play time!

more pics from yesterday:

went to Susan's class this morning - it felt sooo good to work out some of the soreness.  my practice was all over the place.  i had to laugh - the whole time.  it was fun and funny and silly and completely the opposite of yesterday's intensity.  wrapped it up with a little paperwork and headed out...

leaving the studio, feeling the brisk autumn air, seeing nothing but blue skies = the perfect sunday.

went to whole foods, spent too much money, got a yummy juice and some "juice".  and omg, i made dinner.  didn't take a photo because i couldn't stop eating it.  so good.  this is so not like me, to be able to just throw things together and have them taste amazing, but holy cow.  seriously.

1/2 red onion, sliced
1 T EVOO
2 (small) zukes, sliced
1 c. whole wheat pasta (i used penne)
2 T goat cheese, crumbled
fresh basil, to taste

i put the onions in a skillet w the evoo and let that go on med/low-ish heat for a while... during which time i was rumaging around, trying to figure out what the heck i was gonna do.  so, maybe about 20 mins?  low and slow... gotta get those onions dark & sweet.  i roasted the zukes, plain in the oven at 500, but next time i'll season them w garlic salt & pepper.  maybe turn it down to 450 (i was impatient at this point).  boiled some water, cooked the pasta al dente, reserving some of the water.  tossed the pasta, onion, zuke & goat cheese together & i did that chiffonade thing to the basil and mixed it in, too.  the cheese melted like a dream.  i only added a spoonful of the pasta water, just to keep things loose.  (made 2 servings)

and then the girl was happy.

i paired it with a glass of red, which i'm sure breaks some kind of food rule, but whatever.  me likey.

bonus:  the fridge was clean.  haha.  ;)

maybe next time i'll throw in some sun-dried tomatoes, maybe a little eggplant... who knows!

i'll have the leftovers tomorrow and try to remember a photo. 

love & light!

yoga fest, year 1

what a beautiful day! everything went better than expected today!  only had 2 students in class, but we really honed in and had a lovely practice.  followed by mysore with sati... my practice was exactly what i needed, even though i didn't know what was in store for me.  i find that more often than not, that tends to be how it goes, yeah?  when you're really truly not looking for the growth/change is when it's plopped right in front of yer face.  i've known for a while that i need to be less judgmental toward myself and my asana practice, but so many times, i just don't see when or how i am criticizing these things.  because i've been given so many new poses from sati, i believe that i'll really have an opportunity to see that in the coming months - and learn the right ways to push myself... learn to listen to my body.  it's hard to know when i need to make myself practice, even when i don't feel like it AND when i need to take rest, even though i want to push through.  hopefully, i can get a handle on this before i get an injury.  i hear way too frequently that this is how ashtangis (and yogis/athletes) learn when to say WHEN.  and when to learn some of the less physical practicies.  i also feel very strongly that this is the universe telling me that the time is now - time to deal with stuff, face some fears, and just get on with it... move through it...  we'll see.  i'm just trusting my teacher on this one - sati, as well as the ultimate teacher - the practice.  also, my asana practice will now be extended in such a way that it will require a greater time commitment from me.  i am so excited for this challenge!  okay, more on this later... on to yoga day!

today was the FIRST ANNUAL yoga day at the riverside arts market!  it was exciting and compelling and wonderful - and we couldn't have dreamed up better weather.  the teachers who set up the tent (while i was teaching) did an excellent job.  everything looked great!  over all, jacksonville raised more than $20k for the Africa Yoga Project -- (currently) more than any other city in the nation!!  WHAAA!!!!
 
 

 

over 180 students showed up for the 108 Sun Salutations lead by 10 of Jax's yoga instructors. 

i can't even properly depict how my heart goes pitter-patter when i see this photo: 

i felt like i was "home", seeing all those people in their yoga attire, mat bags slung over their shoulders, grinning from ear-to-ear.  it was a great time all around. we all really enjoyed reaching out into the community and developing relationships within the network of shalas around town. i made some new friends, and even got in some MORE yoga during the afternoon and played around with a new friend doing some acro-yoga... it was more like an acro-massage... it was totally wonderful.

i could've hung out there all day...  my hips were super sore, i can't imagine i would've been able to walk without this crazy-looking totally uh-maze-ing hip joint massage.

 ok, enough for now... more to come!

even though i'm feel that i am undeniably a bhakta, i feel that drawing wisdom from any source provided can help us grow and offer guidance along our path. there are so many similarities in the world's religions, i feel it only prudent to learn what i can, whenever i can, wherever i can...


so, this evening in class, i'll give a little talk before we begin - maybe start with a breathing meditation while i read what i've written - i want to write it down because my heart is so full i need to be sure i can deliver the message clearly, and sometimes my emotions rise up and my mind becomes flooded. tonight's class will be dedicated to my friend whose father passed unexpectedly last week, and i'll start with a reading from one of my favorite spiritual texts.


reading:

The Bhagavad Gita speaks of performing action without attachment to the results of that action. this is what we call non-attachment. [One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto the Supreme God, is not affected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water. 5.10]


Non-attachment is a big theme in yoga.

