Spring has started peeking out from under her Winter veil. My early spring flowers on the terrace are just starting open, my rosemary bush is covered in little purple-blue flowers and a couple of daffodils have poked out their sweet yellow noses. I love Spring, especially the first signs of it, letting us know that the days are getting longer, the sun will hopefully be out a bit more, and color of the flowers brighten the often gloomy grey skies of Gijón.

Another sign that spring is coming, is the fact that there is finally a sliver of sun that runs down the edge of our terrace. It’s a North facing terrace, so in the dead of winter, it really lacks sun. Both my darling cat, Pippin, and I have been soaking up the sun on the terrace all morning. Indeed, as I type this I keep inching down the terrace, following the little sliver of sun!

February also brings with it the idea of connection. Coming out of Winter hibernation, reconnecting with the world around you and, in some instances, perhaps even a little romance? (Valentine’s Day, I’m looking at you!) But who says romance has just to be with a “romantic” partner. Honestly, Nature’s unfolding of color in her early spring flowers always feels like the ultimate romance to me… but perhaps I’m just a bit silly about plants.

Connection, be it platonic or romantic, is always important, but especially during such uncertain, taxing and difficult times. Studies (like this one) are showing that young adults are increasingly feeling lonely and this loneliness has its pretty harsh long-term side effects. The recent BBC Loneliness Experiment looked at the effect the current pandemic is having on the world population and has found that young people, especially young men living in individualistic cultures (like our western cultures), are the worst afflicted by loneliness and the older the people are, in general, less lonely.

It’s important that we continue reaching out to each other, even if it’s just to chat, check in, see how each other are fairing. Offer a hand of support, love, encouragement.

So, this is me checking in with you.

How are you? How are you fairing?

I’m always here to chat, if you want to. You’re always welcome to message me, either by email or on social media. Even if it’s just to say, Hi! or if you want to ask a question about yoga, meditation, whatever. I’ve got your back.

Because, let me tell you, I’ve also been needing to connect these days. There are many exciting things happening in my life, but some of them are scary, and some of them are just downright frustrating. As some of you may know, I’m taking a big step and trying to expand Tytoni Yoga a bit more so, in the hopefully not so distant future, I can work full time with Tytoni Yoga, and not have it be a side job to teaching English at a local academy here in Gijón. Super exciting! And a little scary. But to add to the stress of it all, I’ve been having lots of tech problems with my computer… and while they are 100% first world problems (I am completely aware of this), it doesn’t mean that they aren’t aggravating.

It’s been my connections, with myself through meditation, with my husband, with my friends and family, that are currently keeping me sane. Well, as much as I could ever be. (But a little bit of craziness is good fun!) And my goodness, am I grateful for them.

So please, don’t feel shy to connect!

Also, as another way to create connections this month, I’m offering a donation based Partner Yoga workshop on Feb 14th. It’s on Valentine’s Day, but that doesn’t mean you have to join with a romantic partner! Bring a friend, family member, partner, whoever that is in your bubble (safety first)! It’ll be good fun, have a bit of a laugh together, try different partner poses, and connect.

Day: Sunday, February 14th

Time: 6-7pm CET | 5-6pm GMT | 9-10am PST

Where: Zoom

Who: You + partner

How Much: Whatever you want to donate (but because many of you have asked, the suggested donation is 20€/couple)

Why: Because it’ll fun!

Contact me if you are interested in joining.

Or click to Register

If you know anyone who might be interested, pass it on!

Hope to see you there.

And if you can’t make it, no worries, my door is always open.