#1. John Friend: My most favorite thing that I've ever heard from John Friend even after all these years of studying with him has been "enjoy your breath." Just that simple reminder to enjoy the experience of having the Universal energy breathe you and move you. Enjoy that experience of the individual and the universal connecting as your breath.

On a more personal note, John once told me in private that he wanted me to work more on my humility. And it rocked me to my bone. I always thought I was a pretty humble person to begin with so even as he said it, I couldn't believe it. It has affected me profoundly as I continue to contemplate what it means to really be humble; to be soft and spacious, more trusting. To this day I think about that note and whenever I remember it my outer body softens and I find myself almost in tears. 

Funny, I had a dream about John the other night. I think in all these years I've only dreamt twice about John. This dream was interesting, I was in his car and he was driving me somewhere I didn't know. And I remember I didn't trust him. And I kept saying, "where are we going John?" And he said to not worry and instead told me to look at the sky, "keep looking at the constellations Maria," he said, "Keep looking at the stars."  And I woke up. 

#2. Sally Kempton: Her rich inner landscape, her metaphors, the way she is able to make accessible such a profound philosophy. One of my favorite things I've ever heard her say (and I'm paraphrasing) was that we are "made of a vast and spacious energy that goes beyond our every day ups and downs." Another brilliant contemplation was that in our practice "what gets transformed is never our essence but rather our experience of our lack." Brilliant. Often when I meditate, my mind thinks of Sally and I feel a love for her so deep, almost like a Rumi poem. I wish I could study more with her.

#3. My writing teacher Jack Grapes: One time a student asked Jack a question in class. She asked if she should write, whenever she felt inspired- say at 2 in the morning, should she get up and write? And surprisingly Jack said "no."

 "What?" I asked. "Why not? I thought if you get a great idea, you should get up and write it down..."

Jack said: "Well, if you only write when you are inspired, then you will ONLY write when you are inspired. And that can happen every week or every month or every six months. Instead, train yourself to write three times a week. Don't wait till you are inspired to write."

Oh this is so smart! Don't wait until you get all strong and feel great to go to yoga. Show up as tired as you are today. Don't wait for things to be perfect before you do them. Do it now.

#4. My therapist, Dr. Monti: My therapist is funny and she likes to tell me that yoga teachers have a lot of shadow stuff going on. She once told me that "it is so much more easier to be spiritual than to be human." She makes me honor those times when I feel messy, dark, angry, sad, needy. Sometimes surrounded by yogis I feel like I always have to be bright and it helps to have people in your life that accept your darkness as well as your light. And guru after all breaks down into "gu" (darkness) and "ru" (light).

SO- these are my four main teachers.

There are of course many more but for now, for today, I honor these four pillars in my life.

Thank you.