Self-Care
Self-care is part of collective care, but only if it is in balance with active care of the collective.
This morning, before reading the news and working hard, I sat for meditation and put up lentil soup in the slow cooker.

Self-care is part of collective care, but only if it is in balance with active care of the collective.
This morning, before reading the news and working hard, I sat for meditation and put up lentil soup in the slow cooker.

I am pleased and excited to announce my first public, in person practice since the inception of the pandemic. Is it any surprise that this yoga offering is an invitation to the garden, which is a place dedicated to creating and sharing joy, learning, and nourishment throughout the community for over 50 years?
Come get out into beauty and into your own body and into the dirt on Tuesday, June 6th, from 9 am to 12 pm: at the Washington Youth Garden, on the grounds of the National Arboretum. After the welcoming yoga practice, we will all join the staff and the regular volunteers (I’m one of them), in the garden. Throughout the time, I will be available to respond to individual questions about yoga and about optimizing physical alignment/orientation to make it more sustainable to work in the garden, especially for older bodies. Here’s the link to get more details and to register: Yoga and Volunteering at the Washington Youth Garden
Think this sounds great, but you’re hoping for a different time or location, please feel free to reach out.
I love having things around the house that I have brought home from my travels. They help me imagine other times and places.
The crystal conch shell I brought home from India. The turtle with its fire opal I brought home from Mexico.

I woke up early this morning, all ready to go up to Takoma Park and teach free classes. I am fully prepared — I’ve been enjoying contemplating one of my favorite first class themes, practicing great ways to enjoy our bodies (when we’ve been on vacation), thinking of what I would get at the Co-op during the break, looking forward to chatting with the work studies, who I love.
Good thing I checked my email this morning before leaving the house and subscribe to a lot of list serves. Mid-Atlantic Yoga had an announcement from Willow Street that free class week is September 14-21. Feeling a little anxious about my mix-up I checked the Willow Street web site. Under today’s classes it says there are no regular classes today.
I could get all grumpy with myself. I made a mistake. I missed an opportunity to go out of town for the weekend (though I have a big speech on Monday, and it would behoove me to be well-rested). But I am happy to be here; I already have planned a massage, a Sunday brunch, and a potluck dinner. Now I also can spend a luxurious morning in the garden and have time to get seriously fun into baking for the potluck.
I also have a no harm done reminder that maybe I need to slow down a little. These kinds of slip ups, which are very rare for me, are definitely a sign of being over-scheduled.