FLOWER/child

Michael has become my buddy, pal, friend, creative partner, co-frolicker and trouble instigator. He's at Easton for the summer. Don't let that innocent face fool you!

MICHAEL/buzz

HENNA/party

HAIR/silence

ANATOMY/evolution

I just returned back from 10 days at Kripalu assisting and teaching in the 500 hour program with Grace Jull and Priti Ross. This 9 day module was about teaching the deeper practices of yoga and exploring the physical & subtle body anatomy. It's going to take me a while to integrate this into my life, my practice and my teaching. I am truly blessed to have been able to witness and learn from these amazing teachers.

Above is my response to the training.

EASTON/parade

I've been at Easton Mountain for a little over two weeks now. Holy Moly! It's been amazing. Yesterday I was hanging out with the volunteers. One thing led to the next and we ended up back at my place trying on costumes and planning a parade to put on for the residents. We had a blast mixing and matching costume pieces and finding just the perfect accessories. What's amazing is that all the costume pieces you see above came from the unicorn box I brought with me all the way from Tampa!!

We got together today before dinner and got ready for our parade. A couple of the volunteers made a float. We went out into th garden and frolicked for a while. The blue sky and warm sun were the backdrop to this absolutely magical moment in time. When the dinner bell rang we knew it was time to start the parade. We danced and flittered our way down the hill where Tim Roger's was unknowling waiting for the float to pick him up. I put together a quick little movie of the parade, which you can watch below.

Tim spent a year here at Easton Mountain. Tonight was his farewell dinner to honor his dedication and service to Easton Mountain. It certainly won't be the same here without him.

The other day I was passing football with friends. Yesterday I climbed trees and sat in the treehouse. Today I was part of a spontaneous parade. I guess this is what Thoreau meant when he said, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

I'm living the life I've imagined, and I'm going to continue to imagine everyday. Life is full of possibility.

PINK/wig

SPONTANEOUS/parade

ELEPHANT/neti

Tonight five of the volunteers came over to my room. We opened up my costume box and spent 1/2 the evening choosing our costumes for the parade that we decided would actually be tomorrow before dinner. We sat around laughing and watching stupid youtube videos and generally just carrying on.

I feel alive in my body and in my life. My creative juices are flowing. I'm practicing yoga daily generally with other people from the community. I've been working a lot of inversions and arm balances as well as opening up my hips. I've made it my goal to do double pigeon every day. My ultimate goal is to do full lotus in handstand. But for now I just have to work on opening my hips so that I can do full lotus without severe pain. The process is fun and grueling at the same time.

I only have one more full day left here at Easton Mountain before I go to Kripalu for 10 days. 10 days! I'm assisting the 500hr module Advanced Asana and Anatomy. I'm super stoked. Then back to Easton!

TREE/house

TREEHOUSE/ladder

WELCOME/hello

SPRING/fun

Spring is in fully swing. The nights and mornings are still chilly, but the days handsome with the warm light holding space for some inner unfolding. The sun and the blue sky and the incredible quiet lingers around the mountains like an invitation to listen. Space and time are different here. Most of the time I have no idea where my phone is. I wake up with the sun. I practice yoga. I drink coffee. I work. I play. In between there are these incredibly sweet moments to make connections with the other residents, volunteers and guests.

Today I did a neti pot demonstration for the volunteers who'd never done it before, and then everyone got to try it. I wore my "neti pothead" shirt, of course. Worked all afternoon, and now getting ready to plan for a spontaneous parade down the driveway. No one is here so the parade is just for those of us in the parade.

ART/show

Tonight was the first in a series of Art Exhibitions going to be held at Easton Mountain this summer. There were two artist's work on display. The great room was transformed with art, hors d'oeuvres, wine and a room full of people mingling. I got dressed up and encouraged other to dress up for the event as well. It was a little piece of cosmo brought to this gay country retreat. Needless to say I had a blast.

Later on in the evening Jonathan led a beautiful heart circle. He played a magnificent piece on the piano which was followed by silence and then an encouragement to speak about what was present. The sharings were beautiful, heartful and inspiring.

I fall more and more in love everyday.

COUNTRY/view

OFFICE/day

I've been waking every morning with the sun and going down to the great room and practicing yoga. I make a french press coffee, put on some music and flow with whatever my bhav is that morning. This morning I practiced yoga with Tim Cooley (resident yoga instructor). We mostly did partner yoga.

After yoga and breakfast I started my first official day of work as volunteer co-ordinator. We set up a temporary office space next to the big windows in the great room. The windows look out on to the land and on to the slow approach of spring. The new green buds are starting to pop and the trees are beginning to blossom. The dandelions have opened their yellow hearts like stars on the hillsides. A beautiful bird banged into the window and fell to the ground while I was sitting at the desk. I went outside and picked it up. It pooped on me twice before I found a safe place to put it where I could keep an eye on it from the window. Half an hour later it flew away.

COBB/house

This is the cobb house at Easton Mtn. It's where the gardener lives. There is a huge garden here which is getting larger and more sophisticated every year. Several people who live here in this community have been studying permaculture, which will start to be incorporated into the structure of this thriving garden. The idea is to start growing more food to feed residents and guests. This is part of the practice and intention of sustainability which Easton strives for.