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Yoga Is Skill In Action
I’m spending the weekend via Zoom with Michelle Johnson, for a “Skill in Action” retreat, where she is creating and holding the space for exploring how we individually and collectively can act to bring more communal justice, through anti-racist action, in our own lives, in the yoga community, and in society. She has been doing anti-racism work for 20 years, and has been practicing yoga and teaching since 2009. She published “Skill in Action,” in 2018. I read it several months ago. She said that she was flooded with orders the weekend after George Floyd was murdered.
What changed? Was it the confluence with the pandemic? Will we engage enough to make this an opportunity for lasting change or will those who are least impacted get weary or bored? What can would be allies do to help make it the former and not the latter?
I’m up late writing this after having spent a couple of hours dancing around and getting ready for tomorrow and contemplating and, of course, playing with Maitri.

Appropo of Ayyappa
Reading today’s article in the Washington Post, “Women Fight for Access to Sacred Places in India,” and appropo of my recent blog post on Ayyappa, reminded me of what led me to the law. I am conscious that relative to most of the billions of women on this planet, I have had extraordinary opportunities.
I think I have a responsibility to live to the fullest the opportunities I’ve been fortunate enough to have. And I think that part of that responsibility is to make my own contribution to eliminating injustice and to keep working with creativity and dedication and passion, while ultimately, like Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita and his right action, letting go of the result, knowing I am not in control of any particular outcome or sequence of events.
What is your story? The opportunities explored? The barriers that need not have been there?
Shakti Pilgrims, Tamil Nadu, India, 12/11
15 Minutes of Yoga in the Morning
Here’s a good way to invite in the day (if you have more time, do longer holds for the various standing poses):
Balasana (child’s pose) with hands stretched out.
Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog)
Dynamic movement between downward facing dog and palakasana (plank pose).
Uttanasana (standing forward fold) to tadasana (mountain) with hands on hips to rise.
Standing sun breath.
Modified sun salute series (tadasana, uttanasana, (A) lunge on both sides with uttansana in between, adho mukha svanasana, palakasana, lower through chatturanga, bhujangasana, adho mukha svanasana; (B) virabhadrasana I on both sides with uttanasana in between, adho mukha svanasana, palakasana, lower through chatturanga, bhujangasana, adho mukha svanasana; (C) parsvokonasana on both sides, adho mukha svanasana, palakasana, lower through chatturanga, bhujangasana, adho mukha svanasana). Add trikonasana and ardha chandrasana if you have time.
Handstand or half handstand.
One more sun salute variation, with eka pada rajakapotasana (pigeon pose) on both sides.
Seated twist and forward bend of your choice.
Seated meditation (five minutes or more).
Have a great day!




