The lightness of being.

Let me set the stage: 7am, alarm goes off, I'm incredibly tired. I had a super busy, hectic night at D's on Sunday and today I wanted my bed. Set my alarm to go off again at 7:15... In a moment of clarity, I remembered a friend might be coming to the Shala for her first mysore practice and I wanted to be there for her.. So I hopped out of bed, threw on my clothes and rode my bike in a sleepy daze over to the shala.

I roll out my mat. I do my sun salutes which I will described as sleep induced sun salutes. It was hazy. I was sweating within 2 minutes of starting my practice. Humidity!!

So I practiced.. By the time I was finished the standing poses, I woke up a bit.

When I got to the floor, things felt different. I felt light. My jumps thrus were almost effortless. It was like I was a feather. I don't know what shifted today, but I just felt a new sense of being.

I know this will change. Everything does.

We are constantly shifting, growing, morphing. I like that.

I'll end with a quote from Fiona Apple that has been floating around my brain:

"I certainly haven't been shopping for any new shoes
-And-
I certainly haven't been spreading myself around
I still only travel by foot and by foot, it's a slow climb,
But I'm good at being uncomfortable, so
I can't stop changing all the time."

10 things that make me happy right now.

1. yoga.
2. cool, early morning air.
3. coffee, home-brewed, home-enjoyed.
4. dancing to lady gaga.
5. pig-tails in my hair.
6. the orchid that asher gave me is still alive and blooming!!
7. going to austin on sunday!
8. selling things on craigslist!!
9. downsizing my things... still on a path of minimalism.
10. sleep. so. good.

tugboat sally.

I was at the art start craft bazaar last Sunday when I took this pic of a tugboat tugging away on the Delaware River. I plan to base my next tattoo on a tugboat. Need to get chugging away on the sketches.

kensington kinetic sculpture derby.

my favorite bike sculpture. a tandem "airplane" bike, with pilot and stewardess. simple, so sweet. i'll post another two or three favorites soon. love.

10 things that make me happy right now.

1. chai tea at the random tea room.
2. spending yesterday doing nothing at all, all day, with asher.
3. selling things on craigslist for cash money.
4. asana practice.
5. cleaning my 'closet', getting rid of things.
6. watching a newbie learn ashtanga from the beginning: it's so cool to watch how the teacher teaches and the student learns. i love this process of learning. one on one, with other's around, breath, driste, bandhas, asana. woot woot woot.
7. my wavy, wavy, scraggly longish hair. and my big, betty page, bangs.
8. witnessing a marriage/union of two people who are madly in love with each other.
9. i love the fact that i put a pink feather into sage's dog collar and it's still there and she looks like a circus dog, i love her for letting my do that. she had no choice really. but still.
10. upcoming adventure travels. secret stuff.

9.

(this is an excerpt from an article about Pattabhi Jois from the Yoga Journal)

As it was Guruji and Manju's desire to come to America, in 1975 Nancy Gilgoff and I brought them to Encinitas, California. They stayed in our home and conducted daily Mysore-style classes for two months. On the final night before Guruji was to return to India, we were in the kitchen chatting. Manju was translating.

I asked, "Guruji, you have seen my life, you have met my friends. As a big yogi to a little yogi, do you have any advice for me?"

"Yes," Guruji replied. "Each morning wake up. Do as much yoga as you want. Maybe you'll eat, maybe you'll fast. Maybe you'll sleep indoors, maybe you'll sleep outdoors. The next morning, wake up. Do as much yoga as you want. Maybe you'll eat, maybe you'll fast. Maybe you'll sleep indoors, maybe you'll sleep outdoors. Practice yoga, and all is coming!"

"Thank you, Guruji," I said. "That is just what I wanted to hear. Every other adult has told me to get a haircut and get a job. You are telling me to practice yoga, and all is coming. OK, I am ready!" -David Williams


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This excerpt keeps popping up in my head. It's the only part that I clearly remember... do as much yoga as you want. then do as much as you want the next day, etc.

I'm finally at a place in my life where I can do as much yoga as I want. I wake up at 7am. Ride my bike to the shala. Practice for however long I want. Sometimes I shower, Sometimes I don't. Sometimes I babysit after practice, sometimes I wait tables at night. Sometimes I drink coffee, sometimes tea..

The constant variable here is my practice.

I'm finally ready to do my practice. Everyday!! (except for moondays, saturdays and the occasional ladie's holiday).

I've been practicing steadily since May 2nd. I will continue on this Ashtanga Path. I find that practicing this method allows me to 'feel things.' I feel my body. I am in touch with the turnings of my mind. I find my breath. I more aware and focused.

I know that I can do this practice at home. Or I can pay to go to a shala. (which I will, if $ is ok..)

What I'm really trying to say is: I am ready!!

Love. Love. Love.

Don't Eat Shit Diet.

I've been thinking about food versus 'food products.' So much of our food these days is full of fake crap. It really grosses me out.

I'm not going to rant about this.. but instead, i'll send you over to a blog I love. Twwly talks about her ideas on food, she calls it the "Don't eat shit diet."