barefoot works fall yoga retreat at prama institute

fall yoga retreat

I'm all set for our weekend in the mountains of NC. The theme for the weekend is "Learning to Balance the Inner & Outer World". The weekend will look like this:

Friday:

~Dinner 7:30 pm
~Discussion on what it means to balance the inner and outer world, yin yoga, intention setting for the weekend 8:30 pm

Saturday:

~Breakfast 8:00 am
~Vinyasa Yoga 10:00 am
~Lunch 12:00 pm
~Free Time 1:00 – 4:00 pm
~Balancing the Inner World- Exploring the chakras, chakra balancing, chakra meditation 4:00 – 6:00 pm
~Dinner 6:30 pm
~Self Care Tips & Techniques 7:30 pm
~Yoga Nidra 8:15 pm

Sunday:
~Salute the Sun 7:00 am
~Breakfast 8:30 am
~Balancing the Outer World- The ecology of Yoga 10:00 am
~Lunch 12:00 pm
~Closing 1:00 pm

The weekend will be sprinkled with all sorts of meditation, inspiring readings, and lots of opportunity to nurture among nature. I'm sure that I'll take plenty of photos to share if you can't be with us!

Classes will be held as scheduled at the studio. You'll find Liz teaching Saturday morning at 9:15 and Teresa Sunday morning at 10:30.

Wishing you could come along for a yoga retreat? Need some time to nurture yourself among fun and free spirited yogi's? Is sun, sand, sea, sweet folks, and loads of great yoga your idea of a good time? Consider coming along to our annual retreat to Maya Tulum.....a big slice of heaven.

sunrise

You can
die for it--
an idea,
or the world. People

have done so,
brilliantly,
letting
their small bodies be bound

to the stake,
creating
an unforgettable
fury of light. But

this morning,
climbing the familiar hills
in the familiar
fabric of dawn, I thought

of China,
and India
and Europe, and I thought
how the sun

blazes
for everyone just
so joyfully
as it rises

under the lashes
of my own eyes, and I thought
I am so many!
What is my name?

What is the name
of the deep breath I would take
over and over
for all of us? Call it

whatever you want, it is
happiness, it is another one
of the ways to enter
fire.

~ Mary Oliver ~

Last night I was speaking to my friend as we were both driving home, in opposite directions. All of a sudden the biggest, brightest sun came into view. I stopped mid sentence and said rather excitedly, "Do you see the sun!?" And of course she did. It was amazing and mesmerizing. And for just a moment I exclaimed how crazy, wonderful, and beautiful it was that it was "there" for all of us to see and. For all of us to enjoy.

That moment reminded me again how connected we all really are. And how when we see the sun, the moon and the stars, we should express thanks and gratitude for getting to be a part of this magnificent world.

seane corn on npr

I was so happy when a yogini emailed me last week and asked if I listened to Seane Corn on NPR the night before. Well I hadn't, but I did a search and found it. If you're interested in listening and learning about yoga (and life)from my yoga crush, click here to check it out. It's well worth the time. I promise.

professional yoga therapy

"Very often, understanding and practice do not go together. One student may be better able to understand, while another may have better skill in practice. In each case, he had to develop uniformity in skill and intelligence and use them harmoniously." ~B.K.S. Iyengar

I spend three full days at the studio soaking up loads of new yoga information, most specifically yoga as a form of therapy. Of course those of us that know and love yoga realize that it's so much more than "exercise". Irene wears a shirt to the studio that says somethings along the lines of, "Yoga is cheaper than going to therapy." Yoga is therapy for your mind, body, and spirit. It's good stuff.

This particular training is geared towards health care professionals. It's at the top of my list of "best trainings" that I've done. Ginger, our teacher was pretty fabulous...a kind and compassionate soul, very smart, and a wonderful yoga teacher.

One of the objectives is to develop a deeper understanding for applying yoga to general and clinical populations. There were lots of pyhsical therapists and nurses. A dentist and a couple people like myself with no health care credentials. My MS in Recreation and Park Adm. didn't quite make the cut! Luckily I had Tracy next to me the whole training and when I didn't get something, she quietly filled me in. And when she didn't understand the fifth chakra being deficient or excessive, I could quietly fill her in. With her physical anatomy knowledge and my energetic body knowledge, we might make the perfect yoga teacher. ;-)

Actually I was a little intimidated going into the training because I wasn't sure if I would feel lost. I realized that I know more about the body than I give myself credit for most of the time. So that was good!

