This past weekend we had a lovely gathering of friends and family at the studio celebrating the life of John Bolan and the community he helped grow. There were gifted visual artists and artisans. There was divine music by Konstantin Polyakov. There was fresh produce and plant starts by local farmers. Most importantly there were
The moderator called us a “dynamic duo.” I kind of smiled inside. Certainly my brother and I had illusions of animated cartoon grandeur when we were growing up; we were going to “take over the world!” But to be introduced that way in our first on-stage event of our lives was a bucket list moment.
(From Thanksgiving 2018) Gratitude is more than feeling fortunate. Feeling fortunate has been aligned with luck. Reveling in personal luck and abundance over others’ suffering and lack implies a right to an unearned privilege. I cannot celebrate my unearned privilege of fortune and be grateful I wasn’t in a wildfire, earthquake, volcano, typhoon, war, genocide
“How do I turn my brain off?” This is a frequent question. “Will yoga teach me to turn off my mind?” The pace and pressure of modern American life is squeezing people into a corner where there’s nowhere to hide from the mind chatter. And most of the solace we take is in stuff that
(Inner voice asks) Have I always wanted to start a revolution? You betcha! And it’s true, I’ve had a hint of angst and sense of social justice from a young age. I can recall the chatter “that’s not fair” in my little 8-year old inner voice. Most of the time the “not fair” regarded not
When I got a report that one of my teen yoga students had started an extreme starvation diet because she hated her body I knew it was time to jump into the deep end of the pool of body positivity with this group. I pulled out some Jessamyn Stanley videos. This beautiful, curvy woman
Name: Betty Gauthier Pronoun: She, her, hers When did you start coming to Just B Yoga? What attracted you? Early 2017 I believe. I greatly appreciated the diversity of the classes and the love and acceptance of all people regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity. As a sexual abuse survivor I felt
As I stirred my tea this morning I realized the rippling dreadful and defeating sensation I’ve been feeling lately. I am participating in a daylong event that includes a trauma survivor workshop. I haven’t felt like a survivor that much lately although I teach yoga to survivors of sexual trauma and I give presentations
Name: Kendra Pyle Kanaboshi Pronoun: she/her/hers When did you start coming to Just B Yoga? What attracted you? My fiancé (now husband), Naoki, and I started coming to Just B Yoga in late fall 2015. Naoki did a search for yoga studies online. I was attracted to the studio because it is community-focused and makes
There is a Lavender Farm in Lansing, just north of Old Town. It’s called Sixteen Sprigs. It’s off Cesar Chavez on Clifton. It’s amazing how beauty is right in front of all. We just have to open our eyes. Or change our patterns. Or walk a different route. Or turn a
Recently, while at a protest against the separation of children from their parents at the southern border, I found myself surrounded by friends. It seemed every few moments someone came up to give me an embrace. I was touched at how many people I know from different walks of life, some attached to Just B
My first experience with Buddhism was at a monastery in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. in the late 1990s. I took a fellow journalist to an introduction to meditation. It was in a listing in the alternative newspaper and it was free. It was led by Lama Norlha, the abbot there. My friend was itching
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