working with the studio theme of "creating"!

The month of May has brought us a new studio theme of creating! Fun, right? Here are some ways to get your going this month. You could also begin your own list to have handy on those days when you have time to do something just for yourself. Here goes:

- Design your own creative yoga practice. The only rule is that it's fun and you love it!

· Update your wardrobe to better reflect who you are.

· Choose one room in your house to update. Move furniture around.

· Get a haircut that you love.

· Make a piece of jewelry.

· Hone your cooking skills. Make a new dessert.

· Host a party.

· Create your very own massage oil.

· Grow something.

· Explore a town nearby.

· Write a short story about your life.

· Write a poem about your favorite tree, beach, mountain view, etc.

· Create your own recipe book using a binder or taking photos of your fave dishes them making a book.

· Trace your family's ancestry.

· Keep a small notebook on hand to record thoughts, ideas, and inspiration.

· Make a list of the books, people, places, and/or websites that stimulate your creativity.

· Ponder your purpose. Write it in five words. Draw it with one image.

· Creatively raise money for your favorite charity.

· Create a dream deck using index cards and images from magazines.

· Make a list of next steps you need to take on your creative journey to your dream.

· Create your own affirmations for your dream.

· Write a love letter from your project/creative dream having it tell you the next step. I'm planning to do this one while I'm in Cali!

Choose at least one thing and rock it. Let me know how it goes!

ayurveda intensive - day 2

I've now completed two full days of my intensive! Day Two we focused on physical exam/structure and pathology (understanding the disease process from an Ayurvedic stance).. Although overall the topics were not quite as personally juicy to me as the philosophy and psychology (big shock) they were phenomenal. Here are a few notes about stuff I **heart**:

Yesterday I mentioned that we are made of the same elements as those in nature (earth, water, fire, air, ether). What you have more of helps you to figure out your dosha (and your dosha is determined at conception crazy enough). I personally have a mostly earth, water, and fire (kapha and pitta).

There are three doshas (vata, pitta, kapha) but infinite ways that these can mix and intermingle. Keeping yourself balanced and healthy in body, mind, and spirit so that you can pursue your dharma and bliss are the two goals of Ayurveda. Fabulous, eh?

The doshas also relate to the seasons and even time of day. Clearly we all see and feel the difference in the seasons. Summer is hot (pitta). Fall is windy and dry(vata). Spring is water (kapha). April showers do bring May flowers after all. Or so we always hope.

Depending on your dosha you want to be extra vigilant at certain times of the year. For example, right now is prime time for us Kaphas to get a "spring cold", as it's the Kapha season.

The cycle of twenty four hours also dances with and through the doshas.

Kapha time is from sunrise till the first third of the day, 6:00 - 10:00 am. It signfies the "creation" of the day when we're getting ready for our day to come.

Pitta time is the mid third of the day, from 10:00 - 2:00. This is the "productivity" time. Its peak is Noon, when the sun is blazing at it's highest. The world is on fire, the sun is doing it's awesome thing.

Vata time is the last third of the sunlight, from 2:00 - 6:00 pm. This is the time we begin to let go of our day, to be reflective, and begin brining it down.

Starting at 6:00 pm we work through this same cycle beginning again with Kapha. This dosha dance, this flow is happening regardless if you know about it. When we can learn the energies of the day (which is essentially us living more in balance with the natural world) we can literally go with the flow. And feel good. :)

**Of course these vary depending on where you live and the times aren't exact. It's a dance, a flow from one dosha to the next.**

On eating a big meal at night and going to bed. Food is energy. At night you are sleeping. Your body is resting, not working. We don't need the energy of the food. So instead of metabolizing we store. I think this makes perfect sense to me, is simple. Yet brilliant and powerful.

Not all cravings are intelligent cravings. When out of balance you crave the things that will keep you out of balance. Sigh. So true.

The goal again is balanced. The middle path. If we veer too far to the left perhaps we become rigid and ruled by perfectionism. if we veer too far to the right we just don't care. We're sleeping our way through life, complacent and dull. The middle road looks like a pretty amazing path to me.

**Photo above is where we are meeting. This is the "Lotus Room" and sits behind the main building for the college. It's set in a beautiful area. Within a ten minute walk to downtown (which is one of the cutest I'm encountered) yet nestled within a beautiful area. On my breaks I've been venturing off and walking among the tallest, most magical pine trees and enjoying blue skies beyond this world.**

ayurveda intensive - day 1

My first day of the Ayurveda intensive was phenomenal! I.Loved.It.

Here are some notes that I took today on philosophy:

Ayurveda is about being one with the environment. You are after all made up of the same elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether). Dis-ease occurs when you move away from the environment. Ayurveda gives us the knowledge in following daily, nightly, and seasonal routines that promote living in harmony with the environment promote health and balance. If you don't do so and find yourself ill Ayurveda provides other ways of dealing and healing.

We awaken purusha (our divine Self) by looking inward, gaining knowledge, and waking up our awareness. Doing so helps us to move a step ahead on the fab path to blissfulness. **Love this**

Three components to know in treating a dis-ease:
1. Cause
2. Symptoms
3. Treatment

Ram our teacher gave a super quick and practical example of this. For example say someone has a cold. The cause is he/she has been eating lotsa ice cream in the middle of the night (cause). They have nasal congestion (symptom). The treatment is stop eating ice cream in the middle of the night (Ram was super funny might I add). If they refuse then at least wash the ice cream down with some hot ginger tea (treatment). Of course this was the light version of it but you can get the gist, right?

"Everything is right. Everything is wrong. Be open to all of it." Ram shared this bit o' wisdom and I loved it. A great reminder to not bo too attached to any certain way.

Ayurveda says the biggie reason for dis-ease is forgetting your true Self. He presented this little method in how that actually happens:
1. We get caught up in life's daily dramas.
2. We then perform all the actions that give us pleasure (which is usually not the best for us).
3. Those actions build more desires so one is never fully satisfied.
4. Frustration/anger/fear/anxiety/stress builds up.
5. Dis-ease is a result. And there is scientific proof of this.

Take a good look at the desires you have. Many make you physically satisfied but lead to mental/emotional suffering.

Yoga is union of body, mind, and soul. There are four ways/practices to achieve this through:
1. Bhakti Yoga is the union of body, mind, and soul through devotion.
2. Karma Yoga is the union of body, mind, and soul through selfless service.
3. Raja Yoga is the union of body, mind, and soul through practice. (This is where asana, the poses come in. But only a lil sliver of the whole yoga pie)
4. Jnana Yoga is the union of body, mind, and soul through knowledge.

We chatted about different philosophies including Sankhya, Nyaya, Mimasa, and Vedanta. They all share the same goal, which is enlightenment. Ram used the popular phrase that (again) I love...many paths, one truth. He used the analogy of us all traveling to Nevada City. Some of us took planes, some cars, some bikes, etc. But it all led to the same place. We all arrived in the way we needed to, the way most comfortable for us. Same thing with philosophy and spirituality.

This made me also think about the different styles of yoga and how sometimes we as teachers and students get so attached to "our" way. Thinking it's the best and blah, blah, blah. Many paths. One truth. A great reminder.

Every action you take has karmic implications (so yes there is more to it than just "bad karma"). Selfish actions are the actions you take that serve the ego. Selfless actions are the actions you take that serve your highest Self and the greater good. In taking actions ask "Is it coming form selfishness or selflessness?"

Let yourself feel bliss*full, but don't get too attached to it.

The four goals of life (this is soooo good!):
1. Kama- pleasure, things that serve the senses and bring pleasure.
2. Artha - prosperity. Once you've taken care of yourself help take care of others. This is the highest form of artha.
3. Dharma - your duty/purpose. We have different duties/dharmas (worker, mom, wife, community, etc.) Always doing more for your job, giving too much time thus taking from the other areas of your life is not healthy dharma. This is a workaholic. (Hmmm. Note to Self.)
4. Moksha - spiritual freedom

The 3 pursuits of life:
1. To live.
2. to earn money.
3. To do virtuous acts.

