Artist Stacy Levy thinks the next wave in art is functionality; or in her case while in Fayetteville for Walton Arts Center’s Artosphere, working with nature and art to help the natural world.

To do this takes contemplation and creativity, which Levy has a lot of after a long career in the arts, including graduating from Yale University with a B.A. in sculpture. The Spiral Wetland installation at Lake Fayetteville was her chance to look more closely at the direct impact on nature, both good and bad, of the sculpture; remembering how art will play a role in our new, environmentally-conscious future.

Calculations show that the lake would need much more wetland coverage to keep up with the oil from boat ramps, parking lots and other human and animal waste, she said, so this is not a cure for the lake’s current pollution problems.

“It may not be an answer but we hope it at least points in a direction,” she said.

The installation is also for aesthetic beauty allowing people to visually connect with their environment. Levy showed this as she stood on the banks staring at her sculpture the day TFW interviewed her. She pointed out toward the lake and the horizon to bring attention to how the spiral changed the perspective and made the trees that surround the lake seem more real and in focus.

“It’s about having something to help focus your eyes on the larger picture,” she said.

Spiral Wetland is an outdoor eco-art project inspired by Robert Smithson’s famous outdoor sculpture Spiral Jetty. This early earthwork, created in 1970, is a spiral of black basalt rocks and earth trucked out into the shallow Great Salt Lake in Utah.

Fayetteville’s wetland will expand on the concept of the spiral in nature, creating an artwork with a specific ecological goal: to improve the water quality of Lake Fayetteville. Levy, whose artwork was a part of Artosphere’s inaugural visual arts exhibition, Beyond Sublime/Changing Nature, will create a 129-foot-long spiral floating wetland that will stretch from the shoreline into the lake.

Instead of rocks and earth, Spiral Wetland will have native plants growing in the floating wetlands. These plants help to take excess nutrients from the lake water and add shade for fish habitat.

At the end of the installation, the plants will be adopted and replanted in other wetlands. Find more of Artosphere visual arts exhibits and more at www.artospherefestival.org/category/visual-arts

Living in the Ozarks we are blessed with many talented people, from musicians to authors to photographers.

Here, at the Fayetteville Library, we want to salute our local authors by offering a venue to express their words to the public.

The Library has hosted several local authors in the past few years and would love to reach out and have more authors grace the stage of our Walker Room.

We have been fortunate to host many local, notable Fayetteville talents. Most recently local musician and author Alison Moore read from her new novel Riders on the Orphan Train and presented a multi-media program. We were tickled to have Kimberly Cook read from her classic vampire tale with a twist, “Her Blood’s Warning,” for a thrilling October read. Robert Laurence a retired professor of law at the University of Arkansas presented his newest novel, “Departure Lounge,” with a reading on a cold and damp Sunday afternoon that was enjoyed by many. A collective author event presented the Umoja Soul Writer’s Group with local authors, Michael Lafears Jr., Ms. F.L. Jones and Rhonda Bell Holmes. Geoffrey Oelsner, a local poet, writer and musician led a less traditional interactive author event. After reading from his latest work, “A Country Where All Colors Are Sacred and Alive,” he invited the audience to relate stories of their personal experiences of the paranormal and communion with nature. One of our first events was with two wonderful local authors Velda Brotherton and Linda Apple, which was a huge success and actually inspired the ongoing local author events.

For local authors or poets who have published a title, the Walker Community Room is free of charge with the standard set up. All authors have the opportunity to sell their books and will be responsible for their own cash box and change. The Library will provide advertising on our digital monitors and list the event on the library monthly calendars. Authors are encouraged to develop posters and place them on the community bulletin board and market through their own venues.

Something new in 2014 is Second Sunday. The second Sunday of each month (excluding June and July) will be available for a local author to read from his or her works and host a book signing. The library will begin accepting submissions Oct. 1.

