bringin' on the yoga

Hola Amigas!

Happy Sunday to all of you. I've only got a few short minutes here (I'm packing for a trip to CA tomorrow!) but we've got too much goodness going on at the studio for me not to take a minute here.

First off, I'm reeling from a fabulous weekend with Leeann Carey and the awesome yoginis I was surrounded by this weekend. Loved. Every. Moment.

Warrior II pinned to the wall with Leeann pressing into my legs and lovingly yanking on a strap all at the same time. Wowsers, that was something every yogi needs to experience. A good pain I tell ya. :) Seriously, all of you need to run to the studio the next time she comes back. Of course I couldn't let her get away without a "so when are you coming back to KY?".

Pure joy being on my yoga mat for three whole days immersed in the yoga love.

All of you should hop on over NOW and sign up for Sarah's restorative workshop scheduled for this Friday. For real, you are in for a real treat as you're getting her fresh from this inspiring weekend in which we explored lots of restorative yoga. That's Leeann assisting my pal Jen above. Cool, right?

AND did you here, I'm giving away a totally FREE yoga retreat to Shakertown. Yep, it's true.

I'm feeling the desire to give back, as I've been given so much from all of you. I am offering a 100% scholarship to one lucky yogi for our upcoming retreat to Shakertown. You can get the full scoop here: http://www.barefootworks.com/retreats_shaker_village.html

To enter, send me an email at barefootworks@hotmail.com with "new year retreat" in the subject. Tell me three things:

1. What your yoga practice means to you.

2. How coming to classes at Barefoot Works has enriched your life.

3. Why you would like to come to the retreat.

Pretty simple, right?! Please send me your email before December 15 to enter. I hope you'll take advantage of the sweet deal.

We still have two, maybe three spots open for the Shakertown retreat if you're interested in kicking off your new year in yoga style.

Also, it is my hope to serve all of you better than ever next year. In order to surpass all of your yoga dreams I need your input. Please take three minutes to complete a five question survey. Enter your name in the last question for a chance to win five yoga classes. Another sweet deal.

Click here for that link:

So please go, go, go and let me know how we can make you uber happy yogis in the coming year. It's gonna be a good one.

my journey to bliss

At the young and impressionable age of twenty five I began my quest for contentment and bliss. At the time I had achieved a lot, especially so coming from the modest family I did. I managed to remove myself from my Appalachian roots and get myself away to college. I graduated with a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University .

I did the unthinkable. I left the state of Kentucky and moved away to Texas for a job soon after completing my master’s program. Andy, my fiancée (and now husband) at the time stayed in school and completed his degree. Within a year of starting my job and at the age of twenty three, Andy and I were married and we did what couples do next, bought a three bedroom house with a two car garage and settled in the suburbs of Houston.

I channeled all my physical and mental energy to become what I thought was successful. Success must look completely different than everything I knew as a child I thought. I advanced in my job quickly and was promoted two times. Anything I lacked from my childhood years I was making up for. I actually had freedom and the money to do things I’d never been able to do before. It was a whole new world.

Everything was great except I felt alone and deeply discontented.

I was also very confused. I had worked so hard to have all the things I had. I was at the place I had always imagined as perfection. I told myself I should be more grateful for my husband, home, opportunities, and general abundance. I was one of the fortunate ones in my family after all. If happiness wasn’t found in my home, marriage, and job then where would I find it?

Rumi says, “You are a sea of gnosis hidden in a drop of dew,
You are a whole universe hidden in a sack of blood.
What are all this world’s pleasures and joys
That you keep grasping at them to make you alive?
Does the sun borrow light from a mote of dust?
Does Venus look for wine from a cracked jug?”

Turns out I was grasping for the things I thought equaled contentment and joy. I wasn’t living in my own accord. I didn’t know myself well enough to know what true joy looked like. I would have to untangle my thoughts and beliefs about what bliss was and what it looked like for me. Not society, my family, and my friends. Not even my husband. I had to define happiness for myself and give myself permission to create and color my own bliss in a way that felt true to my heart.

This was the beginning of a radical time of growth and transformation. It was also the start of my yoga journey. As my world around me unraveled it was my desire to know myself and the meaning of pure joy that helped me keep it together.

My yoga practice was a safe haven during an otherwise treacherous time. It was my yoga practice and the spiritual books I devoured that helped me to open my eyes and allow me to begin seeing life in a whole new light.

Yoga didn’t give me all the answers I desired. As I moved, bended, twisted, stretched, and strengthened I connected to my body in new ways. This felt very different than the exercise I was doing at the gym. I found that by focusing on my body and breath for 75 minutes I was able to disconnect from the endless chatter in my mind that consisted mostly of worries and fears at the time. Yoga helped me to connect deeply to my heart.

From that place I began asking myself, “What is it that I really want for my life?”

Something amazing began to happen. I began to see clearly what I wanted for myself. I was able to identify my hang-ups and my old ways of placing my happiness in the hands of others around me. What I recall most is being excited about my future, something I hadn’t felt for a while. My yoga practice helped me to get a glimpse of the possibilities that existed in my future. It was that time I was able to begin to visualize and define what I wanted my life to look like. It was radically different than what my family history was. It was different than what my beliefs were about what an adult is “supposed” to do in life.

As it turned out what I really wanted my life to look like was radically different than the life I was currently living. I wanted my husband and a handful of treasured friendships I’d created in Texas but that was all.

