A Joyful Practice

A Quick Note & EXCERPTS: “Who’s Afraid of Sitting, Breathing… in a Room?” & “Sitting, Breathing… in a Room” January 25, 2026

Many blessings to everyone, everywhere. “Happy Burns Day!” to those who are celebrating! May we all have sovereignty of our own selves. 

May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong!

“… a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction…”

— quoted from the essay “A Room of One’s Own,” as it appears in A Room of One’s Own And, Three Guineas by Virginia Woolf

Today is the anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns (b. 1759), Virginia Woolf (b. 1882), and Alicia Keys (b. 1981). As a side note, The Air I Breathe premiered in the United States today in 2008.

Not all of this comes up in the practice, but….

Click on the excerpt titles below for what Yoga and Virginia Woolf have in common.

NOTE: The excerpted posts begin the same, but are very different. The first (from 2025) focuses on storytelling. The second (from 2022) focuses on mental health.

Who’s Afraid of Sitting, Breathing… in a Room? (the “missing” Saturday post w/an excerpt)

Sitting, Breathing… in a Room [the “missing” Tuesday post]

“surājye dhārmike deśe subhikṣhe nirupadrave |
dhanuḥ pramāṇa-paryantaṃ śilāghni-jala-varjite |
ekānte maṭhikā-madhye sthātavyaṃ haṭha-yoghinā || 12 ||

The Yogī should practise [sic] Haṭha Yoga in a small room, situated in a solitary place, being 4 cubits square, and free from stones, fire, water, disturbances of all kinds, and in a country where justice is properly administered, where good people live, and food can be obtained easily and plentifully.”

— quoted from “Chapter 1. On Āsanas” of the Haţha Yoga Pradipika, translated by Pancham Sinh (1914)

Please join me today (Sunday, January 25^th) at 2:30 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra     (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify.  [Look for “01252022 Sitting, Breathing… in a Room”]

If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).

In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).

Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.

### SIT, BREATHE, KNOW YOU ARE SITTING & BREATHING ###