If you’re a locally published author and would like to stand on our stage, please contact me, Kathy Stevens, at 479-856-7250 to discuss bringing your material to the library. www.faylib.org

I’ve been with my boyfriend for two years. I do have trust issues, having been cheated on in past relationships. My boyfriend’s best friend of six years, a beautiful and intelligent woman, passed away three months ago. Since then, he has visited her grave weekly and kept a photo of them together posted online. When she was alive, the two of them spoke daily about everything — including intimate details and problems in our relationship. I made it clear that their constant communication and boundary-crossing details were not OK with me, yet they continued. They claimed they were strictly platonic. However, since I’m a woman who has been fooled before, I can’t help but suspect otherwise. I love my boyfriend and want to support him in his time of grief, but I don’t feel that he sees how hard it is for me to see the man I love mourn this woman he loved and lost.
— Struggling

It can be unsettling when your man comes home with tear stains on his collar, smelling like a trip to the cemetery. But the guy’s best friend died only three months ago, and he’s visiting her grave once a week; it’s not like he’s up all night with the Ouija board, asking her for advice on your sex life.

It must’ve been a bummer to find your man’s best friend of six years wasn’t just a place-holder in his life until he could find a girlfriend. And yes, friends confide in each other, share their lives, and give each other feedback. If there was certain information that you wanted to remain private — if, say, he was revealing details that you felt should be between you two and the headboard — you needed to come to some agreement about that together. But, you don’t get to mandate that your boyfriend’s friendship revolves around topics of conversation you don’t find invasive, such as the weather, who’s about to nuke whom, and celebrity parole violations.

As for why the dearly departed is still clinging to life in your boyfriend’s online photos, it’s probably for the same reason that I (like a surprising number of people) still have the phone numbers of several dead friends programmed into my phone. It feels good keeping them in my life, even in such a mundane way, and I refuse to have a hand in making them any more gone than they already are.

You have “trust issues” because you’re “a woman who has been fooled before,” not because you have videotape of your boyfriend and his friend making out in the coffee shop. Unless he’s given you reason to believe he’s unethical, your jealousy and suspicions arose out of your failure to take responsibility for what was done to you in the past. There are a few crafty sociopaths out there who can hide their true character, but chances are, you got cheated on because you didn’t really want to look at who you were with, and that came back to bite you. Accepting that should help you be there for your boyfriend — tempting as it is to take the jealous girlfriend thing to a whole new level by asking whether that tapping on the wall is his dead friend trying to arrange a time for some out-of-this-world sex.

I Sing The Buddy Electric

When I got a boyfriend six months ago, I became a lot less available to my best friend. I knew she was disappointed, but she took it in stride and even claimed to understand. I’m bagging a lot of guilt now because I call her the most when I’m having trouble with my boyfriend.
— Bad Friend

It isn’t like you’ve stopped sharing your life with her — not if you count all those times your butt dialed her number and left a muffled five-minute message on her voicemail.

Assuming your friend isn’t just a doormat, she’s been a good friend by not getting all miffy that you’ve been preoccupied. Your friendship probably can’t take up as much of your lifespace as it did before, but you can recommit to it by making time for her regularly with phone, Skype, and coffee dates.

You might also try an idea from “Friendfluence” author Carlin Flora — celebrating the success of a long-term friendship as you would a romantic relationship and treating your friend to dinner and reminiscing about how you met and the great times you’ve had.

(Think of it as your “friendiversary.”)

This should help you avoid undervaluing your friendship, which is important, in case what was proudly perky on you takes a downturn into something a little more National Geographic.

That’s when you can really count on your female friends to stand by you — and if they’re less affected by gravity, to stand by you in public as often as possible.

(c)2013, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA  90405, or e-mail AdviceAmy@aol.com (advicegoddess.com). Weekly radio show: blogtalkradio.com/amyalkon

Sunday is Pentecost, a festival of the Holy Spirit (Ray 3 of Divine Intelligence). Pentecost is the name given to the descent of the Holy Spirit as tongues of fire appearing above the heads of Christ’s (Piscean World Teacher) Disciples (students) in an upper room (plane of the Mind). Pentecost is not a simple bible story. It’s an actual experience for each individual as the Light of the Soul begins to direct the personality with spiritual gifts and virtues — wisdom, understanding (all ideas, all hearts), knowledge and Right Judgment (directing the intellect), wonder, fortitude/courage and respect/reverence (directing our willingness to serve).

