If I allow myself to move with grace, does that mean that I slow myself down?   Do I sacrifice strength?  If I feel filled with ease does it mean that I am not being effective?   Or efficient? The dictionary states that grace is "simple elegance or refinement of movement."   But what if I feel clumsy?  What if I AM clumsy? I think that the secret to moving with grace has a great deal to do with our sense of ease.  Of course, dancers and athletes express grace in movement because they've practiced to build strength, capacity, flexibility, and muscle memory.   What about the rest of us? When we move with ease we can begin to tap into grace.  We can start small.  Grace resides within each of us. Sit comfortably and softly close your eyes.   Notice your breathing - the inhale, the exhale.   Notice the gentle rise and fall of the belly - the lift and release of the chest.  As thoughts arise, noti...

  Have you ever been asked, “Where do you get your energy?”  Or “How do you have so much energy?”   Perhaps you have wondered why it feels as if you have none.  Exhausted adults wonder why children never seem to run out. We define energy as having vitality and strength for sustained activity.   That doesn’t really tell us where it comes from, how to get it, or why some people have lots of it.    “The soul reveals itself to itself Through movement, Energy-infused undulations and gestures Of hand, foot, spine, face, and form. The invisible loves the visible.” ~Lorin Roche, Radiance Sutras, Yukti 54 The above verse eloquently suggests that there is a relationship between movement and energy. We might conclude that moving consumes energy – digging ditches for prolonged periods of time exhausts us and depletes us. Yet we also know that movement can generate energy, whether it is traditional exercise, dance, mindful practice with movement suc...