Lucid Practice

7/26 Destination: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

7/26 Art: Johannes Vermeer

  Girl With a Pearl Earing, Johannes Vermeer, 1665

The World’s Most Perfect Sunsets

There’s nothing quite like sitting back and watching a glorious sunset with your partner when you’re on holiday – it’s certainly one of the most romantic ways to spend an evening, especially if you can combine the experience with good food and drink. If you’re looking for somewhere to watch a marvelous sunset, check out […]

How the Tesla Model S is Made

7/26 Quote: Rory Trollen

“The way you accept Asthanga yoga is the way you will accept other outside challenges in life.” ~Rory Trollen

Growing Organic Kale for Beginners

Growing Organic Kale for Beginngers Growing organic kale and spinach is easy once you know the basics. This post is about how to grow and care for your kale once it is in the growing stage (having already been planted). If you’re interested in the initial planting of kale, see our post on “Should I […]

My yoga practice is nothing special

Yes, you read that correctly. My yoga practice was something that used to cause me stress. I worried about my form from the first sun salutation right through to savasana. I wanted to please my teachers. I wanted to show my fellow yogis that I deserved to practice alongside them. If I had a “bad” […]

7/25 Destination: Morro do Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

7/25 Art: Burmese Painter

A Joke About Spiritual Seekers and Travelers

Margie Smith, a pleasant looking women who gave birth in the 1950’s, approaches a travel agent. “I must get to the Himalayas for my vacation.” Mrs. Smith says. “I’ve got to talk to a guru.” “The Himalayas, Mrs. Smith! Are you sure? The travel agent asks. “It’s a long trip, different language, funny food, smelly […]

What Are the Yamas and Niyamas?

What Are the Yamas and Niyamas? When Brian and I first studied yoga extensively, we were fascinated by the origins and composition of the yamas and niyamas. There are books on the topic and one could study this for a lifetime. Here is a brief overview of what I learned from Rory Trollen combined with […]

7/25 Quote: Walter Lippmann

“We sit in the shade under trees others have planted.” ~Walter Lippmann Note: I heard this quote yesterday listening to Warren Buffet speak in a Learning by Giving Foundation online course. To hear a man with $50+ billion in the bank speak with the humility and awareness that he exudes gives me an awesome feeling. […]

MR: Why does South Indian food taste better when you eat it with your fingers?

From Tyler Cowen: I can think of three reasons. First, there is a placebo effect.  For the Westerner/outsider, eating with your fingers seems exotic.  For (many, not all) South Asians, eating with your fingers brings back memories of family and comfort foods. Second, your fingers are highly versatile and they are often the best implements […]

Ashoka The Great and Spreading Buddhism

In today’s selection — the first great unifier of large parts of the Indian subcontinent was Ashoka the Great (304-232 BCE), who converted to Buddhism after witnessing the bloody horrors of his own wars, and used the moderating influence of Buddhism to help unify the widely different peoples within in his realm. He sent missionaries […]

7/24 Art: Bob Marley Live at Santa Barbara

“None but ourselves can free our minds.”

7/24 Destination: Negril, Jamaica

Drinking Fluids Isn’t the Only Way to Hydrate

Best Ways to Hydrate It’s no secret that hydration is essential to optimal health. Although drinking water is a great way to hydrate, did you know that on average, humans get 20% of their water from food? Often times, eating fruit is the best way of hydrating — even better than drinking water.  The nutrients […]

7/24 Quote: Tim Leary

“Admit it. You aren’t like them. You’re not even close. You may occasionally dress yourself up as one of them, watch the same mindless television shows as they do, maybe even eat the same fast food sometimes. But it seems that the more you try to fit in, the more you feel like an outsider, […]

HE: The Tremendous Potential of Inspiring Others

Two and half years ago, I wrote my first article for HighExistence. My fast life was turned upside down and I found myself far removed from home. Looking back, I can see this period changed my life. Drastically. And I am very happy I made the choices I did. From that moment on, I learned how to […]

Photographing Buddhism

David Butow spent 2012 traveling the world to photograph Buddhism. Butow used a variety of strategies — and camera formats — to try to capture the heart of Buddhism. He layered reflections, employed camera motion and made metaphoric images that suggested stillness. He included double exposures, used diptychs and even physically altered negatives with a […]

La Yoga Shala in Milan, Italy

7/23 Destination: Portland, Oregon, USA

7/23 Art: Wind Chime

Whales Almost Eat Divers

Is Yoga Spiritual? Is Yoga Religious?

Is Yoga Spiritual? Is Yoga Religious? Is yoga spiritual? Is yoga religious? It depends on who’s practicing and who’s teaching. Everyone’s practice is different. One person’s practice might be deeply spiritual or religious while another person’a practice is the opposite. In the West, we’re so quick to put titles and labels on things as if […]

7/23 Quote: Detachment

“You’ll never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul. Why? Because you can’t take it with you.” ~Anonymous

How to Maintain Great Posture

Posture refers to the body’s alignment and positioning with respect to the ever-present force of gravity. Whether we are standing, sitting or lying down gravity exerts a force on our joints, ligaments and muscles. Good posture entails distributing the force of gravity through our body so no one structure is over stressed. Here are some […]

Sharath’s Demo

10 of the World’s Best Yoga Retreats 2012

The Guardian ran a article advertising “10 of the World’s Best Yoga Retreats in 2012.” You can check it out — here. Blurb on the article: “From a beautiful Georgian house in Sussex to a Goan beach hideaway, we select 10 inspirational, and affordable, yoga retreats, all of which feature leading instructors.” We haven’t attended […]

7/22 Destination: Mecca, Saudi Arabia

7/22 Art: When Fear Meets the Line

When Fear Meets the Line from MaxDreamCreator on Vimeo.

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson defeated a loaded field to win his first Open Championship this past weekend at Muirfield, but that is not what makes him such an extraordinary individual. No athlete comes to mind with such a perfect work-life balance. One might argue that being a professional golfer makes this a lot easier, and that argument […]

Beyonce: A Change Gon’ Come

Why A Change Gonnna Come is one of my favorite songs Beyonce took time this weekend to give the city of Detroit this powerful tribute. Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come is an amazing, soulful song. It is incredibly powerful when you listen to it and think of the 60’s Civil Rights Movement. It […]

Guru Purnima

Honoring those who have taken us to levels unimaginable.

7/22 Quote: Albert Einstein

“I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.” ~Albert Einstein

Unconventional Sleeping Tips for Wellness

In order to learn and become the best versions of ourselves, we can study extraordinary men and women that have come before us. Sleep is a wellness topic that Brian and I have studied extensively. We’ll talk about the amazing benefits of napping in the future but for now, let’s examine the following men who were […]

6 Steps to No Excuse Living

We change our priorities as we are confronted with the end of something; time with a loved one before they travel or are shipped out to time in the Service; time with our friends before we all graduate; time with our kids before they move away to college and move on with their lives. Each of […]

An Ode To Lazy Summers

To my great regret, I no longer know how to be lazy, and summer is no fun without sloth. Indolence requires patience—to lie in the sun, for instance, day after day—and I have none left. When I could, it was bliss. I lived liked the old Greeks, who knew nothing of hours, minutes, and seconds. […]

The Breeze at Dawn

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep. You must ask for what you really want. Don’t go back to sleep. People are going back and forth across the doorsill where the two worlds touch. The door is round and open. Don’t go back to sleep.   ~Rumi

7/19 Destination: Preikestolen (Preacher’s Pulpit) above Lysefjorden, Norway