So, how do I close this journey down? I even thought about saying “fuck it. Don’t bother. At this point what difference does it make?” But for me at least, that didn’t feel fair to this thing that never was able to experience a proper sense of “goodbye”.
I originally had a totally different post crafted a couple of weeks ago. And after re-reading it for the 203rd time, I scrapped the whole thing. Because honestly - I’m still not entirely sure what to make of it all.
Read MoreIn that particular moment, my mastery of the art of profanity coupled with screaming into the void, laughing hysterically, and reaching for a healthy dose of that non-attachment practice were all pretty handy choices.
Technology. Brilliant and amazing.
Until it's not.
Read More“If you fall down, no worries! You can start over!”
I must have said that cue more than 1000 times in class. I love it because it has layers.
For the physical body, it’s simple. Just reset. Try again. This is how we get stronger. Repetition. Start again. And again. And again. Over time: progress!
At the same time, you are challenging expectations and inviting the ego to let go of them.
Even deeper reflections can ask: Who’s expectation is it? What is forming that expectation? Why do you carry this idea of judgement? Does it really matter?
Read MoreNoreen and I have been married for almost 19 years. One of the gifts that we received as part of a kitchen tool set was a vegetable peeler (the very one pictured above). Sturdy, sharp, handy. It still works like a charm.
It wasn’t until last month when Nor asked “Did you know this has a little implement for removing the ‘eyes’ from potatoes?”
I did not.
Nineteen years. Roughly eleventy-hundred thousand potatoes. I had absolutely no idea that that this little scooper tip thing had a purpose.
A few days later I made baked potatoes. I had to use it on a couple of them. And my mind was blown. Like holy shit. This was WAY easier, far more effective, less wasteful, and I was 89.37% less likely to slice my thumb off when compared against using a paring knife.
Mind blown.
Read MoreHey there friend,
It’s been a minute. I’m sending you warm thoughts as you transition into Spring.
I took last month off from writing and recording for deep reflection. Out of that experience, arrived the need to make some changes. Probably the best way to do this is to just jump right in:
I’VE MADE THE DECISION TO CLOSE DOWN AND RETIRE METTĀ COMMUNITY YOGA
Read MoreOn Tuesday, I went out to clean up the driveway some more from Monday’s storm. Fresh air, full body integrated movement, a warm sun, and bright puffy clouds – perfect.
The sun felt warm, the clumps of snow falling off branches and utility poles added a steady beat to the sounds rhythm of the neighborhood. Even the breeze didn’t feel cold. And then, there was a sound that landed right next to me: SPLATCHTHUNK!
AN ICICLE FROM TWO STORIES ABOVE ME CRASHED INTO THE SNOW MISSING MY HEAD BY ABOUT 4 INCHES.
Holy fudge.
Read MoreComing out of the holidays I was again drawn back to that cinematic classic A Christmas Story. There’s a scene where Ralphie’s bud Schwartz gets his arm twisted by legendary movie villain Scut Farkas who won’t release him until he screams “UNCLE!” to his satisfaction.
I’ve never identified with Schwartz more than these past several weeks.
The weekend before Christmas saw the first cold temperatures of the season. Complete with the discovery that our furnace was leaking.
The Christmas weekend storm knocked out power for ~36 hours plunging us into a deep dark freeze and canceling our holiday with my family.
New Year’s Day arrived with a positive COVID test that shattered my excitement to teach my sold-out class with Molly and landed me in bed very, very sick for several days.
Right as I started to feel better last weekend, Noreen tested positive. We’ve reset the isolation / quarantine clock. And she’s had to cancel a trip out west she was looking forward to for months.
<long exasperated exhale>
Well, damn. We’ve arrived at the end of the year. That major signpost in the road that most people use as an opportunity for both reflection and projection.
As I work through this ritualistic exercise for myself, a theme starts to emerge: Energy & Time (and the need for a nap).
Congratulations! If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, you've arrived at the Winter Solstice. By the time you read this, if you read it today, the sun will be long gone (or on its way) and we'll be entering the longest night of the year.
Recognition of the solstice around the world is as vast and varied as there are cultures and backgrounds and histories. And last I counted there are approximately 3,921,205,392,050,183,742 posts, memes, quotes, articles, books, research, podcasts, thoughts, etc. that examine all of it.
So, I will keep this short and offer you a simple reminder: take care of yourself. Be gentle. Be kind.
Read MoreI’ve got some questions for you today. Where is your edge of comfort at? What happens when you cross over the edge?
<woah… Maybe I should ease into this…>
Have you ever used coconut oil for cooking?
I love it. One of the properties I find interesting is below 78 degrees Fahrenheit, the oil is solid. Above 78 degrees, it transitions to a liquified state. Much to my beard’s chagrin, I’ve discovered firsthand that it is quite combustible if you aren’t paying attention.
To quote Taylor Swift: “It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me”.
Yep. I am coconut oil.
