Tell Us What You Think About Barefoot Works

Barefoot Works has been open for almost two years now! We are simply thrilled that you choose to visit and make us your yoga home! We want to check in with you, our students to learn what your experience has been and get some feedback. Your feedback, whether positive or negative, is such an important part of our journey. It is critical in helping us evolve and grow.

As many of you know, we have completed our first yoga teacher training. We're excited about the possibility of adding new yoga classes. So, please share as much as you can. Please be as specific as you can, so that we may have the greatest benefit of your thoughts.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts, your energy and your kindness with us as we continue to learn and grow.

Namaste,Sharon

Click Here to take survey

yoga at maya tulum

My bags were barely unpacked.

Still a smile on my face.
Still a twinkle in my eye.
My original plan (pre Maya Tulum)was to schedule a retreat to Costa Rica for next summer.
Ha! I knew as our van pulled out of Maya Tulum that I'd be back next summer.
It only took me four days to arrange the retreat for next summer. I've led this retreat at Maya Tulum for two summers now and it keeps getting better. I figure there's no reason to mess a perfect thing up.
A week after being back, Tracy and I talked for two hours about the magic of Maya Tulum.
It does not get any better than this place.

Forture Magazine has ranked Maya Tulum as the #1 barefoot resort. Very fitting for the gal who owns a yoga studio called Barefoot Works.

Spa Magazine says, "Maya Tulum Resort is a seaside Mexican Caribbean retreat center that offers: tranquil times, awe-inspiring scenery, and an opportunity to reconnect with yourself. Prepare to go barefoot, sleep under a thatch roof cabana, and leave fully renewed! Maya Tulum Resort was voted by USA Today, Sports Illustrated, and New York Times as one the top ten places to balance the body and soul. The resort was also recognized by Fortune Magazine as the #1 barefoot resort."

Seane Corn (my yogini crush) says that Maya Tulum is one of her fave places to teach. "The yoga room alone makes the hour and a half shuttle from Cancun worthwhile. It’s round, with a roof that goes straight up to the sky,” she says.

If you want to go along on this transformative trip next summer, please set an intention and start stashing some extra cash in your sock drawer. :-)

You'll practice yoga and pranayama.
You'll explore meditations that will open your heart and your mind.
You'll salute the sun as it rises. And walk on the beach as the sun sets.
You'll enjoy fresh, healthy and delicious foods.
You'll forge new friendships.
You'll frolick in the turquoise water.
You'll go barefoot for a week. And walk on the softest sand.
You'll enjoy massage sessions that will leave you feeling like putty and quite likely, change your life.
You'll see the most beautiful sights and hear the sweetest sounds.
You'll be free. Free from daily stresses. Free to do as you please.
You'll do more yoga. :-)
You'll be in paradise.
Your heart will be happy.

Paradise awaits you next summer..... July 11 - 18, 2009.
And the prices are actually cheaper than this year's trip. Imagine that! An ocean view room for only $1395!
Call today and put down your $300 deposit. That's all it takes! To register call 1-888-515-4580. And of course call me at 859.433.7787 or email barefootworks@hotmail.com with any questions.

come on in

This is my special place.
One of my happiest places.
In fact, I'd go out on a limb and say that Maya Tulum and my yoga room are the two places I enjoy my yoga practice most of all.

My room room is small. Teeny Tiny. And I love that I feel a bit enclosed in it. Like big comforting arms, it wraps me up and engulfs me and my little magic mat. I can almost touch the ceiling when I stretch my arms overhead in starting my sun salutations. The windows are almost as tall as I am and just beyond the window is a big old tree that I can reach out and touch the green leaves. The smallness of the room and the big tree almost make me feel like I'm practicing in a tree house. And I love the thought of that.

My yoga room is the only room in the house that is sparse in decoration and "things" in general. Nothing hanging on the walls. The only piece of furniture is a small battered table that holds items dear to me. Rocks with the words "peace" and "joy", incense, a lotus candle, and seashell. A grasshopper made with a palm leaf on the beach of Tulum by a security guard. The walls are painted a soft shade of green. In fact it's one of the shades at the studio. Unlike other areas, there are few books and papers scattered about. As an open self help junkie, I do have the book "You Can Heal Your Life" and a journal that I record affirmations. To a stranger it might feel less than lived in. But that couldn't be further from the truth.

