Author: Ki McGraw

After 2 1/2 years of dealing with only one functional door, today we are to have the other nonfunctional door replaced. We have adapted to the limitations of only having one for long enough and look forward to having an entrance and an exit for less congestion at our small foyer. This will bring us up to code as we often have 10 or more participants in classes now.

When we moved in, our classes were smaller in keeping with the tail end of the Covid restrictions. The previous owner and property management company didn’t concern themselves with the code, as they were primarily concerned with renting this live-work space. The new owner and property managers are doing everything they can, if slowly, to insure we lease the space for long term and succeed in our business.

How adaptable are you to structural limitations in your environment? Can you patiently and persistently invite improvements without disruption? Ki to Happiness welcomes improvements without disruption.

Many have the idea that yoga increases flexibility. While that is potentially true, some of us need greater stability and strength. Ideally we find a balance between both stability and flexibility so that we can be pain free in our meditation posture. 

One basic principal in meditation is that we are becoming what we attend to. If we are in pain, we become a pain. Finding balance between stability and flexibility lets us attend to our other desires in meditation like alignment with our Higher Self. 

What has been taking your attention in your practices lately? Can you find enough flexibility and stability to hold yourself in right relationship with your higher nature? Ki to Happiness refines practice daily for dynamic functional balance so to attend to Higher Self and its Guidance.

After my morning class, I had a private client, then took a brief rest before heading out to see my chiropractor. I returned and walked with Bob, as he shared with me that the building inspectors showed up outside, but never knocked to come inside. In that moment, I became aware that I had completely forgotten about their potential entrance.

I proceeded on to another private session grateful for our teamwork. I remembered that the property management company had alerted us to the building inspection with little warning, and delegated that completely to Bob as my schedule didn’t allow me to meet with them. At the end of the day, I felt relief and gratitude for all the events of the day and our team.

Do you feel like you have to do everything yourself or do you trust others to help?  Can you let go completely and trust others to do their part? Ki to Happiness counts on her team and does nothing truly alone.

How ever anyone feels about today’s inauguration, we have a national holiday honoring MLK. His dream inspires our nation. I share his dream and am grateful for others who do, too. 

Hatha Yoga gives us tools with which to make that dream a reality. Classes will be held today with the intention of healing our internal divisions so we can integrate our disparate aspects into One. As we do, we become more tolerant and accepting of others, including them in our prayers for peace so all can pursue happiness, liberty and justice.

How will you observe MLK day? Would a safe space and yoga practice help? Ki to Happiness dreams of peace and prays for peace today and everyday.

As our country approaches Inauguration Day, Hatha Yoga Center continues to offer safe and grounding practices. It’s important to find stability within while there’s much instability in the outer world. Change is constant, as is the free will we each have to choose how we react to it.

I choose the breathe deeply with my spine long and neutral today long like everyday. I’ve done so through many outer events, having done all I can to bring about peace and unity. I plan to continue to practice and teach for the duration and “die with my boots on”, contributing to the nobel mission of peace on earth, who ever is in whatever color house.

What grounds you and keeps you stable in the midst of constant change? How can you best use your free will to fulfill your noble mission? Ki to Happiness keeps practicing Yoga.

We presented our newest Yoga Teacher Trainee her certificate after she attended class. Her perseverance and determination have prevailed against many odds to realize this accomplishment.

She started her training with us before Covid. Others in her training group either already graduated or never returned. She slowly did, accommodating the societal constraints, our move, her job change, physical injuries and a relationship break up and now has her own business, a new relationship and health with a deep commitment to the yoga path.

What have you accomplished against many odds? How do you make use of your success? Ki to Happiness celebrates serious determination (Shraddha) and serves from an abundance of this quality.

Today is my annual fasting day in honor of the great Saint Anthony of the Desert. He is considered the first monastic as he retreated from life into solitude. He showed the way for all to follow into retreat and abstinence from comfort for deep communion with truth, guidance and healing.

He is not to be taken lightly, nor is fasting. I approach the day with reverence and gratitude for having learned about the many great ones who have preceded us and offered their lives as way show-ers. Fortunately, I have the day off this year which feels like a gift to slow down into my personal modern approach to retreat in the midst of the city, in the middle of winter, right where I live and serve.

Do you need a retreat? Can you let yourself commune with Guidance right where you are? Ki to Happiness honors those who have shown us a way.

I got a celebratory text from my mom. We successfully completed some important family business and she sent a fireworks display in the background of her message. She’s amazingly current in her skill set, an inspiration to all non digital natives.

Soon I will learn from her how to do that. I have learned so much from her in our long lives together including the existence of yoga. I am celebrating that the learning continues in both directions.

Are you continuing to learn from your mother? What would you like to learn next? Ki to Happiness is a lifelong learner, like her mother.

Bob golfed as I walked and worked privately with clients before teaching. I didn’t hear him return and only saw his keys and cane on their hook as I concluded class. I witnessed myriad memories of others failing to communicate their whereabouts or returning on time as I stayed on task with my class.

As the students left, Bob and I resumed our blessed normalcy with feeding the cats and taking a brief constitutional walk in the chilly night air. While I never worried about not hearing his return, I did feel relief of the mystery of where he was. I released the granthi or knot of tension from the past when others didn’t return on schedule and felt grateful in the present for simple routine.

How do you release knots of tension from the past? What present normalcy are you grateful for? Ki to Happiness embraces the simple routine present in contrast to the disruptive uncertainties of the past.

Part of what I love about Seattle is the international community. Our neighborhood is rich with diversity, equity and inclusion as is the Hatha Yoga Center. There’s no need for policies or programs to make that happen.

All are always welcome on the very broad yoga path. As yoga means union, we are all invited to come together and connect with our Higher Self. Traditional practices including the body, mind, emotions and spirit regardless of affiliation continue to uplift us all. 

What practices uplift you? What helps you connect your various aspects together in one integrated whole alongside your neighbors? Ki to Happiness values uplifting practices the unite us within so we spread that out.