Last night's restorative/gentle yoga class featured a theme revolving on self-care. We don't think twice when doing things to care for a small baby, and yet we suffer through cram-packed schedules, bad food choices, and hours of commuting without (almost) blinking an eye. Why do we do these things to ourselves? Are we taking good enough care of ourselves as our official, sole caretakers?
This premise really made me stop and think. Self care is a strong current this year for me. So have I been making enough of an effort to meet my new year's resolution of structuring my day and incorporating new, positive habits? Maybe.
One good thing I've done is organized myself on Sundays (well, most of the time) so I can prepare breakfast smoothies and oatmeal for the week ahead, stored in my favorite mason jars. Comforting, nutritious, and filling food choices that help me kick start my workday, create a routine to establish a comfort level, and provide enough energy to motor through most of my day.
One downfall, that has sneaked back in without my realizing it, is that I've started treating myself again to, often sweetened, coffee beverages. Caffeine, especially in the form of coffee beverages (worse if sweetened) are actually a no-no because it sets up my system for a cycle of highs and lows that exhaust me. As an example, yesterday I had a sweetened espresso beverage, an extremely small one at that, and experienced increased energy, enthusiasm, joy, impatience, irritability, depression, and tears within the span of about two hours prior to my yoga class. That's a bit much, yes? Even if the excuse I'm using is to try to keep a new favorite coffee shop in business, those little caffeinated emotional bombs really need to stop. By stepping back, observing, and making mental notes I can do right by my body...and my wallet!
One of my favorite blogs, The Actor's Diet, is by an Asian-American actress, Lynn Chen, in California who also experiences self-care issues relating to mood, energy-level, and food choices. She recently lost her father, so she's also been discussing loss and recovery--something I've been experiencing since both my grandmothers passed away in 2011. Lynn is an ambassador for National Eating Disorders Association and posts about her challenges on the Thick Dumpling Skin blog. She's a fascinating and inspiring woman and I am so happy I discovered her blog(s) last year.
One thing that I've been meditating on often is what does satiety mean to me? So, in essence, what I'm really asking myself is why does the empty space, a pause in my schedule, or brief distraction become stressful to manage? I strongly believe that we can all retrain ourselves to be satisfied/satiated by the emptiness and lull that occasionally comes our way--it's tricky to learn to enjoy it, but doable!
The feeling of not having to do/say/behave a particular way can become anxiety-causing when we're so used to doing things a specific way--most of the time because we believe others expect it of us, when in reality it's just a choice we make. The space and emptiness that come from not having too many activities and noise, lets our heart rate slow down, our breathing deepen in our chest, and our posture to relax. Our head stops swimming/spinning with details, reminders, and foreshadowing a next potential crisis.
It's tricky learning what sets one off or replenishes, when we're really going after the golden apple in someone else's rat race. Learning to heed the cues, and making enough space to enjoy the...well, space, is vitally important for our well being.
The space inside our minds, our bodies, and in our day create a lovely little buffer--not unlike a warm comforting blanket. Isn't it? Let's strive to reach for this blanket more often, when the next opportunity arises.
Remember to treat yourself like the most delicate, priceless possession because that's what you are.
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
2.28.2013
2.19.2013
La Vida Yoga
I can't believe I've reached my two year anniversary of doing yoga. Time flies!
Two years ago, what seems like yesterday, while walking my dog, Benny, through the nearby field I decided then and there that my aches and pains needed to go. I pulled out my cell phone from my pocket and called the local yoga studio (Living Yoga Aurora) that I kept passing on my daily commute to and from work.
I signed up for two private classes with the owner, Claudine. I wanted to find out how yoga would be like before taking an actual class with other students, and I wanted to get some feedback from an expert on those exercises that would work best for my trouble areas. The instructor was incredibly aware of every little muscle group and skeletal issue, and immediately targeted various great exercises for sedentary workers like myself. Those first two sessions were incredibly tough, and flew by as if they'd just been a minute long.
After completing the second, private session I immediately signed up for the upcoming yoga fundamentals class. There I learned each and every basic pose and how to tweak it as flexibility improved with practice.
Before the last class I started going to a gentle/restorative class on Saturdays, which became one of my very favorites both for the pace, exercises, and the instructor. Since then, I've never looked back! Yoga is definitely for me.
I've felt the most affinity for gentle/restorative and hatha yoga, and eventually progressed to vinyasa level 1. I still get knocked out by vinyasa sometimes, but I persist. What a difference to feel a good muscle ache versus a bad muscle ache. A good muscle ache follows the stretching of a tight muscle group. A bad muscle ache is a lower back pain that's there because your neck and shoulders are hunched up over a computer!
Even though I haven't been as regular with my practice over the past six months, every time I go to the studio I feel renewed and refreshed. No wonder cats and dogs stretch to their heart's content, we should too.
My favorite poses are shavasana (of course!), pigeon pose, warrior three, and tree pose. Wide-leg forward bend (plus a twist!) is also a great mind-clarifying pose...it's neat seeing the world from a different perspective.
Over the past two years, yoga has helped me focus on the moment (something I thought was impossible), it's stopped weird aches and pains, and there's just no feeling that can be compared to stretching a muscle you've been sitting tightly over all day at work. The feeling of release is amazing.
It's also neat being exposed to a variety of different instructors who have their set classes, some specialize in visualization, some specialize in high-energy, some specialize in proper form and managing every inch for success.
The studio I visit has all the props you could ever need, but I have my own mat, strap, and two blocks. I usually bring a hand-towel because I really heat up during practice.
I've recently invested in a bolster for my practice at home, to help me do some gentle poses that can relieve some tension in-between classes. For example, it's great for supported supine backbends, supported supine heart openers, and for supported shavasana in cobblers pose. Bolsters are also great when doing a forward bend during cobbler's pose or a supported child's pose--keeps the knees at the right distance.
I now have dozens of workshops under my belt, ranging from a gong bath to guided meditation, and from a visualization board to a wellness program.
I enjoy the excitement stepping into the studio, hearing other students' conversations, seeing instructors prepare for class and greet students as they sign in, and then the energy focuses and quiets down as we journey through a class together. It's so lovely to be in a room of like-minded people who are in the moment...from when we set an intention as we begin the class, all the way down to intentionally tuning out during shavasana and saying namaste as we close the day's practice together.
One of my favorite yoga phrases is: allow the mat to reach up to support you. There's few things as comforting as knowing my mat, and yoga practice, will always be there for me. Namaste!
Two years ago, what seems like yesterday, while walking my dog, Benny, through the nearby field I decided then and there that my aches and pains needed to go. I pulled out my cell phone from my pocket and called the local yoga studio (Living Yoga Aurora) that I kept passing on my daily commute to and from work.
I signed up for two private classes with the owner, Claudine. I wanted to find out how yoga would be like before taking an actual class with other students, and I wanted to get some feedback from an expert on those exercises that would work best for my trouble areas. The instructor was incredibly aware of every little muscle group and skeletal issue, and immediately targeted various great exercises for sedentary workers like myself. Those first two sessions were incredibly tough, and flew by as if they'd just been a minute long.
