Detox day 4. I have problems.

Prep for my Mineralizing Vegetable Broth

Well, I didn't give in to the temptation that is RedMango yesterday.  If you know what RedMango is, you know that shows incredible discipline.  Discipline that I apparently can't hold together when I'm at home, faced with a bowlful of damned Candy Corn. 

What is it about this crap?  It's only available for 2 months a year, but the statistics about the annual consumption of Candy Corn are staggering.  The amount of candy corn kernels sold (and, we must assume, consumed) each September/October is sufficient to line up end-to-end and circle the Earth 4 1/4 times.  I wish I were making this up. But I'm not.  It doesn't even taste *that* good.  I mean, really.  M&M's are incredibly delicious - in my opinion a perfect food - and available year-round.  I haven't had any problems walking right past them and exercising willpower there.  Yet, tell me that if I don't eat up as much candy corn as I can get my hands on right now, I won't be able to taste it for another 10 months?  Hold me back, girls.  And you might need some handcuffs.

So, anyway, in an effort to distract myself, I ate up all of my Kitchari last night.  Alas, it didn't stop me from scarfing down a few dozen orange, yellow, and white pellets, but with a full-of-rice belly, I didn't eat as many as I otherwise might have.  Anyway, today, I'll need to make a new supply of the stew, and I've decided to make a few variations.  Instead of the adding in the vegetable specific for a Pitta imbalance, I'll be adding in the vegetables specific for a Kapha imbalance.  We'll see if that make a difference in my satiety levels.  I still don't completely understand how certain foods are better for certain doshas; I'm just taking the guidelines' word for it and following along.  I am also going to be making homemade Vegetable Broth that I can drink as a "snack".  I know, I know, not many of us would consider veggie broth a "snack", but when you think about it, what's wrong with that?  A snack is a food that tides you over to your next meal, something that's hopefully nutritive and often tasty.  I suppose Vegetable Broth fits the bill on two of the former three.  If it's not terribly tasty, who cares.  It's not like this is it for the rest of my life.  I can make a small sacrifice for the next couple of days.  Maybe I'll head right back to the chips and guac or maybe my tastes will change and I'll reach for something healthier.

Another great benefit to the Detox's outline is that there is a daily yoga practice to supplement your cleansing journey.  The practices vary in length from 16 to 25 minutes, and it's a nice surprise to get my email every morning with my yoga practice "homework".  I try to do it first thing in the morning, which of course is much easier on the weekends, but during the week, it gives me some nice down-time to look forward to!

Perhaps today will be a better day.  I have plenty of culinary adventures to keep me busy (and far, far away from that bowl of honeyed triangles).

Fall DeTox

This Fall, "cleansing" and "detox" seem to be all the rage.  As an avid reader of Yoga Journal, I have been interested in their 7-day Fall DeTox, but I also know of no fewer than 3 other people who have been doing some sort of Green Tea or DeTox cleanse in as many weeks. 

The reasons for doing a cleanse are as varied as the number of people doing them.  Some do it to recharge their batteries, some do it for weight loss (which will be fleeting unless you radically change your eating and exercise habits following the cleanse!) , and some do it to literally cleanse the body of toxins.  When I thought about it, I was surprised to consider that toxins come from anywhere: from medications, environmental pollutants, additives to cosmetics and beauty products, unhealthy foods, bottles of champagne and wine at your friend's house on Tuesdays, etc. After reading up on some of the benefits of the program from Yoga Journal and considering the summer I had, I decided that this is something I should do. 

Yoga Journal's 7-Day Detox is based on the principles of Ayurveda.  In order to properly reap the benefits of this cleanse, you start by taking a short quiz to determine which Dosha is dominant with you right now.  We are all a combination of Vata, Pitta, or Kapha, but one or two of these may be stronger in you than others.  Weeks ago, I already determined that I was strongly Pitta with slight tendencies toward Kapha.  What this means is that I will be adding Pitta-balancing nutrients and foods to the Detox recipes.  What I like about this Detox is the fact that you are instructed to eat real live food.  Delicious food, full of flavors, exotic though they may be.  Food that I would normally eat at an Indian Buffet on any given Sunday.  Other cleanses severely limit your food intake (The Green Tea cleanse has you ingesting nothing more than green tea for 5 days.  Sure, you'll lose a bunch of weight, but when you go out to eat a nice meal on the 6th day, you'll put most of it back on and likely suffer indigestion as your body goes into shock from processing actual food).

I checked out the recipes, and despite an abundance of local Indian grocers where I could root around and find some of the more exotic spices and ingredients, I took the shortcut and ordered an Ayurvedic Cleanse kit from Banyan Botanicals.  It was a little pricey, but it saved me a lot of time and I can be sure that I have all the right herbs and supplements needed for the 7 day detox.

The main dish I'll be eating for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner is a rice-based stew called Kitchari.  It's made with ghee, a clarified butter, that I've heard about but never actually tried.  It also includes Mung Beans, which are oval-shaped beans similar in texture to a lentil.  I started by warming the ghee and adding some of the spice from a pouch that came with the Ayurvedic kit.  Then I added the Mung beans, Basmati rice and several cups of water.  This simmered on the stove until tender (about 30 minutes because I had pre-soaked the beans and rice).  My Pitta tendencies dictated that I should add some carrots, green beans, and zucchini to the recipe to DELICIOUS results.  Yes, it's going to be hard to choke the same meal down for 21 meals straight, but at least it tastes good!  I can vary things a little by adding a spoonful of coriander "chutney" now and then and drink some vegetable broth, but for the most part this Kitchari is it. 

So, I'm in the middle of my 3rd day, and I have been less than perfect.  My kids asked for candy corn at the store yesterday, and I indulged them...and proceeded to indulge myself throughout the afternoon!  I'm annoyed with my lack of willpower, but nothing unpleasant has happened to me.  The scale isn't doing anything spectacular, but I'm not necessarily doing this to lose weight.  I mean, don't get me wrong - a pound or two less would be welcome, but the increase in energy, the introspection, the clearer skin, and general improvement in self esteem are what I'm after.  I already feel like I'm doing something great for myself, and that in and of itself gives a great boost.

Well, I'm off to give my kids some RedMango and do everything in my power NOT to give in to temptation.  This will be the ultimate test!

What he had yearned to embrace was not the flesh but a downy spirit, a spark, the impalpable angel that inhabits the flesh - Antoine deSaint-Exupery

End of Summer Practice

Summer is not "technically" over until September 21st, but for many of us, the start of a new school year makes it feel like Summer is over.  There is a lot of stress and tension in the air for all of us as the transition from "summer mode" gives way to "school mode", no matter what id going on in your life.  For parents, there's the hectic pace of adjusting your kids' sleep cycles from one that is more relaxed to one that ensures your child is out the door with a belly full of nutritious breakfast in time for school to start.  For morning commuters, there's the added stress of many more cars on the road in the morning and again between 3 and 5.  For fashionistas, there's the stress of "What the heck do I wear during this shift in weather?!?".  Yes, everyone has their own form of stress that builds up during this time of year, and this is where a yoga practice can help.  Think of it as "extra ammunition" against stress!

This sequence of 20 postures is "just what the yogi ordered"; it's a gentle, Hatha-style sequence.  What this means is that you'll be holding and breathing moreso than being active with this set.  You'll also need to be relatively familiar with the poses, as I've merely listed the posture names.  My suggestion is to hold each posture for a count of 8 breaths, focusing on making your inhale last as long as your exhale.  This in itself is quite a challenge.  Most of us do not breathe properly, and when stress arises within your life as you adjust to a new daily routine, simply turning to conscientious breathing can help.  I promise!  If you should find that one of these postures is challenging, shorten your breathing to a pattern of 5 inhales and exhales.  The number of breaths is not imporant.  What IS important is making your Inhale=your Exhale! 

