progress

My goodness, the things that can be done with a hammer, box cutter, and friends. Thanks god for good friends like these. Thanks Liz, Tony and Andy! I can always count on Liz and Andy to take care of yanking the old floor out. Poor souls did the same in the current studio! The pinkish carpet (much as I am a pink gal) had to do and today we did just that. I'm feeling pretty darn excited about the clean slate and the new studio for Barefoot Works is well under way. The landlord (half jokingly) said that if we continue at this rate the new floor will be down tomorrow. Tomorrow's task is getting the floor ordered and paint picked out.
Sunday's mala bead class was such fun! Fran is a talented teacher and beading extraordinaire. And it's always fun hanging out with the gals. Here they are working diligently and our finished pieces. They even have tassels. Mine have already been invoked with special superhero powers. Watch out world!

investing in my sanity

That was the thought behind the purchase of my plane ticket to Mexico. This weeklong trip to Mexico in January will be worth....well let's just say a lot. I was at Maya Tulum in July for our annual yoga retreat and I'm set to be back next July. While I am in paradise at those times, I'm also "working" in paradise. Of course I could never complain and I wouldn't dare. But those times to a large degree are spent teaching and preparing to teach. I like to make this retreat extra special, so I put a lot of time and effort in both before and during the retreat (so if you're reading this and thinking of going next year, you totally should). It. Is. Amazing. So while it is a yoga retreat, it's not a complete retreat for me.

When people ask me why I'm going (back) to Mexico (as if I even need a reason....come on it's Mexico) I tell them that I'm making an investment in my sanity. I had looked at my planner and saw that I had something penciled in most every weekend from mid Jan. till mid April. Between yoga teacher training and another project that I'm keeping my fingers crossed about, I will be a busy yoga worker bee. Now that I've signed a lease for a new space,d my list of to do's continue to grow longer and longer. I told someone yesterday that it was a good thing that I had bought my ticket before signing the lease, otherwise I may not have done it. I was set on going to Mexico even if it meant going alone (although I do enjoy traveling and being by myself). I'm so excited to get to spend the week with both my brother and sister. I can't wait to share this place called Tulum that I grow to love more and more with each visit.

I promise my point is not to complain about the busyness (cause that would just be annoying) but to stress the importance of making the choices we need to make to take care of ourselves. As Oprah herself would say "putting ourselves on the list." That plane ticket to Mexico will pay itself off over and over. I know that. My peace of mind is pretty big and important to me. It's probably the most valuable asset as far as my work as a yoga teacher and taking care of Barefoot Works.

And can I just say that your enthusiasm and general rooting and rallying about the new space for Barefoot Works is kinda blowing my mind. Really. All of you are just phenomenal. All your words of kindness and encouragement truly mean more than you can ever know. I'm looking forward to this next step in the journey of Barefoot Works. And all of you are making this possible.

Thank you.
From the bottom of my big ol' heart.
Here's to the dreams, hopes, and wishes we all hold in our hearts.
May we all be lucky, blessed, and brave enough to see them through.

a new home for barefoot works!!

Yes that's right, we'll be moving across the street to this very beautiful space! How perfect for yoga could this be?! It's like it was built just for yoga and Barefoot Works! Of course there is carpet to be torn out and mirrors to be covered, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Details to come soon as I must get ready for class.....

thankful

"Let us rise up and be thankful.
For if we didn't learn a lot today,
At least we learned a little,
And if we didn't learn a little,
At least we didn't get sick,
And if we got sick,
At least we didn't die;
So let us all be thankful."
~Buddha

Today I'm thankful for:
~A great teacher, good lunch, and even better conversation. Thanks Teresa.
~Being able to work from home all snuggled up in a robe. Thanks to Andy's mom for buying the robe for him, which is now mine of course.
~Connecting with old friends and feeling like time has not passed at all. Thanks Jennifer.
~A delicious soy peppermint mocha. Thanks Starbucks barista.
~A husband that does his share, plus my share at home. Thanks Andy. And yes he's been known to run the vacuum on the porch.
~A fabulous massage. Thanks Dawn.
~Dogs that greet meet at the door like they haven't seen me in months and one rather large dog sitting in my lap. Thanks Bella and Remy.
~The excited yogis continuing to sign up for yoga teacher training. Thanks Beth, Leah, and Jean.
~The changes on the horizon. Thank Goddess.
~Skirt magazine (where I located this "knock me on my butt" quote). Thank you Skirt gals.
~The best yoga students that listen to me excitedly explain hero pose in way too much detail. And make (I mean allow) them sit there for several minutes while I go on. And on. And on some more. Thanks Joel, Sarah, Shannon, Beth, Retta, and Gip.

yoga workshop with Nicki & Eddie

I gave myself the gift of yoga this past Saturday in Indianapolis. Nicki and Eddie traveled from Hawaii to share yoga for the weekend and both turned out to be laid back, educated, dedicated, and inspiring yoga teachers. Their way of teaching is quiet interesting too cause they come in with both Iyengar and Ashtanga backgrounds. Together they have come up with their own style of teaching which is Maya Yoga.

