Yoga with Debra Simpson

Settling in...

2011-10-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

It's now been about 6 weeks, and I am settling into life here in Boulder. I am continuing to look for yoga classes to teach, nothing regular yet, although I have subbed a couple of classes. It is quite lovely to be able to see Josh and Mike on occasion, and I am working part time in a retail store.
I feel extremely fortunate to have spent my time at Esalen, and look forward to what the future may hold if I can get back there for a time again.

Boulder- I am here, now!

2011-09-16T10:48:00.000-07:00

Arrived late Monday, August 30 after 2 long days of driving through desert and mountains and the sun and rain as I neared Boulder County produced the most amazing double rainbow with vivid colors that I have ever seen!
Some motorists were snapping photos, but after 20 hours on the road all I could think of was how much I wanted to see the family, so I did not stop.
I am now in my new apartment, in a lovely area of North Boulder and getting organized and situated, looking for work is taking time and patience, so that is my goal at the moment.
Stay in touch, I love to hear from you!!

So long Esalen, hello Boulder!

2011-08-30T08:16:00.001-07:00

After 15 months of community life and service to the Esalen community, I have traveled in 2 short days to Boulder to make my home here. The road trip was fantastic, including culture shock of staying the first night in a Las Vegas casino hotel. Sunday morning as I walked the last walk to the still dark baths, I came eye to eye with a grey fox. He bid me so long for now. Then just a little while after driving in the fog of the central coast of Big Sur California and a few short stops, I landed in the cha-chiiiing of noise and slot machines, people of all shapes and kinds hoping to win their fortunes! WOW!
I am now an Esalen certified massage practitioner, and look forward to finding my home and work here near my children Josh and Mike and their spouses (spice?)

Safely back to E-la

2011-04-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

Having traveled Naciemento Rd back to Esalen safely, I have spent the last several days in an advanced massage deep tissue workshop. I am certainly blissed out and have learned so much in just a few short days. I am very excited and ready to practice my new skills on you!
It is almost a year now since my journey began, WOW and double WOW! Michael turned 30 yesterday, and the realization that my youngest is all grown up was a bit sobering, and yet a sense of wonder of what the next chapters will hold for me is present.
Stay tuned.....

Boulder bound- in a few months!!!

2011-03-28T15:21:00.000-07:00

I will be back at Esalen this week, if I can get there with the road collapse, and the rock slides- then at the end of summer, I will move to Boulder! My home in St Louis is all empty, some personal items are in storage until I find my new home here in Colorado. I will be looking for work, teaching yoga and practicing bodywork, as well as maybe some office work. If you know of anyone looking for a very skilled, very professional, upbeat person, let me know!
Blessings all around
Peace to all, life to all, love to all!

long absence

2010-09-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since my last post, sorry, and I am definitely in the vortex here at Esalen. What a journey it has been so far, lots of new skills being learned, including the beginning of my massage training. I really do love having the opportunity to place healing hands on people.
Stay tuned, I am hoping to write more soon..........

Esalen workshop in Feb. 2011

2010-08-26T11:57:00.001-07:00

Please join me Feb. 6-11, 2011 for yoga in the beauty and magic of Esalen Institute. Stay tuned for more info on registration.

foggy coolness

2010-07-25T10:15:00.001-07:00

another foggy, cool day at the e-land....my legacy program is in the last week, and i am fairly exhausted. time ticks on, and i hope to finally get a bit of rest soon.

foggy big sur town

2010-07-08T15:22:00.000-07:00

the fog is here, when will the papa sun peek through again? i am catching up on the writing i promised to stay with, now having been away from midwest home for over 2 months. i have begun the journey into my year at esalen, learning about life, myself, and hope to learn massage techniques to take forward into whatever lies ahead for me.
writing, creating art, and practicing yoga are sustaining me as well as the community around me. i am blessed,
gratitude to the spirits, the earth, and to my family......

solarium time...

