Here in Los Angeles, our seasons are in the details of the day. From the last scorching rays of summer late into September, then a slight chill raising in October-this is our Fall. And this year the winter month of December and January felt like it went by so quietly and little rain.

And today with the tempertures reaching the high 70's and into the 80's in the valley, I realize that I am still aching for the greys and fog of a cold day. Yes, my friends from NY are extending their stay, and others hush me as I lament the loss of the rainy mornings. But I feel it in my body, as like a bear awakened too early from hibernation.  

I feel as though I am half way here. I know that I will have to shake it out soon, and warm up the cool veins. Any suggested yoga poses to assist in reconnecting to the season. Does this make any sense?

This weekend, I found myself moving slowly down a path I had not visited in a long time. And in the midst of it I realized that my heart was aching, trying to shut out unwanted thoughts. This was not typical of me, but a stress and heaviness lay across my chest. And I had to take some action.

At first the action I wanted to take was to lay out on my couch for a a few days with the phone turned off. Instead, and I called good friends, sat listening to their guidance and vision, and then I popped in the Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa/Kundalini DVD.

Throughout the DVD she speaks of opening your heart, releasing the trapped energies in your body, and cleansing any anger, hurt or dissappointment in your life. At first I didn't know how that was going to work, or what that would mean to my current confusion. But it did, I felt a strength in my spine, access to a deeper breath and a steady posture. This with the nuturing of my friends set me back on a real path.

It wasn't hard to forget about the couch and head out to a garden path that was filled with inspiration.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to enjoy a day of relaxation, education, and physical rejuevenation. The Golden Bridge Yoga studio, in Hollywood hosted the event Good Medicine. And it was a wonderful day meeting holistic health practioners, organic foods vendors, and vegan cooking. In the furtherest room, that was filled with natural light and smoky incense, massage therapists shared their work with visitors. And it was free!

I must admit that I signed up for several appointments. I worked with a Crystal Body Therapist, Holistic Nutritionist, Cranialsacral massage, and a flower essence nutritionist. Each had an open and giving attitude that instantly put me at ease. I came away with loads of cards, info and new interests in these many forms of healthly practices.

I was told more than once that I was beaming, who wouldn't with that kind of care and nurturing. 

Did you know that January 26 is YOGA DAY USA? I remember reading about this last year and was so impressed by the number of yoga studios that participated in this event.

Yoga Day USA is about bringing awareness to the community about the benefits of a yoga practice. And in order to provide easy access to this information yoga studios across the nation are offering classes at low to no-cost fees. Some of the studios are donating any money recieved to a charitable organization in their community.

This is a great way to experience a new studio and be a part of a larger purpose. Check out if there is a participating studio near you at the YogaDay USA website.

This morning I woke after having too many hours of sleep. How is that possible? I must be going through some "hibernation" relapse here in sunny Los Angeles.  So I moved myself out of bed, careful to not step on my dog, poured some water down me and shook myself awake.

Given that it was later than I thought, I headed straight to my "meditation" room and began to eek out my 5 rounds of Sun Salutation.  I know it may not seem like alot of rounds, but I re-committed myself to doing Sun Salutations every morning and I want to get them right and to be in the moment of them.

Too often, I will rush something just to get to the end of it and feel the accomplishment. But what is that without being alive in the process?  So Yea! I did the five, and now I am rushing to get to the rest of my tasks;my joys of the morning.  

I just recieved an email invitation to the IGNITE - A Ritual Celebration of Yoga and Activism in Los Angeles on Friday Jan 11th, that is being sponsored by Off the Mat /Into the World.

The activity is about coming together to "Unite for Change" and to be with fellow yogis in prayer and practice. The invite specifies that there will be chanting, kirtan and a series of 54 Sun Salutes!

Whoa, I am a student in training, and may not be able to bend that many times in a row! It will take place at Exhale/Center for Sacred Movement and there is a $20 Donation.