Hi Loved Ones,

I'm home! Idaho was great! Wonderful to be off the grid for a week and drop in. Heaven. Ben and I drove many miles, 55 of them on dirt roads, to get to City of Rocks. So beautiful! I even asked Ben, "Do you think you could live out here?" He immediately said, "Yes". And part of me says "Yes" too. Then the rational mind kicks in and says, "you have to wait until Tessa is out of the house". And the more I sit, the deeper inner voice says, "serve your community". I really, really love this Tahoe-Truckee community. And it's growing! I feel like I meet someone that just moved here at least once a week. It's overwhelming at times, driving around and seeing all the change and traffic. Then I feel that call to serve this community again because the overwhelm is not just mine. I have heard people say that there are too many yoga studios in Tahoe, but with the rate that we are growing I believe all these studios are needed. And, we all need to support them in order for these community "hubs" to help us all heal and connect. There is plenty of evidence that shows having a strong sense of community, helps us to live longer, healthier lives.

Hi Loves,

Betty is all packed up and ready for another adventure. Ben and I are heading up to City of Rocks, Idaho for our birthdays. It's time to unplug and celebrate ourselves. I think back 7 years ago when I was turning 40 I was celebrating a new chapter by doing 40 backbends with my students and my husband 2 days earlier had said he couldn't be in our marriage anymore. Well doesn't life feel different now! I would never do 47 backbends. :)

Before I unplug I wanted to get some info out to you all. I have heard from quite a few students that are thinking about signing up for this years Wanderlust Teacher Training and we are asking that people get their deposits in by June 20 to save their spot and also helps us prepare.

Hi loves,

Last night Ben and I attended this talk a psychologist was giving on Authentic Relating with Adolescents. I would say at least 90% of the room was mother's and I think that is why I went to find out who this topic mattered to. I can't say I learned much, more just reminded how incredibly important parenting is and good parenting comes down to taking care of ourselves, which last night this guy was talking about breath work, movement and meditation, which gives us the capacity to be present for our kids. If we want authentic relating, if we want intimacy, there must be presence. We have to put the phones down. I am so sad that Tessa is now feeling the strong pull of the phone, but aren't we all in some way. When I ask her to put the phone down or to hand it over I hear, "just one more minute, I need to send this text." This is how we are connecting these days, but we are missing the presence of the moment. And how often have I said those same words to her, which is why I went down to the Eastside this weekend by myself with no screens. Ok I did listen to podcasts and music, but mostly I was in silence.

Hi Lovers,

I promised I would keep sharing about my experience of acquiring "Betty", so here I am actually writing this with her on the Eastside. So fitting. The stars aligned for me to have this weekend to myself and I seized it. The ease of taking spontaneous trips to the Eastern Sierra, and beyond, is one of the reasons that I bought Betty in the first place. Now, don't get me wrong; I really, really love my time with my partner. I really, really love my time with Tessa. I really, really love my time with my family and friends, but.... I really, really, REALLY LOVE my time alone, especially in one of my favorite places on the planet. I did not always love my alone time before I started my daily sitting practice. (Have to put my plug in for meditation). I think because my mind often was not the best company or I was afraid of my loneliness. When I did want to be by myself, I often was running away from some situation, some feeling, some emotion instead of stopping and being with it. These days I enjoy myself so much more because I do stop. Easy to say when I am sitting in a cushy van in God's greatest playground. But it's also true when I have been committed to a week of silence. It's true when Tessa pushes up all the ugly stuff. It's true when I am going through challenges because I know that life is playing out and I am learning, growing, evolving.

Hi Loves,

I have been working on this particular email since January and there is so much evolving in this process that I came to the realization that this topic has to be a series of Newsletters. I am going to call it, "Wisdom from Betty".

Four and a half years ago I wrote a newsletter about how I didn't need a Sportsmobile, but I sure wouldn't mind one. (Maybe some of you remember that one?) My ex-husband and I had a Sportsmobile for years and it was our vehicle to help us get filled up and connect. It was great just to hop in the van and head to the Eastside for the weekend. So many wonderful memories. 

Happy Valentine's Day Love!

There is nothing like this day to bring up all our ideas of what love is and the little boxes we put it in. Sometimes those little boxes have good stuff in them. :) But love is so much bigger. It is what holds and moves thru. Something our mind will never grasp.

Hi loves,

Where are you aiming in life? As you have probably heard before, "where your attention goes, energy flows". So, where are you directing the consciousness that you are responsible for? I know for me, I aim at love.

Some of you nordic skiers out there may have seen that I am teaching yoga for the 2nd Annual Shooter Bowl Sunday, a laser biathlon event for women held on Super Bowl Sunday. I am honored to be a part of this event created by, Emily Turner and Tahoe XC, to raise awareness around domestic violence and gather support for the Community House, an organization that gives so much to our community.