Mining the Moment

Uncovering the Richness that's Already Here

I’m known for making simple poses deep. A student once told me I could make people sweat in Child’s Pose. What I’ve learned over decades of practice is that advanced yoga has little to do with mastering difficult postures. It’s about expanding your capacity to explore the richness of your inner experience.

I call this “vertical depth,” and it might be one of the most important skills we can cultivate for our well-being right now.

When you show up consistently and mindfully, even the most familiar poses reveal a profundity that deepens as your awareness and sensitivity grow. The more you look, the more there is to find.

What if we approached gratitude the same way?

We tend to imagine happiness comes from extraordinary events — vacations, celebrations, special nights out. We wait for the big moments. But research tells a different story: regularly noticing and appreciating small, everyday positive experiences has a far greater impact on wellbeing than occasional peak events.

Yoga teaches the same lesson through the concept of abhyasa — steady, consistent practice over time, rather than occasional intensity. And in 2026, that kind of constancy isn’t just a spiritual ideal or wellness goal. It’s an act of self-compassion, a way of returning to our humanity and tending to our spirits in times that can feel dehumanizing.

Just as you can mine the depth of Child’s Pose and discover unexpected layers of sensation and nuance, you can savor the warmth of water softening your hands as you wash dishes, the way your body releases into the couch as you sip your morning coffee, the slant of afternoon light across the floorboards.

These aren’t trivial details. They’re the living texture of your life — and they’re freely available to you.

This week, I felt such relief and tenderness simply lying down on my mat and feeling my breath release. Nothing dramatic. Just the familiar grounding that arrives in those first moments of practice. It reminded me how often the richness is already there, waiting to be noticed.

Yoga trains you to recognize the goodness in ordinary moments. Gratitude allows you to magnify it. Together, they point to something radical: the sweetness you’re seeking isn’t waiting at some future date. It’s woven into the fabric of what’s already here.

The question is, are you paying attention?

This week, I invite you to practice vertical depth in your gratitude. Don’t wait for the extraordinary. Look around, notice what’s already good and let it feed you.