Before beginning our first session they expressed that they honor and respect any and all yoga teachers that we've had. But they were asking us for the day to empty our minds and to be open to their teachings. I personally found this quiet refreshing. I think that many times both teachers and students come to class or to workshops with a mind that may be a little less than open. I don't even think this is deliberate. We've just had certain teachers and been taught a certain way. I love the idea of "the beginners mind". Leaving plenty of space in both the head and heart to receive new info and guidance.

We broke downward facing dog down, and then more, and then even more. Did the same for the sun saluations, most specifically plank to up dog. You can't even imagine how tired my arms and shoulders were! We did a lot of lunges and different variations of lunges, broke down hand to big toe pose, and bridge. This is pretty much what the first sessions consisted of. A little flow, few postures, but loads of insight.

We spent the afternoon session focusing on hero pose (and a bunch of variations), "screaming pigeon", bound angle, upavishta konasana, and pigeon. Yep another three hours in which we broke these psotures (and hips) down.

Eddie told us halfway through the second class, probably three minutes into a pose that they "could really work us out." He went on to say that they could leave us in a pool of sweat on our mats, but that wasn't their hopes for the weekend. They were there to give us tools to take back to our practice and life. Tools that will help keep us healthy and vibrant in body, mind, and spirit. And that's exactly what I took away. I'm sure that I'll be looking to study with them again. Looking forward to sharing with each of you.

Have a happy Tuesday!

for you......

the laughing one

I am the laughing one
I am the dancing one
I whisper secrets
As I flow.
~Starhawk

Wow it's been a magical week! Beautiful weather, beautiful election day, and loads of fun teaching my classes this week. To top it all off, my brother and I bought tickets to Mexico for January. We'll travel to the Yucantan, spend three nights at Isla Mujeres and four night in Tulum (of course)! I am completely thrilled about our upcoming trip!

Andy and I wake early in the morning and drive to Indianapolis for the day. I'll be taking two workshops at City Yoga with Nicki and Eddie from Hawaii. The morning workshop is "Wake up and Flow" and the afternoon is "Hip Openers", one of my fave to focus on. So I'm delighted to get away for the day and be a student and spend a nice evening out with Andy.

Yes, many reasons to be the laughing and dancing one this week!

yoga music for november

Michael Franti explains it perfectly....I'm pretty much feeling this way today, lovin' all of it.

You'll hear this song this month as it's on our November playlist. Click here to view the entire cd!

today's the day

Oooh I'm so excited today....butterflies in the belly and hope in the heart! Vote today and wear your "I Voted' sticker in for a FREE yoga class. Choose from Level 2 at 5:45 and Level 1 at 7:15.

Happy Voting!!

play day

I got up early this morning to do the "musts" of the day as far as Barefoot Works. After spending much time at Barefoot Works this weekend, I am officially taking a play day. In about 15 minutes you'll find me at Main & Maple enjoying coffee and writing in my journal. Then I'll enjoy an outdoors lunch with a dear friend and her little one, then off to browse books at Joseph Beth. Andy and I might even top it all off with an movie this evening. Some of my most favorite things all wrapped up into one sunny and beautiful day here in KY. Yeah for working and playing!

Happy Monday to each of you. May you find some time to play today also!

flyin' by

Hi All! It's November! And it's almost 70 degrees here! What a beautiful day here in KY? Andy has been outside doing some touch up painting and I've been watching him via sitting on a tree stump and/or lying down in the grass, basking in the sun. Myself and the dogs have been enjoying the day.

