spring habit

I love cleaning. Some of my happiest moments were cleaning First Samples of Austin, Texas. I was a girl friday among other things, but mostly a janitor. The place was beautiful and full of hope: you can become a seamstress in this beautiful school. I miss it actually.

So this cleaning business. Humble, dirty, and devoid of respect, but I think it is important in my life. And so it shall be that I will devote two hours of each day to beauty. Whether it is my bathroom tile or my hair does not matter. I'm making April a trial run of this. Let's see if I can make it. I'm a supposed model writing you with chipped nails and dirty hair.

The inspiration for this is the Dalai Lama. I'm reading the Story of Tibet by Thomas Laird. His holiness devotes four to five hours daily to meditation. I can spare two for what I feel is important spiritually.

portrait by dorje-d

Dharma Yoga

Hi there! I am happy to announce that Dharma Yoga has extended a 50% discount to all guild members. If you haven't signed up this is more reason to! Go to the Paloma Guild website, fill out the form and mail it to the address under contact. Once you are a member you will receive a fancy laminated card that will be your discount pass, as well as your free business cards.

Dharma Yoga is located on 31st and Guadalupe, close to most modeling gigs in Austin. Their yoga is essentially a blend of its name. The spiritual aspect of the practice is Tibetan in nature, and their yoga derives from Jivamukti, Sivananda, and Anusara traditions. Visit them online or visit their studio. Hope to see you there!

"Dharma Yoga's instructors must be the best in Austin. Long after the class concludes you'll feel the work of your practice in your muscles and in your spirit."

--Susan Briante, poet and UT English professor

Hasta of the Week has Changed a Bit

Back by popular demand is the weekly hasta/mudra.  However, now it has a bit of a twist: pure and simple hands.  I love the intricate ways we can use them whether it is Western or Eastern tradition.  But more to the point, I will be featuring hands whether or not they have a specific meaning.  This week's hands (very plural) belong to Guan Yin.  She is portrayed by several deaf dancers whose physical accuracy is astounding.  Eve Larson tells me about physical memory that dancers have.  Over the years I've bettered myself on different aspects of art modeling.  This is what I am going to attempt this year.  It is truly a talent that these women and men have.  Hope you enjoy.

Buddha with a Thousand Hands Video

Buddhist Hand Gestures

Hand gestures come from various countries, so there are various terms for them.  In searching for more information about hastas, I found the term mudras, and I'm sure there are more.  I'm learning just as we all are.  So that brings me to these boys in training to become Buddhist monks.  Here they are, charming as ever, showing this weeks mudras photographed by Dennis Cordell.