Author: Ki McGraw

My assistant and I began to digitize my manuscript’s 7th revision. This time, the changes are like tiny puzzle pieces snapping into place. Until now it’s been loopy with huge reorganization necessary.

Before committing the changes to the digital file, I completed reading someone else’s book in which she concluded her story by describing her process writing it. It brought me into uncontrollable catharsis about what we all go through to take our life’s most significant material and convert it into an intelligible and compelling draft worthy of print. It’s so easy for readers to sit back and criticize others who have painstakingly sifted through their content to present it for the benefit of the reader.

Do you read with a metaphoric red pen in your hand? Can you write with out your internal editor taking over the process? Ki to Happiness reads and writes, learns and teaches as the Yoga Upanishads recommend.

Our heat wave has been replaced by a cool wave. Yoga practice easily adapts to all kinds of weather. We are fortunate to have escaped the threat of wildfires and smoke in our area for the most part.

As the death toll mounts in Maui, we count our blessings. Both Bob and I have memories from long ago participating and holding retreats there. We send love, compassion and prayers for healing in the direction of those who have suffered this grave horrific tragedy.

What do you do with your good fortune? How can you best share it? Ki to Happiness heals in the cool, freshness and sends it towards those in greater need.

In this heat wave, we have a new moon in Leo. Knowing this empowers us to not be too hotheaded. We want to make good use of this energy instead of allowing it to make use of us.

New moons gives us a chance to reflect, and set intentions for the next month. Occurring now, we put energy in motion for the last month of summer. Ignoring undesirable behaviors and strengthening positive efforts in ourselves and others may make for a bountiful harvest next month.

What would you like to have occur in a month? How can you best align with that truest desire? Ki to Happiness envisions progress, not perfection and healing into wholeness.

Watching an interesting interview between Jordan Peterson and Russell Brand, I felt relief at them addressing an important paradox. Both of them are in favor of spiritual awareness, free will, and the protective rights in our Constitution. To safeguard against that becoming narcissistic hedonism, they emphasize the need to turn toward serving and protecting other’s rights to do the same.

We see this in the 12 step programs, where recovery and service go hand in hand. Along the yogic path, we come to see that others are an extension of our common connection to what we may refer to as The One. In these ways, as I take care of myself, I support others in taking care of themselves and offer assistance as I am able.

In what ways do you take care of yourself? In what ways do you serve others? Ki to Happiness cares for The One me and serves The One in you.

During this hot spell, I’ve been appreciating iced drinks to cool off internally. Using multiple fans helps to cool the outside. Cooling yogic breaths modify my approach to asana.

I learned these simple modifications during my years teaching in the tropics. On Kauai, Guam and Bali every effort away to chill assisted with practical skills for living. Those skills and my memories of the beautiful islands inform my practices today..

How can you best chill? Can you try cooling breaths, in and out of your mouth like in Sitali pranayama? Ki to Happiness sips and smiles, adapts and adjusts, and keeps practicing.

I had a great visit with my brother on the phone as he celebrated his good friends’ 30th wedding anniversary. We spoke privately so that he could tell me what awaited him when he returned home. One of his dear cats may not have made it through his brief time away.

After he told me his story, he put it aside so that he could exit the gathering well. I supported him in using his compartmentalization skills. He shared with me his process later and again today as he continues on, taking care of himself, his surviving 3 cats, and his job.

How are your skills at compartmentalization? Can you make use of them when the circumstances call for such, and let them go when not necessary? Ki to Happiness uses the skills without letting them use her.

Our neighborhood is part of a larger district which was having its annual free market day. 80 locations put free items out for others to browse through, and take what they want. Hatha Yoga Center joined by contributing unwanted cat food which was all removed by the end of the day.

When I was at the Kripalu Ashram’s spiritual lifestyle training years ago I learned of the yogic practice of varagya, which means detachment. Discarded clothing and personal items were available in a special spot in the basement for others to make use of freely. The community participated and bonded through sharing instead of attaching to stuff.

How do you participate in your communities? What might you have that is no longer is useful for you that others might appreciate? Ki to Happiness detaches from stuff and bonds with others through community participation.

Doing my yoga practices first thing in the morning has become a cornerstone of my life. It gives me an instant feedback loop into how I am doing on all levels: body, mind, emotions and spirit. That feedback encourages me to make the changes needed for my health and happiness with which I serve others as a yoga teacher and holistic counselor.

This is the life I have chosen and grown to know so well. When other teacher’s don’t have a daily practice I pray they find their way to the consistent habit so they resource themselves from within to be a good model for others. Asana, pranayama, meditation and devotion practices of mantra and prayer work for me and have worked for others on the pathless path for thousands of years.

What habits do you want to develop? How can you start today with consistence? Ki to Happiness is grateful to have learned to be kind to body-mind-emotions-spirit by consistently practicing habits of yogis.

Last evening, two students from 26 years ago returned to the Hatha Yoga Center. I’m so glad HYC still exists so we could welcome them back to the community. One of them will resume her yoga teacher training which the COVID pandemic put on hold as the other returns to her home in California.

They looked at us in stunned amazement saying we haven’t changed a bit. But of course we have. And yet the practice has been consistent and holds us in its grace.

What grace consistently upholds you through the passing of time? As you change what remains the same? Ki to Happiness changes into the grace that constantly upholds her.

Last week Bob shared a news item from his feed regarding the cast of the Barbie movie. He read that they had a physical contest to see who could hold a plank posture, the longest. Margot Robbie won by holding the plank for four minutes and 20 seconds.

I took it as a challenge and started with one minute. Yesterday I beat her record by 10 seconds. It’s amazing what this 62 year old body can do in one week.

What have you improved in a week? What do you think is impossible that next week you might find you’ve already accomplished? Ki to Happiness sees the word impossible as containing the two words “I’m possible”.