Welcome to the full library of Yoga Church Sunday Sermons

May these teachings be useful and nourishing for you!

Yoga Sutra 1.39

June 24th, 2022|0 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons JOIN US for the online Yoga Church Sunday Gathering. Click here for the details. In the first chapter ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 1.38

May 21st, 2022|0 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons JOIN US for the online Yoga Church Sunday Gathering. Click here for the details. In the first chapter ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 1.37

May 14th, 2022|0 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons JOIN US for the online Yoga Church Sunday Gathering. Click here for the details. In the first chapter of the Yoga Sutra, we’re ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 1.36

May 7th, 2022|1 Comment

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons JOIN US for the online Yoga Church Sunday Gathering. Click here for the details. We've been studying the inner obstacles that keep us ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 1.35

April 15th, 2022|0 Comments

In the first chapter of the Yoga Sutra, we’re given a list of nine obstacles that get in our way. These obstacles are the inner blocks that keep us from moving in the ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 1.34

April 9th, 2022|0 Comments

In the first chapter of the Yoga Sutra, we’re given a list of nine obstacles that get in our way. These obstacles are the inner blocks that keep us from moving in the ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 1.33

April 2nd, 2022|2 Comments

In the first chapter of the Yoga Sutra, we’re given a list of nine obstacles that get in our way. These obstacles are the inner blocks that keep us from moving in the ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 1.30

March 25th, 2022|2 Comments

In the first chapter of the Yoga Sutra, we’re given a list of nine obstacles that get in our way. These obstacles are the inner blocks that keep us from moving in the ... (Continue Reading)

Bhagavad Gita 3.30

November 6th, 2021|1 Comment

This sermon is rooted in a teaching from the Bhagavad Gita. A teaching that helps keep the knots of my heart untangled. I hope it will serve your heart as well. Action ... (Continue Reading)

Opening the Heart

May 22nd, 2021|1 Comment

One of our constant questions these past few months has been: How can we move through the world from the energy of love? This week's sermon is a deeply personal reflection on the ... (Continue Reading)

Spaciousness

May 15th, 2021|0 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons After a beautiful conversation about the source of love at last week's Yoga Church Gathering, I set out to write a sermon on the topic. But, as ... (Continue Reading)

Niyama Recap

February 27th, 2021|0 Comments

We’re coming to the end of our study of the niyamas (for now…) and I’m excited to share a guest sermon written by my friend and colleague Marci Becker. She offers deep reflection ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 2.44 Svadhyaya

February 13th, 2021|0 Comments

In this week's sermon we turn our attention toward the 4th niyama (remember, the 5 niyamas form the foundation of our personal practice). The 4th niyama is svadhyaya, which means "to move toward ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 2.43 Tapas

February 6th, 2021|3 Comments

Tapas is such an integral part of practice that my teacher says: “There can be no Yoga without tapas.” This sermon is about inner fire. It's about what it takes to build, contain, ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 2.42 Santosha

January 16th, 2021|0 Comments

Yoga Sutra 2.42 Santosha (& Gratitude) REFLECTION QUESTIONS How often does your thinking take the shape of an if/then statement? If this happens, then I’ll be happy... When ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 2.40-41 Sauca

January 9th, 2021|3 Comments

Yoga Sutra 2.40-41 Śauca (& clarity) REFLECTION QUESTIONS What are the habits that hinder your ability to think clearly, choose happiness, maintain focus, and remember your True Self? ... (Continue Reading)

What Grounds and Guides You?

December 5th, 2020|0 Comments

I wrote this sermon at the end of 2020. But its message continues to feel relevant. As we make our way into the heart of winter, I offer you this meditative, practical sermon. ... (Continue Reading)

Finding Refuge

November 13th, 2020|3 Comments

HERE I AM. Take a breath and say it to yourself: Here I am. What's happening in your life right now? Take another breath and let's say it together: Here we are. HERE ... (Continue Reading)

The Beauty of Feeling

October 10th, 2020|0 Comments

Sometimes strong emotions—like anger or despair—make us feel uncomfortable or guilty. Sometimes we're tempted to push strong emotions away. But our emotions keep us rooted in our humanity. And our world needs our ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 2.39 Aparigraha

August 29th, 2020|0 Comments

This sermon dives deep into the final yama, which is non-grasping or non-attachment. How does our need to acquire and possess keep us from living in right relationship with the world? This question ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 2.38 Brahmacarya

