Blissfully YOU!: Welcome back...

Greetings! And welcome back my Blissful Bodies, where have you been?! I deeply apologize that more time has passed than I would have liked since my last blog post. But I trust that Spring has been full of abundance and new adventures and you are still living to celebrate your blissful body everyday. My life's path has been unfolding in amazing (and sometimes strange) ways, but I am truly excited about each experience that awaits as I move into a new phase of my life. After 1 year of working at Google, my contract ended and I find myself doing some serious re-evaluation of my career direction...while still mourning the loss off all that good Googley food. Yes yes I thoroughly enjoyed the comforts of a 9-6 job, and thought I would try to find another one and be content. But after many resume submissions, high hopes destroyed and several interviews - I felt the Universe nudging me to stop being attached to the job search and just TRUST that all would be provided. So that's exactly what Im doing...in addition to teaching yoga more, planning retreats, workshops and promoting my doula services more regularly. I am so encouraged by those around me that have left regular jobs to pursue their passions and share their gifts with the world. And they are far from struggling...experiencing true santosha (contentment) because of deep faith and a yearning to live their Truth.

Practicing on the deck at Flowing Waters - {Where the Heart and the Head Meet}

Give thanks to some of my warriors handling their business - da'shon.is, Allison, Damaris, Regina, Latham, Ana Lisa and Kate. Yoga reminds us to continually try to practice santosha on and off the mat - in comfort and discomfort, in peace and dis-ease, in lack and in plenty, in battle and in retreat. I feel so blessed to have the time and space to delve back into my business goals for a while, but I am still exploring employment options, and but I have a deep sense of contentment while I meander down the river of life where more is being revealed in each moment. I have all the faith that "the Creator has a Master Plan." And Im glad to take you down river with me.....vamonos.

Unintentional Retreat

There comes a time when we all must retreat - either willingly or begrudgingly. The effort will be the same whether we receive or resist our body's inner call to align with the natural pulsation of the Universe. If we aim to live more in-tuned with nature, as taught by Ayurveda (the Indian science of life/healing), then we are encouraged to rest/reflect more during the winter months and be more active and connected with nature during summer. If we are not receptive to these principles, our bodies will eventually develop imbalances in certain areas related to our constitution (dosha). As we transition from Spring to Summer the pitta ( fire element ) becomes dominant creating anger, frustration and digestive issues. So during the upcoming Full Moon Retreat we will learn yogic practices and enjoy foods that help keep us cool, balanced and grounded like a mountain.

Although I am planning a retreat in May, I had not made myself retreat for quite a while (shhh). The first time I took a true retreat was in 2009 in a cabin in the GA Mountains when I was working at Cartoon Network, again going through a time of transition. When things started to feel stuck I instinctively knew I needed time for reflection and grounding. So I settled into the woods one blistery October weekend and immersed myself in journaling, reading spiritual texts, yoga, hiking, healing foods and meditation. The silence in the woods can be kinda eerie (especially if you saw ALL of the Friday the 13th films), but it soon becomes familiar and you start to find a new rhythm...what you might refer to as Natural Time....no plans, no rushing...everything moves in accordance with the flow.

I first became interested in doing a personal retreat years earlier after reading Path of Practice by Bri. Maya Tiwari, where she recounts her journey of healing from cancer through reconnection with her ancestors and the earth. This is one of my most favorite books that I go back to regularly for reference and inspiration. I have continued to take days for reflection, self-care and to observe a slower daily rhythm, but there is nothing like taking time alone immersed in silence and nature to reconnect and recharge our energetic batteries. On Easter weekend, I again found myself retreating, although slightly unintentionally. I had initially planned to go up to Mt Shasta with a friend to do some business and planning for my retreat. After 2 rescheduled trips, I decided to make the trip without any company, and allow myself to focus on soaking in the rest and renewal that my body and soul were in need of.

Deck for our yoga practice at Namaste House!

I answered the universal call to take a mini-retreat for myself. After that initial shock of detachment from urban living I quickly eased into the amazing sound of the river rushing in front of the property at Flowing Waters . I actually became so so grateful that I could enjoy such a beautiful weekend alone to soak it all in with ALL of my senses ALIVE: witnessing the snow melting, flowers blossoming, yoga in the bright sunshine, hiking in the hills, spontaneous trance dance and african dance meditations on the deck. It was Brilliant! Are you ready to experience this and more? Then you should join me in Shasta May 3-6 for Full Moon Rejuvenation Weekend!

You will have space to practice living more in union (yoga) - so we learn to not only do yoga, but LIVE our yoga. You will cultivate grounding to strengthen and balance the Root Chakra while connecting with the elements; observing the fluctuations in nature - contraction and expansion, effulgence and obscurity. The plants, trees, rivers and the moon teach us how to find our own sacred rhythm. Even in our yoga practice, its important to vary the intensity of your practice to keep the body strong and also provide sufficient renewal. I recommend adding a yin or restorative practice to your schedule once a week to allow your body mind to go on a mini-retreat.

If you have never done yin/restorative, we will be enjoying some of this meditative and grounding practice at the Full Moon Retreat, in addition, Ayurvedic workshops to learn how to live more in-tuned with the seasons, finding your dosha and avoiding imbalances. For the full schedule of the retreat please visit the Facebook invitation.

Check back for more updates on yoga, love and life after free lunches....