how starbucks saved my life

No, not me silly. I read this book this week and it is so, so great. It made me question somethings, laugh out loud, and shed a few tears. Yes, this book warmed my heart on this cold winter day.

no puppeteer here

I love teaching vinyasa. Love, love, love it. It allows me to be creative in my own practice and in planning classes for you. It is beautiful. It is flowing and graceful. It is meditative. And it can be very trans formative. There are however times when I feel like a little like a puppeteer of sorts. How? As many of you know, the vinyasa practice links poses together with the breath. So for a big chunk of any class, I'm cuing to you "inhale and stretch your arms overhead....exhale and fold forward...inhale, lift your head and flatten your back....exhale and step back to downward facing don....and so on (yes, I know that some of you can recite this is your sleep ;-) I do throw and occasional "please" in there just so I don't feel like a drill sargent and I do always remind you of the great job you're doing. I do always remind you to be an active participant in your yoga class. These are the things I do to make me feel like less of a puppeteer as I lead you through the style of yoga class that I love so.

One of the reasons that I love teaching the yin yoga class is because it allows me to teach you to be an even more active participant in your yoga class (meaning that you don't rely on me the whole time to guide and lead you to places). And I think it's easier for you as a student to do this because we have more time in the poses, there are more pauses and places of stillness for you to really pay attention to your body. You have time enough to ask yourself "Why do I feel such an intense stretch in my hip?" and "What can I do to make myself feel more at ease?" These are the questions that I remind you to silently ask yourself. Again, this makes me more passive and you more active in your practice. And I think this is a good thing, because....well you live in your body. Not me. I can only take you so far, then it's completely up to you.

How can you be even more active on your yoga mat, and in your everyday life?

yoga on this beach

I know I should be working, planning a yoga class, or possibly doing my own yoga practice. However, I glance out the studio window and see the snow swirling around and I wonder if spring really is just around the corner. The snow and cold temps have me once again dreaming about an escape to a quiet and quaint beach. I even bought two new pairs of shorts (and I really don't even wear shorts)yesterday at Target, thinking these will be perfect for Tulum. And it's not even March yet! I'm looking at all kinds of video footage from Tulum and I'm quickly reminded of how beautiful and how special this place is. I think I'll warm myself up by making myself some hot tea. Maybe even do my yoga practice. It wont be quite the same as yoga on the beach, but it will do. ;-)

Click here to get the scoop about a most fabulous yoga retreat to Tulum Mexico! Stay warm and cozy. It's cold out there!

yoga for stress relief

We started a great new class at the studio this morning....yoga for stress relief. Teresa is teaching this and she does a fabulous job. She really has a knack for leading pranayama and meditation. After a long weekend at the studio with teacher training, it was exactly what I was needing. Afterwords most of the folks stayed for our first potluck and discussion which was equally lovely. We chatted about the first limb of yoga, the yamas. I'm hoping to post more about this tomorrow.

On my way home I was driving past a field where some cows were hanging around on a lazy Sunday afternoon. I realized I had my camera so I pulled over on the road and went back to snap a few pictures of them. I think they were equally intrigued by me....or my camera. They kept coming closer and closer, the whole gang. Pretty cute, huh?

ice

Yes, you guessed it....classes are canceled this evening due to the ice. Wow, this weather we've been experiencing the last few weeks is a bit crazy! Tornadoes, wind storms, snow, ice.....we've had it all. Why does winter seem to be the loooongest season of all? I'm making a big, big effort to not wish my days away by counting down the days till spring. It's tough.

Be Warm. Be Safe.....

never nothing

Andy and I watched Peaceful Warrior this weekend with Nick Nolte. One of the main points of the film was that there is "never nothing going on". I've been thinking a lot about this statement and thinking of ways that it applies to me. When we were going how many times did we whine to our poor mom, "But mom, there's nothing to do. There is nothing going on." Sometimes I long to have those moments again! Anyway, I think this idea, this way of thinking can really open our eyes to the world around us. And the world within us.

In yin yoga we hold many of the poses for five minutes. I'm pretty sure that these five minutes feels like an eternity for some. I encourage students to settle in. To tune into the sensations they are feeling. Reminding them that there is always something going on in their body. It simply takes the time and the awareness to discover it. Again, "there is never nothing going on."

I also thought of this same point in practicing sun salutations. I teach them nearly everyday and I practice them nearly everyday. They are a staple in the vinyasa yoga practice. I would imagine that all os us (including myself) has been in a class when we've thought "Oh no, here we go with another sun salutation." I do remind myself and students that each sun salutation is different and unique in it's own right. On no two days are our bodies or minds the same, no two movements are ever the same, and no two breaths are ever the same. When we're able to approach our practice and specifically sun salutations this way, a whole new yoga world opens up. Even when you feel that you can do a sun salutation in your sleep, remember there is "never nothing going on." You might be surprised at what you'll learn if you pay close attention.

instant inspiration

You must ask for what you really want.

