Happy Traveler

Photos by my silly little phone.

This summer I am a happy traveler. Let me on that bike, train, plane... I'll go. :)

In the past few months, I've been lucky enough to see Boston, Sacramento, and Detroit... 

Happy memories, leaving little parts of my heart every place I go. Teaching. Learning. Being free.

Evanston

Student is teacher is student.

And it's been wonderful returning to Chicago every time. Chicago, Evanston, Chicago...

Chi

I love this place. I love the yogis here. I love the architecture, and that view of the lake where it feels like it's the end of the universe. I love the way the sky glows because of all those bright lights, that energy. I love, too, that I know where to find the mountains where the air is so clear the satellites are easy to see. No lights except the ones farthest away.

Detroit 

Knowing home. 

Coming back.

Knowing home is in the coming back.

Again and again, I love.

Chi 

Evanston

Happy summer, beautiful people. Thanks for reading. Namaste.

PS the poem form of this post goes a little something like this...

city of chicago

breaking my

heart chakra

open

green

wide

let's ride

farther and back

I am

(my own) home

Blogger Blogged About (Boston Yoga Photos!)

Photos by the graceful and talented Cara Brostrom.

I'm honored to be featured on Cara's blog today.


My photo session in Boston with her was incredibly inspiring...I felt like a rock star running through my asana practice in public spaces around a new city. Meditating in alleyways. Watching tourists and focusing on my own breath.


Making them full breaths, feet to crown, lungs happy with early morning light and air.

I'm so grateful Cara gave me the chance to reflect on my practice, enjoy the moment, and learn the value of slowing down. Of holding the pose a little longer, even when I wasn't sure I could.


Breathe, she would say, the sound of the shutter capturing the moment. Catching it. Breathe. Stay there.

Breathe more, her small gentle voice, reminding me what I already know. Reminding me how it's not about the camera lens but the soft body. The inner softening.


The light coming through.

Get Some Hugs

Photos via JRDN, Jonas Peterson, Anna Rummey, Out of Reception, and Ryan Marshall.

Hugs are for everyone. A squeeze after a sweaty dance.

A dance in the sun while someone looks on.

That not-caring-how-silly-I-look feeling swimming in your stomach.

Giving ourselves hugs is equally critical.

It's the love that keeps the sun shining.

Recent Adventures

Photos by me.

Lately I have been wandering, dreaming, enjoying life.

Summer is a magical time of year... 

Great for eating outside, relaxing in the sun, yoga moves, dance moves, illumination.

Learning to love. Relearning what you thought you knew.

Forgetting what you think you know.

Meeting new people. 

Seeing family for the first time in a long time.

Being well. Being OK alone. Learning loneliness is no answer, but it happens.

Turning off the cell phone. Tuning in with the mind.

And more importantly, the body.

The soul.

Detaching.

Thank you, summer, 

thank you.

namaste

Open Eyes, Heart Open

a short little yoga-inspired poem


answer your self
answer your cell          phone
answer to nothing


no one.

Peace

Photos by Cara Brostrom, one of my favorite yoga photographers. We met up in Boston. Namaste!

In yoga, I have come to learn:


I am not perfect. I never was.


I don't have to convince myself that I am. Or should be.


I am enough.


So are you.

My hope is this... today, how ever you are denying yourself the freedom to simply be you... let that go.

Breathe fully.

Smile fully.

You're loved just the way you are. And you can let yourself love your Self that way too... :)

Practice and all is coming...

Namaste, beautiful one! 

xo

Returnings

Photos by yours truly.

Know that moment when you return from vacation and are already ready for the next one?


My mantra for it today is:


mind the gap


And that mantra leads itself to:


Make haste slowly.

Namaste. And also: it's great to be posting again :) I missed you guys.

xo

Blogging Break

By me.

Killing time isn’t a sin — it’s a misnomer. We’ve framed the question entirely wrong. It’s not a matter of “killing” time, but of enjoying it. If we ask ourselves instead, “How can I best enjoy this moment?”, then the entire proposition is reframed.

- zenhabits.net

Take the time you need.

 

I know I am.

 

:)

Life is Good

Photo by Cara Brostrom. Copyright Cara Brostrom Photography.

Yogis & friends, I am back on my feet!


I could not be more grateful.


It's amazing how an injury can remind you what truly matters. And what you're grateful for.


Namaste, all >>>

Pain

Above photo by me; below via Pinterest.

Today I'm practicing a new kind of yoga.
It's called pain.

om namah shivaya

om gam ganapataye namaha

sitting           waiting

for it to subside

                 the growing throbbing           throbs.               the plane does not move.

the plane does not work.

broken machine, broken               body.

image

I'm being asked to sit still.

                                                            break down so you can calm down

                                                                                                                         my ankle buzzing           light pain                    light particle                        release.

R          >           est

I       <    ce

C    >     ompress 

E   <      levate

I'll let you know what the doctor says.

What do I know?

I continue practicing, even in this             cold                       dark                sharp

pain.