July 2013

Last April I received the following e-mail from one of our Mindful Motion Yoga family:

Terri, 

I met two friends at Guana this morning at seven to do a shorebird survey. We had just entered the south park boundary when we found a Kemp's Ridley sea turtle on the beach. It was still alive but definitely in trouble. We took it back to the research station....... It was so amazing to be so close to such a creature.....they are the rarest and most endangered of our FL sea turtles. 

Because the tide was then too high to continue the shorebird survey, we hiked into Guana and looked at, what else, birds. What a day!  

Condron, a juvenile Kemp's Ridley sea turtle on the day of discovery

I love that this individual began her morning on her much loved hobby, birding, found and addressed another's need and then continued with her hobby. 

More about Condron's rescue:  

The Guana Turtle Patrol retrieved her and she was subsequently transported to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island for rehab.

According to GSTC records, Condron arrived debilitated: anemic, thin, with lots of epibiota (barnacles and leeches) and algae on her shell along with some severe shell lacerations which took a long time to heal. She was also found to have a P.I.T. (Passive Integrated Transponder) tag which indicated she had been in rehab before. A

repeat offender! Then named Little Sunny, she was found in a gill net with hooks in her GI tract, was rehabilitated at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Center on Topsail Island in NC, and was ultimately released there on June 1st, 2011.

Yesterday, personnel from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center brought Condron, along with another juvenile sea turtle which had been successfully rehabbed, to Mickler's Landing in Ponte Vedra Beach for release.

On Thursday, I received notice that Condron was being released into the ocean in Ponte Vedra the following day!

 

 

 

Do you recognize this guy?

I was there for the release on Friday - It  was such a fun experience! 

Condron - has been rehabilitated is  healthy and has been released into the ocean!   He was so excited! He was carried into the ocean and held above the water until in the appropriate depth.  As he was held above the water, he seemed to begin to swim in the air by rapidly waving his flippers.  His eagerness and enthusiasm was so beautiful and moving.

He was released into the ocean following the passing of a wave and the small crowd cheered as he quickly disappeared into the ocean.  :-)

 

I hope that you follow your passion and fully enjoy your life.  As each of us move about, following our unique paths, we will surely come upon opportunities to pause, serve others, then return to our path. 

 

Namaste'

 

What a Yogi Learned at Football Camp

June 2013

4th and 1

I should clarify.  4th and 1 is not simply a "football camp"  It is a free football and life skills camp for student-athletes. I am beyond proud to have been a part of this innovative program founded by Daron Roberts,  Cleveland Browns defensive quality control coach and a graduate of Harvard Law School.

For six days, the student-athletes lived on the Jacksonville University campus and gained exposure to college life. They were exposed to college admissions counseling, business skills training, life skills courses, and motivational speakers. The curriculum also included daily yoga, résumé writing workshops, SAT skills classes, dinner etiquette instruction and of course football.  

WHAT I LEARNED AT FOOTBALL CAMP

 

Football is not a game. It is an opportunity to:

• • work with others toward a common goal  
  • be courageous and take chances
  • succeed and celebrate
  • let go of the past -  errors happen, what now?  
  • be an encourager  
  • trust others  
  • protect others
  • to trust that others are protecting you
  • forgive, move on and trust again (see above)
  • Play, laugh, breathe, experience joy and roll with the unexpected!  
•  

Be amazed. 

 

From a physical standpoint, can you see how side angle, triangle, our revolving poses, shoulder opening poses, and warriors (quad strength and knee stability) benefit this movement?  From a mental standpoint,, do you

think there might be a tiny bit of focus to create the just right timing necessary to catch the ball at this height? All while potentially surrounded by others working to stop you!

 

Beautiful. 

.

My Yoga Philosophy as Applied to Football

• It is not where you start, it is how far you travel
• Persistence combined with patience pays off
• Accomplished athletes are yogis on the field.  they are focused, in the moment, working at the body's capacity,and removers of obstacles
• You don't need a mat to practice seva (selfless service) Too many examples to begin to describe!     

 

Check out this beautiful Side Angle Pose!

 

What I will carry with me:

 

When given a place of acceptance we shed our protective exterior. and the true self emerges   The true self is beautiful, joyful and kind.  It takes strength and courage to expose the true self.  The 4th and 1 student athletes have strength and courage.

 

 

 

 

What triangle looked like on day 3.

Beautiful, right? 

 

 

 

The camp is sponsored through a grant from the

Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation.

 

A special shout out to the Jacksonville Jaguars Organization, for making generous contributions to our city and its residents. I am grateful for the time, the professionalism and graciousness shown to the 4th and 1 participants. How awesome for them to get to see the stadium, locker room,and talk with accomplished professional athletes!  No longer a fair weather fan, I'll be cheering. I am all in!     . 

 

 

4th and 1 student athletes in the Jag locker room!

 

A deep bow of gratitude to the MMY community for generously doanting yoga mats for all student athletes!  Thank you for participating with me!