It's in this room, this space that I set my personal intentions.
I come here when I'm feeling hopeful and when I'm feeling lost.
I come here when I'm feeling joyous and when I'm feeling sadness.
My hopes and dreams and contained within these four walls.

I come here to sweat (as you can see in the photo ;-).
I come here to relax.
I come here to meditate.
I come here to breathe.
I simply come here just to be.

the sun never says

Even
After
All this time
The sun never says to the earth,

"You owe
Me."

Look
What happens
With a love like that,
It lights the
Whole
Sky.

--Hafiz

~I'm tring to figure out how to download a maya tulum video to the blog via youtube. It can't be that hard. ;-)

maya tulum - paradise at the edge of the sea

"There is a candle in your heart, ready to be kindled.
There is a void in your soul, ready to be filled.
You feel it, don't you?"
-Rumi

It's been less than twenty four hours since I've returned from Maya Tulum. I'm not completely sure that my feet are grounded here in Kentucky just yet. That's a work in progress at the moment! My beach walks have returned to cemetery walks and my morning yoga practices were in my yoga room and the studio, not the sandy beach of Tulum. Yet I feel so happy and so very fortunate that for two years in a row I've gotten to experience paradise at the edge of the sea at a cozy little resort called Maya Tulum.

Maya Tulum is so magical in so many different ways. It's easy there. It's simple. You get up, watch the sun rise, enjoy a cup of coffee, teach/practice yoga, have breakfast, enjoy the beach, read, have a spa treatment, eat lunch, teach/practice yoga, take a walk, eat dinner, journal, go to bed. Get up the next morning and repeat. I thought it was pretty miraculous that in the nine days there, I only left the resort once to walk five minutes up the road. That was it. I had no desire to leave again. I met another yoga teacher who was at Maya Tulum for the fourth time and she said she's NEVER left the resort any of the times she has been there. And she was there for two and a half weeks this time. People walk around blissed out at this place.

The people at Maya Tulum make this resort the special place that it is. This is the single best thing about the resort. Yes the beach is heavenly, the food is divine, and the cabanas are so sweet. But they don't hold a candle to the people that work here day in and day out. They know your name, your cabana, your preferred spa treatment, and your drink of choice. Everyone greets you with a smile and kind words. They go the extra mile to take care of you. They make you laugh. They touch your heart with their kind ways.

Nicole and Ileana took care of all of our yoga needs and made sure that our group was well taken care of. America helped us make some of the most important decisions, which spa services to partake in. Lisbeth rallied up more people for the temazcal (mayan sweat lodge) when we feared it might be canceled. Eduardo, Cecelio and Eli saw to it that we were well fed, well hydrated and happy with our food. Like last year Fabian (therapist/shaman healer) amazed me by his ways of knowing my story, just by looking into my eyes. He has taught me about what it means to live the life of yogi without making any effort on his part. His kind and compassionate ways are truly inspiring. And he has new fans in Jeanne and Tracy. Yes our little group kept him busy with holistic massages!

Our group of yoga gals was perfect. A small, but very mighty group. Together we laughed, cried, sweated, mediated, reflected, rallied, visualized, crafted, walked, sun bathed, floated, and flipped. We learned each others strengths and weaknesses. We confirmed intentions and encouraged one another to do better to be better. To live with an open heart and a free mind. To operate from a place of joy and bliss. To focus on abundance and gratitude. To nurture our mind, body and spirit. Yes,it was an amazing week, with amazing people of all sorts.

In short, everyone needs to experience this place called Maya Tulum. I promise you'll walk away with a renewed sense of joy, bliss and peace. This place and these people will light a candle in your heart. This place and these people will fill a void in your soul. I'm sure of it.

earth to sharon

Hola Amigas!

We're back from our heavenly retreat to Maya Tulum. The words are not coming to me just yet, so I'm gonna sit on this just a bit longer. Drink it all in. Savor it. I always say to myself "yoga is abiding in our own true nature which is joy." Never before have the words rang so true to me.

In the meantime enjoy a couple pics and I'll be back soon with words....and a fabulous slideshow highlighting our trip.

