[FTWMI] 2 EXCERPTS: “Re-Introducing SOPHIE” & “How Do You Love Ye?” (the post-practice Monday post) August 24, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Love, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Art, avidya, Books, Goth, Intolerance, music, Paulo Coelho, Sophie Lancaster, Sophie Lancaster Foundation, Sylvia Lancaster, Writing, yoga, yoga philosophy
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing the Dormition (Theotokos) Fast; and/or working to cultivate friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside) — on the International Day Against Intolerance, Discrimination, & Violence Based on Musical Preference.
Stay hydrated & be kind, y’all!
For Those Who Missed It: This post-practice post for Monday, August 24th, was originally posted in 2025. Some formatting, links, and retreat information have been added/updated. The 2026 prompt question was, “What is your favorite kind/genre of music?” You can request an audio recording of these practices or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
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.
“. . . the great aim of every human being is to understand the meaning of total love. Love is not to be found in someone else, but in ourselves; we simply awaken it. But in order to do that, we need the other person.”
— quoted from Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho (b. 1947)
Click on the first excerpt title below to “meet” Sophie Lancaster and the second excerpt title for a mini-post about Paulo Coelho.
“During the long hours at hospital, Sylvia decided that when Sophie was better, they would go into schools and talk to young people about difference, and how it is ok to be who you are and express yourself in your own way. Sadly, Sylvia never got a chance to do this with Sophie.”
— quoted from the “Welcome” page for the Sophie Lancaster Foundation
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices; however….
You can find music referenced in the practice and in the excerpted posts on the playlist available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “08242021 A Day for SOPHIE”]
NOTE: The YouTube playlist contains this video with a graphic depiction of violence.
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).
You’re Invited to Bend… & To Take The Deepest Breath You’ve Taken — On Retreat!
September 25 — 27, 2026
### “Love is looking at the same mountains from different angles.” ~ Paulo Coelho ###
EXCERPT (repost): “All These Easter Eggs Are About Hope… Not Blind Optimism” August 23, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Abhyasa, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Depression, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Loss, Music, Pain, Philosophy, Poetry, Suffering, Tragedy, Vairagya, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, Adrienne Wilkinson, Books, Captain Lexxa Singh, Fitness, mental health, Philosophy, Stoicism, William Ernest Henley, Writing
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Many blessings to you all. Make sure to rest, relax, hydrate, and smile (when you can) — especially if you are observing the Dormition (Theotokos) Fast.
Stay hydrated & be kind, y’all!
“Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.”
— quoted from the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley
Click on the excerpt title below for more about William Ernest Henley (b. 1849) and how his life and work continues to inspire billions.
FTWMI: All These Easter Eggs Are About Hope… Not Blind Optimism
“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
— quoted from “The Sermon on the Mount,” in The Gospel According to Matthew (7:14)
“It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.”
— quoted from “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley
Please join me today (Sunday, August 23rd) at 2:30 PM for a “spirited” 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 “08232020 Henley’s Invictus Day”]
(NOTE: The playlists have slightly different before/after practice content. Both include the poem, but the YouTube playlist has a little more!)
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
### YES! I WILL LEAVE A LIGHT ON!! ###
No Zoom Class Means You Can “Do it differently…” August 15, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Books, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Meditation, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Suffering, Vipassana, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Anushka Fernandopulle, Bhagavad Gita, Donna Garrett, Fausto Bongelli, Keith Jarrett, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Tomasz Trzcinkinski, Vyasa, Yoga Sutra 1.10, Yoga Sutra 1.6, Yoga Sutra 2.33
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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 15th) or Monday (August 17th); 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.
“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 ###
FTWMI (repost): Saying Yes to Life and to the “Impossible” & EXCERPT: “The Powerful Possibilities That Come From ‘A Brother’s Love’” (w/practice video) August 2, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, James Baldwin, Life, Loss, Love, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Suffering, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wisdom, Writing, Yin Yoga, Yoga.Tags: 988, Aimee Lehto, Allan Warren, America, Beau Lotto, being present, Boyd Croyner, Civil Rights, courage, Emily Dickinson, Health, inspiration, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, meditation, Mindfulness, PRIDE, Richard Avedon, samskāras, truth, vasanas, wellness, yoga
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone cultivating peace, freedom, and wisdom — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside). Stay hydrated, y’all!
