From Spark to Soil: Returning to Earth, Remembering Ourselves

"...pause when something is beautiful and good... then totally immerse in the experience of savoring it." Tara Brach

Happy Earth Day eve, dear friends and yoginis,

As we continue through April and begin to welcome Taurus season, I feel a softening and return. After a vibrant, full weekend here in the PNW—alive with movement, connection, and the sparks of the Aries new moon—today’s rain and overcast feel like a gentle exhale for the nervous system. A grounding.

In yoga philosophy, we speak of the gunas—the qualities of energy that shape our inner and outer worlds. Many of us have been riding rajas—movement, momentum, activation. And while this energy can be inspiring and life-giving, it can also tip toward depletion if not balanced.

So right now, I’m holding two parallel tracks in my own practice and offerings:

• One that honors rajas—intentional movement, integrated strength, the steady tending of what is growing
• And another that invites a softening toward tamas—rest, pause, grounding

All in service of returning to sattva—clarity, harmony, the quiet steadiness of upeksha (equanimity).

A deep breath. A warm, present heart.

I’m reminded often of Mark Nepo’s words—that our health resides in restoring direct experience. And paired with Tara Brach’s invitation to truly savor what is beautiful and good, I find myself practicing a kind of permission:
To linger.
To feel.
To let the in-between moments be enough.

To ride the sparks of spring with curiosity and inner resource—while staying close to the earth and elements that bring us back when the fire of pitta begins to burn a little too bright.

A couple of soundscape companions I’ve been returning to:

Movement meets heart
“Soul to Soul” — Diane Arkenstone
A beautiful bridge between spirit and slow, embodied flow—steady, spacious, and quietly enlivening.

Respite + relaxation
“One Hour Relaxation” — Meditative Mind
For moments of pause, clearing, or when the noise of life asks for a return to inner quiet.

With Earth Day tomorrow—and this being Arbor Month—I’ve been reflecting on the words of Andrea Rare, who reminds us:

“Earth is not separate from us… Earth Day can easily become something we think about or try to ‘do something’ for. But beneath that, there is something simpler. A relationship.”

A relationship—within and outward.

In practice, I’ve been returning to saucha—a gentle purification. Not as striving, but as simplicity:

• Feeling the ground beneath your feet
• Stepping outside without distraction
• Listening—to wind, birds, and the quiet space that holds all sound

Slowing enough to notice.

In yoga, we call this remembering—smriti.
Not something new to achieve, but something to return to.

In the way your breath slows in nature
In the way your system softens when you step outside
In the quiet sense of being held by something larger

This is not about doing more.
It is about remembering.

You are the stars wrapped in skin, walking this Earth.

A few updates + invitations for practice:

This week holds a slightly shifted rhythm:

• ✨ Tomorrow (Earth Day): I’ll be offering a free 6am virtual class via Basecamp
• ✨ No PM classes or Community Circle this Wednesday

Friday Flow (online, 8am PT) is here for you as always—grounded, steady, and spacious.

And our final Humberside Loft gathering is this Saturday at 9am—just a few spots remaining. A closing of this cozy chapter, with tea and connection to follow.

Looking ahead, May brings a transition:

• New morning classes at Heart Spring (Tues & Thurs)
• More space to deepen into therapeutic offerings
• And, hopefully, some outdoor yoga as the season opens

A shifting that feels aligned—making room for both expansion, space and connection.

Yoga Weekly Offerings

🌿 Heart Spring Health — Sellwood
Heart Spring is offering 2 weeks of unlimited classes for $25.

• Mon 6:30am — Root & Rise (last class Apr 27 — moving!)
• Tues 10:00am — Embodied Yoga (therapy-informed, small group)
• Wed 4:45pm — Slow Flow (no class 4/22)
• Wed 6:15pm — Ground & Release (no class 4/22)

✨ Starting May:
Tues & Thurs mornings

• 7:00am — Hatha
• 8:15am — Somatic Strength

🌿 Humberside Loft — SW Portland
Sat 9:00am — Root & Rise - Last Class April 25th!
(Intimate loft — tea and connection to follow)

🌿 Online
Wed 11:00am — Community Circle (Free) no class 4/22
Fri 8:00am — Friday Flow (Pay What You Can)

🌿 Free Accessible Classes — Providence St. Vincent
Beginner-friendly, in-person, and welcoming
Mon 9:00am & 10:00am
Visit @Basecamp for full schedule
✨ Subbing Sunrise Yoga (Virtual)
Tues 4/22 @ 6am — Earth Day practice

➡ Calendar & Booking: www.mayalakeyoga.com/classes
➡ Practice: @MayaLakeYoga Youtube
➡ Listen: Maya Lake Yoga- Coming Home Playlist.

As the season continues to unfold—may we stay grounded in the now, even as we look ahead.

Thank you for being here. For tending your spark, your steadiness, your becoming. For letting what is growing take root in a way that is sustainable, nourishing, and true.

With love—in both radiance and rest,
I hope to see you soon.

Maya