Rumi says, “Destroy your own house, destroy it now!
Don’t wait one more minute! Pull the whole house down!
A treasure greater than Pharaoh’s is hidden under it.
Go and build with that a million houses!
In the end, whether you like it or not,
Your house will be pulled down and destroyed,
And the treasure under it revealed.”

I would need to destroy my house if I wanted to discover the treasure underneath it. That was the path I chose. Part of me was nervous and scared as hell, but a bigger part of me knew this was the way.

I was setting off on a journey to bliss.

ode to bliss

At lunch I sent Andy a text that said, "I just had one of those moments where you feel pure joy for no reason. I'm excited for the holiday." Or that was what it said in mine and Andy's odd and lovely lingo language. ;)

First of all did were you as mesmerized as I by the frost, the sunrise, and the glorious colors of the landscapes this morning? Even my drive down Lex's most nightmarish road (Nicholasville Rd. of course) was intoxicatingly beautiful. Bliss.

I'm not certain if it was jammin' down Nicholasville Rd. to Sugarland, hearing Jennifer Nettles scream to me (my volume is stuck on one level and to say it's loud is putting it mildly)....

"Gotta get a handle on a situation.
Operation, working vacation."

I couldn't help my smile. This yogini can so relate to those words. Bliss.

The happies could have come from the mystery magic citrus that I learned of two days ago. Once a month a big truck comes from Florida with boxes and boxes of goodness....oranges and grapefruit.

I felt like I was part of some super secret club when I pulled up to the big truck, rolled my window down, and all the gentleman said was, "We're selling from the parking lot behind Applesbees." Hmmmm are we speaking of citrus fruit I wondered?

I decided that even if the oranges tasted like ass it was worth it just for the experience. But they are oh so good. I have a fridge full to last a month before the semi truck full of citrus returns for two hours to sell in a parking lot. Bliss.

My morning class was filled with yogi awesomeness. Bliss.

I set in what may be my new fave spot at Coffee Times. I am a fan of the nooks. You know the cozy spots that just call for you to get cozy. They are most often built for one and they call out to me. They have the sweetest nook in the very back where they grind the coffee beans. One cozy chair + two side tables to put books, coffee, and such. Bliss.

While nooking it I decided I wanted to deck out the studio for the winter season. I figured the first day of December was the perfect time to do so. So I set off and bought two lil baby trees, greenery, fresh wreaths, poinsettias, twinkle lights, and white candles. I decorated with sinigng along with Krishna Das.

I finished, turned the lamps on, lit the candles, and basked in a`bit o bliss. It looks oh so pretty if I do say so myself.

Perfect timing at the yogis filled the studio for a lovely evening class. I do love the way the studio glows at this time in the evening. I can see the sun set from the studio then the sky turns a brilliant color. Yogis are moving are unison, their breath fills their body, their energy fills the studio with goodness. Bliss.

Welcome December. I'm a fan.

on gratitude

A week ago I had this grand plan. My plan, my master plan was to get all my big to-do's done before December. Then December would be one big month of leisure. I'd relish being a student and having Leeann Carey teach me. I'd travel and spend a week in California for work, play, and retreating. I'd teach my classes, keep up with day to day happenings. Spend time with the Tessandoris and celebrate Christmas with the grandness that they do.

I'm still doing all those things of course. Two days ago I realized that December was coming much quicker than I thought. Heck, I think I lost a whole week somewhere along the way. Needless to say, I'll be doing more that I was hoping this month. But that's totally ok. It's more than ok.

So here I sit. Thinking about this month's theme at the studio....gratitude. This is the last day of November. Craziness.

I have to much to be thankful for. Words fail to express the ways in which I am blessed. I imagine if you are reading this, you too are beyond blessed.

Blessed doesn't mean easy. Sometimes perhaps. Certainly not always. I've spilled more tears in the last four months than I ever have in my entire life. I've cursed. Yelled. Kicked. Screamed.

You name it and I've probably felt it and acted on it.

Yet I am blessed. The closeness, the tenderness that I'm feeling for my family and friends is unlike anything I've felt before. My heart and soul has always been tender. It became even more tender and vulnerable with my years of yoga. The last four months my heart feels like it's shattered into a million pieces, spanning near and far, wide and deep. I'm tenderly putting the pieces back together again. To say that I've been cracked open is putting it mildly.

I am blessed for this baby of mine, Barefoot Works. I am blessed to do work that I love. Work that I feel fierce about. Work that makes a difference. Work that changes my life in more ways than I know.

This work that I am blessed to do allows be the great honor, the great privilege to hear your stories. My heart is not the only one that's recently been breaking. I hear your stories too. I am moved by them. I stand in awe of you and your ability to be brave in the face of scary and uncertain times. I hold you and your stories with great care and great reverence. I relate to your joys and your challenges(and the tight hammies too ;). I am blessed.

I was telling dear dear Andy tonight at dinner, "I feel like the theme of this whole year in impermanence." This has been my reality. It is my reality. I'm reminded in more ways than one just how fragile life is and that nothing last forever.

So I'm reminding myself to appreciate it all.

The colors of the sunset tonight.
The feel of Andy's hand in mine.
The look of my students face.
Cuddle time with the dogs.
The warmth the treehouse exudes.
The presence of sensation when I stretch into down dog.
How the sound of my breath soothes me.
Fresh veggies to chop.
Juices that nourish me.
A warm cozy robe.
The sound of my parents voice.
Poetry that heals and fills my heart.
Teachers that show up in the most random places.
Hills to hike.
Mountains of magic.
In-laws I love.
Old records and rum and apple cider.
Opportunities to learn, grow, and travel.
A BFF that makes the call that I can't.
Students that trust me and trust themselves.
Even in the midst of a hurricane.