Here's a little rundown of things covered and learned:
*We did case studies for developing a yoga class for special and general populations.
*Potential contraindications and precautions for patient and student populations.
*Learned biomechanics of yoga asanas (postures) and pranayama (breathing exercises).
*Mudra and chakra therapy (a fave)
*Studies of Bhagavad Gita (another fave)
*Studies of koshas and kleshas, how to identify, apply and how to treat "the whole person" (and one last fave).
*Much more. In fact, too much to write!

Here are a few notes sprinkled about my manual and notebook....open for interpretation as you see fit. :-)

*You can't judge the good from the bad. What seems like bad (at the time) could end up being the best thing that's ever happened to you.
*Have mercy on your body. Love it, don't judge it.
*Adversity is good. Suffering is good. It's these places, these dark times that allow for growth, hopefully making us more wise, which we can then share and teach others.
*It's not the "person" that hurts us. It's their own struggle, the war they are waging within themselves that hurt us.
*We never fully perfect ourselves. Trying to do so is a waste of time and causes unnecessary pain and suffering.
*Yoga invites you to go beyond the five senses

A second yin yoga class begins tonight with none other than the wonderfully talented, Sarah Frank (I feel like I should be opening a curtain and she should walk on through)! It's tonight, 7:30 - 8:30 and will be a great class! Please join in!

Lastly, a happy birthday shout out to my little Lexie!!! That's her with me pictured above, crossing the KY River on the ferry.

Happy, Happy Fall!!

i believe in all that has never yet been spoken

I believe in all that has never yet been spoken.
I want to free what waits within me
so that what no one has dared to wish for

may for once spring clear
without my contriving.

If this is arrogant, God, forgive me,
but this is what I need to say.
May what I do flow from me like a river,
no forcing and no holding back,
the way it is with children.

Then in these swelling and ebbing currents,
these deepening tides moving out, returning,
I will sing you as no one ever has,

streaming through widening channels
into the open sea.

Rainer Maria Rilke

I've read these words over and over today. Before I taught class, shared them at the end of class, before I typed this, and even as I type them I am moved by the sheer power and beauty of it.

May what you choose to do today
flow from you like a river,
no forcing and no holding back,
the way it is with children.

*A reminder that we will not be having yoga class this Saturday or Sunday as we'll be hosting a Professional Yoga Therapy training all weekend long.

barefoot works voted best yoga class in lexington!

This past Saturday my friend and I are leaving Kroger and out of the corner of my eye I see the "Best of Lexington" issue by Ace Weekly sitting on a wire shelf. I had to pick up some almonds for the health fair and we were on our way to see "The Women" at the Movie Tavern.

I flipped through the pages and under the Health and Fitness section, for Best Yoga Class.....was my baby, Barefoot Works!! Rated as #1!!

So of course I was a thrilled yogini. All sorts of hootin' and hollerin'. Big smiles. Happy Day.

Thank you for voting for Barefoot Works. I know that we have the absolute best, most loyal, most appreciative, most happy, most wonderful yogis and yoginis that frequent Barefoot Works. I'm always so happy to see you walk through the door and consider it a honor to share yoga with you.

May your day be filled with joy and abundance!

this weekend

My box has gotten some TLC this morning....oil changed, tires rotated, wipers exchanged, and gassed up, ready to go to Cincinnati today for a yoga workshop and time spent with yoga friends.

I'll make my way back down to Lexington in the morning and have a fun meeting with the teachers of BW. We'll review a first draft of the teacher handbook, flyers for each to promote their classes, record a couple short clips of them teaching for our youtube page, and chat about classes and studio offerings over brunch at Panera.

I've got some things to finish up in preparation for a health fair I'll be at Sunday. So I'll be spending some time at my computer and at kinkos tomorrow also. Dinner with our fave couple friend will be a treat.

