A Poem by Mary Oliver

Dearest Yogis and Yoginis, I wanted to share some simple and beautiful moments from my day. I walked to the pharmacy in Wallingford and was overwhelmed by the amount of beautiful blossoms. The abundance and variety of tulips reminded me of the Netherlands. I also came across a gift from a neighbor. They shared a Mary Oliver poem written on a large wipe off board left next to the sidewalk to encourage a moment of pause and reflection. Many were out enjoying the evening sunshine at the end of another gorgeous spring day in Seattle, mindfully crossing the street as they grew closer to others to respect social distancing while joyfully weaving their way through the neighborhood. Enjoy one of many tulips and the poem I encountered below.

I've been practicing daily and noticing that I'm not carving out quite enough time to rest my body. I hope that practicing in the privacy of your own home will support you in enjoying the modifications or rest your body craves as you move through your practice each day so you are deeply honoring your mind, body and spirit. You will receive great benefits even if you just show up to pause, rest your body, and focus on your breath.

with love and care, Sarah

"Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on. Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers. Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again. Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -over and over announcing your place in the family of things.