Catch Up Blog! 11/8/10

Honestly, I have tried to write a new blog for soooooo long! The problem is, I write in my head and never end up getting it on paper! It is hard to imagine everything that has occurred in the past few months since my Colombia Yoga Retreat…I will try to think of as much as I can in case anyone reads this! (Please let me know if you do!)

Shortly after I returned from Colombia, we moved into our new space just 2 doors down on 120 Elk. It used to be the old Penelope’s building and was beautifully renovated and remained un-used until we moved in. Carolina Alling helped me to design and decorate it, and it quickly blossomed under my very eyes. As much as we all loved our “intimate space” at 114 Elk, this was a huge improvement and our community of locals and visitors were pleasantly surprised! Aside from the huge expansion of the space, the retail part of our business was also greatly enhanced. Because I have so many friends with earth friendly businesses and product lines, it is a joy for me to showcase them in the studio. This aspect of this business really helps us increase our revenue and this enables us to continue our goal of providing YOGA FOR EVERYONE. Plus, us girls like to shop.

So, we began our summer schedule at the new studio and quickly filled many classes with up to 27 people, and had many fun events, gatherings, and specials including;
Our first Yoga Mala 108 in our own space, winning third place in the 4th of July parade, Shyam Das Kirtan chant concert, a free Yoginos Kids Yoga workshop, hooping workshop, Wildflower Festival hikes, lots of special wedding yoga classes, the Living Journeys Summit Hike, Tantra Yoga with Paul and Mary Alice, Meditation with Sarah Darval, and much, much more summer fun!
I was blessed to travel to many wonderful Yoga Festivals this summer and assist Shiva Rea. The fun began with Wanderlust in Lake Tahoe, the Telluride Yoga Festival, Yoga Rocks in Snowmass, Bhaktifest in Joshua Tree, the YabYum Retreat at Tara Mandala, and Yoga Journal Conference in Estes Park. Being with Shiva is always so inspiring, hanging with the Prana Flow Tribe fed my soul, and meeting new people, and all the chanting and living yoga off the mat fueled me for a very intense initiation in the fall. Going to all these places and hanging with all the amazing people is good for my own path, and also stimulates all my programming at the studio and builds wonderful connections.

Fall began with the Yoga Mala 108, right after the retreat at Tara Mandala. This retreat was a highlight for me because I got to go with my partner, Dave Penney. This retreat with Shiva and Demetri, (as well as Sarah and Russ from Y4P), and many other friends, gave Dave and I an amazing practice to do together, and cemented our love in a very special way. Everyone at Y4P was a part of this romance that grew in the spring, and has been celebrating this union with me ever since!

Although coming off the retreat “high”, I was also facing a huge family crisis and was trying to do everything possible to “do it all”, and keep it all together. Because we had celebrated the equinox at Tara Mandala with 108 sun salutations already, doing another 108 a few days later for the studio’s event, proved to be too much for my body and I could not finish the whole 108 during our ritual. This was very humbling for me and brought up so much for me as I tried to push through the pain, and then finally just gave up and sat through the second half of the mala in tears…

We finished in our traditional circle format only this time there were lots of tears, huge hugs, and prayers and words being shared that were a little more soulful than usual. It was clear to all of us then, that my dream of a community studio had come true.

All of this love and support from my beloved, Shiva, my tribe, my family, and the Y4P Kula (community) has continued to help me through this initiatory rite of passage in my life. Life goes on, and the studio has continued to grow and thrive in many ways. The “off season” has not been off for Y4P. just a few days ago, I had 23 people in class, and it has been the best fall we have ever had. Having Sarah Darval as my “Lakshmi assistant” has been one of the best things for the studio. Her help with planning events, flyers, marketing, any and all random things I need help with, her blossoming yoga classes, and her overall muladhara presence in my life has been a monumental gift in my life. Her, my mother being here to support me during this challenging time, Juliet Stillman's unwavering support as my partner in the studio, my wonderful friends, family, Yoga Kula at the studio, and the love of Dave, has held me up and given me so much to be grateful for.

People often ask me, “How do you do it?!” and I realize that it is Love. Love that holds me up, the love of yoga, and the fact that I have the opportunity to offer what I love and believe to people who are so open and willing to learn and grow with me, and the opportunity to walk the talk, that enables me to “do it”. I know that although this is a hard time for my family, it is but a speck in the larger picture of it all. I keep focusing on all the blessings in my life, and believing that everything is unfolding for the highest good for all…

We have now gotten our first snow. Some are mumbling with dread, and some are waxing their gear in excitement! At the studio we are excited with many upcoming events including our first 200 hour teacher training, Shiva Rea’s beloved coming to teach a special class he calls The Freedom Express, our annual Thanksgiving Gratitude class, the Winter Solstice Yoga Mala 108, teaching at the Elevation again, and my own upcoming Yoga & Surf Retreat at Via Yoga in Sayulita, and many more events to inspire us through the winter months. Today marks the new moon in Scorpio, and it is a perfect way to prepare for the winter by doing the deep excavating and exploration to heal, uncover, and dive into any dark or hidden areas of our spirits. I still firmly believe in the power of yoga as one of the greatest tools for this sort of spiritual development and am honored for the studio and myself to be one of the instruments to spread the teachings of this sacred lineage.

As my guru (NKB) always reminds me, “Love everyone, serve everyone, remember God.”