Published Articles by Paula Vital

Published in HuffPost

Often in life, we find ourselves at a standstill. What we are doing is no longer satisfying, but we are not sure what will be. If you are involved in spiritual practice, you may also wonder whether the dissatisfaction with the present moment is based on "ego" or on a genuine call from your inner self to do something different.

Published in HuffPost

A few months ago, I quit Ashtanga. While this was something that I loved wholeheartedly for four years, I felt it was too hard for me, and I got tired of feeling like I was never good enough. Not good enough to put my leg behind my head, too scared to drop back and stand up by myself, and unable to make it to class 6 days a week due to family and work commitments.

Published in HuffPost

In my quest for living the present moment to the best of my ability, I have been choosing to stay with difficult situations longer when in the past I would have left. Many times, this has been the right answer, like when I stayed with my boyfriend (now husband) after I said I love you and he didn't say it back for a while. Or when I chose not to apply for a higher level job that looked good on paper but didn't feel right in my gut.

Published in HuffPost

Dear Ashtanga,

I miss you. I miss the excitement of the pose ahead, the challenge of not knowing where I'll be on a particular day, the wanting to become better always, the anticipation of something new and surreal.

I am sad just being me. I miss Ashtanga me, the cool chick on the way to doing super awesome jump backs.

Published in HuffPost

I did three crazy things today:

1. I UNsubscribed from the job ad daily alert that showed me opportunities within the government daily
2. I said NO to a potential secondment opportunity
3. I said NO to teaching yoga at a local studio for $30 an hour on weekday evenings

Published in HuffPost

Being good enough means embodying love. For myself, for others, for the whole world. And this is truly the only purpose I need.

Published in HuffPost

Many people associate meditation with some blissed-out state, preferably in a tropical climate with sandy beaches and Zen music in the background. Yet for most of us, our day to day life involves rush hour traffic, tight deadlines, screaming children or needy pets, and last minute urgent requests.

Published in HuffPost

Our sages tell us that patience is a virtue and that good things come to those who wait. Patience sounds great in theory. When our kids want yet another cookie and we are in the middle of doing the dishes, we teach them to wait. Most of us understand that there are certain situations - like grocery store line-ups, traffic, public transit, airport security - that will require us to be patient.

Published in HuffPost

Yesterday, I found out one of my best friends is applying for a higher position at work and is likely to get it. While happy for her, this brought to the forefront for me how I haven't moved up in position for a long while now. Much of this has been deliberate, as I have decided to focus on my mindfulness practice and teaching, as well as my family, rather than continuing to climb the career ladder. 

Published in Possibilify

As high achievers, we may often feel that taking a time out to heal yourself, physically, mentally or emotionally, is a loser's game. Why can't we just suck it up, stuff it down and keep on achieving? After all, aren't we on a mission to make a better world?

Published in Tiny Buddha

There are twenty-four hours in a day. This is true for you, me, Obama, and Oprah. Yet, I often feel like there are things that I would love to do… if I only had enough time.

Published in HavingTime.com

Many of us have chosen this path of Mindfulness because we felt overwhelmed. Our to-do lists, obligations, and endless search for improvement. 

Published in Personal Growth

Doing nothing will challenge you to notice the many many ways that you (and I) constantly interfere with the natural sense of goodness that exists inside of us. Where do you fight, resist, and punish yourself and others? How often do you get stuck on right and wrong, good or bad, wishing that things were different than they already are?

Published in Personal Growth

For the many years I was single during this time, I wondered what was wrong with me that even though I was relatively attractive and successful, this kind of love eluded me.

Published in Personal Growth

During meditation and yoga this morning, I sat with a feeling of fear and anxiety for a long time. As I let go of thoughts about whether I should take my career one way or another and returned to the feeling of panic in the body, I treated myself as I would a client or loved one, acknowledging the fear, welcoming it, becoming curious about it, without rushing to change it.

Published in Elephant Journal

I try to put my legs behind my head. And I can’t. I am not a teenage boy. As I began my yoga journey, many people tried to dissuade me from practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga because it was “meant for teenage boys in India.” Yet there was something about the practice that kept bringing me back for more. 

Published in Elephant Journal

I have struggled with Ashtanga as I have struggled with all things in life. Mostly I love it, at times I hate it, many times I’m somewhere in between and contemplate pursuing a different path.

Published in Elephant Journal

For the last few years, I have been exploring my relationship with eating animals. Originally from Argentina, I was brought up with meat at every meal and taught that we cannot survive without it. As an Ashtangi, I am told that I cannot be a true practitioner and still eat meat. Where is the balance between these two perspectives? Is there one?

Published in Elephant Journal

It is often said in jest that Ashtanga vinyasa is addictive. The thing is, it really can be. And while it is clearly less harmful than heroin or cigarettes, any addiction robs your life of presence and joy. Here are some ways you will know you are addicted to your spiritual practice, and what to do about it.