A Quick Note, Links, & Excerpts Related to Life (a post-practice Monday post) January 20, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Donate, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Karma, Karma Yoga, Life, Love, Meditation, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Super Heroes, Tragedy, Volunteer, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, Inauguration Day, Martin Luther King Day, Martin Luther King Jr, MLK, Stanford University, The Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute, The Seattle Times
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Many blessings to everyone, especially those observing Maha Kumbh Mela. May everyone breathe deeply and savor the richness of living a three dimensional life!
May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong!
This is a short post-practice post for Monday, January 20th (with excerpts). It includes some links that will direct you to a site outside of this blog. The 2025 prompt question was, “What is on your mind and on your heart?” You can request an audio recording of this practice 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.
“I want to use as a subject from which to preach this morning a very familiar subject, and it is familiar to you because I have preached from this subject twice before to my knowing in this pulpit. I try to make it something of a custom or tradition to preach from this passage of Scripture at least once a year, adding new insights that I develop along the way, out of new experiences as I give these messages. Although the content is, the basic content is the same, new insights and new experiences naturally make for new illustrations.”
— quoted from the “Loving Your Enemies” sermon at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (11/17/1957)
The third Monday in January is one of several different occasions throughout the year when people (myself included) invoke the words of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King. While some turn to the obvious “dream” or “how long” speeches and while others quote passages from his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, this is a day when I usually turn to one of MLK’s sermons. I usually pick one of his favorites, one that he delivered multiple times over his career. In fact, there is one in particular that I referred to for many, many years — before I decided to switch things up with another of his favorite go-to sermons, called “Loving Your Enemies” (which I have cited during a variety of different classes).
This year, I decided to go back to that sermon I started referencing years and years ago — and that I think about every day. I decided to go back, because every version of the sermon contains a message that I think is particularly important right now, a message about “The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life”.
“And there are three dimensions of any complete life to which we can fitly give the words of this text: length, breadth, and height. Now the length of life as we shall use it here is the inward concern for one’s own welfare. In other words, it is that inward concern that causes one to push forward, to achieve his own goals and ambitions. The breadth of life as we shall use it here is the outward concern for the welfare of others. And the height of life is the upward reach for God. Now you got to have all three of these to have a complete life.”
— quoted from the “The Three Dimensions of a Complete Life” sermon at New Covenant Baptist Church in Chicago by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (04/09/1967)
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University includes a collection of MLK’s sermons, speeches, and writings. Included in that collection are various versions of the aforementioned sermons (and other sermons that he delivered in different locations).
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLES BELOW FOR MORE ABOUT MLK (& INAUGURATION DAY).
Happy Wisdom Day: To Noble Kings
The Day of Introductions (the Wednesday 1202021 post)
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
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 a new 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).
### YOU CAN LIVE A COMPLETE LIFE! ###
FTWMI: Seeking…. (the “missing” Sunday post) January 19, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Art, Books, Dharma, Donate, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Karma, Life, Love, Music, Mysticism, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Poetry, Science, Suffering, Super Heroes, Wisdom, Women, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, Deborah Evans Price, Dolly Lama, Dolly Parton, Moderna vaccine, Queer News Tonight, Robbie Williams (yoga), Robin Roberts, Stephen Smith
add a comment Many blessings to everyone, especially those observing Maha Kumbh Mela or Theophany. May everyone breathe deeply and be exactly who you are! May you be safe and protected / peaceful and happy / healthy and strong!
For Those Who Missed It: The following version (of a 2021 post) was posted in 2022. Some biographical information, links, additional information, and formatting have been updated or added. 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.
“When I’m inspired, I get excited because I can’t wait to see what I’ll come up with next.”
