Quilting...and a little yoga thought

I think quilts are beautiful. Although I'm not a quilter myself, I'm often inspired by the creative designs and beautiful patterns in handmade quilts - not to mention the attention to detail. In an age of mass consumption and manufacturing, it takes so much patience and love to actually piece and sew a quilt by hand. More than that, I think it takes a unique ability to focus on what's in front of you while understanding the bigger picture.

The artwork pictured above was made for a charity auction benefiting Give 5 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. As I said, I'm not a quilter, but I was inspired by a photo I had taken of a quilt drying on my clothesline, and so I decided to create a "quilt" on wood. Each "square" is a individual illustration that has been decoupaged onto wood...I pieced each square separately just as you would piece a quilt. What an experience! I soon realized that quilting isn't for the faint of heart! But more importantly, I began to appreciate the ability to stay completely focused in the moment without loosing sight of the big picture.

In yoga, we talk a lot about being centered and in the present. What I'm afraid we miss, however, is the deeper understanding that this moment was birthed from the one before it and evolves into the one beyond it. How we are right now is both a product of all that we have been and will determine what we bring into the future. And, since it is so important to live this moment well, we should also remember that we are only a small part of a much bigger whole. As intricate a design as our "piece of the quilt" might be...shades, shadows, detail and all...it is just one small piece of a much larger quilt.

Needless to say, I have renewed respect for quilters and fabric artist of all kinds. And although my quilt might not be designed for physical warmth, I know that the money raised in the auction will go toward helping needy families this time of year. I'm just a small piece...trying to live this moment really well and happy to be a part of a much grander quilt in the world.

It's My Favorite Time of the Year!!

I love this time of the year...there is a chill in the air, even here in Tennessee, and the mist over the mountains is so intense. I love the night sky and the way the moon and stars seem a little clearer and a little closer as the nights grow longer. Maybe it's the changing color of the leaves or maybe it's because I am a November child...maybe it's simply that this is the time of year filled with holiday anticipation...but whatever the reason, I feel more confident, peaceful, and grounded as the calendar begins to wind down.

Recently, we gathered up the brush and dead leaves, invited family and friends, built a fire pit, and hosted a small bonfire party. The evening was perfect...clear and just almost cold with stars dancing all around. The food was pretty good too...veggie dogs and chili, and, of course, plenty of marshmallows to roast. Oh, and really good beer to warm the blood. It was wonderful!

I talk frequently about the virtues of a simple life, but sometimes it seems beyond our reach. These are the moments made for bonfires and friends...when everyone is comfortable and the conversation is easy...when you can hear the wood popping in the fire and feel warm food in your belly...when you can see your breath in the air and be overwhelmed at the beauty of the stars. That's when life kind of boils down to it's roots and we can see who we really are.

I love this time of year...!

Smores and such...

We've all enjoyed smores by the camp fire and it's hard to beat the basics of graham cracker, chocolate bar and roasted marshmallows. Still, it's fun to play around with new combinations, so here are a few options you might want to try at your next cookout or camping trip. Enjoy!!

• Make the basic smore recipe but sprinkle cinnamon on the marshmallow after it's been roasted.



• Substitute chocolate chips for a chocolate bar (mash them into your roasted marshmallow.) Experiment with other chips including peanut butter and butterscotch or even use chocolate candies like M&Ms. Combos are great...how do you think they came up with the Reese Cup?!



• Substitute a chocolate chip cookie for the graham cracker. Any other cookie will do...peanut butter (yummy!) sugar cookies, or even oatmeal cookies work great!



• Drizzle carmel sauce over your smores or skip the smore entirely and simply drizzle chocolate or carmel sauce over your roasted marshmallows!

Have fun making memories!

This Time of the Year is Made for the Moon...

I love this time of the year...when the weather gets cooler and shadows fall in the afternoon. The trees are turning beautiful shades of red and orange so that we can enjoy one final show before they go to sleep and everything becomes quite and still in the cold of winter. This is the time of year for wrapping up in an old quilt with new yarn to knit or a good book to read. And, just as summer is the time to embrace the sun, Autumn is made for the Moon.