After completing the second, private session I immediately signed up for the upcoming yoga fundamentals class. There I learned each and every basic pose and how to tweak it as flexibility improved with practice.
Before the last class I started going to a gentle/restorative class on Saturdays, which became one of my very favorites both for the pace, exercises, and the instructor. Since then, I've never looked back! Yoga is definitely for me.
I've felt the most affinity for gentle/restorative and hatha yoga, and eventually progressed to vinyasa level 1. I still get knocked out by vinyasa sometimes, but I persist. What a difference to feel a good muscle ache versus a bad muscle ache. A good muscle ache follows the stretching of a tight muscle group. A bad muscle ache is a lower back pain that's there because your neck and shoulders are hunched up over a computer!
Even though I haven't been as regular with my practice over the past six months, every time I go to the studio I feel renewed and refreshed. No wonder cats and dogs stretch to their heart's content, we should too.
My favorite poses are shavasana (of course!), pigeon pose, warrior three, and tree pose. Wide-leg forward bend (plus a twist!) is also a great mind-clarifying pose...it's neat seeing the world from a different perspective.
Over the past two years, yoga has helped me focus on the moment (something I thought was impossible), it's stopped weird aches and pains, and there's just no feeling that can be compared to stretching a muscle you've been sitting tightly over all day at work. The feeling of release is amazing.
It's also neat being exposed to a variety of different instructors who have their set classes, some specialize in visualization, some specialize in high-energy, some specialize in proper form and managing every inch for success.
The studio I visit has all the props you could ever need, but I have my own mat, strap, and two blocks. I usually bring a hand-towel because I really heat up during practice.
I've recently invested in a bolster for my practice at home, to help me do some gentle poses that can relieve some tension in-between classes. For example, it's great for supported supine backbends, supported supine heart openers, and for supported shavasana in cobblers pose. Bolsters are also great when doing a forward bend during cobbler's pose or a supported child's pose--keeps the knees at the right distance.
I now have dozens of workshops under my belt, ranging from a gong bath to guided meditation, and from a visualization board to a wellness program.
I enjoy the excitement stepping into the studio, hearing other students' conversations, seeing instructors prepare for class and greet students as they sign in, and then the energy focuses and quiets down as we journey through a class together. It's so lovely to be in a room of like-minded people who are in the moment...from when we set an intention as we begin the class, all the way down to intentionally tuning out during shavasana and saying namaste as we close the day's practice together.
One of my favorite yoga phrases is: allow the mat to reach up to support you. There's few things as comforting as knowing my mat, and yoga practice, will always be there for me. Namaste!
1.13.2013
Learning: Gong Bath
Last night I attended my first ever gong bath workshop, at my local yoga studio. A gong bath is said to help realign internal imbalances in the chakras or with your emotions. Just what I wanted!
I hadn't heard much about gong baths in the past, except that my yoga studio has had a similar event recently. All I knew is that a gong bath is supposed to work in similar fashion to how mantras do: they activate particular energy centers in the human body.
Although the ability and stamina of the practitioner are very important, the actual gongs themselves play a very important role as well. The disks come in a variety of sizes and are specially made of a copper and brass alloy.
The gongs are either made and honed by hand and or by machine--either way, they are continuously checked during the manufacturing process to assure they are attuned to a particular key. Their resulting harmonics resonate in different ways within the human body and the space they are played within.
During the gong bath, last night, I found that the deeper tones resonated the best with me, while the high pitched ones helped release something that was building up with the deeper tones. It was cyclical in a way, and very interesting to observe.
During a gong bath you may fall asleep, meditate, experience new-found emotions, see colors, and visualize imagery. In my case, my mind spent a lot of time trying to make sense of the surreal sounds.
I kept associating the sounds I experienced to other sounds I had heard before, and since I pretty much always relate things to movies, I kept visualizing sound effects from movies like Forbidden Planet (the noise the creature makes, especially on the steps up to the ship), Star Trek the Voyage Home (the strange sounds the probe makes), and The Shining (the cacophonous sounds in the soundtrack). Oh and don't let me forget Twin Peaks!
I did visualize some scenes from my past, with mixed results. The best part was really relaxing physically and melting into my yoga mat and bolster. My hands felt incredibly heavy at times, while my body seemed to float with each reverberation from the gong. The first wave came through the crown of my head and worked its way down the rest of my body, out my feet. It was really interesting. I came in skeptical and left a believer.
I think I will strive to achieve that kind of physical relaxation and mental flow in my budding meditation practice. I will try to hold on to that sensation in memory so I can refer back to it. It's definitely an experience that someone who is interested in alternative body/mind practices and healing should try at least once.
I hadn't heard much about gong baths in the past, except that my yoga studio has had a similar event recently. All I knew is that a gong bath is supposed to work in similar fashion to how mantras do: they activate particular energy centers in the human body.
There were three gongs set up at the head of the room, and everyone was asked to lay down with their heads towards the gongs and feet leading away from them.
Although the ability and stamina of the practitioner are very important, the actual gongs themselves play a very important role as well. The disks come in a variety of sizes and are specially made of a copper and brass alloy.
The gongs are either made and honed by hand and or by machine--either way, they are continuously checked during the manufacturing process to assure they are attuned to a particular key. Their resulting harmonics resonate in different ways within the human body and the space they are played within.
During the gong bath, last night, I found that the deeper tones resonated the best with me, while the high pitched ones helped release something that was building up with the deeper tones. It was cyclical in a way, and very interesting to observe.
During a gong bath you may fall asleep, meditate, experience new-found emotions, see colors, and visualize imagery. In my case, my mind spent a lot of time trying to make sense of the surreal sounds.
I kept associating the sounds I experienced to other sounds I had heard before, and since I pretty much always relate things to movies, I kept visualizing sound effects from movies like Forbidden Planet (the noise the creature makes, especially on the steps up to the ship), Star Trek the Voyage Home (the strange sounds the probe makes), and The Shining (the cacophonous sounds in the soundtrack). Oh and don't let me forget Twin Peaks!
I did visualize some scenes from my past, with mixed results. The best part was really relaxing physically and melting into my yoga mat and bolster. My hands felt incredibly heavy at times, while my body seemed to float with each reverberation from the gong. The first wave came through the crown of my head and worked its way down the rest of my body, out my feet. It was really interesting. I came in skeptical and left a believer.
I think I will strive to achieve that kind of physical relaxation and mental flow in my budding meditation practice. I will try to hold on to that sensation in memory so I can refer back to it. It's definitely an experience that someone who is interested in alternative body/mind practices and healing should try at least once.
1.11.2013
Wellness Program Update
As I mentioned in a post from last weekend, I began a 10-day wellness program at my favorite yoga studio, Living Yoga Aurora.
What edged me over to finally try out a juice fast and a restricted diet was a need to obtain mental clarity and this adventure has certainly broadened this ability noticeably.
I think I was ready to experience the various lessons that accompany a detoxing program. Because of my winter blues, I had begun drinking heavily in November, and I realized it was only going to get worse before it got better.
I chose this particular program out of comfort with the yoga studio and familiarity of the practices involved: diet cleanup, yoga, journaling, and meditation.
I've taken many a yoga class at this studio so I'm comfortable with the teachers and have my favorite classes. I began journaling back in May, so it's very easy to keep this going during this program. Also, I took two meditation classes at the studio, which illuminated the value and ease with which I can delve into meditation--whether for a quickie or for lengthier times.
To recap what the program entails:
The two day fast was hell for me starting in the afternoon of the first day. I felt my sugar drop too low and fell asleep on the sofa around 4:30 pm. I never take naps during the day unless I'm ill.
The next morning I was moribund and decided to cheat by making gluten free slow-cooking oats with some brown rice syrup and 1/4 of a cup of chopped mixed dried fruits.
Later that second day, I made my first ever two-bean chili and it was AMAZING. However, I didn't know spelt has gluten, so I inadvertently included a few tablespoonfuls with each serving of chili.
As a consequence of the juice fast and watchful diet I now enjoy being more attentive to whether I'm eating out of an emotional or clock need rather than personal satiety.
I've also begun to understand that "filling" means volumentric quantity and stomach size, not overstuffing to the gills, that's the portion they gave me, or mindless eating during the workday. It's enlightening to experience pleasure with smaller portions. I missed that satiated but unbloated feeling!
I believe detoxes of any kind must be accompanied by a TON, and I mean A TON of pure water intake to assure bodily functions continue with the least amount of disruption. In addition to any tea (especially naturally-diuretic green tea). This is definitely one of the more extreme types of diet and lifestyle modification that I have ever engaged in since I was 23 and I lost 58 pounds on a similar lifestyle change.
An excellent point that the wellness program nutritionist made, is that a large majority of world cultures feature some sort of fast as part of their spiritual traditions. This is actually recommended for well being, both physical and mental. Growing up Catholic I can remember strict and not-so-strict versions of Lent penance and abstinence.
One of the important points to make here is that the sense of community and support one gains from doing this as part of a group (religious or yoga studio) is invaluable. There's an unconscious sense of safety, support, and comfort.
I haven't had any trouble preparing quick and healthful/filling recipes to keep my diet varied. There's a few recipes on my Foodie Blog that I'm now labeling "wellness" as I develop them during this journey.
Whatever you chose to do this 2013 to help your health and lifestyle, may you find joyful and yummy success in it! Cheers!
What edged me over to finally try out a juice fast and a restricted diet was a need to obtain mental clarity and this adventure has certainly broadened this ability noticeably.
I think I was ready to experience the various lessons that accompany a detoxing program. Because of my winter blues, I had begun drinking heavily in November, and I realized it was only going to get worse before it got better.
I chose this particular program out of comfort with the yoga studio and familiarity of the practices involved: diet cleanup, yoga, journaling, and meditation.
I've taken many a yoga class at this studio so I'm comfortable with the teachers and have my favorite classes. I began journaling back in May, so it's very easy to keep this going during this program. Also, I took two meditation classes at the studio, which illuminated the value and ease with which I can delve into meditation--whether for a quickie or for lengthier times.
To recap what the program entails:
- two days of a juice fast plus one meal per day (nicely portioned and filling soup and salad from Two Mothers in Naperville)
- four yoga classes during the 10 day period (including the kickoff and closing program sessions)
- journaling
- 2-30 minutes of daily meditation (perhaps in combination with the journaling, pre or post meditation)
- a watchful whole-plant based diet free of sugar (excluded: maple, honey, rice syrup), wheat/gluten, and animal protein (exceptions: scallops and fish, but no shellfish or seafood)
The two day fast was hell for me starting in the afternoon of the first day. I felt my sugar drop too low and fell asleep on the sofa around 4:30 pm. I never take naps during the day unless I'm ill.
The next morning I was moribund and decided to cheat by making gluten free slow-cooking oats with some brown rice syrup and 1/4 of a cup of chopped mixed dried fruits.
Later that second day, I made my first ever two-bean chili and it was AMAZING. However, I didn't know spelt has gluten, so I inadvertently included a few tablespoonfuls with each serving of chili.
As a consequence of the juice fast and watchful diet I now enjoy being more attentive to whether I'm eating out of an emotional or clock need rather than personal satiety.
I've also begun to understand that "filling" means volumentric quantity and stomach size, not overstuffing to the gills, that's the portion they gave me, or mindless eating during the workday. It's enlightening to experience pleasure with smaller portions. I missed that satiated but unbloated feeling!
I believe detoxes of any kind must be accompanied by a TON, and I mean A TON of pure water intake to assure bodily functions continue with the least amount of disruption. In addition to any tea (especially naturally-diuretic green tea). This is definitely one of the more extreme types of diet and lifestyle modification that I have ever engaged in since I was 23 and I lost 58 pounds on a similar lifestyle change.
An excellent point that the wellness program nutritionist made, is that a large majority of world cultures feature some sort of fast as part of their spiritual traditions. This is actually recommended for well being, both physical and mental. Growing up Catholic I can remember strict and not-so-strict versions of Lent penance and abstinence.
One of the important points to make here is that the sense of community and support one gains from doing this as part of a group (religious or yoga studio) is invaluable. There's an unconscious sense of safety, support, and comfort.
I haven't had any trouble preparing quick and healthful/filling recipes to keep my diet varied. There's a few recipes on my Foodie Blog that I'm now labeling "wellness" as I develop them during this journey.
Whatever you chose to do this 2013 to help your health and lifestyle, may you find joyful and yummy success in it! Cheers!
1.10.2013
My Good Intentions for 2013
I developed some intentions for myself in 2013:
- enjoy a healthy lifestyle - I've gone back to yoga and will add back in my 15-20 minute gym workouts as well.
- have daily routines and rituals that expand the balance, joy, and focus I experience in my life
- find meaningful work that is rewarding to me - any type of work, busyness reading, or other projects. Not just 9-to-5.
- draw to myself helpful and supportive mentors and guides - I'm reading up about Chicago's publishing and editing news sources, associations, and experts to learn more about this environment. It draws me very much.
- find balance in both my emotions and lifestyle
- find joy in small and big things in everyday life - sometimes, these things don't need to be photographed to share, or typed out in social media. Sometimes, these are just for me.
- find focus in both the future and the present - projects I can look forward to, enjoy working on, and look back on with a feeling of accomplishment when they're done.
These are being taken care of via a variety of initiatives I've begun, which I won't go into detail here. A lot depends on setting goals and projects for myself that I look forward to, work on until they're accomplished, and then can look back on once completed with a sense of accomplishment.
I think these intentions create a solid structure where I can be a more successful and happy person in the various roles I play on an everyday basis. I need to remember one needs to walk well before s/he can begin to run.
Wish us luck! Do you have intentions, goals, and resolutions for 2013?
1.05.2013
A Clean Intention
I debated what to call this post, so a clean intention is the best I could do. So there. The truth of the matter is, that I just started a 10-day wellness program at my (the!) local yoga studio, Living Yoga Aurora.
I've never been much of a fan of detoxing, rather been very skeptical. However, ever since I became vegetarian, then pescatarian, them omnivorous again, I've been much more open to the whole-plant-based diet and its derivatives.
In Italy, growing up, we only ate natural products in simple but efficient recipes. I was never hungry and ate a variety of items so I knew I'd get all my vitamins and minerals. Not so these days, regrettably.
I've been meaning to wean myself off of processed grain foods (bread and pasta mostly) since my first visit with the naturopathic doctor I visited in mid 2012. I've opted to return to trusted sources such as Michael Pollan, Dr. Mercola, Dr. Weil, and Ellie Krieger for guidance in the past couple of years.
Not only do books, blogs, and Facebook pages provide great perspectives and research on plant-based diets, but there's always websites like Kashi and Whole Foods which espouse the whole grains and whole plant source mindset--and they have great meal ideas and recipes on their websites.
So, after passing up about three to four different wellness programs at the yoga studio, I stopped being a chicken and dove right into this 10-day program. The 2-day juice fast includes three juices per day plus a juice-fast friendly meal (soup and salad). This is then followed by an 8-day gluten/animal protein/sugar free diet. We do get to eat dairy, fish, and soy-based items if we want, so our protein intake and food varieties are taken care of. This isn't as strict as the usual 21-day program.
The dietitian co-sponsoring our wellness program provided us a list of allowable foods that we can use and some amazing recipes for the eight days. I did a little shopping in preparation for Monday through Monday's diet.
The wellness program includes a body-mind aspect to it and focuses on slowing down to notice things, being more careful with oneself, observing emotions and trains of thoughts and requires some time be spent in meditation, yoga, and journaling.
I've already started to notice a few things since this morning. I also attended today an intention and vision boarding workshop at the yoga studio, which I found restorative and informative. I learned a bit more about my mindset and my subconscious. It proved to be great lubrication for my journal writing.
The best part about the detox program is that the juices and one daily meal during this first, tough two-day period is from none other than Two Mothers. What a great sustainable kitchen! I love everything they make 'cause it's amazing, fresh, delicious, creative, filling, and I just love em to death. Even though they're pricey.
Let's see how I feel tomorrow morning! I can hear my stomach grumbling, but it's doing it in a good way.
I've never been much of a fan of detoxing, rather been very skeptical. However, ever since I became vegetarian, then pescatarian, them omnivorous again, I've been much more open to the whole-plant-based diet and its derivatives.
In Italy, growing up, we only ate natural products in simple but efficient recipes. I was never hungry and ate a variety of items so I knew I'd get all my vitamins and minerals. Not so these days, regrettably.
I've been meaning to wean myself off of processed grain foods (bread and pasta mostly) since my first visit with the naturopathic doctor I visited in mid 2012. I've opted to return to trusted sources such as Michael Pollan, Dr. Mercola, Dr. Weil, and Ellie Krieger for guidance in the past couple of years.
Not only do books, blogs, and Facebook pages provide great perspectives and research on plant-based diets, but there's always websites like Kashi and Whole Foods which espouse the whole grains and whole plant source mindset--and they have great meal ideas and recipes on their websites.
So, after passing up about three to four different wellness programs at the yoga studio, I stopped being a chicken and dove right into this 10-day program. The 2-day juice fast includes three juices per day plus a juice-fast friendly meal (soup and salad). This is then followed by an 8-day gluten/animal protein/sugar free diet. We do get to eat dairy, fish, and soy-based items if we want, so our protein intake and food varieties are taken care of. This isn't as strict as the usual 21-day program.
The dietitian co-sponsoring our wellness program provided us a list of allowable foods that we can use and some amazing recipes for the eight days. I did a little shopping in preparation for Monday through Monday's diet.
 |
| my journal vision board |
I've already started to notice a few things since this morning. I also attended today an intention and vision boarding workshop at the yoga studio, which I found restorative and informative. I learned a bit more about my mindset and my subconscious. It proved to be great lubrication for my journal writing.
The best part about the detox program is that the juices and one daily meal during this first, tough two-day period is from none other than Two Mothers. What a great sustainable kitchen! I love everything they make 'cause it's amazing, fresh, delicious, creative, filling, and I just love em to death. Even though they're pricey.
Let's see how I feel tomorrow morning! I can hear my stomach grumbling, but it's doing it in a good way.
6.18.2012
Learning: Yoga for Anxiety
I treated myself to a yoga for anxiety workshop yesterday evening. Check out the post on my Beauty and Health blog to find out what I learned.
4.11.2012
Did You Know? Yoga's Roots
I didn't realize there was such a hubbub (To Some Hindus, Modern Yoga Has Lost Its Way) about yoga's roots. According to the Hindu American Foundation (Is Yoga a Hindu Practice? and Take Yoga Back), American yoga practices are too far removed from its more spiritual Hindu roots.
The positive is that everyone feels like yoga is more approachable when it's religion- or spirituality-free. Folks are more likely to feel welcome to participate. The mentally pacifying and physically invigorating practice seems a great draw in its melding of ying and yang.
The bad side is that many of the real underlying belief systems, reasoning, and spiritual aspirations of the practice get lost in favor of a glamorized pop culture version of the art and science of the practice.
Have you heard about yoga raves (Raving About Yoga Party in Midtown)? When I read articles about yoga conferences (Wanderlust 2011: A Summary), I have a hard time discerning whether I'm reading about Lollapalooza or what should otherwise really be a new age-y mind-body festival.
The HAF doesn't necessarily want people to worship Hindu deities while practicing yoga, rather, be better educated about the origins and foundational principles, and gain a better understanding of the spiritual and worshiping aspects that are involved in a holistic yoga practice. It's never been just about the breathing and the poses, you see. And definitely not about breaking your back to reach a perfect pretzel shape.
A recent article denouncing the possible health risks to practicing yoga used extreme examples that does, however, in the end, reflect how superficially people deal with yoga. Most people think that rabbit-food eating hippies or financially-well-off people engage in yoga--kind of an extremist view right there.
In my own experience at a locally, financially affluent location in Illinois, I've noticed materialism, social status, beauty, age, and socialization taking precedence over a thoughtful practice. I'm probably the weirdest person in my classes, staying to myself and deeply focusing during a pose rather than stretching provocatively next to a male student like I've seen other female students do. To be honest, all that pheromone action turns my stomach.
I do smile, laugh, and guffaw at my fellow student and instructor especially during funny stories, jokes, and funny situations. Though I can tell most people enjoy the more "cinematic" type of instructors versus the down-to-earth ones that I organically gravitate towards. Birds of a feather I guess.
Life is but a roadway we meander through. We sometimes pick up something shiny to take with us during a portion of our journey. Sometimes, it's nice to stop and look around to where other's paths have taken others.
In my path, I'm avoiding the $100 yoga bags and $98 sweat-wicking capris. I was watching a CNN video earlier, and saw an Indian man using a bath towel as his mat--practicality and function meet to facilitate spirituality. I love it.
The positive is that everyone feels like yoga is more approachable when it's religion- or spirituality-free. Folks are more likely to feel welcome to participate. The mentally pacifying and physically invigorating practice seems a great draw in its melding of ying and yang.
The bad side is that many of the real underlying belief systems, reasoning, and spiritual aspirations of the practice get lost in favor of a glamorized pop culture version of the art and science of the practice.
Have you heard about yoga raves (Raving About Yoga Party in Midtown)? When I read articles about yoga conferences (Wanderlust 2011: A Summary), I have a hard time discerning whether I'm reading about Lollapalooza or what should otherwise really be a new age-y mind-body festival.
The HAF doesn't necessarily want people to worship Hindu deities while practicing yoga, rather, be better educated about the origins and foundational principles, and gain a better understanding of the spiritual and worshiping aspects that are involved in a holistic yoga practice. It's never been just about the breathing and the poses, you see. And definitely not about breaking your back to reach a perfect pretzel shape.
A recent article denouncing the possible health risks to practicing yoga used extreme examples that does, however, in the end, reflect how superficially people deal with yoga. Most people think that rabbit-food eating hippies or financially-well-off people engage in yoga--kind of an extremist view right there.
In my own experience at a locally, financially affluent location in Illinois, I've noticed materialism, social status, beauty, age, and socialization taking precedence over a thoughtful practice. I'm probably the weirdest person in my classes, staying to myself and deeply focusing during a pose rather than stretching provocatively next to a male student like I've seen other female students do. To be honest, all that pheromone action turns my stomach.
I do smile, laugh, and guffaw at my fellow student and instructor especially during funny stories, jokes, and funny situations. Though I can tell most people enjoy the more "cinematic" type of instructors versus the down-to-earth ones that I organically gravitate towards. Birds of a feather I guess.
Life is but a roadway we meander through. We sometimes pick up something shiny to take with us during a portion of our journey. Sometimes, it's nice to stop and look around to where other's paths have taken others.
In my path, I'm avoiding the $100 yoga bags and $98 sweat-wicking capris. I was watching a CNN video earlier, and saw an Indian man using a bath towel as his mat--practicality and function meet to facilitate spirituality. I love it.
3.28.2012
In Search of: Emotional Balance
I started practicing yoga a year ago this month (!), but didn't really notice a change until late last year. Starting sometime last summer, I started experiencing a release of negative energy during Shavasana and then later, off the mat, which has been troubling me.
I was starting to think that trying to obtain peace on the mat would never translate to a realistic goal, much less to peace off the mat.
I also started to think I must be taking things too seriously to have so many negative reactions and almost-outbursts.
I also thought that some people around me were perhaps trying harder to push my buttons. Perhaps a little paranoid at first, but then you start noticing patterns. Are toxic people in my life?
All in all, I think what is going on is actually a combination of environment (what happens that I have no control over), personal perspective (how I feel and how I react), and people around me (who push my buttons on purpose or unintentionally--or worse as a joke).
Most of all, however, I think that progress and flexibility on the mat have translated into a release of pent-up emotional and physical knots. I've heard that we hold emotions and stress in the belly, in the hips, and in the shoulders.
Each time I achieve a little progress in flexibility of a particular trouble spot, I may need to prepare to expect the release of that negative energy in some way, shape, or form.
Yoga is said to be a practice where we don't see progress, but notice a gradual change as we get better a little at a time. Some days you feel very balanced, and on another day your tree pose is almost impossible to hold.
It's been a little scary being more emotional than usual. I've mostly attributed this to my mourning grandma. Although we're three months past, this has been a really hard knock to bear.
As part of my "checking in" practice off the mat, I started a little self management exercise whenever I notice I'm down a negative thought spiral. Since I mostly focus on the past leading into negative spirals, I started saying to myself out loud: "that is in the past, you are in this moment now. What is going on in this moment?" and it's helped me refocus at each instance. Each time gets a little better.
I've begun to make peace with the moment, with the now. The past has always been forefront in my mind, but I'm trying to make each moment of now overshadow everything else. I want the now to be all it can be. By doing all I can with the now, I can rest assured I'm already taking care of what will come.
I was starting to think that trying to obtain peace on the mat would never translate to a realistic goal, much less to peace off the mat.
I also started to think I must be taking things too seriously to have so many negative reactions and almost-outbursts.
I also thought that some people around me were perhaps trying harder to push my buttons. Perhaps a little paranoid at first, but then you start noticing patterns. Are toxic people in my life?
All in all, I think what is going on is actually a combination of environment (what happens that I have no control over), personal perspective (how I feel and how I react), and people around me (who push my buttons on purpose or unintentionally--or worse as a joke).
Most of all, however, I think that progress and flexibility on the mat have translated into a release of pent-up emotional and physical knots. I've heard that we hold emotions and stress in the belly, in the hips, and in the shoulders.
Each time I achieve a little progress in flexibility of a particular trouble spot, I may need to prepare to expect the release of that negative energy in some way, shape, or form.
Yoga is said to be a practice where we don't see progress, but notice a gradual change as we get better a little at a time. Some days you feel very balanced, and on another day your tree pose is almost impossible to hold.
 |
| being in the now, I saw this budding tree |
As part of my "checking in" practice off the mat, I started a little self management exercise whenever I notice I'm down a negative thought spiral. Since I mostly focus on the past leading into negative spirals, I started saying to myself out loud: "that is in the past, you are in this moment now. What is going on in this moment?" and it's helped me refocus at each instance. Each time gets a little better.
I've begun to make peace with the moment, with the now. The past has always been forefront in my mind, but I'm trying to make each moment of now overshadow everything else. I want the now to be all it can be. By doing all I can with the now, I can rest assured I'm already taking care of what will come.
10.21.2011
Yoga For Sitting Aches and Pains
One of the many reasons I chose to pursue a yoga practice back in March, was the pain caused by my sedentary lifestyle and extended sitting. Did I mention the pain?
I first went the chiropractor route, last year, and it did just what it was supposed to, but I wanted to change my lifestyle to match this new understanding of cause and effect.
When I started doing yoga I was incredibly out of shape, a little clumsy, overweight, and had incredibly tight hips and hamstrings.
The two private classes I took before the fundamentals class, did a lot to establish a foundation of understanding why and what poses did in my body. Since then, I've been reading various online articles and magazines, to help build up my body of knowledge and understanding. I also think critically of each and every pose in the classes I attend, and examine how one pose helps expand into the next to warm up the body for more advanced poses towards the end of the class.
I was recently reading about groin pain, because we had an extremely vigorous class last night. I found an article about the sacroiliac joints (Practice Tips for the Sacroiliac Joints) on Yoga Journal's website.
I expanded my reading to include what exercises are needed to help pain in the sacroiliac and lower back. There are A TON of articles on this website! Love it!
I learned that with hip and lower back pain or tightness, the areas you need to focus on are: the sacroiliac, psoas, pelvic floor muscles, periformis, and gluteus. In my particular case, it looks like poses such as fish, reclining hero, and bridge pose can help slowly and carefully build tone and loosen up tight areas. I need to protect the sacroiliac bones, tighten my core, and make sure I relax in poses. On the other hand, poses that include widening the legs and thighs apart, such as goddess pose, cobblers pose, wide leg forward bends, etc., can cause problems.
I got stoked by the info I learned, and took the initiative to email my yoga studio and suggest a workshop idea to help tight sacroiliac folks like myself. I wonder whether they'll take it into consideration.
My very favorite pose for hip opening is one-legged pigeon. The longer I'm able to stay in it, the more relaxed I feel after. I have difficulty staying in a seated cross-legged position for long, my groin muscles and ligaments start aching.
I love finding educated and well-researched articles on Yoga Journal's website. It should definitely be counted among your go-to references and resources if you are a yoga student.
Cheers!
Recommended readings:
I first went the chiropractor route, last year, and it did just what it was supposed to, but I wanted to change my lifestyle to match this new understanding of cause and effect.
When I started doing yoga I was incredibly out of shape, a little clumsy, overweight, and had incredibly tight hips and hamstrings.
The two private classes I took before the fundamentals class, did a lot to establish a foundation of understanding why and what poses did in my body. Since then, I've been reading various online articles and magazines, to help build up my body of knowledge and understanding. I also think critically of each and every pose in the classes I attend, and examine how one pose helps expand into the next to warm up the body for more advanced poses towards the end of the class.
I was recently reading about groin pain, because we had an extremely vigorous class last night. I found an article about the sacroiliac joints (Practice Tips for the Sacroiliac Joints) on Yoga Journal's website.
I expanded my reading to include what exercises are needed to help pain in the sacroiliac and lower back. There are A TON of articles on this website! Love it!
I learned that with hip and lower back pain or tightness, the areas you need to focus on are: the sacroiliac, psoas, pelvic floor muscles, periformis, and gluteus. In my particular case, it looks like poses such as fish, reclining hero, and bridge pose can help slowly and carefully build tone and loosen up tight areas. I need to protect the sacroiliac bones, tighten my core, and make sure I relax in poses. On the other hand, poses that include widening the legs and thighs apart, such as goddess pose, cobblers pose, wide leg forward bends, etc., can cause problems.
I got stoked by the info I learned, and took the initiative to email my yoga studio and suggest a workshop idea to help tight sacroiliac folks like myself. I wonder whether they'll take it into consideration.
My very favorite pose for hip opening is one-legged pigeon. The longer I'm able to stay in it, the more relaxed I feel after. I have difficulty staying in a seated cross-legged position for long, my groin muscles and ligaments start aching.
I love finding educated and well-researched articles on Yoga Journal's website. It should definitely be counted among your go-to references and resources if you are a yoga student.
Cheers!
Recommended readings:
7.28.2011
Yoga and General Update
It's been a hellacious week. Friday 4:00 pm CT cannot, I repeat CANNOT, come fast enough.
All my projects are hopping this week and the number of people I need to speak with, email with, meet with, or otherwise interact with, plus all the deliverables, questions, documents, reports, and updates are totally wearing me down.
This is a typical pre-conference week, and it's old hat. It's just a little "whoa!" when it actually hits each year. And it's always at different times during summer that this happens.
So what am I doing about it? How does someone maintain balance? Is there such a thing as balance under these crazy circumstances?
To start with I'm prioritizing, listing, bullet pointing, and putting in lots and lots of elbow grease.
To keep my health in gear, I'm not missing my three-a-weekly yoga classes, and getting in a fourth one if I can manage it. I'm also walking several times a night with Young Master Benny, the Baying Hound. And many times with the significant-other unit if he comes home before 9 pm. The evening's cooler and perhaps a little less humid than during the day.
Sometimes, I walk around the office building parking lots during my lunch hour, while I speak to my grandmother--who's recent health scare is still reverberating through me. I seriously freaked out. My parents had to rush over and take her to the hospital. It was NOT a fun situation to go through. God willing she's all good now, just like the docs said. She sure likes my almost-daily calls :) Every day she's there, every minute we talk on the phone is a blessing and a miracle.
I also keep adding tons of fruit and vegetables to my meals. I have a vegetable and fruit smoothie ever day for breakfast and sometimes for dinner. These smoothies are HUGE. I end up having 2-3 glasses worth, which keeps me filled for almost half a day. I'm still having a hard time inserting protein, but with an organic hemp protein powder I'm adding to my smoothies, I'm getting there. My weight loss and nutrition is a health project in progress.
Best of all, I've learned to quickly ignore other people's overreactions, drama, and politics much sooner than I used to. I actually am surprised when other people have irrational outbursts and reactions, I kinda look at them funny rather than feel empathic and suffer under the weight of the drain.
I have learned to sync my breath to my yoga practice a little better than when I first started four months ago, and I obtain peace after a few minutes of deep, pranayama breathing exercises. And nothing beats sweating to some good yoga during class.
It's a heavy summer, both weather-wise and work-wise, but I'm building a foundation and some immunity for surviving it all and, perhaps if I'm lucky, coming out the other end a champ!
All my projects are hopping this week and the number of people I need to speak with, email with, meet with, or otherwise interact with, plus all the deliverables, questions, documents, reports, and updates are totally wearing me down.
This is a typical pre-conference week, and it's old hat. It's just a little "whoa!" when it actually hits each year. And it's always at different times during summer that this happens.
So what am I doing about it? How does someone maintain balance? Is there such a thing as balance under these crazy circumstances?
To start with I'm prioritizing, listing, bullet pointing, and putting in lots and lots of elbow grease.
To keep my health in gear, I'm not missing my three-a-weekly yoga classes, and getting in a fourth one if I can manage it. I'm also walking several times a night with Young Master Benny, the Baying Hound. And many times with the significant-other unit if he comes home before 9 pm. The evening's cooler and perhaps a little less humid than during the day.
Sometimes, I walk around the office building parking lots during my lunch hour, while I speak to my grandmother--who's recent health scare is still reverberating through me. I seriously freaked out. My parents had to rush over and take her to the hospital. It was NOT a fun situation to go through. God willing she's all good now, just like the docs said. She sure likes my almost-daily calls :) Every day she's there, every minute we talk on the phone is a blessing and a miracle.
I also keep adding tons of fruit and vegetables to my meals. I have a vegetable and fruit smoothie ever day for breakfast and sometimes for dinner. These smoothies are HUGE. I end up having 2-3 glasses worth, which keeps me filled for almost half a day. I'm still having a hard time inserting protein, but with an organic hemp protein powder I'm adding to my smoothies, I'm getting there. My weight loss and nutrition is a health project in progress.
Best of all, I've learned to quickly ignore other people's overreactions, drama, and politics much sooner than I used to. I actually am surprised when other people have irrational outbursts and reactions, I kinda look at them funny rather than feel empathic and suffer under the weight of the drain.
I have learned to sync my breath to my yoga practice a little better than when I first started four months ago, and I obtain peace after a few minutes of deep, pranayama breathing exercises. And nothing beats sweating to some good yoga during class.
It's a heavy summer, both weather-wise and work-wise, but I'm building a foundation and some immunity for surviving it all and, perhaps if I'm lucky, coming out the other end a champ!
5.14.2011
Yoga Practice Update
My yoga strap was too short *palmface* so I ended up picking one up at the yoga studio for $14.07 which included tax.
I've begun taking the gentle/restorative yoga class on Saturday mornings and it's been great. I want to attend the Wednesday clases too.
Tomorrow is my last fundamentals class so starting next week I'll be attending the restorative/gentle yoga that's taking place two hours later every Sunday. I am very much looking forward to sleeping in again!
Good, stretchy times.
I've begun taking the gentle/restorative yoga class on Saturday mornings and it's been great. I want to attend the Wednesday clases too.
Tomorrow is my last fundamentals class so starting next week I'll be attending the restorative/gentle yoga that's taking place two hours later every Sunday. I am very much looking forward to sleeping in again!
Good, stretchy times.
5.03.2011
Yoga Practice
I bought a yoga mat about three years ago in the hopes of starting doing yoga. I needed exercise, as I do now, and yoga helps me stretch while working muscle groups out. It seemed like a great idea.
So I signed up for a two-class package at a local cultural center, and...was so demoralized after the very high-gear, gung-ho first class...that I didn't even bother getting a refund. I just never showed up again.
Everyone was stick-thin and most were blonde. And wore expensive looking, well-coordinated outfits. And they had great pedicures. Their toes shone like jewels over the wood flooring. I definitely didn't belong there.
My little yoga mat and I have stared each other down ever since. At home. Whenever I passed it on my way to the treadmill downstairs, I glanced at it furtively. As I was walking past on my way out to the garage, I acted like I didn't see it. But I knew it was there, that I was giving it the slip. It just stood by idle, patiently, waiting for the day I'd pick it up again.
The significant-other unit sometimes used the mat to do floor exercises that he learned from his personal trainer at the gym next door to where he works. A personal trainer. About a dozen steps away from his work desk. Some people are very unfairly facilitated. Meanwhile I just gave my mat the evil eye. The mat and my bumper-car sized hips.
So I finally signed up for two private yoga classes back in March. I drive by a yoga studio every day on the way home, and thought, gee why don't I check them out online and give them a call. And as fast as I had thought that action item up, it was a fait accompli.
I then followed up the two personal training classes with a six-week yoga fundamentals class. This past Sunday was class #4. I must say, it's been a blast.
Class is on Sunday mornings at 8:00 am. If you know me, you know this ungodly hour is a major sacrifice and quite a shocking display of discipline on my part.
However, I haven't been keeping up by practicing during the week. I've been lackadaisical. I haven't even been doing a good job of keeping up with my chiropractor mandated stretches. Why? I have no idea. I just need to get into it again, for real. Put on my grownup pants and just stick with it.
So as I am learning the fundamentals, in this six-week yoga class, I'm realizing that I ideally should take class during the week too. More times a week. This would not only increase my practice, but get more exercise into my weekly lifestyle and just end up in much more positive results.
As a matter of fact, it would get me much closer to my goal of losing approximately 40 pounds--which is probably as far away as, say, seeing a pig with wings. But that's a whole 'nother can of worms.
So, every Sunday morning, I get my little cheap mat and head to class. I got this particular mat, uncharacteristically, not as the result of arduous research, but rather, just a preference for its mossy-green color and print of a bamboo plant. If only I had known.
During one of our classes, our teacher began discussing yoga mats. What to look for when buying one. Everyone uses the studio mats and then wipes them down with a disinfectant wipe. :S
The instructor mentioned she really dislikes the Gaia brand--guess what brand mine is? ^^; My yoga mat is not as good as it should be. For starters, it's too thin, and secondly, it doesn't have a grip/non-slip surface. That's a big must. But you know what? I got it because I liked it, and I still do. I just compensate for it being too thin, by putting it on top of the studio mat.
To compensate for sweaty, slippery hands and feet during practice, I bought a Yogitoes towel--a yoga mat towel that has grippy/anti-slip dots on one side, and a thin towel texture on the other side. My teacher was trying to sell me one for $75. I got mine for $21 at Amazon with free shipping and a coupon. It was $48+ originally.
You put this on top of your yoga mat, and voila! No more slippy hands and/or feet during downward dog. And I do sweat to the oldies when doing downward dog.
I recently had to add to my paraphernalia, however. There's practical aspects to each of the items I am using in class and that can help me at home. Or in class. And best of all, by using my own versus the studio's, I'm cutting down on germies :S I don't like sharing my sweaty stuff with others. And I don't like getting sweaty stuff from others. Call me names if you must. It makes sense to me.
The first item I purchased was yoga blocks. These were $10 each and a bargain, I thought, at Naperville's Lululemon store. Mine are charcoal gray and have a thin, lime green line running along the middle, all the way around.
However--oh silly, young grasshoper--I yet again found out the error of my ways. These are three inch thick ones, and for beginners, it's best to use four inch thick ones. Oh well, I'll be doing moderately advanced versus just amateur. Compensate to make what you have work for you. That's my motto!
Then I purchased a yoga strap. It was just this past weekend though, so I haven't had a chance yet to take it to class and find out yet if I selected wisely or not. My strap is green and matches my yoga mat and the limey line on my blocks. I think it's Gaia.
I'm going to wince on Sunday in case she brings up the basics in strap shopping. But I'm pretty certain there's not much wrong you can do with straps. I hope.
Why don't I purchase supplies from my teacher? She's expensive. Very expensive. $98 yoga mat expensive. She charges full price. I'm already paying for the classes at full price. The first two, private classes were a splurge, not a habit. I pay full price for the quality lessons, not for the accessories. At least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
So as I am going along, I am making mental compromises and compensating where possible. And where applicable, purchasing props that are economical but that make a big difference in my practice. Sounds reasonable, right?
I think practicing yoga has brought a number of positives to my lifestyle. It's a great way for me to become more adjusted to exercise regimes, without going nuts, which I don't like. It's stretching my adaptable thinking--a lot of the poses are visualization-based and require quite a bit of conscious focus of your entire body as you're entering and sustaining them. And I'm shopping for bargains making me feel extra happy when I'm using my props. I like them, even if they're not perfect to someone who has a lot of expertise and can see what they're worth.
I also realized I can't always wear the same two tops to class, so I got some new ones online. And a pair of cropped yoga pants. Yoga clothing is pricey!
Let's see if I manage to sign up for the gentle/restorative yoga class next. I have my eye on it but I haven't had a chance to partake just yet due to other commitments. This class will provide me ample opportunity to stretch well and use the muscle groups for each pose correctly.
Good times. Or at least, healthier ones ;o)
So I signed up for a two-class package at a local cultural center, and...was so demoralized after the very high-gear, gung-ho first class...that I didn't even bother getting a refund. I just never showed up again.
Everyone was stick-thin and most were blonde. And wore expensive looking, well-coordinated outfits. And they had great pedicures. Their toes shone like jewels over the wood flooring. I definitely didn't belong there.
My little yoga mat and I have stared each other down ever since. At home. Whenever I passed it on my way to the treadmill downstairs, I glanced at it furtively. As I was walking past on my way out to the garage, I acted like I didn't see it. But I knew it was there, that I was giving it the slip. It just stood by idle, patiently, waiting for the day I'd pick it up again.
The significant-other unit sometimes used the mat to do floor exercises that he learned from his personal trainer at the gym next door to where he works. A personal trainer. About a dozen steps away from his work desk. Some people are very unfairly facilitated. Meanwhile I just gave my mat the evil eye. The mat and my bumper-car sized hips.
So I finally signed up for two private yoga classes back in March. I drive by a yoga studio every day on the way home, and thought, gee why don't I check them out online and give them a call. And as fast as I had thought that action item up, it was a fait accompli.
I then followed up the two personal training classes with a six-week yoga fundamentals class. This past Sunday was class #4. I must say, it's been a blast.
Class is on Sunday mornings at 8:00 am. If you know me, you know this ungodly hour is a major sacrifice and quite a shocking display of discipline on my part.
However, I haven't been keeping up by practicing during the week. I've been lackadaisical. I haven't even been doing a good job of keeping up with my chiropractor mandated stretches. Why? I have no idea. I just need to get into it again, for real. Put on my grownup pants and just stick with it.
So as I am learning the fundamentals, in this six-week yoga class, I'm realizing that I ideally should take class during the week too. More times a week. This would not only increase my practice, but get more exercise into my weekly lifestyle and just end up in much more positive results.
As a matter of fact, it would get me much closer to my goal of losing approximately 40 pounds--which is probably as far away as, say, seeing a pig with wings. But that's a whole 'nother can of worms.
So, every Sunday morning, I get my little cheap mat and head to class. I got this particular mat, uncharacteristically, not as the result of arduous research, but rather, just a preference for its mossy-green color and print of a bamboo plant. If only I had known.
During one of our classes, our teacher began discussing yoga mats. What to look for when buying one. Everyone uses the studio mats and then wipes them down with a disinfectant wipe. :S
The instructor mentioned she really dislikes the Gaia brand--guess what brand mine is? ^^; My yoga mat is not as good as it should be. For starters, it's too thin, and secondly, it doesn't have a grip/non-slip surface. That's a big must. But you know what? I got it because I liked it, and I still do. I just compensate for it being too thin, by putting it on top of the studio mat.
To compensate for sweaty, slippery hands and feet during practice, I bought a Yogitoes towel--a yoga mat towel that has grippy/anti-slip dots on one side, and a thin towel texture on the other side. My teacher was trying to sell me one for $75. I got mine for $21 at Amazon with free shipping and a coupon. It was $48+ originally.
You put this on top of your yoga mat, and voila! No more slippy hands and/or feet during downward dog. And I do sweat to the oldies when doing downward dog.
I recently had to add to my paraphernalia, however. There's practical aspects to each of the items I am using in class and that can help me at home. Or in class. And best of all, by using my own versus the studio's, I'm cutting down on germies :S I don't like sharing my sweaty stuff with others. And I don't like getting sweaty stuff from others. Call me names if you must. It makes sense to me.
The first item I purchased was yoga blocks. These were $10 each and a bargain, I thought, at Naperville's Lululemon store. Mine are charcoal gray and have a thin, lime green line running along the middle, all the way around.
However--oh silly, young grasshoper--I yet again found out the error of my ways. These are three inch thick ones, and for beginners, it's best to use four inch thick ones. Oh well, I'll be doing moderately advanced versus just amateur. Compensate to make what you have work for you. That's my motto!
Then I purchased a yoga strap. It was just this past weekend though, so I haven't had a chance yet to take it to class and find out yet if I selected wisely or not. My strap is green and matches my yoga mat and the limey line on my blocks. I think it's Gaia.
I'm going to wince on Sunday in case she brings up the basics in strap shopping. But I'm pretty certain there's not much wrong you can do with straps. I hope.
Why don't I purchase supplies from my teacher? She's expensive. Very expensive. $98 yoga mat expensive. She charges full price. I'm already paying for the classes at full price. The first two, private classes were a splurge, not a habit. I pay full price for the quality lessons, not for the accessories. At least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
So as I am going along, I am making mental compromises and compensating where possible. And where applicable, purchasing props that are economical but that make a big difference in my practice. Sounds reasonable, right?
I think practicing yoga has brought a number of positives to my lifestyle. It's a great way for me to become more adjusted to exercise regimes, without going nuts, which I don't like. It's stretching my adaptable thinking--a lot of the poses are visualization-based and require quite a bit of conscious focus of your entire body as you're entering and sustaining them. And I'm shopping for bargains making me feel extra happy when I'm using my props. I like them, even if they're not perfect to someone who has a lot of expertise and can see what they're worth.
I also realized I can't always wear the same two tops to class, so I got some new ones online. And a pair of cropped yoga pants. Yoga clothing is pricey!
Let's see if I manage to sign up for the gentle/restorative yoga class next. I have my eye on it but I haven't had a chance to partake just yet due to other commitments. This class will provide me ample opportunity to stretch well and use the muscle groups for each pose correctly.
Good times. Or at least, healthier ones ;o)
9.24.2006
Yoga, Yogis, Yo!
I've been practicing yoga for a week, and I feel better.
The type of yoga I selected to practice is unique in that it is, first of all, Korean, and secondly, a cross between martial arts, energy training, and yoga stretching. To learn more about my type of yoga, see the Dahn Yoga page.
I really like the way it combines stress release to rid yourself of negative energy and toxicity that has accumulated during the day, then moves into warming up and energizing, then stretching and finally, disciplined movement to increase your limbs' flexibility. But most of all, I really like the unity created through the great and respectful interaction between the students--it gives you a great way to move out from under the shadow of shyness or tentativeness. You just go for it, because you know it's a safe environment, and in the end, the results will be great.
In addition I've subscribed to the newsletter sent out by Yoga Journal magazine which not only provides excellent new poses to try, but also excellent practical reasons why yoga is so good for you in your everyday life. It's been providing me an excellent perspective on the applicability and lessons that yoga can bring to all parts of my daily life.
I personally appreciate yoga for the focus you have to dedicate it before beginning each session, during each session, and the thankfulness you feel after each session. It's an excellent pause during a full day of focusing externally on everyone else's requirements, to really focus internally to capture that engery lying there in wait, and centering it into creating a more limber and capable physiology.
Try a pose or two today, and if you have the patience and time, pick up practicing at your local studio.
-_-
- J
The type of yoga I selected to practice is unique in that it is, first of all, Korean, and secondly, a cross between martial arts, energy training, and yoga stretching. To learn more about my type of yoga, see the Dahn Yoga page.
I really like the way it combines stress release to rid yourself of negative energy and toxicity that has accumulated during the day, then moves into warming up and energizing, then stretching and finally, disciplined movement to increase your limbs' flexibility. But most of all, I really like the unity created through the great and respectful interaction between the students--it gives you a great way to move out from under the shadow of shyness or tentativeness. You just go for it, because you know it's a safe environment, and in the end, the results will be great.
In addition I've subscribed to the newsletter sent out by Yoga Journal magazine which not only provides excellent new poses to try, but also excellent practical reasons why yoga is so good for you in your everyday life. It's been providing me an excellent perspective on the applicability and lessons that yoga can bring to all parts of my daily life.
I personally appreciate yoga for the focus you have to dedicate it before beginning each session, during each session, and the thankfulness you feel after each session. It's an excellent pause during a full day of focusing externally on everyone else's requirements, to really focus internally to capture that engery lying there in wait, and centering it into creating a more limber and capable physiology.
Try a pose or two today, and if you have the patience and time, pick up practicing at your local studio.
-_-
- J
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)