These seven gifts are represented as doves in medieval art and texts.

This is a critical week in terms of the world’s ongoing crisis. Monday is the third (of seven) Uranus square Pluto transit. Uranus calls us to revolution and Pluto demands transformation.

Both must occur within and outside of us (in the world). Steadily, as these two trans (beyond)-personal planets square over the course of three years (till 2015) we will be challenged to create the new world based upon the new Aquarian Laws & Principles. If we cannot, a long deep sleep (pralaya) will overtake us.

Tuesday, Venus is 15 Gemini (it’s occultation of the Sun degree and of the ongoing false flags created to distract humanity from its purpose and tasks). There is deeply occult symbolism occurring between the Forces of Light and the Forces of Dark. Though we may not understand, let us determinedly and intentionally stand on the side of the Forces of Light, making that choice so sleep does not overtake us. We prepare this week for the Gemini solar festival, full moon lunar eclipse (something in form disappears), Festival of Humanity (May 24).

ARIES: More and more, over time and well into the future you become devoted to home and family. You realize the first community in our lives is family. You realize you must be strong and dutiful and that you have obligations you’re determined to fulfill. You are developing an exceptional level of responsibility. And becoming practical and efficient, which the world needs.

TAURUS: You tell everyone you’re more comfortable at home. You focus research upon growth and prosperity. You learn how to share. Deeply connected with the earth, it’s important to discover, study about and plant medicinal herbs for the future. Your healing abilities are directly connected to Earth’s natural gifts. You are to manifest the coming new world through thought and visualization and understanding natural medicinals.

GEMINI: You ask the questions and seek out the answers and within each answer you find even more questions. This is good. It’s Socratic. Only from questions do we make discoveries. Only through questions do we acquire knowledge, which leads to wisdom, the Raincloud of Knowable Things. When there is a sense of limitation, slow down to clarify and organize thoughts.

CANCER: You are like Hestia, keeper of the Sacred Flame. You, like she, tend the hearth with devotion, conservation, dedication and nurturance. Aware or not, you’re committed to service and serving others. Therefore you carry the spiritual task of caring for humanity. You are courageous and brave, capable of healing yourself with knowledge and wisdom after deep study and research.

LEO: You are like a priest or priestess, able to be one with all energies, seen and unseen and realities not yet in manifestation. You’re able to heal others if your heart desires it. You have the gift of leadership to share. It’s important always with leadership to also have the will-to-good, the will-to-love and the will to have boundaries if needed. Boundaries protect you and others when appropriate.

VIRGO: You understand chaos and creation, for they are one. You understand beginnings and endings and that rules must change at different developmental stages. You know about karma, a word often misunderstood. It means we all return together in one family and friend circle for the purpose of helping one another, even if it feels strict and difficult. Devoted to humanitarian (Aquarian) ideals, you allow everyone freedom.

LIBRA: Dedicated to achieving outward success, nothing keeps you from attaining that goal. You sense a spiritual destiny to fulfill. Therefore you are able to be disciplined, structured and hard working. Many Librans desire to be of service in the healing field to bring hope and balance to humanity. You align yourself with a Higher Power for direction. Never be harsh with yourself or another.

SCORPIO: Passion, truth and justice are what you know and live by. Even if it doesn’t seem that way to others. It’s a very high code of conduct. While always seeking a higher connection in the spiritual world you also simultaneously understand and experience the underbelly of Earthly physical life. It’s a conundrum and a paradox, difficult to explain. Knowing there’s never an end to this journey it’s good to consider yourself as triumphant. A warrior.

