Enjoying the fall colors Yoga and meditation can help us become active observers, sensitive not just to our physiology but also to the energetic balance of the universe. The United States and the World economy runs on customer-centric capitalistic principles. If there is enough of us turning off our television during the useless sensationalist news, refusing tickets at the movie theatre to one more mindless bloody action film, and buying butterfly costumes instead of gory, sc

Often living in America, it can feel that Freedom was an American invention, this is far from the truth. Swa (meaning one’s own in Sanskrit) raj (to rule over) has a dual meaning through history. Swaraj or Freedom was spoken of in the Indian Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita (we will read in Teacher Training) starting about 1000 B.C. One interpretation of Swaraj as strictly political; to rule over one’s land. But the second and much more discussed meaning is spiritual or psycholog

My name is Dora; I am a business owner, a teacher, an IMMIGRANT, a naturalized citizen, I contribute to the economy and the well-being of this country. I never was late to pay my taxes or my credit card. I have no criminal record; I don’t even break the speed limit; something that drives my husband crazy. I am an obsessive compulsive rule follower. I respect the law, and I AM ANGRY. I teach mindfulness, and I tell my students that there is no such a thing as bad emotions. Ins

A few months ago we published an article from Keri on how her yoga practice allows her to find ground as a physician and as a patient. This week Spira reached out to Minda, who is an immigration lawyer and mom when she is not on her mat practicing. When I first read her essay, it brought tears to my eyes. I hope you will enjoy reading her yoga journey and find strength in your practice and life through her experience. If you are interested in sharing how yoga helps to balance

Happy Thanksgiving, from Jenna’s family to yours! Dear Students, My dear friend Jenna wrote this year’s Thanksgiving Blog. She is among many things a Spira yogi, Spira’s social media guru and a graduate of Spira’s Teacher Training and your future teacher when she is ready for the task. Jenna not only supports me with Social Media, but she is my sounding board when I need advice. Every small business owner needs someone who is willing to challenge and discuss ideas to grow. Je

Let’s remember President Kennedy’s words “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country!” There is no better time than now to remember these words. The next president has an amazingly difficult job. Whether that was going to be Clinton or Trump, they are in a way set up for failure. The expectations and the discontent of the country are painfully high. We feel that we have a divided country, much due to campaign strategies of the two party an

The way you practice yoga, think and speak can heal our world. Listen now A few weeks ago, in part one of Healing Our World blog series, I explained how yoga is not a self-centered practice. (Here is a link to that blog in case you missed it) The goal of yoga is to discover the inter-relatedness of our universe. I have mentioned that the process of finding universality starts with ‘inward gazing’, but the goal is not to get stuck on the inner-centeredness. Via a few examples,

When I set out to open a neighborhood yoga studio, I had a vision of creating a community where folks came not only to work out and get fit, but they came to re-charge their spirit, meet with existing friends and find new friends. I am happy to say my vision came true. Spira is a bustling, pulsing community. Though at Spira Power Yoga we teach a physically challenging workout, I believe yoga is not about flexibility and fitness; these are simply the side effects of the practi