Hello, I am back from two fabulous weeks in Costa Rica. And am now organizing and planning for the week ahead. Included in this blog are bird photos taken by Rick, by our birding guide Dylan, and by me. There’s also some information about a Valentine’s Day Workshop I am offering on Tuesday, February 13.
VALENTINE’S DAY WORKSHOP
Yes, I will hold a Valentine’s Day Workshop for Pair Work on Tuesday, February 13, from 6pm-8pm PST and it is not too late to sign up!! The workshop is being offered both In-Studio, Seattle (REGISTER HERE, space for two more pairs of yogis) and it is also being offered simultaneously on Zoom Online (REGISTER HERE). One fee covers two people and the workshop is intended for yogis of varying levels of flexibility and practice. This Pair Workshop is not just for couples. So yes, invite a friend, a family member, your bestie, or your spouse and join me for two hours of creativity and fun. (When signing up, “One Spot” equals two people just as one fee covers two people).
I’m also excited to let you know that Jessie Jo Egersett will be my partner for this Pair Workshop! For those of you who know her, it will be fun to be in her presence! And for those of you who have never met Jessie Jo, you are in for a treat. She is fabulous and fun to be with.
Can love be expressed through words? Can you take the sea home with you? (translation of the photo below)
At 6:43 a.m. the painted bunting arrived, like a dream between the crease of shadow and light. His silhouette grew toward color for the seven short minutes he stayed. And when dawn struck his tiny feathered back, he ignited like a flame: red, blue, and green.
-Terry Tempest Williams
The above poem sounds like a description of the BIRDS OF COSTA RICA
Enjoy these photos of winged dazzlers!
The following two photos were taken by Rick:
The following photo was taken by our birding guide Dylan:
I bring to you a blog post capturing my year in photos. It was a good year, overall, with some bumps along the road, especially this last month of December, when I had to close my yoga studio for one month due to flooding and the damage it caused.
Though many of the photos below are beautiful, my life is not all a bed of roses, you see. I’ve been around long enough to know that no one’s life is easy all the time. So when you see gorgeous retreat photos of Sicily, Iceland, and Greece below, you must know that a lot of work goes on before the start of each retreat. That smile you see is real because I did all the work behind the scenes to get to the point where the photo is being taken. And when you see a welcoming yoga studio, you have to know that it didn’t just appear. For years, I worked for everyone else until three and a half years ago, when I set up my own studio. When you see me smiling on one of my retreats, alone or with a group of yogis, you have to know that seemingly perfect moment or posture (asana) didn’t just appear out of thin air. Effort, consistency, fortitude, hard work, tenacity, honesty, a strong work ethic, a strong sense of putting one’s best foot forward, genuinely believing in the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits of the yoga practice…and, quite simply, showing up day after day, even if just one person shows up for class, and showing up even when your sister is dying of COVID..that’s the real truth behind the photos.
It’s no secret. You just show up and do your best, day after day. When I teach, I leave my problems behind and step into the sacred space that is love and kindness. There’s a Sicilian saying that goes along the lines of The Bitter with the Sweet or The Thorns With the Roses. It goes like this, according to my mamma: “Lu Signiuruzzu li cosi, li fici dritti, vinni lu diavulu e li sturcìu.” God made things straight, and then along came the devil and twisted things up.” Yeah, mamma got it right. Things get a bit twisted every now and then. People die and then we learn to carry the memory of those we love in our hearts. Studios close. Repairs are made. Studios reopen!
I was looking through some papers and came across this beautiful quote written some years ago by Leslie Shattuck from Vashon, Washington:
Appreciate what you have, because someone, somewhere, only dreams of being as fortunate as you are.
Mostly what I want to say is Thank You.
Thank you, family and friends.
Thank you, to the yogis who have taken classes with me for nearly 28 years and thank you to the yogis who have just recently discovered the studio and my teaching (in-studio and online) and who have started taking classes with me.
Thank you to my blog readers, for your interest and your comments.
Thank you to small business supporters. I could not do what I do without your support.
Thank you to everyone who offered to help me during my horrible studio flooding. I’ve had a really hard time, emotionally and financially, and I so appreciate your reaching out. I am feeling better now that the cracked foundation has been repaired, the dry wall done, and the flooring installation now underway. All restoration will be done at the 11th hour and I will reopen the studio on Tuesday, January 2. The best way to help me is to help spread the word about my classes, workshops, and other offerings in 2024.
Most importantly, thank you to all who help spread light, joy, and peace in this needy world, a world hungering for kindness.
Wishing you, to all of you, a health-filled, joyful, successful, and peaceful New Year 2024.
Namaste, Fran
*************
January and February
Off to a strong start with the in-studio and live stream classes in full swing. My heart is so happy because I have a studio where yogis have a welcoming space to practice yoga in a peaceful, healthy environment. As you do yoga, you can relax and let the best of you shine through.
