My family life has been tumultuous lately. A family member is very ill, and it happened quickly. As I type this I'm in the hospital: helping, watching, waiting, encouraging. Appreciating that I can be here. Appreciating that I am able bodied and healthy. Shocked at how fast things can change.
It's made me also appreciate what our cancer kickin' cowgirls and their families must go through. As if their stories weren't enough to make you tear up over and over, really reading between the lines would have you sobbing. All the more testimony to their strength, grace and power.
Through Cowgirls vs. Cancer, Big Sky Yoga Retreats provides retreat scholarships to yoginis who have experienced the physical, emotional and financial hardships of breast cancer. This rejuvenating retreat provides something positive to look forward to, and helps our cancer kickin' cowgirls heal through horses and yoga following cancer. 2014 will be our fifth year, and thanks to the generosity of everyone we work with at Cowgirl Yoga, it will be the third time we are able to dedicate an entire retreat to Cowgirls vs. Cancer.
Although I haven't met any of them yet, our stories became entwined when we selected the 2014 Cowgirls vs. Cancer scholarship recipients. Always such a gut-wrenching process, since if I had my way, they'd all come. Someday. For now, there are eight. Meet them here and be inspired.
Last fall, we added something new - we partnered with Ariat
to give a pair of cancer kickin' cowgirl boots to four women currently in
treatment for breast cancer. This idea was inspired by one of our previous
scholarship recipients, who wore her cowgirl boots throughout her treatment, and we kicked things off when one of our 2013 cowgirls was re-diagnosed in October. I'm excited to grow this program, because I can't think of anything better than a pair of badass boots for kicking cancer's ass. We just mailed out the boots, and will share stories and pictures here shortly.
The images here were submitted with a cancer kickin' boots nomination, which also included the following quote from Proverbs: She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. I love how they capture the idea of healing through horses and yoga, and evoke the strength and dignity that come with both. Both remind me to laugh without fear of the future. Yeehaw and Namaste.
Labels: Cowgirls vs. Cancer, Horses, Yoga
