spoiled rotten

someone the other day lovingly reminded me that i am a spoiled little girl. luckily, i agreed wholeheartedly with that comment, which was nice to ward off any offense i may have felt

for my birthday month, i have indeed, been spoiled rotten. let me share just a little bit with you. by the way, being 30 RULES so far!!

the festivities began here. this beautiful cabin at hobble creek canyon was used my b-day weekend with the intent to be the place for a “healing retreat” to occur. my dear friend terri knew what my heart needed for the weekend and created a beautiful space physically and emotionally for this to happen.

this photo was taken in the morning, reflecting the beauty of the earth from the front of the cabin.

the was the view of one of my “solo” retreat areas.  this provided me the space to be alone in nature, write, ponder, sing, rest, and rejuvenate.

maria came to join me for a moment at the end of our solo time.

here is the glorious view on the way back from the cabin.

as part of the healing theme, i was given the opportunity to do some “art therapy” including making clay creations and a collage.

the girls didn’t think my day would be complete without a pretty pink birthday hat, birthday cake, and “pin-the-sticker-on-the-princess” game. how DID they know i love princesses and pink??

i don’t have a photo for evidence of this one, but i also received the gift of a Thai Yoga Massage.  WOW. is pretty much all i can say about that experience. but i’ll try to say more.  this type of massage is an ancient art of healing yoga that was practiced in sacred settings in Thailand that is now recently used in the western world. the giver takes the receiver (in this case, spoiled me) through a series of stretches, twists, breathing,  combined with energy work, acu-pressure, and palming massage strokes.  this experience was incredibly moving to say the least. thank you terri! and thank you to maria and shaina for that magnificent day!

the last night at the cabin we were blessed to have a beautiful full moon.  i was able to have another solo experience outside under this moon and the stars.  as i cried tears of gratitude for the weekend, and tears of nostalgia and sadness for the end of this decade, i expressed these feelings to the moon.  she and i had a little “heart to heart” conversation (no, i’m not clinically psychotic, and i wasn’t on drugs), which resulted in a new song. thank you ms moon!! here it is, for those who would like to hear:

30 moon 

the next prize for this spoiled little girl included a surprise YOGA RETREAT as a gift from my loving and WAY too generous family. i almost peed my pants when i read my top secret email from them NOT to be opened until my birthday day (felicity gave very strict instructions…). they were intuitive to my heart’s needs, and continued the healing theme from the weekend before. i have too much to say about this retreat, and many of you have probably stopped reading by now, so i won’t say much. what i will say is that i learned so much during that time about not only yoga, but about myself personally and professionally, and was provided insight and clarity on some exciting directions to move in my life. THANK YOU MY DEAR FAMILY!!

so these next few photos can’t even begin to accurately depict the gloriousness of the little cottonwood canyon, home of the yoga retreat.  i took SO many pictures…i will have to do another post one day to give you some more. it was SOOOO gorgeous!!

and this is the view from my room. ummm…..seriously?? i was pretty sure i had died and been welcomed to heaven.

it’s yoga time:

flying has never been more fun!

partner assisted sitting buddha…

we attempted this train and fell ridiculous amounts of time.  i didn’t know yoga could be competitive, but the folks on the opposite side of the room beamed with glee after they all succeeded, watching us fall over and over and over…

…right after we crashed…again.

some crane action

just about in the headstand

warrior 1

this was an absolute treat: for final relaxation (savasana/corpse pose), Leraine Horstmanshoff (an incredibly talented musician) played her didgeridoo to help balance our root chakras.

and the happy yogis…

for the last evening we were blessed to be part of a Kirtan (call and response devotional chanting) led by Leraine. she played the didgeridoo, guitar, banjo, and flute.

ahhh….by this time in the retreat i didn’t wonder anymore–i KNEW that i must have died and gone to heaven

for our final morning we woke up early for a sunrise sit and meditation. the snow was gently falling all night and created a beautiful white blanket over the earth.

my final picture as i descended out of the canyon and away from the retreat.  this experience will forever remain in my soul.

nAMASTE