— Dolly Parton
There are certain puns, specifically homonym puns, that work really well in class but don’t work at all when read. For instance, when you read “the Dolly Lama”, you might think it’s a type-o and that I meant “Llama” — and that I somehow got confused about the animal when talking about the famous cloned sheep. However, when I explain that “Lama” is a term for “teacher” and an honorific specifically used in Tibetan Buddhism things become a little clearer. Hearing it, you might think I’m saying “Dalai Lama”, but, when you read it — and I refer to her as she — there’s no confusion about the identity of this famous teacher. Born January 19, 1946, Dolly Rebecca Parton is a seeker, a dreamer, a reader, a writer, a producer, an entrepreneur, a shopper, a philanthropist, a healer, and a teacher. She has also referred to herself as “A poor sinful creature”. Over the years, I had somehow forgotten that she is also someone who practiced yoga. You might wonder how I could forget something like that; but, in all fairness, the November/December 1984 Yoga Journal article that talked about musicians and actors practicing yoga in Nashville didn’t include a picture of Dolly actually practicing any poses. If you imagine that for a moment — Dolly in Virabhadrasana II — you’re not likely to forget the image. Especially since she continually proves herself as a warrior and a “Hero Friend”.“As the two of us stretched and shared for 90 minutes each morning, I’d get the strangest feeling that there were four of us there, two teachers and two students: me teaching Dolly yoga techniques, Dolly teaching me the value of laughter, spontaneity, nonjudgement, trust – and so much more. Then we’d slip out of our roles and slip into meditation, the four of us becoming two, becoming one.”
— quoted from the Nov/Dec 1984 Yoga Journal article entitled, “Yoga’s Nashville Connection: Well-being and fame co-exist, say these ‘top 10’ hit-makers from country music city.” by Robbie Williams
Reading my list of descriptors, you might think, “Oh, Myra, you left out that she’s a musician, a singer.” But, honestly, when I read about the life of Dolly Parton — the well lived life of the “Dolly Lama” — I feel like her being a singer and a musician are the least interesting things about her. Saying that her music is one of the least interesting things about her does not, in any way, take away or dimension her accomplishments as a musician. Dolly Parton and her fans have assured that nothing can do that! She has written over 3,000 songs and sold more than 100 million records worldwide. As I update this [in 2025], she has won eleven Grammys (including a Lifetime Achievement Award) and received 55 Grammy nominations. She has also won ten out of 45 Country Music Awards (CMA) and is one of only“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”
— Dolly Parton
While she is not an EGOT (a winner of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony), she has been nominated at least once for all four awards. She is also the focus of a podcast, Dolly Parton’s America; however, for anyone thinking she’s just an American Country music star, keep in mind that her biggest audience (170,000 people) was in Scotland. Also, keep in mind that she’s not done yet! She’s still living and still writing. She’s still innovating… which is why I’ll keep updating. She’s also still married, which might be a surprise for people who just know a song or two. Dolly Parton married Carl Thomas Dean on May 30, 1966. He’s not much for the spotlight and, last time I checked, had only seen her perform live once, but they’ve made it work for (coming up on) 59 years… and counting. She has said that he’s very romantic and that it’s their first marriage; then — with her customary twang — explained that it’s also their LAST marriage. And that right there, his romance combined with her humor (and twang), might be part of the reason their marriage works.“I’m more successful now than I was then, but I still feel like the same girl. I’m just a working girl. I never think of myself as a star because, as somebody once said, ‘A star is nothing but a big ball of gas,’ – and I don’t want to be that.”
— Dolly Parton’s response when asked how different she was from 1964 when she first arrived in Nashville, in an October 24,2014, billboard article entitled, “Dolly Parton Q & A: The Country Legend on 50 Years in Nashville and Why She Supports Her Gay Fans” by Deborah Evans Price
Another reason behind her successful marriage might be that Dolly Parton has never forgotten where she came from and has a heart that is, metaphysically speaking, bigger than her whole body. In that previously referenced Yoga Journal article from 1984, Robbie Williams noted, “Dolly Parton is very clear on her beliefs, priorities, and loyalties, and she seems to have identified her divine assignment in this lifetime.” In fact, the article goes on to describe signs and encounters that indicated Dolly knew at an early age that she had a great mission. That mission, in her own words: “channeling love energy ’so I’ll stay happy and loving, and, hopefully, make other people happy, too.’” Through her Dollywood Foundation, she has raised money and awareness for disaster relief (close to her home in Tennessee, in other US states, and overseas); HIV/AIDS related charities; cancer treatment; the ethical treatment of animals; and bald eagle conservation. She has also donated her time, energy, and considerable talent to these causes. Not to mention the fact that she has used her considerable wealth and clout to create jobs in economically-depressed areas. In 2020, she donated $1 million towards COVID-19 research and encouraged others (if they could afford it) to do the same. A few months later, Vanderbilt University announced that her donation helped fund the research that produced the Moderna vaccine. Dolly Parton reads about 50 books a year and promotes literacy through her foundation. In fact, one of the biggest ongoing Dollywood Foundation programs is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which gives each enrolled child a book a month, from birth until they reach kindergarten (age 5). As of today (as I update this), 3,197,250 children in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland have received 264,181,752 books! Can you imagine the imagination that is driven by so much reading?? Can you imagine how so imagination changes the world?“It was [ahead of its time]; and it did a lot of good. But, it evidently didn’t do enough good because we’re going to always have the same problems in the workplace with women and men….and there’s still work to be done. I still believe that women should get paid equal and should be treated with respect. I’m all about that, you know, and I don’t get out and have to preach it or march in the streets, I write about it.”
