Yoga with Mia

04/29/2026

“First Yoga Lesson” by Mary Oliver from Blue Horses.

“Be a lotus in the pond,” she said, “opening
slowly, no single energy tugging
against another but peacefully,
all together.”

I couldn’t even touch my toes.
“Feel your quadriceps stretching?” she asked.
Well, something was certainly stretching.

Standing impressively upright, she
raised one leg and placed it against
the other, then lifted her arms and
shook her hands like leaves. “Be a tree,” she said.

I lay on the floor, exhausted.
But to be a lotus in the pond
opening slowly, and very slowly rising–
that I could do.

*[Just a little nod to the aches and pains we feel each spring when we get back to work in our gardens ;-) ] JF

Artist - Josef Capek

04/21/2026

Spending a few minutes each day balancing on a single limb can make you stronger, boost your memory and keep your brain healthier. https://bbc.in/4kgepWN

04/09/2026

03/30/2026

Oh, dear heart… was that you I heard searching for peace today?
I thought you might be.
I made you something.

I chose a basket first, of course. A good one. Woven just so, smooth and gentle to hold, with a lining the colour of early morning light.

Then I began to tuck things inside, thinking of you all the while.

A little jar of honey, golden and slow, for sweetness when the day feels sharp.
A slice of vanilla cake because you deserve something lovely.
Lavender tea, ready to warm your hands and your heart.

And a few small surprises… the sort that sit quietly and wait to be found.

But oh… there is something more.

Right at the very top, I have placed a page of notes.

I asked Owl about it, you see. He had his great book open, spectacles low upon his beak, reading in that deep and thoughtful way of his.

“Owl,” I said, “where can we find peace?”

And he paused… turned a page… and then said, ever so gently,

“Peace begins in the smallest places. It begins when a hand chooses gentleness, when a heart remembers love, when one being sees another and calls them brother, sister, friend.”

So I wrote it down for you.

Neatly, carefully… so you may read it when you need it most:

Peace on begins with gentle hearts.
It grows in kindness, in quiet choosing, in love given freely.
And it belongs to you, too.

I smoothed the page, because it felt important to do so.

And then… I carried the basket to your door.

I did not knock, Best Beloved. I thought you might be out, or perhaps simply needing a little space. So I left it there… waiting for you, just as it should be.

When you come home later… perhaps a little weary, perhaps with much upon your mind… you will find it.

Something made with care.
Something that asks nothing of you, only that you receive it.

I shall be nearby, of course… putting the kettle on, keeping things warm.
And if you should sit, and take a breath, and open the basket…
You may find that peace has been waiting for you all along.

With love from Mouse, and all who keep a gentle watch in The Glen…

Victoria Beata – Author & Illustrator of the Tales of The Glen books.

03/22/2026

Precision is not obsession — it is the doorway to transformation.

A simple prop — a block, belt, chair, or blanket — can completely transform how a pose teaches the body.

Why?
Because props allow us to:
• refine alignment
• observe subtle actions
• stay longer with awareness
• adapt the pose to our individual needs

The same posture practiced with intelligence becomes a laboratory for learning.

As B. K. S. Iyengar said:
"It is through the alignment of the body that I discovered the alignment of my mind, self, and intelligence."

Instead of chasing many poses, try exploring one posture in many ways.
You may discover a completely new practice.

✨ Question for you:
💬 How has using props changed your understanding of a pose?

03/17/2026

Sometimes the simplest practices can have the biggest impact.

Placing your hand on your heart while taking slow, deep breaths can calm your nervous system, release oxytocin (the love hormone), and signal to your brain that you are safe and supported.

Try this the next time you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed — it only takes a minute, and the effects can be profound.

03/06/2026

Back from Sweden !
WELCOME TO YOGA IN PERSON, STANFORD & CLINTON LIBRARYS
( & on Zoom, please email for link) ! 🙏🤗

02/26/2026

Your sign to get some sun 👆🏼☀️

Getting sunlight before 10 a.m. can help reset your circadian rhythm and improve sleep quality.

Your circadian rhythm is your internal clock. It helps decide when you feel alert and when you feel sleepy. That clock is highly sensitive to light, especially in the morning.

In a large population study published in BMC Public Health, adults who got more sunlight before 10 a.m. had an earlier sleep midpoint. The sleep midpoint is the halfway point between when you fall asleep and when you wake up. It’s one way researchers measure sleep timing, which simply means when your sleep happens on the clock.

Aim for 20 to 30 minutes of natural light before 10 a.m. Step outside with your coffee. Take a short walk. Sit in direct daylight if you can. Morning light is one of the strongest signals your brain uses to set your daily rhythm.

Small changes in light exposure can influence when your body feels ready for sleep at night and alert in the morning.

de Menezes-Júnior LAA, Sabião T da S, Carraro JCC, Machado-Coelho GLL, Meireles AL. The role of sunlight in sleep regulation: analysis of morning, evening and late exposure. BMC Public Health. 2025 Oct 6;25(1):3362.