Slow it down

It's been a busy couple of days...and so I haven't had the chance to blog lately.  Not that I haven't had the desire to!  I bought some new yoga pants and wanted to blog about that, I bought a new book and wanted to blog about that, I took a challenging class that ended with a crazy posture (thanks, Kate!) and wanted to blog about that, I taught a yoga class to colleagues at work and wanted to blog about that...  But it hasn't been until life has forced me to slow it down a bit that I actually had the time/courage/motivation to sit and put my thoughts down on paper computer screen.

Yes, I, like much of the Northeast corridor, have been crippled a bit, thanks to Hurricane Sandy.  Schools are closed, trains aren't running, flooding and mass power-loss are expected.  It's different from a Nor'easter snow storm, because there is no snow to shovel (although I am compelled to report that I heard someone outside with a leaf-blower yesterday evening.  I know you're all with me here: THAT is ridiculous.)  We are collectively being forced to "take a break", but it's an odd break to take, because I'm sure the sympathetic nervous system is still being stressed out.  With every powerful gust of wind threatening to down a tree limb or two, and every news channel urging people to stay indoors (and what about those poor weather reporters being drenched as they report alongside the swelling tides of the Jersey shore?), I'm sure few people are not feeling the stress and blood pressure spike.  As far as your nervous system is concerned, however, it's time to pause, take stock of things, realize that the weather is out of human control, and slow things down.

So, how will you spend this time?  We had the chance to sleep in today (usually early morning is my only time to squeeze in a workout - hitting an early yoga class or scooting out to the gym - but naturally,those places are all closed), and then fixed the children a leisurely breakfast.  I had the kids do their Italian homework while I cleaned up breakfast, then get caught up on cello practice (hey, we're raising a couple of renaissance men!) while I caught up on ironing.  Husband joined in on guitar and it became a regular jam session.  The boys moved on to coloring with markers, I threw in a load of laundry (in case we lose power I'd like a head start on stinky clothes piling up), and Husband busied himself with booking his travel for work next week.

Now that the "hard stuff" is out of the way, and it's not even noon, what will we do with ourselves?  I lit a sage smudge stick and threw it in the fireplace - an unconventional riff on home scent, but I'm saving my candles in case the power does go out.  At least the air will be clear (the traditional purpose of a sage smudge stick is to "clear the air").  We'll likely break out a few board games later on, and maybe get around to finally treating the boys to a screening of "Back to the Future".  A few mugs of tea are in order, maybe a foot massage.  All of those little luxuries that we don't often take.

Why have we created this society where things like this are "luxuries"?  Why do we feel like we aren't successful unless we're "busy" all the time?  More than I'd like to admit, I've lately found myself responding to the question "Hey, how are you?" with an exhausted-sounding "BUSY!"  Do we busy ourselves all the time to feel important?  Are we being busy all the time to keep pace with our peers?  I have to wonder why we have created this life for ourselves where there is always so much to do.
Yes, I'm stressed about the potential damage from this storm.   Yes, I'm worried for my friends, family, and neighbors, and praying for their collective peace and safety.  But I'm also grateful for the storm for forcing me to slow down, take stock of what's important, and get on with it.  So, slow it down, and see if you can't find some bits of enjoyment for yourself in the midst of the storm.

Try a semi-inverted pose to restore your body's essential systems in times of stress.  Lie on the floor with your legs supported on the seat of a chair.  Place your palms on your lower belly feeling it rise and fall with your breath until you feel at rest.

"Book" Review: Women's Health Ultimate Yoga Guide

While recently shopping at the grocery store (of all places!), I happened to walk down the aisle that sells books and magazines. I love a good trashy mag now and then - you know, the ones that love to scream "Kate's pregnant!  It's Twins!!"...and when you turn to the article on the inside, hoping to sneak a peek of her baby bump, they explain how an "inside source" heard the Duchess mumble something about the Olsen twins' latest clothing line after a pregnant pause in the conversation.  Anyway, while perusing the offerings, my eye spied this magazine!

