crank it up.....

and dance. Yeah you! Be sure to listen to the whole song. And shake your groove thing for the whole song. Made me happier in doing so. :)

hey world

resurfacing

Scared
Tired
Hopeful
Optimistic
Emotional
Pissed
Confused
Confident
Grateful
Lucky
Quiet
Leader
Seeking
Solitude
Unsure
Sure

That pretty much sums up the last week. Some things going on around the home front (near Hazard) that threw me for a loop. And between dealing with that, moving forward with yoga teacher training, and fulfilling my roles as a teacher and business owner....well I've felt the need to lie low.

I'm sure you understand. Looking forward to some time and space to process this weekend. I'll be spending lots of time on the yoga mat. :-)

I'll see you on the flip side soon enough.

the yoga dance

Thanks to Bri for documenting "the yoga dance." Thanks to Teresa for being brave enough to lead it!

weekend goodness

The party was a happy & joyous event for me. Thank you. Thank you.

Andy and I on our way to celebrate V-Day in Cincy with yoga (me) UK game at sports bar (him), good friend, good food, good drinks, and good music.
The BW gals before the workshop with Sharon Gannon of Jivamukti Yoga.
Michael Franti decided to join us at the workshop. What a sweet surprise?! Me. Crushing. Completely. See Beth... watching me....gush.
Sharon gives a talk about her new book that she is promoting, Yoga and Vegetarianism. That's her on the floor, center in front, black long sleeves. Small, petite little gal, with a BIG powerful presence.
At the concert later. It was at Bogarts. Michael Franti and Spearhead (and Cherise, the gal who also totally rocked) were so uplifting and inspiring. Really, if you ever get the chance to go. Don't walk. Run. To see him. So worth it. A prefect ending., to a perfect day.

introducing.....

The 2009 Yoga Teacher Trainees, from left to right we have:
Meredith, Lisa, Jeanne, Beth, Debbie, Leah, Jessica, Brian, and Jean.

You'll see them around the studio taking, assisting, and observing class. Give them big smiles and a few encouraging words.

I'm dashing off to buy things for tonight's party. A gal like me always waits till the last minute and decides to add something to the plan. Typically creating a little more work, but very worth it. I think so anyway!

One more reminder that this Sunday Teresa is teaching a chair yoga workshop. If you or anyone you know is interested please go the website and register!

good days are here!

Today was such a good fun day! I did a consult with the good guys from Best Buy yesterday about getting the studio all suited up with a new sound system. Per their recommendations yesterday I went in this morning and purchased a receiver, five disc cd changer, four speakers, and a hookup thingy to make ipods play (clearly I'm not well versed in all this). It was just a little overwhelming...."Can I go with the outdoor speakers, just cause they're white and will match the decor of the studio?" And yes I could! I had to upgrade to the five disc cd changer just to make it easier on us yoga teachers. Hopefully by the end of the week, you'll be able to hear our instructions much easier if you're in the back of the space! Hoping so anyway. :-)

I taught class at noon. I really enjoy teaching this class as I feel like I have a bit more freedom to do things differently. So we focused on grounding postures and even threw a couple restorative poses in at the end.

Ate a Luna bar for lunch along with sipping some yummy tea. Had a private session at 1:30 that is normally a semi-private. I did some thai yoga massage with her then we focused on hips and hammies. I've been seeing this sweet gal for months now and she's always a delight.

Had time to eat a few almonds and dried fruit (Luna bar didn't quite do the trick) just before my conference call at 3:00. Gathered on a phone call with other yogis from as far away as Australia and discussed teaching and operating a business in tough economic times from a place of abundance or scarcity. Uh, let's go with the abundance. Scarcity never ever feels good.

Finished the phone call, scheduled a private session for tomorrow with a dear one that I haven't seen in a while. Looking forward to that. Met with another gal who signed up for our private introductory special and a month of classes, scheduled for Monday. I don't really advertise private (a bit more now than in the past) but I've found that since I did the yoga therapy training, they're just coming in. And I really enjoy doing them. In the past I felt like they were just too much work. Now they are a fave....along with leading retreats and teacher training. We've scheduled another yoga therapy training for the fall. If you're thinking of doing it, you should. It's so worth every penny.

Met Tara with Natural Awakenings and upgraded with our monthly ads. I just love this publication. They are doing an excellent job with bringing us a real health and wellness magazine from a more holistic view. And the calendar in the back?! Who knew that we've got such great things going on in the community? Then taught the Yin Yoga class at 6:00. Zens me out just seeing everyone else so zenned out. Even among the crazy winds tonight in the new studio that has been called "the yoga tree house". Very good.

Planning to have sweet pleasant dreams tonight. Wishing you much of the same. :-)

Don't forget we're having a party this Friday night at 6:30. Do join us......

the questions....

It's been few weeks so here goes.....

The scary stuff:
*The ice storm that left loads of us without power. And on a much bigger note....the ice storm that took lives. Even without power I found myself giving thanks for having shelter, food, and family to take me in when it got too cold.

