“To get a human body is a rare thing, make full use of it,” -Swami Brahmananda Saraswati There are certain times in the rhythms of nature when we are invited to turn our attention in a particular direction. Spring is about renewal, the full moon invites us to beautify and celebrate, while new moon is for introspection and quiet. Pitra Paksha asks us to remember. Pitra Paksha, means “the fortnight of the ancestors.” It is a sacred period in the Vedic tradition devoted to remembering and...

There are moments in life that divide everything into before and after. Some are dramatic. Others arrive quietly, carrying their meaning disguised as ordinary events. One morning in the late 1980s, I drove to work as I always had. I loved my job. I had become one of the pioneers in group fitness, traveling to California to study with the leaders in the field. I had discovered that the high-impact aerobics everyone was teaching didn't feel right in my own recently pregnant body. Every jump...

Has America's emphasis on freedom and bravery unintentionally influenced the way we think about health? As July 4th approaches, many of us will gather with family and friends to celebrate one of America's most cherished ideals: freedom. America proudly celebrates itself as the land of the free and the home of the brave. These ideals have inspired innovation, resilience, opportunity, and independence. They are among our nation's greatest strengths. Yet, for nearly ten years, that phrase has...