Dear Friend, I recently returned from a week-long self-retreat at a serene Tibetan Buddhist center in Niedersachsen. My daily schedule included 5–6 hours of meditation, 2–2.5 hours of yoga asana and pranayama, and about 2 hours of study and contemplation. The rest of the time I spent outside, taking in the sights, sounds, and air of the forest and surrounding fields. As these retreats often go, my mind moved through many ebbs and flows, fluctuating through gross and subtle experiences....

Dear Friend, I want to share with you this month my very subjective point of view about the yoga tradition and teachings as they have been passed to us since ancient times and how they should be taken in the modern context. Please remind yourself that this is only my take on it and it may not be aligned with how you choose to view these matters. There is a common belief that ancient things are of higher quality or authenticity, while on the other hand many people have a complete disregard or...

Dear Friend, I occasionally encounter questions about the “right” and “wrong” way of doing a yoga pose (yes, I am intentionally using quotation marks). These questions are usually asked by concerned students who worry that they might be practicing incorrectly. I often find myself offering a brief answer that feels unsatisfying, both for them and for me. So I thought it might be worthwhile to share my perspective on this topic with a bit more clarity and depth. From a broader vantage point,...