Summer 2010 wrap-up!!

New Tattoo-"Andrea" in Sanskrit/Devangari
Full Wheel-Urdhva Danurasana on the Red Rocks

One arm side balance-Vasishtasana

Well, Summer 2010 is just about coming to an end. The summer brought a break in between my master teacher training modules. My last module, "Air Module" begins on Friday August 27. Although I've missed seeing my friends and fellow yogis at the studio, the summer brought many fun times and new adventures in my life.
As the summer began, I took a lovely trip to Lake Powell and Rainbow Bridge for the first time. I found that being on a boat out on the water brings a different type of meditation and peace to be enjoyed. I spent many weekends this summer up in Sedona. A place I feel very connected too. I am fortunate to have a good friend in my life that has an amazing home with beautiful views of the red rocks. A sanctuary, if you will. I was able to escape the heat of the valley and go re-connect with nature and myself nearly every weekend. I went on a quad for the first time this summer. Got my third tattoo with dear sweet Siva in Cornville at Sacred Fire tattoos again. Grew to love arm balances and made many new friends. Went 4-wheeling up broken arrow trail to submarine rock, only this time in a hummer. Listened to a lot of great Pandora music, indulged in some delicious food and took a lot of time to smile, breathe and Be Present.

"Do you know what it is to feel the light of love inside you

and all the darkness falls away"~ Dave Matthews Band

Namaste for now~Andrea

My Yoga Kula

Every once in a while, if we are lucky enough, we get the chance to spend some quality time with like minded individuals who share a common passion or a common goal. This weekend I had the chance to escape from the every day and find some peace and serenity on a 3- day Yoga Retreat with Inner Vision Studio.

The retreat was in the white mountains of Arizona in the quaint town of Christopher Creek just past the city of Payson. The air was crisp with fall, the sky so blue against the tall pines and the trees were joyously turning colors for our arrival.

The group of 40 self-proclaimed yoga enthusiasts joined our fearless leaders and master teachers for the weekend; Maredith and Josh, up at Christopher Creek Lodge. With pine needles on our sticky mats, we embarked on our journey of 4 yoga classes in three days and a beautiful 3 mile hike around Woods Canyon Lake. Meals were shared together, some enjoyed dancing, playing board games, and even a bonfire til the late hours of the night. Making new friends and enjoying conversations about how we found yoga and what it means to us today makes us all realize, that we come for one reason or another- to share a common experience of creating more peace in the world one breath at a time.

In sanskrit the word Kula means community. An intentional community which promotes creativity, wellness, healing and personal growth with an awareness of the sacred. A yoga kula means friends, energy, spirit and support. I was privileged this weekend to become part of the Inner Vision Yoga kula. I take with me from this weekend the love and warmth of my yoga kula, knowing that it is there for me anytime I need it, on or off the mat.
Namaste~Andrea
(photo is of the entire Inner Vision retreat group before saturdays yoga hike around Woods Canyon Lake).

Photo Shoot

Today I have been invited to be a part of a magazine photo shoot at Yoga Deva Studio.

The photo shoot is actually to showcase the work of the wonderful architect that designed this beautiful space-Matthew Trziabatowski. If you haven't visited Yoga Deva Studio in Gilbert yet, what are you waiting for?! Come see me...come see this beautiful, sacred, blessed yoga space.

Come find out what it means to be more of yourself than ever before through yoga.

Peace & Blessings.

Namaste~Andrea