Have you ever looked at your computer and realized you have more tabs open than you thought?
That happened to me recently while I was setting up for an online yoga class. I usually have my Zoom screen open, but for some reason I hit a button and suddenly every tab that was open on my computer showed up on the screen.
And I was mortified.
There they were: all the tabs, all the reminders, all the things I had been moving between. But it also made me laugh, because it was such a clear picture of what my mind can feel like sometimes.
Busy. Full. Jumping from one thing to the next.
Just like a computer with too many tabs open.
What’s the real difference between Authenticity and Integrity? While integrity is about doing what is right, authenticity is about being real. This week, learn how to align your "inside" feelings with your "outside" actions to live a more truthful life. Plus, find out how you can join our Authentic Living Circle starting this Wednesday!
Prepare for a mindful transition into 2026! Ditch the rigid resolutions and try this 3-step process: celebrate your "brags" from 2025, express deep gratitude for your experiences, and map out your heart's dreams for the year ahead. Start your new year with clarity, joy, and intentionality.
Have you ever noticed how rushing from one thing to the next leaves you feeling scattered and tired? Sometimes, the best tool for finding your center isn’t doing more—it’s simply pausing. There is a quiet, gentle power in the pause. It’s a chance to catch your breath, check in with yourself, and invite calm into the mess of the day.
This is Part 3 of Meditation Made Simple, a three part Mindful Monday series designed to help you move from “I can’t meditate” to “I can meditate.”
We have already explored two important truths: showing up for yourself means you are meditating, and having thoughts is a natural part of practice.
So what do you do when thoughts appear?
You return to an anchor.
This is Part 2 of Meditation Made Simple, a three part Mindful Monday series about common questions that can make meditation feel harder than it needs to be.
One of the biggest reasons people say, “I can’t meditate,” is that their thoughts do not stop.
Here is what I want you to know: meditation is not about having no thoughts.
A busy mind is not a mistake. It is part of the meditation process.
Have you ever sat down to meditate and wondered, “Am I doing this right?”
Maybe your mind felt busy. Maybe sitting still felt harder than you expected. Maybe you finished feeling unsure whether the time even counted.
Here is the reassuring answer: if you are making time to sit, be still, and be with yourself, you are meditating correctly.
What happens in your mind when someone cuts you off in traffic?
You may immediately think, “That was bad. That person is rude. They do not care about anyone else.” The reaction can happen so quickly that the judgment feels like the truth.
But what do you actually know? The fact is that someone cut you off. You do not know why. They may be careless, or they may be rushing to the hospital after learning that their child is there.
The fact is real. The story we add is often a judgment or opinion.
Have you ever said something with good intentions, then realized the timing was wrong? Or offered an opinion when the other person may have needed your presence more than your advice?
Mindfulness is not limited to meditation or gentle yoga. It can shape the way we communicate, too. A small pause before we speak can help us become more intentional about what we say, when we say it, and whether we are the right person to say it.
This is not about staying silent. It is about using your voice wisely.
What comes to mind when you hear the words *chair yoga*? For many people, the image is limiting. They assume chair yoga is only for someone who is weak, incapable, or unable to do “traditional” yoga. I have heard this from student after student. But chair yoga is not a lesser practice. It is an opportunity to claim and own a practice that works for your body.
When you hear the name Warrior I, what comes to mind?
You may think of strength, power, or determination. That makes sense. Warrior I, known in yoga as Virabhadrasana I, asks us to stand with purpose. But there is another part of this familiar posture that is easy to overlook: Warrior I is also a balance pose.
What if you came to your yoga mat without needing to know the “right” way to do everything?
For today’s Mindful Monday, I want to invite you to approach your practice as an experiment. Think of yourself as a scientist or a researcher. Whether you are practicing chair yoga, moving on the floor, or exploring a standing posture, you are there to notice, test, and discover what works for you.
This is not about mastering yoga. It is about learning your body and learning more about yourself.
Is it hard to get up and go to yoga class? Of course it can be. It can be hard to set the alarm, leave the house, make your way to class, or deal with the technology that allows you to show up online. But it can also be hard to wake up feeling stiff, sore, tight, uncomfortable, or in pain. Both are hard. So sometimes we have to choose our hard.
Have you ever noticed how often the word "trying" shows up in everyday conversation?
"I'm trying to get healthy."
"I'm trying to go to yoga class."
"I'm trying to make changes in my life."
It sounds harmless. And most of the time, we say it because we are being honest. We are busy. We are human. We are balancing a lot. We want to make changes, and we may not feel like we are doing them perfectly yet.
But sometimes, that one little word can quietly take us out of the action.
Have you ever noticed how often the word "just" sneaks into your language?
"I just wanted to say thank you."
"I just have a question."
"I'm just checking in."
It seems like such a small word, but it can change the way a sentence feels. When we remove it, our words often become stronger, clearer, and more confident.
Do you spend a lot of your time apologizing? It can become such a common habit that we barely notice we are doing it. We apologize when we are late. We apologize before asking a question. We apologize when we need a moment, when we do not understand something, when we cough, when we take up space, or when we simply show up as human. Of course, there are times when an apology is appropriate. A sincere apology can be meaningful and healing.
When you are dealing with pain, injury, surgery, or a difficult season in your body, it is easy to think, "I can't do yoga right now."
Maybe you do not feel strong. Maybe your confidence has been shaken. Maybe your body is asking for more support than it used to.
But gentle yoga and chair yoga are not only for the days when you feel strong, flexible, or ready to do more. The beauty of this practice is that it can meet you in the season you are actually living.
Today, I want to share Kelly's story.
Kelly is a longtime student of mine, and she shared how much chair yoga meant to her during a time when she was dealing with back pain, hip pain, and then a hip replacement. In her words, when she could not do anything else, chair yoga was the only thing she could do.
That is powerful.
Who was right? The student who missed class because something important had to be handled at home? Or the student who told her husband, "I need the car today," and found a way to get herself to class? It sounds like a riddle, but the answer is simple: they were both right.
This week, I want to use these two student stories as a reminder that self-care does not always look the same from one person to the next. Sometimes honoring yourself means showing up for gentle yoga class. Sometimes honoring yourself means recognizing that life truly got in the way and choosing not to beat yourself up for it.
Have you ever looked at your computer and realized you have more tabs open than you thought?
That happened to me recently while I was setting up for an online yoga class. I usually have my Zoom screen open, but for some reason I hit a button and suddenly every tab that was open on my computer showed up on the screen.
And I was mortified.
There they were: all the tabs, all the reminders, all the things I had been moving between. But it also made me laugh, because it was such a clear picture of what my mind can feel like sometimes.
Busy. Full. Jumping from one thing to the next.
Just like a computer with too many tabs open.
If you have been dealing with shoulder pain or a rotator cuff injury, it can be tempting to think, "I can't do yoga right now."
Maybe lifting your arm overhead does not feel possible. Maybe certain movements feel limited. Maybe you are afraid that if one part of your body is hurting, movement is simply off the table.
But with your doctor's permission, gentle yoga and mindful movement can still be supportive. The goal is not to force your shoulder to do something it is not ready for. The goal is to move with awareness, modify when needed, and stay connected to your body.
When foot pain flares up, it can be tempting to avoid movement altogether. If you have been hesitating to come to yoga because your feet are bothering you, you are not alone. This is a common concern, especially when discomfort starts affecting how steady, comfortable, and confident you feel in your body.
The good news is that gentle, mindful movement can still be supportive. With the right care, the right pace, and guidance that honors your body, movement may help you feel more comfortable instead of more limited.
