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October 20, 2024: The Upward and Downward Spiral

I got the concept of body-related upward and downward spiral from Dori McDonald, who for many years taught yoga in Palmer, in fact at Tammy Moser’s place, Yoga in the Valley. Class was held in the upper portion of a reconstructed garage. Tammy also taught classes.

Dori taught several times a week. Then one day, Tammy told her that she was moving to Hawaii. Dori found other places to teach, but none, in her mind were as fitting as Yoga in the Valley.


I think that what finally prompted Tammy and her husband Mike to move was that neighbors had an easement across their farm property, and shortly after they moved next store, they moved all kinds of construction equipment onto the strip in front of their farmhouse.

This seemed to bother everyone except Tammy who simply said, “What will be, will be.”

What I remember best about Dori’s classes was the concept of the spiral. I could not picture it, this spiral moving down, the length of the body. What I later could picture was a mind-related spiral, one that, on a given day, would go up and down, sometimes dozens of times.

Lately the spiral has been holding steady, perhaps now more up than down. For example, today – woke up, no hip or lower back pain, the day began on the upper spiral. After breakfast, I did my Hargrove body awareness work, then followed it with my physical therapy exercises. I continued on the upper spiral.

Next rode Hrimmi. It was cold out, just slightly overcast. Continued on up the upper spiral. Was planning on taking Tyra out, using Raudi’s saddle, then Pete said he’d come along. He asked if I wanted to use Tyra’s saddle on Tyra. I hesitated then said yes. Amazingly, it fit me way better than previously. Up went the spiral.

I next assisted Pete in putting away the obstacles in the Playground of Higher Learning. The spiral plummeted because this past year, I only did agility once with the horses. As I put away the boards that Pete detached from the dog walk, I thought, I have not yet found a balance between my horse and book life. I feel terrible about this.

I am thinking that on days when I don’t have time to ride, I can at least set up a few obstacles and do them with the horses.

I kept with my agenda and next cleaned the goat enclosure and the goat pen. The spiral went up a bit because I so enjoy tending to my animals. There is a considerable sense of satisfaction that comes in taking care of ALL the animals, and in particular, after, looking at their clean environs. At least, I thought, I have held my own with this.

It was dark when I finished up outside, this, around 7:00 p.m. I had planned on starting a massive cabin cleanup but have decided that I will do this on a rainy day.

Spiral at midpoint. Could go up or down tomorrow.

Next: 286. 10/21/24: Two months

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