The past few days have been quite busy. Yesterday I was up at 6:00 to get ready for a health fair. The lovely Sarah came along and was kind enough to talk about all the wonderful benefits of yoga to the nice peeps that came to our booth. I had the good fortune of teaching three yoga classes to mostly yoga newbies. I do love this. One sweet gal just couldn't get over how her back had been hurting before the class and "magically" it felt better after our yoga bit. Ahhh, that yoga is good stuff. I also taught a private yoga session AND was treated to two pumpkin cookies from Magees. Yum....and yes I did share with Andy. He does sweet things like paint our house. ;-)

Today was more teaching at the studio and leading a semi-private with a lovely mom and daughter duo. What fun?! It has been a delight getting to know these two and being just a tiny part of helping them to use yoga as a way to have fun and connect. Ahhh, yoga...more good stuff.

Tomorrow I'll get to take Teresa's class AND take the yoga workshop with my friend Anna. I'm so looking forward to this. And it should be another delightfully beautiful day! I can feel the days slipping on by so I'm trying my best to enjoy them fully....day by day. Wishing you much of the same!

the goddess

"The Goddess. The Divine Feminine. The Big G with Breasts. The one who has, religiously speaking, really gotten the shaft. And this planet's only now beginning that nobody puts Mama in the corner. If the Goddess comes knocking on your spirit's door, by all means, invite her in for pie and wine." -Sera Beak, from The Red Book. Love, love, love this book.

And it's quite appropriate for our upcoming workshop this Sunday with Anna Ferguson. Come to do yoga, learn the various messages Goddesses have brought to us, and revel in your own Goddess-ness and those around you.

Click here to register! Space is limited so don't delay!

wisdom

the divine

Your relationship with the divine should dance and sway, should at all times be dynamic and energized and fluid, constantly redefining itself as you progress."

Sera Beak

do any good for the world today?

That was the question I got from Andy a couple days ago. After my immediate shock of the question (those that know Andy know he's not the philosophical one, I happily take that role) I couldn't really come up with an answer.

Sure I had taught some yoga, practiced some yoga, let the person driving into my lane....all of which in one form or another are "do good" deeds. But I was hoping for a little more.

Yesterday I checked in with Jen Lemen's blog as I have for a while. And I found this heart warming post. I knew at the end of the post when I saw the little "donate" button that I had to. Not because I felt guilty when I couldn't give Andy an honest answer, and not because I felt like "I should" or that it would be "the right" thing to do.

I did it because Jen's words really resonated with me. When I looked into the eyes of the beautiful little girl and her family, I saw myself and my own family.
I saw you and you and you.
I saw all of us.
I was once again reminded that we are all one.
We are all connected.
And that's a beautiful thing called Yoga.

**Then I got this email from Jen....
"this is hugely helpful, i can't tell you.
with thirty bucks in kigali, odette's brother can fill the house with really necessary things like rice and oil and raw milk and really good greens."

Have a joy FULL weekend. :-)

YinYasa workshop tomorrow!

Friday night from 6:00 till 8:00
Only $12!!!

Click here to register.

Be there....or be square.
Yes I did go there.

i need a home....

Hi, we're three little, lovely kittens. We were abandoned over the weekend at a sweet gal's farm. Our present caregiver believes us to be about six weeks old assumes we are in good health. Of course we are! Hey, you never tell your age, so why should we? She also believes they we are all female. We were a bit offended by that, but oh well. She is feeding us afterall. We're currently living in a spacious barn and have already caught a mouse! That was yesterdays highlight! The barn is pretty cool, but we'd love a nice cozy home....and we hear that yogi's make the best owners. We hear you even have a pose named after us!

Ellen (current caregiver) says they have already adjusted to people and are affectionate. She's even "happy to get their first set of shots and a worming if someone takes one and gives her a good home."

If you'd love one, leave a comment and I'll connect you with Ellen.....

*Yes it's true that you never know what you'll find on the barefoot works blog. ;-)

life...don't miss it

”Life is a great and wondrous mystery, and the only thing we know that we have for sure is what is right here right now. Don’t miss it.”
Leo Buscaglia

*Only in Whitesburg can you catch a ride on a horse. His name is Silver. :-)

what steps are you inspired to take after this week of reflection?

That's it! The fifth and final day of our self discovery series. One question to tie it all together. What steps are you now inspired to take after discovering what you have? If you are feeling inspired by this week, think of what you need and want to do to live your biggest, fullest, most authentic and joyful life.

Pose: Whatever pose helps you to get quiet and centered. Perhaps corpse pose, seated meditation position, or butterfly?

Challenge: Make note of one area of your life where you want to make change. Write down several action steps that you can take over the course of the next six weeks. Assign a date for completion for each action step. Don't feel like these have to BIG steps. Maybe the are, maybe they aren't. Maybe you need to take what Sark refers to as micromovements. Click that link and read. It's a great tool!