Sunday I'll be representing BW at a holistic health fair here in town. Come out and visit. I'll be there from noon to 5:00 and you get loads on good info, mingle with others, eat free Indian food, and learn about yoga, herbology, meditation, acupuncture and more. Hope to see you there!

Maybe you can find some time to sit under a tree and do some coloring like my cute nieces! Have a bright and shiny weekend sweet ones!

fall wear

Could there have been a better day to be gifted with a PINK hat and scarf?!

courage

It takes a lot of courage
to release the familiar
and seemingly secure,
to embrace the new.
But there is no real security
in what is no longer meaningful.
There is more security in the
adventurous and exciting,
for in movement there is life,
and in change
there is power.

Alan Cohen

todays perks

Today's perks of owning your own business...
~You wake when you want, take refreshing walks on beautiful mornings like the one we had today, practice yoga & meditation, and not feel guilty about spending nearly two hours devoted to your mental and physical wellness.
~You get to enjoy a leisure breakfast outside on your porch instead of grabbing a cup of coffee and racing to the office.
~You get to carry your backpack to main & maple, sit by a big window with the sun streaming through, enjoy a mocha jo, and do work that you enjoy.
~You get to watch the season opener (didn't even know this one) of Oprah where she has the Olympic medalists on and do work between commercials of course ;-)

Not all of us desire to own a business but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that we do desire moments of happiness and the occasional perk. I imagine that all of us can achieve both.

Maybe we get up earlier to do a few sun salutations.
Maybe we turn the radio off and enjoy the ride to work....who says New Circle Rd. can't have its moments of tranquility? ;-)
Maybe we enjoy lunch outside, maybe even a park.
Maybe we could compliment our partner, our boss, the clerk at the store. Understanding that it feels good to help others in feeling good.
And when all else fails enjoy a sliver of chocolate or a few mindless minutes surfing the web.
That always perks me up...

How about you? What are some perks you've enjoyed recently?

barefoot works b-day party!

barefoot works celebrates two years of yoga!

Yippy another great year of yoga for BW here in Lexington

!

Over the past year we've taught yoga to more than 3000 Lexingtonians....if there is such a word.

As our classes have grown we've had to make a few changes at the studio, such as expanding the cork floor to the front door. Yes there was a time (like this time last year) that it wasn't like this. I hear people joking (but maybe your not ;-)that soon we'll have to bust a wall down or expand to the parking lot!

We've also been out in the community sharing yoga in places like Bluegrass Regional, St. Joseph Hospital, VA, Jessamine Co.Public Schools, Joesph Beth, Stars Camp participants, and Breast Cancer Survivors groups.

We started and completed Lexington's first 200 hour yoga teacher training registered with Yoga Alliance.

We've grown from a teaching staff of two to five, adding more knowledge, more personaliyy, and more joy to the classes at BW.

We traveled back to my favorite place for our annual yoga retreat, Maya Tulum for a week of sand, sun, fun, and lots of yoga and massage of course.

I personally traveled to San Francisco for a Yoga Journal Conf. to practice with Seane, Shiva and Sharon. I did a training for thai yoga massage and later this month another yoga therapy training.

It's enough to make me feel very happy to live this life and of course to share it all with you.

Thank you for your support.
Thank you for your kindness.
Thank you for choosing Barefoot Works.
I know that there are only 24 hours in any given day and I'm always thankful that you choose to spend a chunk of your time at Barefoot Works.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.
From the very bottom of my heart.

So please come out tonight at 7:00 and celebrate with us at Barefoot Works. It'll be an evening for playful partner yoga, yummy vegetarian treats, and hanging out with other great yogi's! I hope to see you tonight!
Namaste.

commitment

The idea of commitment has been on my mind the last couple days and we briefly chatted about it this morning at the 9:15 vinyasa class. A super sweet yogini asked me about my yoga practice and I explained to her that I typically do an asana practice each day. Some days it's longer, some days it's shorter. It depends on how much time and energy I have. But I have made the commitment to get on my mat, even on those days that I don't want to. Taking the time to practice is a commitment that I've made to myself.

Yesterday morning I started my day with my early morning walk and instead of making my way straight to my yoga room I got sidetracked by a couple of things I (thought I) had to do. After finsihing the tasks I almost blew my yoga practice off. Instead I rationalized spending at least 10-15 minutes on the mat and see what happened. And just as I imagined the 15 minutes quickly faded to 30, then 45.

