Author: Ki McGraw

I am celebrating the anniversary of my birth 59 years ago today. I have a keen awareness of how it is that my body came out of my mother’s. I am made from her flesh. I am forever grateful for my time spent inside her, preparing me for what has been a long and interesting life, filled with healing. And of course I appreciate the DNA from my father as well, although he had a minor role in my physical reality. My big brother showed me the way. Wonderful to have been celebrated early with my family of creation here at Hatha Yoga Center!

My life would not be worth living had I not shared it with many significant friends. Those that remain in my life are golden, and those who have exited have left their mark on my soul. Furry friends share these blogs with me in the early mornings after yoga practices, teaching me more than many who on their hind legs.

 Do you know how grateful I am for you? How aware are you that you also have become an important part of my life? Ki to Happiness celebrates each new day and each contribution to it!

There are readers and there are readers. I appreciate you, Readers, for reading my blog. I also appreciate readers who consult particular oracles and decipher their messages and meetings. On the recommendation of a neighbor, I found my way to a tarot reader and astrologer for my birthday.

The stars at the moment of my birth are effected by the star patterns now presently transiting the heavens. These geometries reveal points of tension as well as ease for my upcoming year. The tarot reading was able to give me pictures to symbolize these issues. Together, I’m able to navigate my path more gracefully and gratefully.

What helps you navigate? How might a reading assist? Ki to Happiness recognizes the Truth is woven into all things “for those who have eyes to see”.

Happy Year of the Rat! We enter into a year that is influenced by the charming, clever, tenacious survivor. How each of us are effected depends upon many factors including the animal that presided over birth year.

As with each new moon, being conscious and intentional on this day will have far-reaching consequences thru this next month. This will further contribute to the whole next year. Family gatherings, wearing red, cleaning house, eating long noodles, are some of the traditions over half the population of the earth observe at this time.

How can cleverness and charm serve you best this year? What issues in your life require tenacity? Ki to Happiness celebrates all that insures survival!

I am honored to present at the Northwest Yoga Conference. Today from 1 to 3, I will facilitate exploration of the core. Anatomists define the core muscles as including three groups: the corseting muscles of Tranversus Abdominus, the paraspinal muscles of the Multifidi, and the root muscles of the Pubococcygeals. With core strength, the rest of the body is more likely to experience flexibility. The combination of strength in the core and flexibility in the rest allows us to sit in meditation without pain.

Asana practice aims toward preparing the body for meditation. Breathing practices prepare the mind and emotions to be clear and calm to behold the Light and Guidance. Meditation on this Spirit of Guidance while in the physical body is the true Core of Yoga.

What Light and Guidance are you experiencing in your meditations? Do you need more strength in your core, flexibility in the rest of the body, breathing practices or a combination? Ki to Happiness chooses practices to support the true Core of Yoga.

During my years of Yogic and Sufi practices and meditations I have found broader inclusive possibilities. Utilizing that awareness psychotherapeutically, I’ve been able to help others see beyond their limited attachment to one point of you. “There is a way” which will be revealed, that includes all opposing views. With patience, persistence, and ongoing practices toward peace and unity, this way becomes possible.

It has taken two years for the conflict regarding the Northwest Yoga Conference to come to this point. As we move forward toward our healing circle on Saturday for the community, reconciliation comes into view. As the conflicted parties meet with impartial listeners, a more inclusive perspective will show the way forward.

What helps you detach from your perspective so you can hear another’s? How patient and persistent are you? Ki to Happiness knows “there is a way” to reconcile the irreconcilables.

Two years ago at the northwest yoga conference (NWYC), there was conflict. Today, I meet with the organizer for the first time since then. The intention is towards healing for the purpose of grace as we move forward to this year’s NWYC.

I will be conducting a workshop again as I did two years ago. I personally witnessed the conflict. I have recorded it. Many have their own stories about what occurred. several of the most outspoken voices weren’t even present. 

What conflicts are you ready to resolve? How clear are your intentions? Ki to Happiness joyously faces this big day resolved and healed into the true spirit of Yoga, which is union.

In the yoga practice of physical asana, backbends open the heart. When pushed too far or too fast there can be a sense of compression in the back. This is to be avoided by distributing the extension of the spine throughout as evenly as possible. I refer to this often as “leaning up”. Rather instead of “leaning back”.

In our lives, similarly, they are times when we feel we are pushed too far or too fast. Once we can identify that, we can do something about it. Slowing down, distributing our efforts thru all the aspects of our lives is helpful. Leaning up in this way gives us a chance to utilize our issues toward spiritual growth.

Are you feeling pushed too far or too fast? Can you slow down ? Leaning up into your Higher Nature, what lesson are you learning for your spiritual growth? Ki to Happiness sees all of life experience as an opportunity for spiritual evolution.

After Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, together with the others that occurred in the social movements of the 60s, a song became popular memorializing them. The lyrics included “anybody here seen my old friend Martin? Can you tell me where he’s gone?”.

Yoga philosophy begins to answer the questions. So does science. As energy is never created nor destroyed, we know his energy continues, like the song still playing in my heart. His essential nature is with us still, in truth, freedom, equality, and efforts to bring these basic principles evermore into manifestation now.

What songs of your childhood continue to enliven your heart? Which philosophies help answer your big questions? Ki to Happiness remembers the essential nature of those who’ve gone before us.

Today, I celebrate the birth of one of my mentors. At age 77, this pioneering woman has held the door open for many to enter into yogic practices for decades. She is an inspiration to all, in her healthy, fit, compassionate presence. 

When we met over 20 years ago, I was already teaching for years, training others to do so, from one of my four studios as well as conducting international retreats and privately serving with many therapeutic modalities. And yet, she showed me how to pace myself, so that I can continue as she has all these years.

Who is ahead of you on your path? What way have they been showing you?Ki to Happiness appreciates all those who’ve opened the doors for others.

Today I awaken clearer, and fresher for my having fasted yesterday. My experience of having rested my digestive system for one day brings me a greater sense of spaciousness and time. It seems to me that the word for abstaining from food could easily be “slowing” instead of fasting.

With these benefits, energy is available for other good habits to come to mind and manifest. Drinking more water, reflecting on our many blessings, self-healing, conscious resting, taking a long bath, practicing asana as well as all the other limbs of yoga, mutually support the Slowing.

What practice brings other practices to your attention? Which habits support other good habits? Ki to Happiness breaks the fast consciously, in gratitude for all that truly nourishes.