i'd forgotten about that line repeated several times throughout Sleepless in Seattle. in fact, i'd pretty much wiped the movie itself from my memory. until it came up in conversation recently as a holiday film and i got to watch it with someone who'd never seen it before. amazingly, aside from some gigantic/corded telephones and unfortunate 90's fashion, the movie stands the test of time quite well. witty exchanges between father and son really steal the show. and then there's that line. "And it was like...magic." and so it was yesterday in my afternoon yoga class. our focus was on transitions - approaching and living them mindfully. we slowed everything down and to my utter delight, my students responded with one of the most beautiful practices i have witnessed as a teacher. we lost ourselves in movement, music and presence. we aligned ourselves with the coming new moon and got carried away in the intensity of its luscious grounding energy.

in the aftermath, it seems appropriate to honor my students with a few words of gratitude and share a playlist with you that's calmed and inspired my week. to those who shared their lovely selves with me yesterday, i say thank you. to every one else, i offer this simple meditation: being present ≠ being perfect.

January 10, 2013 | Playlist

Butterfly's Day Out | Yo-Yo Ma, Mark O'Conner, Edgar Meyer Violin Concerto in F Minor | Vivaldi's Four Seasons (Winter) Gavotte et six double | David Greilsammer Le Soledad | Pink Martini Villa-Lobos: Suite Populaire Bresilienne - 1. Mazurka | Manuel Barrueco Les Abeilles | Rupa & The April Fishes Intermission | Coeur de pirate Gol na mBan san Ar | Máire Ni Chathasaigh & Chris Newman Bach Cello Suite #1 in G, BWV 1007 - Prelude | Yo-Yo Ma Rachmaninov: Vespers, Op. 37-.04 O Serene Light | Robert Shaw Festival Singers