Ayurveda considers proper management of food, sleep/rest, and sexual energy the three pillars of health.

The part of me that loves numbers and systems loves this about Ayurveda and Yoga. We got lotsa numbers involved!

I was going to includes notes on psychology (what we reviewed during the later part of the day), but that might too much ayurveda blogging for the day!

Enjoy your day dear yoga hearts. I'm so relishing this time in Cali. Woke up at 4:00 PST this morning. Read and reviewed notes for 90 minutes (and drank hot lemon water, yip for new habits!), did yoga/pranayama for about 30 minutes, and showered. Now I've transitioned into my cute lil kitchen, burning a peppermint candle I picked up yesterday, made a cuppa coffee, will do some work and leisurely get ready for my day beginning at 9:00.

PS - I snapped the pic above yesterday morning. I walked to a nearby place to get a green juice for breakfast. I was drooling (I mean looking) at all the yumminess and had to smile when I saw the Ayurveda staple of kichari. Gotta love CA for this reason.

namaste from nevada city!

Good mornin' yoga friends! I arrived safe and sound to California yesterday. Both flights went off with no problem. I had an hour layover in Houston which allowed me just enough time to grab a coffee then board my next flight to Sacramento.

This was actually my first time flying to CA from the east coast side. Last time I was here I flew in from TX. Needless to say after five hours to flying time I was ready to be on the ground. Not sure how many times I reminded myself that my beloved Mexico is only a direct 3 hour flight from Cincy. Well, into Cancun anyway. ;)

I waited for a fellow student at the airport (he and his wife own a yoga studio in Martha's Vineyard, how cool?!), we got his rental car then had an easy 60-75 minute drive to Nevada City.

I checked into my sweet home for the next 5 days at Piety Hill Cottages. It's less than a five minute walk to the CA College of Ayurveda and about 7-10 minutes to downtown (which is just great). I'm charmed by my place here. It's painted the same color as my bedroom at home, has a great sitting area, a lil kitchenette AND includes local organic coffee. As I write now I'm drinking hot water. But I'll be diggin' into the coffee grounds here momentarily.

I got up at 5:00 PST so I'd had plenty of time to get ready for the day. Started with some yoga (a must after the travel yesterday), a shower, some unpacking, and now here I am.

We start at 9:00. I'm feeling so excited! And a little nervous, feelin' like a kid going to school on the first day. ;) All in all, giddy to be here learning, exploring a new quaint Cali town, meeting new people, and celebrating the closing (or soon to be) of a yearlong process!

Wishing you a charming day, no matter where this message finds you.

the voice of praise & encouragement - on and off the yoga mat

Gremlins, also known as the inner critical voice like to make themselves known on occasion. Sometimes they show up at the most random times. On the yoga mat, when I'm preparing for something new, while I'm getting dressed, shopping at the grocery store. When I'm pushing myself in a new direction. They know no shame.

There are times when we are living life and the nasty lil gremlins sneak in and tell you that what you’re doing isn’t good enough. She may ask “what’s the point?”, tell you you’ll never get it right, you aren't brave enough, witty enough, _______enough to pull this off. She thinks you could be doing other, more productive stuff. Not wasting your time on this. Really what would your mama, your friends, your neighbors think of you? "Geez, have I taught you nothing?" she asks.

She may frustrate you till no end. And that's only if you're awake and aware to her lil gremlin games. You may realize what's happening and remind yourself that just because you're thinking it doesn't make it true. Thank you Buddha for that one.

Otherwise you fall into the trap and believe the gremlin thoughts. Hone your awareness skills. Pay attention to the thoughts that are on replay. He or she may say that you’re wasting your time, that you could be using your time more effectively. Simply acknowledge her presence, smile kindly, and know that this is her weird way of trying to protect you, keep calm, and most importantly carry on.

This is the last week of our theme of "cultivate" at the studio. This week for the classes I'm teaching we're working with the intention of cultivating a stronger, more light and free inner voice. Focusing on replacing the critical and discouraging voices with praise and encouragement.

How's that for an idea? Having something as intimately connected to us as our thinking mind support us, help to sustain a good, happy and healthy life. I'll drink to that.

When you on your yoga mat this week and the gremlin comes at you and tells you you're not bending far enough, balancing long enough, or strong enough to hold yourself up...just give her a wink (and the teacher might even like this too) and say something friendly and encouraging. Praise yourself. You deserve it babe. You rock.

PS - I'm leaving this evening to go to Louisville for an early flight to CA. I'll be gone till the 8th but plan to take pinktop and share during Ayurveda and coastal Cali roadtrip. Yip! Anything you wanna hear about while I'm gone?

PPS - The pic is one of my faves of my nieces from years ago. So cute they are.

butterfly gap retreat

Andy and I returned yesterday from two days of amazingness at Butterfly Gap Retreat. This place was sooo much more, sooo much better than what I was expecting. Sure I was expecting it to be nice, to have awesome views, and conducive to rest and relaxation.

BUT from the time that we pulled onto the gravel road and the gate opened my expectations were far surpassed. It truly was perfect. In fact, I can't think of one single thing that was amiss, that was a let down. We only left the property one time and that was on Saturday for a quick trip (6 miles) into town for lunch.

Here are some highlights:
*Our private guesthouse that was tucked back in a hollow with a creek that flowed alongside and a view of the lake. Andy's most fave thing in the world (ok one of them) is a good creek. He loooves them. He had asked if there was a creek and I didn't think our house was near it. We were so happy to learn that our house was right by the creek. Yip! The setting and the house blew our minds.
*Hiking to the top of the mountain and enjoying the 50+ mile views.
*Eating on the screened in porch with the sweetest string of lights and the sound of the creek.
*Walking around the lake and seeing tons o fish. Even an albino catfish we saw over and over that we named Charlie.
*The delish breakfasts made and delivered to our door by mom and daughter.
*Donning my wedding dress, privately renewing our vows (yes we did), exchanging gifts, then having a local photographer take our pictures. This was simply amazing. Heartfelt and fun.
*Recording our weekend in my journal. Me rocking on the screened in porch and Andy swinging close by on the front porch.
*Enjoying the biggest bath tub evah.
*Sleeping with the windows open and hearing the creek. Waking to amazing views and feeling nestled back in the woods, marveling at how green everything is.
*Taking wine, bourbon, and a picnic up to the lookout for dinner and watching the sunset. Already plotting a trip back.
*Chatting with one of the owners and learning more about this special place. I love that it's a Mom, Dad, and the two daughters. This was their dream and their reality. They do everything themselves from mowing the grass to cooking the breakfasts, to building and decorating the guesthouses. Truly inspiring.
*Reading, reading, more reading.
*Drinking coffee and eating a cookie before breakfast. Only on vacation, right? ;)
*Cheers, toasting, and reminiscing the ten years we've shared as hubs and wife.

This is truly a remarkable place and so close to us. From Lexington it's only about 2.5 hours away. This is the second place I can recall that I love so much that I'm plotting my next visit even before I leave(Maya Tulum being the first). Makes it even more special that Andy felt exactly the same way. We've discovered a spot that we both fell madly in love with. Happiness....

PS - Book early if you want to visit. They only have six guesthouses and fill up fast.

PPS - Check out my yogi man below. Too cute.

classes are ON this weekend

I'm off this weekend to celebrate ten years of being married. Crazy, I can hardly believe it. Good stuff, for sure.

Just a lil note to remind you that all classes are on this Easter weekend. So after you eats tons o candy come on out and do some yoga.

