JANUARY 1, 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR! and Blessings for all of 2011.

It's awfully early to be up on January 1, but when you are in bed before 10 pm -- that's what happens. One of the favorable qualities of being a bit more mature, is the wisdom to know limits. My limit is about 10 pm, no matter what holiday it is.

So, what does one do on New Year's morning when everyone else is sleeping? Well, here's a list:

1. Turn the coffee pot on.
2. Re-kindle the fire. We installed a wood stove insert in one of our fireplaces last winter. Wonderful purchase; maybe one of the best ones we've made for a while. Love it.
3. Pour a cup of coffee, sit a while, watch the fire come back to life, then turn on the computer.
4. Check e-mail, look at Facebook -- what do I find? An amazing picture of The Yoga Center (studio I just sold) in it's new, renovated state -- bamboo floors, higher ceilings, wall sconce-type lighting. All in just 2 weeks! There will be two classes there today (11 am and 4 pm), and more special classes tomorrow; regular schedule begins on Monday -- as promised. As I said, AMAZING!
5. Also on Facebook -- video from the "Tough as Nails, Soft as Ghee" workshop in Tucson with Christina, Noah and Darren. Mental note to self: next year, be there.

As I watch the fire, there's a feature of this wood stove that fits right in with our yoga and theming for classes. Here goes: Every once in a while, there's a smudge in the corner of my new fire place doors -- created by the residue from the fire burning, especially as we start or re-kindle the fire. But, if we continue to burn the fire; to get it hotter and hotter, the smudge disappears - the glass is clean! I can equate that process to maya (my own internal mirrors). My mirror is often smudged and dirty with my negative thoughts and perceptions of myself. That's one reason we practice yoga - to build our own internal (and external) heat and burn (or begin to burn) the smudge off our mirrors. Clear those false perceptions away with the heat of our practice. To see our beauty, our amazing selves.

Maybe this is a stretch; but, remember, it's early.

Lots of cold and snow in this part of the country. Everyone, it seems, is being affected by extreme weather of some sort.

Enjoy your day, whatever it holds; and - again - Happy New Year!