September is National Yoga Awareness Month and Recovery Month

September is National Yoga Awareness Month
This is the journey of a woman who is totally different from myself, a totally different lifestyle and completely different background (she a successful young business woman and I, a middle aged recovering alcoholic) and yet - we both have similarities in our path to wellness and wholeness: YOGA!!!.  Yoga has been a vital part of my recovery and reintegration, and it has, for different reason been hers.

Small Pleasures

I was filled with a sense of pleasure when I read this the other day. Usually one identifies with the hedonist- the pizza inhaling, nap snatching, uninhibited shedder that is Garfield. In this strip, however, it is clearly Jon who "gets it". Rather than succumbing to ennui his senses are enlivened by nothing more than a breeze. It is wonderful to live in the consciousness that it is the small things that count. I have an orange tree by my back door and it can make my breezes "the best" as well. Today I will lift my face and breathe in the air. Life is good and totally impressive.


Kyczy Hawk E-RYT200, RTY500 is the author of "Yoga and the Twelve Step Path" ans "Life in Bite Sized Morsels", a leader of Y12SR classes, and the creator of SOAR(tm) (Success Over Addiction and Relapse) a teacher certification training. 

Follow her ONLINE recovery infused yoga classes 
http://yogarecovery.studiolivetv.com/MemberRegistrationYR.aspx

Summer Cold and Taking Things as They Are

I have been madly preparing for an art show and sale that takes place on the 18th of June. With pottery you have to get all revved up weeks before the event so that the 3 to 6 week process from bringing pieces from the clay bag to the table can be completed. This is planning and living in the future. That vibrant activity has come to a close. I have also been writing a book (yes! A REAL book.) The process of writing and re-writing, re-reading and re-assessing is now on hold. The book is now off my desk and in the hands of the editor who has been giving me kind encouragement and wise feedback.
What does this have to do with my cold? I have cleared my desk and my potters wheel of projects - I have only a few things to do before the sale, and I cannot do them I am so exhausted! I don't' have a "next step" to do on the book - it is out of my hands for a while. I can't take the yoga classes I finally have time for; in fact I have had to cancel some classes I teach. I have to take the advice I so freely give others; to take care of one's self (yes, I mean that, the self that is in the care taking of one). So I am in a chair, not DOING anything, (except now, writing this to clear my head). I am struggling with pranayama due to my congestion and taking meditation as I can find it.
Yes, taking things as they are, not being too disappointed at the change from expectations concerning my "free" time. Perhaps this is just what I should be doing. Resting and contemplating; and coming in touch again with my activity oriented sense of self. I am still my Self - at rest and taking care. Will I listen? I am trying!