Honest Seeing

Yoga requires HONESTY. Honest seeing and honest action.  This means accepting ourselves where we are. Not pretending. Not judging ourselves. 

When I initially looked at this picture my first thought was "Oh God! Look at my rolls! I can't post this." I posted it anyway, and I'm glad that I did, because this picture is a reminder to me of two very important things -- Honesty and Love. 

Seeing honestly what is inside and out, without judging, and taking honest actions to move with compassion in the directions that honor our highest Self --- all skills that are vital to true health and well-being. They are cultivated through consistent effort, sometimes sweat, and often tears. 

This is the real work, and it happens when we recognize ourselves as WORTHY and WHOLE and commit to unconditionally LOVING ourselves NO MATTER WHAT. 

It's a practice!!! I am learning to love myself the way I deserve to be loved -- unconditionally, with all of my imperfections. 💫💜💫

#hanumanasana #yogaeverydamnday #healthyisbadass #spiritjunkie #sacredspaceyoga #empoweredyogis

Gratitude Saturday!!

I am extremely GRATEFUL for the opportunity to share and teach YOGA every Saturday at Lander Valley Farmer's Market!! Not only is it a beautiful bustling of wonderful people bringing their hard work and heartfelt creations to share, but the atmosphere is exciting and joyous, and it's just simply a lovely place to BE! I am also grateful for the sweet, green, slightly sunny, but mostly shaded circle of trees where we have the pleasure of holding our Sacred Space for Yoga. This last Saturday there were four courageous yogis who showed up to practice with me, to tap in and dive deeper into themselves. I am most grateful to them for their open, receptive hearts! 💜And it was INCREDIBLE to be able to teach and practice in that amazing setting while all the time the melodious music of Thunder and Rain were thrifting through the air! 🎶

See you next Saturday, Lander!! Remember, there are two opportunities to practice yoga with me throughout the week now -- Tuesdays @ 6:30pm at Sacred Space Yoga (address in profile) AND Saturdays @ 10am in City Park 🌲 Be well 🌟 Namaste 🙏🏻

Nourishing Carrot Apple Raisin Muffins

I am all about real food and very inspired by Sally Fallon's book Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats so I soak all of my grains, including flours. When I first read the book I was a believer, but in the beginning I found the task a little daunting -- never had I put that much time and effort into the preparing stage of cooking. Fortunately, for myself and my family, I have gotten a lot better and meal planning and preparation, and I am here to tell you that it's not any harder than brushing your teeth. It's no different than any other thing that you do daily -- make smoothies, do yoga, meditate, put on deodorant, pray before meals, whatever you do (you get the idea). If it matters to you, you'll do it! 

The idea behind soaking is that it makes the nutrients in our food more available. I'm not going into the details in this post, but please get yourself a copy of this book! Mine is well-used! I think I take it out multiple times a day for one thing, or another. Without further ado, my recipe....

Ingredients:

*It goes without saying -- choose organic when possible!

3 Cups organic whole grain flour (this time I tried spelt and it was great!)
1/2 Cup rolled oats

2 Cups organic cultured buttermilk

1/2 Cup water

2 organic free-range eggs (preferably from a local farmer), beaten

3 Tbsp organic butter (from grass-fed cows, if possible)

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 tsp ginger

1 tsp vanilla extract 

1 1/2 Cups grated carrots

1 apple chopped with skin

3/4 Cup raisins

1/2-3/4 Cup Sucanat (evaporated cane juice - however, I use whatever I have on hand. This morning I used 1/2 cup turbinado and a little unsulphered molasses.)

Mix the flour, rolled oats, buttermilk, and water in a large bowl until it is smooth. Cover and let soak in a warm area for 12-24 hours (the longer you let it soak, the more it will rise). When you're ready, preheat the oven to 350 degrees, grease your bakeware (with butter or coconut oil and flour) add the rest of the ingredients, and mix. The batter will be a little clumpy at first, but once you get going with it, it will mix up very evenly. I've found that some flours will be goopier and harder to mix well, but even then it just takes a little more "elbow grease". ☺ This recipe usually makes 12 muffins and a loaf (sometimes I use a standard loaf pan and other times an 8x8 square pan). Enjoy!

