A Joyful Practice

No Zoom Class Means You Can “Do it differently…” August 15, 2026

Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing the Dormition Fast and/or cultivating communication that leads to peace — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside).

Stay hydrated & be kind, y’all!

“Do it differently
So it won’t come out the same
Step up, be strong,
Get yourself out of pain.”

— quoted from the poem “DIFFERENTLY” by Donna Garrett

Have you ever noticed a pattern in your life? Have you ever noticed certain things happening around the same time year after year? I have. Some of those things are situations over which we have no control (like my mother passing away at the beginning of August 2020 and my brother being hospitalized in August of 2026). Then there are things over which we have some control… like how we deal with the patterns in our lives.

While I am doing some things differently this year (specifically to get myself out of pain/suffering), some things seem to be the same. I emphasized “seem”, because although I am once again cancelling some classes in August, I am cancelling them for different reasons… and some of those reasons are a definite choice.

There are no Zoom classes today (Saturday, August 15^th) or Monday (August 17^th); however, I am planning to hold the regular Sunday class. I apologize for the inconvenience (especially as I will be cancelling some upcoming classes so that I can visit my brother).

Meanwhile, I am sending recordings to anyone on the class email lists and, of course, you can always check out one of my videos.

Click on the excerpt titles below for the philosophical posts that inspired previous practices on this date.

Consider What’s Downstream

Do It, But Differently (the Sunday post)

“In the conventional practice of non-violence we are not led to entertain a stream of structured, organized non-violent thoughts. For example, when someone slaps us on the right cheek, we are told to offer the left one also—this is said to be practicing non-violence. But this approach to non-violence does not free us from pain, nor does it purify our mind. According to Vyasa, we must design a system of practice that neutralizes the force of violence, step-by-step and point-by-point. In violence, the mind is churning out negative thoughts involuntarily. To practice non-violence, we have to train the mind to churn out positive thoughts voluntarily. We accomplish this by the methodical practice of contemplation.”

— quoted from the commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.33 from The Practice of the Yoga Sutra: Sadhana Pada by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD

You can request an audio recording of a related practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra       (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

The playlist we used for the 2023 practices is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “0123-24/2022 Doing: Lessons in…”]

NOTE: If it is accessible to you, please consider using the Spotify playlist as it contains the original music (referenced in the original practice). Even better, if you already have the album!

The original Keith Jarrett recording is not available on YouTube (in the US) without a “Premium” membership and, after listening to several different “interpretations” – which do not / cannot include the vocalizations – I decided the Fausto Bongelli sounded the closest to the original. Sadly, one movement is missing and so I used a recording by Tomasz Trzcinkinski, who was the first person to record the music using the transcription. There are also now transcriptions for other instruments – which I didn’t sample, even though I think some of them would be lovely. There are also “covers” using electronic instruments, which I’m considering a hard pass (even if it seems contradictory to the original theme), out of respect for the composer. 

Extreme heat can not only make people lethargic and unmotivated, it can also lead to extreme agitation and anxiety-based fear. We may find it hard to think, hard to feel (or process our feelings), and/or hard to control our impulses. If you are struggling in the US, help is available just by dialing 988.

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 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 need 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.

You’re Invited to Bend… & To Take The Deepest Breath You’ve Taken — On Retreat!

September 25 — 27, 2026

### OM OM AUM ###