By Tracy Bleier

Yesterday Mitchel and I sat with Charlie at our regularly scheduled parenting session and we all had this overwhelming recognition that we have chosen to leave the past behind us. We have said that before in various phases of this process. At the graduation at Wilderness where the hope of a new story was just germinating, we threw sticks into the fire to signify our past mistakes with one another and vowed to leave it on the ground to burn away.  There is nothing more comforting in wanting to believe that it would be that easy. Yet, as I look back, I realize as much as we are trying not to repeat past mistakes,  the past has a way of sneaking into our present lives.  Since that day, I have stated aloud and quietly to myself that I am only interested in creating a new story.  And stating that was not so terrifying as it was strange and unfamiliar. I had no idea how that story would evolve. I just knew that it the old story exhausted me, and just the idea of committing to a new vision excited me more than anything. In time, I could feel a lot of myself stand behind this notion,  which meant that whatever it took to live a new story with my family, well, I was up for.  

Posted by Lyn Girdler

Today is day 3 of a 5 day cleanse (It’s also day 14 of my return from 30 days away in my home country, Australia).  Half-ways are always the hardest place to be I realize.  Do you stay, do you go?  Do you continue, do you stop now (while you’re ahead?!) All these questions come up at the half way point.

The truth of the matter is, I’m bored.  I am really freaking bored of drinking on my own because, let’s face it, no one wants to eat with me.  They’ll be bored too; “wow, was that a piece of spinach that didn’t make it through the juicer?  How is that?”

By Sarah McGrath
While my trip to Kenya with The Africa Yoga Project already seems like it happened a lifetime ago (I’ve been home since March 14th), I am still touched daily by the influence of my experience.   Prior to leaving many people warned me, “this trip is going to be life changing” which seemed to hold some ominous overtone, and while I may not necessarily be able to articulate what exactly about it was life changing, I do know that I more committed to the notion of possibility and aware of our potential as humans to serve on a daily basis.  The Africa Yoga Project slogan is “It’s impossible NOT to make a difference,” and this I truly believe.  The question then becomes, what kind of a difference do you want to make?

By Tracy Bleier
Funny enough, I hesitated all day long to sit down and write this damn thing. I kept saying to myself and to others who might hold me to it that “I have to write that damn blog.” I was hesitant  because I was undecided, irresolute, uncertain and  frankly  at a loss to actually what I wanted to say.  How does hesitating in my life affect me?… Then, there it was a flashing light. But it wasn’t the proverbial lightbulb over the head, it was hazard lights from my ex-husband’s car parked in the center of my driveway. In the past, a scene like this signaled crisis and drama and behaviors and reactions and…hazard.  Back then I would be at a loss, in disbelief. I would ask, how would this ever resolve?
Tonight that was not true for me.  I walked into my house with complete clarity, calm and precision. I was confident in my ability to move into this situation and resolve, and even dispel the issues at hand.  Within ten minutes, I clearly, not only controlled the situation, but brought resolution.  And what years ago could have erupted into a sorry state of affairs, was now me standing calmly in my kitchen,  hazard lights now turned off as the Land Rover pulled away. What changed tonight (or as our Jewish contingency might ask, “What made this night different from all other nights?”)? I stopped doubting myself. I stopped relinquishing. I stopped questioning. Tonight I walked in in control, decided, totally clear and fluid. I knew what to say, I knew what to listen for. I knew that it would be okay… I knew to trust my self.
This might seem like a little anecdote, but I’ve learned that hesitation is giving doubt all the dominance, and we see it on the mat everyday when students (and myself) hesitate, doubt & question themselves, never put themselves into the experience, pause before the opportunity. Wild how the mat is a mirror! I see, heck!, feel in my gut, know right now while talking to my son, that yoga, what we say about life really works in the toughest situations or relationships. I can recognize that what keeps us hesitating is our unresolved fears, fears that keep us locked in the old story. Yoga is teaching us to move forward in every situation. Fluently. As our ourselves, but also recognizing the ever more successful self we are becoming.

By Erin Throkilsen
Have you heard the words, “Slow down” a lot in a yoga class?  Me too.  Slow down your breath.  Slow down your movements.  It can be hard to do on our mats—to actually take 5 slow deep breaths in down dog during a sun salutation.  Whether it’s due to anxiety, over eagerness, or the need to strive and be better, slowing down is challenging.
Off our mats, it seems even more difficult.  With families, jobs, dogs, husbands, driving kids to lacrosse practices, raising babies, planning trips, helping with homework, and cleaning the house, how can we slow down with so much going on?
Up until recently, I always thought slowing down meant doing less at a different pace: not moving too quickly through a vinyasa, lingering over a Sunday brunch (even when I’m thinking of all the other Sunday things I want to get done like laundry, grocery shopping, etc) putting the work emails aside for an hour and making the choice to go for a walk with a friend or go to class at the studio.  I realize, however, that this is only half of the art of slowing down.