Please Utthita, Extend - Baddha Konasana

 

Baddha Trikonasana - Bound Triangle 

Utthita - extend - your yoga into all aspects of yourself and your life.

Today I was lamenting (as per usual) that two particular (multi-year!) commitments of mine misalign with my talents and sap time away from my passions … but bringing that yogic vibe and bright creativity to non-zen, stale situations is, actually, a very special kind of pleasure. 

Stuck in the Middle with You ~ Parsva Upavistha Konasana

Parsva Upavistha Konasana - Seated Side Straddle Pose
Your way or it’s just a fake way.

Who you are is how you lead and your strengths of character are applicable in any situation - just bring your best self (and in my case, a hand written note). 💌

Shop; but Not for Polyester ~ Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana

 

Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana - Standing Splits Pose with flair.

Two thoughts to carry you through the weekend : ☝️ Let your yoga be silky (and not polyestery 😜). ✌️If you like to shop - as I do - become better at getting rid of things. 🎀💕🎈

Doodlers Love Doodles ~ Tadasana Hindolasana

🌈Tadasana Hindolasana - Standing Cradle Pose. Just here being my embellished self. 🎀🐯🎄  

How we do one thing is how we do everything. One look in my cabinet and I had to laugh - a collection of drawings on both my shelf stable household items and my perishables…

Everything must have doodly drawings in HappyGoLuckyILoveCreativityWithColor&PatternAstridLand.

Class act

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana - Standing Hand to Big Toe Pose

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana - Standing Hand to Big Toe Pose

Give and take; take the blame, give the praise. 

Yo-ga

 

Dance your yoga ~ unite with the divine. Inner peace and outer beauty are yours for the taking.

This New Year - UNIFY yourself.

YOLK each aspect of your life through self realization. 🥚 

Jolly shopping and wrapping.

Silly gilly traveling.

Amusing dressing and entertaining.

Observe

 

Malasana - Garland Pose starry ⭐️ bubbly 🫧 lovey 💕 dovey 🕊️ 

Malasana - Garland Pose

Sit back and watch the frenzied, delirious world do its thing whilst you do peaceful, casual yours. 

Buttermilk snow bunnies gone disco crazy 🐰 🪩 

Jingle all the way 🔔 

You time

 

Purvottanasana - Reverse Plank Pose party girl.

Purvottanasana - Reverse Plank Pose

Our most hectic times are the most important times to make time for yoga. 

Hands like work

 

Virasana - Hero Pose

How do we quiet the mind and open the heart? By moving the hands. 

A weighty question has been pulling me down and dragging me back, but I found respite and lightness this morning by: unpacking our suitcases, setting up the advent, calling an artist to collaborate, writing checks, designing and sending an invitation, decorating a small tree, cooking a nourishing dinner… 🎄 

Not mydailydrawing

Tadasana Urdhva Hastasana - Volcano Pose, Mountain Pose variation

🌋

On tippy ‘palm tree’ toes 🌴

Not Big News : I have been playing with stylus (ipencil) and alternative programs (procreate from sketchbook) and even an upgraded iPad (I have always used my toddler’s), but the stylus sits in the crook of my hand while I type and draw with my middle finger, the new keyboard lacks emojis, and sketchbook continues to fulfill my meager doodling desires. So, as of yet, dailydoodles are lingering in their old ways - created in refurbished older model apple products with sharpie-esque outlines paint bucketed (filled in) in a marker/highlighter manner… for this doodler, old school still rules, plus - it’s not mydailydrawing, that’s for sure. 🥵😅

🌟 Starbaby 🌟

 

Yoga Mudrasana - Psychic Union Pose

Lotus legs, hands bound, third eye to the floor 🧿

🌈 How do you prepare for your birthday? ✨ 

Returns and exchanges

Supta Padangusthasana - Reclined Big Toe Pose, with strap

Realize genuine aspirations by crossing off of your list any and all errands / shopping. XX even those returns and exchanges that seemingly save you money, but in reality perpetuate a vicious cycle (of believing that next thingie might finally make all the difference). Eat the ‘cost’ to reclaim the hours up front and bask in the meaningful goals accomplished before long.

Mirror rorriM

Bhujangasana - Cobra Pose arms wide 🐍 

When we lessen our own material requirements, (persistently removing those pesky impulses and cravings one-at-a-time,) the incessant worldly demands of our children (and other household members) no longer vex us, as the mirror aspect is removed. 🪞 

XS enough to schlep XXL loads.

Beacon

 

Light bright beacon of artistic imagination. 

I have leaned heavily into the Mother role - which has physically manifested family-friendly, practical, durable, colorful, grounding and compounding clothes, foods and shelters. But there is a lighter, brighter, ASCETIC aspect of myself I’m turning more and more towards (without eschewing my foremost family-first ethos).

Dirndl

 

Dirndl 

Liebe - Love

How do we, as women, find our personal UNIFORM in the current CHAOS of literally unlimited options?

🦂

 

Balasana - Child’s Pose

Sometimes I forget to be kind. (Ingrained Scorpio habits die hard.) So I APOLOGIZE and try to be better. (There has been a marked decrease in my instinctual ‘revenge’ ways.)

Summer Elixer

 

CLEAN with bar soap 🧼 

SCRUB with sugar/salt + lemon, honey, vanilla, olive oil 🧂🫒 

MOISTEN with coconut oil, castor oil, beef tallow 🧉🐮

SOOTHE with aloe, lavender essential oil, ice 💜🧊

Easy

 

Parivrtta Sukhasana - Easy Twist, Seated Twist, Simple Cross-legged Twist

Couples are yoga 💕

Yes, the answer is kindness. 

Close and Click

Aparigraha - Yama of non-possessiveness, non-greed, non-attachment 

It’s finally here. Mommy’s ‘off’-season. No birthdays or holidays in this home until October and I’m giddy. I sat at the coffee shop this morning practically levitating; Easter was my final hoorah and it’s behind me. 

Of course, there will still be endless playdates, gatherings and pool parties in our near future, but those parlous (albeit winnowed* and well organized!) DECORATION BINS are now clicked shut and closed up in the cupboards — for nary half the year !!!!! 🥂 

*Some sizable, substantial decorations have only lived with me through 2 years, 2 rounds of celebrating, but were a mistake that must be acknowledged and their donation pick-up is scheduled. I hope it’s not too inconvenient to pass along life-size trick-or-treating statues, giant glowing snowflakes, glitter encrusted cranberry wreaths, golden light-up nutcrackers, and stoic German Santa Clauses in May…

Hip to my Hop

🍬 

Sometimes a little piece of candy (or gum) is all the pick-me-up you (your passengers, fellow travelers, skiers, hikers, shoppers or meanderers), need to restore that Springy bounce in your step. So, have a small 🍭 stash on hand.  

My mother is known for licorice or caramel. I carry anything mint chocolate. The kids and their father go for peanut butter. Gum is always a crowd pleaser… you ???