Autumn's First Pour

The start of a new season marks a new season of tea ceremony. One of my favorite things about tea ceremony is that it invites reflection and presence, and is a quiet ritual packed with history. I attended a demonstration where each of the utensils, movements, and sweets carried meaning and inspired mindfulness. In a world that often moves so fast, attending tea ceremony reminds me to slow down. As the season shifts, this felt like a reminder and invitation to move more intentionally, and find the calm and beauty in each moment.

xoxo,e

30 Days of Lagree

I’ve tried Lagree once before and was quickly humbled. It was in my prime yoga days when I wanted to switch things up. I decided to take a 6am class because I thought it would be empty. I was mistaken because each of the machines were accounted for! The machine, a megaformer, felt foreign, and the pace made it incredibly challenging. Who would have thought something that looked so slow and easy could be one of the most challenging workouts I’ve ever done.

Fast forward to last month where I finally decided to use my one month unlimited class membership that I got as a birthday gift. From the very first class (well second), I realized that Lagree works muscles that I didn’t even know I had. Every single four count is done under constant tension. As someone who doesn’t have a strong core, my body was shaking. The thing with Lagree is that the time under tension is what makes the class. The movements you do might be easy, but doing each of these movements as slow as possible is what gets you. By the end of the 40 minute class, the cue for childs pose is extremely gratifying and much needed. Now that I have officially finished 19 classes in 30 days, I notice that my core is stronger and I have a new found appreciation for slow and intentional effort. Don’t get me wrong, even having gone several times, the classes get easier, but not by much. Lagree is low-impact but incredibly challenging, and that’s what I like about it.

After thirty days, I can still say I like it a lot. Especially when your studios are filled with plants, color, and likeminded people trying to do their best.

xoxo,e

Books Galore

Recently, I haven’t had the chance to read many physical books as I did in the past, but I’ve been tearing through audiobooks. In the last 30 days, I must have gone through four books per week. I was never one to listen to audiobooks, but what I’ve realized is that the two experiences feel very different. Physical books let me become immersed into the story in a way that’s hard to replicate. When I’m holding the book, my attention feels sharper, and somehow the details seem to stick more. However, with audiobooks, I don’t always catch every detail of nuance.

All that to say, it doesn’t mean the audio experience is any less valuable. If anything, I appreciate listening to different narrators and the depth they can create with each of the characters. Being able to multitask while listening has also been really nice. I’m able to listen to stories while cooking, driving, walking around my neighborhood, or while I’m getting ready in the morning.

I’ve come to realize that it’s okay if I can’t always sit down and read a physical book, listening to them still count! And, by listening to them, I’ve been able to expand my book list and experience tropes I wouldn’t necessarily gravitate to otherwise.

Here are a few pictures from a recent library visit. I love how this library is sunken into the woods. It’s pure magic!

xoxo,e