Pamela Seelig

Pamela Seelig is a yoga teacher and the author of Threads of Yoga: Themes, Reflections, and Meditations to Weave into Your Practice. She began her yoga and meditation journey in 1991 when an illness interrupted her Wall Street career. Along with helping recovery, the impact of her meditation led to a lifelong pursuit of perceiving and sharing yogic wisdom through practice, teaching, and writing. She completed her teacher training in 2006 at Integral Yoga Institute in New York. Pamela considers Swami Satchidananda, the founder of Integral, as her primary teacher (root guru), but she has trained with many of the top yoga luminaries in the world today. Pamela is a fervent student of yoga and continues to deepen and expand her yogic knowledge and understanding. Along with Hatha yoga, Pamela also studies Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and is a certified Raja Yoga instructor. While grateful for so many brilliant teachers along the way, she regards the practice itself as the greatest teacher. She lives in New Jersey where she practices yoga, teaches yoga workshops, writes, and empty-nests with her husband, Bob, and dog, Bodhi.

Instagram: @PamSeeling

Twitter: @PamSeelig

Is your go-to comfort food sweet or savory? Is it something you make yourself? Does food inspire your writing?

My go-to comfort food is most definitely pasta. When there’s not much food in the house or time is limited, I’m quite happy with pasta, lots of olive oil, some dill, basil, salt, pepper, and a generous amount of parmesan. Food is more of a distraction than an inspiration to my writing. When writer’s block hits, it’s most likely because I’m thinking ahead to the next snack or meal. I do love food!

Have you ever experienced Imposter Syndrome?

I have experienced Imposter Syndrome. I believe that people are people, and no one, including myself, is better or less than anyone else. While I enjoy and am grateful for any recognition or success achieved, I know that there are certainly others equally or more worthy who remain unrecognized. I suppose I have Imposter Syndrome combined with guilt. The opportunities that I enjoy inspire me to do the best I can and give back where possible.

Vacation druthers… City or Rural destination? Why?

My favorite vacation memories have been a mixture of both a city and a rural destination. I love the beauty of nature in a rural setting, but I find cities and people also stimulating and inspiring. I once vacationed in the countryside of Tuscany, followed by a weekend in the city of Florence. That combination was ideal! But, if forced to choose, it would be a rural setting, as long as good food was part of the deal!

Is there another profession you would like to try?

I know that writing is the ultimate profession and creative outlet for me. I feel fortunate that I spent time in the corporate world, then experienced ten years as a stay-at-home Mom, then started and ran a small business. Of course, every profession has pros and cons, but writing feels like a privilege. As I was working on Threads of Yoga, I often paused to appreciate how enjoyable the writing process is (although not easy!) and my good fortune to have the space in my life to write.

Do you have another artistic outlet in addition to your writing? Do you sew? Paint? Draw? Knit? Dance?

Teaching yoga and meditation classes and workshops are also creative outlets. I love to prepare a class by choosing a philosophical theme, then creating posture sequences and a music playlist that will support the class energy. Choosing the information to share in a meditation course and leading guided meditations is also very inspiring. It’s gratifying to create space for people to find the peace within.

[Authors Answer note: This blog asks authors to take a look at 20 questions and to pick FIVE that they’d like to answer. Author Pamela Seeling has enthusiastically picked SEVEN to answer…. and since I don’t have the heart to cut two answers, here are two more answers…]

What do you worry about?

I worry about both big and small things. Climate change is a major concern, but also the clutter building up on my kitchen counter. If I’m not careful, worry can be my default background state. When I notice repetitive worrisome thoughts, I know I’m not in the present moment. We can use worry as a reminder to take a breath and come back to relaxing the mind and body. If the worry is valid, it can also be a messenger and motivate us to consciously take the necessary action.

What brings you great joy?

What brings me great joy is feeling a loving connection with life in general. That can be through people, nature, the light within, or everything. Expanding our capacity to love is the result of the spiritual path. Whatever path we choose, when we love more fully, we experience joy. Of course, that doesn’t mean always being happy or pretending to be happy. Allowing all emotions to flow is essential, but as we learn how to feel and how to connect, we open to more joy. This process of growth is what brings me great joy.