This time of year often kicks off a period of self-reflection and annual assessment. Be mindful of the standards to which you compare yourself. Consider where they come from and who they benefit. Resist the inclination to diminish your own magnificence. This world needs unique magic, unexpected offerings, and new perspectives. Your magic is inside you, wanting to radiate unabashedly into existence. It can’t fully flourish when contorted to another’s vision. Spend the next few

Autumn is traditionally a time to go inward, a time when we crave rest and reflection. The days get shorter, the air gets cooler...

As we enter another season of transition and continue to be confronted with truths that demand massive reform, be sure to plan time to rest and recover. The mind will often try to rationalize the ‘need’ to keep going. It will try to convince us that it isn’t safe to stop, that there is too much work to be done, and there will be time for rest later. But the reality is that we function with more energy, clarity, and ease when we rest. Rest is essential to perseverance and even

Time away. Time alone. Time in nature. These are a few of the answers that came back when I quieted my mind and asked myself what I needed a week ago. This simple act of self-inquiry enabled me to reconnect with myself even before I gave into any one of my desires. This is simply a gentle reminder to check in on your own ever-changing needs and communicate them to those who can support. Doing this is a kindness not only to ourselves but also to those around us, as we choose s

Ever feel like you’re not having the appropriate emotional response to a situation? That the magnitude of what you’re feeling is off? Or that you’ve felt something for long enough and you should have moved on by now? Maybe there’s a fear you’ll feel a certain way forever, or a guilt for feeling joy during a time when so many are suffering… This is a gentle reminder that it’s OK to feel whatever it is you’re feeling. It’s just the universe moving through the unique filter that

Recent shifts have given us a lot to think about in terms of the type of lives we want and the type of world we want to live in. We are collectively defining a new normal. At the same time, our world is trying to reopen. As you take your time identifying when and how you choose to reenter, don’t forget that this transition is still a liminal space. We are at a threshold, a very potent space. As we move through the darkness, we don’t have to know exactly where we are going. Al

Yesterday, I had a day where my mind was racing about everything. This is an old habit, something I’m quite proficient at, and harkens back to a time when I felt the need to overthink to survive. What this process doesn’t allow for is space. Space for everything we’ve witnessed and everything we’ve been a part of to settle in and move us. To allow for the internal unfolding. We can’t think our way out of this process. We are nature, and nature takes time. Even farmers allow l

Change is painful, often tumultuous, and it takes time. We are going through a collective transformation. Meditation teaches us the value of dismissing our own thoughts so that we can witness without judgement. As we experience heightened emotions from daily unrest, our awareness is vital to do the inner work required to change. What can we discover from allowing the visceral outrage to wash over us without also judging the accompanying actions we see? If we purely listen, wi

Just as you may feel you have finally adjusted to one sweeping wave of change, it feels overwhelming to find our world shifting once again with the highly divisive timing of reopening. Take what you’ve learned about your system and, if you are able to, go slow with reacclimating to permitted outings. Evaluate what has made you feel safe for the past couple months (along with the guidelines of the CDC), and consider what permitted modifications feel right for you at this time.

In my mindfulness class, I often like to remind everyone that the simple act of breathing is a reminder of our flow with the universe. Even when we feel still or stagnant in life, our bodies are always moving and flowing along this abundance of air that surrounds us and inspires all of our thoughts, words, and actions. We are still moving with our planet, a minuscule spec amidst the vast orchestration of the universe. As things have both slowed down and shifted beyond what wa

Experiencing digital burn-out? Turns out we have to expend a lot more energy when we don’t have the in-person energy transference of body language to help us communicate. Here are some tips to recharge and get back in touch with reality in between Zoom calls… Rest your eyes Take a few minutes to lay down and drape a sleep-mask, eye pillow, or dark fabric across your eyelids. Ground yourself See if you’re able to cut back on your digital commitments in favor of an activity tha

"If you’ve taken a class with me, you know that I am not one that easily dispenses pearls of bumper sticker wisdom. I believe that you are the best guru for you and when it comes to almost everything, except maybe medical and financial advice, you are your own best guide and advice giver. So, the following are just thoughts and a simple mindfulness exercise that is helping in my own life. Perhaps you can find some inspiration, or even just relate! The two words that keep trav

Tonight is the night of the new moon in a dark sky, an opportunity to manifest from the invisible realm. The sky may appear empty and dark, but we know it’s actually teaming with stars and galaxies well beyond our vision or comprehension. Even though we can’t see the moon, we still feel its pull as the tide of our planet’s largest body is governed by its gravitational influence. I’m not an astrologer (although I can connect you with an excellent one) so my space talk ends her

I had to run one errand in public yesterday, and the psychophysical tension caused by this once-simple act depleted my body for hours. Add in all the other changes in lifestyle and the accompanying kaleidoscope of emotions, and I’m finding myself aching for more and more rest. As we find ourselves floating in this liminal space, between two worlds, one lofty concept keeps rearing its head: self-worth. In a culture that overvalues productivity and fuses vocation with identity,

Thinking of so many of you, and holding well wishes for everyone as we move through the weirdness together. I’ve been personally touched by messages from several community members, including one with a podcast recommendation featuring the poet-hearted Jack Kornfield. In it, he mentions one of his most profound teachings: that the point of spiritual practice is not to perfect ourselves, but rather to perfect our love. As I witness my own vacillation from shock to numbness, o

To say there’s been a shift in the collective consciousness would be an understatement, so it’s natural to feel the rippling impact from its current. While you hold compassion for any challenging feelings, it's also important to seek balance. We can use meditation for anxiety, as meditation teaches us how to regulate our emotions. MRI scans have shown that meditation can shift our brain activity from a state of fight-or-flight to one of rest-and repair. This can provide much

“We humans have lost the wisdom of genuinely resting and relaxing. We worry too much. We don’t allow our bodies to heal, and we don’t allow our minds and hearts to heal. Meditation can help us embrace our worries, our fear, our anger; and that is very healing. We let our own natural capacity of healing do the work.” -Thich Nhat Hanh I love this Thich Nhat Hanh quote so much because it is a genuine reminder of our birthright to rest, relax, and heal. So many of us get caught u

Wednesdays Evenings Prepare to travel inward through meditation and facilitated energy work to clear physical and emotional clutter. Azlynn's class covers a wide range of topics, such as cultivating true emotional awareness, shedding emotional reactivity, and grounding while creating physical and emotional space. It will focus on securing our emotions in the present, while overcoming anxieties, fears, and physical pain. Each week, Azlynn provides an energy report on the colle

Saturdays at 5pm We’re so grateful for the unique voice that each Cultivate facilitator brings to their classes. If you haven’t had the fortune of meeting her yet, we’d like to introduce you to the one-of-a-kind Nadia Diamanté. Nadia imbues her unique Kundalini & Yogic Sleep fusion class with her signature wisdom and wit (which are often one and the same). Those who have never tried Kundalini or Yoga Nidra are often intimidated due to their unfamiliarity with the practices, b

Thursday Evenings If this puppy can do Yoga Nidra, so can you. Performed laying down on one’s back, Yoga Nidra (or Yogic Sleep) is one of the most accessible and deeply relaxing forms of meditation that CULTIVATE offers. Many who have never experienced its wonderful benefits are often intimidated or confused by its name, assuming it involves complex stretches or positions. To the contrary, Yoga Nidra is an easy, motionless practice that is perfect for those new to meditation.