I am officially, undeniably, irrevocably, starting a power yoga studio in Downtown Durham!

There is SO much more to come, but for now, just know that the blog is staying in place (with probably a lot of info about the studio!) and have fun perusing Bull City Yoga‘s new website, twitter, flickr, yelp, and facebook.

Love you all and hope to meet you face to face soon! Wow!

I traded in my regular-sized car for this little baby-shoe-shaped thing!

It’s a Smart Car, which is a car made by Mercedes-Benz and Swatch!

You know, the watch company?

It is tiny and hilarious and gets great gas mileage!

I’m on a mission to make all things in my life miniature, it seems.

Who: You and Alison Hinks

What: Emotional Rescue Yoga

When: 9am-7pm Saturday

Where: Stone Circles, NC

Why: yoga for loss/change

How: $115 by June 30

Emotional Rescue Yoga is yoga for loss or change in your life. It is a very accessible form a yoga for people at any fitness level. During the Day of Emotional Rescue Yoga, we will journal, partake in guided meditations, do restorative yoga, and get massage-like assists.

There is no requirement to share or even name what your particular loss is with the rest of the group. There will be no partner exercises or group discussions. The day is meant to nurture you and help you look at your loss/change in a safe environment, and privately.

The day will be led by Alison Hinks, creator of Emotional Rescue Yoga, and local author, artist, and registered yoga teacher. You will be fed two delicious vegetarian, soy-free, gluten-free meals. (Even meat lovers have been impressed!) There will be free time as well, to enjoy the gorgeous property of Stone Circles.

for more info and to sign up, go to emotionalrescueyoga.net

I went to the Led Primary series at Ashtanga Yoga Club on Saturday.

I was so excited.

But, I had an onset of benign positional vertigo which basically means I get the stone-sober drunk spins.

Yeah. It sucked.

I ended up leaving early and having a pretty miserable morning because of it.

So what a good time to wrap up Project Yogagain!

Wait…what? you say. Ali, are you done yogaining??

Ah, no. But i figured if this didn’t put me off yoga, nothing will!

I’ve gained my momentum and my excitement for yoga again, and I’m not going to let that flit off into the ether just because I got so dizzy I puked like a pitiful sick cat.

Again: It sucked.

I can’t believe that I’ve found that in just two weeks of experiementation!

I’m sure Project Yogagain with come back with updates every once in a while, but for now, we’re all wrapped up!

Jones the Cat!

It’s a (you guessed it) fashion blog! All from my own weird perspective. Enjoy!

1. Yoga is an experience.

From the first fragrant wafts of incense to the last chime of savasana, yoga stubbornly defends the experience of its practitioners. No sweaty gym is an ideal space to do yoga, no; the calmer and more beautiful the space, the better. Yoga is something to soak up through all the senses, not something to pump out and be done with until the next day. Doing yoga makes your body and mind healthier, sure, but doing of yoga is also the result of yoga. The doing is the result. The journey is the destination.

2. Yoga is a challenge.

Yoga ain’t easy folks. The kind of vigorous yoga I enjoy, where I sweat and come up the edge of my capabilities; that shit ain’t easy. I can’t read a “Life & Style” whilst doing yoga like I can on the comparatively easy elliptical machine. And yoga has so many levels and so many choices, that if you are looking to yoga as a fitness program, you can find a challenge, whatever you abilities.

3. Yoga is comprehensive.

Despite what science has yet officially proven, I know that yoga stretches AND strengthens my muscles, and that it works my cardiovascular system. It works almost every muscles in my body. It challenges me in balance, breath control, isometric holds, and stabilization. No other activity can come close to the comprehensive way yoga works your body.

4. Yoga is for life.

There are 8 Limbs of Yoga, and only one of them is pose (or asana, or exercise). There is so much spiritual and mental territory to explore in yoga, that it can be a practice that grows with you your entire life. Plus, chair yoga and gentle yoga can always be an option for those of decreased physical abilities. Unlike running, or sweating it out at the gym, yoga truly is something that can be with you forever.

5. You don’t have to pump yourself up to do yoga.

You don’t have to be at your highest physical and mental potential to walk into a yoga class. You can be beaten, broken, sad, and weak and still show up. I’ve spent at least one class of my life completely in savasana when I could not muster the mental strength to drag myself up. This eliminates the dread of exercise. If you truly can’t, you can’t, and that’s okay: maybe next time you can do a little, and next time a little more.

6. You don’t need any special equipment to do yoga.

‘Nuf said.

7. Yoga involves the mind.

Unlike the absolute tedium of counting out sets, or running on treadmills to nowhere, yoga engages the mind. It asks you to stay present with what you need in the moment and to stay present with what is truly happening. Because yoga engages my mind, I can sweat through a 1.5 hour asana class with pleasure, whilst a 2o minute weight-lifting session drags on forever.

Heather White (nee Heather McCutchen aka my best girl)

just posted a beautiful series of pics of me and my dogs!

Go check ‘em out!

And it did not disappoint! Suzanne was offering assists and gave me a great one in badhakonasana I’d never had before!

I sweated, I focused, I breathed that sweet ujaii breath, and at the end I petted two chihuahuas. AWESOME CLASS.

I also learned that Suzanne is an expert at Alexander Technique if any of you Durhamites/Trianglese are interested!

Back to Blue Point Yoga for Brooks’ class!

No fault of Brooks’, but this was a rough one for ol’ Ali. I was filled with anxiety and ended up in savasana early.

Still, I’m committed to JUST KEEP GOING. I bet there’s a groove somewhere up ahead, and I’m going to hit it!

The weather was the best part of it, unfortunately.

I was putting wayyy too much pressure on myself to do it RIGHT

and push HARDER

and after 45 minutes I burned out.

Guess I’m a class kinda girl!