Good night

It's completely dark out.  Pitch black.  A cold spell will be at our door by morning's break, maybe bringing with it a dusting of snow.  But tonight, thanks to a warm fire, (lovingly started this afternoon by Farmer J to keep his family warm while he is away...and selfishly tended to by this ever cold woman) our upstairs bedrooms are as warm as a late July afternoon, minus the humidity. 

The early, India ink colored sky, lures my children into an almost willingness to succumb to slumber.  Tonight, Pickle acknowledged he was ready for bed and JJ's (ever-present) energy surrendered to the darkness.  Children asleep by their bedtime... I'm thankful for the shorter days and longer nights.

Typically, the dark nights bring me into my bed at almost the same time as the children go into their beds.  But lately, I've been feeling the need for movement before rest.  Maybe it's my new job? A position that requires more of my time spent with my bottom on a chair or the seat of a car.  Maybe it's the caffeinated soda I've been drinking at lunch.

So with the children's gentle deep breathing softly flowing out of their bedroom and into the hallway, I return to my yoga mat.  Tonight, I'm not in the mood for sweating, shaking muscles or "core" strengthening but more of a gentle, slow and meditative class.  Farmer J would tell you that my yoga mood tonight was way out of the ordinary.  Typically, I go for the burn first and the nirvana last (or not at all.) I think I was just feeling tired and needed to surrender to what my body was craving.  One blessing of getting older, you start to actually listen to your body instead of ignoring what she is trying to tell you!

We moved to the farm for a slower, more simple life.  Yoga, as a form of physical exercise, has helped me stay in tune with what we were initially longing for... more peace and more quiet.  After years of living in this house, I prefer to work out on a tiny mat, in a tiny hallway, in a very old log home over exercising in a large, warehouse style room filled with flat screen TVs, florescent lights, bright colors and strangers.  I could do without the ladybugs dive bombing me while laying on my mat but the sound of the tiny beetles flinging their hard shells on the glass light above me has become part of my yoga soundtrack. 

Below you will find a link to the yoga class I did tonight (and the "Do Yoga With Me" website that I adore!)  Even if you have never done yoga or haven't done yoga for a long time, you will appreciate this gentle and loving class.  No yoga mat necessary, just find a nice piece of carpet or area rug.

http://www.doyogawithme.com/content/love-yourself

Time for me to go.  Farmer J just came home.  After he tends to the fire, he'll come upstairs to check on his "favorites" and he'll prefer to see my face on my pillow and not me hidden behind my extremely large laptop! 

Good night and stay warm!