Yummy...

Some things truly are sweeter the second time around...I picked up this book a few years back and enjoyed every word.  Recently, I was going through my stash of books and magazines in preparation for a book fair fundraising event and I found my copy (along with some old Nancy Drew mysteries).  I pulled it out for our 17 year-old son, who has been studying teachings on the subject of "tolerance'' (he is getting a lot of practice since he started his first job!).  What began as a quick flip through turned into a full re-read and I'm finding it to be just as delicious as I remembered!

So, since I'm still healing from my runner's injury and seem to have extra time in my weekends (I miss my yoga students terribly!), I've sliced up a piece of yummy chocolate cake and snuggled down, book in hand.

Check it out and enjoy a little weekend Zen...and don't forget the chocolate cake (there's a recipe in the back of the book)!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Chocolate-Cake-Sutra-ebook/dp/B000N0WTGA

Chipping Paint and the Perfect Pose...

I guess it's fair to say that I spend and unusual amount of time staring at my toenails. No, I don't think I have a "thing" for toes, but given the fact that I have spent most of the last decade teaching yoga, it's understandable that I spend at least an hour or two each day in some form of a forward bend (both on and off of the mat) gazing at my toenails. I'm still not impressed with what I see.


I don't have pretty feet. Aside from genetics, my feet have been fairly banged up from running, hiking, and time on the mat. Still, I do my best to disguise my shortcomings with bright, funky nail polish carefully applied to each nail. (After all, I wouldn't want my weekly parade of yoga students to be distracted by the sight of my naked toenails and topple out of a Downward Facing Dog!) The problem with nail color is that it eventually thins and chips, leaving the nails looking sadly neglected and less than perfect. But wait...my nails were never perfect to begin with, so why does chipping nail polish bother me so much?

Let's face it...we aren't a perfect bunch. We eat too much, move to little, laugh inappropriately, tell secrets, and set completely unrealistic expectations for ourselves and others. Still, we all want to improve...to look better, act better, do better, be better. From finances to friendships, we measure our perfection by these arbitrary and external standards. Sometimes, we achieve our goal, briefly...then, just like chipping paint, perfection thins and chips, exposing us for what we really are: perfectly normal.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't have goals or abide by certain ethical, moral, and virtuous standards. I'm simply saying that there is a certain freedom in embracing chipped nail polish, peeling paint, gray hair, wrinkles, second place, an average test score, an old car, an unfriendly neighbor, and yes, even that Downward Facing Dog (your heels don't really have to touch the ground, you know!).

Look around today...not with judgement, but with an appreciation for all of the little imperfections. Smile a little and know that it's OK to be something less than perfect. Forward Bend:

First, there is no such thing as a Perfect Pose...but there is definitely such a thing as feeling perfect in a pose! Forward Bend is simply that, bending the body in half...reaching beyond the mind to bring the heart closer to the earth. This pose provides for an intense stretch through the back as well as hamstrings, calfs, and perhaps even the shoulders. Following is my very modified version...it allows for imperfection (and a opportunity to check out your toenail polish!).

1. Sitting comfortably on the mat, extend both legs out in front of you. Breathe deeply and let your breath pull you up through the crown of your head until you spine feels really long and your body resembles the letter "L".
2. Exhale and relax your shoulders. Inhale and extend your arms overhead. Exhale and gently reach forward with your chest. Bend your knees slightly and/or widen your legs, if necessary, to reach forward.
3. Breathe deeply and come back to a sitting position. Exhale and lower the arms.
4. Repeat 3 to 5 times
5. On your final repetition, exhale gently reaching forward with your chest. Inhale and remain here. Exhale, relax your head, neck, and shoulders and allow your upper body to sink deeply toward your thighs. Although your back may have begun to round a bit, continue to lengthen your spine with each breath and sink deeper into the pose as you exhale.
6. Finally, breathe and lift the face and chest slightly, then exhale and gently roll up the spine until you come back to a sitting position.
7. Smile.

