these happy days

In my last semester at UMass, I've begun to realize the weight of this being the end of my undergraduate career. Being in college is a great and unique time; we're allowed to run all over the place like children, hanging out with our friends all the time while occasionally doing homework (sometimes homework time > friend time...but only until you're done with the exam/paper). Lately, I've been taking a little bit of a different approach, as my 20 credits take up a lot of my time. As I continue to flow into my second month of my last semester of undergrad, I'm realizing the absolutely amazing resources that are available to me (and perhaps you) at UMass as a student and in the Pioneer Valley. Like...

1. There are lectures by esteemed intellectuals within the five college system going on ALL THE TIME. I can only speak for UMass, but I know that I've been filling up spare hours with talks by interesting people who have something important to say all over campus. Lately, I've been able to attend FREE talks by Noam Chomsky, Alex Morse (the 23 year old mayor of Holyoke), Madeleine Kunin (Vermont's first female governor), and I've got plenty more lined up. How do you find good talks that you might be interested in? Keep your eyes peeled. Message boards are all over campus, and though they look littered, some have some pretty cool messages to share. Also, check out the Five Colleges Event Calendar.

2. There's so much great yoga here! From the free stuff (for students) at the Rec Center, where I teach, to Northampton yoga studios like Karuna and Shiva Shakti, you can learn a lot about your body and the way it can move by people who know what they're talking about.

3. The great outdoors. Um, hello, have you seen the trees lately? I won't lie, I squeal in excitement a little bit when I see great patches of fiery tree goodness (especially on solo roadtrips). The colors that appear in the fall are so beautiful they make my jaw drop on the ground (I'm a huge fan of tie dye). Next time you see a bright red tree, pull off a leaf and look at it! Marvel at its beauty.

 ...While you're in the outdoors, go on a hike (Mount Holyoke Range, anyone?). Or check out the Leverett Peace Pagoda. Or just go walk around and explore in the woods!


4. Farms and farmer's markets galore! Gather up some friends and go get your hands dirty at a farm! We are so lucky to have so many in this area, and I bet each one of them could use your capable hands for a couple of hours. If not, go support them at a farmer's market! Butternut squash? Yummmm (stay tuned for squashy recipes and more foodie things).

5. Friend time and alone time. Friends are the best the best the best. They make you laugh (which is one of the best things you can do for your body, mind and spirit), they offer you shoulders when your'e sad and hugs when you need one, and they just all around rock. Being surrounded by good people probably is the most important thing in my life right now. I predict good people always will be of utmost importance to me, but it won't be as easy to go and knock on your friend's door later on down the road. I'm loving the roomie love.
But alone time is good too. I'm thankful for my quiet room and yoga practice, and those little encounters that happen when you're alone that wouldn't necessarily happen if you weren't.

Love the moment. Flowers grow out of dark moments. Therefore, each moment is vital. It affects the whole. Life is a succession of such moments and to live each, is to succeed.  

-Corita Kent

rainy spontaneity

my friend hannah cohen is a wonderfully talented photographer and just a gem of a human being. i came across this photo in one of her albums recently about strangers and was inspired to put it up here. she writes:

this couple had been enjoying a coffee outside in Amherst when a major rainstorm hit. i expected them both to flee but instead this happened.
 

ain't love beautiful?

grateful sundays

my birthday's tomorrow. i feel a little older than a lot of my peers (i've always been old for my grade and now i'm graduating a semester late), making me 23 in a sea of 21 and 22 year olds. not that i'm complaining and not that it makes much of a difference; i'm a firm believer that age ain't nothin' but a number. but in light of the changing season and approaching the anniversary of my birth, i've been thinking a lot about what it means to be getting older.

it seems that many people avoid or look down on the topic of getting older, groaning after we hit that ripe old age of 21. but in my experience, entering my 23rd year of life, it just keeps getting better. each year up to now, i've been able to meet new people, live in new places, and learn new things.

granted, i'm coming from a privileged place. i'm going to college and my responsibilities are fairly limited (maybe that's why i'm feeling this happy freedom). but i think it's all about how you look at it, too. everyone can look forward to the future if they put your mind in the right place. it helps to start with gratitude. we've all got lots of great things to be grateful for; can you think of something?


things i'm grateful for today:
1. combination of simon and garfunkel and coffee
2. friendly people
3. fresh cut flowers
4. new beginnings

openness

"I do not accept any absolute formulas for living. No preconceived code can see ahead to everything that can happen in a man's life. As we live, we grow and our beliefs change. They must change. So I think we should live with this constant discovery. We should be open to this adventure in heightened awareness of living. We should stake our whole existence on our willingness to explore and experience."

 -Martin Buber

As I begin to embark on my last semester at UMass Amherst and approach the "real world" after, I am constantly feeling waves of intense uncertainty. I'm almost 23 and I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up. I've got lots of ideas, but no definites (other than travel). While this can be freeing, it can also be intimidating. How are we supposed to choose the path for the rest of our lives at such a young age? The idea of choosing one seems to suffocate me.

