YJ Talent Search? *-FAIL-*

Yep, that's me.  Vying for the the 2nd annual Yoga Journal Talent Search.  I tried to enter, but I can't - the dang photo is too large.  And you can't see my face.  And I'm not wearing brightly colored clothing so the judges (do you think they'll give me bonus points for the cool zebra pillow on my couch?) can't fully see the extension/articulation/alignment of the posture.  And it's a posture I've only just begun to experiment with.  I haven't "mastered" it yet.  Which begs the question:  Have I mastered ANY poses?  Savasana may be the only one...
So folks, this is what you get when you don't read the "rules" of a contest.  When I tried to submit my entry, a message popped up, saying that my photo was too large.  I decided to click on "the rules" to see what size jpg they were looking for, and instead I saw all the aforementioned helpful hints and guidelines for the submissions.
Back to the drawing board I go.  Do I continue to practice my Wheel with extension, working my way to "mastery"?  Or do I go with King Dancer? Not as impressive, but I'm certain that I have better alignment (check out my left foot angling out on this Wheel...not to mention the right leg is less-than-perpendicular).  Maybe Warrior III - that's a posture that makes everyone nervous.  Good thing my husband likes playing around with his camera - because I think he's going to be practicing by training his lens on a lot of yoga postures in the coming week.  Once I submit, I'll give you the info on how to vote for me - that is, if you think I'm "Talented" enough to be in Yoga Journal magazine.  Now, off to ponder this whole "mastering" a pose bit...and to find some yoga pants that aren't so dang black.

Delight the world with compassion, kindness, and grace.

Thanks, Yoga Journal. Really...Thanks!

I'm not making excuses, but another reason I haven't blogged much lately is because Yoga Journal already does the work for me...AND delivers it straight to my inbox each day.  There are countless yoga teachers out there who write daily blogs far more knowledgeable (they have the 200+hour training to back it up!) and, dare I say it, just as entertaining as mine, and Yoga Journal culls them all, sending the best entries via email to anyone who signs up to subscribe to the posts.  They really are insightful, and many times they mention things that are worth sharing.  But, many times I also get too lazy to re-craft what the message is so I'm not a plagiarist, and I leave it.
One recent blog post however, read about it here, IS worthwhile mentioning.  It talks about our national obsession with 6-pack abs.   A recent perusal of the offerings in Target's fitness section had no fewer than 3 media offerings promising "fab abs" or "6-pack in 6-minutes" or "Flat abs diet".  It's enough to make any gal feel like a hopeless underachiever. 
My abs are not fab.  I don't spend 6 minutes a day on them, and my diet certainly isn't helping the matter.  While I miraculously have few stretch marks, the skin is less-than-taut, thanks to carrying 2 babies full-term (healthy, chubby 8 pounders, each!).  I never, even way back when, was skinny or "slim" (in fact, I think I weigh less now than I did when I was a Senior in HS), so I've always had a tummy, and I've ALWAYS been self-conscious about it.  The article gave me some hope.

This article explains that a 6-pack of abs might not be "healthy" (say WHAT?).   Sure it looks good, but all of that muscle bulk gets in the way of flexibility.  Hey, that's good news!  What we should be after is "strength" - a strong core that helps support your spine, shoulders, and head - and that is not necessarily what you get with 3 rows and 2 columns of perfectly chiseled muscle.  Sounds contradictory, right?  Not so.  The article explains that chronically tight abdominal muscles are not any healthier than chronically tight hamstrings or back muscles.  Ouch.  Furthermore, women can suffer estrogen loss and bone weakness if they lose enough fat to give that chiseled abdominal look.  Huh.  Turns out it's actually normal and better for women to have a little extra padding in the middle.
Instead, aim for a strong core that permits flexibility and movement.  Practice yoga poses that engage all of your abdominal muscles to help you gain this flexibility - and there are a host of postures that will do this!  The author is not saying (and I agree) that we should all give up and resort to a doughy middle - doing so can increase the risk of maladies such as heart disease and diabetes - but we should have different priorities when it comes to the appearance of our bodies.  Basically, it's not about appreciating how it looks.  It's about appreciating what it can do.
So, thanks, YJ (actually blogger Fernando Ruiz), for doing the work for me about this insecurity-inducing issue, but most of all, THANKS for helping me feel better about the lack of tone going on in my own mid-section.

Be accepting.  Accept your faults, accept your weaknesses - they are just as important as your strengths.

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

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.

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!

Have you had your "Greens" today?

The latest issue of Yoga Journal arrived a week and a half ago, and I dove right in (appropriately, as it's the annual "Blue Issue",chock full of stories related to preserving our planet's most valuable resource: Water).  Great articles, as usual; particularly inspiring is this month's home practice sequence and it's cheeky nod to all things aquatic with "Mermaid Pose"!

Anyway, while perusing the magazine (whilst on the Elliptical at the gym - don't judge), I was once again intrigued by the 2-page ad spread on "Vega", a green superfood dietary supplement skillfully developed by professional "IronMan" champion Brendan Brazier.  This ad appears just about every month.  They're really psyched about it, apparently.  According to the ad, it's a complete, nutritional superfood, with an ideal proportion of 40% protein, 30% carb, 30% fat.  It's also prohibitively expensive.  A tub providing enough powder for 7 servings costs $42.50.  I am curious about this type of supplement, but not *that* curious. 