Don’t go back to sleep.

The door is round and open.

Don’t go back to sleep. — Rumi

love is my religion

I'll take you to the temple tonight

All my days I've been searching,

to find out what this life is worth

through the books and bibles of time

I've made up my mind

I don't condemn, I don't convert,

this is a calling have you heard

bring all the lovers to the fold,

cause no one is gonna lose their soul.

Love is my religion,

Love is my religion,

Love is my religion

hey you can take it or leave it,

and you don't have to believe it

I don't want to fight,

hey let's go fly a kite

there's nothing that we can't cure,

and I'll keep you in my arms for sure

so don't let nobody stop us,

free spirits have to soar

with you I share the gift,

the gift that we now know.

Ziggy Marley

For the lovers, the lookers, the dreamers, the believers.

For you. And you. And especially you.

For all of us.

today

happy heart day

What the world needs now

Is love, sweet love

It's the only thing

That there's just too little of.

Join me for a fun loving, heart opening yoga class this evening. We'll be moving into heart opening postures, grooving to a special v-day mix made by me, and tasting a special post class treat! I do hope you can make it!! But if you have special plans with your sweet one, I suppose that's ok. ;-)

xoxo,

Sharon

studio closed today

It's a snow day at Barefoot Works. Enjoy a practice at home today. :-)

winter

Winter came down to our home one night

Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toedslippers of snow,

And we, we were children once again.
Bill Morgan Jr.

joy

“Enjoy life. This is not a dress rehearsal."

Joy was the theme of today's yoga practice. As I was driving to the studio early this morning, the sun rise was bee-u-tee-ful. I had one of those moments when you feel a wave of happiness wash over you. I wanted to share this with others, remind others how much we have to be happy about. I got to the studio and I found a few quotes to share at the end of class (including the one above) and found a nice groovy tune to for savasana (This Little Light of Mine).

During the opening/centering time we meditated on the word "joy". Held it in our mind, our body and our hearts. Observing if any thoughts, words, feelings, or associations came up while we stayed with "joy". During the sun salutations we recalled early joyful memories and times. We reminded ourselves of how much fun it can be in downward facing dog. Really, how many people other than yogi's spend a good amount of time in an inverted "v", supporrting themselves with their hands and their feet. Yogi's and young kids, I imagine. Yoga keep you young, child-like and joyful in many ways. I keep coming back to this notion in my practice. Yoga can be deep, transformative, and profound. But for me it's also a fun and joyful practice. Always, I keep coming back to that. I hope you find your way there as often as possible.

my wish for you

I wish I could package up the power I see in your warrior pose.

I wish I could package up the grace I see in your dancer pose.

I wish I could package up the flexibility I see in your pigeon pose.

I wish I could package up the balance I see in your tree pose.

I wish I could package up the feeling of surprise that spreads through your body when you stand on your hands.

I wish I could package up the feeling of strength when you stand strong on your feet.

I wish I could package up the feeling of joy when you stand on your head.

I wish I could package up the feeling of deep peace when you rise from relaxation.

I hope you take all the power, grace, flexibility, balance, surprise, joy, and deep peace away from your yoga mat and out into your world. Namaste.

yes we can

It doesn't matter who you'll vote for....this video can serve as inspiration for all of us. Yes we can. Yes we can. Yes we can.

sun salutation a

fabulous friday

Wow, it seems like it has been forever since I've posted....when in reality it's only been since Monday. The week has been busy and I've found little time to escape to blogland. I'm so excited to be home this weekend as I've had very little (weekend) time here in the big blue house over the last month and a half. I got lots of work finished today, so I'm hoping to chill, relax and take it easy this weekend.

I spent nearly six hours today inputting, analyzing and studying numbers. In the midst of my fun accounting times, my sister calls me up and in the middle of our conversation she says "What's wrong. You sound depressed?" No, my mind is just numb....from the numbers, I replied. I wanted to break out and sing the ABC's. But lucky for her. I refrained. You accountants, I stand up, bow to you, and namaste. Over and and over again. The accounting part is probably...well it is, my least favorite part of owning a business. Give me a room full of people and I can talk all day about how wonderful yoga is. But at the end of the year come tax time, I'm working the deep breathing and chair stretches overtime!

Happy days are hear again! It's Friday and I'm free from the numbers. Andy and I went to the grocery store and I bought little marshmallows that I will be enjoying with some hot chocolate here shortly. It's just after 6:00 and I'm on my way to put on some warm jammies, read a book and drink some tasty hot chocolate. Maybe, just maybe I'll get out to take some pictures tomorrow, as it's been a long time since I've had some quality time with my camera.

May marshmallows and hot chocolate warm your belly, fuzzy slippers warms your toes, and something or someone special warm your heart. Have a delightfully happy weekend. :-) I know I intend to.

PS - That super swanky, super cool room was the room Andy and I stayed in DC. I loved, loved, loved it!