Right before Bob‘s class last night, one of our beloved students had an epileptic seizure. We didn’t realize there had been a history of such, and did our best to support the mysterious process. We called 911, but before we got off the phone, The need had passed.

Afterward, the student stayed with us for class, letting us know that all would be well as it had occurred before without any repercussion. When class peacefully finished, we learned more about the history, and simply wished we had known before. Fortunately, a medical doctor was attending class, and he gave the clear direction forward to get financial aid and receive necessary medical attention as soon as possible.

What issues, conditions, or surgeries are you hesitant to tell someone about? Could you inform them so that they are prepared in case of emergency? Ki to Happiness always asks students about their medical history privately. 

When the Covid restrictions interfered with our yoga teacher training program, several trainees shifted into independence study with us at a distance. One by one all who persevered graduated without ceremony. Today, two of them will reunite with my morning class.

Both of these women have taught classes for HYC, substituting when necessary. They have displayed serious determination, which is called Shraddha in Sanskrit. This quality makes for the best yoga practitioner as well as an inspirational teacher.

How serious is your determination to integrate body mind and spirit? What quality inspires your practice most? Ki to Happiness  is inspired by all who are seriously determined to find Oneness.

I attended a fitness camp that offered morning yoga outdoors in the Midwest 40 years ago. On the third day, the instructor was called away for a family emergency. I approached her and told her that had been my favorite part of the camp, so she told me I should substitute for her.

I’d been introduced to yoga as a child and took some classes as well as practiced from one of the few books up to that point. I took notes on my brief meeting with her and organized my approach to covering her classes, and dove in the deep end. 40 years later, I’m still swimming in the vast ocean of hatha yoga, as a practitioner, a teacher, a trainer, and a co-director of this studio.

What deep ends have you dove into? Are you still swimming? Ki to Happiness celebrates 40 years of yoga instruction.

Family and friends in the St. Louis area just withstood a major tornado. Tracking on it from a distance, I learned that all of my near and dear ones are all OK. After seeing the pictures of massive destruction, collapsed buildings, and hearing that there are four dead, I went outside to our nearby woods.

Gentle drizzle accompanied the cool temperatures. My eyes adapted to the reality that all is well here.  I did a little happy dance and said my prayers with my body.

How grateful are you to be here and not somewhere else? Can you spare a prayer for those elsewhere going through major issues? Ki to Happiness dances in gratitude here and sends compassionate healing prayers for there.

My morning practice begins with chanting. While one part of my brain is doing that, I am able to witness the contents of another part of my brain. Issues that want attention come to light for me to attend to later, or disregard.

The process helps me organize my day, but that’s not all. It lets me know that I have two minds, so I take responsibility for choosing which of them to focus on. Acknowledging thoughts, impulses, or feelings can satisfy them without need to act on them all.

Are you willing to consciously choose the practices that align you with safety, peace, health, contentment and stability instead of stress, anxiety, fear? What helps you reconcile your two minds? Ki to Happiness chooses wisely, improving day by day, refining with yoga practices.

When class is lightly attended, we often use the barre to assist with alignment. Last night we had the rare opportunity to do so for the first time for one of our students. He loved the specificity and what it revealed.

His fit and able body usually compensates for an imbalance which became apparent at the barre. Now he can work on it, using a surface at home, too. Hatha Yoga Center has long utilized this tool, not requiring a separate class designated for that purpose.

Have you used a barre in your yoga practice? What helps you discover your imbalances? Ki to Happiness employs mixed healing arts to rebalance and integrated body, mind and spirit.

After class, a student lingered to ask me one question. I did my best to answer it briefly without doing a disservice to the topic. She seemed satisfied enough with my response as it helped her understand herself better.

The question was about reincarnation and those inklings we have about preferences and hunches which may be related to karma. To provide safety in which to explore the huge topic, I gave a broad context. As her fear subsided, she continued on her way knowing she is welcome to revisit the issue as needed.

What one question would you like to ask? How safe do you feel exploring the question on your own? Ki to Happiness safely explores questions for better understanding of the world and our place in it on and off the yoga mat.

In last night’s class, we had students who are all world travelers. One had just returned from Morocco, another from India, a third soon to return to New Zealand, and another on his way to Norway. We share the practice of Hatha Yoga together for these brief blessed hours, then distribute the benefit around the world.

It reminds me of the Rumi poem in which he describes us all as travelers, some needing food and shelter, as members of a global caravanserai. His words are still alive in us hundreds of years after he uttered them. He is prophetic as he said, “ where am I going on this great journey? To your house, of course.”

How are your creature comforts, travelers? Do you need more food, shelter or Hatha Yoga? Ki to Happiness journeys onward with an elegant sufficiency of all necessities.

This full moon unveils issues previously obscured. Some may have felt that during Mother’s Day. The transformative effects can encourage healthier transparency moving forward in all relationships.

What has been revealed here at HYC is healing. One of our students reunited with us now that she’s healthy enough, our cats are better after their springtime treatments have subsided, and my family of origin had a successful FaceTime video chat which mom took screenshots of and posted to her stories, healing into learning. Peace surrounds us as we welcome Scorpio’s transformative power.

What has been revealed to you? What does that encourage in your relationships? Ki to Happiness delights in each revelation.

Hatha Yoga Center wishes you all a Happy Mother’s Day. We delight in offering flowers and treats to all who attend today. We honor all who nurture, raise and tend to the future.

We all know it’s a Hallmark holiday and yet in all traditions, there is a special day to celebrate the one who birthed us and cared for us when we were defenseless and dependent. Quan Yin, Tara, MahaLaksmi, Mother Mary, St.s Martha and Vivian all grace my altar as aspects of the Divine Mother principle. Each recieves offerings for contributing to our development.

Have you called your mother on whatever plane you can? Can you thank her for giving you the best she could at the time? Ki to Happiness thanks her mom for being the greatest embodiment of Divine Mother in my life and will call soon!