* * * COLOR * * *

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< DON'T GIVE UP >

Just hung this new print up in the studio.  

I love the message and the way it is spelled out in big block letters.  I love that the artist chose red which is the color of the earth and body.   There is attention to detail that you can only see close up...the way the red on the edges of each letter gently fades out onto the paper, little splashes of red paint on the background.  Up close you get a little history of the print you don't anticipate.  

I've been thinking about this a lot lately.  As someone who has a difficult time saying no - it feels like giving up.  The artist probably put a lot of time into this print, more than it looks or feels like which is partly what makes it so pretty.  It feels clear and simple.

So when I hung it up and thought about it it just made me happy for its message as well as its image.  And I think that's what it reminds me of.  After all the hard work the image should look easy and effortless.  If you spend too much time on it you muddy it up. 

It's a good reminder for us all. 

A good reminder said in a beautiful and artistic but super simple way.  Delivered in a way we will remember it as an image as well as its meaning.

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/// Can't Get Enough of This One

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+ Show Up Everyday +

The purpose of this blog is to show up everyday.

It's not about making or not making excuses.

Or being aggressive in meeting a goal.

We are most comfortable when we have some idea of what we may be getting ourselves into.  We like predictability when we think we are going to be challenged.   

Showing up everyday is about supporting what I love most and recognizing that that takes a little work.  

It's about creating new space for beauty, appreciation and play and getting to fill that space everyday.

Show up everyday and see what happens.  Because you don't know what will and what hasn't been experienced yet you will like even more than the comfort of predictability.  It's worth the effort - I promise.

Create New Space > Show up Everyday

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The Purpose of this Blog ......

..... is to show up everyday.

Everyday to have a conversation, an exchange about what I find interesting in my life in art, yoga, in Minneapolis and in my travels.  To convey that in a conversational format where we can relate and inspire each other in our everyday lives.

But quite frankly the Oscars are on tonight and I have to get ready.

We still haven't decided if we are having pot roast or tacos.  And I'm what am I going to wear?

Even as Lincoln Daniel Day Lewis is such a hottie.  And I can't wait to hear Adele sing.

Have fun tonight, L

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Soon Enough ..

          

.. 25 more days but who's counting?

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= SET STRONG ROOTS =

Registration is now open for the 2nd of the DIGGING DEEPER ROOTS workshop series I'm teaching w the lovely Meg Abene Newlin:

“Setting Strong Roots” Exploring Mantra, Puja & Pranayama

Saturday & Sunday March 16-17 from 11:00-5:00 (w a break for lunch) $150

The Garden begins to grow. With a foundational understanding of what yoga philosophy means to us we can now start to dig a little deeper. During this weekend we will explore the rituals of mantra, puja and pranayama as means to nurture and fortify our yoga practices. As we practice we grow and with that we set strong roots as we go.

I'm really looking forward to this weekend.  Having a puja in the studio adds such a lovely element.  Understanding it's purpose and what it encompasses will give you so much more appreciation for its presence.  I'm looking forward to the conversation with anyone and everyone who's interested.

to register:

www.yogagardenmpls.com 

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FEAR > > > CURIOSITY

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^ ARM BALANCE ^

        I'm thinking Arm Balances tonight.  We had a blast with Bakhasana on Sunday night and I think we'll build on that.  It'll be fun.  You should come.

See you @ 630

www.yogagardenmpls.com 

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* MOVEMENT is Another Form of THINKING *

To talk about painting is not only difficult but perhaps pointless too. 

You can only express in words what words are capable of expressing, what language can communicate.

Painting has nothing to do with that.

That includes the typical question: "What were you thinking of?"  You can't think of anything.

Painting is another form of thinking.

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Obviously Gerhard Richter is a bad ass.

He has skill.  And vision.  He can create and manipulate images to create something so beautiful.  But he also has a belief in painting as a complete form of expression.  He gives the painting a voice as it grows and lets the process take the lead:

The paintings do what they want.  I planned something totally different.

Sometimes I think the same about yoga.  There is a lot of talk, sometimes too much.

We roll out our mats and begin to move.  The skill takes us through safely as we go.  We have an idea of what it is we want to do: stretch, get grounded, open up, feel better, etc... What we think begins to give way.  We move from our heads into the landscape of our bodies and we just go.  We move with skill.  And with vision.  An image starts to come together and we follow.

Movement is another form of thinking.

/// Getting Closer ///

Down to weeks now.  Daylight Savings is just over 2 weeks away.  I miss rain and green.

This time of year flowers are like jewels.

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+ A GARDEN is for the FUTURE +

If you don't plow the earth, it's going to get so hard nothing grows in it.  

