Under a Red Roof

Expectations

April 12, 2011 in Admiring, Celebrating, Practicing, Traveling by Colleen | 3 comments

Last Thursday, I ventured north to Bellingham, Washington for my long anticipated class with Shiva Rea. I had never driven that far on my own before (about five hours), and the writer in me created all kinds of awful scenarios in which I did not return in one piece (the price for creativity!). I prepared for many eventualities, every last duck in a row, and left very dark (seriously Spring, no need to be so shy) and early. Thankfully, the drive went off without a hitch, a succession of NPR news stories, jazz, and rock and roll.

When I exited the highway hours later, my stiff legs itching for a stretch (yoga!), I had the first of many indications that none of my visions of doom would come to fruition. The sun started to peek through the clouds and a Bald Eagle swooped over my car. Talk about a warm welcome!

I arrived at the class after a picture perfect afternoon (more on that tomorrow), a warm, light-filled room, with equally warm and friendly strangers of all stripes. Then Shiva arrived and the magic began. With the beat of a drum, the raven spirit invocation (even more auspicious, considering my deep love of crows and ravens), curious, mischievous, dancing and spreading his wings, inviting us all to fly. This was followed by a truly amazing, heart liberating kirtan with Dave Stringer (like this). I sang at the top of my voice, every cell pulsing, full of joy, and ready for practice. The sadhana was kick-my-ass challenging with moments of silliness too (Shiva is funny!), everything I hoped for, infused with grooves from Dave and his cohort, and a final round of chanting to bring the magical practice to a close.

It’s pretty amazing when someone you’ve admired for a long time lives up to your expectations, live and in person, and a bit of a relief, too. I’ve been practicing with Shiva for the past six years, her work, and ours together, inspiring me more than I ever could have imagined. So when it came came time to thank her, for everything, that in the flesh, no going back, she’s standing right in front of me moment, rather than take my hand extended in gratitude, she embraced me, a hug between “old” friends. A perfect day, a perfect sadhana, made all the more sweet. Namaste.

p.s. I hope to get a picture with Shiva next time!

Tags: Shiva Rea, Yoga

Me and Camus

January 28, 2011 in Being, Feeling, Learning, Practicing by Colleen | 4 comments

So, I’ve been in a bit of a funk these past few months, mostly depressed with a chance of mild gloom and occasional laughter and smiles. There have been ample examples of feeling the sadness switch come on a hair’s breadth after a moment of sincere joy, bursting into tears in public for no good reason, and spending long spans with my eyes squeezed shut against the world.

Some of it is a sincere longing for accomplishment in my life. I want my novel published! I want to contribute financially to our household without doing crap work I don’t like. Is this ever going to happen? Anyone? The rest, I blame on genetics, as the melancholia, like the Force in Luke Skywalker, is strong in me. Thankfully, it is at its menacing worst only every few years, but dang, when it is here, it’s H-E-R-E, no matter what I do. Just in case you’re wondering about medication to get me through, no thanks. I’ve been down that road, and it was pretty awful. The side effects distracted me from my sorry mental state, to be sure, but certainly were not worth it. I lost hair, felt sick to my stomach much of the time, saw spots in my eyes, felt like I was on a merry-go-round every time I sat down, not to mention the literal and rather unpleasant taste in my mouth. It took my liver years to recover, and that, mind you, was before my fondness for whiskey!

Now, for a bit of cage rattling (like not posting a spotlight today – they’ll come when they come) and my friend Camus. I got to thinking about myself as Sisyphus and my gloom the rock. It should be punishment, right? The rock is heavy and burdensome and only comes rolling back down. But what if, like Camus, I didn’t see it as a burden but a struggle worthy of filling my heart? That’s life, isn’t it? It is my job to keep the rock going. I can do it with appreciation and joy at being given another day to do it, or I can focus on poor little me pushing a fucking rock. My choice. I choose happiness, whatever version that may be. A glimmer seen at a distance, a whole day of sunshine, or a fully belly laugh, I’ll take it.