*My dog Bella who at ten years old has been acting a little off at night when we go to bed. She was sneaking away and sleeping in the bathroom (along with other odd and random behaviors). After seeing Marley and Me,learning that dogs sneak away when they die, Andy and I have become a little paranoid. I know it's a terrible, terrible thought! I'm reading your mind!

*BIG yoga classes! This is also listed as an exciting thing. It's not that I'm scared to teach them (cause I love the big classes) but it does make me question if everyone is getting the love, care, and attention that they need and I so want to provide. The thought of having an assistant for the big classes has entered my mind and is currently being evaluated.

The exciting stuff:
*BIG yoga classes!! More exciting than scary for sure. Twenty eight people in the Saturday class. And you all are so cute. People are coming up to me and expressing how great it is to see so many new people in the classes, asking about the influx of students since the new space has opened, etc. Yes just typing about it puts a big ol' smile on my face.

*We're adopting a cause. See to the right....and vote if you haven't already. But quickly cause today is the last day. I'm excited about this, the teachers are excited, and many of you are excited A big thanks to Emily for getting the ball rolling with this one.

*We're having a party this Friday and lots of fun workshops coming up. Chair yoga, drumming with Toby Christensen, yoga with two of Shiva Rea's main assistants, Daphne & Tom (who are remarkable if I might add), the art of yoga & tea. So much to explore!

*Me and boundaries! I'm setting them. After my vulnerability hangover and which I expressed the need to rest, it's setting in. And I'm lovin' it. On a day like today when other times I'd be working, I've chosen to read in bed upon waking, clean the house (imagine that!), walk to the coffee shop and write (for fun not work), and watch 15 minutes of Days of Our Lives. Terrible I know. Also planning to take the dogs for a walk, play Scrabble with Andy, and play in my yoga room later.

*I'm going to Cincinnati this weekend for a yoga workshop with Sharon Gannon and watching Michael Franti that same night! And like me, he is a down with our new prez....


*Babies Galore! One of my best friends in Seattle in giving birth to her first babe this month and both my sister and sis-n-law are prego. Lots of little ones to go round!

*Our yoga retreat to Mexico this summer! Plane tickets are being bought...plans, topics, and themes for the week are swirling in my mind. I'm dreaming of beach meditations, mango margaritas, beach strolling, life reflecting, sea floating, laughing, and living it up.
*And I'm learning Spanish! Again. Finally.

*My friend Shelli (she has a new blog!) and I are planning a short retreat/workshop for yoga teachers, offering CEU's for those yogi's registered with Yoga Alliance. We're currently researching places to hold it and that is such fun!

*It's been warm for two days now! I know I'm not alone with being excited about this one.

The "makes my heart happy and hope-full" stuff:
*My yoga teacher trainees. I'm officially in awe and in love with each of them. We just shared our third weekend of training together and the admiration on my part continues to grow. They get it. They really get it. And I can't wait to take class from them.

*The out pouring of love during the ice storm. Sometimes it takes a miserable thing taking place to help remind us how lucky we are to have friends and family to come to the rescue.

*This weekend I got one of the biggest compliments EVER when someone told me "I have never been to another yoga studio that create community quite like Barefoot works. I've made friends, really friends here!" Yes, that made my month.

*My mom hasn't smoked for 16 days! She has smoked my entire life and this is the longest she's ever gone without a cigarette. Makes my heart happy, oh so happy.

*Being surrounded by people that inspire, support, nurture and encourage me.
That would be Andy, my family and friends.
My yoga friends near and far away.
Teachers I've had.
My fellow yoga teachers at BW....
And you.

Feel free to play along with the questions on your blog....or facebook. :-) Let me know if you do so.

Have a glorious week.

it's a par-tay

"Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is. "
Mary Anne Roadacher Hershey

Come out this Friday evening at 6:30 for a yogic gathering to celebrate the new studio and YOU. For there would be no new studio, without YOU.

It's a casual pot-luck (vegetarian pretty please) and at some point, as we often do we'll throw in some playful partner yoga.

I'll bring the wine, cupcakes, and utensils. You bring youself, a date if you wish, a dish if you wish, a smile and a happy heart.

Hope to see you there!!

love love love

"Real love is possible only when you see everything as yourself."
Sri Swami Satchidananda

"To love means never to be afraid of the windstorms of life;

should you shield the canyons from the windstorms you would

never see the beauty of the carvings."

Elisabeth Kubler Ross

And my personal fave......

"Let your teacher be love itself."

Rumi

Wishing you all....yes you guessed it,
A lovely day. :-)

the starfish

A young man was picking up objects off the beach and tossing them out into the sea. A second man approached him and saw that the objects were starfish.

Why in the world are you throwing starfish into the water?

If the starfish are still on the beach when the tide goes out and the sun rises high in the sky, they will die, replied the young man.

That is ridiculous. There are thousands of miles of beach and millions of starfish. You can't really believe that what you're doing could possibly make a difference!

The young man picked up another starfish, paused thoughtfully, and remarked as he tossed it out into the waves, it makes a difference to this one.....

By Loren Eisley

Thinking of how easy it would be to make a differenc in the life of one being today. I continue to believe that small and random acts of kindness and love lead to BIG beatiful changes.