this weekend

The clouds on Friday were ahhhmazing. Did you see them?! They inspired my drive out to the country roads with camera in tow.

This farm is one of my favorites to take pictures of. I think I've probably captured it during all 4 seasons at this point. Makes me kinda feel like I should frame them and take em' to the owner.

Chrisman Mill Winery is located out in the very beautiful countryside of Jessamine County. I thought it would be fun to drive out to see it, take some photos and since I was there....do a little wine tasting. The winery and the property were gorgeous. I even talked to the gal working about doing a yoga + wine retreat in the spring. Wouldn't that be fun?

Saturday was spent at Midway and Keeneland with Andy's parents. I don't make it to Keeneland a whole lot, but every time I do I question what I don't visit more often. I find the horses mesmerizing.

I finished my fall decorating for the season. Thanksgiving is my favorite season for all. I was in Hobby Lobby the other day buying these pumpkin ornaments when I overheard a lady telling her friend "I don't do much decorating now that the kids are gone." Uh-oh I thought, I don't even have kids....could get bad if I did.

On Sunday I spent some time at Panera with a bagel, coffee and my journal. I was long overdue for some visualizing/dreaming/journaling. I did lots of writing about what I plan to conquer in the upcoming year. Whenever I caught myself writing "I plan..." I immediately crossed it out and wrote, "I will...." Now that's more like it.

Enjoy your Sunday. For all you local yogi's, I hope to see your smiling faces this week. For all of my distant blogging buds, I hope to see your smiling faces on your blog. :-)

And speaking of smiling...

"As you express joy, you draw it out of those you meet, creating joyful people and joyful events. The greater the joy you express, the more joy you experience." Arnold Patent

dc at x-mas

I'm so excited! A couple days ago when I was having my funk of a day, I knew exactly what I needed. Andy and I have been planning for a couple months to get away together, just the two of us at Christmas. Oddly enough, we chose DC. It's been one of the places that we've wanted to visit together. Some people think it's odd that of all weeks to travel we chose the week of Christmas. But with both of our schedules, this will be the best week for us.

We decided that while everyone else is running around buying last minute gifts and preparing casseroles, that we would be running to museums, eclectic shops, enjoying coffee around the Topaz Christmas tree, and enjoying a nice romantic dinner somewhere for Christmas....prepared by someone else of course.

I think the thing I'm most excited about is staying at the Topaz Hotel. This is what makes me really giddy! With a description like this... "More than just a place to stay, the Topaz Hotel is a world filled with positive energy and good karma. Mystic beats to dance trance. Attendants dressed in sunburst tunics. Vibrant patterns and exotic textures. Transcend the everyday at Washington, D.C.'s most enlightened boutique hotel." and "

"Seeking someplace different? A retreat from the ordinary perhaps? Consider the Topaz Hotel, a tranquil oasis of positive energy amidst the heart of the Nation’s Capital. Good karma radiates from our hotel in Dupont Circle, where perfect balance infuses every detail. Inspiring accommodations somehow pacify and energize in the same breath. Our exotic ambience soothes while stimulates. Seamlessly weaving Eastern culture with sleek, modern design, we are a gentle yin to D.C.’s vibrant yang. Transcend the everyday at this Dupont Circle hotel and discover an invigorating hideaway within a convenient downtown setting."

Every morning you get a "morning power hour" which is an energy drink, there is a complimentary in-room yoga program complete with yoga reading material, new age cd's to listen to (while digging into the yoga reads), and the room has a teapot (and tea of course) and an alarm clock with soothing sounds options!

Can you tell I'm excited?! Leigh Ann lived in DC for years so she's gonna give me the inside scoop for all the best places to eat, drink, shop, be merry and festive. And get my yoga groove on of course. It will be a great chance to tour some studios, as there are so very many in DC. I want to go to Tranquil Space and check out the clothing and make it over to Flow and check out their eco friendly studio featuring both bamboo and cork floors.

Thank goodness I have a husband who indulges me in all things yoga. Thanks Andy. :-)

up words

"Dream

and give yourself permission

to envision a You

that you choose to be."

Joy Page

you know the day

When you just feel a wee bit funky....but not in a great way. I had one of those days, just up until I saw your smiling faces this evening before class. I found myself pondering....have I been eating "crap" food. Nope and that celery and cucumber juice I had this weekend even gave me bonus points. Have I been getting enough exercise? I think so. I took Teresa's yoga class last night, did jazzercise this morning (yes you read that right) and did two mini yoga sessions today. Have I been getting enough sleep. Yes, I even slept till 7:30 this morning then I laid in bed and read some of this book. What about enough "Sharon" time. See previous note about reading in bed. Got that covered. Guess it was just "one of those days".

Know what did make me feel a little brighter? This. Practicing three times, just before class today at 5:45. Always does the trick.

Sorry, no photo today. I'm on the laptop I bought for the studio and there are zero photos on here. Yes I know. Unbelievable. I'll post a really pretty one tomorrow. :-)

affirmations

I care about providing a place where people feel welcomed and accepted.

