5.9.14

to home

another adventure under our belts, and what an adventure it's been!

5.8.14

final foot-washing

5.7.14

intention

One year ago today Russ and I pulled over at a gas station outside of Moab, UT and sketched out the plans for a new classroom on a scrap of paper.  Now I'm sitting in it watching people learn, share and change their lives.  Whatever else has happened; that has.

5.6.14

self-care

Resorative yoga is something everyone can enjoy.  Here the students are relaxing in "legs up the wall".  Try it!  

- Unroll your yoga matt against the wall (or use cushions as the students did here). 
- Get your bum as close to the wall as possible and extend your legs.  
- Place a bolster under your sacrum, allowing for a slight elevation.  It should feel as if your sacrum is lifted and supported - not as if you are sliding off the bolster.  
- You may want a blanket or bolster under your neck.  
- Extend your arms to the side, or if you are on a cushion, into cactus arms.
- Close your eyes, breathing deeply and focusing only on your breath for 10 minutes.  
- Very, very, slowly come out of it by bending your knees, rolling onto your side and pressing yourself up to seated.

5.5.14

feliz cinco de mayo ninos

5.4.14

old home number....

5.1.14

week one final trades day

our awesome week one retreat group! xx

4.30.14

 

morning ritual

today's schedule:

5:30 - yoga and meditation

6:30  - breakfast

7:30 - kayak to isla chora, snorkel, eat pineapples, kayak back

10:00 - thai yoga massage class

12:00 - lunch

1:00 - thai yoga massage class

4:00 - free for the rest of the day

4.29.14

double leg

A little over a year ago, Nikki and I were laying on the beach under the palm trees, about 1 minute from this classroom (which didn't exist then) talking about how we needed to manifest a retreat adventure that we could lead together.  It's happening now!  Everything about it is even better than I could have possibly imagined.

4.28.14

mango season

2.12.14

new classroom, last day

if i was a superhero one of my powers would definitely be; getting shit done.  oh wait. i am.  and it is.

2.11.14

last yoga class day

2.5.14

flight over fear

we are heading back to the states very soon.  i'm going to miss alot of things about costa rica, samara, and the massage school.  one of the big joys of my life here is my yoga room.  it was the first room i stayed in when i came to crsmt as a guest.  now it's the room i practice in everyday.  i love looking out the windows and seeing iguanas and squirrels climbing around on the trees, love hearing the jungle birds singing all around me.  i love the light and the many moods of the day.  
it is not however, an overly photogenic room.  for some reason it's beauty doesn't translate to film.  so even though it's where i do most of my yoga, it's never really where i take photos.  today i was determined to document it in all it's glory, at least once before leaving.  finally i feel i captured some of it's qualities; serene, warm, clean and beautiful.

2.4.14

i've gotten to the point in my practice where it's automatic.  i don't even think about fitting it in to my day.  i just do it.  so this morning i found myself unrolling my mat even as my mind was a million miles away.  i looked down at it, and realized with dismay that my inner turmoil was going to make this a very difficult practice.  i sat down anyway.  i started breathing.  i felt like crying.  i just kept breathing.

i warmed up, still battling troubling thoughts, going through the motions. then i went into my first down dog and felt it.  release.  it was like a giant swoosh moving through my whole body.  a giant swoosh of peace.  it felt like physically remembering every time i've ever held this pose; so many moments all over the world and through time.  and in that moment i glimpsed another facet of my practice and another reason i do yoga.  no matter what is going on in my mind and my life, when i get on my mat, when i start breathing and focusing and stretching, i achieve timelessness.  my body changes, my experience of each pose changes, but there is something consistent in the practice and this removes it from 'today' and elevates it into now and also always.... it's momentary, but infinite.

this is comforting, and amazing.... and also true.

2.3.14

apex

this is just a reminder:
it's hard to be truly appreciative of what you have until it's taken away.  try though. try to appreciate it.  be grateful for what you have; not superficially grateful, but grateful as if in the very next moment you will lose it all.

1.30.14

 

                                                little buddy

1.29.14

no show day

i realize it's probably too cold in most places to enjoy this delicious, icy, refreshing beverage.  but if you're somewhere hot, like costa rica, or maybe australia, you may need some cold, refreshing juice.  this one will cool you right down.

- one cup of ice
- one thick round of watermelon
- three sprigs of mint (de-stemmed)
- juice of one cucumber

blend thoroughly and chill the fuck out.  namaste bitches, xx.

1.28.13

hello again new home number 28!

it's been a costa rica kind of year.

1.13.14

13 months 13th

taught a sunrise yoga class on the beach this morning.  wish you were there.

1.8.14

2014 rana class orientation

every time i attend an orientation i get so excited for the coming four months.  it is a wonderful thing to witness people taking a huge leap and changing their lives.  three cheers for bravery.  if you ever want to make a change, learn more about yourself or have an amazing adventure, come to the costa rica school of massage therapy.