For Those Who Missed It: The following was originally posted in 2024 (as the invitation to First Friday Night Special #46) and reposted in 2025 with the practice video below and a picture (visible to those on WordPress).
Class details, plus some links and formatting, have been added/updated.
“The light that’s in your eyes / reminds me of the skies / that shine above us every day—so wrote a contemporary lover, out of God knows what agony, what hope, and what despair. But he saw the light in the eyes, which is the only light there is in the world, and honored it and trusted it; and will always be able to find it; since it is always there, waiting to be found. One discovers the light in darkness, that is what darkness is for; but everything in our lives depends on how we bear the light. It is necessary, while in darkness, to know that there is a light somewhere, to know that in oneself, waiting to be found, there is a light. What the light reveals is danger, and what it demands is faith.”
“What a journey this life is! dependent, entirely, on things unseen.”
— quoted from the essay “Nothing Personal” by James Baldwin (b. 1924), original published as part of a collaboration with Richard Avedon
Born today in Harlem, New York, in 1924, the author James Baldwin was — by his own words (see excerpt below) — an impossible person. He was someone who said yes to life and yes to the light inside of himself. He was someone, as Maya Angelou pointed out, who lived with his whole heart and encouraged others to do the same.
To live with one’s whole heart is the original meaning of “courage,” a word James Baldwin put in the same category as words like “artist,” “integrity,” “nobility,” “peace,” and “integration.” Words that, he said (in the speech “The Artist’s Struggle for Integrity”), “[depend] on choices one has got to make, for ever and ever and ever, every day.”
Of course, to make those choices wisely, we need to have some semblance of balance — especially as it relates to the heart.
Click on the excerpt title below for more.
FTWMI: The Powerful Possibilities That Come From “A Brother’s Love”
“I have slept on rooftops and in basements and subways, have been cold and hungry all my life; have felt that no fire would ever warm me, and no arms would ever hold me. I have been, as the song says, ‘buked and scorned and I know that I always will be. But, my God, in that darkness, which was the lot of my ancestors and my own state, what a mighty fire burned! In that darkness of rape and degradation, that fine flying froth and mist of blood, through all that terror and in all that helplessness, a living soul moved and refused to die. We really emptied oceans with a home-made spoon and tore down mountains with our hands. And if love was in Hong Kong, we learned how to swim.
It is a mighty heritage, it is the human heritage, and it is all there is to trust. And I learned this through descending, as it were, into the eyes of my father and my mother. I wondered, when I was little, how they bore it—for I knew that they had much to bear. It had not yet occurred to me that I also would have much to bear; but they knew it, and the unimaginable rigors of their journey helped them to prepare me for mine. This is why one must say Yes to life and embrace it wherever it is found—and it is found in terrible places; nevertheless, there it is; and if the father can say, Yes. Lord, the child can learn that most difficult of words, Amen.”
— quoted from the essay “Nothing Personal” by James Baldwin (b. 1924), original published as part of a collaboration with Richard Avedon
Please join me today (Sunday, August 2nd) 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 “Langston’s Theme for Jimmy 2022”]
Can I interest you in James Baldwin & a little Yin Yoga!
The Yin Yoga playlist is also available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “08022024 A Brother’s Love”]
NOTE: The tracks on the Yin Yoga playlist are slightly different in length and duration, depending on the platform. Start with track 1, 8, or 10.
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
### MORE LOVE ###
[Yet Another] REMINDER & EXCERPT: “Practice Responsibly” (the “missing” Sunday post) July 26, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Buddhism, Changing Perspectives, Fitness, Healing Stories, Karma, Life, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: "Major Heat", 988, Anneke Lucas, Ashtanga, B.K.S. Iyengar, David Wilton, Dà shǔ, ethics, Fitness, hatha yoga, moral compass, morals, Sri Pattabhi Jois, Thomas Murner, values, vinyasa, William J. Broad, Yin Yoga, yoga, Yoga Sutra 1.1, Yoga Sutras 2.30-2.31, 大暑
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Peace, blessings, and hydration!
