Planting Hope

"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - Audrey Hepburn

The first seed catalogs came in the mail this week.  I love looking at them and imagining that my garden, my plants will look just like those in the pictures.

Audrey Hepburn was right.  Planting a garden gives hope, a belief that something good will take place in the future if you plant the seed.

When I walked Taz this morning  I noticed a tiny purple violet blooming at the edge of our front walk.  It had braved the cold, hidden under the fronds of a fern.  A tiny sign that spring would come again.

Goodnight, Sweet dreams  

Just Like The Lotus

There was a beautiful image of a lotus flower that came across FB today.  The caption read, " No mud, no lotus."  I often teach about the lotus in my classes.  We usually do an asana called Lotus flow, which begins with hands in prayer position as you inhale the hands go upward over the head, as you exhale the hands open wide.  Since it is a flow we do several of them.

As we go through the flow, I talk about how precious and beautiful the lotus flower is.  It is considered to be sacred, much like our western dogwood blossom.  I talk about how the lotus oil is used in the finest perfumes, but it only grows in the mud, the murkiest of waters. And then I talk about my personal philosophy of the lotus, how it also represents the heart...I believe that we all have this incredible lotus flower that lives in our hearts...full of beauty...and no matter how sordid or dirty our past, that blossom can bloom from our hearts with love.  We all have the potential to bloom like the lotus.

Tonight, no matter how bad you feel, how guilty you might feel, no matter how much your past haunts you...with kindness and love, with effort...you can rise up out of the mud just like the lotus.

Your life, your blossom can be one of beauty, just like the lotus.

Goodnight, Sweet dreams

Spicy Balance

It will be nice to not teach tomorrow, to focus on the music.  We have a couple of gigs coming up, getting new shows ready, it is exciting.  It is also nice to balance, the yoga, music and art.
I can usually tell when one area of my life is becoming too dominant, I feel out of sorts.

I love all that I do, but there has to be a balance, for me anyway.  I know there are many who focus on one aspect of their life and are happy to do so.  For me, variety is my spice of life.

I also have some great ideas for a couple of floor cloths that I am getting ready to paint.
But, tonight it will be an early to bed kind of night.  I am tired, ready for those warm flannel sheets and my comfy cozy bed.

Goodnight, Sweet dreams

New Faces

Lots of new faces in all my classes today.  New faces mean different things in each class.  In the first class, their stay at the center will be only 28 days, depending on the program and their health, I might see them in my class only 3 or 4 times.

In the second class, a 90 day program, we  begin to build a yoga and meditation practice. They have the opportunity to see that yoga can be a tool in recovery, that it can help with their daily stresses. We get to know each other.

In the third class, a community class I teach in my hometown, new faces might come back, they might not.  I learned a long time ago, as much as I love yoga, as much as I love teaching...it is not for everyone. But I have students who have been with me well over ten years.  I am grateful.

Because of where I teach, I always have new faces.  That is a challenge to any teacher. I am always teaching basics, modifications and yet for some, who have studied with me for years in the community class, I have to keep them interested and on their toes.

I am watching my students constantly, to see their alignments, their issues, their struggles and what is easy for them. I make sure each class is different, that no matter the student, they feel welcome and safe.

Now you all know why I whine about my energy being low sometimes.  :)

Rick is watching the college football championship game.  He is awfully quiet, I hope Alabama is doing good.  I suppose I should check on him.
Goodnight, Sweet dreams

Cold Winter's Night

The coldest night of our winter so far.  There were some places in Alabama that had snow flurries last night after the rains moved through.  I didn't see them, but I hope to at least see a snowflake or two before spring.

The dogs loved running in the cold air today, so did I.  Well, I jogged and walked but it felt great in the cold.

We looked at a new vehicle this weekend, an Outback.  The Honda is a great car, but it is just not what we need.  I loved the way the Outback handled and how secure it felt to drive.  Keeping my fingers crossed there will be one in our driveway soon.

My hot tea awaits, I hear Calliou barking at the stars, deer, whatever he sees, smells, or hears.
Goodnight, Sweet dreams

Ahimsa

This came across FB from the Wayne Dyer site.
In yoga we teach about ahimsa, the first Yama ( moral discipline  or restraint).  Ahimsa means non-harming, to be gentle to yourself and all creation.

I teach in my classes that often when we practice Ahimsa, it is easy to be kind and gentle to others, but most difficult to be kind and gentle to ourselves.

We often forget that our bodies are temples, that they house the most precious and incredible part of us, our soul.  We berate how we look, how much we weigh, our shapes, our sizes; forgetting that this body should be treated with love, respect and kindness.  We should nourish it with healthy food, clean water, fresh air and daily exercise.  It is the only body we have.

So the next time you hear yourself making disparaging remarks about your body, remember the word
ahimsa and be kind and gentle to yourself.

Taz Advice

Sometimes when we walk Taz has to take a break, she has lung issues too.  Today was damp and chilly, so we made our rest stop near the barn.

Enjoy your weekend.  Get some fresh air and exercise.  Taz says, " take a walk with a friend."