Text saying, 'Straightforward talks for our bumpy lives' written in white on a black background.
Logo for Yoga Trail Talks featuring stylized text, a leaf, and a branch.
A hammock tied between a tree and a post over a grassy area near a lake, with a boat dock and a blue canopy in the background, and the reflection of the moon on the water.

Trail Talks are short reads that connect the real struggles of everyday life with bits of mindful wisdom.

Perfect for right before a hike or yoga class.

Giving you a little something to think about.

Latest Trail Talks
Let’s explore the mystery of you!
Let’s explore the mystery of you!

“You are simultaneously a masterpiece and a work in progress.” 

Are you compassionate?  Are you sure? 
Are you compassionate?  Are you sure? 

The difficulties and gifts of compassion.

Have I done enough?
Have I done enough?

When the “enoughs” creep in, there is Aparigraha  non-attachment

When a Past Memory Hovers Around
When a Past Memory Hovers Around

A Letting Go Technique

What is the intention behind your intention?
What is the intention behind your intention?

Setting an Intention before a yoga class.

Do no harm. Inconceivable
Do no harm. Inconceivable

The nuances of Ahimsa.

Hard work does NOT have to pay off.
Hard work does NOT have to pay off.
Anchors
Anchors

Putting a drag into your life is a good thing!

The Missing Space
The Missing Space

Our small space, our big space, and the space that is disappearing.

 


I need to see clearly now.
I need to see clearly now.

Using Satya as a mental health strategy in uncertain times.  

When big things are happening…
When big things are happening…

Small things matter more.

Taking a step back from big dreams.
Taking a step back from big dreams.

Viveka

Near Future Stress
Near Future Stress

We have lots of strategies to deal with everyday stressors.  But what helps when our stress isn’t for today but for tomorrow?


Getting Strong - but Not to Move Forward
Getting Strong - but Not to Move Forward

Grounding Down

Could inner thoughts be our superpower instead of our nemesis? 
Could inner thoughts be our superpower instead of our nemesis? 

Turning off the inner critic.


A Simple First Step Towards Self Forgiveness
A Simple First Step Towards Self Forgiveness

Heart Chakra

When Life is in a Dry Season
When Life is in a Dry Season

Using Meditation as a Natural Oiler

For when our nice, neat bows begin to unravel… 
For when our nice, neat bows begin to unravel… 


Our Post-Labor-Day Life
Our Post-Labor-Day Life

How to take advantage of fall energy.

Don’t forget to plan for AFTER your vacation
Don’t forget to plan for AFTER your vacation

Countering: A post-vacation stress reduction strategy

Trees Fall
Trees Fall

How mindfulness protects us.

I can see clearly now…
I can see clearly now…

How our bright sunshiny memories can help our everyday life.

And So It Flows
And So It Flows

How to let our reactions flow through (and then leave).

The Energetic Body explained

The New Happy
The New Happy

Happiness is not a result of the life you have created for yourself.

What are your happiness hijacks?
What are your happiness hijacks?

The 5 Kleshas

Ever heard of the “little brain” ?
Ever heard of the “little brain” ?

Belly Health and Mental Health

Why Meditation Belongs on Every To-Do List 
Why Meditation Belongs on Every To-Do List 
The Missing Piece
The Missing Piece

Ananadamaya Kosha

The 5 Koshas Explained (through the eyes of Harry Potter)
The 5 Koshas Explained (through the eyes of Harry Potter)
The Joys of Falling
The Joys of Falling

Abhinivesha

Stress and Self Care
The Benefits of Stress on our Longevity
The Benefits of Stress on our Longevity

The trees have the right idea.

Stress Stuck
Stress Stuck

Flexible vs Rigid Thinking

Mind Body Connection

Yoga is all about Sweating the Small Stuff 
Yoga is all about Sweating the Small Stuff 

5 Kleyshas

Using Muscle Memory for Mental Health
Using Muscle Memory for Mental Health

Savasana as a Tool

Gathering up peace
Gathering up peace

But not for the reason you may think

Santosha

A Place to Rest
A Place to Rest

Using the mind/body connection

This too shall pass
This too shall pass

The handling of daily setbacks

Breath Set Free
Breath Set Free

Freeing ourselves from reacting

Energy and Motivation
The Key to Motivation: Burning Those Thoughts Away
The Key to Motivation: Burning Those Thoughts Away

Tapas

The Subtle Aggression of Self-improvement
The Subtle Aggression of Self-improvement

The subtle aggression of self-improvement.

How to have all the energy you wish for!
How to have all the energy you wish for!
When is the best time to step off the path?
When is the best time to step off the path?

Restarting and Resetting

When Motivation Ebbs (and doesn’t flow)
When Motivation Ebbs (and doesn’t flow)

A new reason to get on the mat or trail.

Showing Up
Showing Up

What if motivation isn’t what we think it is?