March
A yoga retreat in tropical Costa Rica. Our youngest yogi was Baby Nora. So much fun to have her on board. And running a retreat with Laurie Leonetti is one of the best experiences.
Hard to pare down to just four photos, but here you go: Pura Vida!!
April
Another year without Toni in this world. On the two-year anniversary of her COVID death, I made an altar for her once again. My heart still aches from the loss of my special sister Toni. She comes to me in my dreams. In my dreams, I see no traces of the tracheotomy, no traces of pain. She is loving, wise, and beautiful. She is whole. I think about her every day. She is a part of the fabric of my being.
And then there is Yoga in Sicily. Dreamy! This was the year of retreats. In 2024, I will take a break from leading international retreats and resume in 2025. Here’s a memory of Sicily, the Pearl of the Mediterranean. It’s hard to pare down the Sicily photos!
Sicily Villa Saracena Clouds Beautiful!
Sicily Villa Saracena Clouds Beautiful!
And I celebrated 35 years of my life with Rick!
May
I celebrated Kathryn’s birthday in Santa Barbara, California. A short sweet visit. We enjoyed each other’s company. Enjoyed her Bengal Kitties, and I took a bunch of rose photos at the Santa Barbara Rose Garden.
June
Get Fit Yogis class goin’ strong. After a half hour of yoga, followed by weights, cardio, and core workout, the class gets to chill out for 15 minutes. Pure Bliss!
July
I guess you’d say I work a lot. I do! I love teaching. And here is Yoga in the Park. It’s an annual summer highlight! Next year, I will start as soon as it is warm enough to be outdoors! And I will go as long as weather permits us to be outside doing yoga!
My nephew John and family came to Washington for a visit! We went to Leavenworth for a week. OH, my heart! I love them so much!
August
For the first time, I floated a lantern at Green Lake on the 78th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. This is a sobering and meaningful annual event promoting peace.
September
And a retreat in Iceland. A week filled with Yoga, hiking, hot springs, glaciers, and otherworldly Landscapes. One of my favorite places!
October
I came home from Iceland, taught a week and a half at the studio, then took off again for two two-week back-to-back retreats in Greece. OY!
As I mentioned above, I overdid the retreats this year, so I will be taking a break from International Retreats until 2025. In 2024, I will focus on my studio offerings. Maybe I’ll even be able to blog a bit more in 2024. That’s the plan, Stan. Some cool events/classes/workshops/local day and weekend retreats coming your way. Stay tuned!
Came home from Greece and immediately flew back east to Massachusetts to attend my cousin Fran’s Memorial Service in Plymouth. A grand adieu to my dear cousin. Sis Zina and I were hosted by our cousins, John, Anne, and Chris Gallo. We loved our time with them. We hope to see more of them, under happier circumstances.
November
A home-style retreat in Gig Harbor, Washington. Tiffany & Family & Friends used to attend an annual weekend yoga retreat at our Ocean Shores sanctuary and home until we sold it in 2019. Post-pandemic, we have started up again in Gig Harbor.
And the end of November holds two bundled celebrations: Thanksgiving and my birthday. Thank you, Barbara and Denise, for hosting us in your new home on Whidbey Island. This photo was taken on the morning of November 25, my birthday:
December
A flooding incident forced me to close my studio most of December. It’s been a hard time, though I am happy to report that the studio is being renovated and I will be able to reopen on Tuesday, January 2. Note: I am not including photos of the damage until the renovation is complete on Friday evening this week!
Hallelujah!
And here are the dreamy sunsets of December! If you live in or around the Seattle area, I know you saw these sunsets, too!
Unfortunately, the heavy rains at the beginning of this month here in Seattle brought some serious water intrusion / flood damage to my beloved yoga studio. So the studio has been temporarily closed since December 5 for mitigation, repairs, and restoration. The good news is that the studio will be completely restored to its former glory by the end of this month.
It’s been a stressful time for me as I deal with the building manager who, initially, did not want to take responsibility for the damage caused to my studio from cracks in the foundation of the building and the root-lifted sidewalk that tilts toward my studio! I was prepared to take legal action, but then a compromise took place between manager, landlord and me: I am to pay for the installation of the wood flooring (yes, the whole floor needs to be redone) and the Landlord will take care of all other repairs. Since I cannot use my studio, they will wave my rent this month. With studio closure, comes the hardship of wage loss. I’ll have to work with the city to see about compensation on wage loss since the tree is owned by the city.
