Typically, what I call the “holiday season,” the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, is the hardest time of the year for me. It’s historically been the season of getting together with dysfunctional family members that I would ordinarily never choose to spend time with, and being around all the chaos that comes with that. Read More

Feathered Pipe Blog: Voice of the Wisdom Holders
The Feathered Pipe has been blessed to host many of the foremost teachers, guides and wisdom holders within the realm of yoga, meditation, spirituality, health and wellness during our four-plus decades of existence. The Feathered Pipe Blog offers you the opportunity to explore more deeply their thoughts and insights for opening to experience a more healthful and fulfilling life.
Yoga is a Sanskrit word that means “yoke,” and yoke means “union” and “joining.” This is a reference to our ever-existing connection with the creative God Force. Yoga as a practice is about making this personal connection a conscious feeling-reality fact. Read More
As a child I used to play a game in the back yard with friends. We would hyperventilate and then hold our breath until we almost passed out. We thought this was great fun. Little did we realize that we were playing with one of the most powerful physiological and spiritual tools at our disposal: the breath. Read More
We’ve spent quite a lot of time learning about brain health and how we can use yoga to support it as we age. We're happy to report there are quite a number of ways! Read More
Yoga Nidra is derived from the ancient Tantric Shastras, and forms a complete program of deep relaxation, intensive Self-inquiry and profound meditation. During Yoga Nidra we carefully and systematically investigate the nature of the structures and beliefs that define our personal identity. Read More
In 1970 at 18 years old, intrigued by a book of Carlos Castenada. I left my hometown in New Jersey and set out on a Journey to Ixtlan as a spiritual tourist in search of Don Juan. En route, I met a Huichol schoolteacher, who gave me the name of his family’s village – a 5 day walk away. Read More
How can performing pranayama with an emphasis on control contribute to such mental conditions as anxiety? The explanation is that the breath lies at the intersection of body, conscious mind, and unconscious mind, and thus has a direct effect on all three. Read More
We humans are clever in our various strategies to try and avoid feeling the ups and downs of life. We can try to escape by busying ourselves, hoping that we won’t be affected by them. Read More
This is a story of how I learned to compost the “shit” in my life and see that every moment in time plays out for a reason, leading to The Dandelion Effect we all live in whether we know it consciously or not. Read More
In the years since, I have come to realize that doing “just the right amount” is applicable off the mat in almost anything I undertake. Isn’t this exactly what the practice of yoga is meant to help us understand? We settle into a pose, notice where it is today, feel its essence, assess its wants and then do the needful. Read More
Ardha Chandrasana, the Half Moon pose is said to resemble the image of an Indian moon floating in the sky. The Sanskrit word Chandra also refers to the qualities of brilliance or shine of the moon. Although the torso is not dangling but is held up by strong legs, a lightness and freedom can be experienced in this pose as if you can radiate in all directions. Read More
As a long-time yoga practitioner and a burgeoning potter, I have been struck by how complementary the nature of the two practices are. Both incorporate a blend of science, art, and philosophy. There are methodologies and techniques to learn. Read More