It's My Favorite Time of the Year!!

I love this time of the year...there is a chill in the air, even here in Tennessee, and the mist over the mountains is so intense. I love the night sky and the way the moon and stars seem a little clearer and a little closer as the nights grow longer. Maybe it's the changing color of the leaves or maybe it's because I am a November child...maybe it's simply that this is the time of year filled with holiday anticipation...but whatever the reason, I feel more confident, peaceful, and grounded as the calendar begins to wind down.

Recently, we gathered up the brush and dead leaves, invited family and friends, built a fire pit, and hosted a small bonfire party. The evening was perfect...clear and just almost cold with stars dancing all around. The food was pretty good too...veggie dogs and chili, and, of course, plenty of marshmallows to roast. Oh, and really good beer to warm the blood. It was wonderful!

I talk frequently about the virtues of a simple life, but sometimes it seems beyond our reach. These are the moments made for bonfires and friends...when everyone is comfortable and the conversation is easy...when you can hear the wood popping in the fire and feel warm food in your belly...when you can see your breath in the air and be overwhelmed at the beauty of the stars. That's when life kind of boils down to it's roots and we can see who we really are.

I love this time of year...!

Smores and such...

We've all enjoyed smores by the camp fire and it's hard to beat the basics of graham cracker, chocolate bar and roasted marshmallows. Still, it's fun to play around with new combinations, so here are a few options you might want to try at your next cookout or camping trip. Enjoy!!

• Make the basic smore recipe but sprinkle cinnamon on the marshmallow after it's been roasted.



• Substitute chocolate chips for a chocolate bar (mash them into your roasted marshmallow.) Experiment with other chips including peanut butter and butterscotch or even use chocolate candies like M&Ms. Combos are great...how do you think they came up with the Reese Cup?!



• Substitute a chocolate chip cookie for the graham cracker. Any other cookie will do...peanut butter (yummy!) sugar cookies, or even oatmeal cookies work great!



• Drizzle carmel sauce over your smores or skip the smore entirely and simply drizzle chocolate or carmel sauce over your roasted marshmallows!

Have fun making memories!

A Little Yoga in My Kitchen...

I am always inspired by the domestic work of women in the early years of our history. Without the conveniences we have come to take for granted, every day efforts to cook and clean took time and careful attention. Deeply connected to their work, I believe there had to be a flow, not unlike the flow of energy we study in yoga.


Yesterday, I decided to make homemade pizza for dinner. The plan was worked out early in the day and the afternoon was spent gathering ingredients. Finally, apron on, I began to work. The process really isn't that complicated in this century, as we have modern, energy efficient ovens and fast acting yeast. Still, preparing the veggies and putting it all together takes time...and here I found a little yoga in my kitchen.

First, chopping vegetables is, perhaps, the most meditative thing I do in the kitchen - aside from washing dishes, and since I own a dishwasher that is much loved, my dish washing experience is fairly limited. Vegetable chopping, however, takes time and is filled with a rhythm all of its own. Onions take a little more effort than, say, mushrooms. And peppers crunch when the skin hits the knife. Oh, and the smells! In these moments, I'm not thinking, I am truly being...completely in the present, connected in all of my senses. I feel calm and at ease.

Then comes the dough and with it comes Gentry, my daughter. Dough making is specific and vigorous. Almost like asana (yoga poses), it takes effort and focus. I stir, she pours...she kneads, I knead...she rolls, I wrap...you get the idea. We don't talk much...connected to the task at hand, anticipating how one ends and the next begins.

Finally, we put it all together. Now, I get to step back and watch Gentry. I don't tell her what to do or how to do it, I simply give guidance without judgement..."More cheese?" "Did you oil the pan?" "Don't forget the mushrooms." She has listened, observed, practiced, and now is creating her own experience. For me, this is pure joy.

Don't get me wrong, we aren't particularly serious about our pizza making. It's great fun and filled with a lot of flour on the floor and usually interrupted several times by one of us scolding Sister, the dog, who frequently visits the garbage can! We giggle and are generally pleased with our progress (oh, pride!).

