome weather we’ve been having lately. Early autumnal crispness is in the morning air as a few leaves turn color and lots of blossoms continue to grace our humble garden. 

There will be other hot days, so this beauty is simply a foreshadowing of what will come.  Without resisting it or pushing it, simply appreciating it for what it is me brings me into a state of awe.  Geraniums, zinnias, marigolds, together with lingering glads and dahlia buds all are counted among the blossoming blessings as a few red maple leaves let go of the summers hold.

What brings you into a state of awe? Can you shift into that awareness at will? Ki to Happiness counts her blossoms.

Bob has been conducting Sunday morning Hatha Yoga classes at HYC since 1977. It’s a pleasure to attend and practice with him in this capacity. Yesterday there was a brand new student practicing right along with others who have 40 + years experience.

Since we didn’t have a community gathering afterwards, Bob and I enjoyed our smoothies, and rested We had plans for the afternoon, but decided to have a simple Sunday at home. Using our free time to clean up and prepare for a new week concluded with the closing ceremonies of the Olympics.

 How comfortable are you with changing plans? When your energy wants to simply stay home, can you follow that guidance? Ki to Happiness welcomes the new week of classes, clients and self care. 

My body wakes me up in the morning. It wants me to get up and practice yoga. If I don’t get up at its initial urging, I start to witness the practices happening within anyway.

I start to hear my inner voice chanting mantra. If I lounge with my cats, my breath becomes balanced and rhythmic like when I practice pranayama. My hands start making spontaneous mudras all due to the consistent practices over all these years. 

What wakes you up in the morning? How consistent is your yoga practice? Ki to Happiness choose consistent practices for stability on all levels of consciousness.

Riding my e-bike on busy streets, I got a warning. Slow Down, my inner guidance said. I parked inside my acupuncture clinic and laid down for treatment, deeply integrating the warning.

As I exited, I rerouted myself directly back to HYC, forgoing the additional errand I had planned. Taking heed of Guidance resulted in my arriving safely, on time for my next scheduled event without rushing. I’m learning through repeated lessons to listen to that “still small voice within”. 

What lessons are you repeating? What helps you integrate the learning? Ki to Happiness listens and learns best through repetition.

We are fortunate in our area to have reasonable air quality, especially considering all the fires occurring this season. I saw the evidence of it hazing the sun as it rose yesterday. That alerted me to keep the windows closed and two air filtration devices on for classes.

At the end of the morning class, I could taste the metallic residue in my mouth and feel it drying the mucous membranes. I dreamt of smoke in our neighborhood wafting about at this altitude but found none upon awakening. Others in our extended community are less fortunate so my prayers go out to them for their safety.

How are you dealing with this fire season? What can you do to protect yourself? Ki to Happiness prays St. Medard sends rain to those in need.

In attempting to fill out forms digitally, I made a mistake. I needed help to fix my error so I reached out for assistance. My helper also made a mistake in filling out the digital forms so we will repeat our efforts with corrections.

This has occurred just as mercury has gone retrograde. During such astrological phenomenon, it is quite common to have issues with communication, transportation, and electronics requiring that we slow down and redo, revise and repeat (anything “re-“.This awareness empowers to witness the karmic validation that we all make mistakes, and together we can find a remedy.

What errors do you need to fix? Can you slow down and get help to find a remedy? Ki to Happiness remembers that we all make mistakes and together, can correct them.

Hatha Yoga Center yoga teacher training program has required 2 years experience of daily practice. We believe that sets prospective yoga teachers up for success, integrity and authenticity. Our approach has weeded out those less committed to the path. 

We have shifted our program to independent study. This reinforces the importance of prospective teachers demonstrating their maturity in this way.  Graduates of our program are encouraged to continue with daily practice as they teach just like we do. 

What have you done daily for two years that you could teach? How committed are you? Ki to Happiness recommits daily to integrative health practices including Hatha Yoga.