The last few days have been a cornucopia of yoga classes, Hot, more Prenatal (learning purposes only, no bun in the oven yet), Hatha, Vinyasa and one Kundalini class. I've enjoyed the variety, but searching for that perfect wake-up, go to yoga routine. Not always easy when I am the one teaching the "first thing in the morning classes. I think I need to reflect on the daily schedule and then SCHEDULE a class for me. This is not a new way of thinking, common advice offered by many personal trainers and fitness experts, but will be for me. The last year I pretty much only practiced and not much else, now to really benefit from this 2010 challenge, I need to place more intent on the schedule and therefore on the mat.
Oh! Here are some of the places I've practiced: Do Yoga 4 You, Green Lotus, Nokomis Yoga, Mind Roads, River Garden Yoga Center, Bikram Mpls, CorePower, Blooma and my in-home studio. Google & check 'em out!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Day 17
I'm a hurtin' girl. I've learned that more discretion is needed if I am going to pull through the next 248 days of yoga. There were some peaceful times on the mat, invigorating and challenging too. However, this body is not the one I had 2 years ago, pre-accident. It behaves more like glass than a work horse and I often forget this.
Before a drunk driver struck me August 5th, 2008, I could throw down a sub-8 min/mile half marathon, bike to work, spend the next 10 hours on my feet and then bike home. I could move a sofa down to the basement by myself and shake someone's hand without cringing inside that they might be one of those people that use my arm like a fly fishing rod.
This brings me to my practice. Perhaps my affection for yoga would've grown without getting hit, but the day I did was the same day I yelled out loud, alone in my little Honda Civic, "Please God, use me as an instrument!" I had so many seemingly good things going for me, but was feeling endlessly frustrated, angry and what I imagine a chick feels just before it cracks its egg open.
Then much like a wet, clumsy bird for the next few months I searched for ways to heal and grow stronger while decompressing from the stress of a life that didn't resemble me. As an attempt to fix the parts of my body that were causing chronic pain, since I no longer was accepting pain medication from my doctor, I found myself in a Bikram studio. I heard about Bikram about 2 years prior when I lost a running buddy to the practice. Some how it rose back into my thoughts and there I was in the back left-hand corner, over-dressed, under-hydrated and rubber necking the room of people each time we switched asanas. But eventually it did the trick. I had a healthy body! What I didn't bargain for was a quieting of the mind and a desire to offer something greater to this world and then knowing exactly what that was going to be. We all know how this story is unfolding www.yogaboxmn.com. Except that today, after some "yoga aerobics" with fans blowing on me I need to be ever mindful of what I've been through in a rather short amount of time. Like blowing glass, to stay fluid I still need some heat, intentional movement and a focused mind. Until tomorrow, I think I'll start a hot bath, then curl up on the couch and read until I fall asleep.
Before a drunk driver struck me August 5th, 2008, I could throw down a sub-8 min/mile half marathon, bike to work, spend the next 10 hours on my feet and then bike home. I could move a sofa down to the basement by myself and shake someone's hand without cringing inside that they might be one of those people that use my arm like a fly fishing rod.
This brings me to my practice. Perhaps my affection for yoga would've grown without getting hit, but the day I did was the same day I yelled out loud, alone in my little Honda Civic, "Please God, use me as an instrument!" I had so many seemingly good things going for me, but was feeling endlessly frustrated, angry and what I imagine a chick feels just before it cracks its egg open.
Then much like a wet, clumsy bird for the next few months I searched for ways to heal and grow stronger while decompressing from the stress of a life that didn't resemble me. As an attempt to fix the parts of my body that were causing chronic pain, since I no longer was accepting pain medication from my doctor, I found myself in a Bikram studio. I heard about Bikram about 2 years prior when I lost a running buddy to the practice. Some how it rose back into my thoughts and there I was in the back left-hand corner, over-dressed, under-hydrated and rubber necking the room of people each time we switched asanas. But eventually it did the trick. I had a healthy body! What I didn't bargain for was a quieting of the mind and a desire to offer something greater to this world and then knowing exactly what that was going to be. We all know how this story is unfolding www.yogaboxmn.com. Except that today, after some "yoga aerobics" with fans blowing on me I need to be ever mindful of what I've been through in a rather short amount of time. Like blowing glass, to stay fluid I still need some heat, intentional movement and a focused mind. Until tomorrow, I think I'll start a hot bath, then curl up on the couch and read until I fall asleep.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Day 14: Fill the Cup
It's been a few days since I've shared my 365 day quest here, but happy to say it's still on. However, I haven't been particularly pleased with the practice itself.
Sure, trying out prenatal was interesting and helpful so I could become a better instructor and running straight downstairs first thing in the morning and getting my hour in before the day takes over is pretty nice and I am grateful there is that option. What I'm missing these days is a community and guidance from a mentor.
There is something to be said about going into a hot box and sweating it out with other hot yogis or dancing through a sequence of poses then lying in savasana offering up our practice to a greater good even if it's "oh, my thighs, I hope to have feeling back in my thighs..." Then there is the voice and touch of someone who moves a group through an hour (or more) of asanas with deliberate intention and mindful adjustment you just can't get when you try to squeeze in a practice because you promised you would. I've thought what should I practice, where should I go, where do I want to teach, who gets the regular swipe of my credit card?
I was reminded today that perhaps I'm giving this too much thought and to listen to where my heart leads. Ignore the shoulds, maybes, politics and go where my mind and body find each other and ultimately let go. It's what I try to offer people everyday, why not for me? So, realizing this I will find myself in a studio tomorrow and excited to share my entrance back in a place that doesn't offer anything but pure fuel and fulfillment for me so that I can spill over into yours and others lives.
