BE CURIOUS
The heart of open-mindedness is curiosity.
As many of you know, I love yoga. I have devoted more than two-thirds of my life to its study and practice. Today, I am living in Boone, North Carolina, and working as Volunteer Program Manager at the Art of Living Retreat Center.
Whenever someone asks how I like working here, I answer, "I am intrigued." I am fascinated by the complexities of human nature and curious about how a spiritual tradition and a thriving retreat center come together.
After my mother passed in January 2025, I felt called to explore something new. Just as I once traveled alone through India, I am now exploring another dimension of yoga and life. My husband, John, lovingly supports this journey while caring for our dogs and home in Pawleys Island, teaching our classes, offering bodywork, and sharing the healing sounds of Tibetan singing bowls.
The Art of Living Retreat Center brings together teachers and seekers from many traditions. Its programs range from meditation, breathwork, silence, and Ayurvedic healing to courses on trauma, menopause, dance, herbalism, and spirituality. It is also home to followers of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The center carries a distinctive energy - a meeting of East and West, business and tradition, teaching and transformation.
John and I chose Pandit Rajmani Tigunait as our teacher many years ago. A lifelong practitioner and scholar of yoga, meditation, Sanskrit, and tantric studies, he teaches that spiritual authority comes from inner wisdom and lived example rather than titles. His words continue to resonate with me:
"The journey has to start from where we are. There is no running away because your mind goes where you go."
That wisdom is at the heart of curiosity.
When we approach yoga with an open and inquisitive mind, every pose and breath becomes an opportunity for discovery. What happens when we move differently, shift our weight, or deepen our breath? Instead of simply going through the motions, we begin to learn more about our bodies, minds, and spirits.
Yoga mirrors life by teaching us to be present, kind, balanced, and aligned with our highest values. Its beauty is found not only in the external world, but also within us - in self-awareness, gratitude, compassion, and our capacity to love. Both yoga and life are journeys of discovery, and curiosity is the key that opens the door.
The next time you roll out your mat, take a walk, or gather with family, be curious. Explore with an open heart and an inquisitive mind. Allow yourself to be surprised by what you discover about your body, your breath, and your inner and outer landscapes.
Wisdom from the mat is not always found in a perfect pose or a deeper stretch. It is found in our willingness to be present and engaged. Let curiosity guide you toward insights that enrich both your practice and your life.