I’m a deep processor by nature. I think through most tasks and plans in a detailed way, use my foresight to the best of my ability and yes, sometimes take a long time making even a simple decision (please, no 8-page restaurant menus for me). Deep processing, I have read, is a sign of intelligence (I’ll […]
The Conductor as Yogi: The Freedom of Intention
It’s 6:20 AM on New Year’s Day. I’ve seen the flurry of “Happy New Year!” texts from family and friends (who made it to midnight, unlike me) and I pause, thinking, “another year, a new year ahead.” I imagine the countless resolutions being made around the world in this moment and though I am pretty positive by nature, I […]
The Conductor as Yogi: “The Only”
“And the mind becomes fit for concentration.” Patanjali, on dharana Admit it—you’re distracted. You might call it “busy,” “multi-tasking,” “overwhelmed,” or “the norm for this time of the year.” But do you struggle to stay with one thing at a time without checking messages, doing a chore, letting the dog out, ordering a holiday gift or a coffee-to-go, […]
The Conductor as Yogi: Lead with Ahimsa
“Structural flaws can cause harm to individuals; conversely, conceptually sound and ably administered institutions can build people and enrich society. All too often we seem to disregard this important influence that institutions can have on people.” Robert K. Greenleaf How do we frame our work? As conductors, we have an overarching belief system that guides […]
The Conductor as Yogi: At Our Core
“You are this vastness. This vista you see, this grandeur, this enduring strength—if you go deeply enough inside yourself, you will find not something small but something immensely spacious. This is the essence of the human spirit.” Donna Farhi, Yoga Mind, Body, & Spirit: A Return to Wholeness The new year or season has begun. […]
The Conductor as Yogi: From Summer Re-Set to Life Practice
“We are what we repeatedly do.” Attributed to Will Durant, on the ideas of Aristotle It is a bit of a fantasy to think summer will be free from professional responsibilities and busy schedules. We still have young children, aging parents, summer camps and classes, travel planning, or conducting engagements. But summer is, in many […]