BarefootAndUpsideDown

carolyn aka LaughingYogini | December 24, 2008

Village Christmas
Driving into Fredonia from the dark
fields and vineyards outside
of my somnambulistic village,
the white lights wink alive and awake on Sycamore trees
while the old fashioned buildings
welcome the stranger that I am tonight.

I see this place as if for the first time, now.
My travels in cities blazing and dark
are over. There’s a welcome in these [...]

Category: Poetry | 3 Comments »
Tags: carolyn grady, Christmas Eve, Fredonia NY, poem, sestina

carolyn aka LaughingYogini | December 23, 2008

How much happiness can a human heart can hold? I feel as if I may break into pieces if any more love comes my way. . . . if one more good thing happens. . . yesterday was my birthday. . . I was able to celebrate with all three kids, one son’s girlfriend, [...]

Category: Life | 2 Comments »
Tags: awakening, birthday, breathing, dissatisfaction, hip tranquil chick, martha graham, practice, restlessness, savasana

carolyn aka LaughingYogini | December 21, 2008

What dies it mean to be embodied? . . . . to inhabit this pound* of flesh?
In the Eucharist Christ gives us His very Body, “Take, eat, and drink . . . .” It is a sacrament reenacted in every Catholic Mass. The Faithful take the Body of Christ into their own.
In yoga, which [...]

Category: Life, Meditation, Writing | 2 Comments »
Tags: embodiment, enlightenment, journal exercise, Meditation, practice, yoga teacher

carolyn aka LaughingYogini | December 18, 2008

As the days pass one after another and we tumble towards the holidays with all of the attendant socializing, as we are pulled from our routine and from our meditation and yogic practices, as we get swept up in holiday traditions that don’t suit our present lifestyle or values, it’s worthwhile to take a break [...]

Category: Compassion, Life, Meditation, happiness | 2 Comments »
Tags: blessings, Brother Steindl-Rast, gifts, Gratitude, holidays, Journal writing, lovingkindness, Meditation, pema chodron, sharon salzburg, tonglen

carolyn aka LaughingYogini | December 15, 2008

A Yogini’s Recipes for Happiness

This stir-fry is a delicious and nutritious meal that easily serves 4. It’s a staple of our house.

INGREDIENTS
1 lb. Firm Tofu, drained and cut into 1″ cubes
1 bunch broccoli or 3 broccoli crowns cut into bite-size pieces
1 onion chopped
3-4 cloves garlic finely chopped
1 red bell pepper chopped
12 oz. mushrooms sliced
1/2 [...]

Category: Recipes | 3 Comments »
Tags: broccoli, cashews, green beans, main dish, mushrooms, stir fry, tofu, vegan, vegetarian

carolyn aka LaughingYogini | December 11, 2008

Day after day, month after month, year after year, practice can grow stale and arrogant if I don’t re-invigorate mind and body in what zen master, Suzuki Roshi refers to as Beginner’s Mind. In yoga asana practice I need to remind myself to approach the physical aspect of any pose with “Beginner’s Body.”
If I return [...]

Category: Meditation, asana, yoga | 4 Comments »
Tags: balance, Beginner's Mind, Dancer pose, Dariel Woltz, Eagle Pose, Focus, Half-Moon Pose, One-legged poses, revolved hasta padanghustasana, Standing Big Toe Pose, Standing splits, Suzuki Roshi, Tree pose, ujjayi breath, Warrior 3, Zen Mind

carolyn aka LaughingYogini | December 5, 2008

Bird Watching

The red-breasted nuthatch
persistently flies
to the feeder
then dips returning
to the broad boughs of pine

Snow falls on top of old snow
All of it silent
and cold-turning-wet

Upside-down
the sleek nuthatch spirals
around a tree trunk
foraging for insects

Snow drifts on snow
The bird searches for food
and the world spins and spins
and spins

Category: Life, Meditation, Poetry | 4 Comments »
Tags: bird watching, poem, silence, Snow, zen

carolyn aka LaughingYogini | December 2, 2008

One of the high points of visiting Dave & family for Thanksgiving holiday was checking out long-time family friend, Edwin Woods’ Friday morning Kundalini class at Spring of Happiness in Manlius NY. Greeted by teacher, Theone Wilkinis in her studio, I immediately relaxed and found “my space” on a blue mat in the corner. [...]

Category: asana, breathwork, yoga | 2 Comments »
Tags: Alyssa, Breath of Fire, Gurmukh, Kundalini yoga, Manlius NY, Mind Body Soul Yoga, Spring of Happiness, Theone Wilkinis