To all of the MOMents

A little Photo Bomb for all lovely Moms in my life. 

You each hold a special place in my heart and I love looking back on fun MOMents with you! Thank you for being leaders, confidants, supportive, honest, inspiring women in my life!

I love this photo...as I was trying to mimic my mom's posture on the bike. 

One of the last few times all 3 generations were together in Portland, OR

There is something so sweet about how I was leaning into my mom in this photo

It's clear where I get my spunk from :)

My all time favorite picture of my Grandma's full of smiles

Love this picture of my mom and Grandma in Europe when I was 8 years old.
There is something magical about this shot. 

Lovely speech from my mother-in-law, Lois during our wedding shower 

Have had a blast exploring Louisville with Belinda

Play in May!

I spent the evening during Yard Work!! and I feel GREAT!

I really can't believe I am saying that. Who would have thought an hour of pulling weeds and planting a flowers **with the massive help of hubby** would feel so releasing.....ironically similar to 'that' feeling after a yoga class.

I look forward to a month...really many months of playing, working and reading in our yard.

This spring has so many beautiful colors....the pastels in this art journal photo feel to so May! Have you noticed you started to wear brighter colors in your day or gravitate to lighter foods such as veggies and fruits? It's interesting how our body follows nature....isn't it?

Looking forward to a May full of:

• Europe vacation planning! I can't believe it's less than a month before yoga & art in Paris!
• Schedule a few yoga workshops
• Runner's workshop
• Assist workshop
• Play outside!! 
• Bike rides
• Reading on the porch
• Plant and replant flowers
• Celebrate a Wedding in DC
• Yoga Yoga Yoga!
• Yoga in DC
• Eye of the Tiger yoga practice 2.5 hours
• Create & Finish Art Projects 

May's Book Club Announcement ~ WILD

Announcement of May's Inspiring Book Club meet-up!

Join me for a vinyasa yoga class at 7pm followed by book club at 8:20pm. If you can't make the yoga class....definitely still join us for the book's discussion at 8:20pm.

Where: Shine wellness studio 
Date: May 28th
Book Club: 8:20 pm
Bring: A snack & insights to share

I am excited to take this reading adventure with you! If you have any recommendations for future book club themes, please let me know!

~~~~~~~

May's book: Wild by Cheryl Strayed 

You can purchase the book here and join the Facebook event here. 

Reviews of this book:

“Spectacular . . . Gripping . . . A breathtaking adventure tale and a profound meditation on the nature of grief and survival . . . A literary and human triumph.”
—Dani Shapiro,
New York Times Book Review

“I was on the edge of my seat. . . . It is just a wild ride of a read . . . stimulating, thought-provoking, soul-enhancing.”
—Oprah Winfrey, on Wild, first selection of her Book Club 2.0

“One of the most original, heartbreaking and beautiful American memoirs in years.” —Michael Schaub, National Public Radio

“This isn’t Cinderella in hiking boots, it’s a woman coming out of heartbreak, darkness and bad decisions with a clear view of where she has been.” —The Seattle Times

Nashville ~ One #YogaState at a Time

Last weekend we were in Nashville for the Rock n Roll Half Marathon.

On the course...somewhere around mile 11,
 I thought I'd distract myself from the rain
with a selfie photo op. 

The idea of walking 13.1 miles is no longer as taunting and 'scary' as it was about 2 years ago. It was never that I didn't think I could walk 13.1 miles, but it was more about could I do it in under the 3.5 hour time limit races typically put as the maximum amount of time before the 'bus' sweeps you off the course.

This particular weekend in Nashville was especially different, because it truly was about a Yoga State of mind. We woke up around 5am to rain.....and I mean lots of heavy rain. I knew the race was going to go on rain or shine....I just really was hoping, praying and just not even fathoming the fact that it might actually rain for this race. My true dislike for walking came out at that moment. I did not want to be a part of the race, I really could not imagine being wet...let alone getting my cute gym shoes drenched....nor could I imagine carrying an umbrella with me for 13.1 miles. I really just wanted to cuddle up in my warm, dry sheets and stay inside maybe with a cup of coffee and a book.

I'm not sure what part of me decided....or maybe it wasn't me at all, but my husband who is a devoted runner...or if it was the fact that I made a commitment to do something that I had been training for that urged me to leave the warmth of our hotel.

I was drenched before I crossed the START line. Deciding that it was only going to get worse...I snagged a discarded poncho from one of the crazy fast runners...and started out on my 3.5 hour walk through Nashville. With every mile I thought i was crazy...but at least I was crazy with thousands of other people who were out walking, facing their own state of mind, battling their own demons of will power (and the heavy rain and winds).

In the end...I can say I am happy I did the race, I was able to be surrounded by nature, a beautiful city...and after being through something completely uncomfortable...it's so much easier to appreciate the comforts of our everyday.

Additions to #YogaState, a yoga pose in every state ~ Downtown Nashville

As I announced in my One Yoga State at Time blog post, I have a goal to merge yoga, silliness, tourism, photography and FUN to each state I visit, with the intention in my lifetime to visit all states....and of course, if there is any international travel there must be a fun yoga pose involved (Keep an eye out for Paris and Berlin this June!!).

Join me on this adventure with the hashtag #YogaState.

An Oaks Kind of Day

The excitement in Louisville has been amazing to witness. The energy around the city, among coworkers, random passerby's.....really everyone seems to be abuzz about Derby and all of the pre-celebration activities and festivities leading up to the races.

Living in Louisville, we learned that the locals prefer to go to Oaks instead of Derby. Oaks has been deemed a 'premier event'  in Kentucky.... and is on Friday, the day before the Derby race....and for many it's considered a Holiday. For many, the day is given off and children are off school. Everything in me thinks the excitement is crazy.....but after spending a day at Oaks...the magic is obvious.

Surrounded by over 115,000 people (today was the 2nd highest attended Oaks in history), the magic of a race track comes alive. What is truly beautiful is every one's commitment to tradition. After all, there is much tradition to be celebrated since the 1st Kentucky Oaks race on May 19, 1875!

• Pink...pink..pink everywhere supporting Cancer Survivors
• Lillies (both flowers and the traditional Oaks drink...YUM) 
• Hats & Fascinators of all sizes
• Gentleman wearing bow ties
• Seersucker suits

So...what's it all about anyway? The horses of course. The day is called Oaks, but the Oaks race is later in the day and lasts all of about a 1.5 miles and just shy of 2 minutes. Today, it was the 11th race and started around 5:45pm. It always features the best 3 year old Thoroughbred fillies from all around the world. 

Today reminded me of my love for tradition. I often think of tradition around holidays...but we often have many other traditions everyday and every season. What are some of your favorite traditions outside of the 'traditional' holidays?