Sunday, July 11, 2010   

After 4 years of teaching at my first 'regular weekly class', I was free today to go to church! It felt great. Bryce and I had some special time together and I reconnected with the Unitarian Church that I feel drawn to go to again and again. They do such important things there. I'm grateful for this opportunity to explore a new experience and a new (or is it old?) 'me' on Sunday mornings. 

Monday, October 12, 2009    

I attended Building a Peaceful and Compassionate Society -- featuring Thich Nhat Hanh -- at the Beacon Theatre in NYC this past weekend. What an amazing experience that combined mindfulness, peace, synchronicity and re-connecting. I will remember the little smile that would appear on his lips as he was contemplating something or making an important point. His pauses, whether intentional or not were placed for me to reflect on his words. His pronounciation of the word 'nutriments' when talking about 'nutrients' brought a little grin to my face and my heart. After all that he has been through, he is still living what he teaches. Inspiring. I will think of his words about the 'beginner's mind' when I need to remember why I do what I do. And I'll refer to my notes in my wonderful cat journal from my dear, childhood friend. Thank you to Kim and Milton for sharing the day with me. And thank you friends and family for being there with me in spirit.

Friday, May 22, 2009    

Saying 'so long' to long-time students is a sad. I know that I will see them again soon, but I will miss them. Little do they know how much they encouraged me and helped me grow as a teacher. I need my Footprints Meditation! I used to practiced this as a kid. I didn't realize it was a meditation then, and it was more 'playful' at times. All I knew then was that it worked to comfort me and help me feel more connected. I lived near the beach and used to ride my bike there when I was stressed out.  

FOOTPRINTS MEDITATION

Imagine yourself on a warm beach

it’s empty

and it stretches for miles

the sand is warm, smooth and soft

the ocean waves gently sweeping across the sand

and you walk

right along the water’s edge

you step

and make one footprint at a time

left foot

right foot

each footprint holds a hope

each footprint holds a prayer

each footprint listens to your wish

as you walk, you look behind

and the waves wash away your footprints

one at a time

each wave connects your hope to the universe

each wave answers your prayer

you step

making one footprint at a time

and each wave grants you your wish 

Friday, January 2, 2009    

I have mixed feelings about recent events. I have made an important connection with a new-ish family member, and yet it wasn't without the drama I like to avoid. Maybe this is the growth we needed. It seems as though it will be for the best, but I'm tentative about feeling too confident about it. Additionally, a potential price paid is the trust bended with a very long time other family member, so this relationship needs to be tended to now. I will be sure to carefully work on the manuscript I promised to edit. I'm feeling quite unbalanced and need to step inside, as I often find myself needing to do lately, and look around.  

I also received a lovely e-mail from a former college aquaintance today -- a reminder that former connections can come back to light up one's day. What a pleasant way to start the new year. Happy 2009. 

Sunday, December 21, 2008   

I told someone this great quote that I heard in a movie and I was pleased to hear him use it today in his sermon. I also realized that I say something so similar in the Philosophy section of this web site! How could I not include it here?

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the Present."  - Master Oogway, Kung Fu Panda 

Sunday, January 27, 2008   

I am pleased and honored to finally be involved in free community classes. I taught the first free community class that was offered at Yoga 4 Everybody in Fairfield, CT in September 2007. I taught once again since then and am on the schedule for two more classes. I will continue this until something changes. People may wonder why someone would teach yoga and not get paid. I say do it because you can ... do it because you want to ... and because you should. And do it often. Thank you to Janis for sharing her beautiful yoga space with the community. This isn't quite the free yoga to care providers that I've wanted to do through Hospice, but it's close. And it's a very good thing.

Saturday, December 1, 2007  

I've been browsing Mary Oliver poetry lately and I especially like this one. Frank quoted it in one of his sermons, also. In my classes I point out that no matter if you believe in one god, many gods, no god, haven't figured out what you believe or just don't care, this poem works. As do many of Mary Oliver's poems. It's called Praying.

It doesn't have to be

the blue iris, it could be

weeds in a vacant lot, or a few

small stones; just

pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don't try

to make them elaborate, this isn't

a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which

another voice may speak

Sunday, June 17, 2007  

My little yoga space is almost complete and I can't believe it! It's been long time coming, and now that it's here, I'm not sure what to do! Mom would really enjoy helping with choosing colors for carpet, paint, etc. I miss her. She's always here, but it's not the same... Maybe I'll somehow incorporate one of her paintings into my new space... we'll see.

It's hard to believe that the summer is here again! The challenge that comes with combining unstructured time and a 7-year old currently feel like an impending chore. I hope I can turn this sensation around in the next few days. My anxiety about how Bryce will handle summer camp is rather high too. I hope my little guy can handle it.

Teaching is finally starting to get comfortable. I'm not nearly as nervous as I was. I have a wonderful support community in friends who are teachers, teachers who are acquaintances, studio owners and students. And of course, there's Mike and my non-yoga friends. I feel grateful.