I also choose to nourish myself with good habits. Instead of beating myself up for being depressed (so helpful!), I’m really trying to just acknowledge its presence and keep moving forward. Though the photo shows me about to indulge in a Beef Wellington (our delicious Christmas meal), I am eating healthier than ever – less sugar, less junk, more goodness. As well, I am shaking it up physically. The hubster and I are off to a big-band dance tonight (gotta love the Norse Hall), and, as of Monday, I started the Yoga Journal 21-Day Challenge – practicing every single day. I am eager to propel my body and mind to a new level of fitness, grace, and ease. Who knows, maybe I’ll push that rock right over the top!

Tags: Depression, Yoga

Jimmy Fallon Campaign – Week Two!

October 18, 2010 in Admiring, Making, Practicing by Colleen | 5 comments

Hello Everyone! Hello Jimmy!

Welcome to the second installment of my campaign to be a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, further showcasing my talents and interests. Have I also mentioned that I am house trained and eat very little? You’ll notice the improved video quality (the sound actually matches my mouth!), though Milo the cat is ever determined to have his voice heard. It is election season, after all, and just so you know, I am by no means shirking my civic duty with this campaign. Voting is important! The only disappointing bit is that my scan of the painting I made turned out uber-creepy (watch the video if you don’t know what I’m talking about) and not at all blog worthy. Sigh. Hopefully I can remedy this before next week.

Be Well –

Colleen

Tags: Jimmy Fallon

On Yoga

August 27, 2010 in Admiring, Being, Practicing, Spotlighting by Colleen | 3 comments

As many of you know, from this space and my life in the physical world, I practice yoga. What initially began as neat way to get exercise has become a deeply invigorating physical and spiritual practice. By God’s (or maybe Buddha’s or Shiva Nataraja’s) grace, I have the privilege to be led through asanas that bring me closer to what I believe is most important in this world: body, mind, and spirit connecting and strengthening, not just within me, but to human consciousness, and all that lives, breathes, and moves. As a result, I have changed. I am more integrated, physically stronger yet softer, more understanding, caring, and connected. I still have a long way to go, but the journey, with yoga, is far more joyous and centered.

At the center of this is Shiva Rea. I have had other teachers, but none has inspired me or encouraged me to continue as she has (despite never having met!). Were it not for the discovery of the brilliant Yoga Shakti DVD more than five years ago, I don’t know that I would still be practicing. It’s not only Shiva’s way of teaching, of leading, but the steady evolution of her yoga, rooted in the ebb and flow of life, not to mention those fabulous matrices that allow me to mix it up according to my needs and time.

These four DVDs are my favorites and are the foundation of my practice. They are challenging, fun, beautiful, and as ever changing as I am. Difficult one day, a breeze the next, they enable me to be exactly where I am and embrace it.

As for each video – Yoga Shakti is closest to what I would call a traditional vinyasa practice. I think, too, if you are new to yoga, it is the best place to start, as she offers some basic postures and forms. As you progress, it can be very challenging, too. Even after more than five years, I can, by no means, complete all the postures as shown. Shiva is strong and incredibly flexible! My goal is to have this video mastered in 2013. The body and mind open slowly, over time.

Trance Dance – I’ve written about this before, and my love for it is simple. Dance! Invigorating, fluid, sacred, and totally fun!

Daily Energy – I was so jazzed when she made this DVD! Sometimes I don’t have a lot of time. With this video, I can have a complete practice in as little as twenty minutes, which is pretty awesome. Since it also has a yoga matrix, I can make it a whole lot longer, add some core work, forward bends, and a complete shavasana, too.

Creative Core + Upper Body – Though the practice is centered around 108 push-ups (not all at once – thank goodness!), it is definitely not just for the upper body. The legs and core get a terrific workout, too. Speaking of the core – in all of the DVDs except Trance, she offers core cultivation in very creative and fun ways. I’d never seen or felt anything like it – very good! Oh, and this one is also pretty short, running at 35 minutes.