— Dolly Parton talking about the importance of the movie 9 to 5, in a 2019 ABC News Special entitled “Dolly Parton: Here She Comes Again!” with Robin Roberts
It is Dolly Parton’s imagination and hard work that have driven her to create so much wonder, beauty, and fun in the world. In addition to everything else — including helping to raise several of her 11 siblings (she is the fourth of 12) — Dolly Parton has written thirteen books, including her first novel (in 2022), several children’s books, and two cookbooks (one of which she wrote with her sister Rachel Parton-George in 2024). She has also been a featured actor in nine films (including one that was animated); made cameo appearances in four films (one of which was animated); and created a theme park, a water park, multiple entertainment centers, and a production company. That novel (Run, Rose, Run), which was co-written with James Patterson (and released on March 7, 2022) has it’s own soundtrack — consisting of 12 original songs by Dolly Parton — and is slated to be a movie (which she will produce, at the very least).“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.”
— Dolly Parton
In 2011, when I was blogging as I practiced a Yoga Journal challenge for the new year, I mentioned celebrating the Dolly Lama’s birthday, as I do. In that post, I admitted, “I can’t exactly call myself an uber-fan when it comes to Dolly Parton, but I like her and I can’t imagine being in a room with her for two seconds and not smiling. I also can’t imagine being a room with her for two minutes and not laughing. Plus, she’s inspiring. She is unapologetic about where she comes from, what she looks like, or how she sounds. There’s a lesson in that. She believes in having fun and being passionate about something. There’s a lesson in that. She’s also a lesson in giving and in looking within for the answers we seek. That last part is key, because (again) we are our own ultimate teacher. We just have to take the time to do a little self-study.” I stand (and stan) by all of that. (Although, in hindsight, maybe I’m more of a fan than I thought. But, honestly, it’s hard not to be — even when I disagree with her about something.) Given all of the above — not to mention the fact that I’ve left some things out — you may be thinking, “What hasn’t Dolly Parton done?” Well, glad you asked. She has never posed nude for Playboy (or anybody else) — despite being asked repeatedly. She did, however, appear on the October 1978 cover… completely covered by a Playboy bunny outfit. A bunny outfit that reappeared for Carl Dean’s birthday in 2021! She has also, as I previously alluded, had a cloned sheep named in her honor: Dolly, because it was created using the breast tissue of an adult sheep.“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.”
— Dolly Parton
“You’d be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap!”
— Dolly Parton
“People say, ‘How you stay looking so young?’ I say, ‘Well, good lighting, good doctors, and good makeup.’”
— Dolly Parton in a February 2019 BBC “Newsnight” interview with Stephen Smith
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “01192021 The Dolly Lama”]
NOTE: The playlists are slightly different, because the YouTube playlists includes some additional videos “after the practice” of songs included in the practice portion of the playlist.“If you see someone without a smile today, give ’em yours.”
— Dolly Parton
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 a new 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).
“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”
— Dolly Parton
“When the big things in your life get messy, you need to get up and get out. I make a point to appreciate all the little things in my life. I go out and smell the air after a good, hard rain. I re-read passages from my favorite books. I hold the little treasures that somebody special gave me. These small actions help remind me that there are so many great, glorious pieces of good in the world.”
— quoted from Dream On: Celebrate the Dreamer in You by Dolly Parton
CORRECTION: I misspoke during the 2025 practice and referred to the wrong news program when referencing a “Queer News Tonight” segment about current events.