Friday, January 5, 2007  

There are more changes in my life that I anticipate as being positive. I feel fortunate that these changes are happening, but I'm anxious as well. Our family will be challenged. I will need more patience than ever as I rein back the desire to act as I did from last fall until now. I also sense that something is missing, but can't figure out how to fill the void. But the time is not for me now. I will concentrate on creating peace in myself. Maybe peace is what's missing (?). Change for me can wait until later.

Tuesday, September 5, 2006

As the summer slips away, I come, once again to the season where change is supposed to take place. I feel the same way every year and every year it's met with a different response from my life. Sometimes, something feels like it is supposed to change and when it doesn't, I am left feeling ... unaccomplished. Other times, there is so much change going on, that my favorite season flies by without noticing me at all, leaving me feeling ... forgotten. This year, my life responded just as I remember it as a child. The routine with my first grader took me back to the days when I stood in line outside in the playground, awaiting my first day of school. The excitement mingled with anxiety was new but familiar. I know this feeling -- hello, change. Nice to see you. I am comforted as I establish a strong connection with you this year.

Friday, June 16, 2006

I've finally made contact with the person who can help execute my charitable yoga classes! Hooray! Hopefully things will come together now -- maybe for the fall. I think this little dream can become a reality now. Hi Mom!

Sunday, April 9, 2006

Friends continue to support me -- through Dad's wedding, events at school, and during the ever-changing experiences in teaching. What would I do without them? I am so fortunate. It's important to maintain these connections. As is being emphasized in a class I'm taking, it's these connections and direct life experiences that build our theological vocabulary. I wish to send out a sense of connection to a certain uncle and family: Please remember you have us. We are here together. Take the hands that reach out to you and hold on. We can help... each other.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

During an outing with fellow yoginis, I had the first-time experience of being an unprepared student. I wore the wrong clothes, didn't eat enough food, was dehydrated and forgot my yoga mat. In a hot, vigorous vinyasa class, I ended up spending much of my practice in Child's pose trying not to faint! I thought I honored my body and took it easy, but did I really? I started out too fast and never got back into a flow of any kind. I tried to get up several times, but my vision would blur and I would have to go back down. I was reminded by the teacher and by the experience that I don't know anything. It's humbling to be so sure of something and then have the outcome be completely different. Satya -- truthfulness -- was also lacking. I wasn't truthful about what I can and cannot do. Was the truth for me that day that I should never have gone at all? Or, perhaps without the experience, I wouldn't acknowledge the truth?

Saturday, January 7, 2006

Happy New Year! I've decided to do less this year. Less worrying, less anticipating, less doubting. But, I admit, I also have my list of other stuff. Typical stuff like: clean out attic, put in new bathroom floor, rip out ugly carpet. Whatever resolutions I've decided upon, I need to remember to be kind to myself. Whatever new goals I've promised I'd accomplish this year, I will try to remain soft inside. So when I'm making my 'to do' lists this year, I decided I'm always going to reserve one of the spaces – for nothing. I'm just going to leave it blank. And I'm going to let the blank space on my list be a reminder that I must have silence inbetween all the 'to dos'.

Friday, November 4, 2005

Yippee!! As one door shuts another 2 open. It's hard to believe how much can change in just one, short year. How appropriate for my emotional state that these changes are happening in the fall -- I always anxiously anticipate changes in the fall. Come to think of it, anticipation feels OK, but anxiousness doesn't. Something to work on.

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Two milestones have finally taken place in my life. Whew! I wish I could share these milestones with my mom. I really miss her. The last months with my mom highlighted the direct relationship that yoga had with my ability to cope with extremely difficult changes. Going forward, I remain grateful for the wonderful support structure I have as I encounter more challenging changes in my life. I also always have yoga. But... I still miss her.

Saturday, September 17, 2005

It is wonderful to spread information about yoga. I spend much of my time thinking about yoga or doing yoga, I forget that there are so many people out there that know nothing or very little about yoga. I was reminded today of the roots of what yoga is about. I was in a forum where, all day, yoga was everywhere and people were practicing yoga postures, yoga thoughts and yoga philosophy. Selflessness -- it was there. And so was the spreading of my knowledge of yoga - or of what I think I know about yoga. There is stillso much to learn. I was reminded of that today.

Monday, August 22, 2005

I had a wonderful reunion with some yoga friends yesterday. It was at a friend's beautiful, sunny home. We got to meet her 3 boys and catch up with each other. Our yoga journeys are all unique and changing. For some, it's changing and growing rather quickly -- and for others, like me, it's emerging more slowly. I felt a peaceful uneasiness when I left, if that's possible. I guess I'm anxious about the future and wish that some things that are moving slowly for me would hurry up and happen already. Also, I was uneasy about the friends that couldn't make the reunion - I was concerned about them and was feeling not quite whole without them there. I hope they're all ok. But after talking to the friends that were there, the community that I felt with them helped me to find the peace once more during my journey-- thank you, friends.

Sunday, August 7, 2005

I'm on the brink of a new beginning. Summer is winding down and my Yoga for Managing Stress class will be starting soon. I feel anxious and excited. My personal practice has solidified many things that I learned in my 200 hour training. I am ready to share these things with others right now! When I start to grow impatient, I remind myself to breathe and relish these summer days with my son, family and friends. Things change so quickly...