Saturday, 9:15
Sunday, 10:30 & 4:00

Wishing all of you a fun and peace filled weekend.

a peek inside my ayurveda life & studies

I am so very happy in this moment! After spending nearly a year totally immersing myself in the study of Ayurveda (the sweet healing sister to yoga)I am almost done. Almost! I just sent the last of my homework and quiz to my teacher. Happiness.

I spent about eight hours working on homework and case studies today, starting at 7:00 this morning (see above photo with a messy messy bed) and just finishing off a few minutes ago. Most recent case studies included a 44 year old gal complaining of mucousy stools for three months (fyi, we talk poo/BIG bathroom a lot in ayurveda)and a poor lil lad of 9 years presenting with a burning sore throat and a fever of 103 degrees.

*There was the prakruti (constitution) and the vrikruti (imbalance)to figure up. *Then the unfolding of the pathology to be charted.
*Then the prognosis and investigation of factors making the case easier to treat and more difficult to treat (these include constitution, climate they live in, age of patient, current season, pathway of imbalance, if multiple doshas are involved, and duration of the complaint).
*Then the state of agni and ama.
* Then the state of prana, tejas, and ojas.
*Then determining the patient's consciousness (talk about a big job ;) and whether it's sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic.
*Which chakras are experiencing excess or deficient flow?
*And ditto for the nadis.
*And what about bija mantras, which do I recommend and why?
*Which pranayama which help?
*Which is a higher priority...tonification or purification?
*Which tastes would be best and which would be worst?
*What's an example of a balancing lunch for the patient?
*Now design an herbal formula (which is so totally foreign to me still, my most challenging part)
*And a massage oil and aromatherapy mist.
*Lastly colors to help heal and meditate on.
*AND types of poses and yoga practice! Insert cheer!!

It is so freakin' crazy, cool, and amazing this world of Ayurveda.

Now the fun part...traveling to Cali in just over a week and doing an intensive, meeting other distance learning students, and real, live, in person teachers. Yay! Then a road trip down the coast with my fancy pants brother. He's flying to meet me in Sacramento. Yay, more happiness.

And even more fun part....taking all this awesome info (that can be uber confusing), choosing the juiciest parts to me, then figuring out the best way to share (in a way that makes sense and is inspiring and accessible) to my peeps (yea that's you). More yips!

Ok, I'll stop now.

Yip.
Yip!

**Totally not focusing on the final test I'll take after Cali. But that will come soon.**

the path that leads to peace

By thinking of objects, a person starts to want them.
And a person who always wants things
cannot have them all.
Then she gets disappointed.
Her disappointment makes her angry.
Her anger confuses her.
She loses her mind and is ruined.
She has no peace.

But a person who stops wanting things
is free from attachment.
She is free from loving things and free from hate.
Such a person is on the path that leads to peace.

-Bhagavad Gita

more on cultivating the four attitudes

I've continued teaching on the four attitudes this week in class. Over the past couple of days I've been pondering my "part 2" to this post. What I've decided is to spend today writing on cultivating these attitudes on the mat. Then another on cultivating them off the mat. Thus a part 3 was born. Or is to be born. :)

It should be noted that I'm not a yoga sutra traditionalists in some ways. I love, love, love the yoga sutras. I love looking and reading different commentary on these lil threads of wisdom. Some I am challenged by. Some I are perplexed by. Some I am inspired by. Some I stand in awe of.

But I'm at a place in my own yoga journey when I can read the words and cipher them into some form that makes not only the most sense to me but in a way that resonates most to me. Some yogis would frown upon this. But hey, that's how I roll. Or flip, or twist. Or fold. It's yoga and all.

As my BF Bon Jovi says in the song I've recently been obsessed with...
"I don't give a damn
how it's supposed to be.
That might work for you,
It don't work for me.
You write your truth
And I'll write mine...

Sorry, had to throw that in there.

In most things I've read pertaining to Sutra 1.33 we are cultivating these four attitudes to deal with four different types of people. And I LOVE that! But I am a yoga teacher and I want to bring these attitudes not only into my practice but also my students practice.

There is so much wisdom in the yoga sutras. One of the most profound concepts I've learned over the years is to live the very best I can in the moment by investigating how I'm using my thoughts, words, and actions.

So my question is how can we cultivate and embody those four qualities (friendliness, compassion, joy, neutrality/I also like acceptance although they are different) in how we speak, think, and act?

We certainly think and act on the yoga mat during practice.

When you experience physical resistance and tension in your body can you meet it with friendliness?

When you find yourself getting frustrated by what your body can't do that day in class or in a pose can you cultivate compassion for yourself?

If you look around and witness yogis whom you believe to be more "advanced" than you rather than feeling inadequate can you celebrate them from your mat, tapping into the joy of the practice?

Can you explore the poses and when confronted by the limits in your body (the tight hammies, the weak shoulders, the lack of balance) can you be accepting of what all of it is, which is only a practice? Can you be accepting of you pose, your body, your life?

Things to ponder on a Friday morning. What do you think about cultivating the four attitudes? And particular attitudes you are sowing this spring?

cultivating friendliness, compassion, joy & indifference - part 1

On Sunday I met the the yoga tree house teachers. We get together once a month to chat teaching and studio happenings. It's pretty awesome to be with these super yogini souls.

I was checking in to see how everyone was feeling with the monthly theme of "cultivate". We shared some of the things we had been working on and pondering in class. When it was Sarah's turn she says, "Sharon I've been working with your fave yoga sutra."

As soon as she said it I knew which one she was referring to....sutra 1.33, you are a friend of mine. I immediately felt like I'd been gifted. I couldn't wait to share in class. Love when that happens.

My fave translation of this sutra is offered to us by Desikachar. He says, "In daily life we see people around who are happier than we are, people who are less happy. Some may be doing praiseworthy things and others causing problems. Whatever may be our usual attitude toward such people and their actions, if we can be pleased with others who are happier than ourselves, compassionate toward those who are unhappy, joyful with those doing those praiseworthy things, and remain undisturbed by the errors of others, our mind will be very tranquil."

Nischala Devi puts it this way: "To preserve openness of heart and calmness of mind, nurture these attitudes:
Kindness to those who are happy.
Compassion for those who are less fortunate.
Honor for those who embody noble qualities.
Equanimity to those whose actions oppose your values."

Swami Satchidananda in his popular translation says we should cultivate friendliness, compassion, delight, and disregard (for the wicked ;)....

In perusing the Internet I found great info on Swamij.com. In Sanskrit this sutra is maitri karuna mudita upekshanam sukha duhka punya apunya vishayanam bhavanatah chitta prasadanam. Yea, a mouth full right?

He goes on to break each of Sanskrit words down and this is what we get:
*maitri = friendliness, pleasantness, lovingness
*karuna = compassion, mercy
*mudita = gladness, goodwill
*upekshanam = acceptance, equanimity, indifference, disregard, neutrality
*sukha = happy, comfortable, joyous
*duhka = pain, misery, suffering, sorrow
*punya = virtuous, meritorious, benevolent
*apunya = non-virtuous, vice, bad, wicked, evil, bad, demerit, non-meritorious,
*vishayanam = regarding those subjects, in relation to those objects
*bhavanatah = by cultivating habits, by constant reflection, developing attitude, cultivating, impressing on oneself
*chitta = mind field, consciousness
*prasadanam = purified, clear, serene, pleasant, pacified, undisturbed, peaceful, calm

Swamij's translation is "In relationships, the mind becomes purified by cultivating feelings of friendliness towards those who are happy, compassion for those who are suffering, goodwill towards those who are virtuous, and indifference or neutrality towards those we perceive as wicked or evil."

I'm feeling like this could be a super long blog post. Rather than go on and on I'll stop here for today and give you time to ponder the translations. Tomorrow when I come back I'll offer uo my own ways in working with this sutra.

