Even in LOVE when I go to the bank and the hardware store!

"...these days with the support and inspiration from many in this Portland community, I actually feel, sit with discomfort, stay with my vulnerability, be with the uneasiness of not having all the answers and not knowing what is going on and let the tears come and go. Sometimes I miss the mark and it is too hard, but I have learned that this too shall pass, and that things are always different after I rest my head." 

A few weeks ago, I went to Ace Hardware to get myself a shovel (it's about time) and some energy efficient light bulbs and as always, I am greeted very kindly, and there are always so many folks willing to help me find what I need. During the summer, my business partner and I regularly visited Ace to find paint colors for Roost and get equipment for our painting extravaganza! My business partner enjoyed many bags of their free popcorn that they have there...I, myself, did not indulge, partly because I have a feeling that the popcorn machine is centuries old, and I am a bit picky. We sat at this round table in the paint section, she eating popcorn, me talking about my day, us laughing hysterically about the fact that we were just sitting like we were at a kitchen table in one of our houses just kicking back with conversation and popcorn on a rainy Sunday afternoon about to watch a movie. ONLY in Portland.

It's like I have a blast going to the bank, even when I have no money to deposit and nothing in my account, but I sit down with one of the employees there and just chat about what I did over the weekend, or I go to Staples to get some paper, and a group of employees are having laughs about something related to something, but it's like I am part of their party...ONLY in Portland.

And, I probably could write stories about my many of running intos and conversations in the aisles of Whole Foods. Some wonderful people work at Whole Foods, and I am inspired by many of them. I have definitely been waiting in line to pay with a burrito in hand, tearing, as I drop an avocado on the ground...many of my friends have heard about the times at Whole Foods where I am just tearing up and walking around the aisles...not because I am sad about the fact that there is no organic celery ( I am sad about that these days), but just because I am so much more in touch with my emotions and honestly feel okay if I ran into someone I knew and I was in tears...I used to be a person who held in my emotions all the time and used overeating as a coping mechanism to not feel, but these days with the support and inspiration from many in this Portland community, I actually feel, sit with discomfort, stay with my vulnerability, be with the uneasiness of not having all the answers and not knowing what is going on and let the tears come and go. Sometimes I miss the mark and it is too hard, but I have learned that this too shall pass, and that things are always different after I rest my head.

Portland Yoga Studio Kickoff Event!

www.portlandyoga.com

“Asana is perfect firmness of body, steadiness of intelligence and benevolence of spirit. Perfection in asana is achieved when the effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being within is reached. From then on, the practitioner is undisturbed by dualities.” -Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

 

David Yearwood read from Iyenger's Light on the Yoga Sutras of Pantanjali in front of a beautiful room of yoga practitioners, new and old, as he began the free class offered at Portland Yoga Studio (PYS) Saturday afternoon in honor of its changing ownership from Stephanie Abrams to David Yearwood and Parks Mckinney.

Embracing new and old, old and new was the theme of the afternoon; as we entered different asanas (postures), we were invited to observe the duality of new and old. Were these asanas new or old to us? Was our experience in them old or new? Was the asana old, but the feeling new?  As teacher Chelsea Lachapelle pointed out towards the end of class while we were lying down with our legs up, we were in an old shape with a new perspective. We had previously been in downward dog with our legs together (same shape as lying down), but we were upside down then, and now we were looking up.

In that moment, I realized I am in an old space with a new perspective. In 2005, I participated in a Dance of Universal Peace with Elaine McGillicuddy (one of the original founders of Portland Yoga Studio and who was here today) at the PYS space. Then in 2007, when I was visiting Maine, I took a morning class at PYS, and I remember crying to myself in shoulderstand, having not done much yoga before, not knowing how to listen to my body, and it just seemed too hard...my mind was bouncing around in many directions.

Now, I am here once again back in this "old space" with a very new mind-body.  I have practiced yoga for probably 4 years now, have taught for 3 years, and have practiced ashtanga and vinyasa yoga; in addition, I have let go of many habits that were not serving me over the years and have learned to witness automatic reactions and make better choices. I feel new in this old space, and this old space is now being renewed in itself.

I am finding my way back to this space, which I have landed in before, and I am really excited about learning more about the Iyenger practice and practicing- a new practice for me, but in some ways it feels "old" because it just feels right to be here and makes sense.  As I practiced today, I found a sense of strength, balance, focus, ease, surrender, peace, freedom, and joy. During Shavasana (corpse pose) I was able to go inside and feel release and relief from the dualities of life. For just a passing moment, I became undisturbed, unshaken, unchanged by the dualities of joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain.

 

When you are fully in the body, you meet the soul! -BKS Iyengar

 

Amazing instructors, beautiful space, new schedule with asana and pranayama (breath control) classes, teen classes, yoga sutra study, and more.  Learn more! 

See you on and off the mat, 
Jeanette

Fun-a-Day!

"You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.”  -William Purkey

Last January, my friend Kristin Lajeunesse of Will Travel for Vegan Food inspired me with her participation in Fun-a-Day with a daily posted video of her dancing in public every day in the month of January. I felt so good after watching her videos every morning; she totally inspired my day and encouraged me to be more fearless, playful, and to just let loose and dance already! I have to say, Kristin, you are one of the reasons that I finally got my butt to Ecstatic Dance Maine, where I totally unleashed my inner dancer. I guess I always felt self conscious about dancing, about my body, scared to be vulnerable, nervous that I didn't have the moves...but, you know what, I can dance to anything, and now when I hear music wherever I am I cannot help but snap my fingers, pump my shoulders and shake my booty!

