Plastic bags

Did you know that in Rwanda you can get a $150 fine for walking down the street swinging a plastic bag? It's true. Plastic bags are illegal in Rwanda. They were cluttering the roads and hanging in bushes and they put a stop to it.
"Shop owners foolish enough to stock plastic bags face jail time. In Rwanda, it's paper or cloth only with polythene bags confiscated at the airport with a seriousness usually reserved for baggies filled with weed. There. Problem solved."
I learned this and many more very interesting things in a book by Will Ferguson called Road Trip Rwanda. And we think we in North America are so much better at everything?

I am attempting to ban plastic bags at home.......they just keep on coming......I don't know what to do about picking up dog poo........

Gardening

I've been in the garden all weekend. On Friday I was rushing. Frantic about about getting the raspberries cut. Frantic about all the creeping Charlie. Creeping all over everything and everywhere. Maybe I should just dig clumps of Charlie and pot them for hanging baskets! Charlie is good looking if it wasn't a weed. :)

By late Friday I fell to my knees in the dirt. My back relaxed. My shoulders relaxed. Gardening became fun so close to the earth. I couldn't understand why I was in such a hurry. I started to pull each fine root out of the soil. Just because. The slower I go the more gardening iget to do. It's never done anyway. 

How I do one thing is how I do everything. (This is true for you too.)

I have a tendency to do too many things at once. I'm looking ahead at the next thing to accomplish. Ah! It's stressful! So, I slowed down and got closer to the task at hand. I heard from my teacher that I can change how I do everything by changing just one thing and doing it how I want to be doing everything. I worked in my garden with care and attention. One square foot at a time. (Well, almost). 

Funny thing is - I ca tell other people to take care and attention and nod my head that this is the right and peaceful way - but rarely do it for myself. But now I have! I feel great!

Poses for gardeners

I love spring gardening best of all. My back gets tired quickly at first since I'm not used to so much physical work.

Here are three poses to help. They are best done right after gardening, raking, and hauling those paper bags to the curb.

Crocodile pose

Sphinx pose

Seated twist

And a warm bath!

I am yoga

Have fun today with your yoga. 

Do some sun salutations to celebrate the long sun hours!

Namaste

Little yoga routine

Tree pose

Triangle

Halfmoon

Downward dog

Extended child

Unwinding

Wake up each morning and unwind. Yawn as humongously as possible. At least 3 times. Yawn with your whole body. Make sound. Growl. Moan. Squeal. Roar. Purr. 

Unwind from the inside to the outside edges of you.

Fold forward and reach your toes. Stand on your hands. It's okay if your belly rests on your thighs. Bend the knees. Relax your head and neck. Be a rag doll. Let the breath move your body.

Slowly roll up. Shrug your shoulders. Slide the shoulder blades into your back pockets. Lift your arms high and be well.

Experience wonderment in every moment.