While I was practicing a variation of half moon pose, I could literally feel myself not commiting to the posture....mentally or physically. I felt like I was on shaky ground. And after just a little bit of reflection I realized it was because I was not commiting to the posture. I wasn't sure of myself, my legs, or my ability to find a sense of balance.

I released back into triangle pose, affirmed my commitment to the pose and went straight into it, made the bind I had so desperately tried for just moments earlier. The second time around I was sure of myself and my ability to find ease in the pose. And I can confidently say that my mind and the commitment made all the difference.

Later upon more reflection (I reflect a lot, just ask Andy ;-)I realized that when I've set a clear intention, followed by a firm commitment, all the things/ideas/goals/jobs presented themselves.

Of course, like all things in life we can't simply state a commitment and expect it to happen without the much needed work that's involved. I doubt that you'd commit to practice handstand without a wall and not do the work involved to practice the pose with success.

So set your intention.
Make the commitment.
Follow it up with the work involved.

What areas of your life to do need to make a much needed commitment?
Is in on the yoga mat, at your job, in your relationships, your habits, etc.?

september playlist

Click here to check out the playlist for the month.
And lyrics of my fave new song for the month:

PREFACE

Life comes swiftly
At you suddenly
Takes you by surprise

Unexpected
Seems so hectic
No time to decide

Leave your conflict, leave your strife
Bring an open mind
Try your luck and roll the dice
Win more than a grand prize

Come and join me
Gather quickly
Brace yourself for this

Life’s a mystery
Still worth living
It’s what you make of it.

It's Di Johnston. Click here to hear the whole tune!

Come out this evening to practice AND listen to great music. I hope to see you here!

the good stuff

I'm happy today.
Life feels full.
And if feels good.

The good stuff is not the yoga clothes that I love, nor the new nail polish I've fallen for. It's not a rug for my house, nor this cup of coffee I'm enjoying. It's not the pose I'm trying to perfect. It's not even dreams of places near and far.

It's the serene and beautiful lake that I got to spend the day at yesterday. Seeing the sun shimmer on the lake was enough to remind me of the spark that exists within us all. I felt lucky to be in the presence of this pretty place.

It was the family that I love. The one that I appreciate more and more every day.
It's the sharing, talking and the laughing that really puts it all into perspective. It's seeing how we're all so very different, yet so very alike at the same time.

It was the drive back through small towns like Booneville, Beatyville, Ravenna, and Irvine. It was seeing the sun shine so brightly through the trees. It was winding around the hills, up and down the valleys.

It was the talks of spirit, meditation, and prayer.

It's just enough to make you realize how lucky you are.
How life is always full of the good stuff when we stop and take notice.

What's the good stuff in your weekend?

classes this weekend

We will be having all of our yoga classes as scheduled this weekend at Barefoot Works. Join Liz tomorrow morning for a level 1/2 vinyasa class and Teresa Sunday for yoga for stress relief.

In Sundays class Teresa will be focusing on heart opening and twisting postures. She'll also lead you through two wonderful breathing exercises (pranayama), bhastrika and kapalbhati. The meditation for the day will be Zazen meditation.

We will also be having our evening classes on Monday. Plenty of opportunity to practice the art of wellness this weekend!

All of us at Barefoot Works wish you a safe and happy weekend.

need a laugh?

focus

I'm here at the studio applying some major focus in getting some things done that I've been procrastinating on. I did want to drop a note and say hi and give you some links worth checking out. Each has a connection to Barefoot Works!

Crystal Heis, lovely yogini at BW - Entertaining blog post, titled "Don't try this at home". I bet you're already intrigued. :-)

Emily, phenomenal yoga teacher at BW - Entertaining blogging on hives, yoga, nursing school and life in general. Adam, her husband takes incredible photos. Check out their month long journey to Alaska and back. Before you know if you'll be ready to head our on your own adventure.

Teresa, world's greatest teacher of pranayama and meditation - You'll enjoy learning more about her and all the great things she's doing on her website.