Sure, trying out prenatal was interesting and helpful so I could become a better instructor and running straight downstairs first thing in the morning and getting my hour in before the day takes over is pretty nice and I am grateful there is that option. What I'm missing these days is a community and guidance from a mentor.
There is something to be said about going into a hot box and sweating it out with other hot yogis or dancing through a sequence of poses then lying in savasana offering up our practice to a greater good even if it's "oh, my thighs, I hope to have feeling back in my thighs..." Then there is the voice and touch of someone who moves a group through an hour (or more) of asanas with deliberate intention and mindful adjustment you just can't get when you try to squeeze in a practice because you promised you would. I've thought what should I practice, where should I go, where do I want to teach, who gets the regular swipe of my credit card?
I was reminded today that perhaps I'm giving this too much thought and to listen to where my heart leads. Ignore the shoulds, maybes, politics and go where my mind and body find each other and ultimately let go. It's what I try to offer people everyday, why not for me? So, realizing this I will find myself in a studio tomorrow and excited to share my entrance back in a place that doesn't offer anything but pure fuel and fulfillment for me so that I can spill over into yours and others lives.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Day 3: Happy Yoga
I can't quite recall my very first attempt to practice yoga, but I can say with certainty that it was "Inhale" by Steve Ross that hooked me in. A yoga class offered on t.v. at 5AM on the Oxygen Channel. It still airs to this day, but I personally follow vhs recordings so I can skip the commercials. Every time I practice to "Inhale" I feel, well, happy. Not so ironic that his studio in L.A. is called Maha Yoga meaning "happy yoga".
I think what got me was complete removal of anything that otherwise would make me feel intimidated to start something I knew nothing about and thought I would have to know so much more to begin. So as I try to introduce others that are new to yoga and begin to teach them, I find myself visiting my roots finding familiarity, acceptance and fun. All things I hope to offer and hopefully while they roll up their mats and head out into the world they too will have a smile on their face. -A
I think what got me was complete removal of anything that otherwise would make me feel intimidated to start something I knew nothing about and thought I would have to know so much more to begin. So as I try to introduce others that are new to yoga and begin to teach them, I find myself visiting my roots finding familiarity, acceptance and fun. All things I hope to offer and hopefully while they roll up their mats and head out into the world they too will have a smile on their face. -A
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Follow through with no guilt
Today around 4 pm I pronounced out loud, "Oh my god, I have to do yoga today!" yes, the second day. Lately I have not had a plan or routine and have allowed all the new meetings, classes to teach and festivities of the current season to take away from my personal Asana (ah-saw-nah) practice. I asked Jim if he was interested in practicing with me and with his ''bumb'' knee he laid out his mat. Our home studio is easy to heat up and I have several in-home recordings that I can turn to for guidance. One of my favs, Union w/the Divine by Matt Portwood. He recorded himself leading classes and any of us can go to their website, (husband and wife team, Matt & Jaina, www.unionwiththedivine.com) and download a pod cast of the teachings. I found these two just before they moved on to Mexico, holding what sounds like beautiful retreats with lots of yoga, massage and delicious whole raw food. We practice to, "A Healing Place", easy to follow, not always easy to do. Matt likes his inversions and later in the sequence we hold postures much longer than is typical in a yoga class. Heart openers like, "wheel", make me just stare at a spot in the floor, stare, stare, stare. We move to shoulder stand for quite some time and when we get to "deaf's man pose" I search for breath: on my back, rolled into a ball, chin tucked with my knees pressed into my ears and hands to my feet. My shallow breath, "when it's gone, you are too", he says...
When it's over Jim and I piece together our evening a movie, 'Bourne II' next to the fire, homemade dinner of grilled cheese sandwiches and squash soup. The addition of crinkle fries holds no guilt, how long do we have until our breath and blood cease to flow? Let them eat fries. -A
When it's over Jim and I piece together our evening a movie, 'Bourne II' next to the fire, homemade dinner of grilled cheese sandwiches and squash soup. The addition of crinkle fries holds no guilt, how long do we have until our breath and blood cease to flow? Let them eat fries. -A
Friday, January 1, 2010
Day 1: A Beginning
This is all new to me. Doing something, anything (besides brushing my teeth and bathing) EVERY day and thank you for checking in as I throw it all out there into words.
I started off the New Year and my first day of '365 Days of Yoga' at the Green Lotus. A beautiful studio nestled in a "woodsy" area in Lakeville. I marvel at the time it takes to get there, 14 minutes, flat. An 8 am Level 1, a.k.a "class for beginners". Although I usually go for something much hotter, intense and fast paced because I think it's what my mind and body need to get through the day or this life, it's what was available to me and in hind sight the perfect way to begin this process. I find my body moving with deliberate intention, my mind-chatter hushed and even my gaze out the window gets lost in the trees outside and in the snowflakes that are just starting to fall. This all reminds me that I am a beginner in this new year. Each day will offer exactly what it intends, not what I think it should be and what it offers is something beautiful. -A
I started off the New Year and my first day of '365 Days of Yoga' at the Green Lotus. A beautiful studio nestled in a "woodsy" area in Lakeville. I marvel at the time it takes to get there, 14 minutes, flat. An 8 am Level 1, a.k.a "class for beginners". Although I usually go for something much hotter, intense and fast paced because I think it's what my mind and body need to get through the day or this life, it's what was available to me and in hind sight the perfect way to begin this process. I find my body moving with deliberate intention, my mind-chatter hushed and even my gaze out the window gets lost in the trees outside and in the snowflakes that are just starting to fall. This all reminds me that I am a beginner in this new year. Each day will offer exactly what it intends, not what I think it should be and what it offers is something beautiful. -A
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