Autumn 2007 Newsletter

"Silkworms
The hurt you embrace becomes joy. Call it to your arms where it can change. A silkworm eating leaves makes a cocoon. Each of us weaves a chamber of leaves and sticks. Silkworms begin to truly exist as they disappear inside that room. Without legs, we fly. When I stop speaking, this poem will close, and open its silent wings..."

Rumi

Hi All,

Today is the first day of autumn, a shift in seasons that naturally occurs throughout the passages of time. As I observe nature, I notice that she doesn't resist the tides of change, so why do we? This resistance is the source of all suffering or dukha as we call it in yoga. As many of you know from the tone of my past musings, this has been an extraordinary year of change and transformation. Change is the impetus for growth and when I finally stopped resisting the irresistible pull of my own heartstrings to expand, I stopped swimming upstream, and what a relief! My own boat was waiting for me and I stepped into the current of grace to go with the flow. Life is so much more joyous in the Flow. I am living my dream and I love my Life.

Many exciting things have happened and are continuing to happen. It's been a great summer. Two cool weather getaways to Aspen, Colorado and Costa Rica; a lot of seed planting and gestation that is now coming into a ripe, full harvest as we head into the fall season and the autumnal equinox.

This is my favorite season. Growing up in the Midwest I loved the crisp October air and the brilliant display of color as the leaves went through their inevitable transformation. I return to my roots next month where I visit family in Minneapolis and Madison on my way to teach in Chicago. In November, teaching opportunities bring me to New York City and then onto Geneva, Switzerland and Zurich. What's not to love!

To top it all off, I've been traveling with Grammy nominated country band Sugarland, teaching them yoga on the road. The end of August we started out in New York City with a sold old concert at Madison Square Garden where they backed up Kenny Chesney on his summer flip-flop tour. Then it was off to Syracuse for the New York state fair. The next night found us at the Dodge Center in Hartford, Connecticut for a beautiful evening under the stars; and finally the run ended in Gilford, New Hampshire where before the concert we spent the day on Lake Winnipesauke, breathtakingly beautiful and lush green, a true treat for this desert denizen.

I'm traveling with them again next week, this time to North and South Carolina. They are amazing, soulful artists, living their passion and so much fun to be with. If you haven't heard of them yet, you will. Check them out at http://www.sugarlandmusic.com and if you're in Phoenix you can see them in person on Nov. 1 at the Arizona State Fair.

In closing, I am grateful for the contrast in my life that has led me to new preferences. May we all find our passion and our hearts filled with joy so that we can spread our wings and live on purpose more meaningful lives.

In gratitude and love

Mary

On The Horizon:

There have been a few changes over the past months to my class schedule. Please check out new locations at http://www.marybruce.com/schedule.htm

* Sept. 27-29 - On the road with Sugarland

* Oct. 13 - Chicago workshop at Nature http://natureyoga.com/eventlinkintensive.htm

* Oct. 20 - Restorative workshop at Yoga Village http://yogavillage.net/

* Oct. 26-29 - On the road with Sugarland

* Nov. 3-4 - New York City weekend workshop at Practice Yoga http://practiceyoga.com/site/pose.html

* Nov. 16-18 - Jim Bennitt at SWIHA - A great friend and extraordinary yogi, Jim returns to Arizona for his 2nd. Annual teaching extravaganza. Don't miss your chance to take your practice to the next level. http://www.marybruce.com/workshops.htm Check out his video at http://jimbennitt.com/

* Nov. 24-25 - Geneva, Switzerland http://atelier-yoga.ch/stages.htm

* Nov. 29 - Zurich, Switzerland http://leelayoga.ch/

* Dec. 13-15 - On the road with Sugarland

2008

* Jan. 7 - my next 200-hour evening Yoga teacher training begins at SWIHA. Registration is open now. http://www.swiha.com/yogacenter/yogatraining.ph

* March 8-15 - 3rd. annual Tronconnes, Mexico retreat, immerse yourself in Paradise. Sign up now http://www.marybruce.com/retreats.htm

* April 2-6 - Rod Stryker returns for a 5-day teacher training on Tantra. This is sure to sell out. http://parayoga.com/index.php or http://www.marybruce.com/workshops.htm

* Oct. 23-27, 2008 - Yoga Retreat: Havasupai, Grand Canyon - details TBA