Warrior of Love

COURAGE affords us many opportunities that we would not otherwise have.  Chances to grow, to LOVE PASSIONATELY, to serve others, to LIVE FULLY.  When we truly embrace the moment (without clinging, i.e., without letting fear overtake our wanting to participate in life), we live in courage and we open ourselves to an expanded filed of GRACE.

The idea of courageousness often brings to mind the thought of a warrior.  This is a good image.  We can be warriors of PEACE, warriors of LOVE, warriors of TRUTH, JOY, LIGHT, FREEDOM.  Fear is there, but the warrior's HEART'S desire runs deeper and stronger than fear.

Like anything else we choose to undertake, it is important how we walk the warrior's journey.  First and most important is ATTITUDE.  We have to have the DESIRE, and we must be steadfast in our INTENTION.  A teacher once told me that Discipline is simply remembering what you want.  We all have desires, but to manifest them we need to REMEMBER!   Second, a warrior must acquire the knowledge to be successful in order to ALIGN.  This is technique, pure and simple, and comes from teachers, books, meditation, self-inquiry, and experience.  Lastly, a warrior puts his planning into ACTION and moves with STEADFAST PRECISION and with his HEART, which holds his original INTENTION.

ATTITUDE, ALIGNMENT, ACTION. What is your Heart's Desire? What is your Intention?

Take a simple seat -- one that is honestly comfortable where your spine can lengthen upward.  Close your eyes and observe the elegance of your breath.  Breathe into your whole heart, paying special attention to expand into the back of your heart space.  What is your heart's desire?  Be patient.  An answer may take more than a few minutes (days, weeks, months, years).  Leave the space open until the answer that feels right comes into your heart space.  Then cultivate an Intention that you can begin to work with in your life/meditation/yoga practice.  You can continue to adjust and refine it however you need over time. Feel confident that you have stepped into your path as a Warrior.

Starting from Here

Sometimes when I take a look at events past, I feel the need to make up for them somehow before moving on. Today I remember that what really matters is how I move forward from this moment.

Eating a pint of Ben & Jerry's one night does not mean that I must go without breakfast the next morning. This kind of remedy would produce more harm than good. In dealing with people and situations where we find fault in our own motivations and actions, I have found the kindest response for all concerned is to learn from those experiences. To act with a new awareness in this moment based on the lessons learned in past moments.

When the branches of a tree have been twisted due to harsh conditions, the tree does not dissolve a limb and start over, but instead it begins to grow in a way that creates balance. We can all learn from this simple example in nature.

Wherever you are, start from HERE.

Finding Meaning, Finding Solace.

I have always had a fascination with portals. When I was in Ireland, I took so many photos of doorways and windows in old church ruins. (This one to the left is not one of mine own.) When I was a kid I remember a few different cartoons where a character was transported from one world to another this way.

When I'm going through rough times, which has been the case for a long period now, I try to look for meaning in the experience. Why is this happening? What lesson do I need to gain from this? How can I grow? I believe in the idea that within each moment we have an opportunity to rise up to meet a great potential, to journey, if you will, into a new dimension of our existence. Anything can be a mirror.

But how do we interpret what we see? Look deeply. Sit quietly. Be still. This was my answer. When I get caught up in thoughts and emotions brought on by reacting to what I see in the mirror, like in the reflection of water, the movement creates distortion for the reflection. The simplest answer is to be still. Not lethargic. Not dull. But alive and still. Then a true reflection can be seen. One that shows Truth so deeply, it transcends and transports.

So portals are real. Perhaps my love of doorways, windows, and passageways is because they represent, in physical form, the beautiful human capability for internal transformation and transcendence that lies within each of us. This remembrance brings me comfort and deep longing.