I have always loved nights when the moon is full and so bright that you don't need a flash light when stepping out after dark. To me, there is a certain electric magic in the air on moonlit nights...a time for fairy tales and intuition...and a time to wonder at the beauty and mystery of the universe.

Most yoga students are familiar with the vinyasa series of asanas (poses) know collectively as the Sun Salutation. Less know, but equally beneficial is a series of poses known as Chandra Namasker or Moon Salutation. While the Sun Salutation expresses stepping forward in life to accept challenge and be strong, the Moon Salutation expresses looking inward to illuminate creativity and joy...to time spent by the fire knitting or drinking tea.

So, embrace each morning and enjoy an invigorating series of Sun Salutations, but take some time, maybe late in the day when the shadows start to inch across the floor and think about the Moon...and all that brings you joy.

Chandra Namasker (Moon Salutation*):

• Begin in Tadasana (Mountain Pose). Breathe and bring the arms overhead reaching slightly behind the body. Return to the center and leaning gently to the right side (Half Moon Pose) then to the left. Return to center and exhale to a forward fold.

• Step the right foot back and then walk the body over to the right side so that the body is folded forward and the legs are spread wide apart. If you are comfortable, place the hands on the feet (Head to Feet pose). Inhale, then exhale and roll up the spine to a standing position, legs still wide.

• Inhale and bring the arms overhead. Exhale and fold the body to the right leg (Head to Knee pose). Breathe and lift the arms back to standing and repeat to the left side. Repeat to standing and then return to Head to Feet pose. Breathe. Exhale and walk the torso back around to the front of the mat.

• Bend the left knee and turn the back toe (right leg) coming into Crescent Moon pose (low lunge). With an exhale, step the right leg up into a modified squat or forward fold then repeat Crescent Moon pose on the other side, stepping the left leg back and bending the right knee.

• With an exhale, lift the hips and come to Downward Dog. If you feel comfortable and strong, raise the right leg. Hold to inhale then exhale to lower. Repeat with the left leg.

• Breathe into Plank pose and then lower all the way to the floor. Breathe up into Cobra pose. Exhale to Downward Dog or a low squat. Inhale and move to forward fold. Exhale back to Tadasana (Mountain).

*Please note some transitions might vary from a traditional practice.

Running...and wearing pink!

If you haven't already figured it out, I've been doing a bit of running lately. I've actually come to look forward to it...the fresh air, the sounds of squirrels and birds, the way that the trees keep time with the wind..with my breath. Short of yoga, it is almost perfect zen.

I've been inspired. And now, I want to give back. So, I've chosen to run on Saturday, October 24th in the annual Komen Race for the Cure in Knoxville, Tennessee. This will be my first organized event - and my very first 5k! I'm both excited and nervous, as you can imagine! I guess it is only inevitable that after spending so many years sharing my yoga life with so many amazing people that I have come to know far too many that have faced the challenge of Breast Cancer. It's impossible to explain the lessons in courage that I've learned from them...and the shared loss when a battle bravely fought has become too much. For this reason, it only seems fitting that my first 5k be in their honor and with their spirit.

The photo is of an original illustration I created in honor of the Race for the Cure. I titled in "Celebration Shoes" and it is captioned with the words "Celebrate, Laugh, Embrace, Smile." Obviously, my shoes are every shade of pink I could create! A print of this illustration is for sale for a limited time in my shop at http://www.yoganoodles.etsy.com/ and all proceeds from its sale will go to the Komen Race for the Cure.

I would love for you to own a copy of "Celebrate Shoes," but even if you choose not to purchase, you can still contribute to my fundraising efforts by visiting http://komenknoxville.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=event.fundraising&eventID=506&participantID=6717

Thanks for your support...and maybe you too will be inspired to wear pink and run!

A Little Bit of Poetry...

"I ran...through the wet underbrush and shadows of old trees with coiled roots. I ran...beyond the heavy mist that settled deep in my lungs. I ran...up hills and into ditches, my shoes muddy and moist.

I ran...through all that was familiar, and harsh, and cold.

Behind the barn and through the vines, I ran toward the sun...warm and filled with yellow light...fresh and clean. I ran into a field of butterflies and felt their gentle wings touch my skin.

I ran into the present...into all that is possible."


Jana Huddleston...September 2009.