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Chakra Balance Yoga
In Satoyama Yoga I honor the Spring Equinox with a theme of balance classes for the month. Many involve standing balances, we test our dynamic balance, and we also try energetic balance using the chakras as a framework. I feel about chakras the same way I feel about horoscopes, psychic readings, auras, and fortune telling…
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Matsuri-zushi
Today I joined the Oyama Senmaida sushi-making workshop. It’s not regular sushi. This is vegetarian sushi rolled in special ways to form pictures. It’s like the origami of sushi, really. In today’s class we made a camellia and a snail. For the first 90 minutes, we prepared all of the parts we’d need, cutting sheets…
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Cat-astrophy
Yesterday, I headed over to Tod’s office to help with spring cleaning before guests start to arrive. When I alighted from the car, arms full of cleaning supplies, I heard a cat meowing loudly. So of course, I investigated. And I found this guy, with his leg completely wound up and stuck in the blue…
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Winter into Spring
Woke up with a bit of a headache and decided to take a walk before yoga. Mother Nature gave me some lovely scenes on a foggy morning. Spring is on its usual rollercoaster of temperatures and precipitation. We’re finally getting rain so the weeds and grasses are waking up from their dormant rosettes. It won’t…
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Patio Approach
Well, I am back to the 555 drawing board, literally, as I design hardscaping for the patio. Unlike my garden plans which are subject to change even after implementation, putting in hardscaping requires precision and finality. I want to get the patio done before Tod’s mother and her husband visit during Golden Week towards the…
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New “headshot”
I’ll be leading a couple of workshops at FEW Japan’s FEWture Conference on June 7th. It’s a one-day extravaganza for women executives in Japan and this year’s theme is diversity and inclusivity among women. Today they needed a bio from me and a headshot. The bio was easy; I love writing bios for myself and…
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Sugidama
Today I helped Ushimura-san make a big ball of cedar branches at Oyama Senmaida. This weekend they are having an event for members of the Sake Owner’s Program – officially opening the sake made with the rice they grew in 2023. It’s the first time since the pandemic that everyone’s gathered for the special tasting…
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Figuring out the gardening
Yesterday Tod and I planted potatoes in the hatake. It’s a bit late, but I hope they will still be okay. Once they were in the ground, I started to think about the rest of the field and what I might try planting. The monkeys and boars would enjoy most of what I would prefer…
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Taiken #2: papermaking
I am working my way through the hands-on workshops at Oyama Senmaida in order to create English handouts for students who may need them. In January, learned how to weave a turtle from straw. Today I assisted with the paper making experience. The paper is made with a pulp of old milk cartons, using a…
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Mineoka Walking
In a couple of weeks, I will be helping with a hike event for Oyama Senmaida. Today, Ushimura-san walked the route with me, Kawasaki-san, and mizuta-san, the unofficial Oayma Senmaida photographer. This was a hike I’d never been on before and oh my goodness, it was amazing. The full hike event is 7.5 km, but…
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