Just think of happy things...

I've been tucked away in the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota since May, but I am now preparing to rejoin the world of internet service, cell phone service and yoga classes once again.  Just a few more weeks! The BWCA has treated me well though. It's beautiful here, but I admit, I miss you yogis and the world of public yoga classes. :) 

Business has been good here at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. The season is almost over and the fall leaves are on their way. I might take one more trip into the wilderness if time allows it. Take a look at what I've seen so far...

The summer has been a roller-coaster ride for me... it's quite a change to go from everyday yoga to yoga only every once in a while. Before I left for the BWCA I practiced yoga everyday, sometimes 8 hours a day's worth. I taught on average 3 classes a day. I participated in courses and meditation retreats. I read a yoga book probably once a week.... my life revolved around yoga.  Now, I've been working in my office from 7-7-7... 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week... it doesn't leave me  much time at all to practice a strong Vinyasa flow... but it doesn't mean that lessons haven't been learned...

What this change has taught me is to find and live yoga in other ways. It has provided me an opportunity to sit in my office chair in double pigeon or animal pose for long periods at a time. To touch my toes each time I stand. To practice hand stands when I get sleepy and to be aware of the results.  To breathe deeply more often and with more presence.  To enjoy a long walk every morning.  To be grateful for a sunny day and a moment to experience wind on my face.  I may not have touched my yoga mat as often as I liked, but that's okay. We all seem to go through waves within our yoga practice. Sometimes we are really into it and sometimes life happens. It's okay.

Oh yes... and there's one more lesson to be learned from this summer. I lost my mother this year. :( She died in an automobile crash on June 26th. She was 48. It's been really difficult for me to feel joy, truly, since then.  The complete opposite of the way I've been my whole life. I know there is a lesson to be learned here. I didn't want to know it right after she died, but as of today... right now.. I think I am open to learning it.  For a while there I felt guilty if I smiled at a bird chirping in a tree nearby or when I smiled because I thought the sky was beautiful.  Because I missed her. Because I was sad... Guilt is a funny thing.  So, here I am. Openhearted.  Ready to learn the lesson that might help me make sense of such a loss.  To help me heal. 

I believe yoga has the power to heal.  I've always mentioned that to my students. That we have the power to heal ourselves and that yoga can help us. I'm going to take my own advice and dive deeply into my yoga studies.  I applied for a space in the Yoga Therapy Course at 7 Centers Yoga yesterday. It's 300 hours and will make me a 500 hour yoga teacher as well as grandfather me into the International Association of Yoga Therapists.  I am looking forward to it so much.  I am already feeling less emotional pain with just the thought of practicing and studying yoga and Ayurveda again.  Yoga really is powerful. I don't know where I'd be without it. Namaste Lovely Yogis.

One of my mom's last posts on Facebook was a quote from Peter Pan, "Come with me where dreams are born, and time is never planned.  Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land."

My mother once created a page on Facebook called the Howl at the Moon Party... She was so silly :)  She said that if people would just take a moment to howl at the moon and then laugh that the world would be a better place... I think she was right. I love you mom and I'll miss you forever and always. ~ Ashley