You just plow the earth of yourself.  

You just get moving.  

And even don't ask exactly what's going to happen.  

You allow yourself to move around, and you will see the benefit.

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You just plow the earth of yourself is almost worthy of a mural all on it's own.  

Almost but we'd get a little lost and start filling blanks w jokes with out the rest of it.  Rumi had me at that line, it just fits so perfectly w our exploration of making our ideas physical, winter being the time of planting the seeds of those ideas in the earth of our bodies and such.  Obviously with out the ground of our bodies we have nothing to create a future from.  It seems so obvious yet we will spend our lives trying to remember that - our bodies are the grounds of our future.  We have to include our physical, earthy existence in our ideas and spend some time out of our heads - bring the lofty ideas of imagination - sky down to the earth you could say.  

Capacity vs Control.  It's easy to stay in the comfort of our heads, our imaginations.  It keeps us in control of what we are sure we can do with out trying and having to fail and repeat ourselves again and again and again.  But we get more capacity, create more room to grow by turning the soil over so to speak in an attempt to make something out of ourselves, our worlds.  Without space to move into nothing can grow.  And for that space we need to create more capacity.  Otherwise we become stagnant, stuck in our heads with good ideas but where nothing can really be a part of the world outside ourselves.

Om Namah Shivaya - just get moving, step into the cycle.  Plant the seed of your imagination in the earth of yourself and turn it over again and again and again until it has room to grow.

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Silent /// Listen

Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the artist but I love this image.  I think you feel it before you understand it and that's what makes it work.

See you @ 430

www.yogagardenmpls.com

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> > > INSTRUCTIONS

"Trust dreams.  Trust your heart, and trust your story."

The mind, the voice.  Thank you Lord for Neil Gaiman.

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) ) ) The VOICE ( ( (

  

) ) ) ) ) ) ) )  Thank you Shel Silverstein  ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

The whole Be Mine thing creeps me out a little.  I'm much more for Be Yours.  

But I actually love Valentines.   I love the heart shape.  And I feel a little bit lucky when I find them occurring in nature all by themselves.

Here's a little love luck for you.  Happy Valentines Day.

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

LOVE THE PROCESS + + +

You have to love the process.  It's what that takes you on the way to the pose, the image you are trying to create.

We get inspired by what we see around us in the world & by what we see other people making, doing & being.  They leave strong images in our minds that inspire us to do & want to be beautiful or give something beautiful back.

I think we are all artists and entrepreneurs in this day and age to some extent.  We have so many tools, ways to instantly connect the dots of our stories to each other.  It's a beautiful thing and we all want to contribute something worthwhile.

But on that road you will fall and fail a million times.

And have to get up and start over and reassess again and again.  And that is what we learn to love.  The process of getting there as much as the end result.  All the little etched lines that create the final image.  Each little refinement in a pose that gives you just a little more understanding.

> > > > > > > > > > >  LOVE THE PROCESS < < < < < < < < < < <

Working Within A System < < <

I recently found these notes while cleaning out an old mat bag.  I wrote out the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series to take with me to practice @ The St. Paul Yoga Center circa 1998-1999.  It was great because at that time if you were a weekly student @ the center you could rent a key and practice during off times.  I used the studio quite a bit.  It was perfect for where I was at in my practice and curiosity about all schools of yoga, about 3-4 years in and was just starting to consider teaching as a possibility.

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MUSIC & ASANA - Or Another of "Last Nights Playlists"

Here is yet another of "Last Nights Playlists"

I get asked a lot to share my playlists, which is fun.  I spend a lot of time putting them together to match what I'm teaching so of course I love it when people are moved by the music I play.  But what I really love about it is it's really the same list that keeps evolving.  It's title is "Rachel's Play List" which is an ode to my good friend and fellow yoga beauty Rachel Hiltsley.  I took a class at her home studio AKA The Yoga Castle and asked her the very same question.  She graciously granted me permission to take a photo of her playlist and it's been evolving ever since.  I think the only song left from her original list is by Zoe Keating, which is just a little bit of musical beauty.  Don't you just love a good collaboration?  I do.  I love my friends and students...we definitely need to stick together.

Love to all & have fun on your mat or cleaning your house or whatever to a great soundtrack.  Music makes everything better. 

Love, LVM

P.S. I listen to the song in the post below no less than 20 x's per day.  It's the original version of the  Hans Zimmer song above & from the movie True Romance which is a fucking great movie if you haven't seen it.  The original is hauntingly amazing.

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MUSICAL PREVIEW

A musical preview for tonights Advanced Vinyasa Class @ 630

Hope you Like (Music & Asana)

www.yogagardenmpls.com

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TURNING YOGA GARDEN INTO A SHIP /PAINTING/ETC...