Happy pondering! Would love to hear what your thoughts are about this sutra. Love, dislike, perplexed, or challenged by it?

And don't forget that Teresa is leading this month's workshop on Cultivate this Sunday the 17th from 1:00 - 4:00. Trust me, you wont want to miss out! Be there....

**how could I not post a pic of sweet Sarah as she is such a representation for friendliness and joy. thanks for the reminder Sarah!

strange + sweet

On Sunday I went away on a lil trip to Cedars of Peace for two days of quiet + work (as in work with a deadline, as in taxes). I met with the tree house teachers Sunday morning then with laptop, paperwork, food, a change of clothes, and incense in hand the boxster and I set off down the Bluegrass Parkway.

I made a couple calls then silenced my phone, turned my BF Bon Jovi off, rolled my window down and enjoyed the beautiful day, the beautiful drive.

I arrived at my cabin "Wonder" about 75 minutes later. The door was unlocked and a sweet note awaited me, "Sharon, welcome back to Cedars. May you experience the energy of spring in the woods."

I immediately felt at home, at peace.

I unpacked the food I'd brought and placed my laptop and paperwork on the desk. I settled into the chair, not just any chair, but a recliner. While I refuse to have one at home, this was pretty sweet if I had to say so myself. Especially so when the recliner is in front of the window, which looks out into those woods above.

I gave myself a good ten to fifteen minutes of rest then it was time to dive into work mode. Even if the government was shutting down I was sure I'd still be responsible for filing taxes on time. Pffttt, pfffttt, pfffttt.

I quickly discovered that a very important piece of the puzzle was missing. A piece that would make it impossible for me to complete the tax task at hand. Hmmmm, sitting in the cabin called "Wonder", I wondered...what shall I do.

Work away was the answer, then take a break and come back to dilemma at hand. So I sat in the lovely cabin with the live symphony of the woods, set a first goal, and a reward. Reward would be a walk up the road to the lake (or it is a pond?) on this truly amazing spring day. Amazing how quickly you can get things done this way. Note to self....

I'm not sure if you recall how utterly perfect Sunday was. It was sunny, and warm, and spring. Really, really spring. I couldn't imagine any better place I'd rather be. Or could I, I wondered (again)? This was feeling a little odd, strange, and new.

Turns out I could think of an even better place. It was about 75 minutes away, at an obnoxiously loud four way stop. In Nicholasville, KY of all places. A Big Blue House with paint chipping, a gorgeous wrap around porch, a new roof, with weeds and tulips growing in the front yard. Inside was the most gentle and neurotic dog named Bella, a strikingly wild and crazy lickaholic dog named Remy, and a super hubs of nearly ten years (wow!) named Andy.

That's it. I would get all the work done I possibly could without the important piece of the puzzle. I would enjoy all the sweetness of this place, then when I was done, I would pack up, drive back down the BG Parkway, creep into the house, and surprise the gang.

Cedars of Peace provided me with the most ideal of working conditions when doing something so not fun. I spent nine hours there....got all the work done I could, walked to the lake, prepared a delicious lunch, did a walking meditation at the labyrinth, and prayed in the tiny chapel in the woods. I sat outside and enjoyed watching squirrels play and birds swooping through the forest.

Then with a smile on my face I packed back up at the edge of dark, rolled the windows down, and jammed all the way back to the Big Blue House.

womens circle retreat + silent retreat

Hola amigas,

I spent THE whole day at the yoga tree house in the company of greatness. Goodness. Arrived at the studio at 8:30 to see Anne Deans pretty face. I got to enjoy a led practice this morning surrounded by the awesome students that I many times teach. Felt so good to breathe and move alongside them. It's a joy to teach and witness others practice. It had been a while since I have taken a class at the studio. Was reminded of the joy of being part of the group as a student.

As soon as the class was over we started the women's circle retreat. Thirteen strong and beautiful women in a circle sharing, reflecting, laughing, encouraging, aha-ing, and learning alongside one another. Every time I experience "things" like this I'm astonished by the power of being part of a group. Especially so when there is a feeling of trust and camaraderie such as today.

Our leaders Lisa and Diane are such gifted, wise, and funny souls. I so appreciate when facilitators stand with you as a person and share their own stories, struggles, triumphs, and tribulations. Lisa and Diane did just that. It was really special.

We also got to enjoy a fabulous storm complete with thunder and lighting while retreating. By the end of the day the sky had cleared, the birds were chirping, and the sun was shining.

I hurried home to take a walk with Andy and the dogs. Got to soak up just enough sunshine. I'm sitting outside now on our porch enjoying the final bits of sunshine. The warm air is simply heavenly.

In just a few moments I'll go and pack a few things for two days of quiet time at Cedars of Peace. This is the same place I took a silent retreat in the winter for four days. I'll also be doing some good ol' fashion focused work (hello taxes) while retreating in the woods.

The cabin I'm staying in this time is Wonder. I can't wait to be in the quiet woods with no distractions. To walk up to the pond, prepare simple meals, walk the labyrinth, spend time journaling, observe the goodies coming back to life after a long Winter hiatus. Oh and work.....

Hope that you too can find some quiet time and revel in the beauty Spring is bestowing upon us.

I'll see you on Tuesday.

thinkin' about this....

We hurry through the so-called boring things
in order to attend to that which we deem
more important, interesting.
Perhaps the final freedom will be a recognition that
everything in every moment is "essential"
and that nothing at all is "important."
~Helen M. Luke

**photo of my fave mug sent as a gift from nyc**

deets about leeann carey workshops

Mornin' friends! I've been getting a lot of questions about the weekend Leeann will be here in May. I am so very excited that Leeann is making the trek here from CA and that she has so graciously priced her workshops. $20 for a two hour workshop, really?! We wont complain but I do hope that we can fill the yoga yoga treehouse with enthused yogis. Let's do it! So here ya are with more of the scoop.

Leeann will be here teaching May 13 & 14. This workshop for Friday evening is from 6:30 - 8:30 and is "Meet Your Feet". Here is the flyer with lots more information.

Saturday from 11:00 - 12:45 Leeann is teaching a FR*EE workshop. Yes, I know. Too good to be true. BUT you need to email Stacy at stacy@leeanncareyyoga.com to reserve your spot. First come, first served so get to emailin'. :)

Saturday from 2:30 - 6:30 Leeann will be teaching "her thing", the bend to mend restorative. From what I hear from other teachers (including Jules who was her in Jan. teaching anatomy) experiencing this workshop with Leeann is transform the way you practice and/or teach. She's that good. Details here. Again, a super duper affordable workshop.

Usually for a weekend of workshops with a teacher of this caliber you are looking at spending about $200. You get to experience a whole weekend for only $75. AND you don't have to travel. It's right here in our backyard!

So friends, teachers, and yoga lovers please share this on FB, via email, and from your roof-tops. Thanks and have a super day.

lessons from a Cats loss

My husband had a dream of seeing the Cats wins this year's NCAA championship. He was there in San Antonio the last time the CATS brought home the trophy. Andy, his dad, and his sister made that trek from KY to TX thirteen years ago. He still talks of that day with deep love. And during March and April I hear more stories about that trip, that win, that moment in time.

I (half) jokingly tell others that witnessing that win was more exciting to him than our wedding day. Honestly I know that it was one of the single most special experiences of his entire life.

Kentuckians take their basketball very seriously. No doubt about that. I grew up watching both college and NBA ball games (the good ol' days when Bird, Barkley, and Magic were there). Andy's enthusiasm over the course of our 13 plus year relationship has made me even more of a fan. His love and passion for the Cats is pretty remarkable. And while I can't totally get it. I so admire it. And am inspired by it.