August 22nd, 2020|0 Comments

This week we're exploring brahmacarya—which is quite possibly the most confusing yama. This sermon explores the many facets of brahmacarya and asks good questions about how we build, contain, and harness our energy ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 2.37 Asteya

August 8th, 2020|0 Comments

In this week's sermon we're focusing on the yama of asteya, or non-stealing. It might seem really easy to say: "I don't steal. Check!" But just like everything, stealing is a much more ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 2.36 Satya

July 17th, 2020|1 Comment

We continue our exploration of the five yama-s (the ethical underpinning of yoga) with satya, or truthfulness. This sermon leads us back into our study of the klesha-s (the things that keep us ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Sutra 2.35 Ahimsā

July 2nd, 2020|0 Comments

This week begins our exploration of the yama-s (the ethical underpinning of yoga). We begin with ahimsā, which is most often translated as non-violence, but is so much more ... (Continue Reading)

The Next, Right Action

May 8th, 2020|1 Comment

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons Late Spring 2020 Do you ever look at everything happening in the world and feel overwhelmed? Me too. But we can't get lost or frozen in ... (Continue Reading)

Spiritual Practices for Beltane

April 30th, 2020|0 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons Spiritual Practices for Beltane The moment we're born, we inhale. And with this powerful first in-breath, we're called to exhale. And the rhythm of life begins! ... (Continue Reading)

Spiritual Practices for Imbolc

February 1st, 2020|2 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons Spiritual Practices for Imbolc It's the beginning of February. Which, for those of us living in the northern hemisphere, means we've reached the middle of winter. And ... (Continue Reading)

Yoga Nidra

January 26th, 2020|0 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons Early Winter 2020 | Reflections on the Practice of Sabbath Every six weeks or so, we turn our attention toward sabbath. We explore the practice of rest. ... (Continue Reading)

Early Winter Part 2: Yearning

January 5th, 2020|1 Comment

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons Early Winter 2020 | Opening to Mystery Happy New Year!! 2020. Pretty wild... There's so much talk about goals and resolutions and hopes and dreams right now. ... (Continue Reading)

Early Winter Part 1: Seeking

December 29th, 2019|2 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons Early Winter 2019 | Opening to Mystery Can you believe we’re at the end of a decade? It feels like kind of a big deal. And as ... (Continue Reading)

The Sabbath Box

December 8th, 2019|0 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons Late Autumn 2019 | Reflections on the Practice of Sabbath The Sabbath Box In last week's sermon we talked about two Sanskrit words: samyoga (joining with) and ... (Continue Reading)

Spiritual Practices for Samhain

November 3rd, 2019|0 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons Spiritual Practices for Samhain As October turns into November we reach the peak of autumn. In the Celtic Wheel of the Year we celebrate the cross quarter ... (Continue Reading)

The Purnamadah Mantra

June 23rd, 2019|0 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. June 23rd, 2019 The Purnamadah Mantra Watch: or Listen: or Read: At the center of the Isha Upanishad, which is an ancient Hindu ... (Continue Reading)

The Gayatri Mantra

June 16th, 2019|0 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. June 16th, 2019 The Gayatri Mantra Watch: or Listen: or Read: I’ve spent the better part of my adult life searching for a ... (Continue Reading)

the Asatoma Sadgamaya Mantra

June 9th, 2019|1 Comment

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. June 9th, 2019 I don't know if you saw my instagram post earlier this week... I shared about a hard moment transformed by mantra. I was reacting to something ... (Continue Reading)

The Hrdayam Mayi Mantra

June 2nd, 2019|3 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. June 2nd, 2019 This week we're beginning a new sermon series all about mantra and prayer (two of my very favorite things!). And we're starting with a ... (Continue Reading)

The Springtime Practice of Intention

March 29th, 2019|3 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. March 31st, 2019 I am feeling inspired this morning... Yesterday I spent two hours in conversation and practice with the students enrolled in my online Yoga for ... (Continue Reading)

A Ritual of Ash and Dust

March 3rd, 2019|3 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons March 3rd, 2019 How often do you pause to remember how short life is? I've been taught that yoga practice prepares us for the moment of ... (Continue Reading)

Wrestling with Mystery

February 15th, 2019|7 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. February 17, 2019 Have you ever fought with someone all night long?? Have you ever fought with yourself all night long? Yeah, me too. Which is why ... (Continue Reading)

What do you want to have faith in?