So, I'm kind of turning YOGA Garden into a ship.  No not really but I came across this map of how to orient yourself on a ship and love the words used as descriptors.  Why?  Well because even though familiar they aren't words we use everyday...they are specific to being on a ship and I think that makes them interesting.  They are directional and we can understand them as a part of our common language but if you don't know what they mean they are of no use.  Specific to sailing and a different language in a way.  We do the same in yoga and I think the possibility in that is what makes it fun and creates an opportunity for autonomy as we move together.  The bow is the front of the ship and now the front of the studio and also where we pour our hearts over our heads to point ourselves in a certain direction.

Of course we need to understand the common meaning of a word to communicate but context is much more interesting, it requires imagination and a relationship or experience to the word.

The whole ship directional-language-thing is interesting that way because it puts us all on the same map in the studio.  An you could even imagine using the stars, On the Far Side of the Sky, as navigation just like sailors used to do.  We're all trying to get somewhere and enjoy the ride as we go after all. And to a certain degree we can only get there together and to a certain degree only alone.  But we all use the same tools and language to learn.

And in the meantime if you have trouble finding the studio I painted a new sandwich board to help you find your way.  You could think of the lightning bolts as stars.

Hope to see you soonish.

Love, LVM

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Your Year In a Word Wall /// Coming Together

How's it going?  What's your story?  As we move into the second month of the year I thought I would check in and ask what's unfolding, the word to phrase to paragraph?  Do you have a narrative yet?

Be patient, stick to your focus and let it unfold.  The narrative will come - it always does - just like flowers in springtime.

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> > > ADVANCED LEVEL CLASS

Calling All ADVANCED Yogis!!  Here We Go > > > > > > >   I have been talking about wanting to add a class for advanced yogis for a while and with the growth of YOGA GARDEN this winter I  think it's time to make space for another class.  This class will be taught as a vinyasa style class, same as our Thursday night class, but with more detailed alignment instructions. We will do some assisting in the middle of the room but only when necessary for poses such as Handstand and Forearm Balance and for any new poses where we need a little extra support to experience a new shape.  I will also be practicing with you and working on some new poses for me too.  So, how do you know if this class is right for you?  Prerequisites are:  Students must be practicing Handstand in the middle of the room w an assist and comfortable exploring variations of Vasistasana (Side Plank) & Urdhva Danurasana (Full Wheel). We Start Next Monday Night @ 630 - 800 > >  Please let me know your thoughts, concerns, questions or to just have a conversation about which of my classes would work best for you.... So, this will be my complete schedule starting next week: Sunday        /Back to Basics 430 - 600 Monday      /Advanced Level 630 - 800 Thursday  /Continuing Level 630 - 800  For Location and Schedule Info: www.yogagardenmpls.com Love, L

SELLING IS Urgent, Important, Sweet & Beautiful

"Selling, I’ve grown to understand, is more urgent, more important, and, in its own sweet way, more beautiful than we realize. The ability to move others to exchange what they have for what we have is crucial to our survival and our happiness. It has helped our species evolve, lifted our living standards, and enhanced our daily lives. The capacity to sell isn’t some unnatural adaptation to the merciless world of commerce. It is part of who we are."

That is a quote by the newly discovered by me Daniel Pink.  Good God he makes me dizzy and we've barely met.  He apparently has a book called To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others which I will be leaving to pick up the second I finish this post.  I LOVE the idea of selling our ideas with artistry.  As an even exchange of what we find most important to ourselves and needed in the world by each other.  And through that exchange and understanding we evolve.  

It reminds me of something my printmaking teacher said when I was finishing my BFA.  We were in our last semester and getting organized to bring our skills as artists into the working world, resumes, artists statements, etc...  It was almost 20 years ago and I'll never forget it.  He said: 

"You have to do what you do so well you'll make everyone who sees it wish they had done it themselves."

How fucking awesome is that?!

(Thanks Bill DeHoff, you were a great teacher and BTW I'm still obsessed w typography.)

/// The Work We Do Now \\\

Tomorrow is Ground Hog's Day.  

Which is significant not only because it's no longer January, but because it means we are 1/2 way to Spring.  The days are getting longer, the sun is brighter and the coldest days of winter are behind us (lets hope).  We are 1/2 way through the season of earth, of being stripped down to bare essentials and moving toward the season of water.  Here are a few bright spring flowers to remind us of the importance of the work we do now.  A little glimpse of what our ideas are doing in the dark, beneath the surface, the earth of our bodies and minds, waiting for the right time to make their debut. 

"All your longings know where to go, but you have to tell them to open their eyes." Nick Piombino