2010-06-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

as if I don't sit on the computer enough during work- today, a day off, again on the mac, trying to hold onto my life in the midwest. I still don't think of myself as actually living here, and next Wed will tell the tale of my fate for the next year. I am unattached to the outcome, only curious as to how it will all play out.
Teaching is my identity, and yet I have only taught 2 classes in the last 6 weeks! Strange, and yet I suppose it is all part of the learning, to identify myself as just another being on the planet, like a small part of a large community.
Work feels like home, and home doesn't feel like anything but a bed in a cave....

check in

2010-06-22T12:10:00.001-07:00

All is well here, the fog is in today, and I am sitting on the Rez line, doing my thing....Waves are coming in, waves are coming in.....

more laptop work in the solarium

2010-05-21T11:18:00.001-07:00

not only am i in the most beautiful place on the planet, in my estimation, but i am on my computer????wow! trying to keep my life in order is challenging thousands of miles away from home, and as they say home is where the heart is, and my heart is here presently, so what am i doing?

Living the life

2010-05-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

Here I sit, just a few minutes left before 8 hours in the office life today. I am settling in well so far, thanks to Thomas and friends being here to soften my arrival into reality. So many months I dreamed of making the road trip out, to stay or not to stay as it will be decided.....I suppose I will find out at the end of the 2nd month here what the universe (and the office peeps) say about my time here. Clerical skills are returning slowly, and I do enjoy talking to folks on the phone and also in person in the bookstore. The weather has been perfect, cool mornings and evenings, lots of sun during the day. I have been in good spirits, and adjusting to different space for myself well.
Until next time, much love and blessings from the coast!

California knows how to party....

2010-05-07T15:32:00.001-07:00

After 1300 miles, and many hours in the car with the amazing Elliott, I am safe in Pacific Grove, CA. We went through snowrnados, dustnados, cold, cold, and warm weather! I am near my ocean.......yay!

boulder, the beautiful

2010-05-03T05:47:00.000-07:00

here in the foothills of the rockies, even the cloudy days are spectacular in their beauty! visiting with my sons and daughter in laws and my friends here has been great so far. I am practicing full awareness and presence to just BE HERE NOW. Yesterday I took a wonderful dance session with Kimberly Jonas of Body Mantra which helped me process some of the emotions of the transition. The road beckons in a few days, and Elliott is due to arrive tomorrow evening. Until then I will have more time with Kate, see my friend Diane and visit her garden today, then have dinner with a Jewish yogi group (yep, you read that right) and steep myself in the peace here.

I'm in Colorado!!!

2010-05-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

The drive was good yesterday, I left the house at 4:35am after waking at 3am, too excited to sleep. I only ran through 1 bigger storm with a little hail, and there was little traffic until I rolled into Denver at rush hour. 13 1/2 hours after leaving St Louis I arrived at Mike's house in Lafayette, CO. It was fantastic to walk to a Moroccan restaurant with Mike, Kate, Josh and Karen. I even danced with the belly dancers, then we walked home, and I fell asleep easily not much later. The sun pours into their new home in the morning, and we are now going to have breakfast and then walk again. It is such a blessing to be here now with them, and I have many fun days to spend with all the kids, and my friends here in Boulder.

Following the Yellow Brick Road OR my adventures in the land of "I don't know"

2010-04-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

Some friends have suggested that I write about my time of adventure, so here is a small post with 3 days to go before departure. so many friends, students and social acquaintances have been wishing me well, and blessings abounds! I feel very excited and yet sad to leave my home for an unknown time. The cats are sure that I am not returning....they stick to me like velcro. There are boxes, bags, and piles of stuff everywhere, some of which is going to the kids, lots of it is in case I need to dress up, make up, or have yet another change of clothes, yeah right, where do I think I am going? to college, on a date, SURE! Ok, but honestly, Esalen is the place where no one, absolutely no one cares if you wear the very same thing every single day. And hardly anyone wears make up....but I do! Who knows, maybe I will stop....

Comments from recent workshops

2010-04-16T04:37:00.000-07:00

The Exploring Energy Systems of Yoga workshops were received well, check out these comments!
"I can’t give enough thanks to The Divine for what Debra has helped me open: the door to what’s so beautiful & been inside of me all this time creating a better life worth living.

I’ve always had a spiritual connection & feel the flow of the different yoga techniques she demonstrates help fortify that bond I have w/ my Divine & the Universe. I had been looking into the body’s chakra system & feel that Debra gave me a formal & informational introduction well worth taking again & again. I felt absolutely incredible after taking her class 2 days in a row. I now have a hunger for all things yoga & learning how to see life in real living color!"......Gloria in St. Louis County

"Debra has a wonderful way of presenting information. She knows her subject and her students well and was able to discuss the (energetic systems of yoga) in a way that was meaningful to us. .... my understanding was deepened by the posture practice, breathing, and meditation in the workshop.

