Do personalities sharpen with age?  Lately, I've been wondering about that.  I'll admit. I sometimes have less patience than I used to. I find myself wanting to jump in with a solution before someone finishes their story. Sometimes I react when I should listen. Sometimes I feel responsible for fixing problems that aren't mine to solve.

And if I'm being completely honest, there are days when I'm simply tired.  Tired of feeling responsible for keeping everything together.  Tired of trying to balance personalities.  Tired of smoothing rough edges.  Tired of carrying the invisible pressure of making sure everyone is happy.  The funny thing is, much of that pressure isn't coming from anyone else.  It's coming from me.  Somewhere along the way, I appointed myself the "crazy glue" of life.  The one who helps hold things together, encourages everyone along, and makes sure the pieces fit.  Perhaps you know that feeling too.

This spring, life gently nudged me to take a breather.  For a couple of months, I stepped away from teaching my online classes. Without going into all the details, physically I needed to. Sometimes life has a way of pushing us in a particular direction for a reason, even when we resist it at first.  I was reflecting on this recently while walking toward the Iris Garden at Ladew Topiary Gardens before a Sunset Yoga class.  It was one of those unseasonably warm days that seemed more like July than spring. Temperatures had climbed into the nineties, and the heat felt heavy.  Then something beautiful happened.  Dark clouds drifted across the sky.  The sunlight softened.  A cool breeze moved through the gardens.  The hot humid air changed almost instantly.

As I walked towards the koi pond, admiring the bearded irises and English irises in full bloom, I felt something inside me shift too.  The garden wasn't striving.  The flowers weren't forcing.  Nature wasn't trying to manage, fix, or control.  It was simply responding to the present moment.  And in that moment, a thought came to me…I'd rather soften.  Not give up.  Not stop caring.  Not become indifferent.  Just soften.  Soften my need to solve every problem.  Soften my expectations of myself and others.  Soften the tension in my shoulders, the tightness in my schedule, and the stories I tell myself about what I should be doing.

Perhaps that's what this season is inviting us to practice.  Not weakness or passivity but practicing softness.  Because in yoga, the body often opens most when we stop forcing.  The breath deepens when we stop controlling.  The nervous system settles when we stop striving.  And maybe our hearts do too.

As summer begins…Where could you soften?  Where are you gripping a little too tightly?  What burden could you set down?  What expectation could you loosen?  What if, just for this season, you gave yourself permission to stop being the crazy glue?  To trust that not everything needs fixing.  To trust that not everyone needs managing.  To trust that sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is pause, breathe, and allow life to unfold.  Just as the clouds softened the heat that afternoon, perhaps a little softness can bring relief to our own lives as well.

This month, I invite you to join me as we ease into Summer.  To soften the body through movement.  To soften the mind through breath.  To soften the spirit through rest.  And perhaps, together, we'll discover that growth doesn't always come from pushing harder.  Sometimes it comes from softening instead.  These are the Summer offerings Seasoned Life Yoga LLC has for you as we let the crazy glue soften with ease.

🧘 Summer Yoga Classes: I’ve decided this Summer season I’ll be ‘taking a breather’ from the Seasoned Life Yoga Zoom Studio. However, I will be teaching in nature live, in-person yoga classes.

Ladew Topiary Gardens: Sunset Yoga, Family Yoga & Gentle Meditative Yoga in the Iris Garden. Bring your mat, yoga blocks, and blanket and meet by the koi pond. Become a member of the enchanting gardens and receive a discount on yoga classes! Pro tip: bring a large towel or blanket to place your mat on, it helps keep the feet dry if there’s morning dew.

Register at www.ladewgardens.com

💜 NEW VENUE : STAR BRIGHT FARM 💜 Lavender Season Sunset Yoga: Experience the magic of lavender season with a gentle sunset yoga class overlooking the blooming fields at Star Bright Farm. Slow, mindful movement and calming breath work help the body soften as the scent of lavender and golden light invite deep relaxation. A peaceful, sensory-rich way to end your day. Bring a yoga mat, a blanket or beach towel and yoga blocks if you have them. Come as you are. Let the light fade, the body soften, and the evening hold you.

Register at www.starbright-farm.com

Beach Yoga in OC Check out the website for upcoming dates to meet Oceanside. Listen to the rhythmic sound of the waves, as you tenderly move & stretch. Easing away tension, letting your stress roll out with the tide. It’s a true sensory experience. Pro tip:  Bring an extra large blanket to practice on, it minimizes the sand in your practice and your sunglasses too!

Register at www.seasonedlifeyoga.com

🌙 Soften w/ a Yoga Nidra Deep Rest Journey. Lie back, get comfy and just listen and allow your mind, body and spirit to soften listening to The Summer Series on YouTube. There are ads if you don’t have YT Premium or you can find them on the app Insight Timer. Enjoy, like and follow to receive the new recordings. Leave a comment too. Based upon an ancient relaxation technique they allow the body to relax deeply. Research has shown 30 minutes is equivalent to three hours of deep sleep. Amazing! They are perfect for a lovely, wind down in the evening, or to encourage your body to relax & prepare for a deep, restful sleep.  They’re also perfect to listen to if you had a restless night as a morning refresh. There’s a special series created called Around the Clock, with a Deep Rest Journey for any time of the day. The Bedtime Tuck in is my favorite.

Listen on YouTube Channel or on the app Insight Timer .

🥾 Yoga Hike AdZENture:  Roll up your yoga mat & put on your hiking boots, for the rugged terrain of Oregon Ridge awaits! Breathe in fresh air, and exhale the stress from your week. This 2-hour hike is invigorating and refreshing.  It’s an uphill, ‘root & rocky’ terrain, so make sure you’re steady on your feet.  Bring your water, walking stick & your sense of adventure!

Register at www.seasonedlifeyoga.com

📚 Seasoned Life Yoga Book Club: Since I unfortunately had to postpone our discussion for our Spring selection I have two upcoming events for our book-loving readers. Feel free to pop into one or both of our hybrid relaxed, free-flowing book discussions.

Register at www.seasonedlifeyoga.com

Spring ’26 Selection: SIGNS: The Secret Language of the Universe by Laura Lynne Jackson This is such a beautiful and sensitive read. It’s about opening your eyes to sign from those who have touched your life. It will make an interesting, heartfelt conversation.

Summer ’26 Selection: Detoxify by Aly Cohen, MD. I was fortunate to meet the author, Dr. Aly Cohen at a Women’s Health Summit this spring. Her discussion was so jammed packed with useful information I had to read her book. It’s all about the everyday toxins harming our immune system and how to defend against them. It’s truly eye-opening and alarming.  Toxins are everywhere…in our home, our environment, in our food & in hygiene and beauty products. Whether you join the discussion or not, I encourage you to read this book. It’s important to spread awareness about everyday toxins to promote health, healing and longevity. Perhaps, we’ll have a visitor at our discussion!

Reach out and let me know how you plan ‘to soften’ during this season. (Even if it’s sitting on your porch, deck or lanai sipping sweet tea and savoring a summer read) Happy Summer!

Until next time, Sweet Friend….just breathe. 💕