Our son came to visit to conclude our holidays. I used the last piece of wrapping paper for his gifts. He appreciated the thoughtfulness and took us to lunch.

On our way back, he stopped to help pick up something too big for me to carry and put it in his truck to convey it here in advance of our new washer dryer’s installation. The gifts of his willingness to help, his strength, his truck and our lunch were all too big to put under a tree. Un decorating, the joys of HYC community, our time with family and the anticipation of our improved laundry facility linger.

Now that the holidays have passed, what lingers for you? Have you completed all un decorating yet? Ki to Happiness enjoys the memories as much as the preparation for each holiday.

Our city is celebrating the victory of our professional football team, the Seahawks. The fireworks left over from New Year’s Eve blasted out the fans’ joy. We are in a good position to go all the way to the Super Bowl.

Elsewhere, bombs are blasting overhead as the drums of war continue to escalate.  Students arrived to my morning classes, disturbed by the upsetting news. The yoga path nudges practitioners toward the middle, eschewing extremes in order to find balance and peace.

What brings you bright pleasure or dark pain? Are you willing to release attachment to extremes so to walk the middle path? Ki to Happiness has “compassion for the victors”and “sympathy for the losers “ as recommended by the Yoga Sutras.

Although the holidays have passed, this first full moon of the year continues the festivities. We have an opportunity to reflect on the past two weeks and what results from our celebrations. Course correction for next year and recalibration for the winter ahead of us are encouraged.

We are thrilled to have scheduled the installation of our new washer and dryer. That will certainly help our 2026. Hatha Yoga Center community got us through the past month without, which resulted in deeper bonds and gratitude.

What bonds deepened during the holidays? Any course corrections for next time? Ki to Happiness shines the full moon light of gratitude to our whole community.

Hatha Yoga Center resumes it’s regular schedule with the new Postures of the Year. Our studio welcomed in the New Year with some reorganization, sorting and clearing. We enjoyed our practices and our time off.

All together, we are grateful for both the disruption in the schedule and now returning to it. Both provide us with meaningful contributions to and from others. Living a life serving the One in All is an honor and a privilege.

How do you feel about returning to normal after the holidays? What benefit comes from the disruption? Ki to Happiness looks forward to serving after taking a break to welcome 2026.

Happy New Year! We welcome 2026 with results from our votes. Postures of the Year are pranayama and 1/2 pigeon.

Both choices were tied with the same amount of votes. Instead of having a runoff between the two of them, we simply will honor both in all classes. We appreciate each member of HYC and value your participation.

How did you welcome the new year? Will you appreciate these Postures of the Year? Ki to Happiness celebrates the turning of the calendar page.

In conclusion of 2025, it may be helpful to remove some of the negative energies of the year. Smudging with sage helps to do so. It’s important that that be a safe practice with all fire protection in place including opening doors and windows if just a bit.

Nature abhors a vacuum. Recognizing this physical law, encourages us to fill the void remaining after the smudging with something intentional. I’m using honeysuckle essential oil to symbolically invite sweetness for 2026.

What energy would you like to release from 2025. How can you best symbolically represent that? Ki to Happiness smudges and opens the window.

With my helpful ride into see my banker before he retired, I was able to take another look at my old neighborhood. It’s nearly unrecognizable with dilapidated disrepair interspersed with high rise developments. Unhoused tweakers bundled against the cold, lay unconscious in the crosswalks with graffiti and detritus strewn about for the UW students and staff to navigate.

My banker and I remember the heyday of the Dotcom boom in the same neighborhood. We hugged each other and remembered the old days and what we’ve been through together as I bid him farewell. As I invited him to our live streaming group page, he said now finally he will have the time to participate.

What does your old neighborhood look like to you now? How grateful are you for the new developments? Ki to Happiness is grateful for the perspective brought by looking back so as to move forward toward greater peace.

“All is well that ends well” applies to the year’s end. It also applies to our significant relationships. My banker of 26 years retires on 12/31/25 and I must see him to say goodbye.

When he had his heart attack, he turned to me for guidance regarding yoga practices, and dietary habits. I was honored to assist him as he had counseled me so many times on financial health. Like me, he’s old school, and respects the value of the professional relationships, always adding the personal touch.

What needs your attention in order to end the year well? What significant relationships require honorable conclusions? Ki to Happiness makes sure to end 2025 well.

After both of my well attended classes yesterday morning, students lingered and expressed themselves. they voted or abstained in willingness to go with whatever the outcome is. We have students from the distance, also voting.

I’ve had to go back to a few remote voters to have them specify how they’d like their five votes to be counted. I appreciate each person‘s details. The voting booth is still up, with fresh tea, and a few more treats for those who attend in person.

Have you expressed yourself regarding the posture of the year? Are you abstaining because you are willing to accept whatever the outcome is? Ki to Happiness votes for yoga, every day.

Today is Chris List’s 60th birthday. She is Hatha Yoga Center’s manager and teaches the Friday 5:30 class. She’s been with us since her participation in our yoga teacher training program, nearly 20 years now.

We are also blessed to continue to have her in our community and provide these services for us. We celebrate her even as she is taking some time elsewhere for the holidays and her significant birthday. Your comments, memories and greeting are welcome here to share with her when she returns.

Who upholds your community? What’s the best way to celebrate them? Ki to Happiness celebrates by sharing that HYC continues to thrive with the support of Chris and welcomes your comments for her here.