So. Much. Goodness.

Tonight I am bowing to you with a grateful and tender heart.
Near and far.
Far and wide.
Over and over.

Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.

with gratitude,
sharon

on the power of your thoughts

“As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

two healthy 10 minute meals

Beun dia amigos!

Last night I was driving home from teaching at the studio. I was so hungry I nearly ate my arm off at several stop lights.

I knew that I better get a quick dinner plan together or it was not gonna be good. For me or Andy. Not only was I more likely to eat something unhealthy but I was more likely to be a major miss cranky pants. Yep, that happens when I get realllly hungry.

I recalled the delicious looking sweet potatoes I bought at the grocery on Sunday. Usually I buy super big potatoes to slice and roast but I thought we might like to have some for baking. Perfect.

Then I remembered how much I love black beans with sweet potatoes and I was suddenly happy due to my uber quick dinner plan. Not even the traffic on Nicholasville Rd. made me a miss cranky pants. ;)

And this meal....ahhh so quick. We're talking less than 10 minutes.

I microwaved the sweet potato, taking about five minutes.
I sliced it apart and added salsa and black beans (rinsed a can of beans).
Put it back in for about another minute.
Added a touch more salsa and some spices (salt, pepper, and my kapha seasoning).

In less than 10 minutes I was sitting at the table, eating, and happy as a clam.

I finished eating and started to put the black beans in a container but felt inspired to make something with them so Andy and I could have the makings of lunch today.

I made another quick meal, a black bean and corn salad.

It was essentially black beans, corn, bell pepper, and garlic.
I added olive oil, lemon juice, cumin, cayenne, cilantro, salt and pepper.

This may have taken a touch more than ten minutes due to some slicing, but not more more.

What are your fave quick, easy, healthy and yummy things to make in a pinch?

leeann carey coming to lexington!

I'm so very delighted that Leeann Carey is coming back to Lexington December 9-11. Big yay! This weekend is a must for yoga teachers and students wanting to dive deeper into their yoga practice.

If you haven't experienced Leeann's awesomeness then you can get a small taste here with her videos. And you can read some really insightful articles here too.

Happy to say that the early bird registration has been extended until Dec. 1 Click here to register.
We've also added an option so that folks that can't commit to three days can still come get the yoga love. Come and enjoy a day or two for $150 per day. If you want to do this please let me know and bring cash or check (made to Leeann Carey Yoga) when you come. Easy peasy!

Below is the general outline although it may vary a bit depending on how the flow of the training is going:


Friday, 9am - 6pm: Intro to Yaapana Yoga, Purpose, Practice, DOING, BEING, STILL (Strong static and Relaxing poses held with support, and Savasana) Holding Patterns, Safe Alignment Skills, Key Positioning Skills

Saturday 9am - 6pm: Pose breakdowns/Modifications for therapeutic results, "DOING" standing poses, Pose breakdowns/Modifications for therapeutic results, "DOING" Backbend Poses, "DOING" Inverted Poses, "DOING" Seated Poses

Sunday, 9am - 6pm: Pose breakdowns/Modifications for therapeutic results, "BEING" Standing Poses, "BEING" Backbend Poses, "BEING" Inverted poses
Pose breakdowns/Modifications for therapeutic results, "BEING" Seated Poses, "BEING" Prone Poses, "STILL" Savasana, Yaapana sequencing and Class Mapping

*Manual not included if only taking a segment of the training.*

I'm so excited about stepping onto my yoga mat and being a student for three whole days. Whhheeee!

Local students, we won't be having class the 10th and 11th. Us yoga teachers need time to hone our teaching skills so we can be even better teachers to you. :)

meet me here

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I'll meet you there.
~Rumi

I have a lot of favorite passages by Rumi. This is one of my favorites of my favorites.

This photo taken on our annual Thanksgiving hike. This particular area is halfway up the hill where an old family cemetery is located.

We chased the sun up the hill. Those that are familiar with hollers will know what I mean. You only get several short hours of actual sunlight at this time of year.

You can see the top of the hill basking in sunlight. If the climb weren't so steep we'd all have gotten there much quicker. This particular hike never felt this strenuous as a kid. Funny how things change.

Yet so much remains the same.

Like the magic that exists in these mountains. Of all the places I've traveled. All the beautiful and majestic mountains I've experienced, none of them speak to me quiet like these.

These mountains will take you in and fold you into their arms.

People like my parents are forever embraced by these hills. Even if they want to leave they find themselves back here, unable to break away.

People, like my brother went away and returned to live in these hills. He is more in love with these mountains than anyone else I know. He knows the names of the rivers, streams, and the trees. He knows the topography of these hills much like he knows the back of his hand. He is changed by these mountains I believe these mountains are changed by him.

People like me, have had a complicated relationship with these mountains. At times wanting to run away and at times wanting to run far and deep into the woods. With each visit to these hills I find much to celebrate. Much to learn. Much to love.

When I think of places where there are no ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing I think not of a meadow but these hills that I still call home.

We should all be so lucky to have such spaces.

my future tiny cottage

Today Misty and I laundered the blankets at the studio. You can now snuggle your face into fresh blankets that enjoyed a day at the spa. :)

After loading the blankets into the gigantic washers we dashed over to Panera for a little treat (we were doing such a good deed afterall). Misty and I were having many lovely conversations.

One particularly juicy one was on living in another place. Misty asks me, "If you could live anywhere else, where would it be?"