Non-attachment means not having personal or selfish desires. Instead, for peace of mind, yoga advises to dedicate our actions and their results to benefit other creatures. That is practicing non-attachment.


I always remember the example of an apple tree which gives its fruits without expecting anything back. The apple tree is perfectly selfless. It’s not attached to the results. If someone likes the apples, great. If someone doesn’t, the tree will not be disturbed or lose its peace. The tree gives its fruit freely, without feeling it deserves anything in return.

We can learn from the apple tree.


I discovered that to keep the mind calm and free of worry, we must simply focus on our work in the present moment.


Every moment. Moment-to-moment.


Then, time disappears.


Our actions become perfect.


Our work becomes a selfless service and a form of meditation.


And now, let's take a moment here to dedicate our practice.


If you do not already have someone on your heart, then perhaps you may choose to dedicate your practice to the attenuation of the suffering of all beings. Whenever we return to samasthiti, return to your dedication.


Om, shanti, shanti, shantihi.

weekend photos

betty on the way to pat & gary's..

friday night home practice

greenergy smoothie after saturday class & practice

(look at that gorgeous sky!)

it turned out to be a very nice weekend of house-sitting, movie watching (watched Ira & Abby - loved it!- and Jesus Camp - scary and totally biased), practicing, reading (Guruji) and eating way too much. and like a college student, i totally use my parents' house as a laundry mat.  ha.  ;)

i could really become addicted to that smoothie.

i told my folks i needed new pillows for my bday, but i really need a juicer.
time to start dropping really obvious hints...

resume writing

sucks.

it just does.

i know i 'need' a 'real' job.  (for now)

but seriously, when you find what you love to do, the suckiness of everything else becomes all the more apparent.

whatevs.

why can't i just teach yoga?

sati said i need to change my perspective... alter it so that i don't focus on the crapiness of working, but see it as a means to an end.

so... yeah... that's what i'm working toward...

i'd just so much rather be practicing my dvi pada sirsasana.  ;P

mysore w sati, part 1

dream, dream, dream, dreeeeee-eam

i had a dream that was so real last night that when my alarm went off (at 4-something) this morning, i thought i can't practice ashtanga today - i just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl merely hours ago (unwed, in a hotel bathroom, in labor for about 5 min. i named her jane.  she looked just like micole.  she was jp's baby, but who knows where he was.)  and so now i'm on maternity leave (obvs), so everyone would send me home if i went to work. i'll go back to sleep, i guess.



and then i rolled over, and it was 6:30. my place of employment is 14 miles away. my shift begins at 7.

i left my work badge at home, but i know where it is.

i do not know where my glasses are. :(

mondays, eh?




yesterday, as it turns out, was not a monday. niether was the day before. those days happened to fall on the weekend. those days were good.

saturday: taught 1 hr all levels flow, assisted my last mysore w sati (hopefully, it will turn out to NOT be my LAST), practiced (even did dropbacks alone), hung w my fam, retrieved miss betty from their care, chatted w roomie about the meaning and difficulties of "life", slept.


sunday: made it to full primary, went grocery shopping, washed clothes, cleaned, chatted w roomie, intense phone conversations w my yoga bud and w guy, had complete emotional breakdown, survived, napped, snuggled w miss betty, watched becoming jane, noshed on sweet potato/black bean deliciousness, gazed at sunset, missed jp terribly, slept.


overslept.


while very little reading was accomplished, updating my resume was forgotten and meditation did not happen, i think it was beautiful over all... now to play catch up on all those other things...

gainesville eats

briefly:  i have been traveling to gainesville every evening with my pal Dana to attend a week of Mysore with David Keil.  it's been amazing.  we've been trying out different lil eateries in the evenings, post-ashtanga.  (we've decided we deserve it after our grueling 2 hour asana practices.)

monday:  the jones
no picture, but D had a falafel burger & mint lemonade, i had their stop light sammy (goat cheese, roasted bell peppers, squash) & raspberry/rose petal iced tea.  we halved and swapped our sandwiches and enjoyed fresh summer fruit on the side.  it was divine.  lots of veggie/vegan options (including cupcakes!) and organic wines... there were a man and lady sitting on the bar - he was playing a ukulele, she was playing guitar & singing the good stuff - tom petty, fleetwood mac, etc.  we hope to go back tonight... maybe i'll actually get some photos.  ;)  [recommended by none other than DK.]

tuesday:  subway
they have avocado now!  and they didn't disappoint... we were in a hurry & tired, so we didn't much care that this one wasn't a 'special' place.  it was tasty, quick & healthy(ish).  you don't need a photo of my veggie sub, as good as it was.

wednesday:  burrito bros
oh.my.gah.  we both had the sweet potato burrito.  go there now.  i don't care where you are.  you can order them online.  do it.  you will thank yourself, and me, and the heavens above.  [recommended by my friend & fellow yogi, Danny.]



thursday:  satchel's
holy salad, batman.  this thing changed my life.  and the pizza hit the spot!  the crust was perfect.  it reignited my desire to learn to make the perfect pizza crust at home.  everyone (incl the restaurant themselves) says the food takes a long time to make, but because we got there so late, we didn't have to wait long at all.  we'd driven by this place several times & i kept oohing and aahing at the decor - strung lights, flora literally taking over, installation art in the parking lot and dripping from every corner of the place.  they have a broken down van with picnic tables installed in it.  so cute.  loved it.  just wish i had more pics.  [recommended by D's friend, Susie.]

bhakti love - to you, to all

The bhakti path winds in a delicate way.

