Hello & Welcome

When I began meditating and practicing yoga it was 1973 and yoga was just starting to get a foothold in the Western world. It was also a time without yoga studios in every town. And no such thing as yoga mats or yoga clothing. How things have changed over the years! My understanding then, and what I continue to practice and teach is this: Yoga is the quieting of the mind. And the postures are the vehicle for experiencing stillness.

The yoga postures give the analytical part of the brain something to do as it thinks about putting the hand here and the foot there, etc. That analytical part of the brain is a problem solver. Consequently it is always looking for problems to solve. Thinking about how to move in and out of poses is how yoga takes care of the analytical mind's need to constantly engage in figuring something out.

Meanwhile during yoga we also focus on the breath. Which calms the nervous system and opens the doorway to another part of the brain's functioning. The intuitive, creative portion. From this viewpoint life is not so much a problem to be solved as it is a mystery to be lived. This is where we experience the state of just being. For me, that has always been the ultimate goal of my yoga practice. And it is what I help others experience.

Why is it so important to experience stillness? Well, in this fast-paced world where we ingest non-stop information, the mind gets burnt out. And it becomes "normal" to go through life overstimulated and stressed-out. Like a computer that needs to be re-booted to work properly, the analytical portion of our brain needs time away from computing information. Giving our thinking mind an opportunity to relax greatly enhances our physical health and emotional well-being.

Being human is a lot to manage. There are so many aspects to the physical, mental and emotional aspects of our lives. No wonder we all experience so many ups and downs. To be of help I offer one-on-one counseling sessions. And will be offering free Lighten Up Lessons on You Tube. Which I'm still creating and hope to have available for you by August 2026. Please reach out to me if you have any questions. LightenUpWithHart@yahoo.com Or use the Home Page form.