Meanwhile, the manager seems to be dragging his feet on getting the foundation cracks fixed. The sidewalk will also have to be repaired at a later point, when the city gets to our work order.. The big almost-century old maple tree will have to have a few roots amputated, as determined by the city arborist. The aborist will do all they can to save the tree while making sure the roots cause no further damage. And here I am, feeling like my hands are tied. The foundation should have been dealt with by now! I can’t move forward with the flooring until foundation cracks are repaired, dry wall installed, and wall painted. I am teaching some Zoom and all Facebook live stream classes from home, but honestly, this FFF (Fran’s-Flood-Fiasco) could not have come at a worse time! Is there ever a good time for a flood?
So, I’ve been feeling sorry for myself, worried, and anxious. I keep reminding myself, “Wait, Fran! You’ve been through much worse than this and you pulled through.” A shattered heart mends, and a flooded studio can be restored.
And as my head was spinning from this disaster, I had two revelations:
Yesterday, as I was teaching two people online, I saw a glimpse of Santa behind Mary, one of the online yogis. When our session was over, Mary excitedly showed us her life-sized Santa. She told us she bought him online at Horchow. He’s so unique that he’s signed and numbered! He is so beautiful! He has a porcelain face and a sturdy body. His eyes are both soulful and jolly. I was moved by him and I surprised myself when I blurted out, “Oh, I love him!” Mary gently patted Santa’s head and said, “Oh, Fran. I do, too! I find myself talking to him.” Just as Mary said this, Maureen, the other yogi in class, said, “Well, I’d talk to him, too! He’s wonderful.”
It’s a simple story, but I am emotional writing about this. You see, I’ve been so upset over the flooding, studio closure, and slow restoration that I forgot to enjoy this special season. Thank you, Mary (and Santa) for reminding me about the magic of Christmas!
Mary’s life-sized porcelain-faced Santa:
And then this happened: I was walking home from the studio today, again my head rumbling with numbers, figures, and dollar signs after having met with the owner of the flooring store, when suddenly, I looked up and witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets! Right here at Green Lake, Seattle. I pulled out my iPhone and got these gorgeous photos.
What flood? Santa and Purple Sunsets are rockin’ my world on this cold December day.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
Sadly, my dear cousin Fran (Gallo) Quintiliani, from Plymouth, Massachusetts passed away this week. I am flying to Boston tomorrow to attend her Memorial Service. I return to Seattle on Sunday evening and resume teaching my full schedule starting Monday, October 30. I wanted to share this blog post I wrote 13 years ago. RIP dear cousin Fran.
The blog post below was WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED on AUGUST 29, 2010 (further edited on November 5, 2023, after Fran’s brother John made some corrections on some facts below):
Last Thursday evening, we enjoyed a magical afternoon and evening with my cousin from Boston, Fran, and her husband Dan! Rick and I took them to Kubota Garden which is exquisitely beautiful. It is one of those out-of-the-way hidden places I rarely go to located at 9817 55th Avenue South in Seattle. It is also the place where my sole Seattle cousin, John Gallo, who died last Thanksgiving at age 39, loved to go and walk. It is my understanding that his ashes will be spread here in this garden whenever his parents have the courage to come from Boston to Seattle to do the ceremony. Fran and I kept thinking about John the whole time we walked the garden. His gentle spirit was definitely present that day! Below are some photos taken at the Kubota Garden:
Here I am with Fran and her husband Dan:
West Coast Fran Gallo and East Coast Fran (Gallo) Quintiliani
After visiting the garden, we went out for dinner downtown on the waterfront. We really loved our time with Dan and Fran who were just about to go on an Alaskan cruise (the cruise ships leave the Seattle port) to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Around 9:30 pm, just as we were driving up a hill at 2nd and Lenora downtown on our way to take Dan and Fran back to their hotel, right in the middle of traffic, our car died! Volvos aren’t supposed to stall! They are sturdy and dependable, or so I thought! Safest car in the world and we were in a bad spot for this to happen. Luckily we had a cop right behind us when the stall occurred. He couldn’t give us a push to get us off the road because the gears were stuck, but he did put his lights on and redirected traffic around us. And later he set up flares (see flares below!!) as we waited for Triple A to come to our rescue. Fran and Dan are AAA members and we made use their membership benefits. Diagnosis? Dead battery. Oh well, it added to the overall adventure and gave us time for more story sharing!!
So story sharing is what we did most of our day together. Fran is a fascinating story teller. She is a retired school teacher, a mother of two, and a grandmother of three. She has experienced her share of pain. She survived the loss of her firstborn child, is a breast cancer survivor, and she survived an arterial cerebral hemorrhage, her survival requiring two brain surgeries. At 65 years old, she is lovely and very much full of life. Being with her was like being with a part of my father. There is a feeling I get being around Fran that I am not sure can be put into words. It is the same kind of comfort that I got from being in my dad’s presence, a kind of an all embracing love, a kind of adoration and assurance of an unconditional love that flowed from him to me, and from me to him. This, in fact, is what I miss most about my dad: unconditional love and a sense of security that was as sure and solid as a rock. And with my cousin, Fran, I feel the exact same feelings being around her.