I paused, and thought for at least three whole seconds before answering, "Tulum".

When Andy and I moved back to KY from Texas I used up my one time quit your job, sell your house, and move back across the US card. While I love travel, and change, and all things new my husband doesn't adapt as easily.

So we've compromised and said that one fine day we'd love to have a lil vacation home.

Fast forward a few hours. I've burned the spiced pumpkin seeds and Andy has ran around our house screaming in victory, celebrating a big UK win.

I go upstairs and open the door to my oh so sweet yoga room. Yep, at this time my yoga room gets the most amazing light. I spend an hour in a delicious slow flow. I had no intention of kicking my own yoga butt. Sweet. soothing, feel good movement and poses.

At the end I sat up and quietly sat for a few minutes. When I opened my eyes, I landed on my vision board in the corner. The phrase "practice in paradise" is there with a lovely cabin in the woods.

My mind immediately goes to the cottage I saw earlier this week on Kimberly's blog.
My heart immediately went pitter patter.
A tiny cottage in the woods.
A reallly tiny cottage in the woods.

Is that not the cutest thing in the world? Quick, look. Yes....now.
Cute, huh?

So yes, a tiny cottage such as this on the beach in Tulum (ok it will need some cement and certainly a thatch roof of some sort).

Or a tiny cottage in the woods, somewhere in KY where we could be there in a few hours drive. And close to a stream. Andy and I both need to see and hear a creek of some sort.

Yep, this tiny cottage will certainly find its way to my vision board.

If you could have a vacation home, where would it be?

ode to thanksgiving

Oh happy day. I do love you Thanksgiving. And I love the days leading up till Thanksgiving. It finally hit me today.....

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, yay!!

I made a special Thanksgiving playlist for tomorrow's class. Here it is:

Harvest Moon - Neil Young
This Land is Your Land - Woody Guthrie
In My Life - the Beatles
Life is Beautiful - Keb Mo
Beautiful Day - U2
Thank You - Alanis Morrisette
Thanksgiving Day - Denise VAsquez
Home - Michael Buble
Let It Be - Jennifer Hudson
Everything - Michael Buble
Better Together - Jack Johnson
Shelter - Ray LaMontagne
Homeward Bound - Simon & Garfunkel
Diamonds in the Sun - Girish
Simple Gifts - Jewel
What a Wonderful World - Willie Nelson
Hallelujah - Justin Timberlake
Angel's Prayer - Ty Burhoe


After teaching my noon class today with shopping list in hand I made my way to Whole Foods. I was prepared to be overwhelmed by all the people. I was pleasantly surprised when I didn't get overwhelmed.

Perhaps it was my shopping list that focused mostly on the sweet treats I'm making and taking to the Beverly Thanksgiving tomorrow.

I came home, tied a pretty apron on, turned on the thanksgiving playlist and got to mixing, food processing, blending, stirring, and baking up a fury.

And I loved every moment of it.

I ended up with vegan chocolate peanut butter rice crispie treats, pecan pie, and a vegan chocolate pie. Yum.

There is much to be grateful for this holiday season. I'm not taking a single moment for granted.

May your body be nourished by delicious foods.
May you sing, dance, twirl, and swirl with loved ones.
May you enjoy hearty laughs
May your heart overflow with love.

Lots and lots of love.
Happy Thanksgiving Friends.

xo,
sharon

treehouse lovelies

I had the great joy of spending two full hours at Greentree Tea with these lovelies. They make Barefoot Works such a special place and I'm oh so thankful for them!

thankful for.....

thankful for
the 33rd treatment on 11.11.11
monkey dance parties
and the mask that will be made into art.

thankful for
brick walls and beautiful spaces
seats by the window
hillbilly tea
and triples shot soy lattes
cozy chairs by the fire
and city girl farm coffee

thankful for
candid conversation on competition
a challenge to think bigger
commitments to take care of body, mind, heart
and reframing the idea of contentment

thankful for
lyrics and rhythms that move me to tears
the ability to pause and repeat
sound of rain on a boxcar
and finding my voice again
over and over

thankful for
time to declutter and organize
the inner and the outer
colorful embroidery Mexico
an old pink lamp that is new to me
that lights my way in the early morning

thankful for
sincere, compassionate
thoughtful, grateful students
who inspire me
to learn more
do more
be more

thankful for
husband and wife secret language
a future thanksgiving gathering
mountain top sitting
possible moonshine sipping
in a hot tub
wedged deep in the heart of Appalachia
our very own hillbilly tea

more on change & suffering

I've gotten quit a bit of feedback about the posts from earlier this week on the three causes of suffering (which I love and appreciate the comments). I realized it would be helpful to continue the dialogue on this juicy yoga sutra I am referring to, which is sutra 2.15.

My fave translation of this sutra is presented by Desikachar. He says,

"Painful effects from any object or situation can be a result of one or more of the following: changes in the perceived object (parinama), the desire to repeat pleasurable experiences (tapa), and the strong effect of conditioning from the past (samskara). In addition changes within the individual can be contributing factors."

My dear friend Mia commented on the blog post, saying this:

"Parinama is interesting - but can't it also be a good thing? Can't a "change in a perceived person, place, or general object" be positive as well - for instance, I can be driving and perceive this person who cuts ahead of me to be a personal attack whereas I can change that perception to one that is more of "that person is probably a parent rushing from work to see his kid's show in school" (or something like that.) So perhaps in that sense it's not necessarily a cause for suffering? Or maybe that's just my misinterpretation?"

