My Yoga Sanctuary

I have often heard it said that people find it difficult to practice yoga at home. I had practiced for 2 years in classes ranging from 5 to 35 people with several teachers. During that time I learned a lot about different styles of yoga from my many teachers. But something was missing that I couldn’t put my finger on....until I started practicing at home.

Since I have created a yoga sanctuary in my home; a sacred place for just myself and a few favorite things; my yoga practice has taken on a whole new life.

Yoga is so much more than the asanas (the poses). And through being alone with myself in the stillness that surrounds me, I find focus. Without distraction I hear each breath, I feel each stretch and I concentrate on deepening each pose, and playing with my edge.

Observing my body and breath in the silence of my asana practice turns my focus inward. So that when I finish the asanas I find it natural to move right into meditation and breath work , which sets the pace for mindful living all day long. My practice has expanded beyond the physical asanas and has become a never ending spiritual journey of self discovery.

Also, at home, with the great DVD’s that are available, I can practice with the best of the best yoga teachers (my favorites being Bryan Kest, Baron Baptiste and Shiva Rea).

But mostly what I have learned is that I am my own best teacher. Reaching deep into the heart and soul of yoga I find myself.

Namaste
Gypsy Girl

Sweet Treasures

Blueberry season is here and I am delighted. Picking blueberries always evokes nostalgic memories of my childhood. We lived near fields of wild blueberries and would go with our grandmother to pick buckets of the little gems. My brothers and I would be eating them as fast as we picked them, knowing that any second our grandma (who we knew had eyes in the back of her head) would be calling "Don't be eating all those berries!"


Our grandma would make us blueberry muffins. We would eat them hot out of the oven with heaps of butter, while she was busy preserving the rest in jars that she would tuck away on shelves along the cellar stairway. And on cold winter nights she would unearth a few precious jars and we would enjoy one of her delicious blueberry pies.


I still enjoy picking blueberries. And today when I popped a few berries in my mouth while picking, I could almost here the rustle of my grandma's apron and my brothers tumbling among the bushes in one of there usual fight.


Now I have my own blueberries patch in my backyard, that my husband and I planted many years ago. So, I not only get to pick buckets of luscious blueberries, but I also get to unearth a few precious moments reminiscing about times when life was a little simpler.

Being More Responsible

I read a great article in the Huffington Post today which reminded me of just how careless I am about the environment, when it comes to plastic bags.

When l travel to other countries I almost always see people carrying their own canvas or straw bags for shopping.

I have even bought a few canvas bags and when I am traveling I am very conscious of using my own bags while shopping.

But at home, for some reason it is different. I sometimes remember to ask for paper bags, but more often than not, I am in a hurry and by the time I think to ask for paper, they've already started bagging in plastic, so rather than rock the boat, I allow them to continue.

Why is it that we Americans are the last to practice green habits.? Are we that lazy? Isn't it about time we caught up with the rest of the world and start consciously making a habit of thinking of the environment?

One small way that we can start being more responsible is: When we shop, ask for paper, instead of plastic bags. Or even better, we can start carrying our own environmentally conscious bag. I already have a few that I use when traveling, so I guess I'll just go dig them out and start using them today!

Think Green, it will put a smile on your face

Gypsy Girl

DAY ONE

Today is DAY ONE of my diet. I’ve had many DAY ONES on my diets, as well as other disciplines.
DAY ONE is always so promising, so full of determination, sureness, optimism and faith.
On DAY ONE you know to the core of your being…This is it!…This time I am going to do it!
Whether it be quit smoking, lose 10 pounds, make a daily routine of jogging, exercising or practicing yoga…We know we’ll do it!!!

Then reality sets in, life plays it’s games, we waver…just one chocolate…one puff…
Our discipline is weakened, our goal doesn’t look so sure…
We justify, we tell ourselves little things…We are only human….Who cares….What does it matter anyways….Just one bite won’t kill us….

Who is this person that lives inside my head? Who is this one that sabotages my goals…shoots me in the foot?
Doesn’t she know that I’m striving for perfection…better health….stronger will? Why would she want me to be fat?…less healthy?…less fit?….
Doesn’t she know that she is me…I am her…we are it?

What is this game we play with ourselves?
Where does the sure, determined person go to, when the weak one steps in?
Who takes the optimism away?
What happens to the faith I had on DAY ONE?
Well, today is DAY ONE of my diet. And I know this time I’ll do it….AGAIN!!!

Gypsy Girl

Nova Scotia...A Seafood Lover's Paradise

If you like driving along coastline with dramatic ocean scenery, visiting quaint fishing villages and eating sensational seafood, you'll love Nova Scotia. We spent 6 days sampling seafood delicacies such as world famous Digby scallops, sumptuous seafood chowders chuck full of lobster, haddock, clams, shrimp and sweet Digby scallops, and all manner of baked, broiled and fried seafood.


Living in New England, we are spoiled when it comes to seafood, as we have some of the world's best. But I have to admit that we have nothing over Nova Scotia. They sure do seafood up right!! Especially the chowders. New England chowder usually has either fish or clams. In Nova Scotia they throw the whole ocean in!!!


Six days certainly isn't enough time to enjoy all the wonderful experiences that Nova Scotia has to offer, so we are already talking about our next visit.

Happy Travels
Gypsy Girl

As Easy As 1, 2, 3...???

Google Blogger set up tells you that in 3 easy steps you can set up a blog. Although that is true (even a computer illiterate like me did it that simply), what Google doesn't take into consideration is that there are those of us who will have a difficult time going beyond that.

Like myself, early baby boomers come from the generation that remembers the first black and white TVs. And even some other things that are oddities today, like iceboxes and outhouses. The world of computer technology, which comes so easily to the young kids today, is still a mystery to a great portion of the older generation. When I got my first computer I was afraid to touch the keys because I thought if I did something wrong I would blow the thing up. Just the thought of installing software gave me nightmares. I thought things would get all jumbled up inside and nothing would function.

So for me it is quite an accomplishment to have set up a blog so quickly. But, here is where the problem comes in. I look at other blogs and websites and they have lots of photos, links and other cool stuff. And I want all those bells and whistles that I haven't figured out how to do yet and may never figure out.

Road Trip

Right now I am about to put on my traveling shoes and head for Nova Scotia. So learning new computer skills will have to wait till I return. Bear with me, maybe I will figure out how to add some cool stuff for when I tell about my Nova Scotia experience.

Happy Travels

Gypsy Girl

Traveling Shoes

THINGS I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT

My first passion in life is my family. They’re not just my family, they also happen to be my best friends and we spend lots of time together.

My second passion is traveling. I am always either dreaming or scheming about traveling, planning my next trip or I have my traveling shoes on and I am exploring some far off place.

It’s a joy to travel with my family. But, more often than not, it’s just me and my husband traveling together. Our grandchildren put on long faces when they hear we are leaving for a trip. It causes them some anxiety if we say that it’s more than a few days. Isn’t it great to be loved so much?!!!

I love to study Spanish and I have many pen-pals and friends from Spanish-speaking countries, that I write to on a regular basis. It’s a fun way to learn a language.

KEEPING IN TOUCH

It’s not always easy to keep in touch while traveling.
Instant messaging with the grandkids is great, but we’re not always on-line at the same time. Answering e-mails can be overwhelming when you have so many waiting to hear from you. And telephones are not always readily available. Forget about snail mail!! I am always home before my postcards arrive, IF they ever do arrive.

TRAVELING SHOES

So I have created this blog to serve as a way to keep in touch with family, friends and pen-pals. And for anybody else who is interested in reading it.

I hope you enjoy!!
Gypsy Girl