When my mom and dad and sisters first came to America by ship, Fran’s father, my Uncle Joe, went to New Jersey to pick them up and brought everyone to his house in Boston. He really wanted his little brother and family to make their new home right next to him. I came very close to being born in Boston! I could have been saying “my fathah” like my cousin does instead of “my father”!! If I had grown up in Boston, I would have grown up with my lovely Gallo cousins. But instead, Aunt Lily, dad’s little sister, who was childless and living in Gary, Indiana, begged my dad to settle in the Midwest, claiming that her husband would help my dad get a good paying job (so my dad’s first job in Gary, Indiana was bartending at Aunt Lily and Uncle Sam’s restaurant!).
Fran’s father, my Uncle Joe (Giuseppe Gallo), and my father, Charlie (Calogero Gallo), were brothers. Uncle Joe was born in 1903 during my Grandpa Gallo’s first marriage to the Sicilian blond, blue-eyed beauty, Francesca. My dad was born during my Grandpa Gallo’s third marriage to Onofria, known to us as Mamma ‘No. My dad and Uncle Joe were 19 years apart! They shared the same father and had different mothers, though they never referred to each other as being “half-brothers”. Such an expression or thought did not exist for them.
Below: A very young Grandpa Gallo with his first wife, Francesca di Maggio (East Coast Fran’s grandmother whose name we both inherited!) I know, she doesn’t look blond to me either, but she does look fair and my cousin Fran inherited her grandmother’s blue eyes.
An older, more worn-out Grandpa Gallo, twice widowed and now with his third wife, my stern-looking grandmother, Onofria Terrana (Mamma ‘No):
Stories from cousin Fran (East Coast Fran)
After Grandmother Francesca died of breast cancer, Grandpa was left with two children. Uncle Joe is the only one who made it to adulthood. Tradition in Sicily was that a widower could marry his deceased wife’s sister, only if possible and if small children were left behind after a mother’s premature death, because “who better to take care of your children than the kids’ maternal aunt?”. This second wife, Francesca’s sister, Calogera, died soon after marriage, leaving Grandpa Gallo widowed yet again. He finally married my Mamma ‘No and from that third marriage came my Aunt Francesca, my dad (Calogero), and my Aunt Lily (Calogera). As was the custom in Sicily, if you were a widower and remarried, you would honor your deceased wife/wives by naming your future child after her/them. Therefore, the two daughters, born during Grandpa’s third marriage were given the names of his previous deceased wives.
Uncle Joe’s mother died when he was just a child of 6 and the only thing she left him was a blanket that she always threw around her shoulders. He was very attached to that blanket and carried it everywhere with him. He was still very attached to that blanket until he was almost 13, until Grandpa remarried the third time to the woman who became my paternal grandmother, Mamma ‘No! Well, Mamma ‘No, was very mean to her stepson, Joe. The first thing Mamma ‘No did was take that blanket away from my Uncle Joe, claiming that he was too big to be so attached to something as trivial as a blanket! He never saw the blanket again and he never forgot her cruelty. He talked about it his whole life. And, after that terrible blow, he couldn’t wait to get the heck out of his father’s house!
Uncle Joe had to get away from his cruel stepmother. He became obsessed with the thought of going to America! He was only 13. He asked his father if he could go and his father (my grandpa) said, “NO!”. So Uncle Joe STOLE his father’s savings which were hidden in a secret spot in the house and took off to Palermo!! Once in Palermo, he was refused passage because of his age and the lack of parental consent. Uncle Joe promptly made the best of a bad situation by spending all the stolen money, and then bravely went back to his father’s house to receive his punishment.
Uncle Joe was such a handful at home, and the fights between him and his stepmother so terrible, that when he turned 15, Grandpa Gallo said, “GO!! Go to America!” and helped him by paying the entire passage fare. So in 1918 Uncle Joe, three years before my father’s birth, East Coast Fran’s dad/my dad’s brother, came to America all by himself! He worked in the Boston shipyard where he was exposed to the asbestos that attributed, along with the help of three packets of cigarettes a day, to the eventual development of lung cancer, which took his life at the age of 62.
Unlike my dad who was quiet and shy, Uncle Joe was a legend of sorts. He had a BIG personality and he seemed to know EVERYONE. He loved to gamble, play poker, and go to horse races and dog races. Uncle Joe was tall and thin whereas my father was average height and broadly built. But like my dad, Uncle Joe had a heart of gold and loved his family deeply.
