Listening meditation is simple, and anyone can do it anywhere. Essentially, we are training in being open and receptive. Eventually, listening meditation becomes an opportunity not only to cultivate a spacious attitude but also to be able to wait quietly for the unknown without expectations or fixed thinking.

It is the perfect time to open the windows of your heart and “spring clean” by taking your practice outdoors. Especially since we've been spending so much time indoors — and perhaps alone — we can feel a little extra stuck and isolated right now. Reconnecting with nature as the grass turns green and the trees begin to bloom can balance these heavy feelings by opening the heart chakra.

Those who practice restorative yoga report that they experience a wide range of benefits—including increased energy, decreased anxiety, relief of chronic pain, quicker recovery time, and a better overall ability to manage stress in their lives.

That doesn’t surprise me, as rest is a prerequisite for healing and well-being, and restorative yoga is the ultimate training ground for learning the skills needed to rest deeply and release habitual tension.

At the core of our body lies the psoas. The psoas is a long muscle that connects the legs to the spine. When you feel unsafe, this muscle contracts. In fact, it’s said to be the very first muscle activated if you need to fight, flee, or freeze.

In Ayurveda, early fall and winter are known for wreaking havoc on our ability to rest. These three practices will help fortify your sleep and balance the excess Vata energy within, so you can feel more grounded and calm all season long.

Riding through these difficult days can leave us feeling depleted, and even getting recuperative sleep can be a challenge. On top of that, in the Ayurvedic tradition it’s Vata season, which is known to wreak havoc on our ability to rest.

This holiday, naturally, is a time for listening, a time for reflection, a time for prayer, gratitude, and blessings.

Of course this Thanksgiving will feel different for most of us. Yes, we are dealing with challenges that the pandemic imposes—separation and isolation, health and safety considerations, and economic struggles.

But we are also experiencing a collective awakening to our national reckoning with social and racial justice. An awakening to our country’s origin story. An awakening to our humanity.

Many of us know what it feels like to be anxious, overwhelmed, or panicked. Personally, I am no stranger, which is why it is important to me to center the practice of finding calm amidst turbulence in many of my offerings.