Today we wake up to a Cats loss in the final four. It was a tough game to watch. My heart kept going out to Andy, watching this unfold on the other side of the US, three time zones away. The clock ticking away. Each second shattering his dream of seeing the Cats win at the big dance.

To some this might seem silly. Dreams are made for going to the moon, winning the lottery, traveling the world, ending world hunger, and becoming a movie star (or marrying one). But winning the NCAA Championship?

Andy felt so strongly about his dream that he took a gamble. Last Sunday as soon as the Cats beat UNC he was online buying tickets. At 9:30 he was driving to Kinkos to send a fax. Any purchase over $500 required an authorization and when he couldn't do it by computer, away he went driving to get the job done. He had to meet a co-worker at 3:30 in the morning to get to Louisville for an early flight to San Diego. He was so excited he didn't sleep all night.

Let me say that my husband is a frugal, frugal man. Even I was shocked that he was taking this risk. He's not a fan of risks nor spending a big chunk o' money. I usually fit that bill.

For nearly an entire week all he thought about was a Cats win. Nearly every conversation we had and every text we shared was about how it would all go down. He had it all planned out. Neither one of us assumed that the Cats would win. We weren't overly confident. Andy's not that sort of fan. No, he was running on hope. A dream.

Not all dreams come to fruition. Not all risks pay off. This was one of them. Prior to today I thought I would be upset, thinking we spent all that money, all for nothing. Surprisingly I'm not feeling that way at all.

Instead I'm feeling grateful that Andy and I got to share in this excitement together. I'm usually the one in the relationship coming up the crazy plans and Andy usually supports them (like driving 10 hours on a"school night" to see Bon Jovi, sleeping one hour and going to work). I got to be on the receiving end of this one and it was refreshing, and fun.

Today even with a Cats loss I'm reminded of the power of our dreams. And how it's not for us to choose others dreams, but to support those. I'm reminded of the thrill of taking a risk. And that there is great joy and inspiration to be found in the space between making a wish and seeing it come true.. Surely that's worth a few hundred dollars. ;)

**photo is of Andy on his fave day of the year...selection sunday**

beaches + banners + homecomings

Hola Amigas! I'm writing from the coziness of my bed at the big blue house. I've missed writing this week on the blog, having nothing profound to say, I'm resulting to giving you the scoop on my week. Exciting, yes? ;)

BFF and I flew out of Lexington on Sunday to Florida. I was a little sad cause I wouldn't get to watch all of the UK & UNC basketball game. But come on, it's a trip to the beach after a loooonnnnngggg cold KY winter. So happy as a clam I was.

I must've forgotten where we were flying from. Hello Lexington. The game was on everywhere we turned. Walking past the restaurant, all eyes on a TV, quiet as a whisper then I hear cheers. Oh good, I think....that has to be a good sign. We make it to our gate and again, all eyes on the television. Good news is Cats win. Bad news is our flight is delayed.

We do make it to FL and arrive at the condo before midnight. Settle in for bed and wake up early. The first day of three beach days begin. We have a great time walking the beach, eating fave eats, watching movies, hanging on the balcony, shopping at Tarjay and Borders (yay bought 4 books!), and loungin on the beach and reading. Liz took that pic on our last day. A big storm was comin' in and the wind was wild. We however refused to leave the beach. Even choosing to turn our chairs away from the wind and letting the sand pelt our legs. Still we persevered. ;)

I arrived back in Lex on Thursday around noon and went straight to the studio. It was time for focused work. Except I was exhausted from the early 6:00 shuttle ride, the three hour delay, and the flight. I settled for catch up on email and calls, doing a yoga practice, and teaching. Always so happy to be back at the studio. Tired and all. This place and these people make me happy.

In other exciting news Andy bought 3 tickets to the big championship game on Monday. We're keepin' our fingers crossed that the Cats win tomorrow. If so I'll pick Andy up at the Louisville airport Sunday evening at 6:00 and we'll begin the journey to Houston. First making a stop in College Station to pick us the sis-in-law.

Back in September we had a wish party to celebrate BW's anniversary. We had rocks for students to write on. Andy was there and he wrote this on a rock: Yep it says banner. I snapped this pic before the game on Sunday. This rock has been sitting on top of our television since the beginning of the season. Even back in September he had the Cats and banners on his mind. So hoping his wish comes true.

Now I'm cozied up in my bed after a long hot bath complete with handmade lavender salt scrub (thanks Mia!). I've got delish pineapple, a candle lit, robe on, a pile of books around me, the laptop, and materials I've been working on for our theme of "cultivate". Work feels so much more fun this way. Wishing you an awesome weekend.

revitalize body,mind, heart - day 5

Body - Today resign to eat foods that will help nourish you physically, mentally, and emotionally. Before eating, take three deep breaths. Try to eat without distractions such as computer, television, cell phone, work, etc.

Breath - Observe how your breath feels during challenging moments today.

Mind - Take inventory of the major thoughts and theme of your thoughts today. Are they serving you and the greater good?

Heart - Recall a recent experience that touched you in some way. Write five minutes about this sweet experience.

revitalize body,mind, heart - day 4

I'm out of town till Thursday and wanted to leave you with some good, fun, and creative ways of connecting with body, breath, mind, and heart this week. Do one, do them all, but do do something for You!

Body - Notice how you use your body throughout the day at work, while driving, standing, sitting, care for your loved ones, and so on.

Breath - Practice alternate nostril breath at each stop light while driving today.

Mind - Make a list of the values your family operated on growing up. Make a second list of the values that feel true and authentic for who are are today. Eliminate the values that are no longer true for you.

Heart - Sit quietly and think of the goodness in your life. Make a list of 10 things you are grateful for.

revitalize body,mind, mind - day 3

I'm out of town till Thursday and wanted to leave you with some good, fun, and creative ways of connecting with body, breath, mind, and heart this week. Do one, do them all, but do do something for You!

Body -Keep a food journal today. Write down everything that you eat including how you feel physically after eating.

Breath - What are the ways you can flow throughout your day? How can you make transitions today with ease and joy? Think from your bed, from home to work, to any errands, to picking up the kids, to coming home, to your bed are just a few examples. You can take five breaths in between each transition, bring awareness to the transitions, observe any shifts of energy between transitions, be joyful in transitions are just a few examples. Get creative!

Mind - In the morning spend five minutes contemplating how you would like to experience your day unfolding.

Heart - Silently say "namaste" to people throughout the day.

revitalize body,mind, heart - day 2

I'm out of town till Thursday and wanted to leave you with some good, fun, and creative ways of connecting with body, breath, mind, and heart this week. Do one, do them all, but do do something for You!

Body - Spend time celebrating your body. Rub yourself down (or even better have someone else do it), dance, soak in the tub, skip down a street, do yoga (today at 5:45 and 7:15)!

Breath - Take a walking meditation while engaging ujayyi breathing (a light audible breath), breathing only in and out of your nose.

Mind - Create a timeline of all the important life events you've experienced, listing both the struggles and accomplishments. Celebrate your journey.

Heart - Make a list of the following:
*Places I want to go.
*Things I want to experience.
*Things I want to learn.
Don't limit yourself, dream big!

revitalize body, mind, heart - day 1

I'm out of town till Thursday and wanted to leave you with some good, fun, and creative ways of connecting with body, breath, mind, and heart this week. Do one, do them all, but do do something for You!

Body - Write a love letter to your body outlining the qualities you appreciate, admire, and love.

Breath - Upon waking or going to be lie in bed and just pay attention to your breath for several minutes.

Mind - Take a digital sabbatical. Can you eliminate tv, radio, cell phone, computer for a few hours?

