Don't Go Back To Sleep

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don't go back to sleep.

You must ask for what you really want.
Don't go back to sleep.

People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.

The door is round and open.
Don't go back to sleep.

— Rumi
 

Gratitude For The Senses

with Tracey

When a realignment is in order, the most basic tools of awareness are your best and closest allies. It's a good time to take a breath and have gratitude for your senses. Nothing like the present moment to make you startlingly aware of the beauty that surrounds you. There's an immersive environment waiting for your senses to awaken into that you may have been unaware of only a moment before.

Your eyes bathed in the nuances of light and shadow, or taking in the colors around you, can restore wonder. The feeling of your breath moving in and out of your body is a blessing you may have forgotten existed. The rhythmic rise and fall of your chest, heavy or light with emotion, is a sensorial touchstone. The sound of...

Sanctuary Invitation

Personal Meditation Retreat

We look forward to the new year and invite you to join us for Sanctuary — Personal Meditation Retreat. Immerse yourself in nature for a time of spiritual sanctuary and take a few well-deserved days to rebalance your body, mind, and spirit. Whether you crave silent contemplation or desire focused time to refine your yoga practice, or whether you're finally going to take time to finish reading or writing that book that's been waiting, there is Sanctuary waiting for you. Come alone or come with a friend or family to celebrate a space out of time. We invite you to the Center, to welcome yourself home.

Personal retreat is offered...

Up Against The Wall

Handstand

with Tracey

This pose is by far not for everyone, but it does seem like an apropos asana in times that might appear to be upside down. We are offering some tips for handstand using a wall for support which will give most of the same necessary ingredients for eventually, (or not), practicing a freestanding handstand. Ok, here goes...and if it's not obvious, think hokey-pokey.

You put your right hand down
You put your left hand down
You align your runner's stretch
And you slightly lift your chest

You look up towards the wall
With a bare lift of your head
Eyes fixed on an imaginary triangle's tip
With your hands at shoulders edge

Your hips are lifted high
Energy in your dominant extended leg
The ball of your foot
Imagining an arc above your head

Ok, enough rock 'n' rhyme. Although, if you know a bit of what you're aiming for in handstand, this little verse is full of good tips and reminders. Overall, this pose is about understanding your relationship with gravity and learning...

from the White Lotus Kitchen
Another Holiday Double Header

Holiday Apple Tart

A' La Ina

Simplicity is key to the good life. And nothing could be more simple and more satisfying than this recipe for an apple tart inspired by Ina Garten. Only four basic ingredients in this tart, if you count the crust as one. Tart apples. A perfect choice is organic Granny Smith which have been stellar at the local fruit stand this season. Ingredients three and four, a small amount of a delicious Muscavado brown sugar and butter. That's it.

If you love to make your own tart crust, go for it. We use a premade crust and layer the thinly sliced, tart apples about two layers deep, and put additional thin slices slightly up the sides of the crust. The apples, sugar, and butter melt into the sides of the crust making it extra yummy and quite pretty. A classic tart crust will not have sides.

The tart gets finished with...

Overnight Oats

Shaken Not Stirred

This recipe for overnight oats is a work in progress. And, it's really good! The hunt for absolute perfection — usually called the enemy of the good, is still our elusive goal. Inspired to recreate some spectacular oats we had eaten in a gourmet breakfast place, the deconstructing and recreating began.

This current recipe from The White Lotus Kitchen will already be many people's version of perfection. As stated, it's damn good. Half the fun of creating our oats is eating all the variations while subtly adjusting the ingredients. Truly, this recipe lends itself to tons of creativity so take it wherever your palate roams. But, we have provided a few little tricks that take the guess work out of the equation for you. Things like these oats definitely want to be lightly shaken, not stirred.

If we ever hit absolute perfection, we will share the recipe again, but in the meantime, we think you won't be disappointed.. Top of the mornin' to ya!