Retta, cutest hair at BW (yes I just officially assigned you that title) - I just discovered this from a comment she left. So of course I must share. ;-)

Shannon, one of BW's most gifted artist - Have to be careful here cause we have a few talented artist that frequent BW. But I have to give props to Shannon because her work is amazing AND she's from my neck of the woods. And so is Retta.

Debra - BW's best sense of humor and she is such a smarty pants....in a good way of course. Check out her blog if you're in the field of massage therapy or need some biz know how.

Leigh Ann - one of BW's first yoga teachers. Most of you probably don't know Leigh Ann, but she taught here when I very first opened. She's a great friend and she has the cutest new baby boy named Tate. Check him out here. Because really, who doesn't enjoy a little buddha baby?

There that should keep you busy for a few minutes. I'm back to happily working!

sometimes when i sit

It's bliss. Like yummy ice cream and a cherry on top. It's real and it's authentic. I find answers and I find peace.

Other times it goes something like this....

As I go to cross my legs I notice how pretty my nail polish is...
And we're off....

Wow, I really love this nail polish.
I never fancied myself for being a lover of brown polish.
But this is great.
I'm so glad Tracy turned me on to it.
She wore it in Mexico.
Ahhh sweet Mexico.
I do miss you Maya Tulum.
I can't wait to see you again next year.
I wonder what the weather is like there today.
There's still four more days for people to register
and save 10%.
I wonder how many have signed up?
Oh crap, "Thinking"

Inhale.
Exhale.
Repeat.

My palms are resting down on my knees.
Maybe I should have them facing up?
I could use a little wink from the universe
and be open to her guidance.
No, just stay here.
Is there a bug on my face
or is it just my hair?
I really feel the urge to move it.
Don't Sharon it's just your mind playing evil
little tricks on you.
You know that,
you are a yoga teacher after all.
Come on get with the program.
Oh shit, "Thinking" again.

Inhale.
Exhale.
Repeat.

How about you....what goes on when you sit?

barefoot works playlists on itunes!

So I'm pretty excited about this! It appears that people really enjoy the yoga tunes we play at the studio. People are always asking me after class what I was playing during this pose or that pose. As much as I love the music, many times I can't give an answer cause I download straight from itunes.

BUT now I'm gonna start burning a new cd each month....sort of the theme music for the month and I'll give you the link so you can burn it if you love it!

Click here to see the "sample" playlist. I've been playing this cd for a few months but I wanted to get one started before the official kickoff for Septempber. Be sure you have itunes downloaded. Enjoy! And if you want rate it and leave some sweet words.

Meanwhile, I'm still drinking hot tea....but really missing my coffee. :-)

your intuition

Your intuition is your best friend.....says the package of my ginger yogi tea. I'm still trying to shake this summer cold. I came out for Teresa's Yoga for Stress Relief class (as did a bunch of other people) and it was simply perfect. If you haven't been to this class, I would really, really encourage you to do so. It's the perfect way to prepare for the week ahead. But get here early cause' the space may fill up!

Teresa's class included a great pranayama practice, a tonglen mediation AND yoga nidra. And of course there was praciticing of asanas (postures). I was so happy that Teresa led the tonglen meditation as I've been practicing it myself lately. I told her how much I enjoyed it and she let out a little sigh of relief. We briefly chatted about how as teachers it sometimes pushes us out of our comfort zone in leading some of these practices. Ultimately we just go with our intuition and trust that what we teach is what we need to teach, to those people in the class.

Tonglen in a Buddhist practice and as we all know each of us have our own beliefs, religion, and ideaologies that we prescribe to. The great thing about yoga is that you can use the practice to enhance and build upon what you believe. Yoga presents a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with ourselves and the world around us.

May your intuition may be your best friend today and let's all learn to call upon that friend frequently!

the yoga love

I met a yoga friend at Coffee Times yesterday (imagine that ;-) to catch up. We hadn't seen each other in a while so we had plenty to chat about. Our chat quickly turned to yoga as it does often (and quickly) with most of my yoga buds. We spoke of trainings we'd been to, ones we hoped to attend, yoga teacher training, and future projects.
We chatted about how yoga is definitely on an upswing here in Lexington which is so very exciting to see and to be a part of. I explained how I felt about this, stating basically that it's all very fabulous. And like all good yogi's we decide how amazing the world would be if only we all did a down dog a day. Even if half of the people in Lexington practiced yoga, can you imagine the difference?