I care about being happy and healthy.

I care about being a good wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend.

I care about doing my part to take care of the planet.

I care about being the best yoga teacher I can be.

I care about knowing myself, fully and deeply.

I care about the community that's being created at Barefoot Works.

I care about being a better person.

I care about living a life full of passion and purpose.

I care about the way(s) I choose to spend my days, my time.

I care about connecting to people.

I care about living a joyful life and leaving a legacy.

Thought for the day....what do you really care about?

full

"My formula for living is quite simple. I get up in the morning and I go to bed at night. In between, I occupy myself as best I can." Cary Grant

Weekends like the one I just experienced leave me feeling so full, so content and really quite satisfied. I spent a good portion of this weekend at home, planting over a dozen plants given to me by Wyman, cleaning and decorating the house for fall, playing outside with the dogs, reading, cooking and spending some time on the laptop doing work. When I wasn't at home I was teaching the Saturday morning flow class (which I looove), having coffee with a friend at Panera, and enjoying brunch at Alfalfas's with a this great guy and gal.

Yes, it's the simple weekends like this that leave me with a sense of peace and relaxation. I often dream about living out in the country with loads of land to call my own. I grew up in an area with no one else in sight. It was us and the hills, surrounding and sheltering us in all directions. It seemed like the land was ours for the taking, to do and play as we pleased. I find myself returning their often in my mind.

I wonder how I would fill my days as an adult. I imagine that I would escape for hours with my camera and a pb&j sandwich in hand. I would take pictures of random things and find beauty in the ordinary. Along the way I would probably find some rocks and twigs that I would tote back to my cottage in the woods and use to decorate the mantle. I'd go to my organic garden and pick some tomatoes and basil to use for dinner that night (never mind that none of my veggies survived this year because I planted them waaay too early ;-) Later that night after dinner, Andy and I would sit out on our wrap around porch with reading material in hand, enjoy a glass of wine and watch the fireflies dance around into the night.

Hey, a girl can dream right? Here's to the start of what's bound to be a great week here in KY. Cheers :-)

stretching beyond the pain of grief

Enjoy this inspirational article written by a lovely yogini friend. I'm continually amazed at the awesome power of people....and yoga. The article was in last month's Yoga Alliance newsletter. Theresa lives and teaches yoga in Philadelphia.

Stretching Beyond the Pain of Grief
By Theresa Conroy

Donna Giddings arrived late to yoga class—wearing jeans, a flowing camisole, impeccable makeup and a jangle of colorful jewelry.

As I watched this large, buoyant, fabulous woman roll out at a mat and maneuver her tight jeans into a cross-legged position, I nearly giggled. Except I was too choked up to giggle.

I had been waiting months to teach this yoga class.

Donna had gathered with seven other members of the anti-violence group Mothers in Charge, for a special yoga class, “Stretching Beyond the Pain of Grief," held in their honor at Yoga Schelter, in Philadelphia.

The class was a gift to them from Yoga Unites, a nonprofit organization I co-founded that uses yoga for healing.

For nearly six years I had been sitting in front of these women—not cross-legged on a mat, leading them through "Ujjayi" breath—but stiffly perched above a notebook, reporting on the agonizing details of the murder trials of those who had killed their children.

As the criminal court reporter for the Philadelphia Daily News, I had covered countless murder trials, including the one for the man who killed Donna's mother, her son and her son’s best friend.

During that case I had a long talk with Donna. I confessed that I wanted to quit my 27-year newspaper career to make a full-time job out of healing grief like hers through yoga.

She told me that if I ever taught a class like that, she’d come.

She did.

I taught that class right before Mother’s Day, just four months after I left the paper.

I loved my regular studio classes, but I wanted to expand the healing power I had experienced in my own practice. I wanted to share the practice that had soothed my anxiety and eased me through body image issues, infertility and even a smoking addiction.

Jennifer Schelter, founder and creative director of Yoga Schelter, actually began this work in 2001, when she organized a Yoga Unites class to benefit the Anti-Violence Partnership. She then brought the idea of activist yoga to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a national education and support organization, to create and teach the annual large-group class on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

This year's Yoga Unites for Living Beyond Breast Cancer, which was held on May 20, drew about 500 participants.

Just before I left the Daily News, I formalized Jennifer's idea by turning Yoga Unites into an official nonprofit corporation designed to teach yoga for healing and to raise awareness of health, social and environmental causes.

A few of the mothers seemed a bit skeptical during the class—either of yoga or of the hope that anything could ease their pain. But by the end of class, their faces—the same faces I used to see in court, contorted with pain and tormented by nightmares—stared back at me with easy, soft smiles.

Their shoulders had relaxed. The furrows between their brows had softened. A darkness had lifted.

"I even felt so at peace," Donna said.

Enjoy your Friday friends. :-)

woohoo!!

