à la carte spirit by ilona fried
Swimming
Curiosity as Portal
After swimming laps yesterday at a local recreation center, I went into the steam room. Through the thick mist I saw two figures, both men, stretching and bending. I maneuvered between them and sat on the top tiled bench. As I took a few deep breaths while adjusting to the heat, I heard a deep rumbling sound that … Continue reading
Common Denominator: The Vagina Monologues and Feldenkrais
In Eve Ensler’s play, The Vagina Monologues, a character asks, “If your vagina could talk, what would it say? Two words.” “Slow down!” bellowed the cast when I performed in it last February. The audience burst out laughing. It seems that many people recognize that quickies might not be the most pleasurable form of intimacy. … Continue reading
Facing Fear, One Flip Turn at a Time
“Question your thoughts. Question your stories. Question your assumptions. Question your opinions. Question your conclusions…” – Adyashanti For years I had a story that I wasn’t a good swimmer. I had another story that I was afraid of swimming in open water. I assumed that to be a decent swimmer, one had to have to … Continue reading
What’s Your Territory?
When I need a sane, no nonsense reminder of what resistance is, and inspiration for battling it daily, I pick up my worn copy of Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art. It’s a must-read for anyone trying to live more powerfully, whether that means creating art, healing a relationship, or getting in shape. As he … Continue reading
Swimming to Celebrate
Yesterday at 7:16 a.m. I waded into the local reservoir with Boulder Aquatic Masters. It organizes private swims before the main beach opens: without motorboats and crowds, the area is relatively silent, the water calm. At that hour, the air is still cool. It’s a bit like being on a watery Camino de Santiago: instead … Continue reading
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