Women's Health Ultimate Yoga Guide is actually a Special Issue - free of advertisements (hence the shocking cover price of $9.99) and full of helpful yoga tips.  BTW, I consider Women's Health to be only slightly above the "trashy magazine" designation.  "Boost your Sex Life with Yoga!"?!?  Uhm...

The Book-a-zine is divided into 5 Parts, a few chapters in each.  Part 1 discusses Yoga Basics - where to begin if you are new to yoga, what is the best style of yoga for you, and how to start a home practice.  One of the more helpful chapters, (Chapter 2:  Breakthrough Poses), features Seane Corn outlining proper alignment for 3 key yoga postures that will take your practice to the next level.  I found her descriptions helpful - especially since I need to know these postures inside and out as a fledgling yoga teacher.

Part 2 is "Bend for your Best Body", and features sequences designed to target your trouble areas.  Celebrity instructor Tara Stiles creates a sequence to sculpt a "leaner, hotter body", Lara Rosenbaum helps whittle your middle, and Kristen Dollard suggests practices to increase flexibility.  The chapter ends with some quick (15 minute) sequences you can do when pressed for time.  Something is better than nothing!

Part 3 is "Strength in a Pose", and the various chapters give guidance on postures to target specific goals.  If you are a weight lifter, certain yoga postures can increase your range of motion, as stiffness can result as your muscles tighten and strengthen.  Certain postures can help stretch you out after a run, and dare I say, improve your performance.  There is a chapter on demystifying and conquering uber-challenging postures (HANDstand, anyone?).

Part 4 is "Bliss Out", which taps into the benefits of the breathwork you'll be doing on your mat.  It addresses the stress-reducing aspects that a regular yoga practice brings.  Part 5 is the shortest section, entitled "Light Bites", and gives recipes for healthier fare.  Their term is "Slim, Calm, Sexy Food".  Uhm...

Pros:  I like the fact that Women's Health has consulted with actual yoga instructors to provide the "meat and potatoes" of the yoga postures and mini practices.  They talk about the need to start slowly and work your way up to more challenging postures - basically "build your practice" - and they walk you through it.  There are so few advertisements in the magazine that it does feel like a helpful manual.  I am a food magazine junkie, so the last section of the book is helpful, too.

Cons:  The publication seems to be geared heavily towards single women - but I can always pretend my children and husband don't exist as I work my way through the sequences.  Their insistence of "Frying Fat" on the mat is a bit far-fetched.  I do work up a sweat on occasion, but not on a regular basis.  Maybe I'm taking the wrong kinds of yoga classes (let me clarify for the record that the sweat you work up in Bikram or Hot Yoga comes from the heat in the room, not necessarily from your practice)!  I also take issue with the fact that they don't really offer up enough cautionary advice when it comes to the advanced postures.  King Dancer and Handstand are probably best practiced under the trained eye of a teacher who can support and comment on your alignment, rather than from a picture and one paragraph instruction in a magazine.  Finally, the appearance of the word "Sexy" is almost as frequent as the word "Yoga"...again, probably a testament to the fact that I am not their core audience.  I'm not saying that I don't want to be sexy or am repulsed by it, but it's not what my yoga is for me.  They seem to have forgotten that yoga is for EVERYbody - men, too!  I don't see a guy buying this magazine.

It looks like I have more Cons than Pros, but actually, I think this is a helpful little manual.  It's great for the person woman who doesn't have many books or magazines on yoga, who may be contemplating starting a practice and wants to learn some basics at home before trying out a studio class.  I don't necessarily think you are going to melt fat and sculpt muscle any time soon - those sort of results come with the integration of cardio into many, many years of yoga practice.  I've been practicing for 8 years, and I'd hardly venture to say I'm "sculpted".  I am flexible, and I feel more at ease with myself, and I'm super happy that yoga has offered that to me!

The Women's Health Ultimate Yoga Guide is published by Rodale and is available on newstands until December. ($9.99)

The "Regulars"

I need to take more yoga classes.   In fact, I need to attend 60 classes over the course of my training program (8 classes to observe, 52 to actually practice).  Prior to joining this teacher training program, I did not often practice at the studio where the training takes place.  I did most of my classes at the gym.  At a gym, you have a few "loyal" yogis, but nothing like the regulars you find in a studio class:  yogis who are there week in, week out, who know one another's names, the teacher knows their quirks and preferences, they have their "spots" in the room, their rapport with one another.  When you're not a regular and you "pop in" to the class,  you're not really an interloper (yoga is very embracing), but you might as well be, because you aren't sure where to put your mat, you don't know the next person's name, and you certainly don't get the inside jokes from last week.