Heart - Meditate for five minutes on the soul questions...who am I? What do I want? What's my purpose?

trust

Trust the dreams for hidden in them is the gate to eternity.
Kahlil Gibran

the thing i'm needing most right now

I slept in late this morning. I woke up a couple of times but then I did that awesome thing where you simply roll over and nestle deeper into the warm, cozy covers. Finally I was awake and I simply laid there in bed feeling my breath. Observing how easy it was to breathe. Observing the peace of my breath when my mind hasn't been jostled around by the events of the day.

I lay in my bed and pull the curtains aside and see snow on the ground. March 27 and we have snow. But I am jettiin' off on a quick trip to the beach with BFF later this evening. I'd be lying if I didn't say the snow makes the beach trip feel even more delicious. Laying in the coziness of my bed I thought about my soon to come beach trip.

Of course I thought about what we plan to do which is mostly nothing but take uber long walks on the beach, lay out by the pool, read on the beach, eat and drink deliciousness, and have fun together.

A recent reading by Jennifer Louden led me to this question, what is the one thing I need more of these days? Beautiful, important question. After several weeks of being so in my head I am needing to be in my body. And I am needing movement. After a loooonnnnggg cold Kentucky Winter I am needing to be reunited with my love, the beach.

I need to be where I can roam in a tank top and fip flops. I need to feel sand on my feet. I need to smell the ocean air. And feel the warm breeze on my skin. I need to move my body along the edge of the sea, look out into the vastness of the water and feel appreciation, love, and reverence for nature. And appreciation, love, reverence for my life. I need to connect to the sun, my soul, and BFF too.

E.E Cummings words always come to mind. The words that I adore so very much that I committed to memory last year....

I thank you God for most this amazing day.
For the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a true blue dream of sky.
For everything which in natural,
which is infinite,
which is yes.....

These words to me equal reverance and appreciation. That's what I'm needing most these days. If you too have been feeling a little off I encourage you to ponder the same question...

What is it the one thing I need more of in my life right now? When an answer arises think of how you can spend some time beginning today gifting yourSelf with that which your body, mind, and/or heart desires.

**Photo (of a phots) of me and BFF over the years...same beach we'll visit this week, college graduation, and Dominican Republic.**

PS - I wont be taking my laptop to the beach (also need to "unplug") but my hope is to write and schedule blog posts today. My hope, that is. ;)

a voice through the door

Poem that I read in today's class. Love it....

Sometimes you hear a voice through
the door calling you, as fish out of

water hear the waves, or a hunting
falcon hears the drum's come back.

This turning toward what you deeply
love saves you. Children fill their

shirts with rocks and carry them
around. We're not children anymore.

Read the book of your life which has
been given you. A voice comes to

your soul saying, Lift your foot;
cross over; move into emptiness

of question and answer and question.

~Rumi

when the goin gets tough...

When the goin gets tough....
the tough go to Asheville.

It's been a stress-filled month for me. My poor unsuspecting brother called me about two weeks ago. He was on his way to Hazard for a meeting. I had just finished teaching a class. Three minutes into the conversation I burst into tears. He asks, "Do you want me to drive to Lexington after my meeting and we can just hang out?" Sadly I had stuff to do and that just wouldn't work out. But we did end up going to Asheville for a quick getaway.

A number of things to note on this end:
1. It was so good for me to have that outburst. I had been holding way too much in over the last few months. Trying to keep it all together and deal with the stress via yoga, meditation, reading, praying (and cursing too). Those few minutes of letting it all go was probably more helpful for me than anything else. Crying is cleansing. It's cathartic and needed.

2. Everyone should be so lucky to have a brother like mine. A few days after my outburst I get a text from Joel (my awesome brother). He wanted to take me to Asheville just so we could get away and hang out. We did just that over this past weekend. We ate the most delicious tofu nachos, drank the most delicious French 75, walked the town over and over, chatted about babies, beer, and all things in between. We did something we hadn't done since visiting Austin, TX together...have a few drinks then decide to go out and buy "fancy pants", or a new outfit for the evening.

We scooted down to Urban Outfitters. Selection was actually a bit sad. He bought skinny jeans and a scarf (later gifted to the wife). And me a scarf with a tee in which we cut the sleeves off. We even "wore our sunglasses at night". Yep, that's right. Had one of the best days that I've had in a long time.

Now I'm feeling tons better. And reminding myself that yoga is good for the soul. As is the love of a brother. As is fancy pants, Asheville, and French 75's.

good reads

Hola Amigas! It's been busy around Barefoot Works world. I am missing my beloved blogging time, but I did gather up some good reads for you.

A few students at Barefoot Works have embarked on the blogging path. It has been such a delight for me to peek in and get a glimpse of these gals inspiring world. Check them out here....and support their openness and brave efforts in sharing themselves through the written word!

http://lulabeebliss.blogspot.com/
http://bumbleandbliss.blogspot.com/
http://foodcraftingky.blogspot.com/

More on the yoga/life front...

A great article about the intricacies of triangle (trikonasana) by Jules (anatomy yoga teacher who led our training in Jan)....

Totally fascinating article about Mike Tyson in the NY Times. I recently learned that he's been vegan for two years.

Boost your positive vibes, on Kris Carr's awesome website!

on advanced yoga

Recently I was having a conversation on the phone with another yoga teacher. This was the first time we spoke and we had a delightful conversation. At one point he asks, "Do you have an advanced yoga practice?"

I sorta floundered around with my words... "I'm not the most flexible of yoga teachers.." I continued on...saying what...I'm not exactly sure. Blah, blah, blah, yada, yada, yada. Insert more yoga speak.

And then, then I came back to this....

"My yoga mat is like the most perfect home. My yoga practice helps me to be a better person. So yea, I do have an advanced yoga practice."

I've been thinking more about this lately. Thinking about how often I share this same concept with my students. Reminding them that the advanced aspect of yoga is something I can't quite see. It's not the beauty of the posture, it's not the perfectly timed breath, it's not standing on your head. It's not in chanting or knowing the Sanskrit language, or in the memorization of the yoga sutras.

I'm not saying that it can't be found, or be present within these, cause it most certainly can.

Also thinkin' about how it took me a few moments to get to this point in my phone conversation. Reminding me that while I got there, there was a moment of hesitation on my part. Which leads me to believe I have more work to do in this area. And that's so totally ok.

Mostly I'm thinkin' about how happy, how fortunate I am to really feel this in my bones. To know and feel so deeply that yoga is more than the ways in which you position your body.

To know that even though there are days I can't take my hand to the floor in extended side angle (safely), when I can't twist and fully open into revolved triangle, or hold side crow pose...I am still good. I am still an advanced yogini.

How so? Because yoga has helped me to become a better person. A more kind, peaceful, and patient person. I have a better relationship with myself, my husband, family, friends, and community. I know that how I choose to live today affects the future of many.

When my mind is spinning with stress and worries, I have the ability to bring myself back into the moment. And from the present moment I can greet my experience with mindfulness and compassion. When I act habitually in the same ways that are not serving me and my greater good I can pause, witness what's happening, and choose to do things differently.

Those are a few of the reasons that I go back to the mat, to the practice, again and again.

Does that mean that I don't get frustrated, pissed, and angry? Uhhh, no. But those moments come much less often than they used to. And when they do I can let go of them a lot more quickly. Life and yoga encompass a range of experiences and emotions. That too is part of the practice. Welcoming it all. Then beginning to untangle the web of emotions, stories, and such, one breath at a time.

This to me, is advanced yoga. On a good day I'm an advanced yogini. On a challenging day I'm back at the beginning. I'll take both, cause that means I'm at least on the path.

Cheers to you and your advanced, ever changing yoga practice. Cheers to this glorrrious spring-like day.

foundation stones

Here is my past

What I've been proud of,

And what I've pushed away.

Today I see how each piece

Was needed, not a single

Step wasted on the way.

Like a stone wall,

Every rock resting

On what came before

No stone can be

Suspended in mid-air.

Foundation laid by every

Act and omission,

Each decision, even

Those the mind would

Label "big mistake".

