As adults in an achievement-based society, we can learn a lot about cultivating joy and presence when we humble ourselves, step outside of our comfort zone, and become beginners again.
I thought there was something magical about an adult ballet class in which grown-up people who had chosen one thing as a career, were consciously developing themselves in another area. It was so magnificent to me because it seemed purely internally motivated unlike so many things in our lives and society. Something about it was joyful.
The past weekend was a beautiful triad of experiences in nature. Each distinct, yet harmonious together. As summer transitions to fall, the outdoors were calling to be recognized. Sun and moon shine, day and night. For whatever reason, this weekend felt important and left me with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the place I am in and the people I am with.
Yesterday I arrived home, after a couple very long days at work, to a large brown amazon package on my doorstep. My kitten, Zéb, was thrilled about the three layers of boxes now available to him as playspace. I was overwhelmed by a very generous gift from my Aunt and Uncle for my recent graduation …
I originally wrote this article to submit to an online yoga publication, but I’ve been thinking about what the practice of savasana looks like in our lives a lot lately and decided to revive it from my Microsoft Word draft. — We often start our physical yoga practice in child’s pose, folded forward over our …
Before the sun rises in the morning, the birds and cicadas sing a symphony at the full volume of their voices. Then, slowly, the sun paints the colors into the trees, leaves, branches, and stone pathways of The Yoga Forest. By this time everyone gathers for a morning meditation. On our first morning waking up …
Tuesday was the holiday of Raksha Bandhan in India. It is a remembrance of an Indian queen who called on a Mongul king not to attack her people and instead to protect them. She sent the Mongul king a bracelet representing her love and prayers and by accepting it he was forever obligated to protect … Continue reading
1. To take a picture with me or of me. This hasn’t happened yet, but every day since we arrived we’ve been told that people will want to take pictures with us because we are Americans. As far as I can tell there’s no harm in it and our Maranthi teacher says they most likely … Continue reading
“Here,” the driver said to us, tipping his head to his shoulder in the Indian version of a nod. The three of us looked out from beneath the black top of the tiny vehicle and quickly searched for the “Pantaloons” sign. Not seeing it immediately, we got out of the rickshaw, paid the fare and … Continue reading
I left Boston on August 16 in the evening for my three flights to Pune, India. Bidding my family goodbye, I dove into the TSA ocean at Logan airport. The flight from Boston to Paris went smoothly–only 5 and a half hours. As we took off from Boston the sun was glowing red, casting reflections … Continue reading
I started off the summer turning 21 on a plane to Haiti and after spending just one week with the children at Proje Espwa fell in love with them and promised myself I would return someday soon. After three days at home I set off on my next adventure to New Orleans where I helped … Continue reading
Each time I visit New York City, I feel like I get further and further from the traditional tourist obsessions. That’s not to say I don’t still enjoy them: we had to take a peak at the naked cowboy in Time Square and we couldn’t pass up just a few Broadway shows while we were … Continue reading
We walked down the dimly lit street in East Village as the glowing hot dog came into view above our heads. Down the steps into Crif Dogs we nonchalantly sought the mysterious phone booth. The wood stained box called almost no attention to itself. Tucked behind one edge of the wall, like all things worth … Continue reading
If you follow The Penniless Traveler on facebook, you already know that I traveled “Around the World in NYC” on Friday night. Accompanied by Jules Verne’s eccentric cast of characters in a small, Off-Broadway Theater on 45th street, I traveled from England to India to San Francisco and back again. New York City in and … Continue reading
Mid-day Saturday, we were exhausted from wandering the floor of Boston Comic Con and our stomachs were grumbling. One look at the line for food in the Seaport World Trade Center sent us across the street to search for food at Rosa Mexicano. When we saw the “gluten free menu” option listed on the sheet … Continue reading
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