Laura is Here!!

Laura is here! Laura is here! Always a happy time, full of work, fun and ridiculousness!

Yesterday, we had quite the productive day. We began the day at my morning yoga class, where I taught a gentle Iyengar style practice for an intimate group of six. I enjoyed asking the students to take their time, and acknowledge the changes in their bodies and minds as they moved through the poses in the sequence I taught.

At noon, we make our way over the the SPOT recording studio, where I had previously recorded my songs "Eve at the River," and "Our Quilt" for our collaborative work, "Common Threads." Laura is elated as we walk into the studio! I told her it was a great place, but I don't think she truly understood what I meant until we got there! Chris, the engineer greets us, and we begin the work of the day. Laura lays her tracks with ease. Her ability to hear and execute harmony and dynamic come through beautifully on the recording of a song in the vein of a negro spiritual complete with stomping and clapping, soulful runs and tons of heart. I am so lucky to watch her work! I look forward to working with her more on this music, and we plan to record a full album of all the songs for this piece in the not-so-distant-future.

Back at home in the afternoon, we literally cook up a storm. A lovely storm of flour, chocolate, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cheese, cherries, olive oil and more! At the end of our storm, a devastation of dark chocolate cherry cupcakes, sweet potato soup, and roasted squash with tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella is left! And yes, it is all delicious!

By the time we have finished, it is almost time for my evening yoga class! This class is a departure from the morning class, in that this class is a powerful flow class. After a brief stretch and warmy, we begin moving on each breath, holding strength poses and sweating. I ask the students to keep focusing on their breath rhythm, and to listen to their bodies. Usually during my flow classes, I take time after an intense flow sequence to work deeper into just one pose. I ask the students to pair off, and observe and give feedback to each other in Warrior II and Reverse Warrior. They realize they know the poses better than they think they do! When the observation/feedback is over, their postures are much improved! Finally, at the end of class, I bring the students through a stretch series leading to Hanumanasana, or split pose. Bodies stretched and strengthened, I bring the students into Savasana, or corpse pose.

After all that teaching (and taking for Laura) we are both tired, but we go out for beer and darts anyway! We are terrible. Rob wins. End of story. Today, we lunch with Jan. I am bringing the sweet potato soup we made yesterday. I am so excited to introduce Laura to Jan!

More soon,

~Cara