I hope everyone has enjoyed Easter. I had the honor of teaching yoga on this special beautiful Spring morning. Regardless of your belief system, I think that Easter and Spring encourage and welcome renewal and rebirth.
I read the following passage to my yoga students at the start of practice today.
German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote, “We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden.”
Spring is the right time for renewal and rejuvenation: an opportunity to soften. The season lends us moments to shed our skin and blossom. We are reignited with an energy that sat still within our sleepy souls during the wintertime.
– Source
“An opportunity to soften” really resonated with me. It’s true…we become so hardened in our set routines, beliefs, behaviors, systems, actions, etc. One thing that I repetitively talk to my yoga students about is that they have to be challenged to change and grow. You have to seek out opportunities for growth and not turn the other direction and run back to what is comfortable when you are challenged and uncomfortable.
This is a huge reason why we show up on our mats over and over to practice yoga…to be challenged physically and emotionally. We must be challenged so that we can practice softening when things aren’t easy. So we can learn how to breathe through the uncomfortable and unknown and learn to trust how strong we really are. This is how we grow.
Where can you soften so that you can blossom? (I am so thankful for these beautiful flowers I received this weekend that serve as a visual reminder of the importance of renewing and blossoming.)
And now back to our normally scheduled Sunday programming…scenes from Easter weekend.
Beet Boost from local juicer Viva Raw. Beet, apple, carrot, cucumber, parsley, ginger, orange and lemon. I have thought about doing a 3-day juice cleanse through a local business (to experience it because I get asked about cleanses SO much from yoga students and blog readers) but I just don’t think I can hang with it. It took me a good hour and a half to get this juice down and it tasted pretty good. I can’t imagine downing 7 in one day…especially the really green ones.
The Lord of All Sandwiches. No, really. That’s what the daily special sandwich special was named at Reid’s. Corned beef, havarti, arugula, sauteed mushrooms, tomatoes and garlic bacon aioli. I got it pressed in a wrap instead of bread. Little known fact…I LOVE corned beef!
Sullie says welcome windows down, head hanging out weather. She did not quite welcome as much the much needed bath she received this afternoon.
I slept in on Saturday morning and then didn’t go into work, to a yoga class or for a run. Instead I went out to breakfast at Terrace Cafe and it was amazing. Such a nice change of pace and that giant buttermilk biscuit was pretty life changing.
I went out with friends Saturday night in NoDa and we ended up at Heist Brewery where I snacked on a Jerked Chicken Flatbread. It was my first time at Heist. Atmosphere and food were pretty good, beer was just okay.
When I actually venture over to NoDa I cannot leave without a trip to Amelie’s. One chai tea latte and salted caramel brownie later and I was a happy girl.
Sunday consisted of the yoga class I discussed above, brunch, actually practicing yoga for the first time in a week and getting organized and ready for the week. I really loved this weekend. It was just what I needed.