While she is very modest about her ability, it is no easy task to take these concepts and present them in a way that can be understood by students. Debra did a terrific job by comparing new, abstract, concepts to things that are more "concrete" , familiar, and easily understood."......Valerie in St. Charles
"I loved the bringing love into our hearts and spreading it to the world and back into our hearts.....It was absolutely wonderful - the only thing that could be better is to have it more often"...Jacksonville student

Energy Systems of Yoga Workshop

2010-03-08T11:11:00.000-08:00

The St. Charles workshop last weekend was great! One of the students gave this feedback,
"Debra has a wonderful way of presenting information. She knows her subject and her students well and was able to discuss the chakra system and the koshas in a way that was meaningful to us. I was not completely unfamiliar with the subject of the workshop, but my understanding was deepened by the posture practice, breathing, and meditation in the workshop.

While she is very modest about her ability, it is no easy task to take these concepts and present them in a way that can be understood by students. Debra did a terrific job by comparing new, abstract, concepts to things that are more "concrete" , familiar, and easily understood." Valerie L.
I will present the information again in Jacksonville, Il. and Springfield, Il. on April 9 and 10. Contact me for more info.

Spring yoga schedule

2010-03-05T14:09:00.000-08:00

Monday 9a-10.30a Big Bend Center
Monday 6.15p-7.30pm Spiritual Inquiry at Margot's home

Thursday 9a-10.30a Big Bend Center
Saturday 7.45a-9a Spiritual Inquiry at Margot's home
Saturday 11a-12.30p Big Bend Center
Sunday 4p-5.30p Jane's House of WellBeing
For more info on fees, and levels, as well as directions please call me at 314 401-1634.
I look forward to teaching you yoga!
Peace, harmony and freedom to all beings!

Exploring the Energy Systems of Yoga~ Chakras, Koshas and You

2010-02-15T04:54:00.000-08:00

Join me in this 2 day workshop at Jane's House of Well Being in St. Charles, Mo. March 6 and 7, 2010.

Discover a spiritual connection to all life in yoga, The ancient philosophy of the energetic systems, links us to the stars, the earth, all the creatures. If through these practices one can connect to the self, one can find the place of peace.
Through the practice of yoga, energy flows from the root to the crown and the mind calms. When the mind calms, the heart can open, when the heart opens, peace comes into the soul. When peace comes to the soul, one can mirror that peace to the other beings in the world.
We are the ones we are waiting for

In this workshop we will study the chakra system, and practice aligning the 5 layers of our being (the koshas) through postures (asanas) and breathing (pranayama) as well as experience different formats of meditation.
All levels of experience are welcome.
Where- Jane’s House of Well Being
1112c First Capitol Dr. St Charles, Mo 63301
When- Saturday March 6, 2010 2p-5p
Sunday March 7, 2010 1p-3.30p
Fee- Both days $55.00
Saturday only $30.00
For more info,

January Esalen Workshop

2009-11-14T08:05:00.000-08:00

Yoga and the Path to Vitality and Awareness
Debra Simpson RYT Jan. 17-22, 2010

The Sanskrit word Hatha translates as "sun and moon." Hatha yoga encompasses both of these energetic poles, as well as a masculine and feminine energy union. Explore the delicate balance between effort and ease, and intensity and grace, that inspires us toward the path of vitality both on the yoga mat and in the outside world of our lives.
Students are guided into sthira and sukha, stability and comfort, through the practices of asana (postures) and pranayama (conscious breathing) to discover the middle path in all aspects of being. According to yogic philosophy, there are five sheaths, or layers, to a human being. We begin with the body, then move through energy systems and emotional and mental layers, and then towards the spirit. During morning active asana sessions, we apply alignment foundations and dynamic methods to quiet the mind for contemplation. A quiet mind brings the physical body into its most efficient state for optimum productivity. We spend late afternoon sessions in restorative postures with time to enjoy the spirit and power of the land and sea in the beauty of Esalen.
for more info or to register www.esalen.org or 831-667-3005