Sadhana

Is it even worth it?
Is it even worth it?

Santosha

Finding Balance
Finding Balance

Identifying what type of energy you need

Ida or Pingala

Journey in Grace
Journey in Grace

Rethinking that famous saying about good intensions

Abyhasa

Bumps in the Road
Feeling Mediocre?
Feeling Mediocre?

It may be time for a spit-wash!

Self-worth vs. Self-esteem
Self-worth vs. Self-esteem
For when we want to “let go” but can’t.
For when we want to “let go” but can’t.

An Aparigraha Meditation

When our “doing” is below par.
When our “doing” is below par.

Looking at the “being” part of life.

Ahamkara

Rethinking the Back Burner
Rethinking the Back Burner

Lovingly caring for our worries.

The Problem with “Keep on Keepin’ on”
The Problem with “Keep on Keepin’ on”

Choosing and Avoiding

Changing our outside, may change our inside!
Changing our outside, may change our inside!

Low Mood and the link to kapha energy.

Rethinking the Importance of Self-esteem
Rethinking the Importance of Self-esteem

Yoga Sutra 2.6

Feeling Powerless?
Feeling Powerless?

Taking a different kind of action

Mantra

Inward Fears Brought Outward
Inward Fears Brought Outward

Throat Chakra

Dealing with Regrets
Dealing with Regrets

Santosha

When Things Weigh us Down
When Things Weigh us Down

A different kind of movement

Prana

Nadis

Too Angry to Relax?
Too Angry to Relax?

Sometimes relaxation is not what we need

root chakra

In the Storm
In the Storm

Tapping into our inner fire

Tapas

This too shall pass
This too shall pass

The handling of daily setbacks

Yoga Sutra 2.16

Relationships
How to step out of the “Comparing Trap”
How to step out of the “Comparing Trap”

Creating a Life Drishti

When it comes to big hurts, we need some empowering advice.
When it comes to big hurts, we need some empowering advice.

Pratipaksha-bhavana

For When We are Lonely 
For When We are Lonely 

There is Asmita

Quietly Strengthening Our Relationships
Quietly Strengthening Our Relationships

Effortless Effort

Being a Crab?
Being a Crab?

Pulling back the curtain

Duhkham

Gifting Someone their Story
Gifting Someone their Story

Present Listening

5 Vrittis

Be Brave
Be Brave

The hidden wishes behind our negative thoughts.

Mindful and Spiritual
Meditation Explained
Meditation Explained
Setting an Intention
Setting an Intention

Sankalpa

Breath and Spirit
Breath and Spirit

The beautiful concept of inspiriting.

The Value of Feeling Free
The Value of Feeling Free

Aparigraha

Is it really better to give than receive?
Is it really better to give than receive?

Developing a gratitude practice that may surprise you!

Using Muscle Memory for Mental Health
Using Muscle Memory for Mental Health

Using mindfulness as a tool.

Turning off our thoughts, by turning on our senses
Turning off our thoughts, by turning on our senses

Tapas

Sense-memory meditation

Chakra 101
Chakra 101

Connecting mind and body

Being Present
Being Present

Being Present: how it feels and how find it

The Next Best Thing
The Next Best Thing

Finding mindful moments

Interconnected
Interconnected

We are not alone

Ishvara Pranidhana

Taking Up Space
Taking Up Space

Allowing ourselves to be seen

Get free, immediate access to Summer Themes for Yoga Teachers.

Summer Themes
Creating Flow
Creating Flow

First to escape, and then so much more.

Creating a Balanced Life
Creating a Balanced Life

What it is and what it isn’t.

The Benefits of Stress on our Longevity
The Benefits of Stress on our Longevity

The trees have the right idea.

Gut Recovery
Gut Recovery

Re-energizing after vacation eating.

For when we want to “let go” but can’t.
For when we want to “let go” but can’t.

An Aparigraha Meditation

When it comes to big hurts, we need some empowering advice.
When it comes to big hurts, we need some empowering advice.

Pratipaksha-bhavana

For When We are Lonely 
For When We are Lonely 

There is Asmita

Adulting Stinks
Adulting Stinks

Reacting to Information Overload

Dahkha

When our “doing” is below par.
When our “doing” is below par.

Looking at the “being” part of life.

Ahamkara

When time is NOT on our side
When time is NOT on our side

Svadhyaya

Gathering up peace
Gathering up peace

But not for the reason you may think

Santosha

Gifting Someone their Story
Gifting Someone their Story

Present listening

5 Vrittis

When expectations don't match reality.
When expectations don't match reality.

Pitta energy

Turning off our thoughts, by turning on our senses
Turning off our thoughts, by turning on our senses

Tapas

Sense-memory meditation

Feeling Powerless?
Feeling Powerless?

Taking a different kind of action

Mantra

Dharana

Inward Fears Brought Outward
Inward Fears Brought Outward

Throat Chakra