Yoga Mat Carrier

This is what I made...

out of this!

First I hemmed the upper edge and sewed some thin black and white trim around it. Then I  wrote "Namaste" on the side and stenciled a hummingbird below it using textile paint.  Next I added beads to the bottom tie string (which was already conveniently placed for gathering at the bottom of the pant leg) and sewed a vintage button onto the pocket.  I stenciled a flower below that and then added decorative stitching with embroidery floss down the sides and around the pockets.

I had a strap from a discarded gym bag that I hooked onto a ring that was already on the pants and then sewed some pink and black trim to it and attached the other end to the top of the bag.  I also added a yin yang charm glued to a key which reminds me of my greatest challenge in yoga and in life:  BALANCE.

Let me know if you would like to order your very own yoga mat carrier made from the remaining pant leg by leaving a message in the box located in the right column of this blog post.  You choose your own colors and decorations and I will make it for you!

NAMASTE

Do Cape May Yoga!

A wonderful little yoga studio opened this month on the second floor of the Magic Brain Cafe on Perry Street in Cape May.  I am in heaven.  I can roll right out of yoga into a delicious cup of coffee and begin my day with my two favorite things in the whole world!  Thanks go to Stephen Gatier for including yoga at his superb cafe and to Lia Antonicello, Kelsy Wise and Brian Lee for their outstanding daily classes.

Here I am on my way up to class wearing my favorite yoga outfit.  The leggings are from Blue Sky and are made with a divine cotton/lycra blend that is soft and loose but doesn't look too baggy.  

The skirt is a piece of art in itself.  It is made by Zand of Amsterdam.  It wraps around with as many snaps as you need for a perfect fit and has this nifty little pouch that hooks right onto the skirt.  The colors of both pieces are so bright and happy that they make me smile just to put them on. 

Lia painted this lovely mural that meets you on your way up the stairs and invites you to try out your own upward dog!

Getting ready for class...

stretching...

flexing...

and finding my

downward dog for the day.

Greeting Lia...

and now I am ready to begin.

There Was A Bear In My Yoga Class

There was a bear in my yoga class.
I wasn't prepared.
Don't run
He will come after you.
Stare, make noise, seem threatening.

But I was in yoga class.

He was breathing so loudly.
I couldn't focus, let go, 
Get into my yoga head.
What could I do?

I was in yoga class.

Maybe this:
Breathe with the bear.
But he was so 
Loud
And I was so 
Soft. 

Maybe this:
Become the baby bear
Let him be the daddy bear.

I tried
And I tried.
It felt weird to be a baby bear.
But soon 
We were in synch.
Loud and long and deep.
Maybe for the first time
I was learning how to breathe.

I thanked him
And we took a big bear breath
Together.