This “missing” (and backdated) compilation post for Sunday, July 26th, includes new and revised/re-purposed content, as well as an excerpt. 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.
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.
Yoga Sūtra 1.1: atha yogānuśāsanam
— “Here, now, at this auspicious moment, [having been prepared according to the ancient traditions] begins the instruction of Yoga.”
We begin every practice by getting centered and grounded in the present moment. We sit. We breathe. We rinse and repeat. For many, this is not only how they were introduced to yoga; this is the majority of what they know about yoga. However, every once in a while, I think it is good to remember that your introduction to yoga was the beginning of your yoga practice; but, not the beginning of Yoga.
Hatha yoga, the physical practice of yoga (regardless of style or tradition), is a combination of āsana (“seat” or pose) and prāṇāyāma (awareness of breath, extension of breath). It is the way in which many people in the modern world are introduced to yoga. However, neither element is the beginning of the Yoga Philosophy. Āsana is the third limb, prāṇāyāma is the fourth limb. The practice of one leads to the other and the combined practice leads to the last four limbs: pratyāhāraḥ (“sense withdrawal”), dhāraṇā (“focus [on a single point]”), dhyāna (“concentration”), samādhiḥ (“[deep or perfect] meditation”). Here, again, one leads to the other and the combined practice leads to a plethora of abilities and overall wellbeing.
But, before all of that, there are ethical components. Even if you have never heard of them — and even if they are never explicitly stated during a practice — there is no yoga (“union”) without the first two limbs. Now, to be clear, you don’t necessarily need to know how the 5 external restraints and the 5 internal observations are laid out in the Yoga Sūtras; because, when you come to the mat, you bring a moral compass. This moral compass is based on ethics and values that may have been given to you in the form of commandments, precepts, sunnah, hadith, (secular) laws, and/or house rules. Either way, you bring it all to the mat and your values guide your behavior.
You may think of your values as being specific to a particular culture, religion, and/or philosophy; but, it turns out that some things are “universal” — and practicing without these values is irresponsible.
For Those Who Missed It: The following is a revised version of the 2025 reminder. Some date-related information, links, and formatting have been updated/added.
Yoga Sūtra 2.30: ahimsāsatyāsteyabrahmcaryāparigrahā yamāh
— “Non-violence (or non-harming), truthfulness, non-stealing, walking in awareness of the highest reality, and non-possessiveness (or non-hording) are the restraints (or universal commandments).”
Yoga Sūtra 2.31: jātideśakālasamayānavacchinnāh sārvabhaumā mahāvratam
— “[The five restraints] are not affected by class, race, ethnicity, place, time, and circumstance. They are universal and become a great vow.”
During the 2025 Saturday practices, we started working our way through two (2) courses outlined by B. K. Iyengar (b. 12/14/1918). Today (July 26th) is the anniversary of the birth of Sri Pattabhi Jois (b. 1915) — and a great opportunity to look at the differences and similarities between the two practices, as well as investigate why we do what we do on the mat. [Spoiler Alert: Since it is Dà shǔ (大暑, “Great heat” or “Major heat”) on the traditional Chinese calendar, this practice also features a little Yin Yoga.]
However, there is an elephant in the room. It has been here the whole time and it’s on a rampage. It would be irresponsible of me not to mention it. So….
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.*
*NOTE: The post excerpted above contains references to teachers and spiritual leaders behaving badly and abusing their power.
“I was far more hurt by the culture of silence and ignoring the victim and victim-blaming than the abuse itself. If there would’ve been support from the community, and it had been dealt with, it would have gone away.”
— Anneke Lucas, founder of Liberation Prison Yoga, quoted in The New Yorker (07/23/2019) about confronting Sri Pattabhi Jois
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “04192020 Noticing Things”]
NOTE: Each playlist is actually two playlists and you can decide which one you use. You can start with Track #1, Track #11 (for the least breaks on either platform), or start with Track #12, #13, or #14 for a slightly psychedelic experience. Track #14 on the Spotify is self-contained.