I agree with Mia that change can certainly be a positive thing. I'm quite the proponent of change. :)

I probably should have been more clear and noted that this sutra is speaking specifically to sorrow, suffering, which is noted as "dukham" in this sutra.

Clearly people are affected differently by change. Two people could have the exact same job, be presented with the same challenge... let's say a change in their job.

One could embrace the change in the job and respond in a positive way. The other person in the exact same situation could react in a very negative way. Perhaps they develop insomnia, withdraw from their family, engage in unhealthy behaviors and develop migraines as a result of the change (poor heart).

This is dukha, suffering as a result of change. Essentially the inability to deal with stress creates the suffering.

Yogis have advised us for thousands of years to get our shit together mentally or suffer as a result. Modern day science now validates this. Stress is killing lots of people today.

Ancient yogis told us that yoga is not the ability to turn, twist, bend, and fold our body. But the ability to keep our mind settled, calm, and clear while life turns, twists, bends, and folds around us.

Thoughts? Would love to hear....

i am a light chaser

Sunlight fell upon the wall;
the wall received a borrowed splendor.
Why set your heart on a piece of earth,
O simple one? Seek out the source
which shines forever.
~Rumi

I am a light chaser.

When I work from home I have three spots that I love to work from:
In the early morning I work next to the window at the little white table in my kitchen. This space gets the most gorgeous morning sun.

In the afternoon I love to work upstairs in our office. A big desk situated in front of a big window. Outside there is a tree in which squirrels run amuck. The space gets the most gorgeous afternoon sun.

In the early evening I love to work from my bed. A bed with cozy blankets, propped up on pillows. Behind me is the biggest of all the windows. A whole wall of windows. This space gets the most gorgeous evening sun.


This morning at the studio she comes into class. I'm delighted to see her. Delighted to see her unroll her mat in the "sun spot". Bathed in light in front of the big window at the tree house.

Halfway through class she moves her mat over to chase the light that has now moved to her right. For savasana she makes one last move. Her yoga mat now lies at a diagonal across the floor.

She is a light chaser.

There is something magical about the sun. The moon. And the stars too.

The light they emit is captivating, spellbinding.

There are times when I tap into this inner light, this source energy that shines forever, that Rumi and the ancient yogis speak of. And when I do it's the most majestic of all moments.

love letter to autumn in KY

Dear Autumn in Kentucky,

Thanks to you I've fallen in love with this great state all over again. You have provided a feast for my eyes each and every day since I returned home from Tulum and yoga teacher training.

Returning home from Tulum is usually really hard for me. Time in Tulum is the best medicine for my heart and soul. Upon returning home I am prone to emotional outbursts and general symptoms of crankiness and occasional brattiness. Not pretty. But true.

This fall season, as in the one I've gotten to revel in over the past week is simply beyond words.

Every day I see a new tree standing, donning the most amazing of colors. I try to capture the magic by snapping a photo. I find your beauty cannot be totally caught nor replicated in any picture.

I find myself doing things more slowly so I can enjoy you more fully. Driving and walking I look around in amazement. Amazed by the bluest of skies. Amazed by the colors I see, shades of orange, red, yellow, gold, and green. You are making it easy for me to walk slowly and savor the sights.

I've been amazed by the naked tree proudly standing, baring it's bones, it's limbs that grow in all directions. It stands next to the dazzling tree donning bright red leaves. Each equal seekers of light. Reminding me that beauty comes in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Each deserving of the goodness that comes from simply being a participant in this earth party.

You, KY autumn have been the exact thing I needed in returning home. You have been medicine for my heart and soul. I love you as far as the moon and stars. I love you as close as the leaves of the trees in my yard I can touch.

xoxo,
sharon

on change & how it leads to suffering

The Yoga Sutras even tell us that suffering is a part of life. Even the wisest of the wise are subject to suffering simply because they too are in a body. Having a body and being a human being means that some things are out of our control or we have little control over. Some suffering is inevitable. We all experience hardships, trials, and tribulations.

Shit happens.

It is during these times that yoga provides us with the necessary tools to deal with and lessen suffering.

For thousands of years yogis studied the mind. They discovered that most of our suffering is a result of the workings of the mind. In the Yoga Sutras Patanjali tells us there are three reasons why we suffer:

1. Parinama – change in a perceived person, place, or general object.

2. Tapa – a thirst or a desire to repeat pleasurable experiences even when we suffer as a result.

3. Samskara – habits, patterns, effects of conditions from the past that continue to inform the present.

This information has provided me much relief and contemplation in the last month specifically in dealing with my Mom’s diagnosis and treatment of cancer and being in Mexico for our annual yoga teacher training (and eventually evacuating during said training).

I’ve been sitting, writing, and living with these three reasons for suffering. I love that one sutra, one thread, one little nugget from the sutras has provided with so much to contemplate and practice.

Of the three I've noticed that the first one, parinama has recently been my greatest source of struggle. Change is certainly the name of the game with parinama.

Interestingly enough, parinama is listed as one of the three cause of dis-ease in Ayurveda. In the Ayurvedic sense parinama is in reference to physical and mental change.

Even thousands of years ago the wise yogis were saying that if you can't get your mind under control, if you can't reign in the flow of your thoughts dis-ease will follow.

What do you think? Intriguing? Can you relate to any of the three?

baby you were born to fly

“You were born with potential.
You were born with goodness and trust.
You were born with ideals and dreams.
You were born with greatness.
You were born with wings.
You are not meant for crawling, so don't.
You have wings, learn to use them, and fly.”
-Rumi

**photo taken in Valladolid, Mexico**

my Mexico adventure

Friends, I have missed you! I'm still in the process of "re-entry" after being in Mexico for 18 transformative, wild, fabulous days! At some point I want to pour my heart out with the hope that I can capture a tiny bit of the magic (and chaos!) I experienced while in Mexico. Yet that time has not come just yet. ;) This will have to do for now....

