Happy New Year.
As I write these words Sienna the dog is hiding from fireworks, my man and his cover band are playing 90's rock at a bar where everyone smokes indoors like it's still 1994. Florida, you're funny. 2018 is turning into 2019 and all the plans I made are coming to life. I'm happy to be at home listening to Coltrane, preparing for a trip that puts me on the road for the first three months of 2019. It's a lot. I'm a good packer, but I'm going everywhere: FL-SEA-MEX-SEA-BALI-SEA-FL.
My boyfriend, Christian came up with a term for getting to the place you're visiting while we spent time with his family in New Jersey for the holidays. We finally arrived after spending 18 hours on the road with everyone else heading north on I-95. Settling in, I asked how he was feeling. He said, "Pretty good, "I'm out of bag'". It names something familiar. Something I love. I'm not a fan of traveling, but I love getting where I want to go. I've got bags to prove it. Handbag. Rolling bag. Dry bag. Gym bag. Wardrobe bag. Body bag (massive duffle). Bags that go into bags, packing cubes, and zip lock bags to combat toiletry explosions. In fact, of my favorite songs is, "Bag Lady" by Erykah Badu. As luck would have it, Christian helps create some of the best bags out there. He works for a pretty special company called GORUCK, check them out - they make good things. But it's not the bags, it's the places we'll take them, the people we'll visit and all the memories we'll make - out of bag.
I'll begin my trip in Whidbey Island hosting a New Year Retreat devoted to the energy, elements, and organs of Winter. We'll spend 3 days at the Yoga Lodge practicing Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, and mayofascial techniques while opening up to Winter's rich medicine. Nourishing Ayurvedic foods prepared by Chef Aria, cleansing sauna sweats and silent forest meditations will support all our systems. If you're looking for clarity in the New Year, I still have two spaces available in the Lodge.
I'll be in Seattle reconnecting with friends, family and my beloved yoga community for the first few weeks of January. I hope to see you at Ritual House, where I'll be practicing, subbing, offering seasonal workshops and Yoga Sound Baths with my favorite collaborator Daniella White. I'd love to see you at my Seattle yoga home.
The next leg of the journey takes me back to Sayulita, Mexico for a retreatFeb 2-9 at Hotelito Los Sueños. It's a boutique hotel with two pools, yoga studios, in house massage, and just two blocks from the beach. There's a handful of rooms available in triple, double, or single options for any budget. Check out Kayak, NONSTOP R/T Sea<-->Pvr on Delta is only $345. I haven't seen fares this low in a decade. By taking advantage of the triple (two bedrooms, full kitchen, living room) it's $1420 for the week, which includes a 1hr massage, all excursions and group meals. If you'd like a little more privacy, there's a couple of single rooms as well. I've included special adventures, practices, and meals to feed your heart and soul.
I'll return to Seattle in March for another galactic Yoga Sound Bath with Daniella and a workshop at Ritual House devoted to the coming Equinox. We'll transition into Spring using sequences that embody each element. Registration is open for these events on Ritual House's site now, I encourage you to reserve your space now, they've sold out in the past.
I'll wrap up the Seattle trip with a Spring Retreat on Whidbey March 8-10. We'll use all our yogic tools to support the Liver and Gallbladder. These organs move stagnation that may have settled in with the heavier energy of Winter. There's plenty of room if this resonates with you.
The final leg of the journey takes me back to Bali for a retreat March 16-23. Ubud is inland, a town devoted to yoga, art, healthy food, massage and healers. It's unlike any place I've ever been. It smells like tropical flowers and ginger. Music floats through the air. There's such a strong sense of devotion so deeply integrated into daily life, it showed me something I didn't know existed outside of a yoga studio, synagogue, temple, or church. I've reserved all 12 rooms of Honai Resort, a private retreat oasis. There's 3 rooms still available and one woman looking for a female roommate. Let me know if this opportunity interests you.
Wherever the New Year takes you, I hope you find your way - out of bag.