Uncle Joe had never met his little brother (my dad) because Uncle Joe had left for America before my dad was born. However, Uncle Joe faithfully and regularly sent home huge packages of gifts, which included new outfits for my dad. Much to my dad’s horror, the clothing sent from America was outdated. Always ahead in the world of fashion, Italians had long shed themselves of bloomers, but Mamma ‘No made my dad wear the old fashioned bloomer pants to school! “Listen to me! We are poor! These are brand new from America. Your brother sent these to you and you ARE wearing them!” There was no arguing with Mamma ‘No. This was around 1926. My dad was forced to wear the outdated bloomers to school, a shy child facing the mockery of his schoolmates. (This story was told to me by my dad.)
Uncle Joe remained a bachelor for a long time. He eventually met Fran’s mom, Maria. Uncle Joe dated Maria for 7 years before marrying her. Maria was from Naples and she was the youngest of 12 children. She was not interested in having children because of how hard she worked helping her older siblings raise their many younger children. There were always babies being born, diapers to change, bottoms to clean…. and she had had enough of raising kids without even having had her own. After 7 years of dating, when Maria was 32 and Uncle Joe was 40, they finally decided that they wanted children after all, so they got married.
So in 1943, when Uncle Joe was 40 years old and newly married, and on his honeymoon in New York City, he was drafted by the US Army! He was TERRIFIED. He knew my dad was already a soldier in the Italian army. “My God,” he thought, “what if I’m sent to Italy and have to SHOOT my own BROTHER?” He was terribly depressed and very worried. A few weeks later, a very distraught Joe Gallo reported for his physical exam. The doctor (yes, miracles DO happen), after giving Joe a thorough physical exam, said, “With all your ulcers and given your age of 40, I hate to tell you this, but you would not be an asset to the US Army. I’m sorry, but I am going to have to deny you induction.” Uncle Joe may have fainted at that point! Just like that, Joe didn’t have to go fight in a war where he risked killing his beloved brother, other relatives, and friends he knew from his childhood.
My dad:
Uncle Joe:
Uncle Joe and Aunt Maria with their son John:
When Dad came to America with my mom and sisters, he finally met his brother Joe, Joe’s wife Maria, and their kids, John and Fran, for the first time in his life. My dad was in his late 30s and his brother was in his late 50s. My dad told me once that seeing his brother for the first time was one of the happiest days of his life. Five years later, Uncle Joe died, but my dad got to enjoy his brother for 5 years.
Fran Quintiliani’s father, my Uncle Joe
Above: from left to right: Francesca Cimino, Fran Gallo (me), Aunt Lily, Fran (Gallo) Quintiliani, and Joanne Cimino. Three Francescas, all cousins to each other, all named after my paternal Grandfather Gallo’s first wife Francesca
Group One has already left Greece. I took a few days to rest fully and in less than an hour I will meet up with my second group and begin the second retreat here in Greece. I am, somehow, managing to film short yoga sessions for the yogis back home, too. Greece is lovely as ever. There are more tourists here than I have ever experienced before. But even so, it is a joy to be in Greece!
Here is the slideshow I put together from the first group. Turn up your speakers. The music is called Golden Sun by Michalis Koumbios and Thanasis Vasilas. Enjoy the show.
The photos below were taken at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. We were lucky enough to have the fabulous Dr. Diotima Liantini as our guide. The museum is a treasure trove of precious Greek antiquities. Without Diotima, one would have difficulty knowing where to start and how to end this extravaganza of exhibits. For two hours, Diotima led us through the highlights of the museum. She brought ancient Greek art to life with her mesmerizing stories and well-studied interpretations of the symbology and history behind each work. It is deeply moving to experience ancient works of art. The experience was enhanced by Diotima’s educational stories and explanations.
What we learned at the museum is that the ancients lived, ate, drank, worked and played, got educated, fell in love, raised their families, and had strong family ties. They laughed and they cried. They fell sick to pandemics. They died young or of old age. They celebrated birth, sportsmanship, weddings. They philosophized. They wrote out their thoughts and created poetry and music. They formulated various calculations and developed ancient computers. They grieved loss of loved ones. They created functional art such as vases and amphorae, but they also created art for the sake of expressing pure beauty. The ancients were not all that different from us!
I sure hope the photos below come through! I heard that last time I posted not all the photos came through!
The story behind the photo above:
I was in Athens in September of 2021, when we were still required to wear masks. At the time, the Delta variant of COVID had just become the latest issue and we had to be extremely cautious when in public and around other people. I have a photo of my masked self in Warrior II.
Yesterday, I really wanted a photo of me doing an unmasked version of Warrior II in front of Athena. There was one issue! In each room, there are museum guards making sure no one touches any works of art. Photos are allowed, but not photos in which one is posing in a yoga asana. I am not sure why this is not allowed, but perhaps it is seen as being disrespectful. Or perhaps there is the risk of losing one’s balance and toppling a valued work of art. Well, in order to get this photo, we had to be furtive and fast. Lydia (I think this is the one Lydia took!), our Greek assistant, took this photo of me. “Fran, look quickly! Is the guard behind me?” Yes, the guard was behind her, but he was busy observing a large group of tourists who had just crowded into the room. “We’re good! Let’s do this. Quick!” I gave her the okay! We did it! Later when I got home, I played with the image and came up with the above photo. It was well worth the risk and the trouble of going against museum rules.