On this path there is no asking and no not asking.
The ego simply disappears the moment you touch
him.

The joy of looking for him is so immense that you
just dive in,
and coast around like a fish in the water.
If anyone needs a head, the lover leaps up to offer
his.

- kabir

practice

Swami Tyagananda begins all of his talks this way, and i find it beautiful, inspirational, helpful... etc.  i'd like to return back to this more frequently.  today i'll see how often i can do that.  :)  it's friday, after all.  what better way to celebrate the end of the work week than wishing all beings happiness and freedom. 

may all be happy and healthy
may all see what is good and may no one experience misery.
may all overcome their obstacles and acquire good tendencies.
may people everywhere find joy and fulfillment.

let us now spend some time touching the center of peace and joy in our heart.

a good way to begin the practice is to withdraw the scattered energies of the mind and bring them to rest on one point.
that point can be our own breathing.

let us therefore practicing breathing with awareness.

as we breathe in let us visualize that our body and mind are being filled with love, strength and compassion
and as we breathe out let us release all the stress, anxiety and exhaustion in the body and mind.

let us practice this way for a while.

let us now turn our attention to the region of our heart.
although the God is present everywhere and in everyone the Divine Presence can be felt most clearly in our hearts.
we can meditate in any way we have been taught.
to remain focused we can take the help of a short mental prayer or a mantra or a divine name.

let us now spend some time dwelling on the presence of God in our hearts.

...on love, again. it's an ongoing theme.

“But you have an idea of love; that idea is creating trouble – not love itself, but the idea. The idea is that, in love, lovers disappear into each other, dissolve into each other. Yes, there are moments of dissolution – but this is the beauty of life and all that is existential: that when lovers dissolve into each other, the same are the moments when they become very conscious, very alert. That dissolution is not a kind of drunkenness, that dissolution is not unconscious. It brings great consciousness, it releases great awareness. On the one hand they are dissolved – on the other hand for the first time they see their utter beauty in being alone. The other defines them, their aloneness; they define the other. And they are grateful to each other. It is because of the other that they have been able to see their own selves; the other has become a mirror in which they are reflected. Lovers are mirrors to each other. Love makes you aware of your original face."


“Hence, it looks very contradictory, paradoxical, when stated in such a way: “Love brings aloneness.” You were thinking all along that love brings togetherness. I am not saying that it does not bring togetherness, but unless you are alone you cannot be together. Who is going to be together? Two persons are needed to be together, two independent persons are needed to be together. A togetherness will be rich, infinitely rich, if both the persons are utterly independent. If they are dependent on each other, it is not a togetherness – it is a slavery, it is a bondage.

“If they are dependent on each other, clinging, possessive, if they don’t allow each other to be alone, if they don’t allow each other space enough to grow, they are enemies, not lovers; they are destructive to each other, they are not helping each other to find their souls, their beings. What kind of love is this? It may be just fear of being alone; hence they are clinging to each other. But real love knows no fear. Real love is capable of being alone, utterly alone, and out of that aloneness grows a togetherness.“

the Dhammapada

yoga bio

Ret discovered yoga in November 2009 and has yet to look back. While attending Yoga Life's Fall 2010 Teacher Training program, Ret realized her desire to teach so she can share the joy and serenity she's found on her mat with others. She continues to expand her knowledge base by learning from fellow practitioners, students and teachers alike as the yogic path unfolds before her. So far Ret has attended various workshops with esteemed teachers such as Doug Swenson, Greg Nardi, David Keil, Tim Feldmann and Sati Chmelar, as well as training closely with Sara Torbett and Kristine Sandkühler-Mensch of Yoga Life. The combination of physical training and spiritual inquiry inspire her personal practice; though still at the beginning of her journey, Ret seeks to fulfill her passion for helping others as she learns from them, both on and off the mat. Namaste, y'all.

I'll be teaching at All Levels Flow at Yoga Life beginning in May!

Mondays: 7-8p

Wednesdays: 7-8p 

Saturdays: 8-9a

Come see me!!

nice little saturday

today, in bullet points:

• dr. z's karma class at 8 am. such a genuine energy from him - so sweet.
• laundry/catch-up w Roomie
• lovely lunch w Guy at Delicomb
• visit to Green Market for fresh eggs, organic spinach & red bell peppers, black bean hummus and peanut butter puppy treats for Miss Betty Rose
• watched The Buddha whilst enjoying some Yoga Berry
• perhaps dinner at MM?

i'm such a lucky girl. i can't wait to see what this evening brings. <3

p.s. read this. it's good stuff.