February 10th, 2019|5 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. February 10, 2019 People don't usually expect their minister to be a yoga teacher. They also don't expect their yoga teacher to be a minister. But here ... (Continue Reading)

What we say & What we do

February 3rd, 2019|2 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. February 3rd, 2019 Does the creative process ever surprise you? It definitely surprised me this week... I'm in the process of drafting a new series for us ... (Continue Reading)

Transformation Begins with an Inkling

January 13th, 2019|0 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. January 13, 2019 Have you noticed that we’re often in a hurry in January? I don't mean the kind of rushing-from-thing-to-thing that can happen in December. I'm talking about ... (Continue Reading)

Reflections on the Practice of Love

November 25th, 2018|0 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. November 25th, 2018 This week—in the pause between Thanksgiving and the many December holidays—I thought we could take a look back at the recent sermon series on ... (Continue Reading)

The Labels We Hold

November 11th, 2018|3 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. November 11, 2018 — Sending Gratitude & Peace to all Veterans This week I sat down to write about the spiritual quest. And I did. But the focus ended ... (Continue Reading)

The Yoga Church Community

October 14th, 2018|2 Comments

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. October 14th, 2018 Three years ago, while backpacking high up in the mountains, I turned to my husband and said: “I want to start a church.” It ... (Continue Reading)

  • "Reaching for the Horizon" mixed media painting on wood 6x12 inches

Who or What is God?

September 9th, 2018|16 Comments

September 9th, 2018 As you know spiritual study, practice, and community are my favorite things to think about, talk about, do, and build. For many years I felt spiritually homeless and I've spent ... (Continue Reading)

The Fullness of Being

May 17th, 2017|0 Comments

I’m about to turn forty. An occasion worthy of being marked. And because I’m a person prone to reflection, story telling, and tradition, I have distinct memories of who I was at 25, 30, and ... (Continue Reading)

Scripture as a Path

May 4th, 2017|1 Comment

I believe in God as the ever moving Spirit propelling us toward Love. I do not believe that any one person or scripture or teaching can define God or explain perfect belief or practice. I ... (Continue Reading)

An Earthy Christmas Sermon (2016)

December 29th, 2016|1 Comment

On Christmas morning I had the pleasure of bringing the message at Spokane Friends Church, which is a place that nourished me deeply when I had big, confused questions about God and spirituality and the ... (Continue Reading)

Our Favorite Scriptures

April 21st, 2016|10 Comments

Hello friends, This is the first of two community queries that I'm posting. I love scripture and I have a ton of favorite sacred texts. Over the years, I've shared many of them with you. But ... (Continue Reading)

Confessions of Fear and Courage

March 16th, 2016|11 Comments

I titled this post “Confessions of Fear and Courage,” but it could just as easily have been called “Reflections of Memory and Calling.” William Maxwell wrote that “what we refer to confidently as memory is ... (Continue Reading)

Remembering the Light Within

February 3rd, 2016|4 Comments

I had the opportunity to travel to Whittier Friends Church outside of LA this past weekend. I was invited by the dean of my seminary (Earlham School of Religion or ESR) to come and speak ... (Continue Reading)

New Year Intentions (2016)

January 26th, 2016|0 Comments

As you've heard me say before, I love the New Year! I love turning the page to a brand new fresh year, full of possibility. I did away with hard and fast resolutions that start ... (Continue Reading)

Pancha Maya Koshas

July 14th, 2015|7 Comments

July, 2015 The study of yoga takes a lifetime (or lifetimes). I have spent several years in full-time study of this ancient art and science and yet I'm constantly struck by how much more there ... (Continue Reading)

Inhale or Exhale?

February 9th, 2015|3 Comments

“I think I’m more of the exhale type. I’m just going to stick with exhaling.” I can’t remember the context (or exact phrasing) of this statement, but the sentiment has stuck with me. I heard ... (Continue Reading)

Choosing What We Cultivate

November 25th, 2014|8 Comments

I recently co-led a workshop called "Cultivating Gratitude" where I offered teachings on the yogic concept of pratipaksa bhavanam, which means cultivating the opposite. If you're unfamiliar with the concept, you might want to take ... (Continue Reading)