Fall is officially here friends! Pull the chunky sweaters out of the closet, sip some hot apple cider, make a yummy hearty hot soup, and go pick a pumpkin. And treat yourself by joining me tonight for the yin yoga class. Don't forget to dress in layers (so much fun anyway). Cooler weather means you may want some long sleeves or socks to put on during savasana.

Hope to see you tonight!

"Earth teach me to forget myself as melted snow forgets its life. Earth teach me resignation as the leaves which die in the fall. Earth teach me courage as the tree which stands all alone. Earth teach me regeneration as the seed which rises in the spring." William Alexander

today

I got to meet John Lucas Easter. This sweet baby boy who is only 10 days old. Isn't he beautiful? And such a little angel.

I love taking pictures of baby hands and toes. My absolute fave. So tiny and so perfect.

And on the way back from Richmond while waiting at the ferry, I got some pretty shots of this awesome, imperfect flower.

And my favorite thing to do on the ferry....take self portrait shots. And the drive up from the river is always beautiful....maybe even more so this time of year. I love the colorful blurriness of this shot with Andy driving up the curvy road. Andy's on fall break and I think I'm enjoying it just as much as him.

the invitation

The Invitation

by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living

I want to know what you ache for

and if you dare to dream

of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are

I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool

for love

for your dreams

for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...

I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow

if you have been opened by life's betrayals

or have become shriveled and closed

from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain

mine or your own

without moving to hide itor fade itor fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy

mine or your own

if you can dance with wildness

and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes

without cautioning us to

be careful

be realistic

to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.

I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself.
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.

If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day.

And if you can source your own lifefrom its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure yours and mine

and still stand on the edge of the lake

and shout to the silver of the full moon,"Yes."

It doesn't interest me to know where you live

or how much money you have.

I want to know if you can get up

after a night of grief and despair

weary and bruised to the bone

and do what needs to be done

to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know

or how you came to be here.

I want to know if you will stand in the

center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom

you have studied.

I want to know what sustains you

from the inside

when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone

with yourself and if you truly like the company

you keep in the empty moments.

living your yoga

Today's half day retreat titled Living Your Yoga was so very fun! We started the morning with a nice meditation then I shared a reading - The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. We had a lovely vinyasa practice for about an hour and 45 minutes. We saluted the sun, heart opened, twisted, inverted, back bended, folded, then surrendered into a nice long savasana (which ended up being legs up the wall). We walked over to Quirk Cafe and enjoyed lunch on the patio. The food was quite delicious. I had my fave, the spring strawberry salad and a cup of tomato basil salad. Topped it all off with a itty bowl of bread pudding. Yum.

Then back off to do some creative exploration and discuss what it means to Live Your Yoga. Each gal got a goody bag stuffed with a journal, color pencils, stickers, colorful pens and a glitter glue stick. Creative exercises included drawing a pic of themselves Living Their Yoga either abstract or representatively. "Let go of your inner critic and have fun" was listed as part of the directions. We also discussed and made a list of ways to Live Yoga. The list included both BIG and small things (as we all know that small things lead to great grand results). Then we got more specific about ways to take yoga away from the mat and into the world. Taking the following categories: strength, flexibility, balance, focus and contentment we talked about real life situations/challenges for each category. For example we talked about cultivating strength off the mat by standing up for what you believe in, saying "no", listening and trusting your inner voice, and so on. Following this each gal had some time alone to explore and reflect on their personal list, set some intentions, and plan some action steps. While they worked on this I made some tasty chai, served the gals and snapped a few pics. We finished with a guided meditation and the day was over! It went by so very quickly. I loved every minute of the day because it allowed each of us to connect to yoga just a bit differently then we normally do and we got to do so in a fun way. I heart my job. :-)

q&a

A lovely yoga student interviewed me today for an English project. Here's a bite of our fun little interview:

What inspired you to start yoga?

I remember the moment very vividly. It was around mile 21 of the Houston Marathon. My body literally felt like it might break down, simply give out. But at that same moment, I tapped into something that was bigger than me or my body. There was no doubt in my mind that I'd complete this marathon. At the time I also felt this really amazing connection to my breath. There are unbelievable things that we can accomplish through the power of our mind and our breath. I had never been more aware of that thought. After finishing the marathon I wanted to recapture that same awesome feeling. I'd heard and read a lot about yoga so I decided to give it a try and see what all the hype was about. I was hooked after the first class.

What's the best thing about teaching yoga?

There are many wonderful things about teaching yoga: witnessing a beginning student reach that "aha" moment in a pose, the thrill of an adult face after flipping themselves upside down in a headstand, and feeling that a student is really present is pretty incredible. But the very best is witnessing this transformation that occurs from the moment before class and after class. People come into the studio many times rushed, stressed, tired and/or overwhelmed. Seeing these same people in the quiet, still moments during and following corpse pose is truly an amazing thing. To get to be a part of assisting people to feel more at ease with their body, and helping people find a sense of peace and calm is the absolute best.

Why do you think yoga is important?

