"Your body is the piece of the universe you've been given."

I'm staying in Boston now for a while. The dear friend I live with wrote the above quote on a post-it note and stuck it on the wall in her bathroom.

I remember that years ago in a former era of my life, I enjoyed making excuses for not taking care of myself physically when living on the road. 

"I forgot my workout shoes."

"I don't know the area."

"I'm on vacation, I get to relax."

I have changed my tune. As everyone in my life knows, I am on the road to self-mastery in 16 areas of life.  I wondered how it would work to take care of my body while being so transient every few days.  I have never been on a road trip quite like this before, and I didn't know how I would do, specifically with physical exercise.

The best thing I have done for myself was to commit to what I really want. I committed that in every place I stayed, I would get out and move in some way that would break a sweat.

I have been documenting my movement journey across the country, and now that I am in a resting place in Boston, I am going through and gathering a few photos from the trip so far. I am excited to share these with you...and please allow me to say, I am really proud of myself! I hope you enjoy my celebration of the little piece of the universe I have been given...  

This was day 3 of my trip. I was feeling shaky at beginning this grand new adventure.  Meditative yoga in the sunshine in Denver, Colorado helped immensely.

A FUN workout dance in the living room was followed the next day by my very first boxing class in Wichita, Kansas. Gypsy goddesses go to boxing classes? Apparently. It was absolutely a blast, and one of the most sweaty, hardcore workouts I've ever had.

Rain or shine, I ran every day on rural country roads in Jamison, Missouri.  It was one of my favorite running experiences of my life. I look at this photo with fond memories of me, humidity on my skin, and miles of open sky. 

I enjoyed an early morning running group in St. Paul, Minnesota.

I didn't take a photo of that actual sunrise moment, but the experience was with this shining athlete and two of her neighbors. This was actually quite a stretch for me, as I do not consider myself a runner at all, and there I was, keeping up with true "runners". A fun new definition of myself!

A month in Chicago, Illinois gave me lots of variety to play with...

A neighbor let me use his extra bike during my whole stay in Chicago. I biked everywhere, and was delighted one day to discover a whole new definition in my leg muscles.

I pull out my workout DVDs on rainy days.

I grabbed my bellydancing costume at the last minute when packing the car back in Salt Lake City, and I've already pulled it out twice to dance in all our sparkling glory.

Tribal Dancing at the Rainbow Gathering in Manistee National Forest, Michigan.  At night into early morning, huge bonfires are surrounded with dozens of drums and gypsy dancers, including myself. 

I got to get on another bicycle on a sunny afternoon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  I'm taking this picture while biking behind my friend.

Yoga in Chelsea, Michigan. The home I stayed in had this gorgeous view that allowed me to seize its beauty.

Late night dancing in Boston, Massachusetts.  I had the house to myself this past weekend, so I brought in my candles from the car and created a magical stage, just for me to enjoy the art of dance running through my body. 

I know that many of us share a similar goal in taking care of our bodies with physical exercise. Let's make the rules of our life games so we make sure to win. Whether it's running a marathon or stretching before going to bed, seeing our bodies as the piece of the universe that we have been given can help us view self care with a huge, eternal perspective. It's an invitation for having fun in this infinite space we live in.  

Thank you for allowing me to celebrate my success today! 

I look forward to more of the whole universe moving through you and me.