Let's Get Wild & Free

Photo by Tom Libertiny. 

Sometimes the day hits like a drumbeat -- 

hard on the heart.

The feet hurt.

Body aches. Your brain tries to tell you      you're not OK...

Photos by me. 

How do I make it through?

Shake off the stress. Stretch out the tension. Let go!

I head outside and hoop for twenty minutes. Or chat with friends. Or laugh at nothing.

Photo by Cara Brostrom.

Slowly, slowly... returning to peace. Finding that center channel. Shushumna. The breath moves like a wave, keeping the mind from worry.

Breathe. Let go.

Move wildly in your day -- in your life -- you are free...as soon as you start thinking of yourself this way. 

:)

Meet Me in Montana! (You're Invited: Yogatography Retreat in October 2012)

Celebrate your life!

Yogatography Retreat

hosted by Big Sky Yoga Retreats

Montana 2012

October 11-14

http://bigskyyogaretreats.com/yogaphotography.html

Come play:

yoga and photography

                                 relaxation and rejuvenation 

                                                        creativity and connection

beginners welcome!

photo by Cara Brostrom.

Special Offer: Sign up by Wed Aug 8!

You will receive (totally free and from the heart):

• A big yogi hug upon arrival :)
• A custom, handwritten poem (topic of your choice)
• The chance to share your reflections on the blog
• A free, custom yoga class via Skype, yoga book of your choice, or other resource to encourage your practice & your journey towards enlightenment. Photography-related items are possible too. Email me for details! (aliveinthefire at gmail dot com)

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.

YogaEarth Superfood Solstice Specials

All photos by me.

Summer is a great time of year for eating superfoods, don't you think?

The air is hot, the body wants to feel light, the mind wants to be free.

YogaEarth can help bring you back to the body you love and desire.

You could try a chocolate coconut almond bar, some organic coconut water, or even chocolate-covered goji berries (mmmm, my fave!).

The organic superfoods, bamboo water bottles, and Lunar Wellness kits are also fantastic deals.

Enjoy! Share!

May you be light & filled with love this summer.

I Create the I Am

endlessly

effortlessly

I go on

knowing nothing but what I feel

knowing everything

conceding to love

experiencing change

being a victim of change

being no victim

happiness not real

til shared

happiness real

in me, for me

is what it is

tet set

om

Sweaty Betty Summer Sale

All photos via Sweaty Betty.

For all you yogis shopping for new summer gear... check this out!

Sweaty Betty is starting a huge sale on June 21. 

You can save up to 50% on normal pricing through the end of July.

Pretty sweet, right? :)

Have fun shopping :)

Just Be Free

Photos found via Pinterest. 

Free...from worry, from exhaustion, from expectation.


You deserve it.

And honestly, why not?

I Feel Like Baking

 Photos via Sarah Rhoads and Whole Living Daily.

Windows down, hands out the window, driving fast, the wind in your hair.

Summer in full swing.

Let's have an adventure, and let's cook these tasty treats. Yum!

Chocolate Hazelnut Granola Bars

2 cups rolled oats
1 cup puffed crispy rice cereal
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1 tablespoon flax seed
1/2 cup honey (raw local is best)
1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (the all-natural or raw spreads are best, or you can use--gasp!--Nutella)
3 tablespoons oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup nuts (I like almonds or walnuts)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Line an 8-by-8-inch pan with parchment paper, letting it drape slightly over the sides of the pan.

3. Chop the nuts. In a large bowl stir together rolled oats, crispy rice cereal, coconut flakes, and flax seed. Add in honey, chocolate hazelnut spread, vanilla extract, and stir until blended.

4. Spread and press evenly onto parchment-lined baking pan and bake in a preheated oven on the center rack for 20-25 minutes until top is golden brown. Cool pan on wire rack for 20 minutes. (Resist the urge to cut or handle the bars until they are cool.) Once pan is cool to the touch, lift parchment paper from pan and set granola on parchment pan until almost completely cooled.

To make eight full-sized bars, cut down the center and then cut each section into 4 evenly sized bars per section. Cut them all in half again for 16 small squares.

Happiness

Photos by me.

Being at home. Enjoying the simplicity.

Living free.

Doing things anyway. Staying up late. Not knowing.

Being OK with that.

om namah shivaya

Walk the path, my yogis. 

XO

Big Sky Yoga Retreats: October Yoga & Creative Photography Retreat

Photos via Pinterest. 

Open sky. Free space. Room to breathe.


Do you crave adventure? Looking for a creative respite this fall?

Check out Big Sky Yoga Retreats. A spot where you can roll out your mat, explore your creative side behind the camera lens, and get to know other peace-seeking yogis.


See you in Montana: October 11-14, 2012. We'll take some photographs and practice our yoga. We will clear the space we need to be free.


Namaste.

Prepare to Come Back

Photo above  by Pure Souls Photo.

When I hear that at the end of savasana, it is bittersweet.

Where have I gone?

Where am I coming back to?