“Throw the baby out with the bathwater (or more accurately das Kind mit dem Bade ausschütten) is a German proverb that dates to 1512. It was first recorded by Thomas Murner in his satire Narrenbbeschwörung (Appeal to Fools), in which he uses it as a chapter title. Murner uses the phrase several times in his chapter and the original manuscript even has a woodcut of a woman tossing a baby out with the wastewater.”
— quoted from Word Myths: Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends by David Wilton
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).
You’re Invited to Bend… & To Take The Deepest Breath You’ve Taken — On Retreat!
September 25 — 27, 2026
### “HOW YOU DO YOGA, IS HOW YOU DO LIFE” ###
Remembering Last Year’s Taco Tuesday (a quick note with excerpts) July 22, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Books, Buddhism, Changing Perspectives, Food, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Health, Life, One Hoop, Philosophy, Suffering, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wisdom, Yin Yoga, Yoga.Tags: 988, Alex Trebek, David Chang, Dà shǔ, Edward Hopper, Efrem Korngold L.A.c. O.M.D., Emma Lazarus, Harriet Beinfield L.Ac., santosha, santoşā, shoshin, Tom Robbins, Tony Vigorito, 大暑
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Many blessings to everyone, everywhere (and especially to those working to keep their cool)!
“The truth, from my perspective, is that the world, indeed, is ending — and is also being reborn. It’s been doing that all day, every day, forever. Each time we exhale, the world ends; when we inhale, there can be, if we allow it, rebirth and spiritual renewal. It all transpires inside of us. In our consciousness, in our hearts. All the time.”
— Tom Robbins quoted in the Reality Sandwich article “The Syntax of Sorcery: An Interview with Tom Robbins” by Tony Vigorito (posted online June 6, 2012)
The following is a revised and note from 2025.
A week ago (in 2025), I headed outside despite the heat — and despite knowing it was just going to get “greater”. I headed out, because it was Tuesday and I desired some “Box Tacos”. Only, the place with the really good vegan stuff inexplicably closed just as I pulled up. So, what did I do with all that desire (and hunger)?
I remembered that “I can’t always get what I want… but I could get what I need”. Then I practiced a little gratitude (because I had other options) and also a little santosha (“contentment”).
In the end, one could argue if I made the right choice (at least on one level). On the practice level, however, there is no arguing with reality. That day, “the perfect taco” turned out to be a salad.
Today is the anniversary of the birth of Tom Robbins (b. 1932) and also the beginning of Dà shǔ ( 大暑 ), “Great heat” or “Major heat”).
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLES BELOW FOR MORE!
FTWMI: If only it was Taco Tuesday… [with Good Advice] (a Monday post-practice post)
Dà shǔ “Major Heat” 2023 (an updated and revised post) *UPDATED*
“The key is to achieve balance, which means being flexible, diverse, moderate, and in harmony with your own rhythm and needs.”
— quoted from the “Everyday Life” section of “Chapter Four – Cycles of Circles: A Theory of Relativity Yin-Yang” in Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine by Harriet Beinfield, L.Ac. and Efrem Korngold, L.Ac., O. M. D.
Please join me today (Wednesday, July 22nd) at 4:30 PM or 7:15 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 by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “07222020 The Perfect Taco”]
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
### WHAT’S YOUR PERFECT TACO? ###
Another Quick Note & EXCERPT: “A Quick Note & Excerpts About Using the Hook…” (the post-practice Monday post) July 20, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Changing Perspectives, Donate, Faith, Fitness, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Karma Yoga, Life, Love, Meditation, Music, One Hoop, Peace, Pema Chodron, Philosophy, Suffering, Volunteer, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, Carlos Santana, Emily Perl Kingsley, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Four R's, Ian Thomas, Neal Schon, Pema Chodron, Rosemary Kennedy, Santana, shenpa, Shenpa & The Practice of Getting Unhooked, Special Olympics
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone putting together the pieces for peace, freedom, and wisdom (inside and outside).
This is the post-practice post for Monday, July 20th. The 2026 prompt question was, “On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you deal with the unexpected?” You can request an audio recording of these practices or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
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.
