An Uplifted Heart with Michelle at Yoga Loka: Reno, Nevada: September 21, 2018

When we were pronounced ‘man and wife’ my heart uplifted so much I jumped up and down. Literally love sent my heart soaring.

The heart space endlessly fascinates me and I've spent most of my yoga career making room for my own happiness and love. Its been, and continues to be the journey of my lifetime. Even since I got married I'm feeling extra boulliant in my heart. Maybe because there are two of us in there now. Our wedding was low key, and I didn't think much would change, and on the surface it hasn't. But deep down, I don't know, its hard to explain. The best description I can come up with is uplifted.

I have a tendency to collapse my heart unconsciously. Its manifested in my body by a slight rounding of my back and a forward slump in my shoulders. It feels ancient, meaning like lifetimes of shame and low self worth. Beginning to break the habit in this lifetime is a practice of staying lifted in my own heart. What are some of my current practices? Zooming (thank you to Kim Orienstein for this word) heart towards breastbone , breathing open the channels from the heart down the arms and into my hands, and by tempering my low ribs.

Try this breath practice! Follow our inhale down the inner arm yin channels, and follow our exhale up the outer arm yang channels.

But my main practice is admitting what getting me down, and that is the possibility we will sell our little Maui bungalow. We've had words about it before we got married, and we've carried that same argument into our life as married peeps, of course.

The problem is he doesn’t love the house as much as I love the house. He’s an upcountry view guy, I’m a beach girl. I’m willing to bend to move upcountry but he’s more inclined to ditch the whole Maui thing.

I’ve recently shifted from feeling like a victim to him since he earns more than me, by a long shot. This Maui debate has a silver lining, though. Its making me show up in bigger ways.

I always have a shot at my own beach dreams and financial abundance. Keeping my own heart uplifted in what makes me happy is my practice each and every day, and what makes me happy is writing, and blogging, and teaching yoga. And touring too. Especially if I had my own book to sell at the merch table and some teaching gigs here and there are we travel the country.

I’ve been working on this book for three years. Its time to get her done! I can feel that lift my heart!

Here is the working cover of my book, Downdogs for Roaddogs. I put “New York Times Bestseller” for added inspiration and a reminder to dream big or go home!

Yes! Downdog for Roaddogs is coming to the World’s Friendliest Merch Stand in 2020. That rings of the Truth with almost the same joy as my recent wedding bells.

Health, Love, and Rock N Roll