The Day after Mother's Day

Yesterday was a fabulous day for many reasons.  

I ate a lot of really great food, received compliments from my sometimes (ahem) critical teenagers, and spent an afternoon at a garden center.  Pretty much my idea of heaven.  

I was also reflective most of the day.  It's so easy to forget just how demanding the job of mothering really is when you're swept up in the rig-a-ma-roll of it day after day. It becomes routine, its what we do.  And we lose sight of the contribution we make not only to our own family,

A collage made by my tech-savvy Grace of me and me and my 4gr8kdz.

but to the community, and the culture that we live in.   When a day like Mother's Day sneaks up on you and you really get a chance to think about the impact you have it's nothing short of mind-blowing.  For myself it took the words of an  8 year old who wrote, "you are awesome at yoga and you are pretty and you are just amazing because you are everything I need." Wow.  Whose heart wouldn't leap a little at those words of love?  

Another memory re-surfaced yesterday too.  I was reading a love letter that my mother-in-law wrote to her ailing mother.  One of the quotes was a comment about the wonderful life Dode, (my husband's grandmother) lived. She wrote that even bad times were okay because she  learned from them.  I couldn't even read the words they hit me so hard as it struck me the lessons we learn from our mothers.  I still feel pretty turbulent emotions when I think about my bad year experiences.  In the realm of battling cancer, my mother was there quietly taking care of me and the world I lived in.  I once asked her how she did it and she said, I did all of my crying before I got to your house.  And then when I left, I cried all the way home.

My daughter Grace probably struggled the most of my four kids the year I was sick.  And in putting it into perspective, she still handled it very well.  It wasn't until this year, almost four years later that she told me that my mother took her out for breakfast before taking her to school almost every day that she was in Eau Claire.  She took her out just to spend some time alone with her.  Apparently, they finished homework, played cards, and ate Perkins pancakes quite a bit.  I never knew.

Interestingly, I see this hidden amazingness in so many women that I know.  Perhaps it's the idea that we make the biggest impact on this world we live in by molding some really great little humans.  I'd like to think that is a pretty good reason to continue this never-ending job.  If not, it must be the collection of of play doh paper clip holders. Love and respect to all the Mothers.  Namaste.

 

  

And Poof, You Have a Graduate.

I'm pretty sure that the never-ending Wisconsin winter is the reason why I wasn't totally prepared for this year's graduation season and even worse, our oldest child's graduation.  Commencement and the subsequent parties are a spring thing and it just never seemed as though it would ever appear.  Adding insult to my self inflicted injury, you would think that a woman whose spouse in the business of graduation (husband's a Josten's guy) would be totally prepared for this celebration.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

I keep putting off addressing the box of graduation announcements at my desk.  I think I'm in denial.  Or self-preservation. Or something.  I don't think I'm ready to set him free.

A friend told me that I will be ready (really?) and that when the time is here, I will be relieved.  However, just looking at this picture makes me blurry and I can't help but think that a kid who recently drove husband's 57 Buick into the front porch isn't quite world prepared.  Not to mention that every one of his socks is pink from mixing reds and whites and that he still rinses his plate on the side of the sink without a disposal.  I have visions of him living in college housing dressed head to toe in unacceptably washed clothing with the smell of standing food lingering.  Or worse.

But the worst of me unravels when I think of the good stuff. How amazing he is, funny, sweet, and sensitive.  How can this kid be prepared to launch into a world that isn't always accepting of sensitive?  I'm worried that he will show up at our door with boot marks across his face.  Is it possible the we (read: I)  ruined him?

Last night we pulled out his baby pictures for the yearbook.  I was looking at the pictures of that chubby face dressed in full teddy bear gear (complete with ears) and forgive the cliche but it was truly just yesterday.  My heart ached.  I don't care if that is another cliche because it really did ache. I realized long ago that I can't every wrap him up in teddy bear pajamas and protect but it’s a whole different ball game when you feel like you may be feeding your child to sharks.   

My one consolation is that I'm not alone.  I'm thinking that many parents are in the same boat just hoping that when the child does stumble and fall; he will have the ability to dust off and re-start.  Unfortunately for husband, his 57 Buick does not have the same luxury..... but that's another blog post.

