What a Difference a Day Makes...

The first time I have ever been able to practice yoga outside, on my deck, in February.

I turned 65 on Sunday, February 15. A big birthday.

I live in Minnesota and the weather on my birthday is usually cold, snowy, and or icy. Birthday plans throughout the years have oftentimes been canceled or had to be rescheduled because of the weather. Not this year!

As you can see from the picture above, my yoga mat is laid out on my deck. The weather is a birthday from the universe...I was given the gift and I fully embraced the opportunity to step onto my mat and practice yoga outside. It was a rare occassion to be sure.

My yoga mat is:

A safe place to sit,

stand,

lay down,

and

breathe, ground, balance,

and be

in

stillness.

A place

where

I can feel what

is loudest in my life.

I do not step

onto my yoga mat

to silence anything,

but it is a place

where I can hear

myself.

It was amazing. Refreshing. Miraculous. I loved every downward facing dog, cobra pose, chair pose, cat and cow pose, lizard pose, and each round of Tibetan Sun Salutations...breathing in deeply and exhaling slowly...the fresh, warmer air of winter whilst being serenaded by the local woodpeckers, cardinals, and crows. The bare trees stood witness to this beautiful, simple, moment on my birthday. Rosie, too. Rosie is always my witness. She loves when I practice yoga.

Yoga

Standing poses

- build strength

and dignity.

Sitting poses -

offer space for

reflection and patience.

Lying down -

allows time for

Trust

and Surrender.

Yoga mat -

As I step onto it

I surrender to

whatever is present

so it may

come

forward.

Not to overwhelm

me, but

to offer

sanctuary

to all life has

to offer.

It offers a

safe place to

feel into

it all -

without losing

myself.

It all begins with

showing up

on my mat

for myself...

Breath

softening

and

lengthening.

Grounding

to

Mother Earth.

Lighting

a candle

creating a sacred

space to

inhale,

exhale,

pause.

Why stay in prison,

when the door is wide open?

-Rumi

A few days after my birthday...hello, winter...I knew you would return.

A few days later, this is usually February in Minnesota. Mother Earth has decorated my windows with gorgeous lace curtains made of white snow. Weather comes when it comes.

It does not negotiate, explain, or change to displease people. We can not control the weather. We are part of the system of weather, but we do not have the ability to manage it. We do however have the ability to embrace what the weather is and surrender to it. Alignment with the weather and not unnecessary resistance to it. Breathe into the weather within you...that is the weather you can manage. Anger, tears, emotions, compassion, love, and surrender.

Each season we get to experience here in Minnesota brings its own beauty and its own challenges. Shoveling the deck filled with snow is not an easy task. But it is a great workout. This snowfall was very heavy and it rained before it snowed. It was a bit icy underneath all of the 7 inches of snow that fell. Presence is required. Step lightly and mindfully.

Storms happen. Thaw comes. Snow returns. The light, the hush, the purity of the white snow brings its own beauty in stillness and offers sanctuary. I try to embrace the weather. I know that I cannot change it, manage it, or dominate it, but I can learn to roll with it to the best of my ability.

Each season teaches us something. I am grateful for the changes that come with each season. It has taken years of practice to learn to appreciate the many faces of each season.

Winter teaches us

to travel

within the

stillness.

Spring teaches

growth,

emergence,

planting

and flowers.

Summer teaches

us to expand.

Fall

teaches us

to release

and

let go.

Surrender.

It is not weakness to

surrender.

It is strength

without becoming

rigid.

Throughout all of the seasons...open your heart and keep it soft.

Peace comes from alignment

not from avoidance

to what life is.

Create your own sanctuary.

Soften your shoulders.

Unclench your jaw.

Breathe deeply

and

lengthen the exhale.