We live in such a busy world, constantly going and doing. When we're not actually on the run, we're planning and organizing. And when we're not planning, we're thinking about what we should or shouldn't be doing. Our work, social and family lives are busier than ever. For people practicing yoga, their mat becomes this safe place to retreat to. Even among the crazy, wonderful and wild things going on in our daily lives, the yoga mat provides a place to surrender. A place to relax, renew and/or reinvigorate.

Do you do yoga everyday for yourself, besides teaching your classes?

I fit some part of yoga into my everyday life. I don't consider teaching yoga to be any part of my own personal practice. When I'm teaching, it's all about the students...never about myself. I may not do a 90 minute practice everyday. Some days it might be more, others it might be less. Some days I may only do breathing exercises (pranayama) and meditation, but those are equally important as the poses (asanas). I find that my personal practice is what mostly influences my teaching. It's here that I come up with new sequences, discover something new about the poses, and gain overall insight. Yoga is something that you can't simply learn from a book. You have to do the practice...spend time on the mat.

What is the purpose of meditation?

If you were to ask 5 different people what the purpose of meditation is, you'll probably get 5 different answers. For me, the purpose of meditation is resting and quieting my mind. When I'm able to do this I can tap into this place where everything seems clearer. I find that I can live more fully and make decisions that really resonate with me.

Any other questions you blog readers might have? Go ahead, don't be shy. Leave a comment or shoot me an email. :-)

joy

"When we align our thoughts, emotions, and actions with the highest part of ourselves, we are filled with enthusiasm, purpose, and meaning...We are joyously and intimately engaged with our world. This is the experience of authentic power."

just horsin' around

Or I was most of last week. All of the staying up late, celebrating into the wee hours and hanging our with gal pals has left me feeling a little under the weather. I've been drinking lotsa tea and enjoying the tastiest orange juice ever with little bit of help from my friend. This juicer is quite the machine. I've drank the juice of 11 oranges over the past 24 hours. This juice would be the highlight of a nasty, nasty cold.

And it's a busy week for the studio. Two new corporate yoga classes starting this week, a presentation at the VA Medical Center, figuring out the in's and out's of this yoga software and planning/coordinating for the darling day long retreat in Midway is leaving little time to blog.

So I leave you with some yogic thoughts to explore, courtesy of Swami Satchidananda. Enjoy!

"Without meditation, there's no Yoga. Whatever you do, meditate on that. When you eat, meditate on your eating, don't talk business. When you do one thing, do it with concentration. Think of what you are eating. What are the qualities of the food, where did it come from; thank the trees that gave you the fruits instead of thinking of something else. One thing at a time, that's what you call Yoga. You can sleep like a Yogi, eat like a Yogi, walk like a Yogi, talk like a Yogi. Whatever you do, let the magic wand of Yoga touch it. Then your entire life becomes a Yogic life, not only when you do asana, pranayama. You practice Yoga all the time."

30 reasons

Today is my very best friends 3oth birthday! Here are a few of the reasons why she rocks:

1. She gave me my very first quilt...and made it too.

2. She put up with my crazy college antics.

3. She flew to TX and helped me settle into my apt. after graduate school.

4. She flew to TX and drove my car back when I moved back home to KY.

5. She makes delicious cakes.

6. She engages in big hearty full belly laughs.

7. She helped me tear my space for the studio apart, and put it back together.

8. She puts furniture and things together like nobody's business. Really, it's crazy.

9. She gave me a pt job when I embarked on the journey of becoming a yoga teacher.

10. She always, always thinks of other people first.

11. She's laugh out loud hilarious.

12. She holds out for what she wants in life.

13. She's a dreamer and a believer. Just like myself.

14. She's very animated. And that makes her fun and a very bad liar.

15. She requested a punching bag and pink gloves for her birthday.

16. She's the most helpful person I've ever known.

17. She introduced me to my husband.

18. We've sunbathed in the Dominican Republic and explored the English countryside.

19. She taught me how to wrap the perfect gift.

20. She's loyal.

21. She's a financial whiz of sorts. Quickbooks, checkbooks, she's my definite go to gal.

22. She's witnessed me at my weakest and vice versa.

23. She's great with people. Young, old, male, female...it doesn't matter. People gravitate to her.

24. She can make a dress and lay tile.

25. She's full of willpower. Don't challenge her. She will kick your arse.

26. She sings loudly in her car. To music most of us would never recognize.

27. She loves barns, birthdays, and babies.

28. She made my wedding bouquet.

29. She amuses and amazes me.

30. She's a one of a kind friend. For all seasons and reasons.

living your yoga

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy and creativity in the learning process" -Einstein

For me personally...yoga, creativity, and joyful living go hand in hand. When I think about all the avenues that there are for me to explore as a yoga teacher (and there are oh so many), this is the one area that really grabs at my heart. After I started doing yoga, I could feel that something deep in me was being stirred and awakened. It was my (creative) spirit, my intuition, and a deep sense that we are all born to be happy, joyful creatures inhabiting this beautiful earth. However, this all to often gets lost during our journey from child to adult.

