Hi Loves,

Happy to report that Skiing with Grace was a success! The attendees said, "Can we do this tomorrow or Everyday for that matter?". The answer is, "Yes!". No we might not be able to ski everyday, although Ben likes to try. He has been skiing every month for the last 22 years or so. Pretty hilarious in the fall months during the drought years. I love his passion. But back to the question, yes, we can take a little time everyday to be silent and drop in with the grace that moves thru. AND it is a treat to have the space held for you. I enjoyed observing the attendees that are more identified with skiing were surprised by the benefits of the yoga and meditation. And the yoga students including me, were surprised by the ski lesson. All of them loved the silence. I have to say it was a really fun integration of it all which means......Ben and I are holding it again on Feb.9th. If you are an intermediate skate skier, I encourage you to come to Skiing with Grace 2.

"Who's Grace? Who is she?"

I love that Ben has gotten more than one person asking this question at Tahoe Cross Country in response to the marketing we have done for Skiing with Grace. When he told me this, I laughed out loud. Not at the people that were asking this perfectly great question, but at all the jargon yoga and meditation teachers can use that doesn't make sense to a lot of minds. Over the years it has been quite a list, but my favorites were from my early years of teaching when I didn't have great answers for people.  I remember going round and round with a friend/student about "Letting go." I remember another student asking, "You keep saying practice, what are we practicing for?" And another, "You say you are inspired to open hearts. That sounds dangerous and messy." I see all of these precious beings as my greatest teachers because they help me to become a better teacher. My friend the other night told me he saw my Yoga and Meditation for Men Series and he read the small print about "being with anger." He said, "I don't need someone telling me I am angry." And we both laughed from the belly. This journey we are on is so fun when we don't take it all so seriously.

Hello Beloved Yogis!

Happy Winter Solstice! I will be honest, it is hard for me to sit down and write right now in the midst of all the to dos, the last minute gifts to buy, to bake, to create, the house to clean. But first I will sit....join me. (Pause). Ok, that's better.

Winter Solstice is such a pivotal moment going from the dark to the light. I think most of us love it and I also think it is a great time to reflect on the year. Some of us had a really hard year and some of had a wonderful year, but what I encourage you to do tonight or tomorrow is go back in your pictures or your calendar and reflect. What I hope you find is the underlying joy, even thru the tough times.  AND isn't this what truly matters? Just like when I have a hard time writing these emails, there is an underlying joy that says, "keep going. What else wants to come out?"

Hi Loves,

I am writing to invite you to rest. Yes, rest! Right now in this moment as you read this in front of your computer or maybe standing in line somewhere on your phone. Take a moment to close you eyes, get still, relax your body and soften your grip on this life for a few breaths. And if your mind says, "I am not gripping this life." Then scan the body for some tension and if you find something, see if you can soften around the tension and stay with it for some breaths. If you can't find any tension, awesome, just enjoy resting for a minute or two.

Happy Thanksgiving Loves!

It's pouring rain here in So Cal! I can feel earth's gratitude for the water. Thank you, thank you. I am sure there is a huge sense of gratitude for the snow up in Tahoe. I can also sense my inner disappointment Ben had to cancel his trip down here with us and we are not spending the holiday in flip flops. Boo. I would be lying if I said I wasn't. Life sometimes rains disappointment, sadness, grief. And where did we ever get the idea that it was wrong, bad and a problem to be solved? I invite you right now if you are reading this to take five minutes to drop in with yourself with whatever you are feeling even if it's profound joy.

Hi Loves,

This time of year makes me want to eat soup and nestle in for the evening. Sit on the couch, sip tea and read poetry to my lover. My lover might be Ben, Tessa, my dog, or myself. Whomever is available in their heart space. I can't say my 12 year old is open and available to poetry these days.

Hi Loves!

Oh my goodness fall beauty! It just blows my heart wide open! I just want to spend all my time outside. This weekend was spent on the Eastside relishing in it. It even included apple picking and making our own cider. Heaven! We have been warming up our blend of cider in the morning for a special treat. Tessa says she is hooked! For those of you that go to the eastside, I can't tell you how special Apple Hill was just outside of Bishop. A very special piece of property and it's not just apples, they have other fruits, veggies, eggs, etc. . I want to do a special yoga retreat there!