Hello January,

Every new year gifts us a chance to start afresh. We often mark this opportunity with resolutions: shedding weight, maintaining regular workouts, managing finances, or committing to more frequent yoga sessions. Resolutions typically aim to alter aspects of our lives we feel need change, which is commendable. However, we soon lose sight of these resolutions once we prove we can achieve them.

This year, consider selecting a theme. I've embraced this approach for years, and even friends have adopted it. A theme—be it adventure, transformation, love, or embracing—serves as a reminder of what truly matters in your life, rather than solely focusing on what needs changing. Consequently, it influences your perspective on life, impacting not just yourself but also those around you.

Being mindful of your perspective aligns with the social and individual principles of yoga known as the yamas and niyamas, representing ethical codes. In my recent mindfulness teachings at schools, I've noticed that young people associate yoga with mats, outfits, and physical flexibility; they don’t know about the essential aspect—the yoga mindset. Yet, this mindset forms the cornerstone of yoga practice, encompassing the initial two limbs of Patanjali's eight-fold path.

I look forward to exploring these attitudes with you all in the coming year and hope you discover an elevating theme for this new year.

Hello December,

As the chill sets in and Chicago embraces the wintry landscape—shorter days, bare trees, and holiday lights—it's easy to get swept up in the hustle of social events. Amidst the flurry it’s easy to lose sight of what I refer to as the season of gratitude that typically begins with Thanksgiving in North America or, broadly speaking, aligns with the fall transition in the Northern Hemisphere.

Gratitude is an integral part of yoga practice. Aparigraha (non-grasping) is one of the Yamas, the first limb of the eight-fold path of yoga. These ethical guidelines shape our social interactions by emphasizing gratitude for what we possess rather than fostering competition or seeking more. While competition may not seem to have much to do with holiday feasts, gift-giving, or the desire for the perfect gathering, it does creep up when we lose track of the abundance already around us. Gratitude isn't about hoarding or striving for excess but perceiving life as inherently plentiful.

So, during this season, if finding abundance in your life feels elusive, perhaps it’s time to make some changes. You might begin by shifting your perspective. Each day, reflect on something or someone you're grateful for. Perhaps talking to someone could help shine light on perceiving good things in your life. Or take conscious pauses to appreciate decorations, meals, gatherings, or moments of tranquility you or others have created—immerse yourself in them, feeling the connections they foster. With this mindset, reaching out to someone in need and still struggling becomes more of an extension of you.

Happy Holidays!