Yoga provides this amazing outlet for me. It's my way of finding balance (mentally and physically), tapping into my "true" nature, opening my heart and my mind. And my college degrees are in Recreation and Park Administration (more on the recreation side). It's an avenue that seems truly built for me! So please join for a day of discovery and delight. If you plan to register, email me and let me know. The registration deadline is next Monday.

Join Sharon in the historic and charming town of Midway, KY for a half day yoga retreat. Learn how to infuse your life with yoga, both on and off the mat. Sharon will reveal creative and practical ways to weave your yoga into your day-to-day life.

Together we'll dive into a vinyasa practice , stroll over and have lunch at Quirk Cafe, which Southern Living calls a "Midway Marvel". We'll finish the day by discussing and exploring creative exercises to discover what it means to "live your yoga". We'll finish early enough that you will have time to explore the wonderful, eclectic shops that Midway has to offer. Please plan to join in this day of fun, insight, and creative exploration.

Timeline for the day:
9:30 - Presentation of the day and theme, centering, inspirational reading
10:00 - Vinyasa yoga practice
11:30 - Stroll over to Quirk for yummy lunch
12:45 - Discussion of what it means to "live your yoga"
1:30 - Creative activity and discussion/sharing
2:15 - Guided meditation and closing

Saturday October 6, 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
Cost: $70(includes yoga instruction, lunch, and supplies)
Location: 208 Dudley St. Midway, KY 40347

morning practice

My morning practice went something like this:

6 Sun Salutation A

6 Sun Salutation B

Standing Sequence

Warrior 1

Warrior 2

Triangle

Parsvatonasana

Warrior 3 (arms behind back from previous pose)

Down Dog

Repeat with left leg

Side Plank (lift top leg to bottom inner thigh, think tree pose)

Tripod Headstand

Saddle Pose

Purvotanasana

Head to Knee

Seated Forward Fold

Reclined Hand to Big Toe

Corpse

Finished with alternate nostril breathing and mini meditation

I tried to link the poses with pics from Yoga Journal, but their site is down. Sorry :-(

Also, as much as I can, I list the poses with their English translation, but sometimes it's actually easier for me to remember the Sanskrit name as the English translation could be about five words long. Too much, too much. ;-)

The pretty little gal getting married above (and me with a solemn look for some odd reason) is one of my best buds that lives in Seattle now. We worked together in TX and I haven't seen her in over two whole years. Far, far too long. I'm going to Indianapolis tomorrow and we'll get to have some girl time over the next couple days. Yip, Hip, Hooray! I'm hoping to catch a yoga class here and here.

things that brought me joy this weekend

*Giving a proper send off to summer on Saturday. I taught the Sat. morning flow class, which I just love. We grooved and moved to the sounds of Norah Jones, then ended with a few restorative poses. The two combined made for a perfect practice to transition from summer to fall.
*The beautiful bouquet of flowers that I bought for myself.....just because.
*Cooking and celebrating with friends. And watching another very exciting game for the Cats! Dinner included shepherds pie, fried green tomatoes and raspberry mojitos. Yum! And Tony made delicious homemade chocolate chip and raisin cookies. It was indeed a night of indulgence.
*And a certain little gal turned 7 this weekend! A fun party honoring her and games outside in the yard with family made for a really great Sunday.

Check out the pre-wish/blowing out of candles!
Success!
And I bet you too got this excited over Curious George!
The tiara was a last minute gift from me that turned out to be a big hit!

I hope that you too found some seven year old, tiara toutin', curious george lovin', summer salutin' excitement somewhere in your weekend. I imagine you did! ;-)

WELCOME FALL. I hope it brings all things festive and fabulous.

lover of the list

I got to spend some quality time with my best yoga bud today in Louisville. Shelli and I both loove to plan, organize, and dream up crazy fantastic things to do. When I suggested that we spend some time discussing our plans for the next five years, she was equally enthused (yes I suppose we're a bit nerdish that way). When we got to the restaurant we realized that both of us had left our notebooks...finding ourselves ready to make some lists, but without a perfect and proper notebook. As luck (or life) would have it, a great little locally owned bookstore was right next to the restaurant. We went in and searched like giddy little schoolgirls for the perfect spiral bound journal. Does anyone else have this much fun purchasing new notebooks?

We had lunch at a delicious place called Ramsie's. We sat outside on the patio on this gorgeous day in KY. I found myself wishing I had brought my camera along to capture the great colors, the green vines all topped off with a perfect blue sky. The place felt very European and the food was so very yummy. I always find myself just a tad envious of all the great establishments in Louisville. There are so many darn options...eclectic shops, great eats, quaint shops, and a whole lotta yoga.

