Blog

My first visit to India was in the winter of 2002. It had been a dream of mine to go there since 1997 and I finally made it happen. (I finally had the courage to make it happen). I went by myself, much to my mother’s chagrin, and had an amazing experience that whet my...

One comment that makes me cringe is when someone tells me, “I’ve tried but I just can’t sit still and relax.” The modern world is such that if something doesn’t change quickly, we’ve been taught there’s something wrong with us. When it comes to relaxing, we’ve been...

Self-judgment comes from a focus of lack. This lack is about wanting to be something you’re not or don’t have. From this attitude of lack, inevitable thoughts go to ‘not enough.’ And then you find yourself in a spiral of misery. For many of us, our minds combat this...

A big red flag goes up when I teach someone a tool or technique and they immediately say, “My _____ would really like this. I can’t wait to show them.” This is part of the Caregiver Mindset. You’re probably thinking, “Twyla, caregiving is a positive thing. What’s...

I’ve been repacking my bags for my move to South Korea to reduce weight. It’s provided me the opportunity to practice discernment (viveka) and letting go (vairagya).  My Yoga practice has strengthened my ability to be able to watch my reactions, question them, and...

The Fourth of July celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Freedom and independence are strong values in the United States. This day represents the start of a country working on developing its own values independent from Britain. Freedom of choice...

Why do we feel the need to keep ‘doing’?  Why do we struggle to rest, to be still, and to be quiet? What causes us  to feel we need more and more…even though we might already have everything we need? From the point of view of a Traditional Yoga text, Patanjali Yoga...

Many women have grown up with the message to be “nice.” This usually entails making sure not to hurt anyone, to care for anyone who is struggling, and to put others in front of your needs. Yes, it’s important to be kind and caring. But the message of “nice” is usually...

Serenity is a “state of being peaceful, calm and untroubled” as defined in Dictionary.com. Ahhhh…I just had an image of a sunset over the ocean with the soothing sound of waves lapping on the shore. What is your image of serenity?. Can you imagine that state of...

“Does your course include tools and techniques?” “What’s a Yoga pose for immunity?” “What is a breathing practice to calm my mind?” “I’ve tried breathing and my mind is still not calm.” These are just examples of the common questions and comments I’ve received that...