Mom Connection

My mother visited DC for the 1st time this past weekend, which was an exciting experience for me for several reasons; she hasn't been on a vacation in years, she has been a bit sad since my grandmother's passing and I was hoping this trip would re-ignite the flame for life back into her, and most importantly... we have not spent quality time together in many years.

This weekend offered the opportunity for us to bond, reminisce, experience DC together especially as I enjoyed sharing many of my favorite places, listen and learn who my mom is today and for me to offer her a glimpse of who I am as a wife, adult, yogi .....and maybe a glimpse into infusing life with a bit of yoga & creativity.

I was super excited to introduce her to the concept of art journaling as a way of creating vision(s), goals and reminders in a fun, carefree way that can be inspiring images or feelings/desires/goals in written form (especially beautiful when written over a page).

A page I created about what summer food's I love (and should eat more of!)

And we had some lovely time with YOGA! I can't believe I actually was able to get her to not only get a lesson from me, and also attend a class I taught. BUT, I am super grateful that she did. It was actually great insight for me as a teacher to work with my mom (who is a beginner yogi) as if she was a private client. She felt comfortable enough to tell me when she was uncomfortable or didn't understand a cue, which helps me learn as a teacher to get out of my comfort cues, but also to become a better teacher, especially for beginners. I could also read her body movement and sense on a different level (probably because she's my mom) what was working and not working (something definitely to work towards with all yoga students).

It's also amazing in a short period of time that I've lived in dc (2 years) and out of my parent's house (8 years) how much life changes us, our demeanor, our bodies, our attitude towards life, practically everything. In the end I came away from this visit with so much love for my mom, for all of her strength and effort in raising me and continuing to this day being my biggest cheerleader and supporter. And yet at the same time, I learned that over time we all change as beings, our goals, mindsets, motivation, drive.....who we are may be the same, and yet completely different. It was my pleasure to meet my mom of today.

When was the last time you really talked to your parent(s) with a non-judging lens? Sometimes it's easier than others, but you may find its a refreshing feeling afterwards possibly with a new connection to each other.

...after all we wouldn't be who we are if they were/are not who they were/are....

Tribute to our D.C. weekend extravaganza!

Some of the lovely things we filled our hearts, mind, bellies and eyes with:

• A brief visit to the roof-top of our apartment building with a beautiful view of the city and the Capitol

• We used Car2Go to get around the city everyday! It was amazing, it zipped us around so we could avoid overheating from the 90+ (real feel 100) degree weather. 

• Ford's Theater, where Abe (I lovingly call Abraham Lincoln Abe) was shot; across the street the new Abe museum and house he died in. 

• New Hair Cuts!! We almost got matching hairstyles which was fun! We looked more like sisters in the end, than mother/daughter.

• Vegan!!! We introduced my mom to our vegan/vegetarian lifestyle. Adam typically cooks vegan at home, so we experimented with the fruit of our tomato plant, vegan pizza's, a lovely fresh pasta and a deconstructed bruschetta. Delish! (as well as a little post-yoga jaunt to Cafe Green - yummy Vegan D.C. restaurant in Dupont Circle)

• Outdoor Markets, both H street farmers market and Eastern market --> with some lovely finds at the flea market of eastern market --> vote to save the market here

• Art Journaling, it took a bit of encouraging....and me just sitting down and doing it before she decided to join me (after all we don't have cable...so she was kind of forced to experiment and try whatever it was I was doing

• Yin Yoga at Tranquil Space, I was sub-teaching a class, which I was actually super excited about, so my mom could not only come to a yoga class, but also see me in action. 

• Thomas Jefferson Memorial, a tranquil beauty sitting on the crest of a beautiful body of water, a serene place in the midst of a hectic city

• Lovely evenings spent inside relaxing, reminiscing and watching a new TV show, Touch, (on hulu) that I'm recently infatuated with.

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I thought it appropriate to end with a quote I happened upon the day after my mom returned home.....

"And in the end it's not the years in your life that count. It is the life in your years."  

~ Abraham Lincoln