Could you imagine if every person you walked by on the street knew that something as simple as breathing deeply could calm them down?
And what if all these people knew the importance of not harming themselves (ahimsa) or others?
What if they knew that we're not so different and that really we have much in common, that we are indeed connected?
What if they talked nicely to themselves and those they encounter?
What if they knew they were beautiful and kind and perfect and filled with peace somewhere in their body and they just had to dig a little deeper to discover it?
What if they radiated joy just because it's better this way?
What if they had a healthy body and an open mind?

I can see it. Can you? Please keep spreading the yoga love! Share what you know, how yoga makes you feel better, how it makes you more nice, and all those other reasons you keep rolling your mat out.

a warrior

A warrior accepts that we can never know what will happen to us next.
We can try to control the uncontrollable by looking for security and predictability,
always hoping to be comfortable and safe.
But the truth is that we can never avoid uncertainty.
This not knowing is part of the adventure.
It's also what makes us afraid.

A fave of mine - Pema Chodron

Come out and practice being a warrior this evening in yoga class. I'll be teaching at 5:45 and Emily will be teaching at 7:15.

a reminder

Is this video not beautiful? It serves as a reminder of how very lucky we are to be able to practice something so beautiful and powerful. This video demonstrates what sets yoga apart from contortionists and other types of exercise in general. When practiced with intention, yoga has the ability to transform more that just our body, but our mind and spirit as well.

Enjoy yet another beautiful day!

yoga for a cold

I woke up this morning feeling a little under the weather. So I chose to spoil myself with a restorative yoga sequence. But to be honest, it wasn't too much of a choice as the thought of one sun salutation was exhausting simply to think about. :-) If you find yourself wanting to give yourself some extra love today, or if you're feeling bad find a clear wall, plenty of pillows and cushions, and just rest. Just Be.

Here's the sequence I practiced:

*Legs Up the Wall - Sit close to a wall. While you take your torso back, swing your legs up the wall. If this is too much for your hamstrings, move your bum a little further away from the wall.
*Reclining Twist - I moved into this twist from legs up the wall. Just bend your legs and pull your knees into your chest. Release the legs over to the right and release your arms out to the sides shoulder height, palms facing up.
*Supported Bridge Pose - I used two big meditation cushions that almost ran the length of my body. Sitting down I shimmied around until my shoulders and head released off the support and stretched my arms out open wide.
*Supported Bound Angle - I stacked the two meditation pillows and placed another pillow in front of those so that when I reclined back I was in a very comfortable spot. Bring the soles of your feet together, release the knees out, close your eyes, and just relax.

Those poses felt really good for me as they allowed my chest to open up and helped to get circulation up into my upper torso. I rested in each place for about five minutes. Of course you can stay longer. Five minutes or more will really help to relax your nervous system. And if you don't have all the "proper" yoga supplies just get creative in using things that support you and simply feel good. Cause' really that's what it's all about.

If you want to see other restorative poses then click here for pics and full details.

I'm off to drink some orange juice then get ready to meet my dear sister at Joseph Beth for catching up and a late lunch. If the restorative yoga doesn't do it for me I figure the trash mags, spiritual and self help books will definitely bring a smile to my face. ;-)

Check out the Barefoot Works Yoga Teachers in the pic above. We had a very fun meeting Friday night to catch up, chat about the art of teaching yoga, discuss future offerings at the studio and much more. It's so exciting for me to have such amazing gals be a part of Barefoot Works.

May all of you have a lovely Sunday....

come out today!

Why?

Because it's a gorgeous day to do yoga!! Come celebrate your body and all the amazing things you can do, unwind your mind and let your spirit soar.....Just like those pretty clouds. ;-)

I've been playing with this sequence in my own practice:

Warrior II (using the breath to move in and out)
Exalted Warrior
Triangle
Half Moon
Warrior III
Come to standing, extend leg out, arms up, balance, and smile
Eagle
Warrior II

Come out this evening and I'll joyfully lead you through the whole sequence! I hope to see you here.

kimberly wilson at barefoot works

One of the things I'm planning to do more of is bring well known yogi's and yogini's to Lexington to share their teachings. I'm thrilled to have Kimberly Wilson join us in October for a whole day.