I've missed you all and hope to see you this week. :-)

off on a yoga adventure

The flip flops and flowy dresses
The suncreen and sunglasses
The yoga pants and yoga books
The candles and crafty supplies
The sequences, schedule, sutras, and bathing suits...

It's all there neatly packed in my suitcase.

This time tomorrow night I'll be under a blanket of stars outside my cabana listening to the waves wash upon the shore. Pen in hand, journal in lap, smile on my face writing about the lucky gal that gets to spend ten days in a little slice of heavan known as Maya Tulum

I'm off on a yoga adventure and I couldn't be more excited.

*Check back here to get the scoop while we're away in Mexico.

r&r

I had the very good fortune of spending three whole days on a big beautiful boat at Dale Hollow. The weekend was full of fireworks, yummy food (which included homemade ice cream), frolicking in the lake, and enjoying refreshing drinks with friends. Andy and I got to spend good quality time with our best buds, Liz and Tony. We caught up, laughed, danced a bit and sang a lot. Very good stuff.

Since I've been back (which hasn't been long) I'm focusing on the Tulum, Mexico retreat as I'm leaving in two more days! Yesterday was spent shopping for supplies needed for the trip. My friend was with me at Target and as I piled scissors, pretty pens, glue, color pencils, suncreen, flashlight, and more into my cart she says "If your bag gets checked, you're gonna have some explaining to do."

I did treat myself to a massage yesterday. Actually my sweet yoga trainees treated me to some massages. This was the first of four they bought for me as a gift. Then the shopping continued on to Micheals and Kmart.

Mostly, I'm feeling very happy these days. The first teacher training is finished, which I don't think I've completely processed just yet. I feel like this is such a milestone for myself, the studio, and the new teachers of course. I'm hoping the extra two days in Mexico will help me with bringing this to a close and I'll return very ready to gear up for next year. This seems most logical as I already have a few people rearing up, ready to go next time around. So if you are interested in applying for the training, my plan is to begin taking applications in August.

Much of July is being spent treating myself with some fun little trips. Like the boating, a couple extra days in Mexico and a two day trip with Andy to Asheville or Nashville, before he starts the new teaching year back again. I see the importance in taking time to care for oneself, and I fully intend to do that. And I hope that you're doing just the same. :-)

Have a happy Tuesday. Please join me at the studio today or tomorrow for a happy yoga class. Delia Rose a sweet,young and wise little gal from training will be teaching the noon class tomorrow. With a name like that how could she not be all of those?

feel like dancin'

Have a fabulous 4th! I'll be teaching today (5:45 pm) then I'll be off to the lake for some boat fun. Sarah will be making her teaching debut at the studio at 7:15 so come out and join her if you can!

*We will be having class as scheduled this weekend at Barefoot Works*

newest yoga teachers in lexington

The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind. ~Kahlil Gibran

This was the last weekend of our 2008 teacher training. It has been a fabulously wild and transformative journey for all of us. I couldn't be more proud of these yogini's. To witness how far they've come in six months is truly remarkable. I can easily recall our first Saturday together back in January when I told them they were going to teach a sun salutation. I said I didn't care if they got it right or wrong, if it took five seconds or five minutes....it was simply important that they begin to find their voice. And find their voice they did. Not only did they find their voice, they brought their own energy and personalities to their teaching.

They are kind and compassionate teachers.
They are fun and wise teachers.
They are accepting and happy teachers.
They are oh so creative and wonderfully inspiring teachers.

They have taught me much and served as such inspiration over the past six months. We have laughed hysterically together and cried together. We've been frustrated and confused together. We've celebrated the large and small triumphs.
Together we explored the yamas & niyamas, the koshas & kleshas, the bandhas & chakras, the sutras & sankrit and every sun salutation you can imagine.

They've flipped their dogs, stood on heads & hands, opened their hearts, found themselves in a "bind", and in compromising positions. We all fell on our ass a time or two. But they saw it through. And this training my friends, is no easy feat.

I am proud to call them fellow teachers and fellow friends. Much love and joy to each of them as they embark on this new exciting journey. I'll be here to rally you on!

only the strong survive yoga teacher training

the real journey

It may be when we no
longer know what to do,
we have come to our real work,
and that when we no longer know which way to go,
we have begun our real journey."

~Wendell Berry

the good stuff

Tonight driving home from the studio I was listening to an interview on NPR with the author of "My Stroke Of Insight". I was really engaged and could really relate to some of what she said.

