IT'S TOMORROW FOLKS !!!

friends, tomorrow is the day! please join me for this gentle excursion.

there are still slots open, so if you make a last minute decision to attend, wonderful!

a creative delving

into the immediate experience

that is alive within you.

a time to open the eyes inwardly,

toward the good news of grace,

which reveals itself over and over again.

 

NO EASTER SUNDAY VINYASA

my vinyasa class will not be meeting this evening at 5:15.

coax the sweetness out of each hour on this day.

 i hope your day sings to you like a bird, and if this is a holiday to be had,

for you and yours... the finest of sunny blessings to you. 

perhaps we will be seeing each other on tuesday at 5:45.

till then, the man of the hour is mr. easter bunny.

xoxo

 

 

MEETING THE ABYSS WITH ATTENTION

in today's saturated yoga market, it is easy to call into question what it is, what is yoga?

is it maintenance of the physical, is it harnessing of the mental, 

is it a mingling with the infinite? 

all of the above.

the unbounded tapestry of systems that is yoga, deconstructs all of the protecting and hiding mechanisms that so characterize the human species. 

the truth is, just the sheer idea of going THERE, doing THAT,
 sounds unattractive to a lot of us... i know, me too... but...
. the deeper teachings of yoga say, it is intolerable to linger in those superficial layers.  that we must tell the truth all the way down. to be willing to be shocked, to be willing to be humbled, to go forward into the investigation, without protection, and discover what has been there all along.

 i would be a liar if i said that yoga is delicious and blissful all the time. honestly, to look deep requires some bombing of the illusion, to drop through all the lies, the worthlessness, the self loathing, the sense of unlovability, whatever the current nag is,  it can feel like labor pains...  your midwifing yourself into a larger space of refined feeling.

yeah, i know your probably thinking, hey lady, go ahead and count me out on this one.

 but it is in this space itself, where the conduit is to be found.

it is the pointer, it is the door

it is a welcome mat for the deeper yearning... 

which is what gives the journey its energy.

some of the truths we unveil are not pretty truths, but very necessary truths.
if we are sincere in our intention to really know, even at the end of the day, if there  is no consolation prize, even if it gives us nothing, the truth will be there to be known.

 i am reminded time and again, that i must meet both pleasure and the abyss with my full attention... even when i am giving on empty.
 to directly experience the conversation between pain and beauty is the task...
 without feeling compelled to wrap a story around it... 
rather, to love all of it without exception.

yoga is... the wellspring, the toolbox, the medicine, the reliable friend
 in the known and the unknown. 

personally, i am grateful to have the allegiance. 

photography GINA BOWER

design LISA O'CONNOR

 

REBIRTHDAY

simple put...

you are invited to come take an all out dip

into the infinite archives of inspiration.

nothing like yoga, to get us there,

to get us through the gate.

sure do hope to see you.

BIG LOVE.

 

COURAGE

courage is the power to let go of the familiar.

fear and courage are brothers.

courage is doing what you are afraid to do.

there can be no courage unless you are scared.

courage is being afraid but going on anyhow.

courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgement 

 that something else is more important than fear.

do not look upon this world with fear and loathing.

 bravely face whatever the gods offer.

healing takes courage, and we all have courage,

 even if you have to dig a little.

look at hopelessness in the face and say 

 " we are simply not meant to be together"

hold courage's hand then walk away.

courage is... the knowledge of how to fear what ought to be feared

and how not to fear what ought not to be feared.

courage is to never let your actions be influenced by your fears.

courage is not the absence of fear

but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

courage is not living without fear.

courage is being scared to death and doing the right thing anyway.

courage is looking fear right in the eye and saying

"get the hell out of my way"

i've got things to do.

don't start your day with the broken pieces of yesterday.

it takes strength to endure abuse and it takes courage to stop it.

a strong person is not the one who doesn't cry.

a strong person is one who is quiet, sheds tears for a moment,

and then picks up her sword and fights again.

when you are forced to stand alone, you realize what you have in you.

one step back doesn't mean your defeated.

it only means your going to take the same step forward again.

but this time WISER.

you can never cross the ocean,

 unless you have courage to lose sight of the shore.

the brave man is not he who is not afraid,

but he who conquers that fear.

painting ~ "black bird sings alone" by LISA O'CONNOR

words sent to me from my dear pop... 

the most  strong and courageous man i know 

 

LEARN TO LIKE

learn to like what doesn't cost much.

learn to like reading, conversation, and music.

learn to like plain food, plain service, plain cooking.

learn to like fields, trees, brooks, hiking, rowing, climbing, hills.

learn to like people, even though some of them may be different,

different from you.

learn to like to work and enjoy the satisfaction of doing your job

as well as it can be done.

learn to like the song of birds, the companionship of dogs.

learn to like gardening, puttering around the house, and fixing things.

learn to like the sunrise and sunset, the beating of rain on the roof

and windows, and the gentle fall of snow on a winter day. 

learn to keep your wants simple, and refuse to be controlled by the likes 

and dislikes of others.

words by lowell c. bennion

drawing by lisa o'connor

 

 

HOW TO MAKE A SNOW ANGEL

greetings friends! 

first of all... NO 4PM CLASS TODAY!

nothing like a proper blizzard to slow us down a bit.

so since you won't be coming to class today, i have included a wee tutorial, 

an outdoor practice for you in lieu of our indoor gathering. 

HOW TO MAKE A SNOW ANGEL:

demonstrated by noema devaki! 

i will also be extending the pass promotion through the first 2 weeks of january.

10 CLASSES $75. NO EXPIRATION!

stay cozy and savor the wonderment of it all!

ta ta!