First I need to tell you I am not a huge yoga enthusiast – in that I do yoga very sporadically.  Not that I don’t like it or think it’s hokey (on the contrary, I think it is very good for your body and spirit) – I just always preferred Pilates or let’s be honest, I prefer  almost anything to exercise.  I just can’t seem to sit still and my mind drifts off, a lot.  Or my mind could be saying oh my gosh! I am in pain – how much longer do I hold this?! Regardless I would never of my own free will decide to take part in a yoga retreat – seriously I could find a million excuses not to do one.  But as luck/fate would have it I attended my first ever yoga retreat a few weeks back.

It was one of Jen Pastiloff’s yoga and writing retreats – “On Being Human” was the theme and it was taking place in Southern France. Yoga and writing, well OK.  Jen who?  Hmmmm?  Can you tell I really know nothing about yoga? I am sure you are thinking to yourself, “What the heck!  Is this woman for real? Why would you go to a retreat for something you have no idea about?” As it turns out, this was my sister’s trip.  She had planned the whole thing for herself and at the last minute wasn’t able to go.  She offered the trip to me.  At first I thought, no, No, NO – there is no way I can pull this off.  I would need to reschedule way too many things and I don’t do yoga, I’m going to kill myself!  But then I thought, France.  I am being handed a trip to somewhere I have always wanted to go.  I am being given the opportunity to take time just for me.  Should I do it?  Should I just go?   I am going to let you in on another secret – I have never been out of the US (save a short day trip to Quebec).  And I do not speak French. And I only had two days to get ready.  And I would be traveling alone!   But I did it.  I said yes.  I don’t think I really knew what I was saying yes to, but I said YES!

I cannot begin in this short post to tell you how much one week could completely change me. I am sure I will be writing about this trip for months to come.  Honestly I feel like I am still processing what happened on this trip.  How things had aligned themselves for me to be part of this most wonderful experience.  Am I completely converted to yoga?  I wish I could say yes, but I still hate downward facing dog.  I am however converted to the thoughtfulness of it all.  I am in love with Jen and the other twenty amazing women I spent one week of my life with.  I am full of gratitude for my sister offering this to me and encouraging me to do it. I am grateful my Father in Heaven prepared my heart and mind for this trip even when I thought I was working on my art business.

I said yes to me.  That is pretty powerful.