Due to the Labor Day holiday, the Monday morning yoga class was not held today, so I did these postures this afternoon (not exactly in this lovely sequence* I've laid out for you).  With a series of 8 breaths for each pose, it took me 20 minutes.  I did not work up a sweat, but I certainly feel a heck of a lot more relaxed about the start of school tomorrow!  Namaste.

1.  Open to grace with Hero pose.  Shift your focus inward, telling yourself you deserve just 20 minutes to yourself to help center and ground your spirit.
2.  Lean forward into Frog pose.
3.  Adjust your hands and feet, and stretch back to Downward Facing Dog.
4 & 5.  Step the right foot forward and windmill up to Warrior II (4 breaths on right leg.  You'll get the other 4 breaths on the left leg in a minute).  With the right foot still forward, straighten the right knee, hitch the left hip back, and come forward into Triangle (4 breaths on right leg).
6 & 7:  Windmill out of Triangle, step the left leg to meet the right, and step the right leg back to Warrior II (4 breaths on left leg.  See, I keep my promises!).  With the left foot still forward, straighten the left knee, hitch your right hip back, and come forward into Triangle on this side.
8:  Windmill out of triangle and step your feet together.  Balance in Tree pose.  It doesn't matter which leg comes up first, make sure you take turns, and hold each for 4 breaths.
9: Heels together, tilt your feet out at and angle.  Bend your knees and prepare for Crow.  You probably will not be able to hold this posture for more than a few breaths (unless you're Shiva Rea), so consider yourself accomplished if you even catch a short glimpse in the posture!
10: Have a little fun and jump back into Plank.
11: Lower yourself to the ground and lay on your mat.  Stretch back into Locust.
12:  Stretch back even more into Bow.
13:  Swing your legs forward and Double Toe Hold
14:  Stretch your hips with Double Pigeon
15:  Open further with Cow Face Pose (4 breaths for each leg on top).
16:  Lie on your back with knees bent and feet on the floor.  Bend into Bridge.
17:  Straighten legs, adjust arms and come into Fish pose.
18:  Bring legs up and overhead for Plow.
19: Relax the spine in Happy baby.
20:  Begin your cool down with Legs up the Wall.
21:  Finish your practice with Reclining Cobbler or Savasana.  Silently honor yourself for the work you did, thanking your muscles for attempting the poses and thanking your breath for making it possible.

(*sequence adapted from The Yoga Body Diet by K. Dollard © 2010 by Rodale Inc.)

A fitting quote for those of us heading back to the classroom: 
"One must command from each what each can perform" - The Little Prince

Yoga while on Vacay? Sign me up!

I had my first session with a "Celebrity Yogi" while on vacation in California last week.  It was up to me to plan the itinerary this time, and I was so excited to take advantage of the extremely agreeable weather in Southern California.  Of course, we did the obligatory LegoLand visit for the kids (quick review:  Go while you can.  It's expensive, but it's worth it.  Lots for the 3 and up set to do, but it's not nearly as nicely maintained as Disney properties are.  "Miniland", which was incredible, already seemed to be showing signs of sun-fading and weather beating.  It might look like a dump in 5 years if they don't get a handle on that.), but I also wanted to explore some of the lesser-known areas (LaJolla and DelMar) and get in some physical fitness.  We did some light hiking at the Torrey Pines state park, which provided amazing views. 
It was great, but the highlight of the trip for me was the quick jaunt we took up to LA, staying in Santa Monica.  I did a little research on what to do in LA (besides eating at In and Out or Pinks - both on Husband's agenda), and found not only was there a YogaWorks studio there, but there was a class instructed by Sara Ivanhoe while we would be in Santa Monica.    Yoga while on vacation?  With a "celeb"? Sign me up!
My experience with Sara Ivanhoe is through her Crunch DVD, "Fat Burning Yoga", which I purchased shortly after the birth of my second son, when I was really getting into yoga.  I didn't buy it because of Sara.  I bought it because it said Fat Burning.  But I liked Sara's style of instruction.  She has a little sidekick in the DVD, who demonstrates the modified postures.  The "sidekick" is Natasha Rizopoulos, who I think is a little more well-known, which I always found funny.  Anyway, the Fat Burning DVD is good, and every so often I return to it when I'm at a loss for home practice.  I have never purchased any of Sara's other DVDs; in fact, I wasn't even aware that she had other DVDs.  After practicing with her "LIVE", perhaps I should look into them for more variety.
So, my experience with Sara in person was interesting.  It was a level 2/3 class, and I was anxious about the class all week.  I was looking forward to it, but unsure of my ability to "hang" with the level 2/3-ers.  I was nervous that the class would be so packed that I wouldn't feel comfortable.  Neither was the case.  The class had maybe 30 people in it.  Some of Josh's and Heidy's classes have that many folks in them, so I was totally at ease there.  The sequence of postures in Sara's class was also totally manageable - in a normal setting.  The class was quite a bit longer than I'm used to.  It went from 4:15 to 5:45 - so I definitely got my money's worth as far as time was concerned. 
I certainly got my money's worth as far as "kick-yo-ass" is concerned as well.  As I mentioned before, the sequence of postures was not unfamiliar to me at all...but the fact that there was no (ZERO) air conditioning was unfamiliar to me.  It felt like I was in a Bikram studio.  Except I wasn't taking a Bikram class.  I sweat more than I've ever sweat in a regular yoga class.  There were some postures that I didn't attempt - not because I couldn't do them, but because I was frightened that I would slip right off of my sweat-drenched mat!  The room had massive ceiling fans, and I'm not sure why they weren't utilized, although I have my theories.
Frequently throughout the practice, Sara kept asking us to close our eyes and focus inward.  I am sure that there was more to this than just focusing inward.  She did not practice along with us, instead walking the room and adjusting here and there (she even adjusted me in my triangle!).  It became clear to me that many people probably come to the class to see her, and that might prohibit them from getting the most of the practice.  If you're busy watching the celeb the whole time, you can't focus and practice properly.  I got that totally, and obliged whenever she asked us to close our eyes.  I wasn't focused on "Oh, it's Sara" the whole time.  I was focused on my posture - and also focused on how dang hot it was ("why the heck aren't those huge ceiling fans on?!?").  The Tom Brady look-a-like (obviously it wasn't him because the Patriots were on the field far, far away from Santa Monica) and Jared Leto look-a-like (still not sure if it was him, but he had a weird knotted hairdo, so it might have been him) next to me were sweating buckets.  My ponytail was drenched - you could honestly wring it out like I just stepped out of the shower!  My clothes were sopping, and my mat was slick.  My muscles were nice and loose, and I think if you asked me right then and there, I could have folded right into a double lotus followed by a Marichiasana bind! 
So, practicing with Sara was a lot of fun.  She was attentive to our postures, could have used a little more imagery, but overall I felt fantastic after the practice.  I'm glad and so grateful that I took advantage of the opportunity!  I only wish I had the courage to talk to her and let her know I enjoyed the session, had a yoga blog and would be writing about it so she could check us out!  In another lifetime...

"One sees clearly only with the heart.  Anything essential is invisible to the eyes." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Old Yeller

No, sillies, not the movie - my mat!  But the stories are similarly sad.  Is a yoga mat worth crying over?  I've had my yellow mat for 4 years - I bought it the spring after my second son arrived.  I love my yellow mat - we've been through many ardho muhka savasana together - so many that there are dark patches where my hands and feet go!  I learned how to do a proper chaturanga on my old yellow mat (I'm still working on perfecting it, Diann!).  No one else in class ever has a bright yellow mat like mine - I think the instructors and classmates got to recognize me ("oh, here comes that girl with the yellow mat - I hope she doesn't unroll that smelly old thing next to...oh darn!  She did.")  The horizontal white lines kept ME in line. Yes, friends - kept, for a divot right in the middle of where my hands go has widened a bit, getting worse over the course of the summer.  I've had to replace my old yellow mat.

