Lily

             One lone lily pad
       Floating
   Waiting
Hoping
         Tendrilled roots extending
Expecting
     Exhibiting
             Exciting
The possibilities
       "Come, sit, rest a while,"
    Accepting
Respecting

Catharsis

There's something to be said for purging. The ability to lay all your burdens down, the relief of getting things off your chest, or just being able to share, even the briefest of moments, with another human being.

I don't like to c9mplain. I try not to vent too much. I don't want my default to be negatively biased. But og, what a good let down can do for the soul.

I had the opportunity to retreat last weekend, and I really thought that would be enough. But this has been a strangely emotional week, unrelated to my natural biorhythms. And based on conversations with fellow travellers, I was not alone in this.

So being able to release all if this angst has been a seriously refreshing experience.  I got to do a little #angrydrunkpainting as well as being able to kibitz with several cohorts.

I'm looking forward to the lightness of my being when I wake up tomorrow. 

For now, I am going to sleep the slumber of the confessed.  If you feel burdened by your own emotional energy, consider taking a break from your life's drama and find a creative outlet of your choising, bring a friend or confidante and get to purging.

Peace, love, and applesauce

A Walk In The Woods

This past weekend, I had the privilege of presenting retreat style yoga for a group of women, including the mother of a good friend of mine, all in their Golden Years. The original plan included us meeting for yoga and meditation on Friday evening, Saturday midday, and again on Sunday midday with everyone sleeping in their own homes in between, I would stay with my friend's mother. This would give me the opportunity to wander around between meetings to get my own down time. 

Unfortunately, most of the ladies had life events that changed the plans. So, the few that were left still gathered for a class on Saturday, for some pranayama, some movement, some education, some meditation, and a lovely shared meal. I got to teach these ladies some great ways to improve their self care, increase their flexibility and strength, and some clean eating tips. We even shared some sweet dark chocolates made without processed sugar. (recipe at bottom of post)

During my down time, I stuck to my 10,000 step morning walks and got to wander around the beautiful countryside of Ionia County. The first day I walked without my headphones. I wanted to hear all the sounds of nature and be IN the country. The temperature dropped quite a bit from the day before so I ended up with a little inflammation in my outer ear canal. So the second day I brought a podcast to listen to, and just kept the volume low enough to still tune in to the world around me. 

During my adventures I spied wild turkeys, foxes, bunnies, racoons, turkey vultures, turtles, and chipmunks. The landscapes were incredible, the sunrises breathtaking. Being that far away from the city is so refreshingly quiet of city sounds, while still being a symphony of the sounds of life. If you haven't been out in nature for a while, studies show you could be suffering from "nature deficit disorder" one of the symptoms of living in our high tech world. 

Research indicates that being around trees, dirt, grass, and other parts of nature, can "enhance the health of individuals experiencing chronic mental, emotional and physical health difficulties" read more here

Make the time to go discover the wonderful healing properties of a good walk in the woods. Not near the woods? Go plant a small garden, or just go sit by a tree. Even a little bit can help a lot. 

ps: here's that chocolate recipe - I used special dark cocoa and OMG!

CLEAN EATING CHOCOLATE BARS

(Makes 12 servings)

INGREDIENTS:

·         3/4 cup pure coconut oil

·         1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

·         1/2 cup honey

·         2 teaspoons vanilla extract

·         2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (optional)

·         1/8 teaspoon sea salt

DIRECTIONS:

1.    In a medium sized pot, combine all ingredients. Whisk well over low to medium heat until the chocolate is smooth. You want to get rid of as many of the clumps from the coconut oil as possible.

2.    Spread out over a parchment lined cookie sheet and chill in the fridge or freezer overnight.

3.    Cut and enjoy. (Store in the freezer, wrapped individually.)

Summer

When I was a kid I couldn't wait for summer vacation to start. Then, about 3 or 4 weeks into it, once I had finished the summer reading list, I couldn't wait to go back. 

Not much has changed since then. Whenever a holiday or vacation rolls around, I can't wait for the time off, but then I start pining to be back in the yoga room. 

This year will be no different. 

I am running out to Barryton, MI to do a stay-cation style retreat for a friend of mine, which means long walks in the woods. And then I have my teacher training weekend. And then in July, I'm subbing for too many teachers as they head out on vacations. Somewhere in there I need to nail down dates to take a kayak trip with my son, and hopefully a Cedar Pointe trip with, well, whomever I can talk into going with me. 

Hopefully I'll find some time to get tech free and unplug. 

Here is my intention for the summer:

I WILL unplug during my time off this summer.

I WILL get out and complete my 10,000 steps at least 4 times a week.