The author says that since she had her stroke she can tap into feelings of bliss and joy at any time. She described it to being similar to feel what it's like to stand at the edge of the ocean, to hear the waves, and to feel the breeze. Each one of us can close our eyes and transport us to a place that helps us to feel peaceful and at ease. She says that she can take herself to a blissful place in that very same way, because she's experienced it and lived in that place for several weeks. She can tap into the right hemisphere of her brain at a moments notice. The place where we can be and live without judgement and critique. She lives in a state of euphoria. Can you imagine that?!

She said that in the early days after her stroke her mother stood guard at her door and only allowed people in for a few minutes and if they entered they could only take positive words and healing thoughts. She says that her mother caught on real early that other people fed their energy to her. Whether it was positive or negative. It reminds me to think about the company that I choose to keep. And to give the best that I have and surround myself with those willing to give the same in return.

She went on to say that she chooses not to dwell too long in the left hemisphere of her brain because she doesn't like the way it makes her body feel. When she dwells there too long her body tenses, her shoulders rise up, her jaw clenches, and her breath becomes shallow. These are all things I speak of in yoga class. In our present day society we're taught to "suck it up, "to dig deep" and my personal fave, "no pain no gain".

We expect to be stressed about jobs, bills, relationships, food and traffic. We expect to live with a body that doesn't feel good day in and day out. We expect to worry. We expect to be fearful.

When we notice this happening we can literally say let it go leftie...and move on over to the right. Operating from a place of love and joy. A place that knows all will be well. A place that's full of peace and contentment.

Sending you all good thoughts and wishing you nothing but the sweetest of dreams tonight. :-)

the answer

Always we hope
someone else has the answer.
some other place will be better,
some other time it will all turn out.

This is it.
no one else has the answer.
no other place will be better,
and it has already turned out.

At the center of your being
you have the answer;
you know who you are
and you know what you want.

There is no need
to run outside
for better seeing.

Nor to peer from a window.

Rather abide at the center of your being;
for the more you leave it, the less you learn.

Search your heart
and see
the way to do
is to be.
--Lao Tzu

free yoga day pics

I was "that" girl in the back of the room snapping pics of you. ;-) How could I resist?


And the lovely yogini's at the Hindu Temple tonight for yoga, pranayama and discussion. If you are free this week try to make it over for a session. I imagine you'll be glad you did. I'm hoping to get back over there tomorrow night. Maybe I'll see you there? Click here for the details.

free yoga day

Thanks to everyone for coming out today for our very first FREE Yoga Day. I'm hoping to make this into an annual event at Barefoot Works. The teachers were fabulous. It was a complete thrill for me to witness these new teachers do "their" thing. To work their very own yoga magic. We embarked on this journey six months ago and to see how far they've come completely blows me away. Thank you to the students who support everything that goes on at the studio. Thank you for spreading the yoga word, thank you for encouraging your friends to come along. Thank you for trusting us to help take care of your body....and your spirit. What an honor it is. Always.

I took a two hour "nap" late this evening. It appears that my body was a bit tired! I expect to be up late catching up on some reading of my two faves....books and blogs. :-)

*I left my camera at the studio so I'll post some pic tomorrow*

these days

I've been spending time at the cutest new coffee shop in Nicholasville, Main and Maple. OK, so we don't have much more other than Starbucks, until now! I spent some happy time here recently with a great flavored coffee and the new Yoga Journal.

Leading the gals of teacher training through some great exercises requiring reflection on what's important to them as teachers, modeling after teachers/mentors that they admire, visualizing where they want to teach, who they want to teach and how much they want to get paid, and where they'll be in 6 months up to five years, and much more. Isn't that a toughie....to imagine where we'll be in five more years?! And they created the cutest wish boxes ever. Check out Delia's....

Tomorrow I'm going to Cincinnati with three yogi's from teacher training to the Gaiam Outlet and IKEA. Maybe I'll come back with some goodies for the studio and my yoga room!

Don't forget that the FREE day of yoga classes is this Saturday starting at 9:00. Come out and have some fun with us!

Have a beautiful weekend!

i'd love to know...

What types of questions would you ask your yoga teacher?

