6.28.15

book 10

Was this an amazing piece of literature? no.
Could i put it down? NO. 

6.27.15

first flatiron

hello world.

6.26.15

love wins

“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you...I could walk through my garden forever.”  ~Tennyson

6.25.15

coal creek

6.24.15

homestead trail

i took alot of photos of the mountains and our hike this morning, many of which i liked a lot.  but when i asked myself what image would make me the happiest to look back on in years to come it was no contest.  this happy guy ahead of me on the trail is just the best thing.

6.23.15

tittibasana bitches

6.22.15

 

surya mudra

In honor of the summer solstice yesterday, the longest day of the year, today's mudra will be Surya Mudra, named after the sun god Surya.  As you may expect, it increases the fire element in the body; aiding with digestion, speeding metabolism, strengthening vision, increasing appetite, and warming the body.  

To manifest Surya Mudra, press the tip of the ring finger into the base of the thumb, then apply gentle pressure of the thumb on the length of the bent ring finger.  All other fingers extend.  Practice for for around 30 minutes.  Namaste btiches, xx.

6.21.15

 

happy solstice babies!

6.20.15

sunshine canyon

6.19.15

compass pose

when i reflect back upon times of trial and trouble and pain i see so clearly how they led me directly to success, growth, a deeper strength or a truer version of myself.  so often i have felt lost, but even in my most confusing time i was laying the ground work for happiness and clarity to come.  i just didn't know it then.  but again and again in hindsight i see it.  if this teaches me one thing it is trust. so.

this is just a reminder: no matter the struggle, the discouragement, the disbelief, just trust that life is pointing you in the right direction. 

6.18.15

first harvest

6.17.15

beauteous

6.16.15

rest is not idleness

In yoga there are many practices that can be used to calm and sooth the restless mind, or the Manomaya Kosha (Mind Sheath).  This sheath is affected by pranayam, mantra, pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), visualization, reading scriptures and texts, yama & niyamas (ethical observances and restraints),  and svadiyaya (self-study).  Another practice is to let the gaze fall softly upon a repeating pattern in nature, which can help to quiet the mind.  I think of this every time I walk through fields around the house lately.  It's incredibly calming.  

If you want to test this out (in case you hadn't already realized that being in nature is soothing) you can also get this sensation from waves, leaves, hillsides, trees, flowers, river rocks, rain drops, etc.  Or you can look at this photo.  Namaste bitches, xx.

6.15.15

devotion

6.14.15

book 9

read this book, then tell one hundred other people to read it too.

6.13.15

two and a half year hike

no filter, just colorado.

6.12.15

parivrtta vasisthasana

"in order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision."
~ dalai lama

6.11.15

hanuman day

6.10.15

all american beauty

this rose puts all the other flowers to shame.  it is so bright i have trouble looking directly at it.

6.9.15

 

morning adventure

6.8.15

my healing room

"when you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive; to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."

~ marcus aurelius

6.7.15

Pran Mudra

Julia and I had our Ayurvedic practicum yesterday during teacher training.  It was awesome for so many reasons and alot of fun.  We presented a practice to balance all three doshas.  We began with Pitta balancing and opened the practice with this mudra which decreases Pitta and increases Kapha in the body. In addition:

Pran Murdra stimulates the root chakra, giving you support and increasing your vitality so that you can expand upward and outward, radiating energy through the other chakras and the nervous system.  It is called the Mudra of Life; the energy and vitality that it unlocks empowers our life from the inside out.  

It can battle fatigue and nervousness in the body and improves vision.  It is emotionally stabilizing and powerful, aiding in self-confidence and courage.  

To manifest this mudra gently place the thumb against the tip of the pinky and ring finger, leaving the pointer and middle finger extended.  Practice this mudra from 5 - 30 minutes 1-3 times a day.

6.6.15

scorpion

I am stronger than before but I am less attached to those imperfections that once bothered me incessantly.  I can do more, but what I'm doing matters much less than my presence while I'm doing it.  I know so many profound truths that I'd been previously unaware of, but I am more interested in sharing them.  My perspective has changed, and I never even made the goal to change it.  It turns out that I had very little to do with it after all.  Namaste bitches, xx.

6.5.15

black gold

i love harvesting veggies, fruits, and flowers but if i'm honest my favorite thing to harvest is dirt.

6.4.15

tornado day

so we've had flooding, snow, giant hail and now today a tornado touched down a few miles from our house.  thankfully it didn't come closer to us, but we did get quite a thunderstorm afterwards.  it was bright and incredibly noisy.  the pets were terrified. 

6.3.15

blooming time

6.2.15

poppying off

6.1.15

 

back patio progress photo 2

hello june!  you're already so glorious! 

5.31.15

casual kurmasana

"Do you know what you are?
You are a manuscript of a divine letter.  
You are a mirror reflecting a noble face.
This universe is not outside of you.
Look insude yourself; everything that you want, 
you already are."

~Rumi

5.30.15

massive garden day