“Don’t rush me, just this once
I wanna make this moment last
Slow down the pace, there’s no hurry
I can’t let another pass me by again
Let me be the one to say when I’ve had enough
Just let me close my eyes, memorize
The way things are this minute”
— quoted from the song “Hold On” by Santana (written by Ian Thomas1)
The practices over the last week have partially focused on the American Tibetan Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön’s teachings around the concept of shenpa and the practice of the four R’s. One of the underlying truths within these practices is that, when our buttons get pushed, when we get hot, we lose focus on this present moment. Or, more precisely, we lose focus of what is important in this present moment. And, so, the practices are ultimately about staying present, right here and right now.
But, here’s a curious thing: While the Tibetan word shenpa can be translated into English as “urge, impulse, charge, or attachment”, it was first introduced to me as “hook” — which made me think of music. A musical hook, in some ways, draws us into the present moment and, so, it can be a really convenient way to practice using the hook to get unhooked. Since we don’t typically use music during the Common Ground Meditation Center practices, today, I only made a passing reference to the “hooky” music of Carlos Santana, who was born today in 1947.
The music, however, has always been just one little piece of the July 20th practices. Mostly, today’s practices (over the years) have been inspired by the first Special Olympics games (today in 1968) and the fact that we can get “hooked” when our expectations are not met (i.e., when things are not as we expect them to be based on our previous experiences).
“Rosemary was born September thirteenth at home—a normal delivery. She was a beautiful child, resembling my mother in physical appearance. But early in life Rosemary was different. She was slower to crawl, slower to walk and speak than her two bright brothers. My mother was told she would catch up later, but she never did.
— quoted from a September 22, 1962, article by Eunice Kennedy Shriver printed in The Saturday Evening Post
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.
“Today
Is all I really need to find the answers
I’ll find the constant flow
Of all the harmony”
— quoted from the song “All the Love of the Universe” by Carlos Santana (b. 07/20/1947), written by Carlos Santana / Neal Schon
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
NOTE: In previous years, we have used a playlist available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “07202021 Using the Hook”] The YouTube playlist has an extra track in the before/after section.
“…you catch your breath, you look around…. and you begin to notice….”
— quoted from “Welcome to Holland” by Emily Perl Kingsley ©1987
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).
You’re Invited to Bend… & To Take The Deepest Breath You’ve Taken — On Retreat!
September 25 — 27, 2026
NOTE: 1The song “Hold On” was written and originally recorded by Ian Thomas. For some reason, some of the online credits related to the Santana cover (on the The Essential Santana album) list “Ian Bland, Stephen Paul Thomas” as songwriters. I don’t believe these latter credits are accurate; but, I am including them here just in case.
### BIG, Big Hugs ###
FTWMI: A Quick Note & EXCERPTS RE: Accusations July 19, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Abhyasa, Buddhism, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Life, One Hoop, Peace, Pema Chodron, Philosophy, Suffering, Tragedy, Vairagya, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Alfred Dreyfus, Dj Shadow, Dreyfus Affair, Emile Zola, J'Accuse!, L'Affaire, Pema Chodron, shenpa
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Peace and many blessings to everyone, everywhere.
For Those Who Missed It: It kind of doesn’t matter that the following was originally posted in 2025, because it keeps being a timely post. Some class details, links, and formatting have been updated/added.
“And now the image of [our country] is sullied by this filth, and history shall record that it was under your presidency that this crime against society was committed.
At the root of it all is one evil man. … Nobody would ever believe the experiments to which he subjected the unfortunate….”
— from “J’Accuse” by Emile Zola, published in L’Aurore on January 13, 1898
As DJ Shadow once said, “It is happening again…. It is happening again.” The news and social media are full of public accusations of someone doing something nefarious and unethical, followed by a writer (or writers) being accused of libel because of something they printed in the newspaper.
The same thing happened in 2020 (and 2021 and 2022), 2023 (and 2024 and 2025) — and the same thing was happening when Emile Zola fled France today in 1898 (which is where we begin).
CLICK ON THE EXCERPTS BELOW FOR HOW WE CAN USE THESE EVENTS TO GET UNHOOKED!
A Segue & FTWMI: Still Getting (Un)Hooked, After All These Years
“As they have dared, so shall I dare. Dare to tell the truth, as I have pledged to tell it, in full, since the normal channels of justice have failed to do so. My duty is to speak out; I do not wish to be an accomplice in this travesty. My nights would otherwise be haunted by the spectre of the innocent man, far away, suffering the most horrible of tortures for a crime he did not commit.”