Big happy living to each of you! I hope you found this weeklong series helpful. I had great fun doing it!!

what can i do today to live more joyfully?

Yeah it's day four of the yoga as a means for self discovery series. If you've been following along all week (and many of you have told me you have, thanks!) you've probably found that this work can be pretty tough and intense. I thought it would be nice today to sort of take a step back, and bask in some joy. The key word in this post is "today". I think that too many times we "save" our joy for later occasions. When we lose five more pounds, or get that raise, or take that trip. Hey I'm guilty here. Earlier this week I exclaimed to Andy, "You know where I'll be this time in nine more months? Maya Tulum for our yoga retreat!!" Um, hello saving my joy and completely not being present!

So what can you do today to live more joyfully? For me, I'm sitting here at Coffee Times. I just enjoyed the most delicious cup of coffee and white chocolate and raspberry scone. Yes it was delicious and completely worth the calories. It's a small thing, but after teaching class I was so excited to retreat here. Maybe it's taking some time for yourself. Or watching a movie that makes you happy or listening to a song that makes you feel like a superhero. Going for a walk, baking, reading, writing, crafting, playing, and yoga might help you to feel joyful.

Pose: Happy Baby Pose - Need I say more? When we have a choice (and we always do) why would we choose not to be joyful?

Challenge: You could just close your eyes, let the edges of your mouth curl up and bust out a big ol' grin. I know it sounds a little silly, but it's hard to be grumpy with a big grin plastered on your face! And commit to doing at least one thing that allows you to be joyful in this moment, today.

Do share....what are you going to do?

what would I do if I knew I wouldn’t fail?

Welcome to day three of the self discovery series. What would you do if you knew you wouldn’t fail? This is a pretty popular question. When I typed it into Google I got 722,000 results! This is an interesting question and I try to ask myself this very question on a pretty consistent basis.

I’m a pretty big proponent is choosing to be appreciative of the life we live and trying to find a sense of contentment within our days. All you have to do is go back to yesterdays post about embracing what you have. At the same time, I’m a big proponent in choosing, creating, and living a life that we love.

I think that we can all relate to feeling stuck in some area(s) of our life. Maybe it’s a relationship, a job, where we live, how we spend our time, etc. If you can’t seem to get a handle on it and it’s a consistent theme in your life then maybe it’s time to shake things up a little. If you have a deep yearning to do something else, something different then allow yourself some space to explore that. Mary Oliver might say “you felt the old tug at your ankles” as she does in The Journey. I think that most of us don’t even allow ourselves to dream about what could be, because we’re too caught up in the “what if’s” and “I can’t”.

Pose: Handstand – Just play with it. This is a pose in which most of us are scared. We’re scared of kicking all the way up. We’re scared of not kicking all the way up. Don’t even worry if you don’t kick all the way up. Embrace it for what it is. But don’t let the fear of falling or failing immobilize you. And most importantly can you have fun in the process? And take care of yourself?

Challenge: Ask yourself once more what you would do if you knew you wouldn’t fail. Then spend just five minutes writing about what comes to mind.

instead of wishing for something else, how can I embrace what I have?

I fully admit that this is a tough one for me. I’ve spent a good deal of my 31 years wishing I had something different that what I currently had. First it was the clothes, then the body, then a job, a home, a pose, and well you probably get the picture. What I’ve realized is that I’m tired of feeling “not enough”. It’s not worth my time or energy. I’ve realized that each of us have a limited amount of time on this beautiful earth and we should use this time wisely. Let’s all spend more time playing, laughing, loving, moving and connecting.

Pose: Standing Forward Bend – If there ever was a pose I see people reaching and struggling in, it’s this one. Please, quit pushing yourself to get your fingers to the floor. Let your hands rest on your knees, shins, ankles, or whatever. Just embrace your pose (and your hamstrings) for what it is.

Challenge: Write down ten things you have in your life right now that you can fully appreciate and maybe even embrace.

*Photo from Yoga Journal

how can I live more deliberately?

This is the first inquiry as we think of yoga as a means of self discovery
It’s easy to drift in and out of our days. Before we know it, they all look and feel the same. Are you spending your days operating on autopilot or are you making a clear and conscious effort to come alive and live deliberately? What would it mean for you to live more deliberately? I imagine it would vary for each of us. Allow yourself some time to ponder the question and write down what comes to mind.

