Vermont Yoga Retreat

It may be a fairly long way to go, but on a weekend as gorgeous as this past one was, Vermont is worth it. It is always an activity-filled trip; The first day we went for a big hike up the mountain. Even though it's August, up on the trail that morning, we could see our breath as we panted our way up to the pond that sits curiously near the top. Every inhalation was a delight of crisp mountain air, scented of earth and water from rainfall the night before.

Someone dropped their sofa cushion on the trail...

no wait, it's just a big ol' furry albino rodent.

Seriously though, little Jack did a really good job of keeping up with us.

The next day we went for a bicycle ride along the Rec path. I always forget the sheer joy of riding a bicycle and have promised myself to buy one just as soon as I have a regular income. Along the path we passed a local Farmer's Market. Naturally, I made straight for it. J and I shared a piece of blueberry cake made by a mom n' pop duo of farmer and baker that was so delicious that we both stopped walking and talking for the duration of eating it. Then we shared a glass of too-good-to-be-true homemade lemonade. It tasted the way you imagine lemonade tastes if you were to read about it in a story book. I love farmer's markets! We brought home to accompany dinner fresh local organic corn on the cob, and a triple-berry pie that weighed three pounds of fruit. God bless the United States!

All of this is very nice, but the very best thing about Vermont is the yoga teacher at one of the resorts in town: Regina. My first question on arriving is always: "Is Regina still teaching?" We went to three classes in four days. I would have gone to more if there'd been any. On weekends the class might get fairly full, but we were lucky - the most students any one class had was 6, and we had lots of one-on-one attention. Regina has been doing yoga for thirty years. She has the smooth unlined face and the calm aura of wellbeing of the well-practiced yogi. She is fairly stern when she teaches, but also joyful. She pushes you into postures you used to look at and inwardly say "yeah, right," and leads you into moments of pure revelation when everything clicks and suddenly you understand why you love yoga so much. She does things like stand on your toes when you're doing cobra, to push all your toes into the floor, but also because, surprisingly, it feels really really nice. She has healing hands. You want her to have tea with you so you can tell her all your problems and she can fix you.

On Monday, Regina took the class outside. I don't think that there is anything better for your health than doing yoga outdoors in Vermont. It is profound to stand in Tadasana (Mountain pose) while looking right at a mountain - feeling nothing above you, and the whole earth supporting you. So much better to look through your legs in Downward Dog at a gently swaying tree than at the bizarreness of your own face upside-down in a mirror! And is is absolutely invigorating to go through a series of warrior poses with the sun beating down on your skin, and the wind gusting warmly around you. Thank you, Regina, I'm feeling sooo good now.