Sunday, April 11, 2010

A gift to myself

I've given myself a gift. The gift of a yoga room. With both kids living away from home, I have pondered just what to do with their bedrooms. I realize that some households keep them as bedrooms; even their bedrooms, with childhood/teenage things in them. They are useful as guest rooms, and as places for the adult children to stay when they come home to visit. I'm in a bit of a different situation because both my kids live nearby: my son lives about an hour away; and my daughter is in the beginning stages of building a house on our land. Thus, I don't need these rooms for them to stay in. We don't have many guests come from away, and when they do come, we get them a room in a bed & breakfast, or rent them a house. It is just too much of a hassle because of our one dog, Sadie, who as I've noted before, likes only four people. She protects us from the rest of the world, and we cannot take a chance with the aggression she shows toward strangers. So, I have two rooms to play with.

The north room at the back of the house is now a walk-in closet. This old farmhouse is sorely lacking in closet space so this is just perfect! We have clothes racks for shirts and dresses. We have one bureau and one set of open shelves. I have a few tubs in there of baby clothes and old photographs. I also have a floor to ceiling shelving unit which holds all the photograph albums. Lastly, this is where the litter pan and cat food bowls are.

The south room is now a yoga room. Not a yoga room in which I play my yoga dvds, but a room without any television or dvd player. This space will be used for quiet yoga. The only things in the room are a small chair which holds my three yoga books, a little wooden stool for a candle, and my mat. That's it. The walls need paint and the floor needs sanding but for now it will do fine as it is. I can go in, close the door, and practice yoga in complete peace and quiet. I am so very happy about this. It's been a long time in the thinking stage, and now it is a reality.

32 comments:

  1. Look at you! That is brilliant and I know that you will love it. Good for you. I'm proud of you for doing this for yourself.

    I'm going to write a blog post this week about my yoga class. I have a LOT to learn, but I can totally see myself getting into this. Daughter is beyond happy and she has attended 2 extra classes already beyond the 2 we went to together. I'm so pleased for her. She really needed this.

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  2. How peaceful looking. I love that you made that gift for yourself.

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  3. Perfect room for yoga. It looks so peaceful in there. I love old houses.

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  4. What an inspirational gift to yourself, Nan. Enjoy!

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  5. Sounds and looks wonderful, Nan! I wish I could get my storage room looking organized and neat as your walk in closet. Right now it is a mess. A yoga room sounds nice, too.

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  6. I love it. What a perfect space for quiet yoga. Just right!

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  7. What a wonderful space! I could hardly find room on a floor for a yoga mat.

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  8. How wonderful to have your own space. Everyone needs a space of their own. Seeing your room makes me realize I need to straighten my room. Ha..

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  9. What a beautiful room - gorgeous windows and floor. You lucky thing - I could do with such a space to escape from the world! Enjoy it!

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  10. I think I just lost my first comment, so I'll try again.

    I just love this! I love that you've created a space for yourself. I love the sparse environment with the wonderful light from those two windows. I love that floor!! The whole things reminds me a little bit of the room over at BeautyThatMoves. Simply lovely, Nan.

    And I love the thought of a walk-in closet! This old house needs one, too! In a sense, that's what I've done with one of our guest rooms. Not as complete as yours though. I may have to work on it a bit more. :)

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  11. So peaceful. I am sitting at an unnecessarily cluttered table while typing this, and wondering if I can achieve a minimalist look anywhere in this house. Thank you for this inspiration.

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  12. Nan, what a wonderful idea!! I love your yoga room. Enjoy!

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  13. What a fantastic idea! Enjoy your solitude in your beautiful yoga room.

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  14. #1 son has moved into his own apartment about two weeks ago. Of course, he took what he needed and left the detritus of 20+ years behind.

    I can't wait to tear up the carpet, paint the walls and ceiling, and bring that room from a "man-cave" to a livable space again.

    I just may print out the photo of your yoga room and use it as a goal...

    - Jeff

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  15. Kay,I'm so happy for you, and for your girl. Yoga is wonderful. When I was 19 I borrowed a book from the library and thus began my lifelong love for it.

    Thanks, Raidergirl.

    Erin, I just love it.

    Hip Chick, it is very peaceful.

    Robin, thank you.

    Gigi, it is easy to be organized when one has a whole room for a closet. :<)

    Aisling, it really is, and I so enjoyed it this Monday morning.

    Call me madam, my previous spot was in the living room which I had to vacuum each time before using because of the dogs!

    Thank you, Cornflower.

    Lisa, it was very satisfying for me to create this space.

    Les, I'm so pleased with both rooms. I should post one of the closet, too. Not sparse, but still a thing of beauty to me.:<)

    Bookssnob, it was very calming this morning when I did my first yoga practice in there.

    Clairz, good luck in your endeavor.

    Thanks, Sherri.

    Andi, I am really thrilled.

    Jeff, isn't that the truth! Our cellar still contains tons of my son's stuff - musical equipment, amps, etc. Have you ever seen the ads for some credit card about people doing over the space their child had occupied? One has a poolroom!

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  16. Ooh, how lovely! I'm so glad you've been able to make something just for yourself. :)

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  17. What a wonderful and calming space you've created!

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  18. Brave empty-nest choice! What a beautiful little "room of one's own," and a solution for your particular life. So many people want a lot of guest bedrooms, but in your case, how unnecessary, and how practical for going forward to a new phase of life.

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  19. What a nice idea! The room looks so quiet and peaceful - perfect for yoga. I have just started yoga myself and am really enjoying it - it's so relaxing.

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  20. It's working out great, Heather!

    Tara, it really is.

    Layanee, I'm so pleased.

    Thanks, Mary Lois, you expressed it perfectly.

    Skirmish of Wit, the wonder of yoga is that you can do it your whole life.

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  21. This is lovely! I have a thing for wide open spaces and uncluttered places, and this room is just the thing!
    Wishing you many peaceful hours in there.

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  22. Thank you, Librarian. I feel the same way.

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  23. A wonderful gift. And how smart not to wait until you had painted and sanded. That is not the point.

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  24. You're right, Common Weeder! And when we do the work, it will be so easy because there's nothing really to move out. :<)

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  25. Nan...WOW, what a treat this must be. I'm envious. Sorry I have not commented lately, but I have been browsing, as time allows :)

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  26. Nan, I am almost envious - I love it and had thoughts of the same thing in my new smaller home in the woods. Now here 8 months. My loft area was perfect for something like this. Buttttt - I made it into a guest area. Children and grandchildren might come occasionly. I may just empty the loft area lol.

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  27. Diane, please don't ever feel badly. And please don't feel you must comment. Sometimes I feel like just disabling them so people won't feel like they have to say anything. :<) Really, I do.

    One Woman, you can do anything in that wonderful house!! I remember doing yoga when my daughter was little. She'd lay right along side me. :<)

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  28. Oh, I'd love to salute the sun in that lovely room! I'd like to make more time for yoga because I find it so relaxing.

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  29. Vintage Reader, it has such nice light all day long. You're right about the relaxing - and I'm always amazed at how even a short practice stretches out my muscles. This is why I've never gone for a massage - yoga does it for free!

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