Motionless, Mosaic & Mexican

Movement

I’ve been practicing yoga since 2005 and for many years really focused on my strength and physical asana practice. I didn’t like relaxing. I’m classic Type A and for a long time slowing down didn’t feel like progress and meditation didn’t feel productive. It’s only been in the past few years since I quit my teaching job and realized just how stressed I was most of my life that I’ve really come to appreciate the stillness and surrender of savansana.

Corpse pose, or dead body pose soothes the nervous system and acts as a mini respite. It can be the gateway to longer and more complex meditations practices. Even if you don’t have a yoga practice, you can benefit from a few minutes in savasana.

Try it:

1. Lie on your back and make yourself comfortable. If lying on your back doesn’t feel good, try a placing a towel or blanket under your knees or head.

2. Allow your toes to roll out, heels in and palms face up next to your body.

3. Tuck your chin slightly and relax your shoulders, imagining you’re sinking into the ground.

4. Breath naturally, there’s no need to hold or control the breath. Allow your thoughts to come and go. If you find yourself fidgeting or ruminating, it can help to count your breaths.

I use the free app Insight Timer to listen to soothing music or a guided meditation in savasana. I’m especially digging Davidji’s sessions on the app. I prefer lying down to sitting tall when meditating, I feel like I can relax better rather than focusing on my posture. The only risk being my brain moving from the theta waves of meditation into the delta waves of sleep ;)

Art + Culture

I live in a small town in the Welsh Valleys and for everything wonderful about it, one thing I lament is the distinct lack of street art, (with the exception of the seasonal yarn bombing on the post boxes.) I previously lived in Bristol and Chicago where hardly a day went by where I didn’t notice some interesting new mural, stencil or sticker plastered over the city.

One of my favorite Chicago street artist is Jim Bachor who makes mosaics and installs them in the ubiquitous potholes in Chicago’s streets. (He’s also done some in Detroit, NYC, Nashville, LA and San Antonio.) I miss stumbling upon the occasional low-tech pixilated images (sometimes pristine and other times worse for wear.) Inspired by his work on an archeological dig in Pompeii, he’s motivated by thoughts of mortality, legacy and artwork outliving its creator.

Oil-Free Plant-Based Cooking

Guac