— from “J’Accuse” by Emile Zola, published in L’Aurore on January 13, 1898
Since it keeps happening, we’ll keep practicing. Please join me today (Sunday, July 19th) 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 “07192020 Compassion & Peace, J’Accuse!”]
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
### RRRR(R+R) ###
Taking Another Look @ Madiba’s Lessons on Compassion, Peace, and Music (the “missing” Saturday compilation post) July 18, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: #46664, "Impossible" People, 988, Charl Blignaut, David G. Myers, freedom, Jesse Jackson, Madiba, Malcolm A. Jeeves, maya, Nelson Mandela, Quote Investigator, Robert Owen, samskāras, Shabbat Chazon, svadyaya, svādhyāya, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Yvonne Chaka Chaka
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“Shabbat Shalom” to anyone observing Shabbat Chazon! Peace and many, many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone practicing peace, freedom, and wisdom (inside and outside)!
This is the “missing” compilation post for Saturday, July 18th. It includes some new and “remixed/re-purposed” content, as well as excerpts. 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.
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.
“If my mind can conceive it, if my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it….”
— quoted from a March 4, 1979, speech at Anderson College in Anderson, Indiana by Jesse Jackson1
According to the old adage, “What man can conceive, man can achieve”. And, while there are a plethora of different ways to express this sentiment, the Reverend Jesse Jackson proclaimed a crucial piece of the formula: Belief. We have to believe in the thing that we conceive. We have to believe in ourselves. On a certain level, we have to believe in the world. Belief is the tricky part. Because our beliefs are based on previous experiences, doing the “impossible”, requires belief in something with which we have little-to-no experience.
Svādhyāya (“self-study”) is the fourth niyama (internal “observation”) in the Yoga Philosophy and one of the ways that we can examine our beliefs in order to be understand what paves the way to our success and what gets in the way of our success. We can do a little contemplation every time we practice with the 2026 group sankalpa, which includes the word “beliefs”. We can also do a little introspection by putting ourselves in the shoes of another person — not only imagining what it would be like to be in a certain situation, but, also, considering what we would believe if we were in that situation.
Remember, our thoughts (i.e., our beliefs) precede our words and actions. So, what would it take for you to believe you were more than a number? What would it take for you to believe in your own freedom? What would it take for you to believe in your ability to (help) alleviate the suffering of a whole nation?
“Freedom is indivisible; the chains on any one of my people were the chains on me.
It was during those long and lonely years that my hunger for the freedom of my own people became a hunger for the freedom of all people, white and black. I knew as well as I knew anything that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the oppressed.”
— quoted from Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela by Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela, who was born today in 1918, was more than a number. He was Madiba and “Father of the Nation” and so much more. Imagine, for a moment, what you would believe if you lived his circumstances?
What would you believe if you were simultaneously a member of a royal family, a lawyer, and a second-class citizen of your country. Would you believe you could use your personal privilege to fight the injustices that made it impossible for you to live in a free, just, and equitable society?
How would your beliefs change if you spent over 27 years in prison (some of it in solitary confinement and some of it with the least amount of privileges) – while simultaneously being heralded around the world as a hero? Which part of those contradictory experiences would shape your beliefs the most?
Finally, what would you believe if you were a Nobel Peace Prize winner and President of your country?
Now, go back and consider how your beliefs shift/change if consider each belief from the perspective of someone who was also a husband and father, a son and a friend.
Click on the excerpt title below for my 2020 post related to Nelson Mandela, with reference to the Yoga Sūtras.
“During apartheid, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela once summoned Yvonne Chaka Chaka to her Soweto home to deliver a note and a message from her husband in prison on Robben Island.
‘It was just a note to say “your music keeps us, your fathers, alive in jail”,’ the Princess of Africa told me earlier this year. I asked her if Madiba ever told her what song of hers he enjoyed most.
‘Umqombothi,’ she replied. It remains her most popular track.”
