As I mentioned in class this morning, this week got away from me in terms of a new blog post. I have some excuses.
My friend Dorothy and her family are in town from Utah for the week; my family knows that when that happens the place to find me is Matunuck or wherever they are. When they travel all the way from the other side of the country, and are anxious to see their family and friends, I attach myself to them, and go with the flow. I do believe that her relatives, in particular her brother Tom and his wife Susan, feel that when the two of us are together it is déjà vu, not much has changed since the late 70’s when we were in high school and were on the phone (stretching the phone cord to get privacy), at each other’s houses, or somewhere we should not be, together, at age 16…. The other great thing that is happening this week is my son Sam’s birthday. My first born, 5 weeks early, has grown up to be a kind and thoughtful young man with a social conscience I can only aspire to. He will also look forward to spending time with Dot’s family, my two sons and Dot’s son and two daughters have spent much time together; Abi and Sam are only four months apart; Happy Birthday, Sam, Dad and I are so very proud of you.
So this weekend I am focusing our practice on the joys of summer, and in particular, the beach. Here are a couple of photos of Sam from his 8th birthday and a recent one! How the time flies.
Our Practice – Summer Poses
This week, in celebration of summer, we will wave through down dog and plank, channeling the ebb and flow of the sea; practice dolphin poses and then bring our hands behind our heads like a shark fin in child’s pose for a lovely shoulder stretch!
Our Practice-Meditation on Summer
I came across this poem invoking memories of summer called Long Island Sound by Emma Lazarus, I like to think of it as South County Summer.
I see it as it looked one afternoon
In August,—by a fresh soft breeze o'erblown.
The swiftness of the tide, the light thereon,
A far-off sail, white as a crescent moon.
The shining waters with pale currents strewn,
The quiet fishing-smacks, the Eastern cove,
The semi-circle of its dark, green grove.
The luminous grasses, and the merry sun
In the grave sky; the sparkle far and wide,
Laughter of unseen children, cheerful chirp
Of crickets, and low lisp of rippling tide,
Light summer clouds fantastical as sleep
Changing unnoted while I gazed thereon.
All these fair sounds and sights I made my own.
I repeat this quote every summer. I absolutely love it and it is from one of my favorite books, The Great Gatsby, one that I enjoyed rereading with both Sam and Luke when they read it for school.
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Nurturing With Food – Cook Outs!
No new recipe this week. I have been cooking a lot, however, and have been making and remaking my berry pies (like the strawberry rhubarb, less sugar to taste, 7 cups total berries) over the past couple of weeks along with the Tomato Watermelon Salad. I attach those links below:
Happy Summer, see you on the mat!
Namaste,
Julia Anne
Enjoy Julia Anne!!!