Read MoreThe other night during a donation class at the Sea Change Yoga offices, my friend Katie Beane reminded us that holding gratitude is a powerful way to anchor ourselves against the strong currents of difficulty and struggle. And, importantly, that they both exist together.
We can’t bypass the things in our lives or the world that can be difficult or sad or tragic or terrible. At the same time, we can’t dwell only on those things either.
Read MoreHi everyone! I’ve been off my writing beat recently, tending to some personal and family matters over the past month or so. But I am back at it with some more space for my mind and heart and looking forward to sharing what I’ve learned.
In the meantime, the timing is great, as this Thursday, November 24th is the 5th Annual Mettā Community Thanksgiving Donation class to benefit Sea Change Yoga.
The class will be from 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM ET. It is both live on-line and with limited in-person spots at Scarborough Yoga Studio in Scarborough, Maine.
I was recently in a YouTube rabbit hole of Mitch Hedberg stand-up comedy clips.
If you are not familiar, he looks at random everyday life observations and reflects on it through clever, sometimes seemingly random word play. Delivered in a unique style and cadence of one or two liners. It’s abstract and brilliant.
At any rate, I was re-watching a set he did on a Comedy Central special and he dropped this bit:
“You know, if I made orange juice, I would not be so hardcore on people. I would be more polite. Like I would not print 'shake well' on the carton, ‘cause you don't know how good people can shake, you know? I would write, 'Shake to the best of your ability.' Then I'd have a diagram that shows the uninitiated how to shake. 'Alright, put it over here, then put it over here, then put it over here quicker.'”
Read MoreWaterlogged. So filled with water to be heavy or hard to manage.
That theme has been coming up several times recently:
Thinking about last month's camping trip when an overnight torrential downpour drowned our hiking shoes.
A birthday walk where I splashed and stomped through muddy puddles with equal parts catharsis and glee.
And a response to last newsletter where they mentioned feeling like a log washed up on the beach and I realized “yeah. I get that”.
Got me thinking: What are some things that you try to do to wring out the excess when you feel saturated? Where do you go to look for answers?
Read MoreHere's a theme that has been coming up in conversations recently: Running on Empty.
Busy-ness. The hustle. The grind. The push, pull, and tumble of relentless tidal waves that constantly draw energy from you. Hours sinking into days, sinking into weeks…
Like the shorelines of our oceans, after each new wave you find yourself feeling more eroded. It can feel exhausting.
Do these questions sound familiar: How do you find more support for yourself? How do you sustainably move through your day while not depleting yourself?
Read MoreI have some questions for you that I enjoy exploring with students and clients, colleagues, family and friends. Do you find it easier…
…to lean into principles of mindfulness and yoga during times of ease?
…to lean into the practices during times of duress?
…to offer space, grace, and ease to other people or to yourself?
There is not a wrong answer. There are as many answers as unique individuals and their experiences. And the answers may even change depending on the day, situation, moment.
So what are your keys to finding your practice off the mat?
Read MoreTake a deep breathe in… let it out when you’re ready. Maybe do that a few more times. You may even close your eyes. Just breathe. However the breath is showing up for you today, allow it the space to be what it is. And whenever you are ready, come on back.
The power of the breath to help bring us back to the present moment is one of the most often used points of reference in any of our practices - yoga, movement, mindfulness, meditation. I've probably said it at least elevnty-hundred-ish thousand times. But for some of you, its possible that the breath may not be a tool you want to use.
Read MoreThis spring has provided no shortage of invitations for me to be reminded of a core tenet of the practices of yoga and mindfulness: Where attention goes, energy flows.
Frequently in class I talk about how what you do on the mat is called a practice for a reason. You use the safety of the mat to practice mindful observation. Each shape or movement offers an opportunity notice how you are feeling in the body, mind, heart, and spirit – the totality of which makes up your embodied experience. What's more - there is no such thing as perfection (as much as #yogaeverydamnday would have you believe on the ol' Instagram).
In class on Sunday, I shared how I recently concluded I need more relish in my life. Why relish?
Merriam-Webster offers a couple of definitions for “relish” paraphrased here:
something adding a zestful flavor (especially a condiment as of pickles or green tomatoes)
enjoyment of or delight in something
This started while making dinner. I remembered we had picked up some sweet pickle relish for the first time in probably a decade. I added it to the burger, took one bite and suddenly remembered – the vinegar, garlic, pickle, peppers - so good! A little tiny flavor bomb!
My mind was blown. I couldn’t believe I had just stopped having relish for so long.
I was walking back from the coffee shop the other day and I caught myself once again in an all out rush. For the kabillionth time I tell myself “Slow Down!!”. So I slowed down. “Don’t rush. Just be. There is no reason to haul ass down the sidewalk."
It.
Was.
Excruciating.
It lasted a block. “Nope. I have shit to do.” I told myself as I kicked it into gear and hustled along.
