Y is for Yellow

The Quote of the Day that inspired my A to Z Blogging Challenge theme -
A Word for the Day that takes on many meanings.

Quote of the Day: A writer lives in awe of words for they can be cruel or kind, and they can change their meanings right in front of you. They pick up flavors and odors like butter in a refrigerator. John Steinbeck


Word of the Day: Yellow

I saw this tiny branch lying on the ground and looked for a good background for it.

It makes me think of a divining rod.

Look! It found water.

Of course, yellow is a color, and as colors go, there are many shades of yellow. The flourescent yellow text color wouldn't show up well on this screen, so I went with mustard. If someone calls you "yellow," he's probably looking for a fight. I went to the Minneapolis Institute of Art yesterday for their Art in Bloom display, flower arrangements placed throughout the institute that compliment the artwork. It was amazing! I set out to find shades of yellow. Here's my pictoral journey.

The yellow train led the way.

I was seeing double all day.

Krista's twin daughters, four & half years old, came along to see the flowers and Pippi!

The girls like this face.

It's all flowers and greenery.

Note how the arrangements look like the artwork.

You can't resist the urge to touch.

Right, Mom?

Or, is it mum in this case?

The colors are so vibrant.

I thought this was brilliant.

Art immitating life, which is art.

Shades of yellow, and the red?

Is it heart?

Is it a brooch?

A countryside oasis of flowers.

I imagine tiny pixies living here.

This was my favorite pairing.

See the tiny clothesline in the flowers?

Here's a closer one of the flower arrangement.

I give this one first place.

Flowers or cake?

Looks good enough to eat.

What cultural display influenced this one?

The body is birch bark.

How'd they do that?

One more stunning yellow arrangement, placed in front of the window looking into the lobby of the Children's Theatre. I had to wait to photograph it because a group of women were standing around, talking about it. I surmised it was the artist and her friends. She said that when it wilts just a bit, it will look like the "yellow sponge" (as the little girls called it) hanging behind it.

The amazing Ninja blogger, Alex J. Cavanaugh, honored me today on his Y is for Youthfulness post. He thinks I'm youthful, and I'll gladly accept that title. Just yesterday, I pulled on my own longstockings and attended a performance of Pippi Longstocking at the Children's Theatre in Minneapolis. I'll have the review up soon.

Go. Create. Inspire!

And, embrace your inner child. He or she really wants to go out to play!!!

Journaling Prompt:  Have you ever seen the Art in Bloom display, or something like it? What art pairings have you admired? I've also enjoyed a pairing of Beetles music with art. I could have spent days there.

Y is for Yoga

Letter of the Day:  Y

Y is for Yoga!

This is Roseanne my yoga instructor.

She is a beautiful little sprite of a person with a generous and creative spirit.

I believe that Roseanne truly cares about all her students, here at the Y yoga studio and her dance studio, and probably everywhere she goes including her work.  (BTW, she drove a UPS truck for several years, but has since retired from that job.)

I have a new attitude of gratitude and I'm attributing much of that to yoga.  It is an amazing practice.  Not only is it a good workout for the body, but also it increases concentration and body image.  Yes, it helps you love your body no matter what shape it's in.  Roseanne gives us possitive messages as she's teaching.  She says, "Listen to your body.  Never force anything.  Respect your body and its limitations." 

As we're warming up, she has us in a foreward fold and tells us, "Let all your worries and cares fall out of your head and into the earth.  Leave them there for this hour.  For one hour, you just need to be.  We are in a culture that praises us for what we do, but here we just need to be."  Isn't that beautiful?  Today, I felt those worries and cares falling out and going into the earth.  I thought of them as being planted and left to grow or become what they need to be, maybe even the fertilizer.  I didn't need to carry them around anymore.

I asked Roseanne why so many people seemed to be afraid to try yoga.  She believes it comes from two sources.  One is that some people who have a strong Christian connection think that yoga is about teaching Buddism or Eastern religion.  That is incorrect.  Of course, every teacher and experience is unique, but Roseanne says, "You are here to water your own spiritual garden."  Again, isn't that lovely?  So reassuring.  Honoring who you are and your own beliefs.  I find comfort in that image.  The second reason people are afraid to come is ego.  Yes, folks, ego is one of our biggest barriers.  That's why we adults are afraid of trying anything new.  We don't want to be the beginner in a class.  We want to come in already knowing what to do and having the skill.  But, unless we can humble ourselves to be the kindergartner in the room, we will never gain new skills.  Ego was my biggest barrier.  Roseanne says, "You don't need to be afraid to fall off your pony."  She gives us examples of beginner level to advanced.  Once I let go of my ego and accepted the chance of "falling off my pony," I swung my arms back in a spider-type pose and flipped on my arms in a back bend.  I was exhilirated.  Later, we started a pose by lying on our backs. I finally got my legs up over my head and experienced that release.  I pulled out of it with a huge smile on my face.  Yes, I needed to strengthen my core, but more than that I needed to build my confidence and not be afraid of falling.  It worked.

 

As we're lying on our backs in a cool down, Roseanne tells us to shut our eyes.  She says, "Be aware of your breathing.  Feel whatever you're feeling without judgement.  If you have a tense place, go there with your breathing."  She plays soothing, beautiful music, and I lie there listening, breathing, visualizing my garden, the top of a mountain, wherever I need to go in that moment.  The song she played this week is called Jetaime, sung in both French and English.  It sounded like a lullaby to me.

Yoga is one of those exercises that truly strengthens your body, mind, and spirit.  Thank you, Roseanne!

Journaling Prompt:  Have you ever tried yoga?  What have you accomplished that boosted your confidence and helped you on your physical and spiritual journey?