Spring Retreat and Spring Returns

                                                                   Top of the mountain

                                                             Friends on Retreat/Being Silly

                                                    Snowy, Muddy, Spring Yoga Retreat

                                         Japanese Cherry Tree Begins to Bloom at my House

Just returned from yet another Spring Yoga Retreat.  I never know what to expect upon arrival and this year was no different.  About a 1/2 hour prior to embarking on the 4 hour drive to the retreat center in Stannard, VT, I got an email from the host saying it was "mud season" and to wear heavy duty boots (also "please bring a 4 wheel drive vehicle if you have one".)  So of course I was unprepared but I was ready to go.   I didn't even know there was such thing as mud season.

Once I arrived I had already let go of wanting it to Spring and I found myself focusing on all the amazing elements that were already there.  Yes there was a foot of snow on the ground but it was 55 degrees!!!  That's amazing for Vermont.  When it poured rain and we lost power during our scheduled Silent Walking Meditation hike, I just calmly changed the schedule to reflect an indoor walking meditation. Let's face it, the best thing about these retreats is the food, the people, and the yoga!  I found myself just enjoying the darkness and sound of the rain dancing against the windows and roof. 

After 20 years of practicing yoga, I find that what used to be hard work is second nature to me now.  I can switch my mind from a negative state to a positive accepting state in less than a second.  I can see more clearly all the elements of a given moment and choose the ones I want to hold onto. I can let go of what doesn't serve me or the moment.  Honestly, yoga has helped me to see.  I believe we wear a veil most of our lives but yoga helps us shed that veil that holds together our roles, identities, beliefs; things that keep us separate and alone.  These retreats always teach me and others so much and I am so grateful to have had the time with another special group to remember the beauty and power of yoga.

I invite you to reflect back to when you first started practicing yoga.  What were you like then?  How has your life changed and more importantly how are you more ABLE to change and go with the flow  of life? 
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My next retreat is AUGUST 8-10th and Sky Meadow is in it's full glory with animals, full blossom flowers, trees, and of course the glorious swimming ponds.  Outdoor yoga on the actual earth can not be beat.  I hope you can join us!  Only $360 for yoga, food, lodging.
www.yogawithnatalie.net only 8 spots left.

Buried in Winter, Basking in Light

How can we be buried in winter but bask in light?  All I've heard around me is complaints about the cold, the snow, the endless snow STORMS, this longing for something else.  Anything but this we yell!  I find that snow and winter and the piercing cold touches upon our seeds of anger and depression.  Knowing that another day will be cold, gray, and perhaps snowy just makes us want to curl up and go to bed, not face the world, and hibernate until the first sign of the spring crocuses appear.  Or it makes us irritable and angry.I have a better idea!  What if we basked in winter light?  What if we said yes to endless hours of snow shoveling (my life for the last few days).  Maybe we would enjoy that steaming cup of hot chocolate in our palms after, that blazing fire, and that cuddly love nest on the couch in front of your favorite show (with your loved one!)?  Perhaps, dare I say, we would enjoy the opposite forces even more.  Ever notice that a hot cup of tea is most enjoyable on a chilly night?  The sun is much more brilliant when shining off of snow. 
Here's to winter!  I salute you!  I say yes!

Here's what my week looked like!

taught 3 yoga classes
took 4 yoga classes
started tai chi class
artist date at Tiger lily
enjoyed morning book reading
drank  2 freshly squeezed juices
penned valentines and sent by snail mail
attended my first book club meetup
worked 3 shifts at the library
baked vegan chocolate chip oatmeal and flax cookies
savored a rose and chamomile bubble bath to warm bones
meditated twice
worked on yoga business
plenty of sesame oil ayurvedic massages
built a fire
yoga practice by the fire
penned a birthday note
started "Fire and Ice" yoga e-course
shoveled
shoveled
shoveled
enjoyed bright yellow tulips
Cuddling and Sherlock watching
watched Dallas Buyers Club and thoroughly enjoyed
hours of wedding planning

Weekend Plans
work 2 shifts at the library
get reading done
yoga
home pedicure
Valentine's Day celebration
RELAX.....

This Week in Yoga, Life, and Self-Care

I'd like to stay in touch with all of you as much as possible. As you know from my last post I have been focusing on getting organized this year.  My word of the year is: EXPLORE.  I am seeking out activities or things that are outside of my comfort zone.  This month I am starting a Tai Chi class.  Not TOTALLY out of my comfort zone but taking new classes is not my usual homebody self!