SAGITTARIUS: There’s been with all “archers” (the true name of Sag) a deep healing of the self through creating a balance and moderation in all things. There has been a deepening of trust; a greater ability to be “present” with others, realizing offering the gift of self is the greatest healing. This has allowed great creative energies of regeneration to flow through your life. We see you have been guarding the sacred flame of renewal.

CAPRICORN: Over the months you’ve recognized the need for diplomacy and compromise, two Soul qualities that work together. Thus you’ve been the messenger in all partnerships. Offering this gift has taught others how to work with concern for the other while also balancing self-needs. You have taught many the Art of Cooperation. A bit of caution. Do not compare yourself to others. Because then intimacy fades.

AQUARIUS: You can be serious, focused and driven (at times). You have a sense of duty to humanity. But sometimes you also can be impatient with the needs, vicissitudes and life’s difficulties of others. You can have exacting standards and this veils from you the goodness of others. Allow your self to laugh and play and have fun. Allow yourself to know everything everyone’s doing is their very best.

PISCES: You’re always of service, always creative. It’s important for your work to have spiritual and humanitarian significance. You have great love and enthusiasm (easily be misunderstood in the world). You’re romantic and courageous. All your life force goes into your work. Find, cultivate and stand in gardens. They help you carry the Virgo energy gestating new realities for humanity. You hold the light leading to the path of tomorrow.

Risa D’Angeles, founder & director
Esoteric & Astrological Studies & Research Institute—
—a contemporary Wisdom School studying the Ageless Wisdom teachings -The foundation of the teachings is Esoteric Astrology.
Email: risagoodwill@gmail.com
Web journal: www.nightlightnews.com
Facebook: Risa’s Esoteric Astrology

People Making Ripples:

By Amanda Bancroft

I recently found three worms under the welcome mat near our front door, and held them in my hand, for the first time realizing what they were doing there and how they perceive the world. Worms are fascinating creatures and an essential part of an organic garden or compost pile. Thanks to Fayetteville resident Quinn Montana’s vermiculture workshop, I learned how to start my own worm bin and avoid sending kitchen scraps to the landfill!

Vermiculture, or “vermicompost,” is like regular composting except that it includes using worms to break down compostable materials like kitchen scraps and yard clippings. According to the City of Fayetteville Solid Waste and Recycling Division, “The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that in 2010 alone, 34 million tons of food waste was generated, and only 3 percent of this was diverted from landfills or incineration. Backyard composting is an important way individuals can increase this diversion rate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfills while creating a valuable soil amendment for their yard and garden.”

It’s a win-win deal for gardeners and the environment, so how do you begin your own worm bin? First, you’ll need red wigglers (Eisenia foetida), which are the most adapted to thriving in a compost pile. These aren’t the earthworms you find in your backyard in the city. As Quinn says, “There are city worms and there are country worms,” and you need the right kind! You can order them online or partner with a friend who has a mature vermiculture bin and needs to get rid of some of their worms.

Before the worms arrive, you need a nice-sized plastic bin (usually used for storage) with a lid. There are a couple of ways to separate the finished compost from the decomposing material, and if you choose to physically separate the two, you’ll need two bins. (Check out Ripples’ vermiculture blog post for a how-to video that uses two bins.) An easy method is to use one bin and fill it with ripped up pieces of egg carton or brown paper bag. Once you have a nice amount of bedding in the bottom of your bin, you need to wet it down so that it feels spongy but not soaking wet — this ensures the worms have enough moisture and don’t dry out.

Next, you’re ready to add the worms! If they try to crawl out of your bin, they may not like their new home because it is too wet or too dry, so adjust accordingly. Add any kitchen scraps to the top of the bin, but leave out animal products like meat and dairy. The worms don’t eat animal products, only rotting vegetation. After they eat their fill and produce castings (worm poop) it should look like rich black soil, ready for your garden!

