Michele Ford Yoga

Abhaya mudrā represents protection, peace, benevolence, and  dispelling of fear.

After a long, straight, drive to Pensacola we found a small cafe in what appeared to be an old school…we did a little checking in with home, relaxed and then freshened up for our evening workshop at Abhaya Yoga Studio. Nancy LaNasa, a long time Jivamukti teacher and former Clevelander!, dished out all the Cleveland foolishness she could come up with (she had probably been thinking them up for the past month…hehe).  What a fun group! A bunch even joined us after the practice for sushi. We stayed with Nancy in her gorgeous home and hung out with her and her husband and 2 energetic, to say the least, boxers.  Morning wake up licks from Sally…I was in her bed. That morning we met up with Erin Taliaferro for an acupuncture session…ahh…back relief! Lunch with Nancy, blueberry and fig munching for desert then we hit the road for New Orleans…not before taking a dip in the Gulf! (though we didn’t make it to the “good” part of the beach).

Abhaya Yogis Smile! Say Ardha Chandrasana!

Let the Qi be free!

In New Orleans we stayed in a beautiful old mansion that had been divided into 8 apartments.  We met up for lunch at Surry’s with Keith a partner at Swan River Yoga and Jivamukti teacher. Such a genuine and caring woman! What a fun evening at Swan River!..Brandon was particularly energized and kept us moving with his rockin’ beats, he even danced out from behind his buffet of instruments! After the practice we played with some arial yoga (yoga and using a low hanging fabric trapeze) then grabbed a bite to eat with Aaron Lind, an aspiring Anusara yoga teacher, at Juan’s Flying Burrito, then headed to a concert we heard about while in Pensacola called Playing for Change. Street performers from all over the world, including Grandpa Elliot a New Orleans favorite, came together inspire peace through good vibrations…Bob Marley, Cranberries, Marvin Gay, Bobby McFerrin…dancing fun!  Brandon had a little too much fun and made lots of New Orleans friends!

Aaron came over in the morning bearing cantaloupe for some breakfast and fun in the park across the street…acro and partner yoga, what great therapy!

Small feet, big heart, big feet, big heart!

The intention is there...mine and Aaron's expression of Sharon Gannon & David Life's photo.

Perched and ready to be free as a bird!

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Whether it is dancing to your own beat, traveling to new reaches of the world or new reaches of the mind, trusting in someone else or something greater than your self though the outcome is unclear, doing anything and everything with a sense of play and/or acting from the heart in a way that honors that which is innately good in all things despite what is most apparent; there is no doubt about it…living fearlessly leads to freedom! Can you live more fearlessly?