After lunch we moved on over to Java Brewing Company to sip coffee, lounge on the couch and jot down things to do in our respective studios for the next six months. Such fun! We decided that it's amazing how crazy busy things seem to be but how we wouldn't change one single thing. Life is good having a small business/yoga studio/job/baby. And yes the baby I refer to would be the studio. Right now most of my love goes to that place over at Patchen Drive. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Nothing like a good list to keep you focused and on track!

ace weekly

Aww shucks...Barefoot Works was voted one of the best places in Lexington to take a yoga class. Happy, happy day! Check out the Ace Weekly that's out right now to view their "Best Of Lex 2007" edition.

bravery

"He who is not everyday conquering some fear has not learned the secret of life."

"Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world." Both by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Last week I was talking to my sister, asking her about my niece and how she was doing at school. You see, she is surprisingly shy at school (which just blows my mind, because she is a beautiful and bright little gal). However the other day she came home from school with a story of bravery...a story of facing her fear. She was in class and the teacher asked a question and no one knew the answer (or maybe they did, and they were as fearful of speaking up as she). The class sit there all quiet. Finally Brooke raised her little hand high in the air and the teacher called upon her. She answered. And she answered correctly. I would like to hope that she answered with a certain amount of confidence...you know again the thing of heart being open, head held high, and direct eye contact. But she could have been quiet as a mouse in answering, or she could have even answered incorrectly.

To me, when her hand went up and she gave an answer...whether it was right or wrong, it was a victory. And the next time it will be easier, then easier again and so on.

This quote, "Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world." How true is that? How many of us don't do something because we fear failure.... looking silly, sounding ignorant, or because we think we're not smart enough, not skinny enough, not talented enough, not creative enough. Simply not enough.

Today, I challenge you to do one thing that scares you...maybe a little or a lot. Maybe it's speaking up at school or work, turning yourself upside down in a headstand or handstand, taking your very first yoga class, parallel parking (that one is for me), looking for a new job, etc. Try it and just see how you feel afterwards.

yoga news

*A recent study conducted at California State University found that women who took yoga class twice a week were better able to concentrate on tasks, less anxious, and more motivated to succeed. So roll out your mat, take some some deep breaths, and get your yoga groove on.

*Yoga Bitch (no I'm not being mean)...check her out here. If you've got a couple minutes, watch the video. She's quite funny!

*Global Mala - I hope you received your email today about this event I'm a part of. Local yoga teachers are joining this Friday and leading the peeps of Lexington through a light, lively, and lovely yoga practice followed by a peace meditation. We'll also take part in a moment of silence at noon. Please, join us at Woodland Park at 11:30 and join millions of people around the world and form a mala around the earth!

lost it...

Both my husband any myself....I've lost my zen and Andy has lost a bit of his mind. We're in the midst of the UK vs. UL football game. It's neck and neck. I keep telling him to stay steady and take a deep breath. He looks at me as if I've lost my mind. I'm taking a deep breath...for myself, Andy and most Lexingtonians. Going back down to watch the game. Wish me luck. ;-)

Kentucky sports...you can't help but love it.

inside your body

"Don't go outside your house to see the flowers.

My friend, don't bother with that excursion.

Inside your body there are flowers.

One flower has a thousand pedals.

They will do for a place to sit.

Sitting there you will have a glimpse of beauty

inside the body and out of it,

before gardens and after gardens."

-Kabir

I hope each of you have some peace, stillness and happiness this weekend inside your body... inside your house.

phenomenal woman

This is my dear sweet friend Indrani. I was lucky enough to meet and get to know Indrani in August during my yoga training in Asheville. Let me tell you, she is a force to be reckoned with. I can't even imagine the mark that she is bound to leave on this earth. She's a mother of two, a wife, a triathlete, a marathoner, a yoga teacher, a life coach, an inspiration, and one of the best storytellers (don't worry Indrani, your stories and secrets are safe with me ;-) you'll ever meet. Oh yeah, and she's in the process of building a retreat center in the Himalayas and she's a faculty member for Martha Beck. That's why I chose her to be the very first Barefoot Works Phenomenal Woman...the first of a series to come. If you know a phenomenal woman...you know the one that's making a difference, a daydreamer and an achiever, living life by her own set of rules, going for the gusto, and living life to the fullest, drop me an email at barefootworks@hotmail.com and let me know who this phenomenal woman is.

I hope you enjoy learning more about Indrani.


Indrani's journey has taken her across oceans from her country of Trinidad and Tobago to her adopted country of the United States of America. She has called the USA home since 1974. She did her undergraduate work in communications at CUNY in New York City.

Her graduate studies in public speaking and interpersonal communication were done at Kent State University. She has held management positions at Lazarus in Columbus, Ohio and at Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New York City, NY. When she and her husband relocated to Houston, Texas in 1985, she decided to start her second career as a full time mother.

1. How do you define phenomenal woman? Any woman who is willing to investigate her present situation/life/circumstances and ask herself if this is where she wants to be. She does not have to know how to make changes, just whether she has a desire to make changes or not. If the decision is not to make any changes, then there can be no complaining. I must emphasize that these changes always involve the individual not the people surrounding them. For instance, if I am thirsty for compassion and empathy, do I give compassion and empathy to others in limitless quantities?

