It's summer time in the mountains! Well it was on Saturday when I rode my bike, and today it was 32 degrees when I woke up.
On Saturday I decided to ride my bike after yoga, and felt such a surge of energy that my intention was to ride eight miles one way to the school. Not a flat route by any means, and at 9000' above sea level, but doable. I put air in the tires, brushed off the dust, put on my helmet and left my house.
I made it to the end of my driveway (a very short distance) and decided that maybe I should only ride to the gas station, a mere 4 miles one way. I made it half way up the first uphill, a small incline, and decided I would ride to the library instead, because it was closer, and after all, I had other things to do and should not be gone too long. Then I was at the mailboxes and decided I would only ride to the mailboxes, and go back home. Not even a mile!!! (but it was all uphill)
I stopped at the mailboxes. It was now me and my bike, in nature having a little Self Talk. I wanted the end result of having ridden 16 miles round trip, but I didn't really feel motivated anymore to do the work. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and there was a slight breeze. It truly was the perfect day to ride and also the perfect day to rest on the front porch and read a book.
I breathed it all in. I pulled up the memories of how I feel when I'm on my bike. I felt my memories in my physical body, they were aching to ride. My mind wanted the meditation of riding, the rhythmic motion of pedaling. I allowed it all to flow through me. I breathed it all in.
I smiled and set my intention to ride to the library; 6 miles roundtrip.
Here is what riding my bike has taught me about life:
When it feels like it's all uphill, it's ok to rest on the downhill.
On the up hills, if you're pushing the pedals at all, you're still moving forward.
The up hills and downhills are not always the same distance.
It's easier when your intention aligns with your desired result.
Even when you're coasting, you still have to maintain balance.
Stop to savor the moments that take your breath away.
But then something new came up for me that day. On the uphill when my body was struggling so was my mind. Past struggles, current struggles, little and big struggles. They were there. With each push of the pedal I felt many emotions. I allowed them to bubble up. They released as tears and I didn't hold back. I felt power and freedom in my bodymind with every push of the pedal.
And before I knew it, I was at the top of the hill, back at the mailboxes! Ready for the short descent to home.
I stopped to take this photo because this view still takes my breath away. It was part of the day's journey. I felt it in my feet, my heart and my soul as I gazed at the mountains, my home. My house is just below the center of this photo.
Now I have another felt sense of riding my bike. The up hills, the downhills, the letting go; I savored it all. The industry calls it bottom up therapy. I call it Bicycle Therapy.
Move your body today & Safe Journey!
Cheers & Namaste
deEtta
On Saturday I decided to ride my bike after yoga, and felt such a surge of energy that my intention was to ride eight miles one way to the school. Not a flat route by any means, and at 9000' above sea level, but doable. I put air in the tires, brushed off the dust, put on my helmet and left my house.
I made it to the end of my driveway (a very short distance) and decided that maybe I should only ride to the gas station, a mere 4 miles one way. I made it half way up the first uphill, a small incline, and decided I would ride to the library instead, because it was closer, and after all, I had other things to do and should not be gone too long. Then I was at the mailboxes and decided I would only ride to the mailboxes, and go back home. Not even a mile!!! (but it was all uphill)
I stopped at the mailboxes. It was now me and my bike, in nature having a little Self Talk. I wanted the end result of having ridden 16 miles round trip, but I didn't really feel motivated anymore to do the work. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and there was a slight breeze. It truly was the perfect day to ride and also the perfect day to rest on the front porch and read a book.
I breathed it all in. I pulled up the memories of how I feel when I'm on my bike. I felt my memories in my physical body, they were aching to ride. My mind wanted the meditation of riding, the rhythmic motion of pedaling. I allowed it all to flow through me. I breathed it all in.
I smiled and set my intention to ride to the library; 6 miles roundtrip.
Here is what riding my bike has taught me about life:
When it feels like it's all uphill, it's ok to rest on the downhill.
On the up hills, if you're pushing the pedals at all, you're still moving forward.
The up hills and downhills are not always the same distance.
It's easier when your intention aligns with your desired result.
Even when you're coasting, you still have to maintain balance.
Stop to savor the moments that take your breath away.
But then something new came up for me that day. On the uphill when my body was struggling so was my mind. Past struggles, current struggles, little and big struggles. They were there. With each push of the pedal I felt many emotions. I allowed them to bubble up. They released as tears and I didn't hold back. I felt power and freedom in my bodymind with every push of the pedal.
And before I knew it, I was at the top of the hill, back at the mailboxes! Ready for the short descent to home.
I stopped to take this photo because this view still takes my breath away. It was part of the day's journey. I felt it in my feet, my heart and my soul as I gazed at the mountains, my home. My house is just below the center of this photo.
Now I have another felt sense of riding my bike. The up hills, the downhills, the letting go; I savored it all. The industry calls it bottom up therapy. I call it Bicycle Therapy.
Move your body today & Safe Journey!
Cheers & Namaste
deEtta
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