“I LOVE my life!”  We are sailing as we throw our arms up in the air and, like wild women high on life, we scream out loud in unison, “I LOVE MY LIFE!” It is our affirmation. It is our mantra.  It is our ritual. And I laugh as the wind off Elliott Bay whips my hair into Medusa-like waves of unruliness. My Spiritual Women’s Group feeds my soul and reminds me to un-tame myself.

And the sailing trip is a punctuation mark to the waning days of summer.

My artist friend Beth gave me the biggest compliment on my sunset sailing photo below when she asked me if she could have permission to paint this photo!  YES!

What a summer it has been! It’s been a summer filled with teaching, plus getting our ocean home ready and vacated for the buyers’ original closing date, which was supposed to be August 23, and then extending the closing date (due to unforeseen circumstances on the buyers’ end) and sitting in limbo while waiting for the new closing date to arrive. My husband and I have been busily merging two households into one modest condo space in the city, picking and choosing, sorting through and sorting out, sifting, lightening the load, getting rid of THINGS, giving to charity, reliving the last twenty years with bitter-sweet emotions… and excitedly entering a new chapter of our lives. My emotions are a hodgepodge of various colors smeared into a bright rainbow.  It’s all so overwhelming and wonderful!

Time has flown by.

We had our last Yoga in the Park on Tuesday. Yoga in the Park 2019 was incredible. There are many people whom I only see during these outdoor summer yoga classes.  I started teaching the park classes some 20+ years ago and the tradition will continue next year.

I feel a grand wallop of GRATITUDE to the following musicians who graced our sessions with beautiful music: Borys Kossakowski (a man who plays many instruments, including guitar, saxophone, and clarinet), Andrea Carino (flute), and Glenn Frank (guitar) + Liz Talley (cello).

And thank you to Tina Koyama for sketching us! I hope you will all come again next year!

On the last outdoor yoga session of the year last Tuesday, we had a Yoga Potluck, a picnic table laden with tasty wholesome food, including summer seasonal fruit, Borys’ homemade bread, and Larry’s cherry pies and ice cream. Everything was so delicious.

Thank you Mother Nature for the rain (even though we had to cancel some classes early on) and for the sunny days, for the green trees and the big blue skies, and the smoke-free air this year. And even though I suffered a bee sting on the first day of Yoga in the Park, I want to thank the bees and their love of clover and for being essential pollinators. Thank you Mother Nature for the simple breeze and the color green and for providing the perfect shady and sun-filled setting for Yoga in the Park. Thank you to those of you who brought your lovely children.  The children added to the richness of Yoga in the Park. And thank you Annie and Brenda for bringing your furry yogis, Murphy and Pete. They are the true masters of Downward Facing Dog, Upward Facing Dog, and Shavasana!

On the last day, I asked one of the children, attending with his mother and sister, if he would like to show Fish Pose to the group because his fish was truly inspirational.  He confidently and happily walked to the center of our yoga circle and instantly transformed himself from Boy to Fish Yogi.  Here is what his mother wrote me later:

I LOVE Yoga in the Park and it was really special to get to share it with my children this year. They both really loved it and I really appreciate you acknowledging Ruya – he was very excited and I think it built his love for and confidence with yoga. We will definitely see you at Yoga in the Park next year!

Also I wanted to share with you that I’ve had a wonderful summer (a month in Japan, time with family, camping, etc.) but my favorite experience I’ve had all summer was the first Yoga in the Park session I attended (with Sana). There was a long moment when I felt total presence, bliss, and gratitude looking up at the beautiful leaves blowing in the wind (my favorite phrase: “wind bath”) with the blue sky as background. Thank you so much for creating such an amazing experience and space for everyone. – Nami

YOGA IN THE PARK NEXT YEAR If you live in or near Seattle and didn’t get a chance to join us this year, there is always next year! In 2020, I will be adding another day to the Yoga in the Park all levels Hatha Yoga Classes because I truly love these classes. In fact, I feel sad that it is over. Here’s the outdoor park yoga class schedule for next year:

Tuesdays 6-7pm Meridian Park (same place as the last 20 plus years!) June 16-August 25, 2020, 11 sessions

Wednesdays 6-7pm Green Lake (NEW!! Will be near the Bathhouse Theater ..there is parking near the Bathhouse, too..there’s shade and sun, flat grassy areas, and no duck droppings at the spot I staked out). June 17 – August 26, 2020, 11 sessions

Go ahead and mark your 2020 calendars!  I will add it to my on line Google Calendar soon. And yes, we always end the last session of the season with a potluck!

Teaching SCHEDULE:
I’m leaving for Sicily on Sunday, September 1st, where I am leading two yoga retreats (!!) When I return, I will be teaching my regular classes in Seattle. I will be adding a Wednesday 4pm Gentle Hatha Yoga class at OmCulture Green Lake the first Wednesday of October. I resume teaching Monday, September 23, 2019.

Mondays
7-8am St Joseph in Capitol Hill (class is full)
10:30-11:30am Seattle Athletic Club (membership based)
1-2pm Seattle Athletic Club (private instruction)
4-5:15pm OmCulture Green Lake (drop ins welcome) Gentle Hatha Yoga
5:45-7pm OmCulture Green Lake (drop ins welcome) All Levels Hatha Yoga

Tuesdays
7:45-9pm Teaching a group at a Private Residence in Belltown
10:30-11:30 Seattle Athletic Club
4pm-7pm Adaptive Yoga Therapy for the Special Needs Child in Magnolia

Wednesdays
7-8am St Joseph in Capitol Hill
10:30-11:30am Seattle Athletic Club
4-5:15pm OmCulture Green Lake (drop ins welcome) Gentle Hatha Yoga (this new class begins October 2, 2019.)

Thursdays
7:45-9pm Teaching a group at a Private Residence in Belltown
10:30-11:30 Seattle Athletic Club
4pm-7pm Adaptive Yoga Therapy for the Special Needs Child in Magnolia

Stay tuned for my blog posts from Sicily and enjoy the last days of summer!