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REFLECTIONS FROM THE MAT



Overstimulated and addicted is the new normal
It is very easy to say that I love everyone; these fashionable cliches cost nothing for the ego. However, loving one person is hard work.
Dec 30, 2024


How to beat election stress and bring change to our media and politics
How to use mindfulness to demand smarter politics. How to recognize fear-mongering and a path to hope in a toxic political environment.
Sep 12, 2024

Book Recommendations and October Book Club
due to popular demand, I am putting a book on menopause by an OBGYN as our next book club.
Gentlemen, don't worry—yo
Aug 29, 2024


Success through connection, healing the fabric of our society
By far, it is one of the most emotionally stirring, vulnerable, and breathtakingly beautiful writings I have had the privilege of reading. I
May 31, 2024


Mukha-mukhi with Dora
Cross-cultural and cross-generational dialogues are very important for a healthy society.
Enjoy this dual-language interview on yoga
Feb 28, 2024

New Podcast with Dora
Listen to Sommer (mental health counselor) and Dora (mindfulness teacher) discuss yoga, mindfulness, and current problems with education.
Jan 5, 2024


HOW You START Matters –In 2024, Don’t Repeat the Original Sin – Oh no, Dora just got Biblical!
Learn how to make good decisions, How and Why you start matters, and here, emotional intelligence and spirituality can teach us the most.
Dec 27, 2023


A low sugar high protein cake that kids will love
This is a quick and easy cake that is low in sugar and very high in protein that kids will love.
Oct 13, 2023


Life enriching summer reads
Nowadays, we believe these Eastern and Western traditions are different, but through deep study, we discover that they have much in common
Aug 4, 2023


Panni crossed the rainbow bridge
Remembering Spira's Standard Poodle Panni - faithful and true to the very last beat of his heart.
Jun 6, 2023


New Year, New Goals or are you just Envious?
I know nobody likes to talk about envy, but envy is real, and because we would rather avoid it, it is all the more reason to look at envy.
Dec 28, 2022


Reads for the Holidays-why we need to read from all Religions regardless of faith tradition
Critical reading is a lovely practice of mindfulness. The more we can interpret a text from multiple points of view, the more peace we find.
Dec 16, 2022


Workplace Burnout, Boundaries, and the movie Pretty woman
When is business just business, and when is it personal? How can work be personally meaningful, and stay "business, nothing personal."
Nov 3, 2022


Resist Reductionism - Hold Space for complexity
Yoga aims to teach us awareness. To hold space, to lean into the discomfort, and through examination of our thoughts, emotions, and...
Aug 16, 2022


Our Brains have been highjacked - book recommendations for better brains
Spira Yoga is not just an exercise studio; we also aim to educate on mindful living and nutrition. In this blog, you will find three...
Jul 9, 2022


Closing West Seattle-how did we get here?
As a small business owner, I feel it is important to share our point of view, as I feel that our struggles are quite overlooked in this tech
Jan 31, 2022


Change is Inevitable, but Unchecked Change becomes Destructive to Economy and Mental Health
We generally see that change is good. Still our current struggles with mental health, staffing shortages could be caused by too much change.
Nov 1, 2021


Is Yoga Dead? The corporate takeover of a wisdom tradition and decline of our mental health.
An In-Depth Examination of how yoga changed over the past 10 years and what we can do to reclaim the art.
Sep 22, 2021


IBS awareness, diet, and your health, and a little bit of politics
Now you may not have IBS. But I am willing to bet that you would not mind having more energy. Maybe you got used to being a little bloated,
Sep 12, 2021

chatting with Chuck
Spira Talk-Radio
Listen to this casual 30-minute conversation about raising a family and how yoga and meditation became his anchor.
Mar 25, 2021


Spira Talk-Radio Podcast
Spira Talk-Radio podcasts to be light-hearted, casual conversations with teachers, students, and the community about anything!
Mar 11, 2021

We are a Globally Certified Meditation and Yoga School
Dear Students and Community, 2020 has been a challenging year, but I firmly believe that our challenges are often our blessings. Covid...
Feb 22, 2021


Be my Valentine – no, not the Cupid kind!
There are many different kinds of love, the love of friends, family, culture, society. We need real love NOW more than ever.
Feb 9, 2021


Responsible Reopening
Slowly, but we are taking steps to get back to our regular schedule in the studio.
Don't worry zoom is here to stay;
Jan 31, 2021


Window to a different world
If you wish to learn about the apartheid, race, and the power of language, then listen to this audiobook.
I recommend the audio version!
Nov 2, 2020