The things I thought

Were sins, these are as

Necessary as successes,

Each one resting on the

Surface of the last….

~Danna Faulds

 

Today I did that thing where I sit down, close my eyes, ask the Universe a question, breathe deep, then open a book of poetry to see what I get (don't tell me I'm the only one that does that?). I got the above poem and it so fitting. So perfect.

Thank you Sarah for gifting me with this beautiful book of poetry. I love it. J

plan for self care

I've been giving thought to keeping myself happy, healthy, and well in mind, body, and heart. This is what I've come up with so far. I'm planning to add to the list as I think of news "things". I'll print the list and put it in my journal and collage around it.

Daily:
sleep eight hours
move my body (yoga, dance, walk)
sit and get quiet
eat veggies
appreciate something I observe in nature
be grateful

Weekly:
self massage
a long bath
journal
play!
plan meals & cook two delish meals during the week

Monthly:
spend half a day retreating in my yoga room
art journaling/collage/create something!

Yearly:
spend a week in Tulum living next the sea
going on a retreat
traveling somewhere with Andy
travel with siblings/fam
review my year, celebrate and bring closure
dream for upcoming year

Hoping you can take the time and ponder how to best care for yourSelf!

a culture of kindness

On Friday I was the lucky recipient of such kindness. Kindness that is even hard for me to describe. Hard for me to explain and express how thank-full I am. But I certainly shall try.

About a month ago one of the above yoga students came to me after a workshop and explained that she and her fellow friends wanted to do something nice for me and the studio. They were volunteering to paint and do some much needed work on the studio bathrooms. An area that had been neglected while I was getting the studio and practice space ready. When she approached me I sat there pretty much speechless. I just couldn't believe someone could be so generous. So thoughtful. So kind. (This is also the same gal that on a weekend yoga retreat years ago had each student present lovingly work on knitting a scarf for me throughout the weekend).

So on Friday after Lisa's noon class they brought in paint, decorative items, tools, and tons o' other things. They proceeded to work, work, work for the next five hours. Lisa was there and she went around dusting the studio. I was there giving love to the plants and cleaning around them.

It felt so amazing to be in the space (affectionately coined the "yoga tree house" by Lisa), doing this cleansing work, with these yoginis. There was upbeat music playing and sun pouring in through the windows.

Sitting here typing this just makes my heart feel so happy, so full with the work that I do and the people I get to share with. I taught the Saturday morning class. At the beginning of the class I told the students of the newly done bathrooms. I proceeded to tell those present how lucky I am, how blessed I feel almost daily for what I get to do. I thanked them for choosing to be there. Thanked them for spending their time, money, and heart with Barefoot Works. I expressed that by choosing to be there they were allowing me to do what I love most, which is share yoga.

I was so reminded of all of this because these four amazing women...Cindy, Dana, Colleen, and Victoria did something so selfless and so kind. They reminded me of what karma yoga (the path of selfless service) really is. A yoga that is about giving from the heart with no agenda and no expectations in return. Giving for the sake of giving.

And this my friends should be a shiny sparkly example for all of us. I will certainly remember this gesture for the rest of my yoga days.

Thank you "Richmond RockStars" for being so thoughtful.
Thank you for being so giving.
Thank you for your support.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you for reminding me of the goodness in the world.
Thank you for reminding me there is power in giving.
Thank you for reminding there is power in receiving.
Thank you for being my teachers.

**The next you see one of these gals in your class give them a big hug (or a big thanks) for prettying up your yoga space.

when i am among the trees

When I Am Among the Trees

When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness,
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."
~ Mary Oliver ~

This is a fave (I know I say that a lot of Mary Oliver poems). I shared today at the end of class and students were asking about it so here you are!

Enjoy this sunny Saturday! May you go easy, be filled with light, and shine. :)

**Photo taken by Martin Husch during Mexico Yoga Teacher Training**

weekend women's retreat!

Most everyone knows how I love retreats. I think they are oh so important. Sometimes we can't get away to the beach or the mountains. We have just the answer. I am so excited about the upcoming opportunity to retreat right in our own yoga treehouse next month. You're comin', right?! It's gonna be great, I'm sure of it. Here are the details:

Welcome to a unique journey of self-discovery, personal growth, and conscious living; a journey of celebrating your life.

As winter progresses into spring, we have the special opportunity to plant the seeds of our most spectacular desires, deepest hopes, and the sweetest dreams of happiness.
Join spiritual counselors and teachers, Diane Banasiak and Lisa Miller, and other extraordinary women for two days of fun, feminine spirit, reflection, and life-changing inspiration.

Through large and small group exercises, music, journaling, joyful play, yoga and meditation, participants will be guided through an exploration back to the deepest essence of themselves in order to realize how to move forward into the richest of possibilities—mapping the journey forward.

The goal of this two day intensive retreat is to feel nurtured and replenished and to begin to answer one of the most important questions a woman can ask of her self:
How can my life be a deeper reflection of who I really am?

Retreat Leaders:Diane Banasiak has her Master’s Degree in Theology and a Post Graduate Certificate in Spirituality. She has been a spiritual companion to her students and is particularly gifted in spiritual direction. Currently, Diane is pursuing certification as a Life Coach and can be found on the web at www.justdiane.com. Diane has been a teacher for over 24 years and has developed a variety of workshops and retreats for teens, college students, and for pilgrims on the journey!

Lisa Miller is a Healer and Spiritual Counselor in private practice in Lexington, KY. She is the founder of the non-profit, Girls Rock! Workshops, and is a Registered Yoga Teacher with a focus in the body’s “subtle anatomy”—the energy system of the chakras and aura. She is currently pursuing certification as a Meditation Instructor from the Chopra Center in California. Passionate about teaching women about intuition, Lisa especially enjoys facilitating the deep healing that a supportive/sacred Women’s Circle provides.

If you want to chat directly to Lisa about the retreat you can at 859) 227-4101/ LisaMMM628@aol.com

Retreat will take place at Barefoot Works Saturday April 9th from 9:00am – 4:00pm
and Sunday April 10th from 1:00pm – 6:00pm. Cost is $250

Ready to gift yourself with an inspiring weekend with other phenom women? Register here!

on cleansing and when it gets annoying

So this month's studio theme is cleansing/purifying, right? One of the reasons I'm diggin' on the themes (and not just cause I got to decide on them) is because they are always there in my mind. So this month, this idea of cleansing is sooo present. And guess what, it's kinda sorta annoying me at times. Yes, it's true. But in a good way. Or a way that's valuable for me. Annoying, yes. Valuable, yes. Good

For example yesterday I had a meeting with my accountant. Uggghh. Not fun. I found myself thinking, "Maybe I'll stop and get a soy latte to take with me." So of course this idea of Cleansing is right there. Hangin' out, making itself known. And vocal on occasion too.

It says, "Pffttt. A soy latte. Really? Cleansing, huh?"

So I quieted down the Ms. Cleanse voice. Just paid attention to what was happening in my body and mind. Not grasping for anything. Not pushing anything away. Just being open to see if I could learn something.

When I peeled back the layers, what I landed on was this.... I wasn't looking forward to my meeting. In fact I was feeling nervous. And anxious. The thought of having a soy latte made me feel "more comfortable." But in reality it was just a way to sweeten up this experience I was not looking forward to.

And I knew that wasn't what I wanted to be doing. If I was having a soy latte I wanted it to be what it usually it. A delicious experience that's about joy and ritual. And work that I enjoy. Not me using a soy latte to cover up how I was truly feeling.

See, damn you rational voice. And month of cleansing and purifying too.