Ripples is a blog connecting people to resources on sustainable living while chronicling their off-grid journey and supporting the work of non-profit organizations. Read more on this topic and others at www.RipplesBlog.org

Nathan Aronowitz

Staff Report

Help pick up trash on the river and keep NWA’s drinking water clean at the Eighth Annual West Fork Watershed Cleanup from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at West Fork Riverside Park, off Arkansas 170.

The purpose is to keep the West Fork and its watershed clean, since this tributary flows to Beaver Lake, drinking water for more than 400,000 people. Cleanup sites include Riverside Park, Baptist Ford, Dye Creek Road, Woolsey Bridge, Brentwood Mountain Road, Winslow Ballpark, Greenland School, Town Branch and Walker Park.

Participants will be supplied with trash bags, maps to cleanup locations, gloves and reusable water bottles filled with chilled tap water. This is a great activity for families, church groups, Scout groups, civic clubs, students, and people of all ages. Download the flier for information and a map of cleanup sites, as well as the registration form, by linking here: www.bwdh2o.org/education-and-outreach/events/west-fork-watershed-clean-up/.

Volunteers will check in from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and fan out to stations along the river and clean up targeted areas. Lunch and door prizes begin at 11 a.m. Preregistration is encouraged, but not required. Call 479-225-1611 to preregister. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

The annual cleanup is coordinated by the West Fork Watershed Alliance. Sponsors and partners include Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arvest Bank, Beaver Water District, City of West Fork, Keep Arkansas Beautiful, Pack Rat Outdoor Center, Tyson Foods, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Washington County Environmental Affairs, the Watershed Conservation Resource Center, Audubon Arkansas, Beaver Watershed Alliance, Ozark Natural Foods, Ozarks Water Watch, Arkansas Earth Day, the Bank of Fayetteville, and Northwest Arkansas Land Trust.

The Send-Off Blues

As he prepares to enter Belmont University in the fall, Nathan Aronowitz (aka Nathan A.), will celebrate with and thank the NWA music community at a very special College Send-off Bash taking place at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville from 5 to 8 p.m. on May 24. A portion of all door proceeds will benefit the Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas. Hors d’oeuvres will be provided by Early Bird Catering. Admission is $5.

During the event, the Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas will present Nathan with an “Outstanding Achievement Award.”

The award will acknowledge Nathan’s achievement in the classroom, on the stage and in the studio.

In addition, Nathan also will receive the 2013 “Albert E. Brumley Memorial Scholarship” from the I’ll Fly Away Foundation.

This scholarship is intended to encourage and support the next generation of music professionals to be the best they can be.

Albert Brumley had a vision of becoming a songwriter and didn’t let anyone discourage him.

This scholarship is named in recognition of his tenacity and passion for music.

The College Send-off Bash will culminate in an All-Star Jam featuring Leah Spears, Gary Hutchison, Kory Montgomery, Isayah Warford, Ocie Fisher, Amanda Rey, among others.

The I’ll Fly Away Foundation supports the musician of future. They focus on positive reinforcement music brings to a young person’s life.

Music gives young people focus and a sense of well being and, they respond by becoming more responsible adults.

The Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas fosters the development in the community of an appreciation of all types of blues music by promoting and producing meetings, lectures, seminars, concerts, musical productions and entertainment involving the blues.

They promote public knowledge of local, national, and international blues music and, promote historical research into blues music in order to perpetuate the memory, spirit, and music of blues artists who have not received just popular recognition.

Dogwood Walk Fundraising

The Humane Society of the Ozarks’ 21st annual Dogwood Walk will be held May 18 at Gulley Park in Fayetteville.

Both canine and their human companions of all ages enjoy booths, activities, demonstrations and contests while raising funds and awareness for the humane treatment of animals.

The Dogwood Walk is one of the largest pet events in Northwest Arkansas.
Our event is a great opportunity to encourage good health through exercise for both people and their pets and improve the quality of life for pets in our area.

Walkers will enjoy doggie contests, challenges and various demonstrations from local shops and vendors.

There will be fun photos of you and your dog, face painting and balloon animals, along with awards presented to exceptional dogs and their owners in a number of fun cate-gories.