### DREAM ON, DREAMER ###
EXCERPT: “A Simple, Radical, ‘Bad to the Bone’ Man” January 11, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Abhyasa, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Meditation, Mysticism, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, Religion, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, activism, Cardinal August Bea, Dr. Susannah Heschel, habits, kabbalah, Martin Luther King Jr, mitzvot, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, samskāras, Selma to Montgomery, vasanas, Vatican II
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Happy New Year! May your mind-body-spirit be well, be great, and be in harmony with your thoughts, words, and deeds.
There was no Zoom class on Saturday, January 11th; however, people on the Saturday mailing list received a practice related to the post excerpted below. CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE FOR MORE. You can request an audio recording of previous practices via a comment below or by emailing 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.
“Our concern is not how to worship in the catacombs but how to remain human in the skyscrapers.”
— quoted from “Part V: The Meaning of this Hour – 40. Religion in Modern Society” in Between God and Man by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (b. 01/11/1907)
FTWMI: A Simple, Radical, “Bad to the Bone” Man
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 a new 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).
### FEET ###
January 2025 Thank Yous (Re-Addressing the State of the “Union” — Part II) with excerpts January 10, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Changing Perspectives, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Minneapolis, Minnesota, New Year, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Texas, Twin Cities, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 612 Jungle, 988, Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, giving thanks, gratitude, Lundstrum Performing Arts Center, Meraki Community & Events, New Year, Open House, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Richard Nixon, Roosevelt High School, Simone de Beauvoir, State of the Union, yoga
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Happy New Year! May your mind-body-spirit be well, be great, and be in harmony with your thoughts, words, and deeds.
The following is Part II of the January 8th post, with some previously posted content. Click on the excerpt title below for Part I. There is also an excerpt related to January 9th. There are no Zoom practices until Sunday, January 13th. You can request an audio recording of previous practices via a comment below or by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
“It is our task to perfect, to improve, to alter when necessary, but in all cases to go forward. To consolidate what we are doing, to make our economic and social structure capable of dealing with modern life is the joint task of the legislative, the judicial, and the executive branches of the national Government.”
— quoted from “Annual Message to Congress (1934)” by President Franklin D. Roosevelt (delivered Wednesday, January 3, 1934, making it the second U. S. “State of the Union” delivered in January)
As established by Article II, Section 3 of the U. S. Constitution, the State of the Union address is a re-cap of and reflection on the recent past and a look forward with hope, expectation, and a plan. Since it generally happens as early as January 3rd and as late as February 12th, it is pretty much the same thing individuals do at the beginning of the year — and, also, what we have the opportunity to do every time we step on the mat: look at what’s worked and what hasn’t worked in the past and propose on a way to move forward.
This year, my personal State of the Union again finds me back in Minnesota simultaneously looking forward and back, reflecting on what worked (or didn’t work) over the last 15+ years, the last almost 5 years, and the last week. Like the presidents of yesteryear, I am not going to spend a bunch of time recounting the negative stuff, I am just going to use it to provide a little context for the good stuff.
“A tranquil and one-pointed mind is purposefully creative. With such a mind you get more done in less time, and what is more, because it is done with clarity and purpose, the work you undertake is not a burden and does not become a source of misery.
A confused mind is not fit to follow any path. It is not even in a position to tell the body and senses what is good for them and what is not. That is why we go on complying with the urges of the body and senses, even when these urges serve no useful purpose. Such a mind has no way of deciding what it should unite with or what it should separate from; this confusion is what causes a person to live a purposeless, meaningless life.”
— quoted from “Yoga: Union with What?” (a Q&A response) by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD
When my 2024 “hostess with the most-est” first suggested the idea of me returning to Minnesota for a couple of weeks, she had said that she had (and I quote), “no expectations”. That could be a way to describe the practice of non-attachment in the modern world: speak a plan into exist, do some work to make it happen, and be open to the way it unfolds.
I, however, had a bit of an agenda and some expectations — if only because I normally offer some special practices on New Year’s Day and on the First Friday Night of each month. I also had some hopes and desires about reconnecting — uniting, if you will — with some people I had seen in awhile. Then, too, I had the awareness that it had been a long time since most of us had practiced together (let alone together-together) and that some things about each and everyone of us are different. My desires, hopes, agendas, expectations, and even fears could all be considered forms of attachment and afflicted/dysfunctional thinking. In other words, they could all lead to suffering… and, on a certain level they did.