Below are a few more photos for you from yesterday’s visit to the museum.
Hello. It’s been a long time! The last time I wrote a blog post was Spring 2023 and that post was about Cherry Blossoms. What happened to summer? What happened to Fran’s writing? Some people have asked me if I’ve taken them off my mailing list. I would never do that. I simply got ensconced in teaching online and in-studio…and taking advantage of our beautiful Pacific Northwest summer. Plus, I got involved with planning for the Iceland Yoga Retreat and for two back-to-back yoga retreats in Greece coming up soon. My goal is to get back to blogging.
I’ll be home (Seattle) Tuesday evening, September 12. I’ll teach all my regularly scheduled classes -online and in-studio – from September 13 through September 20 (plus a few outdoor pop up sessions). Then I take off again for a month on September 21. There are some newsletters coming your way about all this. If you’d like to receive it, sign up for my newsletter here.
Meanwhile, I am posting 30 beautiful photos for you from Iceland! Enjoy this otherworldly landscape! (had some issues downloading photos. I hope the ones I managed to post come through).
Reykjanes Peninsula. This is a photo of Seltún. The many mudpots, fumaroles, and minerals deposited from geothermal activity make this site very colorful.
Bruarfoss Waterfalls. Usually we hike to the falls, but this time around, we drove directly to the falls because it was raining heavily and steadily!
Langjökull, or “Long Glacier”, is Iceland’s second largest glacier. The only way you can walk on this glacier is with ice traction devices on your feet, crampons. The ice I held in my hand was light as air and had tiny air bubbles.
Fludir hike
From the Fludir hike, photo below by Gail Fox.
Gail
Laugarvatn hike and hot springs
Two flowers below photographed by Cindi Faith
Cindi LaugarvatnCindi
White flower photographed by Gail Fox:
Gail
This is Lake Laugarvatn, the frigid lake we jump into after soaking in the hot springs.
Kerid Crater. You can walk along the rim and down to the lake.
We visited the only geothermal mushroom greenhouse in Iceland. They produce 80% of all mushrooms consumed in Iceland. And we enjoyed a gourmet mushroom buffet. Tons of mushrooms growing all year round.
My favorite photo of Gullfoss Waterfall! Mist Mist Rain and Rain. It’s hard to see under any weather conditions, but there is a thin line of railing at the edge where these people are standing.
And Reykjavik, land of HARPA performance center, rainbow street, and many beautiful murals.
Cathedral photo by Gail Fox:
Come Fly with me!!
Photo above: I grew wings!
And yes, we did yoga every day! This photo is from the hotel’s conference room in Reykjavik.
Two days ago, on Sunday, I went to see the cherry blossoms at the University of Washington campus. It was raining and, yet, the campus was filled with people admiring the blossoms. I am so happy I brought out my Leica camera for the occasion. Enjoy the photos scattered throughout this blog post.
Ephemeral is the word that comes to mind when thinking about Cherry Blossoms:
E·phem·er·al
/əˈfem(ə)rəl/
adjective
lasting for a very short time
Yes, cherry blossoms are ephemeral. And that is their magic. For just a such a short time, you can enjoy and admire their beauty. Every year, the ornamental cherry trees burst into blossoms and most everyone stops to take notice.
At the University of Washington, there are 31 ornamental cherry trees in full bloom in the quad area. The Quad’s signature Yoshino flowering cherry trees are nearly 90 years old and were originally set in a grove at the Washington Park Arboretum. In late 1964, the University transplanted the trees to their current spot, bringing thousands of visitors to campus each spring to admire the blooming trees. Yoshino cherry trees can live anywhere from 80 to 100 years. So according to this information, they will need to be replaced within 10 years from now.
I learned to really appreciate ornamental cherry blossoms while I lived in Japan. In Japanese culture, cherry blossoms, known as sakura, represent the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. The cherry trees at the UW campus are a symbol of friendship and academic ties:
“The cherry trees on our campus will remind us of the long history of Japanese and Japanese American students at the University of Washington since 1894, and the enduring friendship and academic ties with Japan and UW.”
When we lived in Japan, Rick and I would head over to Ueno Park in Tokyo every spring to witness and marvel at the cherry blossoms. Delcia had asked me how many Yoshino cherry trees are in Ueno Park. I didn’t know the exact number, but I knew there were many. I found out later there are over 1000 flowering cherry trees in Ueno Park. If you have never experienced it, picnicking under a cherry tree is something you must do one day!
