Simple Joys of the Week, August 2nd Edition

What a wonderful week. 

I spent approximately 9 hours teaching Level 1 Teacher Training at Tranquil Space and it was simply amazing. I always have SO much fun teaching teachers, because they're just so darn passionate about yoga and they want to know as much as possible; I think that's the best type of student to teach--the ones who are super excited about learning--so it's always a very rewarding experience. 

Anyhoopers, I'm really looking forward to this weekend, but before I jump ahead and start getting excited about what I have planned, I want to pause and reflect on my simple, sensory joys of the week. 

What made you smile over the past 7 days? Here's what brought me happiness...

HEAR: "The Lime Tree" by Trevor Hall
Okay, whoever listed this song as their favorite yoga song on my 2013 Reader Survey is my new hero. This song = perfection (you can listen below). I don't even know what else to say about it. I can't stop listening to it and when I'm not listening to it, it's in my head. I've added it to my new August playlist and am so excited to hear it in class when I teach today. Thank you, musical genius who shared this with me, wherever you are! 

*Btw, my August playlist is FULL of recommendations from YOU from the survey. Thank you all, again, for sharing your music loves with me! I'm really excited about this month's playlist :)

SEE: Teacher Trainees "Final Teaching"
I was crazy impressed by our teacher trainees yesterday. It was so incredible to watch the group's journey, over just 4 days: On Monday they were quiet, unsure, and nervous; Yesterday, they were new yoga teachers. It's inspiring. Every time that I teach any level of Teacher Training I am moved by the journey that these individuals are beginning, and am also reminded of the journey that I'm on and all of the work that it took to get here. When this happens, I'm flooded with gratitude for the direction that my life has taken thus far. I just feel super lucky to get to teach yoga as my "job!"

TASTE: Homemade macaroons and the delicious spread at the TS Teacher Tea
Please just look at the spread in the image above. Can you believe it? Kimberly Wilson sure knows how to throw a tea party! Last Friday at her place I enjoyed cucumber tea sandwiches (made with gluten-free bread), gluten-free homemade scones, homemade macaroons (she enlisted help from a teacher who is an amazing baker), and more. It was delicious. And then I went out for a late dinner with friends afterward. I *think* I may have overindulged a bit that night, but it was very enjoyable ;)

SMELL: Fresh Morning Air
It's been a whole lot cooler here over the past week or so, so upon waking at 6am each morning, I've been heading out onto the balcony with my tea and laptop and writing outside. It's felt so amazing to start the day this way, and I haven't been going inside until the sun is beating down on me and I can no longer see my laptop screen (usually around 8am or so).  There's just something about the world, the air, the silence, and the stillness at this time in the morning that makes me really happy. 

TOUCH: Wedding Logo Sketches
I did two "Wedding Logos" for couples this week, and it was SO much fun! Both found me through Etsy, which is just fab, and both were really great to work with. I love receiving photos of the engaged couples (always so cute!), and then working with them to create a personalized "logo" that they love. Plus, there's something really meditative and wonderful about doing pen and ink drawings. Again, so grateful that I have more time to spend doing projects like these right now!

I hope that you, too, enjoyed a week FULL of simple, sensory joys. Take some time to pause and reflect today, if you can...

Other enjoyable moments for me? Dinner + board games games with friends on Saturday night, lotsa yoga, long walks outside, seeing a Fringe Festival play + enjoying dinner with some TS peeps, painting, and taking long Epsom Salt baths. What a wonderfully full week.

Here's to a weekend of laughter, relaxation, asana, and creativity!