Or

If you had never practiced yoga and you looked at the Barefoot Works website and you mozied over to teachers to read the bios.....what types of questions would you appreciate having answered?

I ask this because as some of you know we'll be adding some new yogini's to the teaching staff so I'm updating a few things. I've thought about having a Q&A on the bio page and I'd love to know what you'd like to know about your yoga teachers. :-)

So leave a comment or shoot me an email!

Just an FYI, Tulum pics will be coming as we're retreating to Mexico in about a month...big happy smiley face.

this morning

I left the house a few minutes earlier this morning and I was glad I did. I had my camera with me and pulled off the road a few times to take some pictures. I love the little country road that I drive from my house to Tates Creek. It's little. It twists and turns. Sometimes the road winds around so much that I accidentally turn my signal on thinking I'm turning. There are no painted lines on the road. There are places that you have to stop, pull over and wait to let the oncoming car pass you. As a gal from eastern KY I can appreciate that. I find that in the waiting theres a lesson to learn about patience and slowing slow. I lift my arm and signal a friendly wave to the passing cars.

I ask myself why this is done on back roads and in small towns. Why we give a wave of the hand or a nod of the head (you know what I'm talking about).

When did we get into such a hurry that we can't take two moments to acknowledge another?

When did we get so disconnected?

Then I remind myself that rather than dwelling on the disconnect I can focus on connecting with those that I encounter....Those that I order from at restaurants, those that I teach, those that try to sell me advertising, those that deliver my mail, and yes those that I pass on the road.

I figure that if yoga is really about union, and union is all about connection....I should at the very least attempt to be present with all those I encounter.

Then I see a pretty barn and I notice how green the grass is and how blue the sky is. I hop out of my car and take two moments to capture it. To remember how pretty this morning is.

chair yoga

Speaking of chair yoga, check out the lovely videos Teresa did for Expert Village at the studio...

Chair Yoga for Seniors: Tiger Stretch -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

these days

I've been admiring how pretty Teresa's classes are when she teaches chair yoga. She did a class with the teacher trainees. It was pretty to watch and makes me happy to know that yoga can be practiced by all. All the gals felt so inspired afterwards.

I've been watching a late showing of Sex and the City. This was after working till 9:30 pm and before being back at the studio at 8:00 am the next morning. My friend couldn't believe I was snapping pics in the movie. Doesn't everybody?

I've been hanging out with my little nieces and nephews when I haven't been at the studio and teaching. I have to say that I have a whole new respect for the mama's and the papa's. Andy and I had the kids at our house four night during the past week. They're big work, big joy, big eaters, big heart warmers, and my goodness you can spend $50 so very quickly. Then you see them tuckered out like this: And you know it's completely worth all the time, energy....and money. ;-)

I'm working on a new business plan in a way that allows me to imagine more and stress less. There is a reason I'm not an accountant.

I'm working on the final details of teacher training. I'm a bit sad and a bit excited about the end. It has been much hard work, but as a teacher it's been the most rewarding thing I've done. I'm excited for the gals, excited about a soon to be completion of the first yoga teacher training, and a little saddened that our bi monthly dates will come to a close in a couple more weeks.

I've bought my plane ticket for Mexico and planning all the details for the days we'll be there. I'm doing down two days early as a litte treat for myself.

That's what's going on these days. I hope it's big happiness and joy where ever you are.

jo beth & doing things badly

If you get a chance come see me at Joseph Beth tonight. I'll be there beginnig at 6:00. Bring a gently worn pair of shoes and get entered into drawings for gift certificates from Nine West and Barefoot Works.

Click here to read Sark's eletter for the month. She talks about us doing things badly and being accepting of it! Imagine that....I love the idea. Really, even if we're doing yoga "badly", isn't it better than not doing it at all?

Have a sweet and sunny day!

diving deeper

You've been walking on the ocean's edge
holding up your robe and trying to stay dry
you must dive deeper
1000 times deeper.

-Rumi

break down dog

Yes Remington (better known as Remy) would be the break down dog. It seems that most times when Andy or I travel with him, our cars have a with with breaking down.