They also led me to come back to Minnesota two years in a row!
Both years, I had moments of frustration and disappointment. I know others also had similar moments (for different reasons). However, when everything was said and done, I was (and am) overwhelmed by gratitude. After almost four (now five) years of practicing together-while-apart, I am so very grateful that so many people were able to join in “Yoga Week” (as some of you started calling the first week of January) two years in a row. This year, I appreciated the presence of everyone who physically practiced in our five-plus (4+) studios — as well as to those who Zoomed in (including those who Zoomed in last year from as far away as Portland and the Middle East) and those who did their best and could only make it in spirit.
I am forever grateful to my 2025 host family for welcoming me as if I was just another member of the family. I am forever grateful to my 2024 hostess for planting the seed, nourishing that seed and, doing so much to make that first visit happen (including sharing her family and her practice). Similarly, I am grateful for the people who suggested possible spaces and the lovely four lovelies who connected me and helped me get situated in our “pop up” studios. An extra special burst of gratitude to one of those lovelies (KC) for going above and beyond in facilitating the 2025 rentals. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thank you to the staff members at Meraki Community & Events, Lundstrum Performing Arts Center, and Center for the Performing Arts and Lu; Kenna, Gabrielle, Angel, Natasha, Gaby, Amber, and the other teachers at 612 Jungle; and the teachers and staff at Roosevelt High School. Thank you for those who offered technical support (even before I arrived) and thank you to everyone who offered me a ride (even if I didn’t take it), fed me, offered to feed me, and/or made a donation (so I can feed myself when I get back to Texas)! Thank you, in advance, for those who will make it to the Open House on Friday and thank you to JK who opened her heart, home, and hearth to us exactly four years (to the date) from the last time we gathered together before the pandemic — and is doing it again in 2025.
NOTE: I will send out an Open House reminder to those on the mailing lists.
Looking forward, I hope this week has reignited you and your practice. I hope it has given you some insight into what comes next for you. I hope it has allowed you to let go of some things that no longer serve you, so that you can move it the new year with a little more unencumbered purpose and determination. I hope that purpose and determination inspires you to plan… something. I hope you are safe and protected, peaceful and happy, healthy and strong, and that you have ease and well being from this day forward.
As for me: I am open to coming back… for a visit. Maybe it will be another New Year Yoga Week; maybe it will be a series of workshops and/or a retreat. Maybe it will be in another place all together, but we will be back — together — again.
“In contrast, a peaceful, one-pointed mind has a natural ability to see itself, its role, and its place in relation to both body and soul. This ability allows the mind to command the body to discharge its duty to hear and heed the voice of the soul. The practices that help us acquire a one-pointed mind are called yoga. Reaching that state is the goal of yoga.”
— quoted from “Yoga: Union with What?” (a Q&A response) by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD
Click on the excerpt title below for the a post related to January 9th.
EXCERPTS: “Who Is Minding the Store?” & FTWMI: Nom de Destiné, Part “Deux” (the surprise part)
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 a new 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.
### UNION ###
FTWMI: Re-Addressing the State of the “Union” (abridged) January 8, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Art, Changing Perspectives, Food, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Music, New Year, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Suffering, Tragedy, Twin Cities, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: Constitution, David Bowie, Dr. Stephen Hawking, Elvis, Elvis Presley, Joe South, President Calvin Coolidge, State of the Union, yoga
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Happy New Year! May your mind-body-spirit be well, be great, and be in harmony with your thoughts, words, and deeds.
For Those Who Missed It: The following is PART I of 2024 post. Class details, links, and some formatting have been updated.
“He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient…”
— quoted from “Article. II. Section. 3.” of the The Constitution of the United States
Any time we get on the mat (or the cushion) we scan our mind-body-spirit and get a sense of how things are (or are not) working and working together. In other words, we address the state of our “union.” I put that last part in quotes, because the Sanskrit word yoga translates into English as “union” — and, so, we get on the mat and spend a little time delivering our own personal State of the Union address (to ourselves).
