Much as I love summer in Seattle, I usually like to escape the city for a trip or two. I always take along my yoga mat, but whether it actually gets used is a toss up. Sometimes I find I just need a break from my routine, which is a lovely thing to give yourself permission to do. Last summer I discovered that being away was a great chance to develop my own practice. Morning yoga by the lake before a swim invited a new layer of calm into my being. I'm looking forward to being back in in that place for a good long while this July and August.

Before the lake in Idaho though, there's always theater. Last week I was in Southern Oregon for an annual trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Friends who are fellow yogis joined this time and they are both more adventurous about trying new studios than I am. Emily even wrote about an experience for my blog last summer. On this trip, she inspired me to walk a couple of blocks from our vacation rental to a beautiful studio on a quiet street in Ashland. Rasa Yoga was the perfect place to spend the noon hour on a hot summer day. The breeze teased the filmy curtains as I moved through reclined twists and watched a few high clouds skirt over the bright blue sky. The teaching was familiar, spoke to the breath frequently, and promoted a balance of effort and ease--something I always appreciate in our over-asana-ized culture. I get pretty attached to my studio and teachers in Seattle, and this experience was a nice reminder of the larger community of yoga and the benefits to trying something new.

So here's to summer, and a willingness to let go of our strict routines and embrace whatever comes along.