Author: Ki McGraw

Entering in through the wobbly gate, my friend and I saw chickens and raised bed vegetable gardens on our community member’s property. Continuing in through another gate, we found beautiful flower gardens, adorning the area around the front door where we landed to lunch. On the wall, there hung a sconce with vines tumbling out.

As we set the small table in the shade with our provisions, a small bird flew toward the sconce then out again to a nearby perch. Sipping tea, serving vegetable soup and munching on crusty bread and roasted cauliflower, we saw the bird repeat the flight back and forth to the sconce. Without disturbing the mama bird, we saw her secret nest filled with babies, mouths open for her next feeding of their tiny bellies.

Are you spending enough time in nature? Can you quietly observe enough to witness the special secret nests that surround us? Ki to Happiness breathes and smile with delight in witnessing the miracles of natural life even in this huge metropolis.

Today, my good friend and writing coach had planned to go to a special favorite restaurant to celebrate our many accomplishments. We’ve both been so busy we have not been able to break away to celebrate progress. Taking a break today, we will enjoy ourselves after morning yoga.

I made a big batch of summer vegetable soup and roasted some cauliflower. I have an open invitation to one of our community member’s fabulous garden. I suggested we change our plans to enjoy this wholesome feast instead of needing to spend time diving to the restaurant which was met with agreement.

Which would you prefer? Eating out at a fabulous restaurant or picnicking in a gorgeous outdoor garden? Ki to Happiness chooses summer soup in the near garden.

In the heat with poor air quality, my students reported wanting relief from tension and stress. After physically releasing through asana, they laid back in corpse position. I guided them through Yoga Nidra as they systematically relaxed any remaining in each part of their body.

As they exited, the cooler night with better air quality greeted them. I opened the windows to let their stress out and welcomed in the fresher coolness. Hatha Yoga Center is renewed and ready for a new day as am I.

How do you release tension? Can you scan through your body and locate where it shows up so you can relax it consciously? Ki to Happiness thanks Hatha Yoga for its many tool with which to refresh and renew body-mind -spirit.

This morning dawns hazey from the wildfire smoke downstate. Air quality is no longer good for outdoor activities. It should clear with rain and wind tomorrow.

I’m so glad we got out and enjoyed the day yesterday before conditions worsened. Adapting our activities to the reality of each season including fire season makes it easier to accept these things we cannot change. We’ll use air filtration and fans with windows closed for healthy yoga classes.

What can you change about yourself to adapt to your circumstances? Are you able to accept what you cannot change? Ki to Happiness grows more wise in each season walking the Serenity Prayer talk.

Happy Independence Day. As we each release the outer constraints on our joy body, we find happiness within. Yoga teaches us how to do so every day.

The fireworks we see within as we meditate don’t scare the dogs. Quietly parading our Higher Selves through our lives, will never disrupt traffic. Freeing ourselves from cultural conditioning, we may delight in exercising our constitutional rights without imposing on others.

What do you need to release in order to experience happiness independent of circumstances? How can you exercise your rights while respecting others? Ki to Happiness aligns independently with the joy body through Hatha Yoga.

Preparing my Independence Weekend vegan hot dogs, which I call Not Dogs, I was going for a nostalgic flavor. Between the bun, the dog, and the chili sauce with mustard, a couple of bites took me right back to being 10. Riding my bike to the pool then, I felt my first waves of independence combined with that flavor.

Riding our ebikes to a nearby beach, that same feeling arose. The kid in me is alive and well, safe and healthy. My adult self celebrates the freedom for me to care for myself in these simple and joyful ways.

How is your inner child doing this holiday weekend? What can your adult self do to celebrate freedom with responsibility? Ki to Happiness rides the wave of freedom, responsible for her own joy.

Entering into this holiday weekend, I prepared food for feasting. Roasted mini peppers, sliced cucumber and tomatoes, corn on the cob will all be enjoyed along with BBQ vegan dogs and burgers. I like to spread out the feasting over these next few days, instead of overindulging all at once.

If I have too much at the same time, I notice that I don’t digest well. Small simple portions, well combined at right times and I am healthy and alert. Abundance of discernment is needed when feasting in any season.

What are your favorite summer flavors? Can you exercise an abundance of discernment when consuming them? Ki to Happiness feasts with discernment.

Happy Independence Day weekend. As we celebrate the red, white and blue, let’s remember the bravery required to stand up for freedom. We do so, as we participate in the way that best expresses our gratitude for being American.

Yoga practice encourages us to find freedom in our breath, posture, and alignment with our spiritual guidance. Bravely standing in our truth, we hold the space for others to do the same. Together, we stand shoulder to shoulder in support of liberty and justice for all.

What best expresses your gratitude for being American? How can you bravely stand up for freedom? Ki to Happiness freely breaths and stands with her spine long and tall aligning with her spiritual guidance.

After working with my administrative assistant yesterday on the sixth revision of my manuscript, I celebrated. Small, private victories deserve the right kind of acknowledgment. Vegan soft tacos and frozen nondairy ice cream enjoyed on our sunny deck felt like the perfect dinner for one before a little walk in the woods.

My evening yoga practice continued the celebration. I felt the freedom and strength of my healthy body together with the calm balanced emotions that come with mental clarity. My spiritual guidance told me “yes” which I interpreted as “good enough for now.”

Any progress you need to celebrate? what’s the best way to acknowledge the small victories? Ki to Happiness celebrates each step on the path that is good enough.

In teaching my beginners class last night, I became acutely aware that the decades of teaching and practicing have benefited me. As class ended, students expressed their appreciation for my teaching skills. Then one of them asked how much I teach.

When I answered, she said “no wonder you’re so strong..” Another asked for how long I’ve been teaching. When I answered, she said “ so that’s how you got to be so patient”.

What collateral benefits do you find in your occupation? What collateral benefits do you receive from your spiritual practice? Ki to Happiness has grown strong and patient through teaching and practicing Hatha Yoga.