Changes

I know that I have not been blogging much these past two weeks.

Last week was a very emotional week for me.  We sold our condo (closing date is July 18th) and moved to Ocean Shores yesterday which means last week was my last week of teaching a schedule of classes I have known for many many years.  It was a week filled with gatherings with friends, garden parties, and time for my students to shower me with their gratitude! I felt so loved and appreciated.

I held it together fairly well all week, but at one point, I lost my composure when MaryAnn Kuchera read the following words aloud at Seattle Athletic Club:

Fran is a speaker of many languages.  She has taught us the language of our bodies and its subtle energies.  This work has changed all of our lives.  For this we are grateful.  I will thank her by growing my personal practice and expanding my heart.  Taking the seeds she has sown and growing great new gardens of joy and beauty out in the world.

Though a speaker of many languages, tears and overwhelming emotions choked out all my words that moment as MaryAnn spoke to my heart on behalf of the class.  I think, in life, every human being wants to make a difference, to have a positive effect on the people we encounter every day. It is what I want! Well, my friends and students certainly made me feel I have been doing my work well.  I will make every effort to continue to do my part, via teaching yoga and being a good person, to help sow many more gardens of JOY and BEAUTY in the world!

Thankfully, Seattle is only a two and a half hour drive from Ocean Shores and I will go back to Seattle twice a month as of July 8th to teach alternating Mondays (full day) and one morning class and a private session on Tuesdays.  I will also offer workshops in Seattle one weekend a month.  But still, I will miss my friends and students terribly.  I will miss seeing everyone on a regular basis.  My work, teaching yoga, is my life.

Making this big change is like stepping out into a great unknown.  Everything and anything can happen.  I move into this new space somewhat fearfully, somewhat bravely.

OH, and YES, I will continue to host retreats here at our sanctuary and home, Little Renaissance (and in Isssaquah and other lovely places, including hosting retreats abroad).

I found these inspiring words printed on the last page of my journal and thought I would share them:

Live with intention.

Walk to the edge.

Listen hard.

Practice wellness.

Play with abandon.

Laugh.

Chose with no regret.

Continue to learn.

Appreciate your friends.

Do what you love.

Love as if this is all there is.

-mary anne mbl radmacher

Below is part of last week week in pictures (I write “part” because I wish I had photographed every class and every festivity). Photos include teaching at Continental Place, a garden party at Simone’s with a group of yogis from class, a visit to Dunn Gardens arranged by Simone for all of us, dinner at Toulouse Petit, a treat by Marilyn, Koren and Dayna for me, a party at Kelley and Jack’s, Father’s Day at Geoff and Jan’s cabin in Home, Washington with Rick’s family, Vasiliki’s birthday party at the Tyee Yacht Club, and brunch with Brent and Riza.  TURN UP THE VOLUME and let the rhythms of West Africa move through you:

A photo collage by Smilebox

Tags: friendship, moving, showing gratitude, teaching yoga