George Washington delivered the first State of the Union address to the joint sessions of Congress in New York City, the proposed capital of the fledgling United States of America, on January 8, 1790. His interpretation of “from time to time” was annually and other presidents followed suit. Up until Franklin Delano Roosevelt used the phrase “State of the Union”, in his 1934 address, it was called “the President’s Annual Message to Congress”. People often think presidents are required to deliver an oral speech, however, the State of the Union does not have to be spoken. In fact, Thomas Jefferson discontinued speeches in 1801. The tradition of a U. S. president speaking in front of Congress was not re-established until Woodrow Wilson’s speech in 1913.
Some presidents, like Jimmy Carter, delivered spoken and written addresses during their time in office. For instance, former President Carter’s last State of the Union address (in 1981) was the last written address, so far. Presidents have delivered written address for various reasons. Sometimes illness or political conflicts resulted in a written speech. At other times, there was a desire to provide clarification and nuance that they may have felt would be missed if a speech was delivered. In fact, the lengthiness of the address resulted in some being written — and some being written and partially delivered or summarized. President Richard Nixon (who celebrated his birthday on January 9th) gave Congress six (6) written State of the Union address in 1973, with each message being preceded by a radio address.
Former President Nixon was not, however, the first president to utilize media and technology in order to share the State of the Union with the entire Union. Nor was he the only president to submit a written address to Congress and broadcast a summary for the populace. Warren G. Harding was the first U. S. president to speak on the radio, in 1922, but he unexpectedly died in office, in 1923. Later that year, Calvin Coolidge became the first president to deliver a State of the Union on the radio and his first words were addressed the untimely death of his predecessor.
“Since the close of the last Congress the Nation has lost President Harding. The world knew his kindness and his humanity, his greatness and his character. He has left his mark upon history. He has made justice more certain and peace more secure. The surpassing tribute paid to his memory as he was borne across the continent to rest at last at home revealed the place lie held in the hearts of the American people. But this is not the occasion for extended reference to the man or his work. In this presence, among these who knew and loved him, that is unnecessary. But we who were associated with him could not resume together the functions of our office without pausing for a moment, and in his memory reconsecrating ourselves to the service of our country. He is gone. We remain. It is our duty, under the inspiration of his example, to take up the burdens which he was permitted to lay down, and to develop and support the wise principles of government which he represented.”
— quoted from the “First Annual Message,” delivered December 06, 1923 by President Calvin Coolidge
Just as radio changed the reach and impact of the State of the Union address, so too have television, the internet, and social media. Former President Harry S. Truman delivered the first televised State of the Union, in 1947, and former President Lyndon B. Johnson set the precedent of delivering a televised speech during primetime (while using a teleprompter). In 1997, the first State of the Union on the internet was delivered by former President Bill Clinton — who also has the unfortunate distinction of being the first to deliver a State of the Union during an impeachment trial.
Of course, former President Clinton was not the first or the last president to deliver a State of the Union address during a time great tragedy and/or national embarrassment. Former President Ronald Reagan postponed his 1986 address because of the Challenger disaster and, in 2019, the then-sitting president was “disinvited” by the then Speaker of the House. Such events change our perspective of current events and, therefore, place the (actual) state of the Union in a certain context. In other words, what we are going through individually and collectively allows — and/or causes — us to see things in a certain way.
“My expectations were reduced to zero at twenty-one. Everything since then has been a bonus.
Although I cannot move and I have to speak through a computer, in my mind I am free.”
— Dr. Stephen Hawking (CH CBE FRS FRSA)
When we practice on January 8th, I sometimes reference Stephen William Hawking, the theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author, and director of research, who was born January 8, 1942, in Oxford, England. When he was diagnosed with a motor neuron disease in his early 20’s, he was forced to take a daily accounting of his mind, body, and spirit — as well as how they were (or were not) working… let alone working together. For similar reasons, the playlist includes music by Elvis Aaron Presley, who was born January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, and by David Bowie, who was born January 8, 1947, in London, England. I include the “King of Rock and Roll” and “Ziggy Stardust”, because they produced great music AND, also, because their music gives us a musical (and visual) picture of the state of society (in America and in the world) at various points in history. Additionally, moving to their music — mindfully and “in a special way” — can awaken our awareness of how our different parts are (or are not) working… let alone working together.