I would venture to say that the majority of women in our training cohort are accustomed to taking higher-level yoga classes.  We may frequent a level 1 class, but most of us are probably at home in a level 2...a disciplined few in a level 3.  But when you start out teaching yoga, you don't  launch as a level 2 teacher.  You have to begin with the basics and work your way up, therefore, we are required to take at least half of our 60 classes in a level 1 setting.  We are supposed to pay attention to the language, the postures, the pacing, the modifications.  Yoga is such a discipline that this act of taking level 1 classes is not a "step backwards"...it's not "too easy"  or "too simple". There is always something to learn and observe, and sometimes we do our best observing when we slow things down.

Today, I had to leave work early for an appointment, and I ended up (fortuitously!) with just enough time to squeeze in a Level 1 practice today.  It was listed on the studio schedule as "Extra Gentle".  In the car on the way over to the studio, I wondered who would be taking a yoga class in the middle of the day and I wondered what the pacing for an Extra Gentle class would be like.  I have found that timing is everything when considering who will be in on the mat next to you.  Super-early morning classes (6 am) tend to have mostly women students who are getting a jump start on their day before work.  9/9:30 classes tend to be mostly stay-at-home or work-from-home parents who have time for a yoga class after nursery school drop off or morning carpool routes are finished (again, mostly women).  Afternoon classes have a good mix of college students who are done with classes for the day,  and working people who take a class on their way home from work.  Evening and weekend classes are where you have your best chances of finding men, although still not many, and the classes can range from deep stretching postures to something more athletic that works up the desired sweat.  But who is taking a yoga class right in the middle of the day?  In NYC, probably young professionals on their lunch break.  In the suburbs? It's older ladies - ah ha - the "extra gentle" is starting to make sense.

Since we need to attend so many Level 1 classes, there just so happened to be 4 of our cohort in today's "extra gentle" class...and the rest of the class (the Regulars) had us beat by at least 20 years.  They all knew one another's names, knew one another's "drams", were comfortable offering up advice, lively chatting away in the hallway before class started.  They clearly had their "spots" in class, and some were even a tiny bit fa-tootsed (sp?) by the extra 4 people taking up precious floor space.  They knew whose mat went where, and at one point, there was an unclaimed mat, and it took several minutes of banter to figure out that someone had left the mat from the class before, and it actually belonged to no one (the nerve of someone to take up floor space like that!)

Let's be clear:  I'm not relaying this story out of judgement or condemnation, but more out of mild amusement.  I can clearly see some of their habits becoming annoying over time (yelling out in the middle of the class: "I have no idea what we are doing right now!" and the teacher patiently, gently responding, "We're just lifting our shoulders.  I know you can do that.").  Nevertheless, these were the Regulars of the Thursday midday class, and maybe their instructor sees these quirks as endearing, maybe she embraces the dynamic of the group, which clearly is comforting enough to say what you feel whenever you need to say it.  

It definitely made me wonder what the Regulars of my eventual yoga class will be like.  I'll need to make a lot of professional decisions:  Will I like my class to be more stretching, or more athletic?  What will I do if my regulars start talking to one another in the middle of my instruction?  Will I teach in the mornings, afternoons, or evenings?  How will I begin to captivate a class so that they actually WANT to become my regulars?  I'm going to need to be engaging from the start to build a group as loyal as the one I was part of today.

I am a LONG way from establishing a regular class...but ever the planner, it is something for me to keep stewing on the back burner while I continue my journey.  Every so often, I'll lift the lid of the pot and take a peek, even stir a little, but for now, I think I'd better take a lot more level 1 classes and worry about refining my practice before I start worrying about who I'm going to teach.

Relish the quiet bliss that comes with aging gracefully (and getting on the mat can help with that!)  Yoga is for everyBODY.