Pose: Dancer Pose - It’s impossible to practice this pose and be on autopilot for it requires you to be open, available and truly present. How alive can you feel in your pose? Practice with a wall if you feel this pose is a little out of your league for today.

Challenge: Go public with how you’ll live more deliberately. Tell a friend, tell your mom, or tell us here on the blog. Maybe it's one small step, or maybe it's a big leap that you've been scared to take. Why state it out loud? Because you’re more likely to make changes when others are holding you accountable. And you're putting it out there for the universe to hear. ;-)

Let me know if you discover anything!

yoga as a means for self discovery

This weekend I spent a good amount of time reflecting on some things to clarify what's really important to me. Sitting on the couch with pretty pens, paper and important questions allowed me to ponder what it is about yoga that keeps me coming back to the mat,as a teacher and a student. Spending time hiking in Berea with a dear yoga friend also allowed me to put some things in perspective. Nature is good for the soul. Always.

What I've realized is that yoga has always allowed me to go within and observe what's going on. When I started yoga it was about observing the breath and sensations I was feeling in the postures. As time and my yoga practice have progressed, I've allowed myself to move deeper (literally and figuratively) into my yoga practice. I have no doubt that yoga (for me) is an ongoing process that helps me to align body, mind, and spirit. If my body is feeling all out of whack, there is probably an area of my life that is out of whack. This could range from my relationships, to food, physical environment, exercise, lack of "me" time, etc. Yoga helps me to balance my inner and outer life.

So this brings me to my very first series here on the Barefoot Works blog. Beginning Monday I'll present a question for you to ponder and a yoga pose that can help you to explore the question. Let's see if your yoga pose and inquiry can lead you to discover something intersting about your life. If nothing else, it will be a great chance to fit a little yoga into your day. :-)

Sound fun? I hope that you'll play along this week!

soar baby soar

"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."
- Helen Keller

it's not about the money

That's the title of the book that I plan to purchase soon. I've been eyeing this book and with all the money talk thought it might be nice to "Unlock My Money Type to Achieve Spiritual and Financial Abundance." Brent Kessel is the author of this book and he has written for Yoga Journal. Check out his site here and take the quiz here to learn more about your money type.

It seems that I'm "The Innocent" type which means that "you avoid putting significant attention on money and believe or hope that life will work out for the best. The risk of this is that you can be avoidant or even helpless when it comes to money. But on the positive side, you're often hopeful and adaptable."

Yep, that's me. My quiz also told me that KIVA is a place to invest. Must be on, since I already do this.

Happy sweet dreams of abundance. ;-)

the economy and yoga

Within five minutes today I had two yogi's mention to me their anxiety over our nation's finances. I had already planned to lead a guided "ocean of abundance" meditation in the yin yoga class. This could do us all good considering the dark clouded thought of an economic meltdown. Shall we look at this with a yogic perspective?Let's first look at an attitude of scarcity vs. abundance.

Definitions of scarce include....Insufficient to meet a demand or requirement; short in supply
2. Hard to find; absent or rare

Definitions of abundance include..Occurring in or marked by abundance; plentiful.
2. Abounding with; rich

Just close your eyes, says the words to yourself and notice how each one makes you feel. It's my guess that "scarce" makes you a bit more tense. You might be able to feel yourself contracting and curling up. It conjures up feeling and thoughts that are not pleasant nor comfortable. Abundant on the other hand might make you feel more spacious and light. More happy and free. It conjures of feelings of joy, wellness and airiness.

Given the choice (and luckily you have that) which do you choose? Even now during potential times of trouble and change?

Here's how to take care of your "whole" self when you feel an economic meltdown coming on. Let's imagine that you're paying all your biggest bills and you see that your fave show is interrupted to inform you of the latest financial disaster, which of course throws you over the edge.

1. Stop what you're doing. Close your eyes and simply breathe. Pay attention to what's going on with your body. Allow your face to relax, soften through your shoulders. Focus on softness and space in your body. You might use your inhalation to lift and lengthen through your spine. With the exhalation feel your feet rooted to the earth.
2. Bring your hands together in a prayer position. Open your palms, pressing the outer edge of the hands and pinkie fingers together. Stretch your arms a little forward. It's almost as if you are offering a gift to someone. Visualize yourself standing at the edge of the ocean. This is literally an ocean of abundance. There is enough for you. And for me. There is enough for all of us. You see that this great big ocean can support all of us. Feel the unlimited supply.
*The idea is to engage your mind in some way. If this is "too out there" for you then write in a journal, recite an affirmation, or make a list of all you have in your life.
3. Close your ideas and allow your awareness just to rest in your heart center. Be quiet and still. Breathe. Read something that inspires and lifts you up. Do something that reminds you that you are more than money, more than worries and stress. Find a way to connect to your spirit and your purpose.