— quoted from the 12 Dec 2013 City Press article, “Who was Mandela’s favourite singer?” by Charl Blignaut
What would it take for you to believe that you would one day dance to the music that brightened your darkest days? What would it take for you to believe you would one day raise the glass that marked your homecoming?
Click on the excerpt title below for my 2021 “More Than 46664” post related to Nelson Mandela, with reference to music and vedanā (“sensation” or “feeling”).
More Than 46664 (the “missing” Sunday post, with a reference to Monday’s practice)
“[The reign of truth, charity, and love] are now considerations for the men of progress; for those who are imbued with the sincere desire to improve the condition of the human race, and who are prepared to make personal sacrifices to attain so great, so good, so glorious an object; to attain the emancipation of the world from falsehood, and to establish the universal reign of truth; because truth alone can make all the nations of the earth free from mental bondage, and all the evils thence ensuing.
It is this spirit of language and truth which must pervade the whole mass and the entire of society, before man can conceive what man can achieve, or society united can accomplish.”
— quoted from “Chapter VII. Principles and Practice of Religion.” in “Part First.” of The Book of the New Moral World: Containing the Rational System of Society, Founded on Demonstrable Facts, Developing the Constitution and Laws of Human Nature and of Society by Robert Owen
According to the Quote Investigator, the earliest printed version of the aforementioned old adage can be found in the 1845 edition of The Book of the New Moral World: Containing the Rational System of Society, Founded on Demonstrable Facts, Developing the Constitution and Laws of Human Nature and of Society by Robert Owen. A philosopher, social reformer, and one of the founders of utopian socialism and the co-operative movement, Mr. Owen indicated that the achievements (and beliefs) of one person are predicated on the beliefs (and achievements) of an entire society. Nelson Mandela understood this, believed this, lived this, and endeavored to achieve it.
“As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself.”
— Nelson Mandela
Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “07182021 More Than 46664”]
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).
You’re Invited to Bend… & To Take The Deepest Breath You’ve Taken — On Retreat!
September 25 — 27, 2026
NOTES:1 Jesse Jackson used variations of this refrain in many speeches. This particular phrasing is cited in Psychology Through the Eyes of Faith (1987) by David G. Myers and Malcolm A. Jeeves.
A Joyful Practice 
[FTWMI] EXCERPT: “Impossible x3” (PLUS, a music note & video) the post-practice Monday post August 3, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Books, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Loss, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Women, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, Amisha Padnani, commentary, Gabriel Popkin, genocide, Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Regina Jonas, Rabbi Tzvi Freeman, Religion, The New York Times Obituaries Desk
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Many blessings to everyone and especially for anyone praying, wishing, hoping, and working for peace, freedom, and wisdom — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside). Stay hydrated, y’all!
“If I am to confess what drove me, as a woman, to become a rabbi, two things come to mind. My belief in God’s calling and my love of my fellow man. God has bestowed on each one of us special skills and vocations without stopping to ask about our gender. This means each one of us, whether man or woman, has a duty to create and work in accordance with those God-given skills.”
— quoted from the doctoral thesis entitled “May a woman hold rabbinic office?” by Rabbi Regina Jonas
“She told Berna, a Swiss women’s newspaper: ‘For me it was never about being the first. I wish I had been the hundred thousandth!’”
— quoted “First Officially Ordained Woman Rabbi Regina Jonas 1902–1944” by Gabriel Popkin, published in Overlooked: A Celebration of Remarkable, Underappreciated People Who Broke the Rules and Changed the World by Amisha Padnani and the [New York Times] Obituaries Desk
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
The 2022 playlist available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “08032022 Always Answering the Impossible Call”]
The 2021 playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. Look for “08032021 Answering the Impossible Call”]
Check out the practice video!
“Nothing can hold you back—not your childhood, not the history of a lifetime, not even the very last moment before now. In a moment you can abandon your past. And once abandoned, you can redefine it.
If the past was a ring of futility, let it become a wheel of yearning that drives you forward. If the past was a brick wall, let it become a dam to unleash your power.
The very first step of change is so powerful, the boundaries of time fall aside. In one bittersweet moment, the sting of the past is dissolved and its honey salvaged.”
— quoted from the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman.
### There Is No Call Waiting ###