Magic happens in Tulum. Always. This time was no different in some ways. Yet oh so different in other ways. Thirteen of us gathered by the water's edge to live, breathe, and be yoga.

Look at this group, amazing? The most interesting, the most sincere, the most supportive, the most intelligent, the most talented, the most kind, the most beautiful people you can imagine. That was them. They are that, plus more.

Eleven days into the training and they were still bustin' a yoga move when I heard of a lil hurricane named Rina headed our way. "No problem", I thought...."This sorta stuff happens all the time here. It's just a category one."

The next day my friend Rina was a category three and it was high time to make some big decisions for me and my perfect group of yogis. In the beach jungle with pinktop in hand to research hotels and a hurricane how-to brochure Jacob (manager of La Luna) and I sat down to craft a plan. There was tequila involved. Hey, don't judge me. But I had no part of the Marlboros. Really, none.

The next day me, Sarah, my fellow yogis plus one brave hubby and babe set off on an adventure about two hours inland to Valladolid. Two big shuttles weighed down with the luggage of a small troop and equivalent of a yoga studio transported us to safer and dryer land. We made good use of the travel by studying Sanskrit for upcoming tests. Together we laughed, shared stories, and hopes for the future. It was sweet and I still can't believe how this group "rolled with the punches."

We arrived in Valladolid at a beautiful property right in the middle of town. There were many new sights, sounds, smells. New textures, new colors, new culture. We were no longer in our yoga bubble known as "Tulum", we were now mingling with many new people. I liked it. It was a whole new world and put a totally new spin on everything.

We had eight rooms booked together in our new yoga home. After scouring the place there wasn't any ideal place for yoga. I was able to get a hotel suite within our group of rooms. They moved all the furniture out of the living room space. It was just enough space for 12 yoga mats.

And enough space for dance parties of course.

When we weren't doing asana, but lecture/discussion instead we could open the doors in our hotel suite yoga studio and there was a beautiful view that overlooked the pool.

For our closing celebration Sarah and I had planned to use the rooftop terrace, but Mama Nature had other plans. It rained earlier in the day. So Sarah and I went out and bought flowers and candles and prettified our hotel suite yoga studio.

It worked out beautifully. I was reminded that it's more about the intention and energy than it is the space. And with everyone dressed in white, seated in a circle around flowers it was pretty perfect. Students received their certificates and got to sit and bask in their special-ness as their fellow students showered them with love.

It was a perfect ending to a trip, a training, and a time with these special people in which I can't imagine things happening differently. Everything was as it should have been. Nothing was wrong. Nothing was wasted.

They did more than learn to teach yoga. They learned what it's like to be yoga.

You can't even imagine how flexible, how strong, how courageous they were in every sense of the word.

My heart is forever grateful for the time I spent on the beach and in the city with these fine folk. I love each one of them.

Happiness.

**Bottom photo by © Constance Kilgore. Visit her here at Constance Kilgore

finding their way

"But where is this gathering?
- I don't know, my little angel
But do the others know?
- No, they don't know either
How can you go to a gathering without
... knowing where it is?
- It suffices to walk, just walk.
Those who are invited will find the way."
(from a Sufi story)

They've certainly been invited.

They're certainly finding their way.

I couldn't be happier nor more proud of what these yogis have accomplished in six days.

I've gotten emails from students from home cheering on these students that are now becoming teachers.

I've gotten emails from students of past yoga teacher trainings rallying on those students. One from last year that says, "And the odd frustrations... that never lasted very long. How could they with so much love and support around you."

So that's what we've encountered as we've found our way together as a group.

Getting settled into a new hOMe in a new country.
Strangers becoming friends becoming great support.
Odd frustrations.
Then the aha's.
Heightened emotions.
The love that comes with being seen, heard, and accepted for your unique you-ness.

Rain, howling wind, double rainbows, the palette of heaven on an early morning walking meditation.

Still, calm, turquoise blue green sea.
Reminding us to keep things in perspecitve.
Reminding us of the great big world out there.
Reminding us we are all connected.
Just one drop in a big sea of love.

Yes, I'd say we're all finding our way.
Perfectly.
Beautifully.

This is the good stuff friends.

xo,
sharon

mexico yoga teacher training - greetings from tulum!

Hola Amigas!

I arrived safe and sound in Tulum on Thursday. I had two days at Maya Tulum to rest, relax, get massage, eat de-lish food, dp prep work, and check in with the kind folks here at Cabanas La Luna about specifics for our training.

Crazy things has happened with this trip to Tulum....it's been raining...like almost the whole time! On Saturday I was actally a tad concerned that some yogins flights might not make it in.

Try as you may though, you cannot change Mama Natures mind. She's clearly been doing her thing and we've been doing our thing. All is working out. All is well. At Maya Tulum I stayed in my most fave cabana and now at Cabanas La Luna I'm in a cabana that sorts makes me sigh each time I walk in.

Perfect.

With all 12 yogis present yesterday we started out first day of training. I think it's safe to say we all felt a bit of the "first day of school" jitters. We're all getting to know one another during this exciting beginning stage of yoga teacher training.

So special. Really. I'll say it over and over, so be prepared.

