When I think about what draws me to the mat, this quote from Judith Lasater’s Living Your Yoga: Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life sums it up. Growth and transformation are my motivating drivers. It’s within this process that I find purpose and meaning. While it’s not an easy path, it’s expansive, freeing, inspiring, ever-changing, and constantly surprising. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I really appreciate  how in this quote, Judith so clearly describes the pathway to transformation in the simplest of terms: through devoting yourself to the present moment. How fascinating that something as simple as practicing paying very close attention can fuel the fire of transformation. The use of the word “unwavering” implies a sense of resilience, even courage.

We were going to the Base of Everest. I am a flatlander living in CA. Everest??? The base camp??? I invested in some new hiking boots and started climbing up any hill I could find. I felt like I was in pretty good shape as I boarded the plane for Nepal months later.  

My trip started in Kathmandu. When I exited the airport a wave of heat enveloped me as I was greeted by a mixture of sights, sounds and smells. I was ushered into a cab soon to be barreling through traffic-jammed streets towards my hotel. The hair-raising car trip was intoxicating.