Here is my week in review over on Long Island.  What have you been up to?  Keeping track of what is DONE seems to work well with making to-do lists.  See if you can focus on all that you do at the end of the week, and you'll find you are much more productive then you think.  Then sit back and have gratitude for all that you do and are!  PEACE

                                               Beautiful Sunset at Cedar Beach post Work

                                                      Start of snow storm extravaganza

                                             Winter Walk at Avalon Park in Stony Brook, NY

                                                Green Juice: Kale, Apple, Celery, Cucumber
weekly happenings:

taught 3 yoga classes
took 3 yoga classes
shoveled snow 3-5 hours total
built and savored 3 fires
penned February goals
worked on yoga biz and stats
soaked in a rose +chamomile bubble bath
hiked at avalon park
made chocolate chip cookies (Tate's)
savored green juices and kombucha
sent snail-mail love
started e-course on yoga international on agni
made peanut butter chocolate chip cookies (gluten free!)
made oatmeal choc. chip cookies w/out butter or eggs!,
enjoyed 3 snow days:
a day off/ 3 class cancellations
worked at library
started "The Circle" by Dave Eggers
meditated 3x. 

this weekend:
ladies book club
tai chi class
yoga
meditation
work at library
artist date at B+N to browse magazines

What have you been enjoying?  What's keeping you bright on these cold winter days?

Peace,
Natalie

Order for a dis-organized Yogi

Happy 2014 everyone!  I have been turning a new leaf in my life focusing on health, fitness, and organization.  Organization of body or purification known as Saucha has been a daily practice for the last few weeks. It has spread into my mind, my environment, and my life. 

Detox I am, but not in that "cleanse" way where you dish out over $100 for something that comes in a box with promises to make you a brand new person.  No, No, NO!  Think DIY detox.  I recently have been adding a ton of fiber into my diet, getting my green juice on, eating way less sugar, and downing yogi tea.  I was blessed with adult "hormonal" acne so the Skin Detox Tea has been working wonders!!!! Yay to focusing on purifying body, mind, environment, and my life.  Add yoga and mindfulness practice to this and boy do I feel CLEAN! 

Over the last week or so I have been feeling like I actually have TIME.  The reason for that is I am using a planner/art journal.  It reminds me to meditate, drink my green juice, include mindful movement in my day and journal.  Planning my most important tasks each Sunday for the week ahead has really helped lay out my week and find spaces for working out, yoga, and reading.  Things I WANT to do.  Try it out!  Grab a journal, a planner (Try the Tranquility Du Jour Daybook by Kimberly Wilson), some colorful pens, rubber stamps, whatever you need to get creative.  Plan out your dreams for the year and your monthly goals each month.  I am amazed at how setting goals can really help shape your productivity.  Try it! 


Things I'm really liking these days....

Boyfriend became Fiance

 

 

Green Juice!

 

Free Yoga Videos on Yoga International  

 https://yogainternational.com/article/view/yoga-to-balance-samana-vayu

 

 Meditating with Sally Kempton

 

Tea

 

 

 

 

Diary of an Ex-Urban Yogini

 I have just returned from leading my 7th Yoga Retreat at Sky Meadow Retreat in Stannard, VT....way up north, think Canada. Just like in yoga (3 parts of the om, three gods, etc,.) I enjoyed the beginning, middle, and end equally; the drive into Cambridge, seeing old friends, realizing in just 3 months Cambridge and I have split and just like getting over a breakup, I found myself in the acceptance stage.  No hard feelings, no longing to be back, no tears.  I think I surprised myself to be quite frank.  I expected much more fanfare from my parts that spent so much time in this little city. (13 years).  Instead I found a new appreciation for my new home.  The overpowering sound of crickets and cicadas at night.  The glimpse of the bold red cardinal here and there out my kitchen window.  The sea and the quiet. The space inside my home which is just right.  This is my life now. 

As I drove to Vermont, I found more beauty and wonder in the changing of the leaves and found myself exclaiming to myself "how beautiful is this?"  and why am I not living here?  I promise myself a life in the mountains before I die.  I find it incredibly grounding.   The truth is, I was never supposed to end up in Cambridge, MA.  I landed there for school and to follow my sister who I have since become much less dependent on in the last 5 or so years.  I have truly risen above the idea that I can not make things happen for myself and by myself.  This retreat was a display of re-assurance to myself that yes, I can do it! 

The importance of retreating can not be overlooked.  Each one I find reminds me how vital it is to get out of your usual environment and step into the arms of nature.  The sounds of wind blowing through trees, the power of meditating with others in the morning, eating delicious nurturing and healthy food, practicing yoga and being kind to your body/mind.  Taking time to reflect on how you are practicing life.  