Take home a toy or treat to your feline family, and the event will culminate with a walk around Gulley Park.

The event begins at 9 a.m. to noon rain or shine. The cost is $15 for HSO members and $20 for non-members. Registration includes lunch and a T-shirt.

Companion passes, which don’t include a T-shirt, may be purchased for family members or friends for an additional $5 with the purchase of a regular registration.

Kids 5 and under are free.

You may register at the event or online at hsozarks.thebelfordgroup.com/dogwoodwalk.aspx.

Goody bags are available for an additional $15 (limited quantity), and are filled with a variety of dog products including gourmet treats, food samples, toys, coupons and some items for their human companions too.

Low-cost microchipping will also be available for only $20 and includes the implanting of the microchip and lifetime regis-tration!

Tri Cycle race at Block Party 2012

Where: Block Avenue in Downtown Fayetteville (from Dickson Street to Mountain Street and all the in-between nooks and crannies)
When: 11 a.m. until dark, Sun., May 19
Why: Celebrate the wonderful diversity and funkiness that makes up the unique Block Street downtown district. This is a party by Fayetteville for Fayetteville!
Cost: Absolutely free to attend and to participate in activities. Vendors will have food, goods and services for purchase.

By Terrah Baker

Members of Block Street Business Association (BSBA) had no idea a simple celebration of construction completion would lead to the large, annual event that has become Block Street Block Party.

Last year’s Block Party was my first; and the entire time I kept hoping it wouldn’t be the last. Fayetteville and NWA residents galore filled the streets of Block Street in downtown Fayetteville, roaming through the rows of local businesses, nonprofits, artists, organizations, local food and other attendees basking in the funkiness that’s represented there.

“Everyone wants to find new and creative ways to promote Fayetteville culture — our local, independent, social, food, art and business culture,” said owner of Little Bread Company and one organizer of Block Party Hannah Withers.

The businesses that now line the street represent a wide range of interests and people, from clothes and handmade shoes to dry cleaners, restaurants and craft stores. Block Street is brought to life daily with the environmentally-friendly customer of Good Things Boutique, the socially-conscious at World Treasures, the artistic entrepreneur sitting outside Little Bread Company, the young college student sifting through Mustache’s newest fashion line, and the antique collector carrying out their newest treasure from French Quarters Antiques.

“We have such an eclectic mix of businesses on this street and we happen to be much heavier on retail than other downtown streets, which brings in more of a funky feel,” Withers explained.

The BSBA banned together in 2011 to put on the first Block Street Block Party that turned out to be a huge success with over 5,000 people in attendance. In 2012, the event grew even more bringing in around 12,000 attendants and many businesses and organizations.

BSBA has also raised about $5,500 for local charities through Block Party.

Business owners on Block Street said they are excited to take part in the event and more importantly to be located in one of Fayetteville’s funkiest business districts. The last three years the group has come together and formed committees to help organize the party.

“Everyone who’s on Block Street tries to participate in [Block Party] because it’s fun and helps promote our local businesses,” said Dark Star Visuals owner Stacey Wieties.

This year, organizers expect the same large crowds of eager fans coming back for more of the originality and local flare.

South Carolina Republican Mark Sanford, not to be confused with Fred Sanford, defeated Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch in a special election to determine who would fill a vacant seat in the U.S. House.

If you remember, Marky Mark is the one who took his funky bunch down south so he could get his groove on with his Argentinean mistress, Maria Belen Chapur, who is now his fiancee.

But, Mark couldn’t settle for just a run of the mill, globe-trotting, extramarital affair.

He used taxpayer money to take the trip down to Argentina and claimed that he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. Well, that’s one euphemism I haven’t heard before.

As distasteful as South Carolinians found Sanford’s dalliance and prevaricating ways, they found electing a female Democrat even more distasteful.

Plus, he apologized and claimed that “I am an imperfect man saved by God’s grace,” which translated into Republicans feeling as though he deserved a second chance.