2. Can you think of one magical moment that led you to believe that you were destined for greatness (because you and I know that you are ;-) I knew that I was headed towards great things at the end of my triathlon as my physical body was ready to die right there on the spot but my spirit was soaring to heights I never knew existed. I realized that I had been living a life of limits and boundaries that I allowed others to impose on me. So at the ripe age of 50 years, as I was declared an Olympic distance triathlete, I knew that I was never going to go back to limits and boundaries. Stepping out of that self-made prison was the magical moment.

3. Why do you want to build a retreat center in the Himalayas? I have asked myself this question so many times and the answer is the same, because it's at the top of the world where heaven meets earth. So if I going to ask people to reclaim their divinity, they may as well do it close to the heavens.

4. Since you are a life coach, what advice would you give to women about creating their own success? It is very important to know where you are headed. You must have some general idea of a destination; otherwise you don't know which way to turn. Imagine if you got into your car and were stopped at a light. Which way would you go if you had no idea where you wanted to go, left, straight, right. You could figure this out by taking each turn individually, and that may be ok for you. My personal philosophy is that at this stage of my life I really want to have a clear destination, regardless of whether I know how I'm going to get there. I encourage my clients to dream a big dream and together we can figure out how to make it come true.

5. What do you find yourself most thankful for these days? For the ability to look for the gift in all of the challenges that life sends my way. I know that if I don't get the lesson/message the first time I am destined to keep getting the message over and over.

6. What is your mantra? Every body is doing their very best.

yoga for children

This was one of the projects that I've had going on. I was contacted by a representative of Expert Village to do some video segments for Yoga for Children. I had my very lovely niece Brooke act as my assistant. There are some things I would change for the piece (I didn't provide any of the text) and the meditation part wasn't supposed to be included with the yoga for kids part. It was my understanding it was going to be separated. But other than that, it was fun time spent with my niece and seeing myself in this way is something that I'm definitely not used to. There was more time and work that went into this than what I was expecting. Guess that yoga video I want to do out in nature will have to be put on hold. Anyway, if you wish...check it out here.

Thank you Brooke for being such a beautiful and patient little yogini. ;-)

student x2

That's me! I got to be a student soaking up loads of useful info. today. Ahhh, and I couldn't be more thrilled. I started the first of an eight week Spanish class at the Carnegie Center today. So much fun to be in that type of environment. So much different then the last time I took Spanish in high school. It wasn't nearly as interesting and it seemed much more challenging at that time. We got to choose our Spanish name, which I also remembered doing in high school. In high school I chose Gabriella and today I chose Ana (ah-nah). Much, much fun. Anyway, when I left Mexico in July, that was one of the things I added to my "want to do this year" list. Learn some Spanish. Hopefully when I go back next summer I'll be able to communicate a bit better.

I also took the very first 4:30 Level 1 class with Teresa at the studio. Again, so very wonderful to take the teacher hat off and be a student. Teresa is a dear sweet soul and her love of yoga pours through in her teaching. I will forever be a student of yoga. There is just so much to discover and devour. It's one on the main reasons that I keep coming back to the mat day in and day out. I can't think of any other subject, philosophy, form of exercise, etc. that has held my attention the way yoga does.

Here's to all ways being a student of some sort. Adios Amigos!

"Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another."

Gilbert K. Chesterton

pretty pretty purple

"I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it." Alice Walker

5 reasons why i love these yogi's

1. Not only do they rock on the mat, but they obviously rock in the kitchen. The food that my yogi's brought to the bash was de-licious. I wish I would have taken a photo of the spread, but I didn't. The cake which I brought says "Celebrating 1 Year of Yoga." Yummy cake from McGee's Bakery.

2. I love that one beautiful yogini phones me earlier in the day, saying "I don't think I've asked this question since high school....but what are you wearing tonight?" Oh good I thought, there could have been a lot worse questions to ask. ;-)

3. They'll try anything at least once. Even flying through the air. AcroYoga anyone?

4. They get as excited about Barefoot Works as I do.

5. They stay until late in the evening, post bash, insisting to help me clean and tidy the studio. Thanks Irene. :-)

I did make a favor to give away for the evening, a celebratory cd. Here is the playlist:

*Somewhere Over the Rainbow -Isreal Kam...

*The Rainbow Connection -Sarah McLachlan

*Buffalo Soldier -Bob Marley

*Banana Pancakes -Jack Johnson

*Always Look on the Brightside -Monty Python

*Have a Nice Day- Bon Jovi (we had to have at least one tune!)

*Relax, Take it Easy -MIKA

*Beautiful Day -U2

*When the Stars Go Blue -The Corrs

*This Little Light of Mine -Gospel Dream

*World Spins Madly On -The Weepies

*Beautiful Flower -India Arie

*A Smile Connects Us -Kermit the Frog

*Three Little Birds- Bob Marley

Thank you to all those in attendance, those that sent balloons (thanks Shelli) and those there in heart and spirit. I can't wait to see what the next year holds for all of us.