I hope that those who do not have a retreat practice will set aside at least 2-3 x per year to get away and do this for themselves.  Save your money from going out for drinks, eating out, fancy products you don't need, clothing that will be boring in a few weeks and come on retreat.
The next one is November 8-10th weekend at Sky Meadow.  www.yogawithnatalie.net for mor info!

Til next time...
Natalie

Yoga for the Love of it!

     As a yoga practitioner and educator with at least 7 classes per week on my plate, I admit that I do not always love to go to the mat.  Okay, let's be honest...sometimes it is the last thing I want to do. If you've been practicing yoga for awhile or at least trying to be consistent, you know that the antidote to resistance is to boost your tapas practice.  Tapas is our discipline, fire, and will to do the practice (no it's not Lobster Ravioli cooked the Spanish way). Look, let's just call it "powering through" if you know what I mean.
     I knew it was time for a blog post when I found myself heading to the mat because A.) my significant other was resisting getting out of bed and doing something fun, and B.) there simply was nothing else to do.  So I headed to my mat and turned on my Yogaglo and welcomed myself to my practice via Elena Brower's voice.  Yoga was just what I needed and because it was Saturday morning I hadn't scheduled it at all. It was downright glorious!  Her message was to access the softness within intensity: perfect.  I had an incredible moment of possibility when the choice was presented to do Legs up the Wall or Headstand.  Then it hit me.  The power of yoga and only a yoga dork would see it this way.  The choice!  I chose headstand but not because I was simply powering through. I chose it intelligently, knowing that a legs up the wall would be right around the corner in an upcoming practice. I paused for at least 10-15 seconds to really ask myself what I needed.  By choosing headstand I chose to embrace my strength and bring a rush of blood to my head.  Siggggghhhhhh.  Feeling alive!
     So this blog post is a tribute to all of us who remember why we started practicing yoga in the first place.  It wasn't because we needed another activity to schedule into our day.  It wasn't because we needed to "work on something" and I doubt it was about fixing anything. It was about feeling connected to ourselves, feeling delicious openings in our hamstrings and shoulders and other places we had no idea were tight.  It's about giving ourselves a gift that is permanent and love-filled. So heres to yoga!  Raise your glass and sigh. Ommmmmmmm.

Eating Right: Cooling Down with Local Farm Fresh Food!

Yesterday I took myself out for the day.  I was on a mission for fresh farm food; think watermelon, arugula, peaches, organic lettuce from the farm.  Well, I got all of that and then some.  Check out my journey below.
 Most people who know me, know that I am a pretty decent cook.  I find that working with food comes very natural to me and I'm inspired by the simplest of foods paired together. I'm particularly interested in colorful simple meals. I find that the more simple the recipe is, the more room for flexibility and creativity. Just like yoga, if you start with the easiest version of a pose, you'll never go wrong.  Here are some inspirations to cool you down as the heat continues to rise into the deep 90s.

DINNER 
Watermelon, Arugula, and Feta Salad w/Balsamic Glaze!
On my way out to Wine and Farm Country yesterday, I picked up a gorgeous watermelon and some peppery arugula at Schmitt's Home Grown in Riverhead and by the time I got home, I was eager to get in the kitchen and whip up this simple yet elegant summer salad.  You can't go wrong with this one.  I had some grilled tuna rolls w/avocado and lime vinagrette on fresh bread from the Blue Duck Bakery so this dinner was decadent and very summery with the Tuna and Lime and sweet watermelon.   To make the salad you simply cube some watermelon, layout some fresh arugula, and top with the watermelon cubes and some Feta cheese.  Reduce Balsamic Vinegrette on high heat to about 2 tbsp and drizzle over the whole thing. Enjoy!

After dinner I enjoyed a delicious bar of chocolate and some Oyster Bay white wine while I watched some TV with the A/C and fan blowing directly at my skin!

Breakfast
Watermelon and Strawberry Smoothie
I like to start every day with coffee and a breakfast smoothie in the summer. In the winter, I might change to hard boiled egg and banana or yogurt and granola but in the summer I just want to cool down!  This morning I took advantage of the whole watermelon from Schmitt's farm and made a Watermelon and Strawberry Smooothie.  How refereshing!  It's light, so hydrating, and gorgeous to look at.  I recommend using frozen whole strawberries, this way your smoothie will be COLD just like you want it during a heat wave!

I'm on my way to pick some blue and dark purple hydrangeas from the yard, and continue a gorgeous day!