This was a struggle - but one that I knew was coming.  When the divot first appeared, I immediately began searching online for stores that sold my yellow mat.  Nothing, but I had time.  Then the divot got a little larger.  I checked out places that made custom yoga mats - still none that offered "yellow" as a base color...and even then, you couldn't add stripes anyway.  The divot turned into a flap - I was in a panic.  I wasn't going to find my yellow mat anywhere.   I was going to start from square one.  I needed to do research.

I read reviews online.  I poured over ads in Yoga Journal.  I took note of which mats were used in yoga studios (a lot of them use Jade mats).  I tried to spy which mats were used by the instructors on my yoga DVDs (even in slow motion, my eyes couldn't see - but Shiva Rea uses Jade).  I asked people.  I read more reviews online. 

...AND, I settled on a Manduka eKO-lite.  check it out here Boy is this a thin mat.  It is very eco-friendly with it's complete biodegradability.  Low carbon footprint - it's made of natural tree rubber - and has a cool design.  It's smelly. 

I haven't had a new boyfriend in a long, long, looonnngg time, but I've got to imagine this is what it's like.  There's a mourning period as you get over the loss of your old one (mat or boyfriend).  You need to acclimate yourself to the new texture (mat.  well, maybe boyfriend, too)  You need to get used to the new smell until it becomes undecipherable to your nose (mat...and definitely boyfriend!).  At the end of the day, hopefully it's an improvement over what you've had, and hopefully it'll stick around for a while.

Yellow is associated with the Solar Plexus Chakra (it's called Manipura).  Its lotus has 10 petals, and is a Fire element (hey, like me!), associated with Power and Will, control, competence, and success.  Manduka does not make yellow mats (why not?!?  It's a great color!).  So, what color did I choose?  Denim - very close to Indigo, which is associated with the Third Eye Chakra (it's called Ajna).  Its lotus only had 2 petals, and is a Light element, associated with clear sight and insight.  I'll let you know how it goes...my only regret so far is that my mat is the same color as everyone else in class.  Hey, I guess we all are working on looking inward with clarity... 

Yes, I did cry at the end of Old Yeller.

Help your Dosha!

 Last time I posted, I talked about Doshas - and I thought I would follow up with a little more information about them.  The "Science" of Ayurveda follows a system that helps to maintain your health by using certain principles of nature to bring you into symmetry with your true self.  In order for Ayurveda to work, you'll need to know your "Dosha".  We all have some elements of each Dosha in our system, but tend to be more dominant with one Dosha.

KAPHA - comprised mainly of water and earth elements.  Tend to have a heavier frame, think and move more leisurely, and are stable.  When balanced, this Dosha creates sweetness, calmness, and loyalty.  When imbalanced, this Dosha causes weight gain, congestion, and resistance to change.  Let's keep this Dosha balanced with candles and oils containing notes of Rosemary, Frankincense, and Peppermint!


PITTA - comprised mainly of fire and water elements.  Tend to be muscular, smart, and determined.  When balanced, this Dosha creates warm, intelligent, good leaders.  When imbalanced, this Dosha causes us to be critical, irritable, and aggressive.  Let's keep this Dosha balanced with candles and oils containing notes of Lemon, Lavender, and Ylang-ylang.

VATA - comprised mainly of ether and air elements.  Tend to be thin, light, and quick in thoughts and actions.  When balanced, this Dosha brings creativity and enthusiasm.  When imbalanced, you may experience anxiety, insomnia, or irregular digestion.  Let's keep this Dosha balanced with Patchouli, Vetiver, and Basil.


Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape - Author unknown

Hey there, what's your Dosha?

So, my "Summer of Yoga - Part 2" is winding down...just as it wound down last August.  I've been diligent about practicing whenever I could, even planning the rest of my day around the yoga class schedule. 
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, I was able to indulge in the morning classes that I am not usually able to take during the school year.  Fridays have been pretty much home practice, and now that I've figured out my Yoga app on the iPad, it's a little more organized (and I don't forget to hit postures on both sides!)
On Tuesdays, I have been doing an evening class with an instructor that I quite like, and I'm glad that I can potentially continue to practice with her throughout the Fall.  It's a good thing I like her approach, however, because for the past 3 weeks, she's been focusing her classes on the "Heart Chakra", and I haven't been enjoying them as much.  They've been extra challenging for me, and that's the last thing you want as the hustle and bustle of your day winds down in time for evening.  Nevertheless, the class is good, and I'm motivated to attend, even knowing that I might not enjoy it as much as the invigorating Wednesday morning sessions I get with Josh. 
I started questioning this feeling of discomfort with the "Heart-Opening practice"...I mean, what's wrong with me?  Who wouldn't want to open their heart, enhancing one's ability to Love, Understand, Empathize, and Forgive?  Kinda makes me seem a bit cold-hearted (excuse the pun) to feel uncomfortable with this practice...perhaps it's just what I need.
I did a little (like 3 minutes - it is Summer, afterall) more research into this Heart Chakra to find out where the root of my problems lie.  There are 7 Chakras, or power centers, in your body, and each is associated with a color and state of being.  The Sanskrit name for the Heart Chakra is Anahata, and it lies exactly in the center of the other 6 Chakras.  It is a 12 petaled Lotus flower, and associated with the color green.  It is the source of your soul/heart consciousness, hence it's focus on love, understanding, empathy, and forgiveness.  It is associated with the "Air Element" - ah, there's the rub. My dosha is Pitta - associated with the "Fire Element".  Maybe the Air is blowing out my flame!
So, what's your Dosha?  How does it affect the way you carry yourself and interact with the world?  Are you, like me, a Pitta?  Someone who is muscular, with a smart, determined character (does that describe me?  not really) If this dosha is balanced, a Pitta can be a good leader (how flattering!).  If unbalanced, a Pitta is critical, irritable, and aggressive (oh boy!  Sadly, my friends, that does sound a bit familiar).  Maybe you're a Kapha:  Methodical, calm, caring, patient, stocky, with an excellent memory.  Perhaps you're a Vata:  a light sleeper, thin, airy, tending towards anxiety, creative, and "busy". There's a simple "dosha quiz" you can take online, if you like: click here  When you get your (free) results, it will also explain what happens when your Dosha is balanced and not balanced...you can also find all sorts of products to help you re-balance things.
So, rather than be defeated with Tuesday evenings' Heart Opening, it's time to regroup, and refocus.  Instead of letting a heart-opening practice dampen my spirit, I should let the Air element be the wind in the bellows, let it fan the flames of my Fire element, and invigorate my practice!

Spiritual intelligence is a matter not of learning skills but of finding who you are at the soul level. -Deepak Chopra

Challenging poses!

tittibhasana
(are you kidding me with that name?)

It seems that everyone has a yoga posture that presents them with challenges.  It could be a simple pose that you visit every week or it could be something as challenging as the posture you see to the left.  What the heck is that gal doing?!?  It's a rather challenging advanced posture called "Firefly Pose", or Tittibhasana.  It was featured in this month's Yoga Journal along with a step-by-step on how to prepare yourself for entering what I think looks like a rather impressive pose.

This step-by-step approach is essential to mastering any tough postures!  Begin with babysteps, mastering your "foundation", and you can build your practice to include even the most challenging poses.  You can't start building a skyscraper without building a first floor.

For Firefly, it turns out that the "first step" is just a more intense forward lunge with the shoulder under the forward knee, instead of tucking the knee into your armpit.  For now, I think I can work on taking my lunge deeper and becoming familiar with the new feeling of having my shoulder under instead of over.  This is what yoga has always been about - shifting your comfort levels, testing your limits, and once you're comfortable, shift them again.  It's the only way to let your practice grow.

This is purely "the physical" - you can certainly apply this yogic philosophy of pushing the limits of your comfort levels with your mind and attitude.  Perhaps it will help you in a tough new relationship or one that has been troubling you for years.  Take baby steps with your postures, take baby steps with your relationships and be surprised at how much you can grow and feel better about your place in the world!

So, will it take me weeks or months to get that shoulder under the forward knee?  I'll have to start opening up my hips if I want to get there...

Mind, body, and spirit are all one; they cannot be separated.  To make progress in one, you must make progress in all.

ps - for those of you with an advanced practice, Kathryn Budig has a weekly blog where she posts "Yoga Challenge Poses" with step-by-step instructions to build your practice to include these extreme pretzel postures ;) Click here to read more!

Even Yogis need a vacation

Now, before you think this post is all about how I've not blogged in forever and a day (a blogging vacation), it's not.  Faithful readers (Hi Kerry, Hi Lauren!) know that summer is when I really take advantage of my time off as a school teacher to "get away" on my mat.  Once I'm on my mat and flying, it really does feel like a vacation...and the way my gently stretched arm and leg muscles feel after a good practice?  No amount of beach relaxation can compare to that kind of bliss!

The yoga classes that I frequent are on weekday mornings, and that's kinda hard to get to when you have a class full of 8th graders ready to get their "learn" on.  I love it when there's a break or a school holiday so I can make it to these 9am classes.  Summertime is 9 full weeks of morning availability for me (half the reason I send my kids to camp is so I can make it to these classes!).  When I do return to my regular practice each summer, it's fun to see old friends in my yoga class (hey there, Cathie!), and it's great when I make new ones (Penny!).  Alas, Summertime is also when everyone else outside the education industry decides to go on Vacation; Yoga teachers included.

So, what do you do when your yoga teacher goes on vacation?  Well, I guess it goes without saying that you pray that the class gets covered so that you can continue on with your practice!  Secondly, you approach your mat for that session with an open mind.  The Substitute yoga teacher does not know the rhythms of the class they are covering, and he/she will have his/her own style of instructions.  Be respectful of those variations, and know that at minimum you will deepen your practice, maximally you'll have a more well-rounded practice.  Changing it up can be good!  Doing a variation of a posture that you may have become too comfortable in is beneficial.  As my favorite yoga teacher of all time (Diann) used to say: "you never know when you're going to be called into battle, and you never know how long that battle is going to be, so always be ready in your warrior" (I, II, or III...and she would make us hold those poses for a looooooong time....)

It's important to be comfortable with your practice, but sometimes, with only one instructor, you can become too comfortable and your practice doesn't grow.  It becomes "stale", you may forget proper alignment, your muscles may not be ready to experience sometime new if you follow the same routine week after week.  Mixing it up is good...but keeping an open mind is the most important.

I had the experience of having 2 substitute teachers for 2 different regular classes this week.  This summer, I have been periodically taking an evening class, and this week, there was a sub.  This sub clearly had her own regular class at another time, and many of her "regulars" seemed to show up for this evening class.  I was optimistic because this is how I used to feel about Diann.  I would find out when she was practicing, and I'd make a concerted effort to practice with her when I could.  That's just how it is when you click and connect with an instructor.  You "get" them, they "get" the way you do asana, and things flow from there.  Anyway, my hopes were quickly dashed with this nighttime sub when she instructed us into a Warrior I posture, and then scolded those of us who didn't hold our back foot in what she considered to be the proper alignment.  From the get-go, I've always been instructed that the back foot should angle out slightly (about 45 degrees) with the back edge of the foot flat on the floor.  I've been practicing regularly for 4 years and I've always practiced Warrior with this foot placement.  This instructor insisted that we keep our rear foot facing forward.  She refused to continue on to her next posture until all of us in the class aligned ourselves as such.  I'm no fool...I moved my foot the way she told me to immediately, even though it didn't feel right - not in my foot, not in my hip, not at my calf or my knee. Needless to say, others in the class were a little slow on the uptake or thought she was kidding.  She kept insisting there were some of us using incorrect form, and she kept us there.  Uncomfortable, not relaxing, on edge, the tension could be cut with a knife.  HUH?  This isn't what a yoga practice is supposed to be!  One person actually walked out.  Me?  I pledged a sorority way back when, and I don't give up so easily.  I finished the practice, but begrudgingly, the whole while thinking that this just wasn't right.  Homie don't play that.

So, this morning, I walked into another practice with another sub.  Josh told us last week that he would not be in, but he assured us there would be a qualified sub.  There was...clearly a woman with a dance/ballet background; she was quite graceful.  Despite my misgivings after the evening class, I approached the teacher's instruction with an open mind.  She had a soothing voice, she knew her stuff, and I felt like "I can do this!".  But it was still a little weird.  For starters, she used a device on her head for which I have no better description than "Janet Jackson Control" - you guys with me?  She would give us an instruction and tell us what was coming next, but breathlessly make side comments to people in the class: "Don't use that mat.  Thank you.  Put that mat away and get a blue yoga mat, thank you"  She'd put us through a small sequence (ie Warrior I to Warrior III) and say "Thank you" like she was Elvis or something ("Thankyehverhmush").  She also was into this same strange, new alignment for Warrior I with the back foot facing forward instead of angled back.  I was beginning to think I had missed something about alignment in Yoga Journal last month. The end of the class was a little wishy-washy, where she let us do whatever we wanted without descrete guidance into Savasana.  We could do bridge, we could do plow, we could do modified pigeon, we could lay on our backs, we could to whatever made us comfortable.  I suppose this was an attempt to help us own our practice, but it came across as "I don't know how to wrap things up, so you go ahead", and most of us just floundered, lemmings that we are, without the direction.  She opened and closed practice with an "Om", and I swear I was the only one who joined in (and I am NOT an "Om-y" type of practitioner).  Then again, with the mic on, maybe the sounds of everyone else's Om was drowned out.  I left the class feeling stretched and relaxed, but a little confused.

So, readers, moral of the story:  keep an open mind.  ON the mat and OFF the mat.  Honor your instructor's practice.  If you take away at least something positive from a less-than-ideal practice, let it be this:  feel fortunate that your spirit led you to the mat, be grateful that your body had the strength to practice, and be thankful that your mind was willing to guide you.  Namaste.

The light in me sees the light in you and recognizes the source of this light to be the same.  We are all connected - Yogic philosophy

Sleep.

The truth is, readers, I just ain't getting any!  And this isn't doing me any favors in the "beauty sleep" department.
So, are any of us out there getting enough sleep?  A casual ask-around of friends and family members (or a quick read of Facebook status updates) reveals some contradictory information to a 2007 study of Women's Sleep Habits, compiled by the "National Sleep Foundation".  (By the way, could you imagine working there?   Must be awkward at cocktail parties: "Hi, nice to meet you, Peter.  What do you do?" "I work for the National Sleep Foundation."  "Oh.  Sounds.  Interesting.  Oh, look, I think I have to refresh my wife's drink...")
So, this 2007 survey of women shows that most women claim to get 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 hours of sleep per night.  Depending on age, some women fall asleep earlier in the evening, some later, but the waking time is, on average, 8 hours later.  Are they lying?  Just so they look "good" to the Sleep Foundation?  I only say this because I know a LOT of people who report that they have insomnia (which technically is "having trouble falling asleep".  Perhaps once they get to sleep, they stay there for 8 hours) or say they are tired.
A closer look at the statistics shows that nearly 30 percent of the women say they are getting a good night of sleep "only a few nights per month".  Aha!  So, you may be asleep, but it's not a good, deep, restful sleep.  This is probably the case with me.  I think I pretty much consistently log in between 6 and 7 hours a night:  bed around 11, wake around 6.  (Thanks, kids)  I used to be a staunch "10 pm lights out" kinda girl, but now that we have Netflix through the Wii, I find myself trying to squeeze in just one more episode of Weeds (they are only 23 minutes, afterall...) so I'm a little later to bed.
Nevertheless, despite my 6 or 7 hours, I still feel exhausted by the time I wake in the morning.  I feel stiff and sore (even questioning whether I have the stamina for a yoga practice today!), figuring "Maybe I just overdid it on the mat yesterday, and I need a day to 'recover'".  Who am I kidding.  I did YOGA.  Not run a Marathon.  Yoga is supposed to help calm and relax the body/mind, readying it for an introspective meditation.  But I never take that introspection, now that I think about it.  I finish my Savasana, roll up my mat, and bolt from the studio to drive my kids to camp/playdate/where ever.  Hmmm... Maybe there's something to this...
So, the Sleep Foundation says that a good night of sleep is vital to our Health and Well-being.  All mammals need sleep.  It regulates mood, and is related to learning and memory.  Regular, quality sleep helps you to recharge your battery so you can learn new skills, stay on task, and be productive (huh!  Maybe I should print this out to share with my 8th graders right around their assessments!).  Sleep is a critical factor in health, weight, and energy, and it is recommended that you get 7-9 hours per night.  Wow.  Mention health and weight, and you have my attention (she who has gained 5 pounds since the start of summer, damn Mojitos and Caipirhinas!)  Speaking of which, Alcohol does not help the cause, in case you were wondering.  You might feel sleepy, but it won't help you sleep any better and your sleep won't be any more restful.
So what do I need to do?  Well, for starters, Husband and I are getting a new bed.  We're stepping it up a notch by going from a full to a queen.  We have nightly visits from a certain 4 year old who likes to sleep sideways on our lumpy full-sized mattress, despite the fact that his twin mattress is the newest and most comfortable in the house!  Will having more room and a newer, less lumpy mattress help the cause?  We'll see.  It takes a while for the bed to get the appropriate upholstery and be shipped to us, so you may have to be patient before I report back tangible results.  For now, I think I may just need to honor a meditation after my asana today (and the next day).
Patience gives the power to practice; practice gives the power that leads to perfection - from my teabag this morning.

Rantsy Pants

  I know this blog is supposed to be all about Yoga and living a balanced life and whatnot, but today I just got a little bee in my bonnet.  I have a little rant going on, and my 120 characters on Twitter and 2-liner status updates just don't provide enough room for me to explain myself properly.  I decided to take advantage of my blog to vent.  I suppose I could rationalize that since I usually try to be calm, quiet, and advocate some peace, if I rant on here now and again, it technically is "balancing" things out. Plus, the subject of my rant does Yoga, so technically, she's relevant.  By the way, if I'm not ranting enough for you (and you may want to reserve judgement on that until you finish reading this post), you can always head over to my husband's blog, where he certainly rants enough for 3 blogs:  This Annoys Me

So, this morning, Husband wakes up and cracks open the iPad (which I received as an awesomely unexpected, absolutely delightful Mother's Day gift way back in May...however, the boys in my life seem to take advantage of its magic far more often than I do...don't get me started, or this blog may need to be re-titled "This Annoys Me in the Suburbs" - although I'm fairly certain that blog already exists.)  I digress....

So, my husband starts browsing IMDB for upcoming theatrical releases and points out a bunch of flicks he thinks I'll be keen on seeing.  Number one on the list:  Sherlock Holmes, part2 (Uhm, helloooo?  Jude Law?  Robert Downey Jr.?  As you can see, Husband should have been a brain surgeon with his overwhelming amounts of genius).  Number two:  Hugo (again with Jude Law).  Then, he mentions "Contagion", which has Marion Cotillard.  I'll see anything with Marion Cotillard in it.  She's like my biggest girl-crush ever...not because I want to get with her.  It's because I want to BE her.  Jude Law is also in this one.  Gosh this guy has been busy since that whole Nanny scandal.  I guess he has loads of free time these days.  Then husband says "Oh, but it has Gwyneth Paltrow in it."  The Marion factor far outweighs any negative impact that the Gwyneth factor brings, but it set me off.  I'm sooooooo annoyed by Gwyneth Paltrow.  And it takes a lot to get me that annoyed.

So what, you ask, could this amazing, tow-headed, Jill-of-all-Trades have done to send me into a rant?  She acts (Oscar winner, there, folks!).  She does Yoga (just look at those long limbs!).  She has no crow's feet (a recent tabloid article claims she's had botox to eliminate them, however, I'm calling false on that one, because she's my age, and I don't have crow's feet either, and I certainly don't have $300 at my disposal to inject Botulism TOXIN into my face.  She must be lucky enough to have fabulous outer-ocular skin, just like me.)  She blogs (hey, maybe I should be looking up to her instead of dissing her!).  She sings (ahem).  She's written a fucking cookbook. 

I'm sure several hundred people have already seen the irony in this (and blogged about it).  Gwyneth Paltrow, she of the "raw foods", "macro-biotic", "I cleanse for 2 weeks before every movie shoot" diet has written a cookbook. 
W.
T.
F.

The first recipe is for some secret family recipe for these amazing buttermilk pancakes her dad made every Sunday morning.  I know this not because I bought the damn thing, but because there was a magazine article highlighting Gwyneth's latest triumph in publishing this damn cookbook.  Yes, I just used "damn" twice in one sentence.  The whole concept of her writing a cookbook is about as preposterous as that food tour she took around Spain with Mario Batali a year or two back.  Laughable.  He of the robust waistline and love of olive oil, travelling with she of the "how long do I have to run on the treadmill if I eat one of your marinated olives?"

Should I waste even one more sentence on this chick?  Probably not.

Summer Solstice

Waiting in line for the Times Square
Solstice Practice!

Tuesday, June 21st was the 2011 Summer Solstice, which means it was the "Longest Day" of the year.  The day was still 24 hours long, but there were more hours of daylight on June 21st than hours of darkness.  Astronomically, this means that at noon on June 21st, the sun is at it's highest point all year.  Each day, the sun will be at it's highest point at noon, but on the Summer Solstice, it's the highest "high noon" of the year.  Calendar-wise, it's the first day of Summer, and also a highly celebrated day around the globe.  Apparently, the great Pyramids of Egypt are constructed so that the sun sets directly between them on the Solstice when viewed from the Sphinx.  I've been to all three, but not on the Solstice, so I can't verify this.  Famously, of course, are the druids' celebrations at Stonehenge during the Solstice. Again, I've never been to Stonehenge at the Solstice, so I can't bear witness.   Less well-known is the relatively new tradition of practicing Yoga in Times Square on the Solstice.  Now THAT's something I can attest to!
Lucy apparel and the Times Square Alliance joined forces this year to shut down portions of Times Square for a day-long extravaganza yoga practice.  They had a variety of sessions throughout the day, and I signed up to participate! 
Tuesday, June 21st was a beautiful day!  I normally wake up around 6 am so I can leave the house by 7:30 and get to work by 8.  I woke up a bit earlier that day (5:30!) because it happened to be the day my students were scheduled to take their NY State Regents examination, and I wanted to be at school a little earlier to prepare (turns out, they ALL passed!).  At 5:30, the sun was already making a strong appearance - so much so that I thought I might have woken up late rather than early!  Anyway, the sun was wide awake, and that helped me to get wide awake, especially knowing that I had a yoga practice to go to that evening!
I registered back in the beginning of May for the 6:00 pm practice, but the subsequent emails suggested I get there by 5:30.  Considering my train ride into the city and the walk over to Times Square, it was a little unreasonable to expect Husband to come home from work extra early, so my plan was to bring the kids with me and do an exchange at the train station.  Except that didn't happen.
Husband got held up downtown, so I ended up walking the distance from Grand Central to Times Square with the boys in tow (roughly 4 blocks west and 5 blocks north).  Not too bad, except I hadn't planned that into my travel time, so I arrived at Times Square by 5:45.  There were still piles of the free yoga mats (thank goodness, because I LOVE my yellow yoga mat, and didn't want to treat it badly by laying it down on the dirty, filty concrete in Times Square, so I didn't even bring it!) and goody tote bags filled with coupons, offers, and giveaways.  It looked like there were plenty left for me.  Except there weren't.

See, no space for
me OR my kids!

The line moved swiftly along, but when I got about 20 people from the front of the line, things stopped moving.  We waited, and waited, and waited.  It was getting closer and closer to 6.  And the line wasn't moving.  Turns out, all of the spaces were filled (see photo) and the event organizers were busy setting up another "pen" a little farther down Times Square for us "latecomers".  They finally finished setting up, and were ready for us to file down the block to set up...but they were out of mats.  They were out of goody tote bags.  They gave me a bottle of water and a photocopied map showing me how to get to the pen.  They made a joke about letting the kids do yoga, too, and had we been equipped with mats, I'm convinced they would have given it a go.  Instead we needed to wander past the groups, stopping to snap a few pics here and there (blog-worthy!), and just admire the beauty of such a large, outdoor practice.  It's easy to find serenity on your mat, but in the middle of the chaos of Times Square?  Absolutely possible, and with better planning, absolutely doable.
So, my Summer Solstice practice was a bust.  I didn't get to practice in Times Square...I was relegated to doing a few sun salutations in my family room...but I did get to participate (in a small way) in a pretty cool tradition!  Now I know what to expect, and can prepare better for the next go 'round.  Perhaps at the Winter Solstice?  As if it's not crazy enough to practice yoga in Times Square, who's ready to practice when it's freezing outside?  Hmmm...Maybe I'll be better off waiting until next summer...

"Make the best use of what is in your power and take the rest as it happens" - Epictetus

Book Review: Poser

2 weeks ago, I took my kids to the library afterschool as an "outing".  Yes, I've been so busy lately that the bar is set really low for what passes as "an outing".  The joke is that my younger son thinks the library is where we go to rent DVDs, and my older son likes to get Star Wars graphic novels.  Neither of which quite fit the bill for what I have in mind when visiting the library.  Anyway, while the boys were hunting for their choices, I decided to peruse the "new releases" section.  This is a complete joke, because new releases are typically 2 week loans with no renewal, and anyone who knows me would realize that I have ZERO chance of finishing a book in 2 weeks.  BUT, I saw this book, and it just spoke to me.  Was I a "poser"?  I practice yoga (infrequently), I write a yoga blog (even less frequently!), I can get into 23 different postures (I think).  I borrowed...
So, Claire Dederer, the author, is from Washington (state, not DC), is a journalist and a person who found a mode of "escaping" through yoga.  I think this is why a lot of people turn to yoga.  They are looking for meaning in some area of their lives, and yoga, with it's mysticism and contradictions, makes one feel less confuddled and more capable of coping.  Claire had some issues left unresolved, and her journey on the mat helps her cope, discover new things about herself, and just plain old "deal".  She's up against a northwest neo-hippie culture where you're not a good enough mother unless you puree your own organic babyfood, co-sleep, and nurse your baby until he's nursery school age.  That kind of maternal pressure is crazy - it seems enough to make any mother feel insufficient!  I joyfully nursed my kids well into their first year, but God, when that was done, I was SO ready to have my own body back!  On top of this, she was dealing with insecurities from needing to work, needing to support her husband as he dealt with insecurities about supporting his family as a journalist, complications from when her daughter was first born, and dealing with a strange parental dynamic (her parents were married, but not living together, as her mother had a live-in boyfriend for the last 20 years or so).  Yoga was her escape. 
I returned the book to the library today, only about 30% of the way through.  I have to say that I didn't give the book a fair shake.  It was interesting to read about the progression of Claire's practice, but I couldn't relate.  I felt like an insufficient mother just reading about what Claire went through to prove herself a "good" mother/wife/daughter/sister.  Jeez.  Several times I had to put the book down, step back, and ask myself if this is what it was really about.  I work full-time and look with envy at my peers who are able to stay at home and be fantastic mothers to their children, "effortlessly" keep in shape, eat well, do proper outings, and keep an active social life.  If this is what it's really all about, I'm doing a piss-poor job of keeping up!  I don't need that kind of reminder that I'm not as awesome as the rest of 'em...so yeah, I didn't finish the book.
Claire had problems to cope with in her life...not on the mat, and this book was more about the coping and less about the posing.  Seeking time on the mat was her release, as it is for me, and I didn't feel motivated to read her book to find out more, especially when it made me feel like more of a loser than I needed to feel.
Suffice it to say, I know all about turning to the mat to work things out.  Even with this, however, maybe when the book goes off the "new release" shelf, I may return to it to finish reading this summer (typically when I have more time to read!).

Life is a bridge.  Cross over it, but build no bridge upon it. - Indian proverb

Commitment?

Oh boy! It's sure been a while since I've posted!  My readership has dwindled to nothing, and I have no one to blame but myself.  It's been a rather busy (and soggy!)  month, May has.  For one, I've been in the throes of helping to plan my HS reunion.  I don't live near my hometown anymore and we're having a "destination" (but still within driving distance for most of us) reunion, so that involves lots of emails, phonecalls, and behind-the-scenes planning.  That, coupled with an event I planned at work along with 2 projects I've been working on with my students, my son's Little League games, and Husband's travels for work, I'm left with very little time for practicing yoga, let along blogging about it.

But, my dear reader(s), Summer is on the horizon, and brings with it the prospect of lots and lots of time on the mat for me!  It's going to be great, it's going to be fulfilling, and I'm sure I'll find it very renewing.  In preparation for all of this, I figured it was time to "renew" myself with home practice.

Husband and I thought we were done with middle of the night interruptions, but for some reason (maybe molars are coming in), our 4 year old has decided that he needs to put in an appearance in the middle of the night again.  Most of the time, we can snuggle for a minute before walking him back to his own bed and then resume our own visits to Dreamland.  Sometimes, though, these visits happen around 5 am, at which point, it's hardly worth it to fall back asleep, knowing we just need to get up "for real" a mere hour later.  On such occasions, I tend to throw in the towel and just get on with the day, and sometimes I'm motivated enough to unroll the ole' yellow mat and do a short DVD practice. 

These occasions are not reliable enough to make a commitment to my mat, though, so I've devised another way to get myself on the mat more often.  At the start of May, I pledged to do 5 Sun Saluations every day.  Usually these Sun Salutations are the last thing I do before bed at night, but I'm getting them in.  I'm honoring my commitment, and while they'd more aptly be named "moon salutations", I'm still doing *something* to keep my body informed of proper form and flow.  I'm sure this commitment is going to pay off when I'm back in that first class of the summer.  I'll be better equipped to make it 1/2 of the way through class, rather than only 1/4.  Yes, I'm sure some "beginner" classes will be needed to really refresh my muscle memory, but because of my Salutation commitment, it won't be nearly as painful. 

So, here's my flow for my "Daily 5", in case you'd like to join me:

Series 1 thru 4:

Mountain pose.  Swan dive down with straight legs to touch the floor/ankles.  Look out into the world ("monkey pose").  Standing forward bend.  First leg back to lunge.  Second leg back to plank.  Lower down into Chaturanga.  Swoop up to Upward facing dog.  Roll back to Downward facing dog. First leg forward to lunge, followed by second foot forward to standing forward bend.  Swan Dive up.

Series 5:

Mountain pose, Swan dive down, look out into the world, standing forward bend, hop both legs back to plank.  Chaturanga, Updog, Downdog.  Hop forward to standing forward bend.  Swan dive up.

Basically, it's 2 Sun Salutations starting on the right side, 2 Sun Salutations starting on the left side, and just to stay balanced (ie, not one side is starting more than the other) and challenge myself, I hop back on the last Salutation.  Totally manageable, and takes less than 5 minutes.  That's a commitment I think anyone can get behind.  Even a yoga slacker (shameful, considering I write a blog about it!) like me.

Upcoming post:  Do you have a goal for your summer practice?  Is there a posture you'll be working on, a mantra you'll be developing, a philosophy you'll be meditating on, a 5-Sun Salutation daily commitment?  I'd love to hear about it for an upcoming post...feel free to comment below!

Persist - "It's never too late to become what you might have been" - George Eliot

Yoga on Netflix!

I like to think that I'm a better mother than most of the mothers I watch on TV...but Nancy Botwin sets the bar really low.  My husband was away for much of this week, so after the kids were snuggled nicely in their beds each night, I settled down for some Netflix...but there's only so much dysfunction one can take.  So, I decided to browse the offerings, and see if there were yoga selections I could check out...thankfully, there were!  On the streaming Netflix (playable through our Wii and PS3) there were workout selections that were actual yoga and some that were related to yoga, and there were lots of titles that needed to be ordered through the traditional Netflix.  I kept browsing, and somehow stumbled upon a movie about yoga.  THIS was intriguing.

The documentary was called Enlighten Up! and is definitely for someone who is pretty serious about yoga.  Suffice it to say, it's a good thing Husband was away, because he would never agree to watch this flick.  He's more into the Exit Through the Gift Shop brand of documentaries.  Anyway, even I, she who loves yoga, had to split this documentary up over two sessions.  It's not that it was tedious...it's more because of the fact that I wasn't starting to watch until 9pm, and I'm a 10:30 bedtime kinda girl.  I need at least a half-hour to brush teeth, wash face, and slather on the eye creme du jour (crow's feet be damned!)

Enlighen Up! was a project set up by documentarian Kate Churchill, who is big time into yoga.  She feels that yoga has the power to physically, emotionally, and spiritually transform anyone, and this movie was her project to prove that this is possible.  As her test subject, she chooses Nick, a single, 30-something (nowadays...I think he was 29 when the film was made) NYC journalist, who is skeptical.  Watching the film, you learn that his parents divorced when he was very young, and his father is a lawyer.  Nick mentions this without hesitation.  He also mentions without hesitation that his mother is a "shamanic healer"..but he doesn't elaborate at all.  He just answers the question point blank:  "What does your mother do?"  "She's a shamanic healer", and he stares at the camera for quite some time saying nothing further.  It's almost as if he's uncomfortable with his mother's path/lifestyle/outlook for some reason.  Nick seems to be a guy who hasn't quite found himself yet - he probably grew up a privileged kid, who was conflicted about a lot of things (marriage/relationships/religion/career). He iterated many times that, as a journalist, he felt the need to seek truth and be convinced of things.  I also detected that he'd been given a lot, and when he needed to find things for himself, he wasn't quite sure where to begin.  He didn't quite strike me as "driven" by any means, so it didn't seem to be a hardship to give up several weeks to participate in this project.  I agree wth Kate - this guy was an excellent candidate.  If she can convince him that yoga is transformative, she can convince anyone.

The duo travelled all over the globe:  New York to Hawaii to India and back again.  The "Celebrity Yogis" whom they interviewed were hilarious. They all said virtually the same thing and commented on the commercialism of Yoga ("well, my DVDs are doing well", "I've expanded product offerings to include bedsheets", etc!). DVDs and bedsheets? Wow...so not what yoga is about for me!

By the end of this journey, Nick got to meet some pretty amazing people who freely shared their "enlightened philosophies".  My favorite, the one who made the most sense to me, was Guru Saran Ananda in Gokul, India.  Listening to his advice, I thought for sure Nick would be transformed.  But Nick struggled time and time again with the issue of Spirituality.  Towards the end of the movie, we find out that Nick has moved to Colorado and has given up Yoga in favor of Rock Climbing.  So I suppose Spirituality was his hang up afterall.
 
Is spirituality a hangup for all of us, when it comes to yoga?  Maybe.  I'm not quite ready to give up my Christianity, but I am absolutely open to listening to all that yogic philosophy has to offer.  My search is a way to meld the two.  I know yoga is an 8-limbed path; asana (postures) and pranayama (breathing) are but two parts designed to ready your body for meditation.  Seeing as I rarely have time to get myself on the mat, I don't necessarily think I'll be getting myself to the point of real, honest to goodness mediation any time soon.  However, many of the principles of yoga: Ahimsa (non-harming) and Satya (living according to your own truth), coupled with the 8th limb of Samadhi (acknowledgement of the devine), really make sense to me.  They speak to me in such a basic way:  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Treat yourself the way you deserve to be treated.  These "golden rules" make sense to me, and seeing as they don't really harm anyone or get in the way of anyone else's beliefs or ways of being, it helps me to feel "enlightened"!
 
It doesn't matter what you do.  It's why you do it that's important" - Guru Saran Ananda

YATS cooks!

Spicy shrimp curry with Naan

No, this is not a cooking blog.  But I do like to cook, and when I whip something up that's yummy, I don't mind sharing it with you...especially when it's extra easy.
Tonight, I made a 3-part meal that was super quick to prepare - particularly because many of the ingredients were "ready-made".  So is that "cheating"?  Maybe I should re-title the post "YATS re-heats".  Anyway....

First, prepare the rice side dish.  I used the microwave, so I couldn't go wrong.
1 cup Basmati Rice, 1 1/2 cups water, 1tsp Kosher salt.  Throw this in a round pyrex and microwave on high for 5 minutes.  While this is "nuke-ing", slice about 5 dried apricots into thin strips, then lightly toast 1/4 cup of sliced almonds in a pan and wash a lemon (you'll zest it in a minute).  By this time, the 5 minutes will be up.  Give the rice a quick stir and microwave for 12 more minutes on half power.  Once finished, stir in the apricots, almonds, and zest some lemon peel over top for color and flavor.  I got this recipe from the April issue of "Real Simple", and I call it jeweled rice.  The flavors sparkle on your tongue and the colors do look like little jewels...what a great side dish:

Jeweled Rice.  Mmmmm...
(potatoes to be used another day)

 

Second dish.  While the rice is taking it's 12 minutes to finish up, you can get on with the main dish.  You'll need:
1 pound peeled, deveined shrimp
1 tbs olive oil
1 can "fire-roasted" diced tomatoes
1 generous tablespoon of "Patak's original" mild curry paste (cilantro and cumin). 

Here's what you do:  warm the oil in a medium pan and cook the shrimp until just pink (maybe 3 minutes).  Add in the tablespoon of curry paste and stir (about 1 minute).  It will slightly coat the bottom of the pan and look like it's going to be a huge mess to clean up, but wait.  Next add the tomatoes and stir, stir, stir.  The slight acidity of the tomatoes is just enough to help you de-glaze the pan and get all the spicy curry paste flavor into the dish.  Once this is warmed through (2-3 minutes), toss a Naan on a griddle pan (the same pan you used to toast the almonds would work, too) to crisp up a bit (one minute each side).

Just in case this isn't enough (color OR flavor),  I always keep a "hidden secret", an extra side dish, something special to slop up with the naan.  A ready made sachet of Palak Paneer!  You heat this in the microwave for a minute or so, and add it alongside your other dishes.  Voila!  Your fellow diners will feel like they're in a real curryhouse for dinner.  I'm not saying this is anywhere near "restaurant quality" palak paneer...but coupled with your other homemade curry dish and the rice side, it adds quite a kick (waaaay spicier than the curry paste) and variety.  Even though it was a quick heat-and-serve dish, it's a nice complement to the overall meal.

The "Secret Weapon"

Soooooo, what are you waiting for?  Cook up some curry this week! 

"You make the best dinners" - Husband (now that's an endorsement!)

Do you 'Spa"?

Well, do ya?  The concept of visiting a Spa (day or destination) seems to me the *ultimate* luxury on so many levels.  In fact, I recently subscribed to "Spa" magazine, which itself is a superfluity, only because I'm a sucker.  We all know this already, but to further illustrate, they offered me a subscription for $12, which seems like a crazy good deal because the cover price is $6.99...but they only publish about 6 issues a year, and the back third of the magazine is just a listing of magazine-approved spas you can visit.  HA!  Like I have the time, let alone the gazillion dollars needed to visit a spa...

In fact, this issue has an extensive article about "splurge vs. steal" destination spas, which was laughable.  Their version of Splurge is spending $10,000 per person to "Spa" in the Maldives for 7 days.  Their "Steal" is a trip to Malacca, Malaysia where you can get a full body massage for $55.  Sounds great, except when you remember that you probably need to spend $1500 to fly there, and then stay in a room for $250 a night.  If you stay for 7 days, you're inching closer to that $10,000.  Wow.  That's a lot of cash (and time!) that I don't have.  Who is this magazine written for, anyway?  Is it possible that it's written by a bunch of people who decided they love "spa-ing", but couldn't afford their addiction, so they started a magazine to put advertising dollars to work for them?

Further on in the magazine comes an article about "why" people visit a spa.  Here's where things start to make sense for me.  Education - you can learn more about your body and spirit.  Balance - after these treatments you may feel as though you've restored balance to your career and busy life.  Self-acceptance - you begin to stay grounded in the present moment.  Those body-parts you're not so fond of?  You don't have to be critical of them, because visiting a spa can let you relax, press the "restart" button and shift your perspective.  All sounds good...and familiar...

 Uh oh, I've let my sucker guard down!  I had to wait until I had Spring Break to find time to get a half-hour haircut.  What makes me think I have 90 minutes and $250 for a Spa treatment - ESPECIALLY when I can get all of this from a 60 minute yoga practice for $20 or less!  Sure, when it's a yoga practice, I have to actually do all of the work myself, but then isn't that a source a self-satisfaction?  So, as great as all this sounds, how about I take that $10,000 and re-do my master bath so that it's a spa-like experience everyday.  Now...where am I going to get that 10 grand...??

It is important from time to time to slow down, to go away by yourself, and simply be. - Eileen Caddy

YATS cooks! Springtime Risotto

Fresh Spring ingredients!

YATS cooks!  Tonight's dish:  Red Wine Risotto with Peas. 
This is a recipe from Giada DeLaurentis, modified ever so slightly - and hungrily declared a "win" by Husband today.  You see, he has committed, somewhat reluctantly, to eating Vegetarian 2 days per week.  I have no meat/non-meat requirements, unlike Husband, (who feels a bit "cheated" if there is no meat on the plate) so my only challenge is coming up with some variety for these "Vegetarian" days.  With the extra time I have on vacation, I have the luxury of whipping up such labor-intensive dishes like risotto mid-week.  This Risotto uses red wine instead of the traditional white, which lends a pretty purple hue to the dish.  When mixed with the greens from the peas and parsley, it looks a bit like "Joker" from Batman, but lovely for Spring!


Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups chicken broth (I used wild mushroom broth, in keeping with the "vegetarian" theme, figuring mushrooms would go well with the red wine in the dish - borrowing the flavors from Chicken Marsala, sans chicken, of course!)
3T butter
1c chopped onion (I used 1/2C because I don't like onion.  I used red onion, in keeping with the purple color of the finished dish)
1tsp minced garlic
1c arborio rice
1/2c red wine (I used Malbec)
1/3c frozen petit pois, defrosted.  (I went with a whole cup to give more substance to the dish)
1/4c chopped italian (flat leaf) parsley
1/2c grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper

Directions:
Get your broth nice and hot, meanwhile, melt the butter in a heavy saucepan.  Saute the onion until soft (8 mins) then stir in the garlic and saute until fragrant.  Stir in the rice until nice and slick, coated with the buttery onions.  Add the red wine and stir until absorbed.  Add 1 1/2 ladles of warm broth, simmering over medium heat until absorbed.


After 1st addition of broth. 
What should I do with the rest of that wine??


 You will repeat this addition of broth (1 1/2 ladles) 3 more times, stirring faithfully until all the liquid is absorbed before adding the next addition of broth.  This is what takes time.  Finally, add the last 1/2c of broth and let it simmer until the rice is tender and looks creamy.  Stir in the peas and parsley.  Finally, mix in the Parmesan and season to taste with salt and pepper.

THAT'S what you do with the rest of the wine...
YUM.

Enjoy.

"Foods that are tasty, wholesome and satisfying give long life, vitality, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction" - Bhagavita Gita

Muscle Memory is a beautiful thing!

Do you believe in this idea of "muscle memory"?  I've always been skeptical, but today, I have a newfound appreciation for such a concept.  I have to say that after 6 weeks without a solid studio class, I was right back into the swing of things, and I really, really enjoyed my class this morning.  I'm not saying I nailed every single posture, but I am saying that it wasn't as hard as I had worked it up to be in my mind.  I was really worried that I wouldn't make it through the class; I know I've done some horrible things to my leg muscles in the last 6 weeks, involving ellipticals, treadmills, even a foray into the spinning studio.  All without the proper post-workout stretching that I KNOW is essential.  But I talked myself into going to yoga (in fact, my unwilling children and their whines weren't stopping me), and an hour later, I was so glad that I went.

The instructor was one I had practiced with once or twice before as a "substitute".  Now apparently, she has her own regularly scheduled gig, and I thought it was just the right level of challenging.  She has a bit of a nonchalant way of offering instruction that turned me off when she was a sub, but now that's she's running her own show, it isn't so off-putting.  She began the practice with a nice little meditation to help set our intention for the practice.  She ended with a gradual progression to Savasana where she added a closing meditation to seal the practice.  Throughout the practice she built the poses and her asanas had a logical progression:  Virab. 1 to Virab. 2 to Trikonasana to Ardha Chandrasana;  Vinyasas and down-dogs peppered in between.  Perfect for a Monday morning, after a weekend (or 6 weeks) of "damage".

Nearing the end of practice, she guided us into Pigeon (one of my personal faves, and any instructor who throws it in is immediately endeared to me), and I loved the way she offered not one, not two, but three variations depending on which intensity our muscles were ready for.  Here's where the muscle memory part comes in:  I was able to do all the variations!  I wasn't sure I'd even be able to do get into regular old simple pigeon, but I was able to transition into all of the modifications she offered.  It wasn't easy, and my hips are protesting a bit now, but I know they'll feel better in the morning and reward me for my efforts!

So, "Muscle Memory" - myth?  Or reality?  What are your experiences with this?

Be truly whole, and all things will return to you. - LaoTzu