Think about your yoga practice...class begins in meditation, it moves through breath and challenge, ideally you feel free to explore your edge in each pose in your own way, and I hope that it brings you joy. Unfortunately, many people believe that these experiences are limited to class or time spent on the mat. But we don't have to look far to find these moments in our day to day. They've been around for hundreds of years.

I believe the more simple your life, the more of these moments you will find. I'm quite sure that Appalachian women cooking in their country kitchens in 1890 had never even heard of yoga, but the rhythm of their lives created what I like to call "the zen of living." Baking, cleaning, sewing, gardening...the day to day wasn't easy, but it was full of meditative moments, physical and mental focus, and that unique brand of humor and joy that comes from a life simply lived.

The pizza was wonderful, by the way...fresh and rich and yummy. My husband declared it was the best he had ever had and everyone helped clean up without complaint. Peaceful domesticity!

Tree Pose and My Potted Herbs

I know that Spring is not officially here, but it's happening all over my kitchen table. Just as I did last year, I began growing my herbs indoors in container pots. I always start small - just a few herbs I use frequently - and then see where it takes me.


After spending years with plastic flowers and a lone shamrock plant, I discovered herb gardening quite on my own and I have to say that I don't really have a method or plan. I tend to toss things about and see what takes. I prefer what I like to call "natural" gardening - if it takes root, great, but if not...well, it wasn't really meant to be. This works for me, in part, because I don't really have the time for fussy gardening that requires a lot of attention, but mostly because I'm just wired this way. I mean, if you over think it, gardening is pretty overwhelming - I get really confused about things like acid-based soil compounds and temperature zones. For me, I simply try to balance sunlight, water, dirt, and a genuine love for what I'm doing while I'm doing it. The beauty of my "method" is that I am always amazed when something actually grows!



One of my favorite yoga poses is Tree Pose. As a teacher, I love to observe students as they approach this pose. Why? Because tree pose is about growth - and we don't all grow in the same way - and growth is about balance. And although the process of finding the right balance for each of us is different, the elements are generally the same: inner awareness (sunlight), energy (water), a strong sense of who we really are (dirt), and a genuine love for what we're doing while we're doing it. And since growth is such a balancing act, much like standing on one foot in Tree Pose, we're always a little amazed when it happens.


My basil has sprouted and my rosemary already smells wonderful. I even have a little bud on the one flower I planted! (I'm not much for planting flowers, but I purchased some heavenly soap from Pangea Organics - www.pangeaorganics.com. Each container is 100% biodegradable and contains seeds. Plant the container and the seeds will bloom!) Other pots are covered in plastic and percolating in my kitchen window. I check them constantly, waiting to see the first signs of little seedlings popping up through the soil.


Will my sage be strong this year? Will my mint be consumed by bugs once again? Will I be able to stay in Tree Pose for a full 10 breaths? Who knows! Growth doesn't come with a guarantee or timeline. It requires patience and strength. Sometimes, it even feels a little uncomfortable...like grit under your fingernails after potting plants. But with a little sunlight, water, dirt, and a genuine love for what I'm doing while I'm doing it it just might happen!




Tree Pose (Vrksasana):

Standing in Mountain Pose (Tadasana) with both feet firmly planted in the floor, inhale deeply and exhale slowly.

Maintaining a steady breath and a steady gaze, bend the left knee and lift the left foot off the floor. (Stretch the toes of the right foot into the floor and lengthen the right leg for balance.

Open the left knee away from your body placing the bottom of the left foot against the inside of the right leg. Don't sink into the right hip or allow the hip to twist open.

Inhale and lift the hands out to the side. If you feel steady, grow higher, breathing and lifting the hands all the way over head. If you feel strong, exhale and bring the palms together above the head.

Continue to hold the pose, inhaling and exhaling 5 to 10 times. Release slowly and repeat on the other leg.