Beach Bummin'

Krum and I are with some old friends at the Pappalardo beach house, the "Pappa's Pamlico Perch", this week.  While I miss my regular yoga class teaching schedule in Asheville, I'm having a blast soaking up some sun and playing in the surf with my pup and my sister.  

Camille Kingsolver will be subbing my class tomorrow, Friday May 17th at One Center Yoga 5-6 pm.  Go check her out she's an amazing teacher!

Here are some pics from today's bliss-filled vacation day with of course a little bit of beach time yoga-play:

Making Space

The "Sky" Room at One Center Yoga

I taught at the new additional yoga room at One Center Yoga tonight for the first time.  It's such a great space, so calming and welcoming.  Come check out a class there with me this week!  I teach Wednesday's 4-5:20, and Friday's 5-6:30.  Both classes are all levels.

Joy Dips Deeper

In keeping with the theme of transitions, my second twenty-ninth birthday was yesterday. 
I'm almost ready to call it my 30th. However, not the "dirty thirty" I kept being texted.  I think I'll call it my "purty thirty". 

It was an amazing day.  My boyfriend showered me with flora, records, and kisses.  Facebook made me realize that I have more friends than Mickey Mouse.  Shala Rain set the tone of the evening for me in her Hot Flow and Yin class at Asheville Yoga Center-- an evening of long exhales and pumped up smiles.  So many of those smiles and faces I love showed up for my birthday dinner at Wicked Weed.  I'm still glowing in gratitude for all these crazy awesome people that surround me.  

I ended the night at Club Metropolis, thanks to the news of a Daft Punk cover band.  We had to check it out, because, well, Daft Punk is amazing and there's nothing like a pretty light show to make you feel young again.  I also realized that there's nothing like a room full of big spun out eyes to make you happy your growing up a bit.

Blurry picture of the Daft Punk cover band, lights lights lights.

Daft Punk's song, "One More Time"  

Music's got me feelin' so free...

Upon realizing it was my 30th birthday, someone said to me yesterday, "Oh great! You're finally living your real life now.  Everything up until now has just been practice."  I laughed, but I do love the idea.  Perhaps looking back and seeing it all as practice can make me more forgiving of all the trials and mostly errors of my twenties.  

In any case, Purty Thirty has arrived and I'm embracing the opportunity for another trip around the sun--a sun just as bright and fascinating to me as in every year past.  That's my greatest comfort in aging so far--life never grows dull. Colors aren't dimmer through eyes a year older.  Love only grows stronger.  Joy only dips deeper into my soul with time.  

May we all continue to grow wiser with each passing day.  

YOGA HIKE w/ SAHC May 26th

Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher.

-William Wordsworth

With all the transitions happening, and exams, and my big three-ohhh birthday coming up (May 2!), maybe it was a blessing in disguise for Yoga on the Mountain at Blue Ridge Pastures to be cancelled last weekend, April 28th, due to rain.  It would've been quite the muddy trek (although sometimes that can be fun too, check out this muddy picture of my sister at the recent "Rugged Maniac" race in Durham for example.

The event has been moved to May 26th, but will still be at Blue Ridge Pastures in Fairview. We will meet at 15 Clarke Rd. at 11:00 am.  It's Memorial Day weekend which I hope means even more people can sign up.  The facebook event page is HERE NOW.  Sign up there or email Rich Preyer at Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy at rich@appalachian.org.  (Or just email me).  Rich will send out more specific directions as the time approaches.  In the meantime, start daydreaming about wildflowers, sunshine, and communing with nature.  

Blue Ridge Pastures in the Spring: photocred to Michelle Pugliese

Lillah Takes Flight

Lillah Taking Flight, teaching at 200 hour teacher training April 27, 2013

Transition is the word buzzing around me.  The studio in which I've taught for four years, Lighten Up Yoga, is moving/combining with One Center Yoga.  Starting Thursday (May 2nd), all Lighten Up Yoga classes will be held at 120 Coxe Ave.  A bittersweet move, as Lighten Up Yoga and its owner, Lillah Schwartz, occupied it's current space for over thirty years and was the first yoga studio in Asheville.  I am proud to be a small part of its history and to call Lillah Schwartz my teacher. Lillah embraced me with open arms when I first began teaching, and since that day she has fueled me--working tirelessly to pass on her knowledge and passion to me and countless other students.  She was a brave soul to bring yoga to this mountain town.  I love picturing her at my age now, just starting out--determined to get everyone she met in stretchy pants and start opening their hearts and minds.  Actually, I guess not much about her has changed. 

I am also thrilled to be joining with the teachers at One Center Yoga!  The owner, Cindy Dollar, began studying with Lillah many years ago, and then continued on her own path to become a certified Iyengar teacher and studio owner.  There is something that feels so right and beautiful about this passing of the torch from teacher to student. The new schedule at One Center is incredible, encompassing so many different styles. Check out the new schedule HERE NOW.

 Lillah will continue to teach at One Center and she will continue to teach her teacher trainings, which I know she enjoys so much. Here are just a few pictures of the most recent and last teacher training weekend at Lighten Up that I had the pleasure to assist in:

 Dog training

Shala in Prasarita Padottanasana

Baring their soles

Goodbye Lighten Up Yoga on Biltmore Avenue.  May we all be blessed as the journey continues. 

Sunday's Are Fun Days

Beautiful tulips on the way to yoga:  Every Sunday at Asheville Yoga Donation Studio 4:15-5:45 "Mindful Alignment"

Setting up the room at Sola Salt Cave for the "Breathing and Meditation" session today.  Next session is Sunday, June 9, 2013 @ 2:00pm

Two participants in the "Breathing and Meditation session at Sola Salt Cave today.  Thanks to Jennifer and Allison, today was such a pleasure! :)

Some Climbers Rockin' Out Some Yoga

A few pictures from the recent "Yoga for Rock Climbers" workshop at Warren Wilson College, so much fun! Thanks to all who showed up that Easter morning!

Extend your reach for the next hold, with Extended Side Angle Pose

Half Frog, ribbit...

Bow pose is such an essential pose for rock climbers!