I WILL rest when I get the chance to rest/

I WILL enjoy the summer.

What intentions will you set for this summer? 

Sawabona Shikoba - the meaning

Here is the original post that was shared to me:

SAWABONA!!!

Há uma "tribo" africana que tem um costume muito bonito.
Quando alguém faz algo prejudicial e errado, eles levam a pessoa para o centro da aldeia, e toda a tribo vem e o rodeia. Durante dois dias, eles vão dizer ao homem todas as coisas boas que ele já fez.

A tribo acredita que cada ser humano vem ao mundo como um ser bom. Cada um de nós desejando segurança, amor, paz, felicidade. Mas às vezes, na busca dessas coisas, as pessoas cometem erros.
A comunidade enxerga aqueles erros como um grito de socorro.
Eles se unem então para erguê-lo, para reconectá-lo com sua verdadeira natureza, para lembrá-lo quem ele realmente é, até que ele se lembre totalmente da verdade da qual ele tinha se desconectado temporariamente: "Eu sou bom".

Sawabona Shikoba!
SAWABONA, é um cumprimento usado na África do Sul e quer dizer:
"Eu te respeito, eu te valorizo. Você é importante pra mim"

Em resposta as pessoas dizem SHIKOBA,que é:
"Então, eu existo pra você".

Foto: Jessica Hilltout/AMEN
Imagem de pessoas em Gana utilizada para ilustrar o post.

translation:

Sawabona!!!

There is a ' ' African Tribe that has a custom very beautiful.
When someone does something harmful and wrong, they take the person to the centre of the village, and the whole tribe comes and surrounds you. For two days, they will say to the man all the good things that he has already done.

The tribe believes that every human being comes to the world as a be good. Each of us wants security, love, peace, happiness. But sometimes, in search of these things, people make mistakes.
The community sees those mistakes like a cry for help.
I am good ".

Sawabona Shikoba!
Sawabona, it is a compliment used in South Africa and want to say:
I love you respect, I appreciate you. You are important to me '

People say in response shikoba, which is:
' then I exist to you ".

Photo: Jessica Hilltout / Amen
Image of people in Ghana used to illustrate the post.

Sawabona Shikoba

A good friend of mine shared a beautiful post on FB about the South African greeting, "Sawabona, Shikoba". In looking for more information on this version of Maitri, or Metta, I discovered this webpage and wanted to share. How enlightening:

Sawabona Shikoba

Alignment Workshops

Yoga is a very organic practice. There is no right or wrong way to do a pose. Bodies come in all different shapes, bones point in different directions, and muscles come in different lengths and thicknesses. We are not born with symmetrical bodies. 

That much is true. 

But learning the fundamentals of alignment in your yoga poses can help to maximize the benefits of each pose as a means to stretch, strengthen, and bring relaxation to your body. 

Come to my workshop and learn these fundamentals of alignment. Register before 5:30 tonight to receive the early registration discount. 

Tonight at Bodhi Seed Yoga in Mt. Clemens

Sunday Evening at Little Lotus Wellness in Ferndale

Yoga Teaching Schedule

Schedule:

Mon:      7p          VCLSC clubhouse      Basic Mixed Yoga ($8/class)

Wed:      6p          Entouch Yoga           *Yoga for Cancer Patients and Survivors
             7:15p      Entouch Yoga           Healthy Back

Thurs:    7p          VCLSC clubhouse      Basic Mixed Yoga ($8/class)

Sat:       1p           Harrison Twp Lib      Mindfulness program (one Saturday per month)

Sun:      10:15a     Entouch Yoga           Basic yoga
       

*Yoga for Cancer Patients and Survivors classes are for female cancer patients and survivors. Doctor’s note required. Students do not need to be patients of St. John Hospital. For more information on the class/support group or to RSVP please call Jessica Chapman, LLMSW at 313-647-3004

Village Club Lake St. Clair

35844 Jefferson Ave, Harrison Charter Township, MI 48045

Entouch Yoga and Wellness llc

39323 Garfield, Clinton Twp, MI 48038

http://entouchllc.com/

https://www.facebook.com/EntouchLLC/

Harrison Township Public Library

38255 L'Anse Cruese St Suite A, Harrison Twp, MI 48045

https://htlibrary.org/

https://www.facebook.com/htlibrary/

Little Lotus Wellness Studio

195 W 9 Mile Suite 211, Ferndale, MI 48220

https://www.facebook.com/LittleLotusWellness/

http://www.littlelotuswellness.com/

Sub jobs will be posted on feed, watch for them on Pada Sukha Yoga and Michele Rager's feed!