It's YOGA Tuesday!!

Dateline: SSTR BAY. The other night taking pictures down at the marina, my eagle-eye scout husband saw the license plate that has eluded me all summer: SSTR BAY. Yes, that's Sister Bay on the village hall..... or to some in the reading audience, we call it Sistah Bay. Since today is Tuesday, it's yoga day in Sister Bay. I have been taking my first, ever, yoga classes this summer at our town hall. We meet weekly & are led by Marcia Hoebreckx -- powerhouse and wonder-woman all wrapped into one. Marcia is happy to share her age with the class and I verified that it was OK with her if I shared that tidbit with you, the reading audience. Marcia is 63 years young. As you can tell from the picture above, she is also one solid mass of muscle. AMAZING. Inspirational. Over the course of the summer I've gotten additional tidbits of Marcia's background: she married for the first time at age 49, she regularly used to mountain bike 250 miles a week in Colorado, she liked archery in summer camp as a second grader. Tidbits woven together. An impression over time.

After I'd been to class a couple of weeks and realized how much I was benefiting from her expertise I stayed after to ask some specific questions about my "issues." We got to talking and I told her about the prescription I'm on thru my oncologist. Right away, after I'd described my inflexible, aching joints, she guessed the prescription. She then went on to tell me that she is a 7 year survivor of BC (breast cancer) and that she's sportin' some 'beautiful, bionic boobies.' Well, needless to say I was nearly overcome. I had been in awe of her physical strength & flexibility already, but to put all that in the perspective of BC just makes her all the more amazing. She's one of the people I rejoice in knowing. I want to be like Marcia when I grow up. I added the picture of the two of us for my own personal diary of inspiration, but I hope that you might be motivated to do something physical in honor of your own aging process. Marcia would be proud of your effort.

[It seems fitting to insert a picture of my "CURE" hat from my FB biking photo album, while I'm on this subject.... I have now ridden 651.7 miles, so far this summer. Ya just gotta love having an odometer!!]

Is Your Soul Ajar?

"The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience. " -- Emily Dickinson

Significant words from our Emily. After a few minutes reflection, I think I must confess that my soul is not quite as 'ajar' as I long for it to be. Responsibilities, agendas, details, road construction, overdue library books, my missing croc, wailing infants, airport security, poison ivy attacks, the agonizing news report, spilled milk -- all add up to a gradual closing of my soul's portal.

In the rush of the day's list, it's all too easy to neglect the soul-work that gives meaning to the tasks. How do you keep a healthy, vibrant soul ...... eager to embrace the ecstatic experience, outside of the monastery, in the humdrum lane of life? Rereading Emily's quote I recognize the 'should' word and contemplate how that word itself has gotten me into trouble in the past.

Take a deep breath friends. [I read that advice everywhere.] When I 'remember' to breath with intention and focus, I experience for myself the benefits touted by so many differing authorities. Could it really be as simple as that? Oxygen? Mindfulness? Certainly a step in the right direction..... it's the remembering to act on what I know that can be such a missing puzzle piece for me.

And then there are sights that take your breath away. Or the smell of a vanilla candle burning. Or a late Matisse master-piece of simplicity. Or a symphony's tuning in anticipation, before that orchestrated down beat. Or the image of a red barn against the crop of grain on the rolling hillside. Or a morning dove's coo. Or that infant sighing and finally snoodling completely in your aching arms into a hard fought, deep sleep. Or the majesty of the astounding view of the Grand Canyon from the helicopter perspective above, cresting over the first ridge. Or the crystal purity of the water at shore's edge along the glintering white sands. Or a tree that is caught in the act of dancing. And suddenly all is right with the world. An ecstatic experience!! And my soul rejoices.

You shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace. The mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. -Isaiah 55:12

P.S. I discovered the dancing tree photograph while searching on Photo-Bucket under dance. I am completely mesmerized by this image, but have no idea who to attribute the photograph to. It's a masterpiece to be sure.