As immense injustice and violence continues, we have a responsibility to look at the seeds of injustice that we carry within, bring them to the surface, speak about them in our communities and awareness will lead us to next steps.

Five Powerful Benefits of Meditation

I had no idea what motherhood and yoga would look like.  I thought I would have a house and a husband but life had other plans.  I could resist life and grasp to what is not, or open with curiosity to what is.  

"Be human. Forget these labels of Indian, Pakistani, American, Hindu, Muslim, Christian.  Identify yourself as human.  Universal brotherhood and sisterhood are the foundations of love." 

- Narendra Kumar (my Grandfather)  February 8, 1920 - December 2, 2016

As sacred land is violated in North Dakota, I wonder how often we violate the sacred land that is our bodies.  I feel a call to honor our bodies as well as Mother Earth.  May we remember how sacred the land of our bodies is, how precious and sacred intimacy is and make sure the people we let in respect our sacred land.   

Published in Yoga International, August 2016. 

Spirit does not recognize color, class, nationality or gender.  Spirit sees the heart and the energy that each individual radiates to the Whole which includes the self and all of life; plants, animals, nature, people.  

The spirit indeed is deathless as the yogis have always said.  We are immortal.  We are the ones with one thousand arms, like the heroes in many world mythologies.  No matter what our circumstance, we each are capable.  How will your spirit live on?

My lineage goes back to the rishis, the earliest yogis who were "seers."  In silence, they connected to the earth, water, fire, wind and the cosmic order.  Their exploration was how to live in harmony with the cosmos in order to ensure the health of their family, clan, tribe and humanity at large.

As I tried to figure out next steps, I finally decided to "Let Go and Let God."  Surrender.  I made a resolve to become receptive to what the universe has in store for me rather than try to figure it out.  I prayed, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace."  

This past year was the most challenging one so far for me.  Slowly, over the past few weeks, I have come to the other side of painful times.  I bow down to the darkness I have felt this year.  I bow down to the pain and the thoughts laced with anger, sadness, anxiety and fear – for I may label them as “negative,” but what they are is a gift…if I let them be.