Today was our first full day, beginning at 6:30 a.m. and ending at 6:30 p.m. And guess what? They already taught a sun salutation Yep. Rock on yogis. We'll continue to learn and build and add on but they have taken their first step, taking their spot, claiming their voice in being a yoga teacher.

I'm hoping, imagining, assured that things are running smoothly at home with my baby, Barefoot Works of course.

I gotta say though that I rarely think about what's happening (unless I get an email from a student or teacher) on the homefront yoga studio. I miss my home yoga peeps but once this training begins it gets All of me. My days begin at 5:30 and end....well right about now.

I've already lost track of the day.

Sunday, when the beach yoga teacher training fog clears. Yes, Sunday. We had two classes. Taught by two gifted teachers. Of course things are good.

I've gottne numerous email from friends and students seding amazingness this way.

Thank you so much. I appreciate it. And love you for it.

The sea is beginning to lull me to sleep. Buenos noches amigas.

The sweetest of dreams to all of you.

xo,
sharon

PS - Photo of her yoga home in Tulum...taken by yogini and student, Pilar.

mexico, mama, mentors & a oh sh*t moment

I'm leaving for Mexico tomorrow!! That's my packing area above.

Tomorrow.
As in departing Lexington at 6:30 a.m.
And arriving in Cancun at 11:00.

Which means I should be in Tulum eating guacamole and drinking a Corona at approximately 2:00.

But the last week friends, leading up the departure.....
Shew.

Talk about the to-dos, the forgets, the shoulda's, coulda's and on and on.
But it's all so,so, so worth it.

I truly can't wait to meet the 12 yogis from all over joining me for 15 fifteen days of oh so intensive yoga teacher training.
Last year I posted nearly every day on the blog I'm hoping to be pretty consistent with this again. And now with my new fancy pants iPod that has the "blogger" app, posting photos should be a breeze.

Speaking of iPods, this one I've had less than a month and love, love, love, mostly because I'm snapping photos left and right, you know the one?

Well Mama Alice and I were getting pedicures today. I sat in the big, cozy, massage my back chair while a sweet sould rubbed down my feet. My iPod is in hand so I could snap photos of course.

About three minutes in my iPod slides off my lap and into the big basin of warm, sudsy water.

"Oh shit", I say, clearly loud enough that everyone getting their feet rubbed on could hear. I fish out my iPod quickly.

Someone says, "Quick turn it off." The poor gal rubbing my feet hands me a dry towel and I wrap it up like a lil baby.

I sit for a moment and ponder all the music that will not likely make it to Mexico. Nor the podcasts that I just downloaded this morning for the flight. Oh well. It is what it is.

I am surprised at how quickly I regroup. And actually let it go.

On a happy note the kind folks at the Apple store replaced my iPod for free. Happy. Happy. Happy. And I now have a new synced up iPod ready for my adventures. Plus my toenails are a pretty purple. See in the photo above? My right toenail that I danced off in May is making a reappearance. Thank god. I've missed her.

I have so much that I want to say but I still have packing to do.

Like how amazed I am by Andy and his insane committment in scraping, sanding, priming, and painting our house. It's crazy really. And inspring too. I keep asking to him, "Is this your yoga? Is this your meditation?"

He mostly looks at me like I'm crazy and goes pack to painting. He's like the Karate Kid.

And Mama Alice is in her third week of being in Lextown for treatment. She's rockin' on. Yet I know this is such a challenge for her. The radiation treatment is catching up with her. She lost weight last week and it's getting harder for her to eat.

Yet her spirits are good and I know she is THE strongest woman in my entire world. I've gotten a lot more quiet on here as far as sharing. My journal is getting to hear lots on this particular journey.

And I've started my writing class.

Connected with old and new mentors that are giving me such support and inspiration.

Friends, teachers, friends that are hands down the most rockin', thoughtful, and supportive people.

Life feels full no matter which way you turn it, twist it, or dissect it.

Never a dull moment friends, that's for sure.

Blowing kisses and wrapping my arms around you tonight as I prepare to embark on a new journey to my second home....the sweet and sacred land of Tulum.

Tuuuuluuummmm, here I come!

this yogini life - 10/10/11

half perfect

Mary Oliver's poem "Messenger" is speaking beautifully to me about this month's theme at the studio, contentment.

This part is especially poignant:
Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me
keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,
which is mostly standing still and learning to be
astonished.

My BFF gave me a great gift this year. It was a frame with two photos in it, one photo each from our respective wedding days. They were over ten years apart.

We noted we both look better now than we did ten years ago. "Except for our eyes" I remark. "Do you consider those bags or wrinkles?"

I'm officially in my mid 30's now. I certainly don't feel old, but for the first time ever, I feel like a full fledged adult.

I'm finding that with each year I settle more into mySelf. There is more acceptance and less judgement on my part.

I'm finding that while I still feel driven in the pursuit of a deliberate and delicious life, there is more permission on my part.

Permission to not have it all figured out.
Permission not to always have it together.
Permission to be half perfect.
Or perfectly imperfect.

But to sink, surrender, and dissolve into
a sea of compassion.
Embracing myself (wrinkles included) and others with great tenderness.

Contentment is "keeping my mind of what matters."

Which is indeed my work.

Which is living deliberately.
Learning from my life experiences
and sharing from my soul
about how it is we can use this body, this breath,
this heart to shine
and be dazzlingly alive.

be notorious

Welcome sunny Tuuuuesday!

I snapped the above photo last night in my yoga room. After I long and busy day to running to and from I was excited to listen to the recording from the first class of the Yoga + Writing course that I'm taking.

