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Thank you for reading my blog - Just Be Now.
For a more visually appealing version, visit here.
October is a busy month in the yoga and massage business. I think
that once people start to slow down from the activities of summer they
start to again realize the need to take care of themselves physically,
mentally, and spiritually. That's good news for folks like me who rely
on the yoga and massage business to pay the bills!
I love October not just because of the steady stream of work coming
my way and all of the new smiling faces in my classes, but also because
in my estimation it is the most beautiful month of the year. While
having lunch with a friend today we remarked at how many people here in
New Jersey say that October is their favorite month -- it is definitely
mine! In no particular order, here are 10 reasons to love the 10th
month of the year. Feel free to add your own to this list and let our
feelings of gratitude grow!
- Th
 e leaves changing on the trees here in NJ (check out the photo I took from my bedroom window of a vibrant tree we get to look at everyday this month!) - The weather is cool and crisp but you don't need to blast the heat or wear a heavy coat just yet - a sweater or hoodie will do!
- Fall fun: apple pickin', punkin carvin', finding your way through the maize maze at Howell Living Farm
- The soothing crunch of leaves underfoot with each step (can you tell that I don't have to rake leaves at my house!)
- Fall recipes like apple pie, roasted tofurky, vegetable soup, and veg pot pie! Check out my fall recipe article in this month's NJ Namaste News.
- Sleeping in while underneath a pile of blankets (dachshund behind knees preferable but optional)
- The Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin special (Gosh, those kids were mean to each other...)
- Finding a Howl-o-ween costume for Dash. Any suggestistons?
- The start of hockey season. Alas, my Rangers look like pretenders rather than contenders yet again.
- It's actually cool enough at night to light the fireplace again!
What are you grateful for this month?
Read about all of my adventures in giving and gratitude at http://justbenow.wordpress.com.
 Sewall House Yoga Retreat
Today is my 2nd full day at Sewall House
yoga retreat in Maine and I am definitely feeling lighter, happier, and
more centered. I had felt a little bit discouraged before I left for my
3rd visit to Sewall House because the weather called for a lot of
clouds and rain. While it did rain quite a bit yesterday, it afforded
me some time to unwind, do a bit of writing, visit the nearby Amish
market, and get to know my fellow guests while reconnecting with hosts
Kent & Donna. We also had 2 terrific yoga sessions and I received a
great massage. Today the whole group (with the exception of Kent)
decided to hike Robinson Mountain. It was a really beautiful hike and
we were able to get a terrific lake view from our vantage point near
the top. I am hoping that the weather continues to improve so we can
get a few more hikes in while I’m here and perhaps even make it to the
lake for an afternoon of swimming and yoga!
 Our muddy group on Robinson Mtn.
I’m feeling that the theme of this year’s trip is family. I have
personally been feeling like I miss having a close-knit family as I did
when I was growing up with my mom’s large extended family around. It’s
nice to come to a place like Sewall House because it facilitates the
feeling of having an instant family that supports and nurtures you
wherever you are in your journey. We take meals together, share hikes
together, do yoga together, meditate together, and share our stories
together. I feel really blessed to have such a cool group of people
with whom to share this experience.
 Helping Kent with Eka Pada Koundinyasana in class this AM
I also feel extremely grateful for the yoga! Since yoga has become a
vocation in the past year I’d forgotten a bit that yoga is really a
rather joyful experience. Donna goes out of her way to make our yoga
experience a joyful one here at Sewall House and I like that! Yoga
doesn’t feel like a chore on my “to-do” list or a job that helps pay
the bills here. It feels like a fun exploration of what’s possible with
my body, mind, and spirit!
TODAY’S (AND YESTERDAY’S) KARMA SCOREBOARD
Found a lost wallet on Robinson Mt. and returned it to its rightful owner (+5)
Starting to wonder if “I like cheese” is a good enough reason to not be vegan (-2)
Totally going deeper with my spiritual practice here (+5)
I had the opportunity to offer 2 gifts
today. I decided that since today was Jeff’s first day back at nursing
school that I’d prepare a special dinner to celebrate. I made my famous
brussels sprouts with a fancy vegan chicken cordon bleu made with
Gardein Chicken Cutlets. For dessert we had chai tea popsicles made
with spicy yogi tea, almond milk, and agave. It was quite a bit of work
to pull it all together, but I know that Jeff appreciated the special
celebratory meal. I definitely avoid cooking during summer months, but
I made a special exception in this case! It may be the last time we get
to eat together for 8 months while his school schedule keeps him busy
for the final year of his program.
My other gift today came while I was practicing yoga on my deck this
afternoon. It was a really beautiful day here in central Jersey and I
unrolled my mat in a shady spot below this huge oak tree in our
backyard. It was so much fun to do tree pose and watch the tree in
front of me sway in the breeze. I even spied a couple of squirrels and
a cardinal tucked into the tree’s branches! I imagined what it would
have been like if they’d mistaken me for a “real” tree and decided to
climb on my limbs…it probably would have ended poorly. I had a vigorous
practice and was able to do 2 things that I’d never been able to do
before:
1: I was able to bring my head all the way to the floor in a
wide-leg forward fold. This may not sound like a big deal, but for
someone with notoriously tight hamstrings, it was a revelation!
2: For some reason when attempting Eka Pada Koundinyasana today (as I
have many times before without success) the pose came extremely easily.
I was able to perform the arm balance on both sides. It was one of
those “Aha!” moments when my body finally realized exactly what it
needed to do in order to get into the posture.
I was so overjoyed by my surprise progress on two of the poses that
have been tougher for me in my practice that I decided to take a longer
savasana (relaxation) than usual. As I lay on my back preparing for
relaxation I decided to dedicate my practice to a more peaceful, happy
world. I started to think about the people in my immediate circle to
send them “good vibes” including my family and close friends. Then I
started to imagine extending that circle to include my neighbors,
coworkers, fellow teachers, massage clients, yoga students, old
far-flung friends, people I’ve met through the 29 Gifts movement or the
NJ Namaste News project, etc. As each person came into my consciousness
I held them for a moment in my heart, imagining sending them a feeling
of light, peace, and love. The process made me feel so relaxed, so
buoyant, and so loved, because as I began to realize how many
connections I had. It truly made me feel part of something greater than
myself – a larger human community. As I received this realization, I
sent love and light to all beings everywhere: happy folks, people
suffering or dying, people celebrating birthdays or mourning a loss,
people with plenty and those who have little. At some point we’ll all
experience these heights and depths of human existence, which is what
makes us all one! I followed the exercise with one of the most
satisfying savasana poses I can ever remember experiencing!
I’ve got one more day of giving left on this cycle. I’ve already
decided that I’m going to continue giving in some way after Day 29. Any
suggestions for how to keep the giving going?
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