That was fun while it lasted...

Summer is over, folks.  For most people, returning to work on the Tuesday after Labor Day is not a big deal; the long weekend was a nice break, but it's back to business as usual.  For teachers, it's a different story.  We are 10-month employees, and our two month respite is over.  I know, I know, what I complaining for - no one else gets that much time off, and "gets paid" for it.  (can someone please explain this to my dad:  teachers do NOT get "paid" for the summer unless they choose to take a reduced paycheck for the months of the school year so that their salary may be spread across 12 months rather than 10.  If a teacher gets "paid" for the summer, it simply means he/she elected to be paid less from September through June.)

Lots of teachers were lamenting into their Labor Day MaiTai that "summer went too fast" or they "can't believe it's over", and at some point, it begins to sound cliche.  I was so busy (in a good way) this summer that it felt nice and long, and I think I'm ready to get back to a routine.  I think part of the reason I feel this way is because I never really got into a routine this summer.  The "routine" was to change it up every couple of weeks, so it always felt like I was going-going-going.  Perhaps I'm hoping that going back to school will normalize everything for all of us.

In any case, Summer was fun while it lasted.  We had some great trips as a family, caught up with friends near and far, and made great memories.  For our family, it turned out to be the "Summer of Baseball", with full credit going to my DH for planning out visits to some fun cities and tacking on an MLB game for the boys to catch.  In June we took a long weekend in Philadelphia to see the Phillies.  My brother got married in Virginia in July, so we took the "long way" home, stopping in Washington DC for some sightseeing...and a Nationals game (boy was that stadium HOT!).  The first weekend in August, we took another long weekend and drove to Baltimore, for some Inner Harbor touristy stuff, but the boys were able to catch an Orioles' game.  Finally, week-long family vacation to Miami would not have been complete without a stop at the Marlins' stadium - by far the best.  Air-conditioning!!!  Frozen Adult Beverages!!!  A light-up Marlin ferris wheel (that never saw any action because no one hit any homers)!  Best Stadium EVER!!!  Summer of Baseball, indeed.

So what does fall hold for us?  For starters, September is National Yoga Month, so hopefully your plans include some time on the mat - I know mine will.  Kids will ease back into their routines of homework, sports practice, and music lessons.  Grownups will continue to schedule work and juggle kids' schedules behind the scenes.  A fall detox might be in order - if only to help your body internally adjust to the cooler temperatures (and perhaps lose a couple of those pesky pounds that crept up on you courtesy of all the MaiTais and sundry Frozen Adult Beverages).  Whatever your plans may be, remember to slow things down a bit and appreciate, notice, and express gratitude.  These are some of the wonderful themes I will be focusing on while teaching yoga this month, but they are sentiments that are perfectly okay to take off the mat, as well.

Even if you don't make it to a yoga mat this week, or next, Go Slow.  Notice the gradual change of seasons.  Appreciate the new routines.  Feel gratitude for the memories you were able to make in the summer, and look forward to the new opportunities that lie ahead.

Namaste.  The light within me salutes the light within you.

Teaching schedule update:  my 1-hour Yoga Foundations is changing time, starting this week!  Saturday mornings, 8am to 9am Prasanthi Studio in Pelham.  ALSO, I'm teaching a FREE community class at Yoga Haven on Friday, September 27th.  I'd love to see you on the mat!