“If I could be you, if you could be me
For just one hour
If we could find a way
To get inside each other’s mind, uh huh
If you could see you through my eyes
Instead of your ego
I believe you’d be, I believe you’d be
Surprised to see
That you’ve been blind, uh huh”
— quoted from the song “Walk A Mile In My Shoes” by Elvis Presley (written by Joe South)
Please join me today (Wednesday, January 8th) at 4:30 PM or 7:15 PM for (virtual or in-person) yoga practice. You must be registered and confirmed to attend in person. Classes are in different locations! 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.
Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for 01082022 State of the “Union”]
“I’ve got scars that can’t be seen
I’ve got drama, can’t be stolen
Everybody knows me now”
— quoted from the song “Lazarus” by David Bowie
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 a new 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.
### YOGA ###
A Quick Note & Excerpts (About Grace, Zora, & Galileo’s Moons) January 7, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Books, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Love, Mathematics, Meditation, Music, Mysticism, One Hoop, Pain, Religion, Science, Suffering, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, Dale Carnegie, David Block, Dr. Alan Locke, Dr. Franz Boas, Dr. Ruth Benedict, Galileo Galilei, grace, Harlem Renaissance, Jupiter, Jupiter's moons, Kenneth C. Freeman, Kenneth Freeman, Nicolaus Copernicus, physics, Simon Marius, Tycho Brahe, Zora Neale Hurston
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“Happy New Year!” to everyone.
May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong!
“Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose. It is a seeking that he who wishes may know the cosmic secrets of the world and they that dwell therein.”
— quoted from the autobiographical essay “Research” in Dust Tracks On A Road: An Autobiography by Zora Neale Hurston
Today in 1610, Galileo Galilei wrote a letter about something he observed in the heavens.
281 years later, today in 1891, Zora Neale Hurston was born in Notasulga, AL, and grew up to write about what she observed here on Earth (when people were looking up to Heaven).
CLICK ON ONE OF THE EXCERPT TITLES BELOW FOR MORE!
NOTE: The second post is the expanded post that ties in a philosophical discussion of Grace.
First Friday Night Special #15: “A Reflective Moment” (a post practice post)
Grace, Zora, & Galileo’s Moons (a “long lost” Saturday post for Sunday)
“…God reveals himself to humanity in two books: the book of nature (I have elucidated already) and the book of Scripture. Now, here comes the punchline, Galileo suggested that both books express eternal truths. That’s very interesting, because the face of science is forever changing. Galileo suggested that both books express eternal truths and are compatible, not incompatible, but compatible of course [because] they have the same author….He’s saying, I’ve got two books in front of me, the book in front of my telescope, the scriptures, but there’s no disagreement because they have the same author.”
— quoted from the lecture “From Tyndale to Galileo: Grace and Space” by David Block, professor emeritus in the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Please join me today (Tuesday, January 7th) at 12:00 PM or 7:15 PM for (virtual or in-person) yoga practice. You must be registered and confirmed to attend in person. Classes are in different locations! 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.
Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “01072023 Grace, Zora, & Galileo’s Moons”].
NOTE: The before/after music is slightly different, because I could only find one of the folk songs, related to Zora Neale Hurston, on Spotify.
EXCERPT NOTE: The first excerpt (above) features a different playlist.
“You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him to find it within himself.”
— Galileo Galilei, as quoted in How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
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 a new 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.
### OM / LOVE NO MATTER WHAT ###
EXCERPT (2025): “Do You See What I See? & Your Presence Is Requested” January 6, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Art, Bhakti, Books, Changing Perspectives, Christmas, Dharma, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Love, Music, Mysticism, New Year, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, avidya, Epiphany, Epiphanytide, Johann Sebastian Bach, magi, Rev. Ed Trevors, Reverend Ed Trevors, Three Kings Day, Twelvetide, Whitney Houston, Yoga Sutra 2.20, Yoga Sutras 2.12-2.14, Yoga Sutras 2.16-2.18, Yoga Sutras 2.3-2.9
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“Happy New Year!” to everyone. “Merry Little Christmas, Epiphany, Theophany, Three Kings Day, & Twelfth Day of Christmas (for some)!”
May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong!
“What I really want to get to today is why the Magi came. What was it that brought them to Bethlehem? What was it that brought them to find Jesus and his family?”
