Today, as I harvested my Mason bee cocoons, I was once again reminded what an incredible world we live in.

The Mason bee, a solitary, gentle, super-pollinator works tirelessly her whole life's cycle foraging for pollen and nectar.  The female packs this food into a nesting cavity, which takes many, many trips. She lays an egg and once more begins making trips to seal it with mud before starting all over again.  This pollen collecting and egg laying only takes place for a limited number of weeks every Spring. Meanwhile, the Mason bee larvae hatch and munch at the stored food in their cell and start to spin a cocoon. The mature bee will hibernate in its cocoon through the winter, only to emerge on those first warm days of Spring to begin a new cycle of life.

'We shall walk together on this path of life, for all things are part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity.'  Maria Montessori

I took my first pottery lesson recently and found it interesting that one of the first steps is to center the clay on the wheel.  This important step allows the clay to move symmetrically 'from the rotating axis at the center of the wheel'.

Needless to say, centering is not as easy as I thought it might be!  My clay had the 'wibble-wobbles', telling me I had not prepared it properly to begin spinnning the wheel.

My attempts at centering clay brought to mind another 'first step' which occurs in a yoga class, also called centering. If we don't allow ourselves that initial brief time, we could be unfocused, having our own 'wibble-wobbles' throughout class.

So find that comfortable seat. Take that relaxing breath. Connect with your body without judgments or expectations. Release thoughts of the past or future and welcome yourself to the present.

The longest day of the year comes on Sunday, June 20th.  How will you celebrate the summer solstice?

Every seventeen years we are provided with an amazing tutorial on the life cycle of Brood X.  How would you feel after all those years underground to be able to emerge,  shed your shell and fly?

For those of you who recognize Lent, and even if you don't, it's still an opportunity for reflection. This season comes as we begin to say goodbye to winter. The days are getting longer and we hear the birds singing louder. We start to have faith that spring is on its way.  That fact, in itself, creates thoughts of renewal within us.
So as you spend some time reflecting, notice if there are changes to be made. Is there something to give up or something to add into your life?

Will the groundhog see its shadow tomorrow?  Lots of fun activities for little ones to celebrate this day.  Some of my favorites are creating your own groundhog burrow with a blanket and emerging to see if there is a shadow or lining up toys of different sizes to see how each cast a different shadow. 
What activities do your children enjoy?

What a wonderful surprise to receive an email from a grandma who ordered a signed copy of "I Can Be One Too!". She even included a YouTube link of her granddaughter enjoying the poses.

Day 1- skim through and mimic poses, 3yr cannot contain her enthusiasm! Sweet starter book for little ones, 10 poses, animal illustration pictured on left side- young girl on right side-each page. Poses are mountain, star, tree, horse, butterfly, bat, cow, cat, dog and snake. "Best of all I can be me" Encourages free spirit self interpretation, bonus for preschool kids helps them learn to sight read with repetitive wording. Two thumbs up- a keeper to learn and grow on for 3-6yr olds...namaste

https://youtu.be/JsMrJTHIf6c   

As we prepare for the year 2021, what a great time for "Let's All Clap Our Hands Together". This beloved children's song combines the movements of swinging, swaying, hopping, freezing and reaching up for the sky. A song loved so much, it's a regular in classes.  Hope you enjoy!

Please feel free to share the Vimeo link with others.
https://vimeo.com/495794871

If you have little ones, consider this free interactive Sun Salutation video to Linda Lara's "Sun Dance", which I just completed.  The movements are a wonderful way to say hello to the sun and to thank it for providing us with light and warmth.
How appropriate in this week of the Winter Solstice and its promise of increasing light.

My thanks to Linda Lara for granting permission to use her song from Musical Yoga Adventures.
Here's the link:   https://vimeo.com/494231773

I love when parents share experiences of what their children retain from yoga classes. I think of this story every Halloween.
One year a mom said she anticipated her daughter might be upset by a store filled with Halloween displays. However, while some could consider a witch opening and closing her arms as menacing,  this little girl did the same movement as a yoga pose while saying, "Look Mommy, that witch is saying 'I love you',  like we do at class".