My very best to all of you!

a bash

"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable." Christopher Reeve

A bash, a gala, a gathering, a celebration or a party...call it what you will. Join in tonight at 6:30 for a celebration of yoga, dreams, people, and a place. It's been a year since Barefoot Works has been open, but it's been several years of dreaming, planning, and working that brought it into existence. What was once a tiny little seed has blossomed into a beautiful flower. As always, many thanks to you and the universe. :-)

new school supplies

Do you remember how much fun the start of the school was? Not because you were going back to school, but because you got all the fun stuff that goes along with the school year....new paper, fresh crayola crayons and a shiny little plastic box to put them in. Well I'm finding myself embracing that same feeling with the studio. I opened this time last year, when the school session begins. Last year I didn't get to experience that feeling of excitement about new stuff. Well I suppose I did, but I was probably more focused on "I hope people like me and that they come and do yoga." A bit more nervousness combined with excitement.

Now I'm getting to buy and do some fun stuff, preparing the studio for fall. I've replaced the lights in the ceiling (the Christmas lights did last nearly a year), done some reorganizing, ordered more Mexican blankets, got some new music, got another set of "cubes" for people to store their belongings, and I'm getting ready to buy a laptop for the studio and order software specifically for the yoga studio. Hopefully this will eliminate "signing in" as we know it and help me get rid of the paper trail. I've also gotten a couple new plants and have done some rearranging with old ones. I think it's important for students to enter a space that is maintained and well cared for. I love Barefoot Works and I can't help but hope that everyone that comes through the door loves it as I do. OK, so maybe they won't love it quite as much as I do. That's understandable :-)

It's also the time for new students to join and begin coming to the studio. It's very important to me to know people by their name. So I'm working on building a relationship with these new yogi's. Chatting with people before and after class helps build trust, and when you're teaching and leading people through poses that are mentally and physically challenging, trust is important.

I do enjoy this time of year. There is a certain sense of renewal and excitement in the air.

*Many congrats to my sis-in-law Beth and her husband Clint. They welcomed their very first little bundle of joy into this great big world today. Joseph Luke Netherland is his name. Welcome Luke. Lots of love awaits you.

the heart

This is Irene (I know, she's sute)! Irene posts comments on this blog quite often (thank you Irene). Tonight before the yin yoga class she and I were talking about yoga and of course the wonder-fullness of it. She has another yoga friend and when they speak they speak about "leading with the heart". And I just love, love this. And how many times do I say this per class? I haven't counted, but I'm sure it's a lot. Isn't it such a perfect idea....leading with the heart open.

When you take a look at people, notice their posture. Are their shoulders rounding forward, or are they back and down (heart open), is the head dipping down low (chin to chest) or is the head held high, chin parallel to the floor, steady gaze straight forward. The heart open and the held held high...that's the posture of a yogi my friend. I jokingly tell my students "Even if you are having a day straight from hell, open your heart and lift your head." It's a lot more difficult to be depressed in this position. And you'll even appear happier.

Leading With My Heart,

Sharon

lesson learned

"Look, I don't want to wax philosophic, but I will say that if you're alive you've got to flap your arms and legs, you've got to jump around a lot, for life is the very opposite of death, and therefore you must at very least think noisy and colorfully, or you're not alive." Mel Brooks"

I got to spend some time with family this weekend in Whitesburg. My three nieces, Whitney, Brooke and Lexie were getting a little bored on Sunday so I decided to take them out on a little adventure...and give a mama (my sister) a much needed break. So we hopped into the box and went down the road to the lake where I learned to swim.

I wondered how much fun they would have since they didn't actually have bathing suits and wouldn't be able to swim. What was I thinking?! I had clearly forgotten what it was like to be a kid and have the ability to find (or create) some fun where ever you might be.

The girls excitedly took their shoes off ran into the water. They waded into the water and it didn't take long until that got boring. So Lexie was the leader in coming back closer to the shore. She proceeded to jump over these small waves with such joy and excitement. I swear, you would have thought it was Christmas morning. So of course Whitney and Brooke heard and saw how much fun she was having so they came and joined in. I looked down the beach a few minutes later and there were kids all down the beach jumping little baby waves. They clearly set a trend.

Well that got old (and tiring) about 10 minutes later. So their next adventure was finding beautiful little shells and rocks in the water. Here Lexie is showing some of her early finds. They searched for the smallest, biggest, most colorful and distinguished rocks in the lake. Each find was a "Oooh, look at this one!" And they would gather round and admire, then heads back down, scouring for the next find.

Every time I'm with these girls I'm reminded of the simple joys of life and it always instills in me the belief that there is really never an excuse to be bored. I mean really.... aren't there always waves to be jumped and beautiful rocks to be discovered? And I think it's funny and interesting to think about just how much there really is to learn from the little ones of the world.

I hope you all had a joyous weekend. :-)