Yesterday I got a phone call from Andy at 3:45 and he was stranded on the side of the Bluegrass Parkway outside of Bardstown. He had just finished his last official day of school and he and Remy were going home to Owensboro for the weekend. I had a 4:00 meeting and two yoga classes to teach that evening. So I start dialing friends to help bail him out and yoga teachers to help bail me out. Lucky for me (and Andy) Emily agreed to come teach her official yoga class at the studio. Emily is nearing the end of our training and I already know she's going to make a fabulous teacher. Thank you, thank you Emily. :-)

Yes Emily rescued me.
And I was able to rescue Andy.

So I had to cancel my meeting once the gal showed up. Of course she was understanding. Haven't we all been stranded and some point and time. We all know that it's no fun. At all. I had to wait in line to pay $3.99 for gas. And I think everyone on Richmond Rd. was getting onto New Circle when I was. I sat through three traffic lights. I wondered if they too were trying to rescue their husband and dog. When I started to get frustrated, I just laughed.

I remembered making the long trek from Houston to Lexington with Remy and breaking down three (yes three) times. It was a wild and crazy move home. I rememered Andy picking me at my dorm at EKU 10 years ago for our very first date in this broken down car. He opened the door for me and whisked me away to Applebees. It was romantic. Sigh. I remembered Andy's parents being so scared by the thought of him driving this car to Houston that his dad was sweet enough to give Andy his almost new truck to take to TX. And Joe and his 6'3 self kept the little Corolla and drove it for years. It was once again returned to Andy a couple years ago when we were having problems with his truck. We thought it would last longer than our newer cars.

It appears that this is the end of the little corolla that could. He'll probably be going to the salvage yard. Where the laws of karma say he'll come back as a shiny new red corvette.

dreamer, part II

Tonight I was reminded of how much I love the word, the thought, the idea of being a dreamer. I saw Leslie drive away after class tonight with a bumper sticker that read DREAMER. There was something else to it, but I couldn't read it. And all I really needed was that one little work to be like, "ahhhh".

I realize that some people totally don't relate to the idea of being a dreamer. It's as if it's a bad word, a word for those that simply lie around thinking about the things they'll do, but never following through. For me it's just the opposite. I think that all things begin with a teeny tiny dream. And it takes those with strength, willpower, and perseverance to make their teeny tiny dreams come true.

I realize now that for a few years I tried to push the dreamer in me aside. Most people that know me well know that I get tired and bored easily with things. Especially when I'm doing things that aren't on my terms. This all became clear when I worked my full time job in Texas. During the four years I was there, I was promoted twice. I had three different jobs in the time I was there. But I still found myself restless with what I was doing. Wanting to do more. Wanting to find a way to live more authentically and to share that with others. When I wasn't working I was reading about creating a life you love. I would dream about what I wanted to do, the places I'd travel to, and the experiences I'd have.

Luckily I didn't spend too many of my adult years muddling (if there is such a word) through all of this. Barefoot Works came to be and I have a whole new set of dreams.

I dream about retreats in Mexico and training people to teach yoga.
I dream about leading teacher trainings IN Mexico.

I dream about second locations and offering yoga in Appalachia.
I dream about Barefoot Works IN Appalachia.

I dream about being a yoga teacher and a life coach.
Maybe I could be a yoga life coach?

I dream about 500 hour trainings, workshops with Sark and Seane Corn.

I dream about offering yoga in the public schools and the prisons. Along with women's shelters and the others that would benefit so greatly.

The list goes on and on. Big dreams, baby dreams...we all have em'. And the world is a better place because we do.

I'm curious, what do you dream about?
Don't be shy....yeah I'm talking to you. ;-)

Keep close to Nature's heart...and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.

~ John Muir

perfect happy days

Hey All,

Just a reminder that the studio is closed this Monday for Memorial Day. Roll out your mat at home or in your backyard and bust out a few down dogs on your own. Not sure where to begin when it comes to a home yoga practice? Click here and register for "Creating Your Own Yoga Practice". It will be held Sunday, June 1 from 3:00-5:00.

For the first time in my adult life, the cost of gas prices affected a decision I made today. I was thinking about going to Lousiville for a day long yoga workshop today. However, since I'd driven to Cincinnati this past Monday (for a workshop), I couldn't justify it. Gas is $3.95 a gallon and even I got a little wide eyed when it cost $35 to fill up the box-ster yesterday. And this is a teeny tiny car. Not sure what I'd do if I was driving a big suv. That baby would probably be gone by now.

