Colour me stoked: teaching at Yoga Under the Stars for summer solstice this Friday! www.yogaunderthestars.com

shark vs the universe
noise dept.
tumblr dot com
Aqua Utopia|海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
styofa doing anything
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
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Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her

Product Placement
occasionally subtle

roma★
Cosmic Funnies
RMH
trying on a metaphor

oozey mess
Not today Justin
cherry valley forever

Kiana Khansmith
art blog(derogatory)
$LAYYYTER
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@yogawithjess
Colour me stoked: teaching at Yoga Under the Stars for summer solstice this Friday! www.yogaunderthestars.com
Stop Thinking
I've been making a conscious effort to follow my gut instinct.
You know, that initial voice or feel that says "do this!" My main practice as of late has been to give myself space to not send that initial thought too far into the processors of my brain to balance and measure the why, the potential outcomes... every decision is a gateway to immeasurable possibility, and to sit and think about the possible outcomes takes way longer than just moving in the direction of the initial thought. In short: Act on the feeling before it is diluted by thought.
What better place to practice surfing my inner voice than the shores of Maui? I was walking along the beach and thought "go read under that tree!" I heard my brain start to fire up with checks and balances - it's windy, there are nicer trees we can find why settle for the first one - I pulled the instinct out of the processors of my brain before it was analyzed into oblivion and went to sit under the tree. After a bit of reading, I found myself moving into a seated meditation. Cool stuff. From the meditation I found myself praying - using the god label that I was introduced to me as a child. I've resisted this god label for many years since it used to represent the judgey sky god that's forever well, judging. I've recently been able to amalgamate this particular god label into my current spiritual practice - dissolving him from Lord Judgey God and into the way I personally feel "god" - in nature, in beauty, in connections with people. I have accepted the way I was raised - Christian - as part of me, even though I no longer walk that path.
I forget what I specifically prayed for, but it was along the lines of what I imagine lots of people pray for (I'm no longer into praying for forgiveness, which is how I spent my teen years and early 20's). I prayed to be shown the way. I started moving with my meditations and opened my eyes as I twisted to the right. Hello, I have a neighbour now. A young man sat a couple trees over reading. Inner voice: find out what he's reading. Brain processor: no, that's weird, approaching a stranger. But what if he's reading a really good sci-fi? I packed up my things and as I walked over I could easily recognize what book he was reading due to it's dual column format and leather binding. The Bible. Well hot damn.
I've read the bible a couple times, though I must say my favourite parts are the stuff in the old testament that reads like a Game of Thrones episode. Some of that is seriously NSFW.
Anyway, here I am walking towards a dude with a bible, having just reached out to my very-christian parents earlier in the day and talked to my dad for the first time in years. They're nearing 70 and are set in their ways, but that afternoon I called them just to let them know I love them, and that they have a daughter again. Feels good.
His name was Mark and we shared our individual spiritual journeys. We talked about what God means to us, and agreed on a number of things - we are to do what feels good and true to us and no, we don't have a debt to fulfil to any god, anywhere. Our natural state is one of happiness. I talked to him a bit about my relationship with my parents and though I was feeling great before our conversation, speaking with a christian who understood my situation but who was also very open minded and accepting was very healing.
As the conversation drew to a natural close, Mark blurted out "may I pray for you?" I saw what happened - his gut feel was for a prayer, but his brain was processing the potential outcomes.... I took the opportunity to fill him in on my little "follow your gut instinct" project and accepted his offer. He said some really beautiful things as he spoke to his god, on my behalf.
My turn. What do I have as my parting words? Namaste.
I defined it for what it meant in that moment between us - Namaste - I am acknowledging your light and potential and my purpose in this moment is to reflect this back to you.
As I continued my walk down the beach, I couldn't help but grin ear to ear.
Namaste, indeed.
Don't just do something, sit there.
Easier said than done, right? After a busy week, I'm finding it really challenging to just Sit for a little bit this morning.
The words of Amit Goswani, Phd ring truth in my ears:
"It is not just do do do. It is not just be be be. It is do be do be do."
She really hit the nail on the head with that one
Store staff: So, is today your day off?
Me: No... I'm self-employed
Store staff: ah, so you work every day.
Me: Thanks for getting that!
There's nothing you can do that can't be done. Nothing you can sing that can't be sung. Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game. It's easy. Nothing you can make that can't be made. No one you can save that can't be saved. Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time. It's easy. All you need is love. All you need is love. All you need is love, love. Love is all you need.
During my first 40 day yoga challenge, I started to come out of shivasana with this Beatles song in my head. Really, all there is is love so love is all you need.
Super honored and stoked to be included in Timeraiser's Hall of Fame! Recognized for my social media work in the role of Social Media and Awareness Leadership.
http://www.timeraiser.ca/hall-of-fame.html
The yoga class with Peter Jack Rainbird as our guest providing music for our candlelit flow - just sorting through pics and posting some favs here and on facebook.... www.facebook.com/yogawithjessicaevans
yoga, jessica, jessica evans, yogawithjess, yoga with jess, squamish, BC, vinyasa, vinyasa flow
Yoga mats, splitboards and love.
Gonna Need Snowga!
The Mt Baker Splitfest is this weekend. Come to snowga after touring Saturday at 5pm before the raffle. details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/607180239298115/
By donation, all proceeds to NWAC.
Wow, check the view from the squamish yoga studio!
One of my favourite images from last week's Downtempo Flow yoga class. See them all here.
Downtempo Flow comes to Squamish starting tomorrow!
Site Launch
I've launched my site, yogawithjess.ca and facebook.com/yogawithjessicaevans
Pretty excited to have completed this!
How to Find Me
1. For private and/or corporate classes, please send an email to:
info at yogawithjess dot ca
2. Come to one of my classes!
At Twist Yoga Studio in Courtenay:
Wednesday 6:30 - 8pm "Snowga" - a restorative flow aimed towards skiers and snowboarders (but really, anyone will benefit). Hip openers and core strength/stability exercises with deep stretch into our quads and hamstrings.
Friday 5:15 - 6:45pm "Yoga for People who Sit At Desks A Lot" - restorative deep stretch focused on reversing the effects of being hunched over a keyboard. Hip openers, Shoulder openers - wind down your work week and get ready for the weekend.
I teach in Nanoose Bay, BC Monday and Tuesday evenings - get in touch for a schedule.
Me!