Oddly, I can seem to remember several Democrats who Republicans felt weren’t worthy of a second chance.

Does the name Bill ring a bell? Remember the impeachment over his affair?

How about the name Weiner? All he did was send a picture of his covered body part with the same name and he was excoriated by Republicans across the country. He was a lecher, a deviant, a perv and most unworthy to hold office of any kind. He wasn’t deserving of a second chance, because how can a person who had the audacity to tweet a photo of the outline of his underwear-clad junk to a woman he didn’t know be trusted to hold political office?

I think it’s funny, peculiar not haha, that the party that preaches family values is rather insincere about family values.

In fact, the only reason I can come up with for the Republicans being forgiving when one of their own is caught with his pants down but not a Democrat is because they’re a bunch of hypocrites.

Personally, I don’t care if a politician has an affair as long as it doesn’t affect his or her ability to serve.

If a married man or woman chooses to cheat on his or her spouse or significant other, it’s no one’s business besides the parties directly involved.

However, when a politician uses tax money to travel halfway across the globe to be caught in flagrante delicto, I start having a problem.

I think most taxpayers would rather their money be spent on things like infrastructure and education than on “hiking the Appalachian trail.”

I also think we’d all be better off if we focused less on how much politicians are getting screwed and more on how much they’re screwing us.

Rachel Birdsell is a freelance writer and artist. You can drop her a note at rabirdsell@gmail.com or at facebook.com/RachelABirdsell

Local realtor and yoga practitioner Marilyn Shoffit knows a good investment when she sees one. Affectionately nicknamed ‘The Landlady’ by her colleagues for her expertise in assessing the value of a parcel of land, Marilyn started practicing yoga in the early 1990s when a local teacher began offering weekly classes at her office.

“I’ve never been one to exercise in the traditional sense of the word. Going to the gym was never my thing — such effort for minimal return. I’m an independent woman, always have been, and I’m constantly on the go. I’m usually able to make it to two or three classes per week, but I don’t stress about it when I don’t. I’ve learned enough about myself and my body to be comfortable practicing on my own — a little here, a little there. At the office, in the car. You can literally practice anywhere. And I never feel like I have to — I do it because I want to. Because it makes me feel great. Blissful even! I’m convinced it’s one of the best things a person can do for themselves. And everyone can do it.”

“When you learn about yoga from a qualified teacher — I’ve had great teachers from the start — you learn not just about fitness, but about wellness. I’ve become a bit of an informal yoga advocate to the extent that my doctor calls me ‘the yoga girl.’ He and I are both convinced that my practice has played a large part in keeping me healthy, strong and happy.”

When asked about her favorite pose Ms. Shoffit is quick to respond: Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana). It’s the perfect pose to work with reconciling opposites. It’s active and restorative. You can just feel tension release from the shoulders and hips.’

1. Come to hands and knees, knees just below hips, hands a few inches in front of the shoulders. Widen the palms. Bring the index fingers parallel with one another.

2. Tuck the toes under, exhale and lift the knees off the floor by pressing down through the heels and drawing upward through the sits bones. Maintain a micro-bend in the knees and allow the inner thighs to rotate inward.

3. Lightly engage mula bandha — the muscles that regulate urine flow — while lifting the pelvis away from the floor.

4. Firm the base of the thumb and index fingers into the mat while lifting up through the inner arms and shoulders. Broaden across the upper back, press the shoulder blades towards the heart center while simultaneously rolling the shoulders away from the ears.

5. Lengthen through the back of the neck and extend through the crown of the head, bringing the ears parallel with the upper arms.

6. Draw the inhale to the base of the spine while maintaining the engagement of the mula bandha. Bring the belly button towards the backbone with the exhale. Again, the bandha will stay active.

7. Enjoy reconciling opposites as you find balance front to back and side to side.

8. Restore and recalibrate in child’s pose.

Alexander Wayne teaches yoga and meditation at the UofA and Fiddlehead Fern Therapeutics.Contact him at alexander.wayne@gmail.com