Refining your inner artist through yoga

The Madeline Island School of Arts

I have always been drawn to art in a somewhat similar way I have been drawn to yoga.  Both offer a refuge from the busy pace of our everyday life and open us up to the opportunity to be present.   Yoga and creativity have very similar purposes, to be present, to get out of an often judging mind, and to open to a new world of experience. Creating beautiful artwork is much like the meditation aspect of yoga.  There is an opportunity to be completely in tune with the mind and body, harnessing the brain in different capacity then traditional mundane tasks.

Artists will tell you that when they take the time to quiet their mind and begin to create something artistic, it is like an incredible high.  Yogis call the experience bliss.  Both come from a place where you can quiet your mind and let your soul take shape from within you.  Although yoga is most often though of as finding ease within the body, it also allows you to open up from the inside out and quite often harness creative energy.

As a yogi who dabbles in writing, I am familiar with the need to dig very deep in the depths of my psyche to allow creative ideas to emerge.  I always say that my best writing emerged when I was battling cancer.  At the time, so much of my life experience were raw and the visceral energy I was able to tap into produced a beautiful stream of words on my paper.  Words don’t come easy anymore unless I take the time to really listen to my heart and dig a little deeper.

An Art and Yoga retreat is a truly unique experience.  The practice of yoga is designed to awaken something from within.  From that point the artist transitions into a period of creating alongside the experienced and gentle guiding of an art teacher to that realization that something magical  is unfolding is a journey worth taking.

In combination with this, The Art and Yoga Retreat on Madeline Island offers a unique opportunity to be completely present.  The retreat is designed to allow you to forget about the everyday to do list and be enveloped in the richness of peaceful and inspirational naturescapes. Serene surroundings allow the artist to just “be” naturally in a state of stillness.  Distractions of everyday life do not block the creative flow of energy.  Combining this with asanas and prana will stimulate the life force within each retreater and inspire creative ideas to emerge.

You don’t need to be an experienced yogi or an experienced artist to participate in this retreat.  You just need to have a desire to dig deeper and experience something new.  It is not uncommon to leave a retreat experience filled with awe at the idea that you have rediscovered your true self. We look forward to working with you as you unleash your inner artist and discover a new way to bring yoga into your life.

Registration for this retreat is through MISA, The Madeline Island School of The Arts.

The Second Annual "The Courage is Contagious Project"

I'm so thrilled to be a part of this amazing project.  Celebrating life on Madeline Island with last year's three  recipients was dance music for my happy heart.  If there is a woman who inspires you and you know she would benefit from the health and well-being break that our retreats provide, nominate her!  Feel free to email me with questions:  amy@cleanspirityoga.com

A Post from a Teacher and a Student

 Everyone and everything around you is your teacher. 
~ Ken Keyes, Jr

Retreating in San Pancho this winter with eight other yogis was a blessing on so many levels but when asked what my favorite part about the trip was I didn't have to think hard.  It wasn't the escape from the winter blahs in February's Wisconsin (although that sure can life a spirit quickly) or even the laughter and adventure we experienced  in the jungle, it was the small tidbit of wisdom that I tucked in my pocket one afternoon in San Pancho. The above quote frames the feeling of that afternoon rather nicely.

Here's the explanation.  One of the retreaters suggested we bring something for the people of San Pancho, the small Mexican village where we were retreating.  Tamara from Tailwind who was our contact and guide for the retreat connected us with Nicole from  Entre Amigos, a community center for the children of San Pancho who told us to bring art supplies.  Easy enough.

Nicole explained to us that he community center was designed to teach the children to exist in an ever changing world  that ultimately changes these smaller Mexican communities where tourism is growing and impacting daily life.  The children are cared for, taught to read and create, and nurtured.  Ultimately some of these children are striving for continued education even onto college. This is a safe and educational haven for children and their families.

Nicole explained to us that bringing the concept of a community center to the small village provided many challenges as many of the local community members were unaware of how they could help.  It was the idea she set forth that everyone is a teacher that finally resonated.  Someone could build and someone else could babysit the children of the builder.  Ultimately, it was the coming together of this community that built this center.