All joking aside (and if you didn't get that, the above was:)..... I know this to be a good theme for me to explore. It's there poking me in the ribs. Provoking me just a little (anytime something is realllly getting to you, that's a sign for inquiring deeper). Challenging my beliefs on food and eating. I share because I don't think I'm the only one who eats for the wrong reasons at times and chooses foods I don't really need. Call me crazy, but.....

I didn't have the latte. I was glad I didn't. Today I wanted a bagel. Upon further investigation, my lil ol' wise heart concluded that having a heavy bagel (and I would have had peanut butter too) was not what I needed to satisfy my fullest Self. It's rainy and my energy was feeling a little low. Why add something heavy to the mix? I could hear my Ayurveda voice in the background. She was not in agreeance with the bagel. I chose an apple instead. Happy that I did.

**So there is a lot of energy that surrounds food. It packs a lotta punch. Please know that I'm never here to judge what you eat, why you eat it, or how often you eat it. As always, I share my experiences with the hope that we can continue to learn from one another.**

PS - If you are interested in going deeper with the cleansing, this month's workshop will be held March 26-27, 12:00 - 4:00. Details on the website (under workshops).

sloppy joes!

I made these last night for dinner. And oh my, they were sooo good. Had to share!

Ingredients
1 package of Morningstar Crumbles (or any other meat substitute for ground beef)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped small
1 (14.5 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon mustard
2 teaspoons of soy sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
black pepper & salt to taste

How to:
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add onion and bell pepper, cover, and cook until soft, about 7 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, sugar, mustard, soy sauce, chili powder, black pepper, and salt to taste. Simmer for about 10 minutes.

2. While you are doing above, heat Crumbles in another skillet for a few minutes.

3. Add crumbles to sauce, simmer for about 8-10 more minutes.

**Recipe adapted from 1000 Vegan Recipes**

on creating space

Yesterday I posted this on facebook...
"It's been one of those days. Time to heat my yoga room and roll out my mat."

It was as if in one moment I felt the culmination of personal, family, and business stresses. They bounced from one to the next for what felt like an eternity, although it was only a few hours.

I observed the workings of my mind and my worries. There were moments when it all felt like so much. Too much. And my mind carried me far far away. Into the past, into the future. Anywhere but the present moment. When I'm in the state of stress mode, I know that's not where I want, nor need to be.

I observed my body. It felt tense. Rigid and tight. I observed by breath. It felt as it a big boulder had planted itself right on top of my heart. It felt heavy. Weighted down. It was hard to breath in. For a few moments I surrendered into each exhalation.

Then I came back to the heart and the wisdom of yoga. Be here now. Thank you Ram Dass. Fact was being here now, in the moment meant that I was safe and sound in the Big Blue House. UK was playing it's final regular game of the season. I was safe. Even if Andy was a mess at times (and very vocal). I was ok in the moment. I just needed to take steps to create space in my body, mind, and heart.

Thankfully I know how to do this. The bathroom wouldn't do for my yoga practice so I take my heater upstairs to begin warming my sweet lil yoga room. 90 minutes later I take myself, my journal, and incense upstairs where I spend another 90 minutes creating space in my body. My practice was a slower, very active practice that focused on heart opening. I let myself fully experience the emotions that surfaced. It was very cathartic.

I sat. I observed my body. It felt good. Spacious. Rested. At ease. I observed my breath. The boulder had been lifted from my heart. I felt thankful that I could breathe easy.

I fed my body soup and salad. And tons of hot tea throughout the day.

I spent almost two hours at my kitchen table working with words and images to create things that uplifted my mood and my heart. Crafting scenes that reminded me of the goodness of life. Because even on the crappiest of days, I have tons to be thank*full for.

How do you create space in your body, mind, heart during challenging moments?

the yoga of food

"Given the meaning of yoga as joining, merging, and integration - eating is yogic, too. We literally become the food we eat, and the food we eat becomes us, hence a daily part of a yoga practice. There is magic in mindfulness. That mindfulness may be a constant, unseen opportunity to awaken more, soak up more, live more, love more.....Many systems recognize the concept of life force. Some call it chi, qui, mana, prana - though all may agree it can be found in food, air, and in the clarity of focus. The mindful focus on the miracle of food may certainly be spiritual nutrition to feed the soul."
~Renee Loux

A BIG thanks to Lauren for passing this along to me.
Love. Love. Love it.

oh the deliciousness

Today was such a drrreamy day. Perfection. It involved a lil work, a lil play, time spent outside, time spent with those I adore. Beauty of all sorts. I started the day with meditation. It was RPM for me. RPM is a term I got from Davidji with the Chopra Center. It translates as...Rise, Pee, Meditate. Just like that. And in that order. Nice, huh?

After meditation I made myself a cuppa hot tea and cozied up in bed to study Ayurveda. Except I spotted the new Rolling Stones mag with Justin Bieber on the cover. What can I say? Justin Bieber totally won out on that one. It felt like a totally decadent thing to be doing. Lounging in robe in bed. Drinking hot tea. And reading about Justin Bieber. On a Wednesday. Good-ness.

I spent some time working at the house then made my way to the studio. I went the "back way", over the hills and through the woods. On my drive I recalled why I've always been drawn to taking pictures. It's all about seeing, really seeing the beauty around me. On my drive this morning I kept my eyes wide open and took in the blue sky, the greening of the grass, the cows, and that cute guy above in the photo. He was by the road so I pulled over, rolled my window down, he posed, I snapped with the cell phone. I smiled, thanked him, and went on my way.

I stopped at Fresh Market to get some things for a picnic later with Sarah. I went in and perused the store at a slow leisure pace. I looked at the beautiful plants and flowers, so bright they were. I looked at the fruits and veggies. Discovered some new fruits and veggies that were new to me. Tasted some strawberries. Got a lil sample of coffee and continued on. This place is a feast for the eyes (and belly too). This was the first time in a long time I wasn't rushing in and out of a grocery store. Slowing down. Enjoying it. It sure felt good.

Arrived at the studio. Did a bit more work. Did a little yoga (in a spot bathed with sun). Taught a little yoga. I do enjoy teaching the noon class on Wednesday. It's usually a smaller class, and a slower pace. I like teaching in the middle of the day and I think it's a great time of day for yoga. The students seemed particularly focused, and present. It was mesmerizing to see. Sunshine poured into the studio. More beauty.

I went to meet Sarah for a picnic at the Arboretum. It's her birthday. With flowers, card, and food in hand I found a nice picnic table in the sun. For about an hour we enjoyed great food and great conversation. Sarah and I joke about the conversations we have when we get together. Seems we always cut to the chase and get to the real juice of life...sharing current hopes, joys, and challenges. I just love her. She is brilliant. And beautiful too.

I stopped at the mall for a quick trip into Gap on my way home. They have my most fave t-shirts for yoga (great for layering too), and I heard they had said fave in short sleeves. AnneDean and Julie love them too. I joked that they should be our "uniform" for the studio. They're the perfect length, so soft, and come in great colors. I snagged two. One blue, one pink.

Came home and did a bit more work. You might be wondering if working randomly throughout the day is effective. Sometimes it is, sometimes not so much. Yesterday I literally worked ALL day to complete the cleansing materials for March. It was total focus time. Some days I have to do that. Today I was more flexible. I love the mix of the two.

Andy and I took the dogs for a nice long walk. Dogs were happy. We were happy. It's sunny. It's sunny. It's sunny. :) I walked around inspecting our yard and garden, looking for signs of new plant life. More and more beauty sprouting from the earth. Like these tulips...

After spending time outside I started cooking dinner. We had spaghetti and it was.....you guessed it, delicious. It's been a long time since I made spaghetti. Tasty. Tasty. Tasty.
Here it is only 7:00 now. I plan to do a bit more work. Or read the new Oprah sitting by my side. Hmmm....

Wishing you a most delightful eveing friends.

PS - Cleansing materials are online. I loooved writing this material. Let me know what you think!