A book and a film to make a hero out of you
This journey binds us together; it is the same no matter what color your skin is, what culture you grew up in if you are rich or poor.
Nov 2, 2020


Give Greenlights a green light
We have way more in common than what we think. We just need to listen to each other's stories, that's all, just sit and listen.
Nov 2, 2020


We all need a little philosophy...
I believe the most important subjects to teach in school are philosophy and comparative religions. Without an understanding of these two...
Oct 9, 2020


Breath is something you gotta read- and do...
This is the perfect book for anybody who ever wondered why breathing is so vital for yogis.
Aug 26, 2020


Today you are creating the future - will you like it?
It is not about supporting small businesses; it is, How do you want to live once this is all over?
What would you like cities to look like
Aug 20, 2020


5 min a day challenge – win amazing prizes
Five minutes a day for 21 days “challenge” – go ahead and laugh, we are serious!
You heard me, right!
Aug 14, 2020


no more spira app on apple
I know you guys love our Spira App, we worked so hard to develop a great product. I know it will be more inconvenient to book classes...
Jul 28, 2020


Apple to take 30% cut from struggling businesses during pandemic
Unfortunate consequence of Apple's 30% rule is the added burden for small business during the pandemic
Jul 28, 2020


Lessons from Facing Adversity
Nothing can be changed unless it is faced. Philosophers, religious leaders, writers,have been hammering this fact away for 3000 years...
Jul 21, 2020


must read and never forget
If you are looking to bite into a book that is a page-turner, a love story, drama, horror, and history, look no further.
Seriously, read it!
Jul 21, 2020


I feel your pain - let's talk
Right now, we need to take a moment to mourn; we mourn the loss of black lives, and we mourn the pain of the past 200 years of racism.
Jun 3, 2020


Book Recommendation - The Fungi will save humanity
Nature writing at it's very best.
Read this Mind-bending journey into the hidden universe of fungi.
Literature, expidition, science.
Jun 2, 2020


Covid- the big picture- asking the right questions
Then, I stumbled onto this video interview with Dr. Bush
He is a triple board-certified MD who has been fighting how the medical system is
May 29, 2020


COVID is dangerous, but what about our reactions? Censorship, Constitutional Rights and Fear
Yes, these intentions and reactions are coming from the right intentions.
The problem with giving into censorship though, is that we are....
May 28, 2020


We will be back to normal hugging and loving, while at it here are 5 ways to stay healthy
Share your emotions, talk to someone. Make a hugging list for the future, in the meantime, make sure to talk and share your feelings.
May 27, 2020


Get Inspired, fitness and nutrition for life
So how does a 44-year-old woman who dislikes yoga and diets end up dedicating a life, with 12-hour workdays to these subjects?
Apr 26, 2020


Toilet paper as essential? – did you just make that sh…up?
So how did we get here? How in the world did all of America attack the local grocery stores like zombies in the hope of resurrection?
Apr 9, 2020


Social Distancing is not the only thing keeping us apart
We think being apart limits how well we can communicate; well, think again. Too often, we (all of us in society) make too many assumptions,
Apr 5, 2020


Coronavirus/ Proactive safety
We will wet mop with bleach after every class
We will alcohol wipe all door knobs every day
Please do NOT come to class if you are sick
Mar 4, 2020

When Roses are not enough, the Truth will set you Free
“Honesty is reached through the doorway of grief and loss” this raw, vulnerable statement sank into my bones and resonated with me ...
Feb 5, 2020


Finding beauty during tough times
vulnerability is like taking a plunge in cold water. At first, you want to run, but if you stay and start swimming, you will find more power
Dec 27, 2019


Music in Yoga class - Effective tool or noisy distraction?
Class concluded and as we went into savasana, I heard a steady pulse of a drum rhythm wash over me. After a few bars of the hypnotic beat...
Dec 4, 2019


Three difficult, but worthwhile ways to bring back the holiday spirit while sustaining your sanity
Take time to cut back on sugar, prioritize meaningful relationships, and reorganize when you see acquaintances. I promise ....
Dec 4, 2019


Burnout -Measuring ourselves to death…
Burnout is the dark side of measurability, productivity, and performance.
How can we find balance?
How do we strive to be excellent ...
Oct 23, 2019


Book recommendation - we all need to cultivate more moral values to find joy in life
There are folks who love David Brooks, and there are those who really don't
let go your opinion about him as a journalist and read this..
Oct 9, 2019
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