The truth is that we can do very little about the stock market, the housing crisis, and our nation's debt. What we can change are our habits and thoughts. Will this work make a difference or not? I don't' know. I do know that I choose to remain positive and optimistic. No I will not dig my head deep into the sand and refuse to believe what "could" happen. I will reevaluate how I'm spending my money. Should I be terribly wrong and things go straight down the drain at least I've had a few more months of happiness and health.

How about you....what are your thoughts? Are you being affected by the financial woes?

an apple a day

Andy and I went to Boyds Orchard yesterday to pick some apples. Visiting the orchard is one of our fun things we do every year around this time. We picked apples, bought cider and pumpkin butter. Later on we pulled the fall decorations from the attic and bought straw for outdoor decorating But we didn't even buy pumpkins....and they were everywhere at the orchard! Very poor planning on our part. We were so excited about the apples. Yesterday we had apples with peanut butter, blended apple slush, and baked apples. Lots of apples at the Tessandori household. That's why I'll be sharing some at the studio today. So come out for class and take away a yummy apple after class.

Sadly the workshop with Kimberly Wilson has been cancelled for this Saturday. Enrollment was too low for me to justify Kimberly making the trek all the way from DC.

study nature

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature.

It will never fail you.

~Frank Lloyd Wright

a proud yogi

Many of you know about my brother's coffee shop in Whitesburg, Summit City. I was ecstatic for he and his wife Amelia when they made the front page of the Herald Leader. This morning I learned that they've one upped themselves by landing in an article in The New York Times. The article is about hiking the Pine Mountain Trail. Here's a sliver of the article...

Whitesburg is a good place to meet people who have an unbreakable relationship with this landscape.

“The mountains are so close on, they’re almost hugging you,” said Joel Beverly, 34, who co-owns Summit City Lounge, a cafe, bourbon-tasting-bar and Americana music spot downtown. “When I go to areas that aren’t so crammed in, I almost feel lost.”

The next day, I took a “Goodbye, Whitesburg” hike with Mr. Beverly’s wife and co-owner of Summit City, Amelia Kirby, 30. She’s also a documentary and radio producer based at Appalshop, an arts and culture organization that operates out of a rambling barnlike building in Whitesburg. Appalshop celebrates the land and people of Appalachia without ignoring economic problems, environmental issues and social concerns.

We walked up a road toward a reclaimed former strip mine, accompanied by Ms. Kirby’s dog, Maysie. On a hilltop, a ladybug alighted on a coal lump. When viewed from above, through the fog, the stretch of Pine Mountain that I’d hiked looked like a green archipelago.

Ms. Kirby compared our vista to her view from the plane when descending into the Virgin Islands.

“Joel and I left as young people,” she said, “and didn’t want to stay away. You get back into the mountains, and you have an ‘ahhhh’ feeling — like you’re nestled into it.”

Click here to read the article

My maiden name is Beverly and many times growing up we were referred to as "The Beverly Hillbillies". For a little hillbilly fam, I imagine we're not doing too shabby these day. ;-)

Big Happy Days. I'll be traveling with Andy to Whitesburg tomorrow after teaching. There's some celebrating to do.

yogobama

Some of you noticed me wearing my choice for presidency on my sleeve today....or rather my chest. A group of Cincinnati yogi's have designed these cute and clever shirts and I couldn't resist. Mine is pink, of course. Many of you wanted me to share the link. You can order yours here.

Enjoy the debate tonight. It is exciting regardless of your particular affiliation with either party! I will be donning my pink Obama shirt, sipping some tea, and soaking it all in!

I had such fun teaching class tonight. Many thanks to all of you present! Very wonderful. :-)

wonder woman

"Go in peace, my daughter, and remember that,
in a world of ordnary mortals,
you are a wonder woman."
Hippolyte, Queen of the Amazons

I just picked up the new issue of skirt magazine and I gotta say that I love this (free) publication.

Love the odd shape.
Love the artwork on the cover.
Love the words.
And the rallying of women.
Love how it encourages us to be real.
And embrace our truth.

It's witty and funny.
Reminds us to unleash our inner rebel
and honor our wishes, hopes and dreams.

Yes let's all rally together and be fabulous women of wonder.
Me.
You.
And You.

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!