The first cherry trees in today’s Ueno Park were planted by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the legendary shogun whose reign began the Edo Period (1603-1868). Main Street, about half a kilometer long, runs from the main entrance of Ueno Park past most of the museums and the zoo.
Main Street, about half a kilometer long, runs from the main entrance of Ueno Park past most of the museums and the zoo. It also hosts more than half of the park’s 1,000-plus cherry trees. During cherry blossom viewing season, Main Street is packed with nearly two million people coming to bask in the beauty of the sakura.
Hanami parties continue well after dark. As the sun sets, lanterns along the pathways illuminate the cherry blossoms. This spectacular nighttime view of Ueno Park’s sakura draws lively crowds late into the night.
Here are the lyrics and translation to the famous Japanese Sakura (Cherry Blossom) song:
Lyrics:
sakura sakura
yayoi no sora wa
mi-watasu kagiri
kasumi ka kumo ka
nioi zo izuru
izaya izaya
mini yukan
Translation:
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Across the spring sky,
As far as the eye can see.
Is it mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the air.
Come now, come now,
Let’s go and see them!
After viewing the cherry blossoms at the University of Washington campus, we drove over to view the line of cherry trees in full bloom at 21st and Prospect in Seattle’s Capital Hill neighborhood. Sean’s dad told me that the street used to be lined with large hawthorns. Unfortunately, the hawthorns had to be cut down because they were diseased, old, and dying. They were replaced with cherry trees! In recent times, this residential street has become very popular with admirers driving over to take in the spring splendor.
Yesterday marked two years since my sister Toni died from COVID-19.
I am proud to say I had the honor of tending to her during her last months on earth.
I am relieved to say that during her last months of life, she was not alone.
I still miss her. She has become a part of the fabric of my being. Sometimes she appears in my dreams and she is whole. There is no trace of a tracheostomy in her throat. She breathes freely, without effort. Her smile is dazzling. Her silver hair is in thick waves again. In my dreams, she stands tall and her speech impediment is gone.
She was amazing in so many ways and, two years later, I still don’t have the words to describe the experience of being with her during her struggle to survive. All I can say is that I am left humbled by her courage and her strength. And I will forever be moved by the love and emotional support of all who followed Toni’s journey throughout her COVID-19 illness.
Here is the poem I shared with my classes yesterday in memory of Toni. Carol Brown sent me this poem after Toni’s death. This poem, in Carol’s ornate handwriting, is taped above my desk at home:
Separation
By W. S. Merwin
Your absence has gone through me
Like thread through a needle.
Everything I do is stitched with its color.
photo below: Ursula, my sisters Nora, Zina, Toni (the tallest one of the bunch), me (Fran), and my niece Christine.
This blog post brings you wishes for a Happy New Year filled with joy, peace, love, the best of health, and much success in all your endeavors.
What a year this has been! I feel fortunate to have time to reflect on this past year. I take this time to thank you for being a part of my readership, for your presence in my life, and for being on the yoga journey with me. In this blog, I am posting my favorite photos from each month of 2022.
January 9, 2022 Temperatures in Seattle dipped below freezing and parts of Green Lake were frozen solid. I marveled at the skating ducks, who appeared to be walking on water.
January 14, 2022 A sunrise like no other I have ever seen before! It was a Friday, my day off. I woke up early, went to my yoga studio to do a workout before sunrise. As I was working out, I noticed the sky was purple and deep pink, so I rushed across the street to Green Lake and below is what I saw. The sky kept changing, a series of unrepeatable moments in time.
Same morning:
February 16, 2022 I hosted two yoga retreats back-to-back in lush, tropical Costa Rica. The best part of Costa Rica? …the yogis on the retreat, working and collaborating with my friend and fitness coach, Laurie Leonetti, being at our perfect retreat venue in Uvita, and the concept of Pura Vida, the “Pure Life” philosophy of Costa Rica, a country said to be the “happiest country” in the world.
March 12, 2022 Rick and I took a trip to Granville, Ohio to visit our family: John, Jenna, June, and Jade. I basked in family love and warmth, and in the wonder of being with children, who see the world through fresh, innocent eyes. It was super hard to chose just one photo, but this one is my favorite. Here is Uncle Ricky reading to our grandnieces.
April 6, 2022 I made a small memorial altar for my sister, Toni, and burnt a candle all day in honor of the one year anniversary of losing her to Covid. Over the course of the day, friends and students brought flowers, more candles, and cards. I couldn’t believe the swift passage of time, but I felt, with relief, that I had survived a whole year without her physical presence. I was reminded of the deep support of my loving family and community of friends and students, who held me up when I felt I would crumble. A shattered heart does mend and those who leave us physically live on in our hearts. Toni taught us about kindness and courage. Her life makes us think about the true meaning of legacy. What intangible gifts will we leave behind when our time comes to say goodbye?