Kimberly Wilson is a teacher, author, activist, entrepreneur and designer with a masters degree in women’s studies. she is the creative director and founder of tranquil space which started in her fourth-floor walk-up apartment in 1999 and now has three locations. Tranquil Space has grown into a socially conscious haven named among the top 25 yoga studios in the world by travel + leisure.

She penned hip tranquil chick with hopes of inspiring fellow femmes to lead a mindfully extravagant life on and off the yoga mat, and is currently working on her next opus due out december 2009 – a fusion of spirituality, entrepreneurship, and creativity.

When she's not bookstore browsing, you'll find her designing the eco-luxe TranquiliT lifestyle line and her one-of-a-kind tranquilista jewelry collection, sipping oodles of tea, or leading retreats globally. her work has been featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio and in Daily Candy, Fit Yoga, Yoga Journal, Lucky, and Shape.

I hope that you'll be supportive in my efforts to bring more yoga to Lexington as our yoga community continues to grow and expand. Here's the scoop for the workshop(s) with Kimberly.

Saturday October 11, 2009

Jivamukti Yoga, 10:00 till Noon
Jivamukti Yoga is a dynamic vinyasa practice emphasizing the goal of yoga as liberation. It includes a focus on scripture, music, non-violence, meditation, and devotion as well as challenging asana. Explore this path of enlightenment (innate happiness) through a practice focused on spirtiual activism. Come away inspired and encouraged to do small things daily that make a difference on and off the yoga mat.


Yin Yoga, 12:30 till 2:30
The perfect slow and deep practice of holding floor poses for three to five minutes at a time. With an emphasis on the connective tissues of the hips, thighs, pelvis, and lower spine, it is the ideal compliment to the more muscular, or “yang,” forms of yoga. Savor drawing your awareness away from your muscles and deeper into your bones to experience a strong sense of calm, opening, and tranquility.

Book Signing and Tea, 2:30 - 3:30
Celebrate all things hip and tranquil with a reading and tea from Kimberly's book, Hip Tranquil Chick. She will be available to sign books, give a reading, offer lifestyle tips, and mingle after her workshops. Tea and cookies will be served. This is free!

Pay only $40 per session, or $70 for the entire day.

Space is limited so if you want to attend, Click here to register now!
You can also shop Kimberly's eco line, TranquiliT at our online store. Click here to check it out.

breaking surface

Let no one keep you from your journey,
no rabbi or priest, no mother
who wants you to dig for treasures
she misplaced, no father
who won't let one life be enough,
no lover who measures their worth
by what you might give up,
no voice that tells you in the night
it can't be done.

Let nothing dissuade you
from seeing what you see
or feeling the winds that make you
want to dance alone
or go where no one
has yet to go.

You are the only explorer.
Your heart, the unreadable compass.
Your soul, the shore of a promise
too great to be ignored.

Mark Nepo

wanna dance?

It's only 10:41 and I'm already having a pretty near perfect day. Maybe it was last night's sunset.....did you see it?? Gosh it was amazing. Amazing enough that I slammed on my brakes, pulled my car off the road a little too quickly and took some pictures. Sorry, haven't downloaded them just yet.

I got up early took a walk. I felt a hint of fall. It was cool enough that I had on long sleeves and didn't get hot once during my walk of 40 minutes. Then I was off to my yoga room for practice. Flipped open a great read, read a passage where my eyes landed, lit a new soy candle (that smells sooo good), did a 45 minute practice followed by 25 minutes of meditation. Had a piece of toast with peanut butter on the back deck. Thought briefly that the garden looks a mess and weeds need to be pulled. Decided that rather than bashing myself over something silly I'd continue with the near perfect day.

Came inside put Loretta Lynn's, Van Lear Rose in the cd player and took to cleaning the house. I love this cd. It always reminds me of the sweetness, the uniqueness and the complexities of my home. It all get's wrapped up into some pretty package, even though it's somewhat distorted. I washed, scrubbed,vacuumed, organized and it was during the process of folding that a song came on and I had to tear myself away from the laundry, run into the foyer and break out into a dance. This dance felt so very good that I had to put another cd on (Pink) and continue on with my dance party. So with heart rate up, a smile on my face, and a lightness in my heart I forge on with a day that's sure to be grand.

