Kiss the Sun

This summer I have been out and about reacquainting myself with my relationship to nature, my practice and rediscovering a sense of well being.  Practicing outside is always extremely gratifying and I have felt the strong healing effects from having my practice outside in the sunshine.  With each sun salutations I feel stronger and with each chest opener I feel my heart and head heal a little more each day.  Sleeping through the night, feeling energized and stronger have been but a few of the cherished benefits.  I decided to add a little extra, and have been going to the gym regularly.  I'm not a gym person by any stretch of the imagination, but I am finding its helping me build strength which I really need to help me rebuild and regain health.  Having spent the last year sitting for fourteen hours a day, then going to bed, getting up and doing it again every day for nearly a year straight  left me in a health crisis.  By the end of June I had barely enough energy to get through half the day, needed coffee not to fall asleep on the way home, and began noticing my hips, knees and feet were so stiff from non use I was limping.  This complied with a mirror of other sudden health complaints left me wondering and worried that I had put off this lifestyle change a little too long.  It going to take a long while, but I do feel the reemergence of a body, mind connection and some peace and well being starting to take root.  

Never again will I allow this to happen.  I am in control of my own person and actions.  I will not allow a person, a paycheck, or any amount of bullying or intimidation to interfere with my health, my well being or my life drive!

Wishing everyone a strong and wonderful day.

Meditation

 

                                                               The farm 

Lately I have been doing a lot of things I love.  Morning yoga on the beach, taking time to enjoy life with my loved ones and feel the goodness in everything around me.  As I unwind and heal my soul, spirit, and body from this previous year I am so thankful to be given this opportunity, so grateful I had the brains to make the decision I did, and forgive also myself for not taking it sooner.   It is a bit unnerving to see the damage done and know the amount of time it will take to repair mentally as well as physically.  I'm quite focused on moving forward and dumping out the toxic events that surrounded my day to day existence for the past ten months.  This is much easier said than done.  Each day I as I sit in yoga It know I will need to do much much more. I am going to need to start a personal daily meditation.   This is going to take some work.  Whenever I did a little mediation this past year either at home or int he studio I would instantly fall asleep.  Too much stress. I also have the problem of monkey mind, which is no fun at all.  I jump, jump, jump from subject to subject in my head.  Year, some thought is needed as to how I'm going to accomplish this.  It seems so easy, sit back relax and think of noting.  Seems so easy but SO difficult!  

Do your practice and all is coming

Inspiration for a Daily Practice 

 Happy sunny summer day all!

Yoga on the Beach

Throwing my yoga mat and suitcase with wild abandon into the trunk of the car I eagerly traveled to the seashore for some well needed healing and rejuvenation.  For several summers part of my summertime yoga consists of spending time with Don and Nancy, two fantastic teachers who through their teachings always provide me with whats needed to feel whole again.  This year all their classes are directly on the beach.  Classes on the beach previously have been on a deck overlooking the beach (which is quite nice as well) but this year we are directly on the beach.  It took a little maneuvering to figure out how to keep sand off my mat,  even out the surface a bit, and place myself  comfortably, but now with the logistics out of the way I am totally sold.  I love using the sand as a prop, meditating while gazing at the ocean, and the luxurious sensory experience of the feel of the sand, ocean wind, the blue sky's, and the peace and serenity it brings.  Each day I feel a little stronger and a bit more whole while simultaneously acknowledging how far I have slipped from vitality and life force.  As always the ocean's incredible life force rejuvenates me inwardly and brings out such joy. 

Hari Om and shine on everyone!

small drops

Incrementally, one drop at a time, I am unwinding.  This is a process, but it certainly helps to be feeling the first indicators of well being.  Getting on the mat continues a discovery and an ego buster but it also feels really good and with each breath and asana I feel by body coming back to life and my mind slowing down.  Summer is in full bloom and the world seems like a better place these days.  I'm heading off to the waters edge for a while with stacks of books, thesis, and journal articles.  Time to meditate and let the toxic debris of this past year dissipate and fall away.

Happy Sunday everyone!

Happy 4rth!

                                                   This Land is Your Land

This land is your land, this land is my land

From California to the New York Island

From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Steam waters

This land was made for you and me.

As I went walking that ribbon of highway

I saw above me that endless skyway

I saw below me that golden valley

This land was made for you and me.

I roamed and I rambled and I followed my footsteps

To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts

While all around me a voice was sounding

This land was made for you and me.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling

And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling

A voice was chanting, As the fog was lifting,

This land was made for you and me.

This land is your land, this land is my land

From California to the New York Island

From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters

This land was made for you and me.

Woody Guthrie

Summertime

A Lazy Summer's Day Listen… 

There’s no sound of anger or of annoyance, 

There’re neither cars racing on the highway 

Nor that highway for them to race on, 

There’re neither kids chanting on the playground 

Nor bells calling us to Christianity. There’s neither the cracking of the sky 

Nor the persistent rain pattering on my roof. 

There’s no couple arm in arm to admire the magnificent view 

There’re no drums to feed our ears 

Nor sirens to steal the boredom away 

There’s no unfamiliar wing creeping underneath the November afternoon 

Nor floods to enshroud the thirsty grounds 

The land lies lonely out here 

On this lazy summer’s day 

There’s no pollution to poison the airs 

Nor forests to give them life 

All I hear is the hushing sound of the wind 

Assisting the sand to fall into beautiful undulations 

Stella Sisanda Qishi