Author: Ki McGraw

In the 90s as a new yoga teacher, I often received images and instruction in my dreams and meditations from other yoga teachers. I incorporated those experiences in my instruction of others. My lineage includes physical teachers, as well as those astral teachers from that level of consciousness.

From time to time, I still receive such experience, keeping my practice and instruction fresh. When it occurred in meditation yesterday, I immediately gave thanks for the guidance. In doing so, I keep the channel open between myself and my guides.

What inspires your practice? Can you give thanks to those who show up in the non physically realms just like those in the flesh? Ki to Happiness thanks all her guides and teachers who appear in dreams and meditations as well as those embodied.

Every now and then I take a full Sunday off. Instead of serving the community after classes, I have a chance to catch up with little chores and errands to perfect and refine our space. The resulting enhancements prepared me well for the week ahead.

These simple acts of putzing and puttering are like Jungian therapeutic play in the sandbox. Being able to affect an environment gives a sense of empowerment. With closets organized and the fridge cleaned, I can give my attention more completely to my students and clients today.

What do you do with your time off? And you enjoy the simple acts of putzing and puttering? Ki to Happiness prepares for what’s next.

After teaching two well attended classes, and helping three students with their alignment, I rested. Bob worked with a new private student.When they finished, we took off on our daily walk in the mist.

Soft and silent, the day welcomed introspection. Lingering a while in our near woods, I noticed squirrel nests called dreys in the bare tree limbs. We marveled at their tiny furry bodies defying gravity and making homes near the bird nests as if they could fly.

Do you have access to nature’s wonder nearby? Can you linger there in appreciation for life? Ki to Happiness learns from the 4 leggeds and the winged ones.

My husband surprised me yesterday with a thoughtful offering. He noticed a need that I couldn’t see and suggested a gift to fulfill it. That motivated me to research online, and find a convenient way to get the gift.

After our standing weekly burrito date, we crossed the street and got a discounted floor model of the item I found online. Santa Bob paid for it and I carried my new bed back on my head. Together with the cats, we all enjoyed it and the memories it stirred of our first bed purchased together nearly 24 years ago.

Who notices your needs that you can’t see? Are you willing to participate in fulfilling that need once it is recognized? Ki to Happiness joyfully accepts the gift of Santa Bob “seeing me when I’m sleeping, and knows when “ need a new bed.

We met with our new property manager’s contractors. The planned meeting at noon didn’t work due to delay on their present project. An hour and a half later, when we met, I emphasized the importance of their respecting our schedule.

With their apologies and greater understanding, we proceeded. Despite our history with seven property managers in the last 14 months, I am willing to trust that this time the needed work will occur. Letting go of the past is a choice in order to be open to the possibilities in the future.

How flexible is your schedule? When plans change are you able to gracefully adapt? Ki to Happiness chooses to adapt as gracefully as possible, accepting changes and looking forward.

Smiles, warm hearts and good cheer all remained long after the many students departed. All three of our classes were well attended. Giving gifts to all who were present without disturbing class became a bit of a dance.

Decorating our trees with fresh flowers, singing the old carols as I put bows on packages, and sending off Mom’s Holiday card all prepared me for my role. This elf basked in the afterglow of our celebration when the students left. Snippets of conversations, laughter, and general good tidings swirled in my head like sugarplums as I lay down to rest.

What is required for your holiday celebrations? As you prepare, can you imagine the afterglow and head towards that warmth? Ki to Happiness breathes and smiles, remembering our simple festivities.

Today we commemorate the origins of gift giving at this time of Christian holidays. Saint Nicholas, the original Santa Claus, gave the gift of life to some children at risk, so we continue to give gifts in his honor on his day, or throughout the season.

I sent off one package yesterday, and have several more awaiting distribution. While most of our students are adults, I will gift each who attend today. I celebrate their own inner little kid having survived to this point.

Do you like to give gifts at this time of the year? Is your inner child willing to receive gifts? Ki to Happiness participates in the traditions that bring joy.

In the wee hours this morning, Bob passed a momentous anniversary. Two years ago at 3:30 in the morning he had a stroke in his base brain, the Pons. The outcome was uncertain, and the prognosis determined only by his lifestyle changes.

He has been diligent in his new habits, and beaten the odds. While he still has lingering detriments, overall, they pale in comparison to his improvements. I celebrate him and others like him who are able to make the radical changes late in life that are necessary in order to continue to be of service.

What lifestyle changes do you need to make? Can you commit to those changes without a major physical event making them mandatory? Ki to Happiness drinks water and walks, now alongside Bob, who does the same.

In these dark wet days, the ritual of putting up lights takes me back to other years. My grandparents stopped decorating their home when we moved away. My husband helped his old folks put up their lights until their last year with us.

In the grief and nostalgia,, I felt the weight of the holidays upon me. As I reached for the strings of lights, plugging them in to check them first, the weight lifted. The lighted trees now grace our Hatha Yoga Center and home with the reminder that light will return.

What holiday rituals stir your memories? Which will you continue with this year? Ki to Happiness lights the trees, wraps gifts, and sips decaf chai.

Yesterday, in each of my morning classes, students from our former location returned to us. One of them we hadn’t seen since the initial closing of our society in Spring 2020. The other one made his first return to one of Bob’s classes last week.

The surprise and joy at having them attend my classes brought me into compassion at what we went through. Isolation, fear and judgment all fell away into acceptance, safety and togetherness. The ritual of yoga practice dissolved the years.

What benefits do you experience from the ritual of yoga practice? Can you welcome it’s healing not just for yourself, but for society at large? Ki to Happiness heals from the nearest personal issues to the farthest global schisms with Hatha Yoga.