Àse Yoga Studio & Tea Room

10/30/2025

As children, we often say things like "I want... this or that." And as we grow up, we start to see and want more things. Sometimes, even people in our lives become things. Meanwhile, this "wanting" in us grows. Some seemingly nice people commit crimes because of want, not need.

As well, some people work not just to meet their needs, but to seize what they think they really want. Wants aren't actual needs. Many of the things we crave are optional, emotional. In our pursuit of material things, we mistakenly try to fill a childhood void, leading us to buy stuff that serves no real purpose. Yet we're taught to believe they're a must-have.

Actually, these wants come from the ego, which leads us to pursue our wants. After a while, our possessions often lose their meaning. We travel from one country to another chasing wants. Yet we still usually feel empty inside.

It's an inner emptiness, we're trying to fill. But that only fuels greed. When we feel an inner emptiness inside, it leads to greed. Greed is insanity. We distract ourselves with gadgets, clothes, relationships, and experiences, often ignoring the suffering around us.

Actually, true peace and happiness can't be found in material possessions — only within.

We learn that when we meditate. Meditation is a need, not a want. We become aware of our emptiness. We find that true fulfillment comes from the love we share with ourselves and others, rather than the stuff we own.

Master your life. Be a lover. Know that you're already rich, wealthy, and affluent. Love enriches us.

Experience Àse Yoga, where every breath counts.

10/28/2025

Are you in a relationship? Married or living with someone? If that's the case, you're probably part of the 70% of people who are married or cohabiting. But the question is, are you happy?

Did you know that out of 2.3 million marriages each year in the U.S., over 50% end in divorce or separation? It can get even more difficult when couples are still married but living apart. Whether through divorce or separation, these numbers are tough. If children are involved, things become even more complicated.

I recently spoke with a man who has been married for over thirty years. According to him, he married someone who didn't love him, but he stayed because of his children. Now that the children are grown, he is still legally married. During the marriage, he had affairs, justifying them because his relationship lacked love. People often stay in challenging relationships for years, using children or money as excuses. However, the real problem is usually a lack of self-love.

To love...

We can't give what we don't have. If we don't love ourselves, no way we can love others. And so, many of us find ourselves in relationships that feel limiting, often influenced by a fear of being alone. Living like this leads to chaos, negativity, and frustration.

Maybe we should focus less on just having relationships and more on actually relating to each other—that's where real connection and love can grow. When we relate, we get to live life fully and happily, embracing our freedom and wholeness. Relating helps us build our connections, prioritize growth, and spread joy like flowers blooming in every season. "Love is the ultimate law."

Experience Àse Yoga, where every breath counts

10/26/2025

Embrace a new beginning:

A lot of us get stuck in the past, re-enacting stuff from grade school all the way to adulthood. Instead of focusing on what's happening right now, we're just dragging around our old wounds while consenting to all sorts of mental health diagnoses. We carry this past everywhere—whether it's in parenting, relationships, work, or when we hang out with others.

In doing so, we overextend ourselves, underachieve, and settle for less than we deserve. We bend over backwards to please others, out of fear and a lack of self-worth, which can leave us feeling irritable and drained. We waste so much life force on being a victim with a past mindset.

Sure, we feel justified. It's our genes, we tell ourselves? Did you know that over 50% of what we become is not genetics but environment? Still, the past doesn't change.

Our real power lies in healing. When we focus on healing, we stop allowing our past to steal our present. Only by understanding the past do we transform this moment, paving the way for a joyful present.

Gather the wisdom from your experiences. Remember, our greatness doesn't come just from what we've been through, but from the lessons we take away from those experiences. So, what have you learned on your journey?

With a real yoga practice, you start to unblock your energy and connect with those vital lessons. These lessons could be about self-love, resilience, or living in the present moment. We breathe differently.

Experience Àse Yoga, where every breath counts.

10/24/2025

Money stands as the number one source of stress in the U.S. Life becomes a constant whirlwind of bills, unmet desires, and lingering anxieties. One thing is clear: we all need money. While some go through life with little money, others find themselves always chasing more.

Before my brother passed away, a nurse's aide—who knew him for less than a week—married him to gain access to his government benefits and assets. It makes you wonder: what lengths will people go to for the love of money? As the O'Jays remind us, "People will lie, lie, cheat, for the love of money. People don't care who they hurt or beat..."

Some cut ties with their families, resort to theft, face health issues, or endure significant struggles—all in the name of money. While some hoard cash like misers, others spend it all to feel a sense of freedom.

