This blog post brings you wishes for a Happy New Year filled with joy, peace, love, the best of health, and much success in all your endeavors.

What a year this has been! I feel fortunate to have time to reflect on this past year. I take this time to thank you for being a part of my readership, for your presence in my life, and for being on the yoga journey with me.  In this blog, I am posting my favorite photos from each month of 2022.

January 9, 2022 Temperatures in Seattle dipped below freezing and parts of Green Lake were frozen solid. I marveled at the skating ducks, who appeared to be walking on water.

January 14, 2022  A sunrise like no other I have ever seen before! It was a Friday, my day off.  I woke up early, went to my yoga studio to do a workout before sunrise. As I was working out, I noticed the sky was purple and deep pink, so I rushed across the street to Green Lake and below is what I saw. The sky kept changing, a series of unrepeatable moments in time.

Same morning:

 

February 16, 2022 I hosted two yoga retreats back-to-back in lush, tropical Costa Rica. The best part of Costa Rica? …the yogis on the retreat, working and collaborating with my friend and fitness coach, Laurie Leonetti, being at our perfect retreat venue in Uvita, and the concept of Pura Vida, the “Pure Life” philosophy of Costa Rica, a country said to be the “happiest country” in the world.

March 12, 2022 Rick and I took a trip to Granville, Ohio to visit our family: John, Jenna, June, and Jade. I basked in family love and warmth, and in the wonder of being with children, who see the world through fresh, innocent eyes. It was super hard to chose just one photo, but this one is my favorite.  Here is Uncle Ricky reading to our grandnieces.

April 6, 2022 I made a small memorial altar for my sister, Toni, and burnt a candle all day in honor of the one year anniversary of losing her to Covid. Over the course of the day, friends and students brought flowers, more candles, and cards. I couldn’t believe the swift passage of time, but I felt, with relief, that I had survived a whole year without her physical presence. I was reminded of the deep support of my loving family and community of friends and students, who held me up when I felt I would crumble. A shattered heart does mend and those who leave us physically live on in our hearts. Toni taught us about kindness and courage. Her life makes us think about the true meaning of legacy.  What intangible gifts will we leave behind when our time comes to say goodbye?

April 14, 2022  Also in April, the Adaptive Yoga Therapy yogis started coming to my Green Lake  yoga studio! The first time Jonah came to the studio, he laughed nearly the whole 30 minutes! He was thrilled to be coming to a yoga studio for his yoga sessions.  Both Jonah and Maggie benefit from Adaptive Yoga Therapy in many ways, but also in different ways since they are different people with varying needs. I can say that they leave the studio feeling accomplished and satisfied.  Adaptive Yoga Therapy helps Maggie with her balance, organizational skills, focusing skills, and we have fun. Adaptive Yoga Therapy helps Jonah by stretching his tight legs, hips, and back. He feels more comfortable in his body. Stretching relaxes both Jonah and Maggie. Plus they get a huge dose of love from me. In the photos below, Maggie rolls her mat at the end of her yoga session (this is an important skill requiring a lot of focus) and Jonah gets a great spinal stretch!

May 14, 2022 Rick and I went on a nice day trip to see Woody and Ginger in Eastern Washington. The meadow and pine forest was filled with wildflowers. Balsam Root flowers were in full bloom as you can see from the photo below. The other flower is a wild rose with dew on it (rose photo taken on Whidbey Island). And yes, the wild roses are very fragrant.

June 16, 2022 Barbara and Denise joined me on a visit to see Anne Tiber (also known as “Los Osos Anne” or “Anegrey”, which sounds like Annie Grey) in the Morro Bay area of California. Anne was my father-in-law’s companion for the last five years of his life. She is a mother-figure for me. I admire and love her so much.  Barbara and Denise fell in love with her, too. Anne is very charming, engaging, and easy to love.

July 16, 2022 I held an outdoor home-style yoga day retreat in Lakemont, Washington (near Bellevue). We had our fingers crossed that summer really would be in full swing by July and it was! A lovely group of yogis gathered for a day of yoga. We enjoyed a Malaysian-style lunch, and a hike on the nearby trails (the house is surrounded by forest). It was an unforgettable experience.

August, 2022 August brings us this gorgeous yellow rose from Janet’s garden in Anacortes, Washington. On this same day, I went on a day hike with Don and Simone. Don is photographed below with Annie, who is aging and now needs to be carried on hikes.  I also held another yoga day retreat. This one was on Vashon at the Mukai Farm & Garden. A wonderful group of yogis gathered and the retreat was held entirely outdoors. We enjoyed a homemade lunch lovingly made by organic farmer, Karen Biondo of Vashon Island. We also enjoyed a tea ceremony with tea master, Kyoko Matsuda. Once again, we were blessed with perfect weather.

August 14, 2022 Vashon Yoga Day Retreat, Mukai Farm & Garden (the ice-breaker in full swing before the yoga session begins)

August, 2022 A healthy hydrangea from Simone’s garden. Over the years, I have been inspired to photograph many of her flowers. She definitely has a green thumb and her garden is delightful.

August 24, 2022 Rick and I spent a weekend in Mazama with Kathryn, Ben, and their kitties. I have many photos from our weekend visit in the Cascade Mountains, but this one really captured the scene. Best dinner setting ever.

September 2022 Iceland! If you are a photographer, then you need to spend some time in Iceland and capture this otherworldly landscape.  In September, I was in Iceland, where I led a yoga retreat. It is so hard to choose only two photos, but here they are: the Northern Lights  (Note: Photo taken by Hana) and a photo of my boots, cleats and all, standing on Iceland’s largest glacier, Langjökull.  It looks like I am levitating.

October 2022 Autumn at Green Lake (Seattle). I love my neighborhood.  So happy to live and work here.

November 2022 Thanksgiving and birthday travels to NYC  (photo below of me sitting on Hans Christian Andersen’s lap in Central Park, photo taken by Marilyn). Onward to Salisbury, Maryland to see Zina and family for Thanksgiving, our birthdays (Zina’s and my birthday are four years and three days apart), and a quick stop-over in Alexandria, Virginia to visit Tom and Ursula.

December 2022 Finally! The in-studio yoga classes are starting to draw more in-studio yogis. Yay! It is a great big joy to own a studio and to offer both in-studio and online (Zoom and Facebook Livestream) yoga classes. Dare I say I am feeling like I can lift my feet over the emotional wreckage of the pandemic and bravely walk forward? We, dear readers, are survivors. What have we learned? What wisdom shall we carry?

Photo below from one of my Get Fit Yogis classes. Get Fit Yogis is offered four times weekly as an in-studio only drop-in class. This 75-minute class is a combination of Hatha yoga (30 minutes) + weights and core work  (30 minutes) + relaxation (15 minutes).

December 2022  Still a few more days to enjoy here in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. This has been a perfect time to reset, relax, rest, and rejuvenate.

 

Please let me know which photo/s are your favorite in the comments below!

Namaste, Fran