April 14, 2022 Also in April, the Adaptive Yoga Therapy yogis started coming to my Green Lake yoga studio! The first time Jonah came to the studio, he laughed nearly the whole 30 minutes! He was thrilled to be coming to a yoga studio for his yoga sessions. Both Jonah and Maggie benefit from Adaptive Yoga Therapy in many ways, but also in different ways since they are different people with varying needs. I can say that they leave the studio feeling accomplished and satisfied. Adaptive Yoga Therapy helps Maggie with her balance, organizational skills, focusing skills, and we have fun. Adaptive Yoga Therapy helps Jonah by stretching his tight legs, hips, and back. He feels more comfortable in his body. Stretching relaxes both Jonah and Maggie. Plus they get a huge dose of love from me. In the photos below, Maggie rolls her mat at the end of her yoga session (this is an important skill requiring a lot of focus) and Jonah gets a great spinal stretch!
May 14, 2022 Rick and I went on a nice day trip to see Woody and Ginger in Eastern Washington. The meadow and pine forest was filled with wildflowers. Balsam Root flowers were in full bloom as you can see from the photo below. The other flower is a wild rose with dew on it (rose photo taken on Whidbey Island). And yes, the wild roses are very fragrant.
June 16, 2022 Barbara and Denise joined me on a visit to see Anne Tiber (also known as “Los Osos Anne” or “Anegrey”, which sounds like Annie Grey) in the Morro Bay area of California. Anne was my father-in-law’s companion for the last five years of his life. She is a mother-figure for me. I admire and love her so much. Barbara and Denise fell in love with her, too. Anne is very charming, engaging, and easy to love.
July 16, 2022 I held an outdoor home-style yoga day retreat in Lakemont, Washington (near Bellevue). We had our fingers crossed that summer really would be in full swing by July and it was! A lovely group of yogis gathered for a day of yoga. We enjoyed a Malaysian-style lunch, and a hike on the nearby trails (the house is surrounded by forest). It was an unforgettable experience.
August, 2022 August brings us this gorgeous yellow rose from Janet’s garden in Anacortes, Washington. On this same day, I went on a day hike with Don and Simone. Don is photographed below with Annie, who is aging and now needs to be carried on hikes. I also held another yoga day retreat. This one was on Vashon at the Mukai Farm & Garden. A wonderful group of yogis gathered and the retreat was held entirely outdoors. We enjoyed a homemade lunch lovingly made by organic farmer, Karen Biondo of Vashon Island. We also enjoyed a tea ceremony with tea master, Kyoko Matsuda. Once again, we were blessed with perfect weather.
August 14, 2022 Vashon Yoga Day Retreat, Mukai Farm & Garden (the ice-breaker in full swing before the yoga session begins)
August, 2022 A healthy hydrangea from Simone’s garden. Over the years, I have been inspired to photograph many of her flowers. She definitely has a green thumb and her garden is delightful.
August 24, 2022 Rick and I spent a weekend in Mazama with Kathryn, Ben, and their kitties. I have many photos from our weekend visit in the Cascade Mountains, but this one really captured the scene. Best dinner setting ever.
September 2022 Iceland! If you are a photographer, then you need to spend some time in Iceland and capture this otherworldly landscape. In September, I was in Iceland, where I led a yoga retreat. It is so hard to choose only two photos, but here they are: the Northern Lights (Note: Photo taken by Hana) and a photo of my boots, cleats and all, standing on Iceland’s largest glacier, Langjökull. It looks like I am levitating.
Hana northern lights
October 2022 Autumn at Green Lake (Seattle). I love my neighborhood. So happy to live and work here.
November 2022 Thanksgiving and birthday travels to NYC (photo below of me sitting on Hans Christian Andersen’s lap in Central Park, photo taken by Marilyn). Onward to Salisbury, Maryland to see Zina and family for Thanksgiving, our birthdays (Zina’s and my birthday are four years and three days apart), and a quick stop-over in Alexandria, Virginia to visit Tom and Ursula.
December 2022 Finally! The in-studio yoga classes are starting to draw more in-studio yogis. Yay! It is a great big joy to own a studio and to offer both in-studio and online (Zoom and Facebook Livestream) yoga classes. Dare I say I am feeling like I can lift my feet over the emotional wreckage of the pandemic and bravely walk forward? We, dear readers, are survivors. What have we learned? What wisdom shall we carry?
Photo below from one of my Get Fit Yogis classes. Get Fit Yogis is offered four times weekly as an in-studio only drop-in class. This 75-minute class is a combination of Hatha yoga (30 minutes) + weights and core work (30 minutes) + relaxation (15 minutes).
December 2022 Still a few more days to enjoy here in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. This has been a perfect time to reset, relax, rest, and rejuvenate.
Please let me know which photo/s are your favorite in the comments below!
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