What's enlightening is that understanding money—rather than rejecting it—is liberating. It reflects our values, attitudes, and perceptions of others. Are we living with purpose?

Some of us have lived both ways—without money and with it—and of course, having money is way better. Naturally, having cash is more enjoyable.

Yet, over time, we realize that we're already living in paradise, already rich and powerful in our own right. True wealth goes beyond material possessions. The real treasures in life, like love, cannot be bought. As someone who's survived breast cancer, just getting a clean bill of health from the doctor feels so valuable.

So take a moment to value your breath—celebrate life. Here's to health, happiness, and prosperity.

Experience Àseyoga, where every breath truly matters.

10/23/2025

Have you ever been around someone who is overly self-centered and selfish? It's all about them. You may act that way, too. Are you egotistical? Often, we confuse ego with self-confidence, but they differ greatly. If you're stuck in the ego world, it's a sign you're in the dark. Only by turning on the light will the darkness be dispelled.

As we go through life, we pick up ego chips from things like our education, titles, activities, and the schools we attend. We keep feeding it because we've forgotten who we really are. But the ego isn't actually you. It's just the opposite—a role you play. That's why understanding the ego is a way we turn on the light. We find out who you really are.

So, who are you? Once you figure that out, the ego collapses on its own. You don't need to fight it; you just have to see it clearly and understand it fully. These days, with social media and the constant push to show off and be someone, a lot of egotism is on display.

We use our ego to feel like we're somebody in this world. Sadly, some people's egos grow as they get older. They will not have the opportunity to discover their true self. Life becomes a constant competition.

The choice is ours: understand our ego or let it rule, which only leads to frustration and misery. The truth is, the ego hangs around until you really start to understand who you are. Through yoga, you get to discover yourself—something only you can do. Because, honestly, no one knows you better than you.

10/20/2025

Wishing you peace,

It’s not really about what others do to us; it’s more about what we do to ourselves. Parents raise their children with certain expectations, while children want their parents to act a certain way. Friends do the same thing. When we don’t match up to those expectations, we often waste a lot of energy trying to change each other, which just leads to stress and frustration.

No matter how annoyed or upset you get about how someone else is living or what they say, that frustration only ends up hurting you. One of the main limbs of yoga is to do no harm. When you try to force others to be like us, we’re harming ourselves.

Let go of that need! You can't change anyone else, and if you keep trying, you’re just wasting your life. It's not love; it's your ego creating chaos. Our need to control how others live only creates chaos and leads to stress and dis-ease.

We can only really change ourselves. So, lets focus on our own life. When we turn our ignorance into understanding and move from darkness to light, we’re actually making a small change in the world. This little change can set off a domino effect. Just by being true to ourselves and living authetically, we inspire others to find their own happiness and peace.

Experience Àse Yoga, where every breath counts

10/17/2025

Healing ought to be our top priority. What happens to us, no matter how long ago, sticks with us until we work through it. Children today are dealing with neglect and abuse from people who haven't taken the time to heal themselves—that's real trauma. Plus, we're surrounded by economic inequality, miseducation, grief, and a lack of respect for the human being— that's trauma too.

Our experiences don't just disappear. Just like we take time for manicures and haircuts, we need to focus on our healing, too. If we don't, we end up nicely manicured, passing our pain, anger, anxiety, fear, and worry onto our children. They carry the burden of our pain.

I hear so many stories about what people have been through. It really hits home that we should all be focusing on healing. Just like physical wounds have four stages of healing, why are we not paying attention to our own healing process?

Think about healing and realize how your experiences still impact you physically, mentally, and spiritually. It's like your past has more control over you than you do over it. Healing is what really empowers us, helps us grow, motivates us, and gives us a sense of calm.

Yoga is a fantastic way to heal trauma. We let go of the pain that we hold in our bodies, minds, and spirits. Through yoga, we learn to breathe, move mindfully, and stay aware so we can really focus on the here and now, rather than getting stuck in the past. So start healing...

10/16/2025

How we treat others speaks volumes about who we have become. The people in our lives—family, friends, co-workers, casual acquaintances, business partners, and staff—each influence our lives.

Let's reflect on our family—parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandchildren, and in-laws. Are we greeting them with warmth and love, or have we become indifferent? Do we value those connections, or do we take them for granted? When our loved ones are present, do we smile or frown?

Sometimes, families just don't see eye to eye. Some are an absolute mess. But when we distance ourselves from families for whatever reason, it hinders our ability to relate to them. When we are no longer speaking, then what are we doing? Funerals are sometimes the only time we see people we call family. And nowadays, we spend more time on social media than we do with this questionable structure we call family.

