Open Door Yoga Studio

I've always dreamt about yoga.
I own a yoga mat.
I am loyal reader of yoga magazine.
I get jealous every time I see someone walking around downtown with a yoga mat sticking out of their bag.

So why the heck am I not practicing yoga?

Fear. Doubt. Expense. Time.

And then there was Open Door Yoga Studio.

Donation based.
No commitments, contracts or hassle.
Multitude of class times.

Welcome to my new world of self-chosen sweatiness.
Open Door Yoga Studio primarily offers Bikram Yoga classes, commonly known as Hot Body Yoga. The room is set at approximately 100 degrees. Students form two rows, the more experienced students take the front row next to the mirrors. Classes are held in a dimly lit atmosphere which lends itself to relaxation and focus. They last an hour and a half beginning with breathing exercises, followed by balance and stretching. There are no shortcuts. No one can leave the room without stopping the entire class. But there is guidance. There is hands on instruction. And there is peace. When the heat becomes too much, you find yourself in Savasna, or corpse pose. It is a time to breath. Gather and release. The body is capable of so much, and while it seems that sweating profusely and contorting your body into less than flattering postures would evoke insecurity, the experience is far from that. The heat is so intense that self-discipline and strength keep eyes from wandering, and egos from interfering. It was a wonderful, liberating, life altering experience.

blackberries from the farm

There's just something so great about being able to eat out of your backyard. It seems quite a few of my friends' gardens are overflowing and I've had the privilege of sharing their bounty... pears, figs, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini and most recently blackberries. I made a delicious blackberry pie for my birthday (pictured above). But even better was this recipe for Blackberry Oatmeal Bars that I found at Naturipe Farms It's a bit like a cereal bar, chewy and gooey but not too sweet. I hope you enjoy them!

meep meep it's a traffic jam!

Ahpeele of 400 Capital Blvd. hosted Traffic Jam on Saturday May 15.
It's a conglomeration of yard sale goods at great bargains and handmade art.

First Friday: PBaRt

Dinner at Dos Taquitos and PBaRt show at Design Box





Live mariachi band playing, pretty awesome. Dinner, delicious. Interior decor, incredible. Pitcher full of margaritas, forgettable, er... I mean... unforgettable!
Followed by a show at Design Box. Pretty stinkin' awesome that this stuff is now going on in Raleigh.

caterpillars

How neat is that? They were everywhere. I didn't mind sharing the fennel and basil :)

strawberries

dear world,

strawberries are delicious.
thank you for making them
and granting me the opportunity to pick them.

sincerely,
me



mmmm can you taste it? the fresh juiciness of strawberry shortcake, strawberry daiquiris, strawberry granola yogurt, strawberry smoothies.... in a way a bit like forest gump, let me assure you that this list goes on... because it is all too easy to walk away with 20 pounds of strawberries when you get to pick them yourselves and each and everyone you come across looks more irresistibly delicious than the last, something comes over you pushing all logic aside, forcing your hand to reach for just one more of those plump red seeded fruits.



strawberry farm off leesville rd.

Backpacking at the Gorge

When work handed me an unexpected three day weekend I decided to seize the opportunity and spend a few days in the woods. The forecast called for thunderstorms all throughout western carolina, but we took our chances and went anyway which turned out to be well worth it.

Backyard BBQ

 

It was fabulous. I came home and barely had to lift a finger. The shrimp were boiled just right, with corn on the cob and potatoes, grilled chicken and biscuits.

Duke Gardens

A puppy named Boone, a sky filled with trees, and a sea of flowers- it was a beautiful and relaxing way to spend the afternoon.

Sunset from the parking deck

It was one of those spring evenings that just demanded your attention. It was Friday night but I was pooped, it had been such as long week, and I had been a bit hungover since Tuesday night at the Foundation. So we grabbed our bikes and hit downtown for a ride. In an effort to get some exercise and a great view, we rode up to the top of the Moore's Square Parking Deck and played hackey sac for the next hour and a half while the sun set. The scent of garlic bread drifted up to us from the restaurants down below. You could hear the familiar clatter of the beer bottles being recycled at the Landmark. The air felt wonderful, cool enough to keep us comfortable while we played, and crisp enough to feel like Spring. There was just enough of a breeze to remind you to look around and take in the horizon.



The great part about it all is that it didn't cost us a dime.

Dinner on the farm

It only takes 25 minutes to go from city to farm. The farm where horses live and little baby chicks play. Where tomatoes, spinach and squash are grown. Where apple trees are planted two by two and bird houses hang. A farm where little girls can run through the empty pastures pretending to be horses and eat the grass, which I believe goes like this, "chomp, chomp, chomp! YUM!" And there is a swing set with a little house on top, and in that house is where children are in charge and get to make the rules. And there's a hammock, and in that hammock silliness is required and telling jokes is a must.

Backyard Bonfire

The effect of fire is incredible, it's power to create and destroy. The way that it brings people together. How sitting in front of a fire for several hours feels infinitely more productive than sitting in front of a screen or monitor.

Memorial Ride

Raleigh legend "Sho Nuff" passed away earlier this month and in order to help the family pay for the funeral expenses ruff_Raleigh Bicycle Squadron hosted a memorial fundraiser ride.
"Sho Nuff" was certainly not your average guy, touring around Raleigh on his pimped out bike "Wild Thing" and always decked out in leopard print. He taught us that live should be lived out loud, with passion and purpose because in the end a smile and kind word mean a whole lot more than a couple of bucks stashed away in a bank. It makes me proud to say that I belong to a city where people are noticed, appreciated and honored for their differences.

Disc Golf

What's more fun than an afternoon of throwing stuff? I love that there's a disc golf course just a few miles from my house. It's an awesome way to get outside, be active, breath in the air, feel the sun and walk in the woods. It's not far from the house, it doesn't cost any money and the less gear you bring the more fun you have.