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Laura Mills

Want That?

2018-10-10T15:11:14+00:00

  By Laura Mills    This summer, as a new mom, I registered for gifts at two stores. Each gave me a catalog of suggested items prior to composing my own wish list. Some of the items I knew I couldn’t or didn’t want to do without, but also a good number seemed either extravagant or useless. In composing my own list, I spent serious time considering the questions “What do I need?” and “What do I want?” By the end of the process, my list looked quite different from either pre-printed registry guide.    When was the last time you asked [...]

Want That?2018-10-10T15:11:14+00:00

Light Play

2018-10-10T15:11:15+00:00

  By Laura Mills      The other night at dinner, my almost three-year-old pointed straight ahead of her and proclaimed, “My shadow!” I followed her finger and saw an image of her in the side of my glass. I explained to her—as I had done many times when we had looked into mirrors—that what she was seeing wasn’t a shadow, but a reflection.     She blinked at me. “What dat?”      In the past she had just made a face in the mirror and we had moved on. But now, for some reason, she wanted information. I thought for a moment [...]

Light Play2018-10-10T15:11:15+00:00

Thanksgiving in May

2018-10-10T15:11:16+00:00

By Laura Mills The first week of May is one of the year’s most special times for me, being the anniversary of the day I first met my daughter. Two years ago this week I was in China introducing myself to a 17-month-old little girl whom the universe had predestined for my family….  The moment I met her and began my journey as her mommy is the moment of most profound gratitude in my life. And even though the many moments since then—parenting and otherwise—have included innumerable challenges and even great heartache, I can always recall that moment in China [...]

Thanksgiving in May2018-10-10T15:11:16+00:00

Squirrel in Reverse

2018-10-10T15:11:17+00:00

By Laura Mills       I plopped into my car after bringing my daughter to a class. 1pm and I was already beat…. And it hadn’t been that extraordinarily busy of a day so far, either—only that after the craziness of the last few weeks I had lost track of the day and the time and, it seemed, life in general. This day I was lucky to have managed my daughter’s drop-off at the correct time in the appropriate place.     While I stared out the window, catching my breath, a squirrel approached my car from across the parking lot—then appeared [...]

Squirrel in Reverse2018-10-10T15:11:17+00:00

Seasonal Selection

2018-10-10T15:11:21+00:00

  By Laura Mills   Recently my husband and I discussed the change in seasons and agreed we’re both partial to the fall—and I know we’re in the majority at least among people we know. Why does fall delight so many? I’m sure the color changes evident in this part of the country are a major source of sentiment, but after considering the question, I thought of a few additional possibilities….   First, by the end of September more frequent cooler temperatures bring a unique excitement. While winter transitions to spring so gradually I barely notice it, summer transitions to fall seemingly overnight. [...]

Seasonal Selection2018-10-10T15:11:21+00:00

Practice to Practice

2018-10-10T15:11:22+00:00

  By Laura Mills         This week I’ve invited my students to consider the word “practice.” Obviously, we refer to every 60 or 75 minutes on our yoga mats as a practice; in a larger sense, some of us refer to our routine of attending classes and maybe other aspects of our lifestyle collectively as our yoga practice. Off the mat, we practice sports, music, dance, and other activities that we’ve made ongoing parts of our lives. And some professionals like doctors, dentists, and lawyers refer to their work as their practice.      Without looking up the word [...]

Practice to Practice2018-10-10T15:11:22+00:00

Calling All Yogis….

2018-10-10T15:11:24+00:00

     By Laura Mills    Sometimes, we just itch to pull out our mats. Like when sitting in the middle of a less-than-productive meeting; or driving a carpool of chattering, wriggling kids; or sorting a deep pile of dirty laundry. And the mat is definitely the place we’d rather be instead of at the kitchen table paying bills, the pharmacy picking up a prescription, or the yard cleaning after our pets. But yoga cravings also occur at other less -stressful moments. Many of us have felt the urge to breathe and flow, for example, while in the grocery store cereal [...]

Calling All Yogis….2018-10-10T15:11:24+00:00

Yoga Lullaby

2018-10-10T15:11:25+00:00

  By Laura Mills     “Time” just doesn’t mean what it used to in my house; every spare moment during which I can wipe the kitchen counter or (on the best days) sip some tea has dramatically increased in value. These days, I compose my classes and write my blogs during my daughter’s naptime—when she naps, that is—so of course I usually find myself trying to take advantage of every minute.      One day shortly after Thanksgiving festivities had upset our usual routine, my daughter started crying as soon as I put her down and didn’t stop as usual. I waited a [...]

Yoga Lullaby2018-10-10T15:11:25+00:00

Being a Name

2018-10-10T15:11:26+00:00

  By Laura Mills     “Mommy, where’s a person’s name?”     I looked at my daughter, confused. “What do you mean?”     “I mean…is it in my head? Is it in my body somewhere? Where can I find my name?”     Finally understanding the question—and amazed at this rather profound thought of my four-year-old—I answered: “Well, your name isn’t a thing that’s inside you. Like if I looked in your mouth, I wouldn’t see anything with your name on it.” I considered. “I suppose your name is a thought in your mind, because when you see it [...]

Being a Name2018-10-10T15:11:26+00:00

Opening Always – By Laura Mills

2018-10-10T15:11:27+00:00

When I began my yoga practice back in 2007, I knew:   1-Yoga originated in India a long time ago. 2-Yoga is a method of putting one’s body into different positions, and it’s relaxing. 3-One of the positions is called Downward Dog. 4-One might encounter incense, chimes, chants, and tea in a yoga class.       While I gratefully expanded my knowledge of yoga over the years, one of the things that struck me most is that yoga remains “a practice” no matter how long one’s been doing it, no matter how much one knows, no matter how adept one is [...]

Opening Always – By Laura Mills2018-10-10T15:11:27+00:00