What's in a Nickname? On Obstacles and My "Ganesha" Heart

Some of you know this, but many of you don't. One of my favorite fellow yoga teachers gave me a nickname that has followed me, one that has become less of a name and more of a north star for my life and my teaching: Ganesha.

It’s a powerful name to carry. In the yoga tradition and Hindu pantheon, Ganesha is one of the most beloved deities—the elephant-headed god known as the Remover of Obstacles.

But the more I've sat with this name, the more I've realized his role is so much deeper than just clearing a path for us.

And that’s what I want to share with you. Because the "Ganesha energy" isn't just my story; it's a part of yours, too.

More Than a Roadblock

When we first hear "remover of obstacles," we tend to think of the big, external things: the job we didn't get, the relationship that's struggling, the traffic jam that makes us late. We pray for these things to be moved so we can get on with our lives.

But yoga asks us to look deeper.

More often than not, the most significant obstacles aren't "out there." They are "in here."

They are the "I'm not good enough" story that plays on a loop. They are the fear of being vulnerable. They are the self-doubt that keeps us from starting something new. They are the old habits and patterns we cling to, even when they no longer serve us.

These are the real boulders in our path.

The Work of a Lifetime

My life, both in the nonprofit world and now as a yoga guide, has been a practice in navigating these very obstacles. My work was never just about managing projects; it was about holding space for people. It was about creating a supportive, safe environment where someone could face their own perceived barriers—a fear, a systemic challenge, a personal block—and feel empowered to find their own way through.

I learned that you can't just tell someone to "get over it." You have to sit with them in the mud. You have to listen. You have to honor their experience. This is the heart of Ganesha. And this is the heart of yoga.

When I guide you into a challenging pose, the asana is not the point. The point is what you do when you meet that internal resistance. Do you back away? Do you force it? Or do you breathe, find your strength, and meet yourself with compassion?

The obstacle isn't in your way. The obstacle is the way.

The Other Side of Ganesha

Here’s the part of the Ganesha story that often gets left out: he is also known as the Placer of Obstacles.

At first, that sounds confusing. Why would he block the very path he’s meant to clear?

The answer is beautiful: Ganesha places obstacles in our path to teach us. The roadblock is the curriculum. The detour is the lesson. The challenge is the doorway to our own, untapped strength.

That difficult conversation, that moment of doubt, that physical limitation—it's not a punishment. It's an invitation. It's a cosmic "tap on the shoulder" asking you to slow down, get present, and find a wiser, stronger, or more compassionate part of yourself.

This is why my nickname has become my mission.

When you come to your mat in my class, I'm not here to "fix" you or remove all your challenges. I am here to hold a safe space for you to meet your own. To embrace the Ganesha Mudra and feel your own inner power. To see that you have the strength and wisdom to move through whatever life has placed in front of you.

My "Ganesha heart" is simply a reflection of yours.

So, the next time you feel "stuck," in life or on your mat, I invite you to pause and ask a different question. Instead of "Why is this in my way?" try asking:

"What is this here to teach me?"

See you on the mat,

Ganesha (Your Teacher)