So, in the month of January, do one fun thing a day every day during the month AND COMMIT to it, and have yourself a Fun-a-Day! Last year, I did it, and I made a green smoothie every day in the month of January, and it totally reinvigorated me during the beginning of the winter when I was in a lazy-not eating that healthy-not a lot of exercising kinda mood.

This year, my business partner and I will be enjoying a juice every day (or two juices a day to make up for the days we can't juice) in the month of January! I am more of a smoothie person, so I feel like I have never had fresh juice for more than a few days in a row. But I suppose owning a juice bar will make things somewhat easier! : )

What will you be doing?! Meditating, writing, singing, practicing yoga, giving hugs, chanting, praying...?

Please share what you will do for Fun-a-Day with me and follow our juicing adventure on facebook!

Check out this website for more information: http://www.artclash.com/

Last year, Portland had an event that showcased people's fun-a-day work, so stay tuned for that!

Let's all have fun this month, Now and Forever!

Jeanette

If you can get out of your own way, dancing makes everything feel okay!

If you can get out of your own way, dancing makes everything feel okay! Not high on drugs, alcohol, food, or any other substance, but high and uplifted from the amazing community at Ecstatic Dance Maine for holding space for an incredible experience of movement, music, and expression! Thank you DJ Lea Moon for taking us on a journey! Happy New Year!

I danced, I laughed, I "OM"ed, I stretched, I sat, I watched, I listened, I smiled, I reflected, I opened my arms wide, I spun and twirled, I opened up, I held hands, I jumped, I clapped, I said thanks...all at the first New Years Eve at Ecstatic Dance Maine at Bhakti in Motion. 

The last song was instrumental and created a mellow feel, one of introspection, solitude, and community. I stretched my arms, and lifted one foot to take a step forward visioning a step into the new year, a step in which I will work hard to live, love, & give without any expectation; in which I will work hard to not take things personally; in which I will work hard to have compassion without empathy overwhelming me; in which I will practice trusting a higher power, making requests, speaking my truth and continuing to open my heart and be vulnerable even though there are no guarantees. I felt a little off balance as I took another step forward and there were some beautiful dancing bodies in front of me obstructing my straight forward path. I breathed, and paused on one foot, relaxing into groundlessness, until I stepped back and moved a little sideways, and then there was a clear path. 

There will be obstacles on this journey of awakening, that is for sure, but I hope to maintain a capacity to stay with whatever arises and know that I will be okay...in this moment, I am okay. 

Learn more about Ecstatic Dance Maine here.
They will be moving into a bigger space soon in South Portland! Stay tuned! 

Happy New Year,
Jeanette 

I am in LOVE with Portland, Maine First Blogpost EVER!

"Do not hesitate to LOVE and to LOVE deeply." - Henri Nouwen

I have been wanting to start this blog for a while (hey, maybe this is one of my new years resolutions...and I am doing it a few days ahead), because people hear me say all the time how I am in LOVE with Portland, Maine. I had moments in the summer when I was running along the East End trail by the water towards Commercial Street, when I just wanted to lift my arms up and scream out, "I am in love with Portland, Maine!" I remember mentioning that to someone the next day who had been in that area around the same time, and he said had I known, we could have screamed together! ONLY in Portland.

I have heard many people say people come to Maine to HEAL. YES, I would agree with that. I feel like every day I am growing, becoming more aware, finding time for silence and solitude, becoming more open, speaking my truth, trusting...I have no doubt that this growth is partly, if not largely, due to the support from the beautiful people that make up this city, the love from the mother nature that surrounds us and the ocean that is by our side mirroring the waves of our breath. Even when I am in some dark places in my mind, I can step outside in the Portland air and undoubtedly, I will find a speck of inspiration or shift in perspective that will keep me from completely withdrawing.

So, if people know me, they know I am in LOVE with Portland, Maine! This "small city" with a cozy town feel has everything you would want in a big city (art, theatre, delicious cuisine, cultural experiences, just to name a few) AND at the same time also has such a strong community of conscious people, a warmth of a tiny neighborhood, and natural beauty that is beyond words.

I found myself in Maine for the first time (well, I think we went on one family vacation in Maine, but other than that we frequented Cape Cod) when I transferred to Colby College back in 2004. I stayed for a summer in Maine after college to work on a documentary film, called Ugly Ducklings, and worked as an Americorps volunteer with Lots to Gardens. After that, I ventured out to Berkeley, California, because I always wanted to experience living out there, found my way back to Massachusetts where I grew up, and then headed back up North in 2009!

This is where my in LOVE experience began to grow! Shortly after being back in Portland, I started teaching yoga at Yogave Generosity Yoga in Falmouth, a donation based studio that has now been open for over 3 years. Immediately, I felt at home, and started to develop a community. I did various things in addition to teaching yoga to adults and kids, and then a year and a half ago I began planning with my now dear friend and business partner to open a juice, smoothie & vegan cafe in the city that I love.

In August of 2012, we opened Roost House of Juice at 11 Free Street, and I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to serve the Greater Portland community yummy and healthy food and drink and invite those who come through our door to relax and rejuvenate, laugh and smile, dialogue and listen, and just roost.

Someone just said to me the other day that it feels like Cheers at Roost, where everybody knows your name. I feel like that describes my experience in Portland...I will be out and about and run into people around town, and it just feels like a big extended family sometimes, a family I want to embrace with open arms. I only hope I can be as welcoming and generous as those who have graced my presence here.

My blog will consist of highlighting events, experiences, wild happenings, need to know businesses,  photographs, and more of this lovely city and its surrounding towns, as well as some quotes, and musings and insights from my own heart and mind.

Happy New Year!
Jeanette