It’s been a few weeks and I’m still processing my LUXE Cowgirl Yoga experience at the fabulous Double T River Ranch. I was the recipient of a Cowgirls vs. Cancer scholarship (thank you, thank you, thank you to all the cowgirls who bought t-shirts to support the cause!) and the retreat was healing in a way that is difficult to describe. A fabulous group of cowgirls to hang out with, a cozy cabin by the river (with bald eagle as neighbor), delicious and healthy meals, beautiful surroundings (including a yoga studio to die for) and ….horses, horses, horses! If I’m lucky, I’ll never finish ‘processing’ it, and it will be with me forever!

Certain asanas are linked with horses for me now – we practiced them on horseback to stretch tense and tired muscles and improve our balance. And my yoga practice has been reinvigorated. Although I’ve been practicing for several years, since my surgery I have been afraid to keep growing or to push myself at all. Margaret took the mystery (and, yes, fear) out of vinyasa flow and taught me a series of alternatives beyond just resting in child’s pose when challenged – and now I’m eager to explore a bit and try some new things. I am also fired up after spending several days in a row in the company of horses, learning from Janice and her team. Life is too short to live without horses! Somehow I will find a way to recapture that joy and spend more time with them. After all, there are two parts to being a cowgirl yogini, right?

Yeehaw & Namaste.