“You can’t give what you don’t have”, I hear my teacher saying. He also reminds us constantly about our personal practice. About 26 years ago, one of my first yoga teachers began to teach me how to meditate. As a professional dancer, I pretty much could fold my body into a pretzel, so asana seemed to be accessible (later I learned that I could really take asana to a much deeper level), but sitting and staying still, that was the most difficult thing for me. I remember either

Yes, I have to confess the hardest thing about the Mexico Viniyoga retreats that I lead is to come back, which speaks about my wish of having all my delicious meals ready after I work, getting dishes that seem to be magically washed, a house that seems to be dust proof, since it is always tidy, and the sun warming my skin every morning after I watch the sunrise from the roof of Casa de Adobe, sipping endless coffee that my husband made. Today, I had a free day back home, not

I have been reflecting on the nature and purpose of attachment, and reminding myself of Mary Oliver’s words when she says: “To live in this world, you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.” After my last dear bus driver left, Trimet (probably to test me!) has been doing its best to change the drivers, so every time I look at a new one I tr

Some time ago the bus I take got rerouted. It’s a long story and to make it short I will just say that I never really knew, for a few weeks, where and when I was going to be able to take it. This already reflects how predictable taking a bus is usually in Portland, and how lucky I am to mention this as an uncommon thing. One day I was told that the bus would come to the usual stop again, and I waited there with disbelief and expectation. Needless to say, I was extremely happy

The taste of the still warm cherry tomatoes was so sweet and delicious. I grabbed them this afternoon from the plant, and they felt really alive in my mouth, warm from the sun, generously giving me all of their flavor. I was aware, though, that this special treat is coming to an end, at least for this year. The leaves of the blueberry bushes already turned color, we already ate all the prunes, even the grapes that are left are turning small and dry. Our youngest son just move

As much as I love to teach, I also love my free days. On free days, life goes a little bit slower, and sometimes pajamas are required, with the risk of being seen by the neighbors in my sleeping outfit while watering the garden or getting the mail. It was one of those days when I decided to take a long, very long time, to have my chocolate. When I say chocolate, I say something that has a lot of meaning to me. In Oaxaca, where I used to live before coming to Portland, they ha

Sometimes I wonder why I keep so much noise in my mind. This morning I reviewed scenarios, thought about smart things to say in class, quotes to mention, things to add to my website, all this while I was sitting in Meditation, at the end of my morning practice, which consisted today in asana (postures), a Kriya (Kapalabhati), Nadi Sodana Pranayama, and Meditation. The humming of the sound of Om in a recording stopped, and I listened to a deep silence, really feeling that I wa

My friend Coral is a vibrant and creative beautiful woman, and I always listened to her advice. One of the things she used to do, when we were both dancers and touring throughout the world, was to drink more water when she was drinking coffee. I would need to ask her now, but from what I remember, if she had a cup of coffee, she would add a glass of water. She also told me about wearing gloves to wash dishes, which I didn’t do, having potatoes from time to time, to have the p

“Like the silkworm, you have built a cocoon around yourself. Who will save you? Burst your own cocoon and come out as a beautiful butterfly, as the free soul.” -Swami Vivekananda March begins in Portland with unexpected sunshine, and a somewhat premature flower festival. Even if I really enjoy this, I catch myself wanting some of the flowers to wait, as if they could hold their breath until it is “the right moment to blossom”. Life is just like that, a constant reminder of th

It took me some time to appreciate the change of seasons in Oregon. Born in Mexico, I took the sunny days for granted. It is after 6 years and many Mary Oliver poems that I appreciate the rain, and the nuances in the weather as the year and the earth are transformed. Transformation is what has been happening in my life, and I’m sure, in every person’s life. I can see the changes in my body-not as young anymore. I remember memories, I think of what remains, when the day begin