Tags: Shiva Rea, Yoga

October Sky

October 7, 2009 in Cooking + Baking, Decorating, Eating, Exploring, Gardening + Nature, Practicing, Shopping by Colleen | 5 comments

So, I’ve got quite the hodgepodge for you today. First off, isn’t this a gorgeous sky? It was like the heavens couldn’t make up their mind, sweet, soft, and ethereal pink or menacing grey. A bit like me, sometimes I just can’t decide.

Take, for instance, my sugar addiction. One moment I am not at all interested in eating one more bite of it, and I get a little haughty, feeling, “Oh, I’ve really licked it this time!” Then, I drive by Pix, pull over the car and eat half of a St. Honore before I am dumbstruck by what is happening. Shoot! As for this very moment, I am feeling, more than anything else, like I need to let the obsession go. I am a pretty healthy person, all things considered, knocking on wood, etcetera, etcetera. Why fret about it? My cravings ebb and flow, like a river or the sea, just let it be.

Speaking of being and the flow of the sea, today my yoga practice involved a new, and rather exciting video (at least to me – it’s been out for a while) Shiva Rea: Yoga Trance Dance. I’m pretty sure I have mentioned that I LOVE to dance, in a crazy, unscripted, primal, and occasionally, um, nutty, kind of way, really taking the rhythms to another plane, both physically and mentally (quite unlike my graceful ballerina friend Mara). Thankfully, this DVD fully embraces these qualities, really engaging the practitioner in a dynamic and energizing flow, riding the waves of grace, energy, and movement. I highly recommend it.

Now, a bit more of the sea, in a shopping and decorating note. How about this painting gracing our bedroom? There used to be a poster of an old map of Paris, but we had grown tired of it, and then I got, in a semi-paranoid state, to thinking that if the big earthquake comes while we are in bed and knocks it off the wall, we’re goners. So, the other day at the Goodwill Bins, I found this. It is an original oil painting by H. Walker. I know nothing of this person, but bless his or her heart, the sea is right, and I got a bargain that will not kill me, my precious spouse, or cats, all for $20, including the frame. Not bad, not bad at all my precious peeps. Now if I could center the bed under the painting, my anal-retentive self would be super happy. One thing at a time…

Finally, the last of the summer tomatoes. We’ve had quite the season around here – I canned nine pints, made a big batch of Spicy Tomato Chutney (Zowie – I posted this recipe one year ago TODAY!), and eaten and eaten to my heart’s content. These are the Sungold cherry variety from our rather prolific vines. I sliced them, sprayed them with olive oil (using our refillable pump – love this gadget), followed by a sprinkle of salt, and two hours at 200 degrees in the oven. With my instructions, because I didn’t want to stop watching the news and get off the couch (sometimes I refuse to budge), the hubster made this pasta dish. Easy, delicious. Why don’t you try it? This serves two and is yummy!

Pasta (we used brown rice fettuccine, as we avoid wheat when we can)

1 handful pine nuts

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

3-4 fresh sage leaves, sliced fine, as in a chiffonade

1 handful raisins

1 large handful of sun or oven dried tomatoes

salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, to taste

While your pasta is cooking, toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet until light brown, shaking the pan to evenly brown. Set aside. Add butter and olive oil to pan, bring to a slow bubble, add the sage and raisins, cooking until the raisins puff a little, add the tomatoes and gently stir, just until warmed through. Once your pasta is finished, toss everything together. Season with salt, fresh ground pepper, and red pepper flakes.

If you have some green tomatoes left in the garden, fry them up! We sliced ours to about 1/4″, dipped them in Ener-G egg replacer (regular egg will do), dredged them in brown rice flour (more crunch, but wheat will do), corn meal, salt, and pepper, and fried in enough sunflower oil to cover the bottom of the skillet. Fry until golden on each side and voila, yummy (I can’t find the photo, sorry).

What a day! Enjoy yours.

Tags: Cooking and Baking, Decorating