When I get too anxious about the situation, I find comfort in talking with lots of people about this, and it seems that most people don't know what they want to do when they grow up, regardless of if they're 19 or 91. It makes me think about this flexible, fluid thing called life. If we're lucky, we could have 100 years on this planet--that's a long time! Why restrict oneself to a single job for a whole lifetime when there are so many options and years out there?

It's pointless to worry about what will happen ten years from now. The weight can feel crushing, but there is nothing we can do about the future except positively be here now. You might not be in the job or location you dreamed, but only you have the power to change those things. Make the best of your now, and if it isn't the best now you could be having, change it. Look for avenues. If you're open to it, you never know who you might run into, what subject might steal your heart, and what opportunities might just land in your lap. Life is a pretty crazy thing. You don't have to know exactly what you want to do, but if you don't, be open to the fluid changes of life and perspective. And don't forget to smile and even laugh, especially when you get too serious.

yoga homework

it's been a while! as the summer rolls to its last months (i am continually asking myself and others, where does the time go?!), i'm going to make an effort to write a little bit more in my blog. about what, you might ask, whoever you are. about those rambling thoughts, memories, travels...we'll see where it goes.

so, what brought me here, writing this entry right now, was my latest yoga practice. i love to think about one's wealth of yoga knowledge, or more broadly, any kind of knowledge or experience, as a growing and shrinking, let's say...ball. i think of the video game katamari damacy (2:30), where the goal is to go around different places and "roll up" literally anything--cows, beach umbrellas, cars-- into a big ball for points. (this is where my mind goes while i practice.) as i was thinking about this and connecting it to my yoga practice, how each class i go to, each teacher i talk to, each sequence that i design myself, is all part of this never ending and ever evolving yoga ball. from this, i began to think about how my practice has grown this summer, and just how it involves a little bit of discipline and practice (in sanskrit, yoga actually means "discipline/to yoke oneself"). contrary to popular belief, a yoga practice doesn't have to be anything special at all, and it can take many forms...not just contortionist stretching poses or heated vinyasa for an hour. working on the Cape Cod Organic Farm this summer, i am tired at the end of the day, as i'm sure most of us are. because of this, some days all my yoga practice consists of is lying on my back with my knees drawn into my chest, as i rock side to side gently with my eyes closed for a couple minutes. one of my favorite yoga teachers, Eric Burri in amherst, ma, suggests for his yoga students to do their yoga homework, which is taking 5 deep breaths in your favorite pose of the day, every day. :-)

another one of my favorites lately has been legs up the wall pose, shown below.

legs up the wall pose, (vipariti karani) is deeply restorative and helps to soothe sore backs, tired and cramped legs and feet.

Try it yourself to explore your own yoga practice! Take 5 minutes to close your eyes and scoot yourself right up to a wall. If you have tight hamstrings, back a little away from the wall, and as shown in the picture, use a pillow or blanket under your lower back. take some deep breaths and try to just let go...even if its just for 5 minutes, or 5 breaths. and most importantly, if your mind wanders, just let it be okay. let it go and just come back to it. if you really want to put yourself in a good place, let yourself smile a teeny bit--i say often to my yoga classes to "turn up the corners of your mouth".

i hope you're enjoying your summer as much as i am! will write again soon with who knows what.

goodvibes playlist

 I've been trying to change up my playlists more in my yoga classes because I think it adds new energy to classes. People are always asking about the songs I play, so I'm going to continue posting them here on my blog if ya'll want to take a looksie from time to time! I'll be posting the links to my facebook page, which is probably how you got here anyways. I hope that it helps in your own yoga practice at home or in the dorm, or maybe as you're doing your homework or just hanging out. I would love to hear any suggestions that you might have, my ears are always open for new tunes :-) I'm a big fan of spreading the wealth.
So enjoy! Have fun! Fly!

dharma talk

I've been looking more into meditation and Buddhism in the Happy Valley lately, and I've found a bunch of great resources and new friends at Hampshire College! They have daily meditation sessions and I recently learned that there are even Tibetan monks living on their campus, learning about American culture. Supah cool. Anyways, my friend Derek hosts dharma talks every Friday night, where a bunch of people sit in a circle listening to a podcast by some Buddhist thinker--it usually is about an hour long. I really enjoyed the messages of the talk this past Friday, so I'm going to share it with you.

I know it can be difficult to find a whole hour out of your time to listen to something like this, but if it interests you, I highly suggest just sitting down, closing your eyes and digesting the words. Jack Kornfield, the speaker, walks the listener through highly accessible Buddhist teachings about healing in the body, the feelings, the mind, and the soul. Listen to the talk here.

I hope you have had a relaxing and peaceful weekend! A tune to keep your head boppin' and your mouth smilin' for the week ahead: