Day 2 a success!
I took Power Yoga from Brooks at Blue Point Yoga.
Brooks is funny, kind, and has a ton of experience.
Plus, she teaches with strong references to Ashtanga, the yoga I was weaned on!
The 1hr 15 flew by. I’m starting to think that this Yogagain is a freaking great idea!
My beginner’s mind writes blog posts during yoga class.
My beginner’s mind hates music in class. Hates it.
My beginner’s mind is afraid of doing a headstand and failing in front of others.
My beginner’s mind doesn’t want to rest even when I need to.
My beginner’s mind is writing a novel during savasana.
My beginner’s mind has no capability of setting an intention.
My beginner’s mind is scared to walk into a new class.
Filed under Yoga Play
I took class last night with Christine at SYNC Studio South last night.
It was awesome!
I sweated, I stayed present, and I wasn’t dying for it to just please baby Jesus let it be over like any other workout.
And I love how very, very kind Christine is. She is a terribly strong woman who can do all sorts of physical feats and teaches challenging classes. However, she is always quick to encourage her students to rest, or modify a pose, or take it easy if needed.
It still takes a lot of my brain to accept working with this new body. It feels so different and functions so differently than it did before!
Regardless, seems like a great start! I’m excited and energized for Project Yogagain: Day 2!
Well, duh.
Any of you could have told me that.
I write a blog with YOGA in the title, for pete’s sake.
But I do! I like yoga best!
But let me back up…
couldn’t pay me
So I’ve been learning to love my new body after losing my yoga community and taking a hiatus from teaching and practicing. I made a list of things that I know I don’t enjoy about exercizing, even while feeling a desire for it in my life again.
I was doing this wonderful program called Power 90. I’m sure you’ve seen P90x infomercials on late night TV, and this is the easier first version of that. A very sensible workout plan based on alternating days of strength training and cardiovascular training.
The thing that I really liked about the program was that it’s whole philosophy is “do what you can, take a break when you need to, and just keep coming back.”
Pretty much what I always say when I’m teaching yoga, right? 
no thanks
But it’s 30 days into the program and I’m already burnt out. Like I’ve said before, I busted my exercise fuse long ago, so even a sensible, low-key program like this becomes a spectre of dread in my brain if it’s something I don’t look forward to.
The only activity I’ve ever looked forward to: yoga.
Duh.
When I first started practicing yoga consistently after burning out my exercise fuse, it was like a miracle. I never thought I would find something that made me feel so strong that I looked forward to.
So here I am again, back at the place any of you could have predicted to find me.
Back at yoga
no way Jose
I’ve got a little schedule worked out, piecing together classes from different studios that I think I’ll enjoy and that will feed my strength rather than sap it.
Today is the first day…I’ll let you know how it goes! (I’m super excited!)
Filed under Yoga Play
photo by Erin Kawamata
Filed under Yoga Play
One of my favorite blogs, Meals & Moves by Janetha M. is doing the most delightful series of guest posts called “Three Tips,” so I thought I’d pay homage and do my own Five Tips series!
image from here.
It used to be really hard for me to relax. I would run all day and collapse exhausted. Sleep wasn’t restful, and I was often on edge. The great thing is that in only five minutes a day-literally-I can transform a stressful day into a clear, focused one in just five minutes of unwinding.
You don’t need to spend all night at a bar, or watch six hours of TV in your pajamas to successfully relax. And #2 is why…
Just do one thing: focus on relaxing. Don’t look at the phone, don’t talk to anyone, don’t put the TV on, don’t work on a project. I don’t even like when my perfect, beautiful, cuddly dogs walk up to my when I’m really into unwinding.
Often times, exercise is good for unwinding. There are lots of folks for whom this is the perfect unwind. However, exercise may come with a whole basket of pressures that amp up your anxiety. Be mindful.
It’s okay if you just ate three brownies. It’s okay if you don’t feel well. (Perhaps from eating three brownies?) It’s okay if you’re crying, or naked, or unshowered, or in an unfamiliar place, or feel terrible, or feel wonderful…You can take five minutes to relax
It’s not an easy thing to ask yourself to take this time to unwind, especially when we have these super-fun gadgets to play with and rad things to do with our lives. But every time I gift myself this time, I ask myself why I don’t do it more often.
Ooh, I like this one because he looks like an alien!
Ganesha (Sanskrit: गणेश; IAST: Gaṇeśa), also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati (Sanskrit:गणपति, IAST: gaṇapati), Vinayaka (Sanskrit: विनायक; IAST: Vināyaka), and Pillaiyar (Tamil: பிள்ளையார்), is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon.[5] His image is found throughout India and Nepal.[6] Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations.[7] Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains, Buddhists, and beyond India.[8]
Great highlights. Also, the red and pink look lovely together.
Hugemongus.
Ganesh tucked into an OM!
Although he is known by many other attributes, Ganesha’s elephant head makes him particularly easy to identify.[9] Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles[10] and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles (Vighnesha (Sanskrit: विघ्नेश; IAST: Vighneśa), Vighneshvara (Sanskrit: विघ्नेश्वर; IAST: Vighneśvara)),[11] patron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom.[12] He is honoured at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies and invoked as Patron of Letters during writing sessions.[13]Several texts relate mythological anecdotes associated with his birth and exploits and explain his distinct iconography.
Apocalyptic Ganesh! Look at his cute cammo pants!
Love all the colors!
Ganesha emerged a distinct deity in clearly recognizable form in the 4th and 5th centuries CE, during the Gupta Period, although he inherited traits from Vedic and pre-Vedic precursors.[14] His popularity rose quickly, and he was formally included among the five primary deities of Smartism (a Hindu denomination) in the 9th century. A sect of devotees called the Ganapatya (Sanskrit: गाणपत्य; IAST:gāṇapatya), who identified Ganesha as the supreme deity, arose during this period.[15] The principal scriptures dedicated to Ganesha are the Ganesha Purana, the Mudgala Purana, and the Ganapati Atharvashirsa.
Check out the beads and the wrinkles in the pants…wow.
Another lovely black and white!
Filed under Yoga Play
The Expert in warfare says:
Rather than dare make the attack
I’d take the attack;
rather than dare advance an inch
I’d retreat a foot.
It’s called marching without marching,
rolling up your sleeves without flexing your muscles,
being armed without weapons,
giving the attacker no opponent.
Nothing’s worse than attacking what yields.
To attack what yields is to throw away the prize.
Lao Tzu (Translated by Ursula K. Le Guin)
Man, I love this. I don’t think it is a statement on peaceful resistance. I had a sassy roomate once who taught me “Ali, it only takes ONE person to fight,” promting me to often ask him, “are we fighting?” Ha ha! I suppose that’s true, but if you don’t engage, the fight is much less satisfying for the one person fighting…themselves.
Filed under Quotation Inspiration
I’ve mentioned that I’m getting to love my new shape, and so I thought I’d share some of my amazing style knowledge! You see, I love yoga, but another hobby of mine is fashion, as you can tell by my reading list. Also, I’ve seen, like, every episode of “What Not to Wear.” And what’s more “yogic” than loving yourself in the present moment? I say: nothing. Okay, first: the DON’Ts…
Ankle straps cut the beautiful long line of your leg off way too soon. It’s a shame, too, because lots of cute shoes have ankle straps. Be strong. Just say “no!”
Even on this tall, thin model, the boatneck is fighting her. It widens rather than lengthens your shape. Especially unflattering on ladies with an ample bosom.
If you’re not feeling great about your body, this is a very tempting thing to do. But don’t do it. Sure, it’s unflattering, but mostly it says “I have no idea how to dress my body and I feel like crap.” Don’t tell people that with your wardrobe.
If (like me) you have a belly where you didn’t have one before, this can be very tempting. But don’t do this; don’t add bulk where there really isn’t any.
Now, the DO’s!
A shape just as easy to find as ankle straps, but twice as flattering. And I think, more comfortable.
Even if your waist is a different size than it once was, you’ll feel like a million bucks by accentuating where it is now. Fit and flare skirts, as well as belts are great examples of this.
Even if you mess up the rest of your look, a flattering neckline can save it! V-necks and princess necklines are both easy to find and flattering.
Do your hair and make-up. You’ll feel pretty. Duh.
Like the Queen, wear something sparkly. Wear jewelry. Wear something with sequins. You’re as beautiful as your sparklies no matter what your size.
Filed under Life Hack
Keep Calm and Sex Cult On by Alison Hinks for use with permission.