— quoted from “The Epiphany Light: Another Reflection” by Reverend Ed Trevors (dated Jan 6, 2022)
Click on the excerpt title below for more about the holidays being observed, a little insight into why people may see the same things in different ways, & the video quoted above.
Yoga Sutra 2.20: draşțā dŗśimātrah śuddho’pi pratyayānupaśyah
— “The sheer power of seeing is the seer. It is pure, and yet it sees only what the mind [brain] shows it.”
Please join me today (Monday, January 6th) at 5:00 PM** for a 75-minute (virtual or in-person) yoga practice. You must be registered and confirmed to attend in person. 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.
Monday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “01062021 Epiphany & Theophany”]
**NOTE: This is a special time for this week only!
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 a new 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.
### Do You Believe What You Are Shown? ###
A Faith-/Philosophy-/Science-Based Refresher (mostly the music) November 26, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Changing Perspectives, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Life, Meditation, Music, Peace, Pema Chodron, Philosophy, Science, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Four R's, gratitude
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone cultivating kindness, friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, gratitude, and wisdom on one of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence”.
May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong!
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a gift and not giving it.”
— William Arthur Ward
Please join me today (Tuesday, November 26th) at 12:00 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.
Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify.
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 a new 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.)
### 
###
EXCERPT: “Here’s To Those Who Serve(d)” November 11, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Changing Perspectives, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Loss, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Suffering, Tragedy, Yoga.Tags: 988, Armistice Day, Laurence Binyon, mental health, Movember, Thomas Hardy, Veterans Day, World War I
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Gratitude to those who serve. Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone cultivating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom on Armistice Day / Veterans Day.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind. CONTINUE TO BREATHE!
This excerpt is related to the practice on Monday, November 11th. The 2024 prompt question was, “Who do you appreciate today?” 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.
“Compassion. Respect. Common Sense.”
— Retired Marine Staff Sergeant Tim Chambers (a.k.a The Saluting Marine) when asked what he wanted to inspire in people who see him standing/saluting
The following excerpt is from the 2023 version of a 2020 post:
“At ‘the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month,’ Paris time, 1918, all was quiet on the Western Front. At least in theory. It wasn’t as neat and tidy as it sounds; however, there was an official cease fire, an armistice that was scheduled to last 30 days. It was, for all intensive purposes, the end of World War I. Exactly a year later, Buckingham Palace hosted the first official Armistice Day event in England — and, thanks to the suggestion of South African author and politician Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, people around Europe began observing two minutes of silence in honor of those who had died during the war and those who were left behind.”
Today is Armistice Day and, in the United States, it is also Veterans Day. CLICK HERE FOR MORE!
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
A vinyasa playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “11/11 @ 11”]
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 a new 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).
### PEACE IN, PEACE OUT ###
I ALWAYS Moustache You An Important Question (a repurposed note w/excerpt) November 3, 2024
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in 31-Day Challenge, Changing Perspectives, Depression, Donate, Faith, Fitness, Food, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Karma Yoga, Life, Men, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Science, Volunteer, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, breast cancer, Brendan Maher, gender, Men's Health, mental health, Movember, Movember Foundation, No(shave)mber, prostate health, testicular health, yoga
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone grateful for friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong!
“Moving for mental health is a tradition that goes back to the dawn of Movember.”
— quoted from “The Order of Mo’s Guide to Move” on the Movember (US) website
Most of you mou’ what’s up. Most of you mou’ that it’s Movember and that means I’m once again joining other Mo Bros, Mo Sisters, and Mo Siblings in the effort to change the face of men’s health. This is one of those practices when I talk about men’s physical and mental health — and we get our mooooove on.
Then, we get a little mou’ rest, cause…
“‘We respond differently to life’s unexpected challenges. Sometimes, though, that can leave us feeling worried or overwhelmed. It’s our hope that we can connect men with the right support, and equip their peers with the confidence and skills to reach out and help when it’s most needed.’”
— Brendan Maher, Global Director of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Movember
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.
Please join me for a 65-minute virtual yoga practice on Zoom today (Sunday, Movember 3rd) at 2:30 PM. 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.
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Movember 3rd 2020”]
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 a new 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.
A Joyful Practice 