I was snuggled up in a warm and cozy, teeny tiny yoga room with candles, tea, notebook, pinktop and pen. This weeks session was all about accessing and connecting to the powers and goodness of Ganesha.

I write in my notebook (a brand spankin' new notebook might I add)....

Ganesha is an emblem of transition and change. He is very much in this world, not off meditating in a cave or atop a mountain. He is adorable. And accessible! He holds the universe in his belly (I love this)! Wherever he is - he is home.





Details and image from here.

I'm going to print adorable lil Ganesha off and put him in my yoga room to focus and learn from this week. Much to learn here. And just a reminder that the gods and goddesses we explore in the world of yoga are all about seeing and recognizing the different ways they represent us. They are and wonderful ways in which we can learn and grow. And be notorious in our life.

After I listened to the call I had another juicy phone call about a possible new venture I may be embarking on shortly and hold a focus on for next year. All signs are directing me forward but I'm pausing to lean in a lil more. Ponder and process.

I am so flippin' excited that we are now halfway full for the intensive yoga teacher training in NC next spring. I can hardly believe it!

I get the best email from a yogini I've been emailing back and forth with (literally since she's in Seattle). Embarking on yoga teacher training is a BIG deal and I don't recommend entering it lightly. I had given yogini all the advice and input I could. At some point we decide to leap, or we decide to stay put.

She's clearly been keeping her eyes, ears, and heart open. I got this in part of message from her:

So I'm not much into superstition, but today my last 4 words in an online Scrabble game were Y, O, G, and A. After I finished my game, I got into my car, and was stopped at a stoplight behind a car with North Carolina license plates. (this is all true) I couldn't ignore this so. . . .Sign me up! What do I do next? :)

Amazing!

Jump.
Leap.
Risk it.
Be notorious.

one of my fave self care practices

It's self massage of course. I think learning this practice and actually making it a habit made going through my year long ayurveda course worth it!

So simple. So great. Especially this time of year.

According to ayurveda, a full body self massage (abhyanga) is relaxing, nourishing, and revitalizing. The massage helps with circulation, helps keep skin supple and moisturized, increases energy, and promotes sleep at night. It’s also a very sensual and enlivening thing to do for oneself.

What you need:
• 2-3 ounces of massage oil (organic sesame oil is great this time of year)
• Towel to sit on

Step 1: If your oil is in a glass bottle then pour into a plastic squeeze bottle. Run hot water into your sink and submerse the oil for a couple of minutes. Just long enough to warm the oil.

Step 2: Get undressed and place a large towel on your bathroom floor to stand or sit on.

Step 3: You’ll start your massage at the crown of your head. Using about a tablespoon of oil, vigorously rub your scalp as if you are shampooing your hair making small circular strokes.

Step 4: Move to your face and ears using more gentle strokes. Work with the forehead, temples, down the sides of your face, to your ears.

Step 5: Massage the front and back of your neck, using oil as needed.

Step 6: Massage the arms. Use up and down strokes over limbs and circular strokes over joints (shoulder, elbow and wrists).

Step 7: Use gentle circular strokes to massage the chest and stomach, using extra oil as needed.

Step 8: Without straining reach behind your back and massage the back and spine.

Step 9: Vigorously rub your legs as you did your arms, making circular strokes on the joints (hip, knee, and ankle) and up and down strokes over the limbs.

Step 10: After massaging the legs spend some time on your feet. Massage the toes, the feet, and rub back and forth over the soles of your feet with both hands.

Step 11: Sit comfortably, breathe deeply for five minutes.

Step 12: Take a warm bath of shower, not washing the oil off. Pat yourself dry leaving a thin film of oil on the body.

There you have it! Do this several times a week and you will feel oh so good. Promise. Let me know how it's going.....

your heart

welcome october + cultivate contentment

I went to the studio this morning all excited to teach on one more day of "contemplation".

Guess what? There aren't 31 days in September.

Never have been. Hmmmmm.

The first student signs in this morning and says, "Can you believe it's October 1?"

I reply, "Uhhhh, no I can't."

And just like that we're onto a new theme at the yoga treehouse. Contentment. Another yogini tells me, "But it felt like we barely got to Contemplate." Tell me about it sister. September come in with a bang, I felt the fury, then she silently made her exit. I'm down with it September. Thank you for your quiet departure.

I was happy that my focus for today's class translated beautifully to our theme of "contentment."

We went back to the basics of mindfulness of body and breath. If you weren't in class (bad yogi! kidding, of course ;) then you can play along now.

Sit comfortably. Begin to relax your body and spend a few moments connecting to your breath.

Identify a part of your body. Any part, it doesn't matter. Eyes, feet, belly, hands, etc.

Let your attention rest on this area of your body. Dive in and bring your full awareness to this space. What are the sensations you feel? Resist any urge to change the sensations or make judgements about what you're feeling. Just pay attention.

Begin to invite a sense of gratitude to this area of your body. What are the experiences this part of your body allows you to have? For example if you identified your hands then your hands have held the hands of people you love, they have embraced your loved ones, allowed you to experience all sensations of all sorts that have brought you delight and joy.

Relax. Connect to the moment. Accept your body. Choose gratitude. Breathe in and out. Repeat.

Mindfulness can lead to acceptance.

Acceptance can lead to gratitude.

Gratitude can lead to contentment.

Wishing all of you a month of all things good. May you be filled with peace, joy, and contentment.

PS - My space heater is out in my yoga room and the warm pj's and slippers are making their appearance in my yoga room.