Let's think about family in a totally different way. We'll begin by ditching the word "family" for a second. What does it really mean when we call someone family? The term "family" actually is tied to servitude and slavery. So, how about we just call ourselves "friends" instead? The word "friend" means love. Being a friend isn't about how we relate to each other. To relate is to love.

Isn't it love that should highlight our interactions? Our connections should be about nurturing genuine affection and understanding for one another. Become mindful of the people in your life. Send them love. Give them time. Let's embrace love! Start healing...

Experience Àse Wellness, where every breath counts

10/15/2025

Our most valuable skill is the ability to stay balanced mentally, physically, and spiritually. It doesn't matter how much money we have or what job we do; if we're imbalanced, we're headed for trouble. Just look at the people you call celebrities.

Nor can diplomas, degrees, or careers fix our imbalances. For one, a lot of mental and physical dis-eases and feelings of spiritual disconnect come from the past. Still, we need to be aware of our past to break free from it. Otherwise, we're constantly reacting to the past, even though it's no longer real.

Sometimes, we use our jobs, degrees, or relationships to dodge dealing with our inner struggles. But ignoring those issues can lead to more problems, like stress, high blood pressure, cholesterol issues, anxiety, depression, and mood swings.

That's why, if we hear something we like, we're in a good mood; if not, we're in a bad mood. Our moods fluctuate based on whatever. These days, they might call that Bipolar I or II Disorder and Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder. Ultimately, though, we end up getting prescribed lithium along with some antipsychotics.

Is there another way? How about taking the time to heal? We start to pay attention to what's happening inside us, including our habits, conditioning, choices, and any inner struggles. When we focus on healing, we tackle the root issues. The best part about it is that we come to understand that we truly deserve to feel peaceful and happy.

10/14/2025

10/12/2025

Have you noticed how you're holding your body? The way we keep our bodies speaks to how we feel. Often, we hold our bodies in harmful ways without realizing it.

Three common ways we misalign our body and mind.

First up, when your head juts forward, it strains your neck and upper back muscles, ligaments, and joints. Often, we're glued to our phones —we're not bowing to pray but leaning in to text —which messes with our posture, leading to forward head posture or "text neck."

Second, rounding our shoulders by slouching forward, which can lead to issues like kyphosis if it persists. This condition results from daily activities such as phone use, computer work, driving, and repetitive bending.

Lastly, do you tilt your head to the side when you talk? Your neck muscles are tight, or something else is going on. It could be vision problems, muscle imbalances, or simply a habit related to brain processing or gravity.

To correct forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and a tilted head, focus on improving your posture and habits, such as how you hold your phone. Your body may also reflect low self-esteem or unresolved emotions.

Be aligned: Position your head so your ears are in line with your shoulders, and keep your chin parallel to the ground but slightly tucked. Practice simple stretches.

When your body is aligned, everything clicks—body, mind, and spirit. To attain this alignment, shake off stress, move freely, and let go of tension with mindful movements.

Remember, feeling relaxed and happy is our natural state; tension takes work. Alignment fosters flow, and flow is key to living well.
Practice Tadasana (Mountain Pose).

Experience Àse Yoga, where every breath counts.

10/10/2025

Do you often walk around feeling that something is wrong with you? Or think people don't like you? Do you think you're unattractive? Or feel you're being mistreated? Do you find yourself blaming your fifth-grade teacher for how your life has turned out? Or believe that if you just had that one particular thing, everything would fall into place? Are you someone who wishes things were different? Do you lay the blame for your unhappiness on your parents?

Meanwhile, you waste time scrolling through social media in search of a distraction. Every choice we make—or fail to make—boils down to our thoughts. We say and do things because we discover who we really are deep down.

We are not our thoughts. Yet, therapy tells us otherwise, with over 200 labels floating around. Some people believe what their therapist calls them. So, we go through life feeling anxious, depressed, fearful, impulsive, and overly critical. We see life through darkness.

What we think, we become. Practice mind care. Step back from the TV. Put your devices aside. Instead of endlessly scrolling through your phone like billions of others, pick up a book. Tune out the constant buzz of news from your gadgets. Avoid sharing meaningless content.

Master your thoughts. Reclaim your true potential. Prioritize wisdom over nonsense. Strive for mental balance and good health. Learn to meditate! Through meditation, we cultivate the power to do what must be done for our lives. Heal--calm mind.

Experience Àse Yoga, where every breath matters. Sip a cup Bancha tea at the Àse Tea Room.