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A Little Note & EXCERPT: Shy & Fearless, Take 2 (PLUS a video) April 25, 2026

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Changing Perspectives, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Music, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Riḍván, Wisdom, Yoga.
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“Happy Riḍván!” to those celebrating “the Most Great Festival”. Peace and many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone Counting the Omer and/or celebrating and/or observing the Second Week of Pascha!

Happy Poetry Month!!

“Once up there, I felt the acceptance and love from my audience. I knew I wanted to sing before people the rest of my life.”

— Ella Fitzgerald on how it felt after she sang one of her mother’s favorite songs at the Apollo

Just like Ella Fitzgerald, who was born today in 1917, we never know what will happen until we do it!

Click on the excerpt title below for more about why I think of  “the First Lady of Jazz” when I think of being fearless — and why I give people the option to do “Ella’s Pose” .

FTWMI: Shy & Fearless, Take 2

“We are very afraid of being powerless. But we have the power to look deeply at our fears, and then fear cannot control us. We can transform our fear. Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive….”

— quoted from Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm by Thich Nhat Hanh

Please join me today (Saturday, April 25th) at 12:00 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.

Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “04252020 Ella’s Shy & Fearless Day”]

Check out the video below to “be fearless and play” (while doing the pose) — even (or especially) if your low back, hips, hamstrings, achilles tendons, and plantar fascia are really tight.

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

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

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

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

Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.

Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.

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

September 25 — 27, 2026

“Be Fearless and Play
You could live for tomorrow and still live here in today

When i would play when i was a child
I swore that i would never forget no
I will never forget no!

Be Fearless and Play
This is one thing that no one can ever take away”

— quoted from the song “Be Fearless and Play” by Wookiefoot (written by Mark Murphy)

### MORE FEARLESS PLAY! ###

Practice Time #6: Fearless Play (A Kiss My Asana offering) & EXCERPT: “Shy & Fearless, Take 2” April 25, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in 7-Day Challenge, Abhyasa, Changing Perspectives, Donate, Fitness, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Karma Yoga, Life, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Suffering, Vairagya, Volunteer, Wisdom, Yin Yoga, Yoga.
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“Happy Riḍván!” to those getting ready to celebrate “the Most Great Festival.” Many blessings to anyone Counting the Omer or celebrating/observing Eastertide / the Octave of Easter / Bright Week!

Peace and many blessings to everyone!! Happy Poetry Month!!

“We are very afraid of being powerless. But we have the power to look deeply at our fears, and then fear cannot control us. We can transform our fear. Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive….”

— quoted from Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm by Thich Nhat Hanh  

Today, I encourage you to “be fearless and play!”

FTWMI: Shy & Fearless, Take 2

Click on the excerpt title above for more about why I think of Ella Fitzgerald, who was born today in 1917, when I think of being fearless — and why I give people the option to do “Ella’s Pose” .

Check out the video below to “be fearless and play” (while doing the pose) — even (or especially) if your low back, hips, hamstrings, achilles tendons, and plantar fascia are really tight.

“Once up there, I felt the acceptance and love from my audience. I knew I wanted to sing before people the rest of my life.”

— Ella Fitzgerald on how it felt after she sang one of her mother’s favorite songs at the Apollo

The video above is part of my 2025 offering for the 12th annual Kiss My Asana yogathon, which benefits Mind Body Solutions (MBS), has begun and I am super excited to dedicate this week (April 19th — 25th) to raising awareness and resources for MBS’ life-affirming work “to help people live better in the body they have.”

Mind Body Solutions provides live, online resources to people with disabilities worldwide. Through daily adaptive yoga classes, special programming, a comprehensive video library, and an online space exclusively for students, Mind Body Solutions is helping people make vital connections within and with others. You can help by joining me as we practice with purpose, by sharing this page, and/or by making a donation that creates opportunities for more people to practice yoga.

Each year, in addition to hosting my fundraising page and making my own personal donation, I offer a blog post and/or a YouTube post — sometimes even a whole practice. This year, I combined an idea I have had for a while with the suggestion/challenge of my yoga buddy Meghan and am offering a series of practice videos. These YouTube videos (of various lengths) underscore the fact that participating in the Kiss My Asana yogathon is just a tangible way to do what we do in every practice: set an intention and dedicate the merits of the practice to someone other than ourselves. Finally, I wanted to offer something that meets the moment and where you may be in this moment: “Swaying between joy and sorrow” (and all the other emotions).

You can click here to Kiss My Asana Now! (Or, you can also click here to join my team and get people to kiss [your] asana!) 

If you’re interested in my previous KMA offerings, check out the following (some links only take you to the beginning of a series and/or to YouTube):

Check out this 2023 class post to find out one of the reasons why Mind Body Solutions is so important to me!

Remember, if you subscribe to my YouTube channel, you can be notified as soon as the videos are posted.

“Be Fearless and Play
You could live for tomorrow and still live here in today

When i would play when i was a child
I swore that i would never forget no
I will never forget no!

Be Fearless and Play
This is one thing that no one can ever take away”

— quoted from the song “Be Fearless and Play” by Wookiefoot (written by Mark Murphy)

### DON’T BE AFRAID TO KISS MY ASANA! ###