So instead I opted for a very lovely class at Barefoot Works with the very lovely Teresa. Then Andy and I went to Lowes where I wandered up and down the aisles looking for the most perfect plants. After about 20 minutes Andy asks, "You still haven't picked any out yet?" I had to inform him (again) that the first time around is browsing and the second time around I start to get a little more serious. If you would have told me five years ago that I'd be this into plants I'd have laughed in your face. Now I love it. I'm very thorough in the planting of them and I even send them off with little well wishes... "be well pretty little plant". Yes, I've killed my fair share of pretty little plants. But I'm much better.

We also saw Indiana Jones today and loved it. It's a must see if you enjoy the others.

I plan to be at Teresa's "Yoga For Stress Relief" class tomorrow. And I'm even bringing along a special guest, my sister Rhonda. Yes, after a year and a half of being open she's starting to think that there just may be something good about all this yoga stuff and plans to attend her first yoga class. But she is the busiest gal I know, so I try not to tease her too much.

So things have worked out for the best. I saved gas AND I had a perfectly happy day close to the homestead.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend sweet friends. :-)

oprah goes vegan

Oprah is living in the land of vegans for the next 21 days! And she's blogging about it here! I do love to follow the blogs. ;-)

Oprah recently had the author of Quantum Wellness on her show and her book is based on what she calls The Pillars of Wellness. They are:
1. Meditation
2. Conscious Eating
3. Exercise
4. Visualization
5. Spiritual Practice
6. Self Work
7. Service
8. And Fun Activities!

On conscious eating Kathy Freston says, "The mother of all pillars is conscious eating," she says. "It doesn't only make a difference to our own personal health and well-being, but conscious eating means you stay aware of where your food comes from, how the animals are treated and how the environment is affected by the foods that you eat. You take in the energy of whatever went into creating that food."

On the flip side (like Linda in shoulder stand above ;-) I found this comment on Oprah's blog...

"While I have not read Kathy Freston's book, I was disheartened to listen to her speak about the "energy in food" on Oprah's show today. I will not deny that animals can be treated poorly in the meat industry, people are treated worse in the fruit and vegetable industry. Migrant workers are treated with little to no respect anywhere in the Western world. They work for wages that no one could live off of and in conditions that no one should live in. They have no legal rights in the countries that need their labour to get fruits and vegetables to their tables. Would that kind of mistreatment energy also not "transfer" into the healthy fruits and vegetables that Ms. Freston is so concerned about? What does that say about all of our "spiritual enlightenment?"

Some "food" for thought.


You can read more about the book here.

i am i

"Come on! Open your mouth and sound off to the sky!
Shout loud at the top of your voice,
I AM I!
ME! I AM I!
And I may not know why
But I know that I like it.
Three cheers!
I AM I"
Dr. Seuss - Happy Birthday to You!

Yes, I'm 31...
Hip, Hip Hooray!
I imagine the 30's are gonna suit me just fine. ;-)
I was greeted with four phone calls with people happily singing before 8:00 a.m, practiced some yoga in the company of great gals, ate pad thai, AND had the best ice cream birthday cake EVER. Yes, a very happy day.

*Pic from today's workshop in Cincinnati with Doug Swenson.

hope and fear

Interesting thought shared by Pema Chodron....

"In the world of hope and fear, we always have to change the channel, change the temperature, change the music, because something is getting uneasy, something is getting restless, something is beginning to hurt, and we keep looking for alternatives.

Hope and fear come from a feeling that we lack something; they come from a sense of poverty. We can't simply relax with ourselves. We hold onto hope, and hope robs us of the present moment. We feel that someone else knows what's going on, but that there's something missing in us, and therefore something is lacking in our world."

Given my post(to hope)from just a couple days ago, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this. It does stir me a little, makes me a tad uncomfortable to read so I'll have to sit with it a while and see how I feel.

Andy always gets to be entertained or en-light-ed by my new reads. I say "Oooh, listen to this paragraph, this is huge." He listens. Then he might come back with "Can't you just read something silly, like Bushisms for once."

congrats are in order

My sweet friend Theresa taught her very first class at HER very OWN yoga studio tonight! Hip, Hip Hooray! If you're ever in Philly, look her up and take a yoga class.