Have a beautiful weekend lovelies! Andy is graduating tomorrow with his Master's Degree in Education! It's been a long tough road, but he's all done. Yippy....Myself and the fam are all soooo very proud of this pe teacher. :-)

barefoot works, youtube, & maya tulum

After what feels like a whole days work, I'm figuring out this YouTube stuff! Please be a peach and rate my video, or even better leave a comment on the youtube page. I'm downloading a couple more actual videos and hope to have those online soon.

Also don't forget that through the end of August you save 10% when you register for our retreat to Maya Tulum! All is takes is $300 to reserve your space for this amazng trip to paradise.

blossom

"If I get stuck in who I am now, I will never blossom into who I might yet become. I need to practice the gentle art of letting go."
~Sam Keen

I've been thinking a lot about Barefoot Works and the direction(s) that I want to move in. It's been an interesting process. For four years now I've mostly focused on becoming a good yoga teacher. For four years I've lived, breathed, walked, talked and sang the art of being a better yoga student and a better yoga teacher. Two of those years was prior to opening the studio and the other two has been since the opening of the studio. All that work has paid off. I'm happy & confident with who I am a teacher. Now I'm realizing that I need to give up a little control to grow in other areas.

With the business part of the studio I have many other hats that I wear of a daily basis.

Here is what happens when my phone rings....
Ring, Ring (actually it's Micheal Franti singing)
"May I speak to the person in charge of your advertising?"
This is she.
"Oh wow that rarely happens."

And if someone was calling about the person in charge of accounting, public relations, teaching, or cleaning the studio. I again would answer....this is she.

I'm realizing that in order to grow Barefoot Works and to grow the yoga tribe here in Lexington I need to take a serious look at how I'm spending my time and decide the best place to focus my energy. With a tiny bit of sadness and a bit more excitment I will be giving a couple of my classes away to some of our recent graduates of teacher training. We'll also be adding some new things to the schedule. With the new addition of teachers and classes I need to focus some energy on filling those classes and helping my teachers be the best they can be. I need to spend some time visualizing where I want to take Barefoot Works and spend more time making a plan on how to get there.

This will be an interesting shift for me because I LOVE to teach and share yoga. So of course my plan is to continue teaching and sharing my love of yoga. I cannot imagine not doing this. But to do it in a way that allows me to focus more on the building of Barefoot Works.

The changes scare me a little. But I've never been one to get stuck in a place of fear.
Feel the fear.
Respect the fear.
But do in anyway.
Because don't we all want to blossom to the absolute best we can be?

grateful

These days I feel so happy, so blessed, and so very grateful to be living the life I live. Is my life perfect? Uhhhh, no. And what does that really mean anyway? Since my return from Maya Tulum everything is just jiving really well in an interesting and different sorta way. You see, now more so than every before I believe in the good of myself, the good of others.

I'm in this place with my personal yoga practice that just makes me melt every time I step on my yoga mat. I'm once again amazed at the power of my body, the power of my breath, the power of my mind....the power of this awesome practice called yoga. It feels really freakin' good. :-)

And let me just say that I appreciate you taking the time to fill out the survey for Barefoot Works and I am completely blown away by all the kind things you have to say about the studio, the teachers, and myself. I actually called my yogini gal pal up yesterday to read her a couple of comments. My reaction was, "Shelli, they really get it. AND they love coming to the studio. It feels like a second home to them! Can you believe that?" And she says, "yes, of course." I find myself still working on that whole bit about being able to accept compliments. It's easy for me to make light of it, or just brush it off.

So thank you.
And you.
And you for being so open to my studio and my teachings.
Thank you for being so easy to teach, to share with, and to like.
I'm honored that this "place" feels like a second home to you.
Thank you for sharing and speaking your love of Barefoot Works.
Thank you for allowing me to share what I love.

Yes, I'm feeling quite happy.
Quite blessed.
And very very grateful. :-)

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*