Do you ever get pulled down the drain of a mental spiral? Do you wake at night with a racing mind? Do you lean toward the pattern of anxiety?

Did you know that studies have found that imagining your life without something you are grateful for, as opposed to just feeling grateful for it, has an even greater impact on your emotional well-being?

You know that yoga is "good for you." But what does that mean?

I tend to think of the basics, like better balance, muscle tone and flexibility, along with ease of mind, solid sleep and menopause management (maybe that's just me ;).

I recently heard the idea that life is 50/50 – that 50% of the time you will want the things that are happening, the things you call good. The other 50% can range from a mild dislike to the deepest devastation and despair.

As we enter this new season, celebrate when you get to choose the rebalancing of qualities like work and rest, structure and play, social and solitude.

This photo is of me on the porch of my bungalow in Kauai where I was leading a yoga retreat in 2007. The pose is kapotasana, King Pigeon.

In a newsletter this past spring, my dear friend Kelly shared a teaching she heard years ago: A Queen Never Rushes.  Since reading it, this phrase has been my guiding mantra.

Studies have found that imagining your life without something that you love -- as opposed to just feeling grateful for it -- has a greater impact on your emotional well-being.

When I take Pearl for walks (full moon walk in photo at top), I love to listen to podcasts. Usually I listen to business podcasts, but lately I've been enjoying a break and listening to something fun.

Last week I listened to David Whyte on On Being, where he talks, in part, about asking Beautiful Questions.

Attention is closely related to intention, which we are familiar with in yoga practice. We can set an intention at the start of the day or a task, which will guide our attention.

Here’s my question for you… When something’s got to give, what goes first for you?

(For me, it’s social activities. Next it’s making dinner -- I recently found a couple of local vegan meal prep services! And sometimes, yes, it's my self care.)

It's one of the most important questions we can ask when considering any kind of protocol or advice: "For whom and when?"

This is a common adage in Ayurveda and other holistic systems of health. But it need not be relegated to the medical field.

What kind of yoga class is best?

What should I eat?

Should I work out or take it easy today?

It's one of the most important questions we can ask when considering any kind of protocol or advice: "For whom and when?"

This is a common adage in Ayurveda and other holistic systems of health. But it need not be relegated to the medical field.

What kind of yoga class is best?

What should I eat?

Should I work out or take it easy today?

When you are nourished, you can do more...with ease. When you are rested, you make better decisions and are more focused.

Or put conversely, when we "power through" a rough patch, we stress our immune systems, we can be grumpy and impatient, and because it's not sustainable, we will burn out.

At the start of the pandemic, I offered a mediation called, "Of course."

As in, of course you bought all the toilet paper, of course you have a headache, of course you yelled at the dog.

Dear January,

I appreciate your enthusiasm, as you charge through the doorway of December 31 with streamers and a song. You cheer us on with gusto as we stumble out of the holiday snow globe.

It’s come to my attention that some people I think I have it all together.

I heard from several women in the 50/50 conversations that I can come across with a kind of perfection that's easy to idealize.

Yes, I am kind and compassionate, elegant and generous, self-aware and insightful, intelligent and good at what I do.

Through the filters of my values, I could step through the unexpected and feel guided rather than abandoned.

The 50/50 conversations are underway and what a gift this has been already! I've talked to ten women so far and have been touched by every conversation. In fact, this letter is based on one of those conversations.