Rod Stryker

So many people extol the power of intention these days, you'd think it's a foolproof way to fulfill your desires. Yet, the fact of the matter is most of us don't fulfill our intentions. Let's look at why and, more importantly, at how to reduce the resistance that so often...

It's that time of year -- a time, we are reminded, for giving, gratitude, celebration and reflection. It's also a time when most of us can't help but create our own wish list of the things we want. Some of the things on our personal wish list will be fulfilled...

Part I of this article looked at the two different kinds of fulfillment: material and spiritual. In this part, we look at the importance of resolving all conflict between the two and fully celebrating both.

The very first time I did yoga, I discovered a greater sense of peace than...

The Oxford American Dictionary defines fulfillment as "the achievement of something desired, promised, or predicted," and "satisfaction or happiness as a result of fulfilling or developing one's abilities or character." It's worth noting that both of these definitions are attainment-oriented, something you feel whenever you satisfy a want or desire,...

When I first started teaching yoga, it was hard not to notice that students tend to practice in the same spot every time they come to class. The first time they enter the classroom, they carefully consider their options before putting their mat down. Taking in the room, they measure...

In my previous blog entry I wrote about Yoga Nidra, or what I call "Relax Into Greatness," and the profound benefits -- that this ancient, systematic approach to complete relaxation offers both body and mind. In this post I'd like to further explore how it can work to...

Thousands of years ago, the yoga tradition had already recognized the significance of relaxation. Several ancient texts detailed various approaches to systematic relaxation as an essential practice for maintaining health and vitality. These ancient practices were called Yoga Nidra. The word Nidra means "sleep." The term Yoga Nidra is best...

I was surprised to hear just how utterly discouraged and lost Suzanne felt when she came to my weeklong yoga and meditation retreat. In the past, Suzanne had always seemed to radiate a sense of ease and grace. But listening to Suzanne describe her current situation, it was clear that...

A seed settles into the soil and waits. Once it germinates, it moves stone and earth to tunnel the shoot that will become its roots. The seed projects a second shoot skyward, which after breaking ground, will allow it to convert sunlight into the energy it will use to sustain...

Despite its widespread acceptance and the number of lives it has improved, what most of us in the West commonly associate with yoga represents only the tip of the iceberg that is yoga, a tiny fraction of what is a vast and profound science. In fact, many people, including some...