And it really was a site to behold. Creativity abounded in the colorful building.  It was organized, self sustaining, but most amazing to me of all....in the midst of dogs, and many children, it was positively peaceful.

I'm not entirely sure of what magic we experienced that afternoon  but I am grateful for the experience of visualizing the idea that everything and everyone is a teacher. 

My Branches are Brimming

My Yoga Tree branches that is.

We kicked off our first Yoga Tree event at The Children's Museum last Saturday.  Close to 40 yogis attended and shared the love for our community via donations for The Children's Museum.  It was a happy day for myself, a teacher and collaborator on this project, with fellow yoga teachers and friends, Aveen, Kristin, and Amelia.

We had poured over ideas, researched other karma yoga projects, and met many times to discuss the small details of this big undertaking.  It was fun and never burdensome and then as the days approached to the first event......exciting.

We had no idea of how many would come.  I woke up in the morning feeling nervous.  But the event was successful and it was thrilling to so many come together for the collective good of the community.

I would like to take credit for it but we based our idea on the beautiful Gorilla Yogi Project in Minneapolis.  Their founder Jess, was generous with her advice.  In the end, we made the concept our own and our branches sprouted.

We planted it and they came.

We hope more join us each month.  Our next event is on Sat, February 23rd 10 am at The Children's Theatre.  All levels welcome.  Bring a mat and a water bottle.

Becoming The Yoga Tree......

The "Branches"

Yogi’s tend to be some of the most generous community I know.  Whether it falls within the blanket of feel good, do good, or whether a yogic training and a deeper connection to living leads to a higher degree of sensitivity remains to be proven but I can offer my opinion that we as a whole feel a sense of peace and fulfillment that comes from practicing and giving the gift of teaching a yoga class to others. We understand that common experience extends to everyone in our world and feel a deep responsibility for the well being of all.

Sometimes when I consider what I will deem most meaningful when I reach the end of my life, I consider the events that will probably stick out.  The obvious is my marriage, the birth of my kids, and friendships that I cultivated.  Those of you who really know me very well understand the value I place in community.  So many great things have happened in my life, in part because of the good company I keep.  But I felt as though one thing was missing.  An opportunity to step up and create something beautiful for a community that gave so much to me.

So on the way home from a yoga retreat with my friend and yogini collaborator Kristin, I had that light bulb moment.  We brainstormed the whole trip on an idea to create a monthly yoga event that gave back to the community we both live and teach in.

I had heard about a similar  project called The Gorilla Yogis and the buzz it was creating in The Minneapolis Community.  A well-organized group of yogis had created monthly donation-only classes that brought in crowds of yogis all in touch with the collective power of doing good.  Magic or karma was happening on a big scale in a non-studio.  Thousands of dollars were being raised for community partners and yoga (the asanas and the theory) was made available to the masses.

Two other local yoginis agreed to partner with us. They (Amelia and Aveen) were in and excited to build a yoga project. Charged from the belief that the best were at my back I emailed Jes, a co-creator of The Gorilla Yogis. My approach was a request for advice in building a like-minded concept for my community.  Why re-invent the wheel?  But the gift received upon reply was again pretty incredible. She was generous with her words and shared her process.   

Moving forward, we have launched our own donation-only project in Eau Claire, WI, called The Yoga Tree.  Our first event will be held in a Children’s Museum on January 26 in Eau Claire, WI and everyone is invited. Establishing upon the idea that if you build it, they will come,we want to extend our branches of giving out into the community and raise money for local non-profits that also strengthen our environment.  Like a tree, it will take time to establish roots and grow…but it also will impact in the most positive way.

Charging into 2013 the slate is clean and full of possibilities for all of us. Consider the research that suggests that giving is good for your heart.  How’s that for Karma? A study from Cornell University determined that retirees who volunteered on environmental projects were half as likely as non-volunteers to struggle with depression 20 years later. Instead of back tracking with tired resolutions that suggest your life may be better if you just ate less chocolate, consider a the emotional power of a gift for the world. Give the best of yourself.