One of the greatest things about doing yoga trainings is that you meet the coolest people ever. They become your friends, you chat long distance, encourage one another, and cheer and rally the other on.

So good job on all the hard work Theresa! You have one beautiful space to be oh so proud of. :-)

michael franti

So I have a little yoga crush on Michael Franti. I can't believe that I didn't even know about him until I went to the Yoga Journal Conf. in San Francisco. Click here to see a portion of his performance in San Fran. Getting to see him was pretty amazing. He's energizing, optimistic, free spirited, AND he's a yogi.

"Everyday I set an intention before I practice," says Franti, "so I'm clearer in my focus of what I want to be doing and contributing to the world right now, and I really want to be the best communicator of peace and social justice and environmental justice that I can be. My yoga practice is part of me becoming that communicator."

Since discovering Michael, I bought his documentary "I Know I'm Not Alone" and when my cell phone rings, I get to hear him sing. Love to download new ringers. :-)

*Photo from Yoga Journal

to hope

"Hope is the dream of a soul awake." French Proverb

Today was a good day. I slept in a little late (I wanted loads of sleep this weekend), did a little bit of emailing early, met a friend for a little shopping, went to the studio for a little more work, then took a little scenic drive back home.

After listening to a podcast this afternoon I realized that I was overdue for a "hope list". In fact, I had planned to make a "to do" list for the week. Yes I am a lover of the list. And I do get a sense of accomplishment when placing little check marks by the tasks as I complete them. But I do see a difference between the two....to hope vs. to do.

I imagine that we all need a healthy dose of each to move forward with our plans, dreams and lives.

So off I walked to the coffee shop to do a little more work, but mostly to make a list of hopes. Seeing my hopes written down in a notebook almost full of other thoughts, hopes, quotes, and to do's always delights me. And I got one other delight tonight when I picked up (yet) another notebook in my yoga room to record my practice tonight. I opened the very pretty striped notebook and there it was "May 12, 2005". I had written about the yoga class I taught this very day, three years ago. There was a sense of happiness, a sense of accomplishment, and a sense of comfort. Happiness that I'm still in awe of yoga, proud of the work I do, and finding comfort in the fact that I wouldn't change a single thing.

weekend yoga retreat

Hey Friends!

My days have been full of yoga teacher training, restorative yoga, walks in a cemetery, hiking in the woods, late night cooking, birthday shopping,and coffee drinking. And I even managed to get a little bit of work done. :-0

I've planned the schedule for the fall weekend retreat in North Carolina at the Prama Institute. Here's the scoop:

Please join us Sept. 26-28 for a yoga retreat in the mountains of North Carolina. Daily yoga sessions will be offered as well as workshops on yoga philosophy and savvy self care. It is our hopes that this weekend will serve as a way to deepen your yoga practice both on and off the yoga mat and provide time nurture your body, mind, and spirit.

The Prama Institute is located on 150 acres of rolling hills and forest lands with hiking trails and panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our yoga sessions and workshops will take place in a wonderful space with bamboo floors and radiant heating and a large outdoor deck with spectacular views. There are many hiking trails and scenic areas for exercise and reflection between sessions. And the hot springs are only a 15 minute drive away!

The retreat will begin Friday evening and end Sunday at 2:00. We will car pool from the studio. Cost is $250 and includes dorm room, vegetarian meals (and tasty treats), and all yoga sessions. Click here to register!!


Yes, only $250 for the whole weekend! I think that's pretty incredible. Yoga, good food, cool people, mountains, and hot springs. Can you ask for more?? There are a couple of private rooms available for $300, just in case the dorm rooms are not your thing. But if you want those, register quickly and you'll have to do so at the studio, not online.

Have a wonderful weekend. And happy mama's day to those of you doing the toughest job around. I hope you find some time to celebrate yourself.

doors

"When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us."
Alexander Graham Bell

Just dropping by to say "hi" and leave you with a pretty powerful quote. I've spoken with a few people today about "doors" being closed, fear of doors being closed, and waiting for the door to slam. I thought these words were fitting. Here's to doors opening wide and each of us being able to walk ever so gracefully through them with heads held high, a smile on our face, and a wink in our eye. ;-)

I'm back to planning lecture notes for this weekend's teacher training. I hope to see you smiling faces in class this evening!