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Yoga in your Life
Yoga is a complete science of life that originated in India many thousands of years ago. It is the oldest system of personal development in the world, encompassing body, mind and spirit. The ancient yogis had a profound understanding of man’s essential nature and of what he needs to live in harmony with himself and his environment.
Yoga is a lifelong journey of self-discovery in which we access greater levels of health and balance in our lives. As we deepen our understanding of Yoga, we deepen our knowledge of how to use the various elements of yoga to facilitate a friendship between the mind, body and spirit. In learning to hold a yoga posture through the full range of our emotions, and move through those emotions, staying in our quiet center, then yoga becomes a model for developing endurance to “stay” in the experiences of life with peace, love and focus.
Anyone can practice yoga. A mat, comfortable clothing, a small amount of private space and a strong desire are all that is needed. The yoga postures or asanas exercise every part of the body, stretching and toning the muscles and joints, the spine and the entire skeletal system. They also work on the body’s internal organs, glands and nerves as well, keeping all systems in whole health. By releasing physical and mental tension, they liberate vast resources of energy. Yogic breathing exercises known as pranayama revitalize the body and help to control the mind, encouraging calmness. The practice of meditation gives increased clarity, mental power and concentration.
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I am back in Lubec, Maine, at our Inn on the Wharf.. We have planted a beautiful terraced garden in front of the Inn with a stairway going through it and down to the entrance. We were very lucky with warm May days and just the right amount of gentle rains. The garden is planted with perennial rejects from the many gardens in town. It is a custom here to share your plants when you thin your garden. We also have seeded large areas with poppies, scarlet clover, flax and cosmo's. Many of the plants are already blooming. So I am confident that they love their new home.
Part of the garden is outside The Yoga Room. Yoga classes started June 7th and have been well atended. I am sure that the beautiful sounds coming from the studio encourage growth and beauty in the plants.
June has follwed May's lead and we are enjoying perfect weather. The long range forcast for the summer is the same. The days are clear and sunny and we have a gentle half day of rain weekly which keeps everything growing. With the perfect weather, we have been able to complete the outside of the new Lobster Pot's dining room. We have replaced the 100 year old windows with large windows that look out to the sea. We saved the large red chimney and a gas fireplace will sit in front of it. The old conductor shade lights will be painted bright red and repositioned to light the restaurant.
It seemed wise to put off opening the restaurant until next season because two new restaurants have already opened on Water Street this season. Lubec is being discovered as a wonderful seaside place that is still charming and quiet with just enough delightful things to do. The new restaurants seem very successful; however, in a small town it is better to introduce only a few things each season.
We have hired two young women from Lithuania to work with us for the summer. They are smart, charming and very attractive. We enjoy having them be part of our staff.
The floating docks are in place around the wharf, lobster boats are pulling in and seafood is being shipped to market in New York and Boston or purchased by tourists every day. The To & Fro, our boat that docks at our Wharf, is ready for taking guests to Eastport or out to see the four Lighthouses and view the many whales in the area.
I am looking forward to seeing some of you in Lubec for this year's yoga retreat on September 4-11th. There are still a few places available and I would love to have you join us. We will be taking some wonderful hikes, going whale watching, eating lobster, visiting Campobello Island, enjoying a daily yoga class and an evening guided meditation before we look at the stairs that seem to touch the earth in this clear, clear place and than tuck into bed for a perfect nights sleep.
I have to sign off now; I am going for a sunset walk along the beach to watch the first seals swimming into the Narows of the Bay of Fundy.
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