Still, when I had a few minutes to spare as I was near a Vitamin World store, I stopped in to scope out similar products and see what all the fuss is about.  It was, afterall, a 2-page spread.  One of the more affordable options was the GreenSuperfood by Amazing Grass (How punny:  One of the main ingredients is WheatGrass.  They're so clever.)  It's a greenfood blend with Spirulina and Broccoli, an Antioxidant blend, thanks to the Gogi and Acai, a Fiber blend, and a Probiotic Blend complete with acidophilous.

For $22 I picked up a tub of enough powder for 30 servings.  Still a little pricey, but this one, above all others, was guarateed to taste good, and provide a complete nutritional serving of fruits and vegetables from freeze-dried greens ("Raw Food"), not juices.  1 scoop provides 30 calories, 1 g fat, 2 g protein, and 8% of your daily value of fiber.  The container also boasted to restore the Alkalinity to your digestive system.  I recently saw a sales pitch at my gym for some kind of specially filtered water that restores alkalinity by neutralizing all of the acidic foods we consume (diet sodas, gatorades, and probably wine and spirits).  I blew it off, but the second this SuperFoods starts talking about restoring Alkalinity, I was sold! (I'm a sucker.  My husband is in advertising and even he knows I'm a sucker).

So, yesterday morning, I tried my first scoop, shaken, not stirred with good 'ole tap water.  Ugh.  I almost gagged before I could finish the 6 oz.  Almost.  I still managed to wolf down a bowl of cereal and nab a bit of my kids' waffle.  I decided I used the wrong "mixer", so at lunch, I mixed a scoop with a cup of blueberry yogurt.  Not as heinous, but not exactly delicious.  I have absolutely NO aversion to eating my greens - I'll eat vegetables every night of the week, much to the chagrin of my husband, and preferably "Raw", as in a crunchy garden salad - so I'm starting to question my weird desire to eat his superfood.  It's not really "food"...is it "super"?  That remains to be seen.  I'll give it a go, and see how I feel after a week.  I'm $22 in, anyway, might as well...  For now, I have no expectations, so any observable results (more energy, clearer skin, better sleep, more endurance) will be a plus.
What, if any, are your experiences with Powdered Greens?  Thoughts, questions, advice?  All are welcome!

That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.

CD Review: Yoga Revolution

It's not often I get something for free.  And when I do get it for free, it's usually some useless sample size cosmetic tucked inside my Sephora order (3 free samples with every online order!)  How can I really tell if Kinerase "erases" crows feet if you only give me a 2-nights' worth?  Don't these things usually take up to 8 weeks?!?
Anyway, as a loyal subscriber to Yoga Journal (I sometimes think I'm the only non-instructor subscriber!) I had the chance to win a preview copy of this Yoga Revolution CD.  In reality, the fine copy hinted at the fact that this was a "Various Artists" series that would be debuting, and I could subscribe to receive the upcoming CDs as they were released.  Kind of "NOW that's what I call Music" for the yoga-set.  I sent in the postage-paid card, and waited.  By the time the CD arrived, I was pleasantly surprised, simply because I had forgotten that I sent away for it! 
The wait (even though I had forgotten I was waiting!) was well worth it!  This is a fabulous CD...I listen to it all the time in my car; I brainstorm which postures in my home practice would work for each track; I fantasize that I'm a yoga instructor putting together a class to these tunes; I daydream that I walk into a studio class, and my favorite track from this CD is playing (which favorite?  I have a couple, depending on my mood!)
The low-down on my faves:
The CD opens with a bang with Krishna Das and "For your Love".  It's a little Kirtan, a little Rock, and it works.  The second track, "Salala" featuring Peter Gabriel, is one of my true faves.  It's singable, and I just the love the guitar and bongos.  There are tracks featuring mainstream heavy-hitters like Sarah McLaughlin, Sting, Seal, and Ziggy Marley.  Sheryl Crow even shows up with a lesser-known song from her TuesdayNightMusicClub album, "I shall Believe".  People who aren't familiar might think it's a new song, but nope.  It's from 1993.  Another favorite is "Ganesha" by Wah! - completely singable, and "vinyasable".  As with all compilation CDs, it's a good chance to hear songs by artists you might not otherwise know about or be motivated to hear.  What's unique to this compilation is that just about every song is totally listenable!
I know I got it for free, but I'd say it's worth buying...whether you buy it for practice, for cruising around town, or just for chilling at home.  If they decide to produce more Yoga Revolution CDs, they have a tough act to follow!  Then again, I have Wah! and YogiMC on my Pandora, so the search shouldn't take too long to put together a decent set. 
Yoga Revolution is available NOW on Amazon for $13.61.

There's no joy like the joy of the sun coming in - "Salala" by Angelique Kidjo, feat. Peter Gabriel

Yoga Journal - March 2011 Issue

   Well, the March Issue of Yoga Journal has arrived, and while I feel a bit silly blogging about a magazine that you yourself could pick up at the newsstand or better yet, subscribe to, I noticed that some of the blogs I frequent make posts that announce emails from retailers they adore.  I figure if that sort of stuff is blog-worthy, then giving you an inside peek to the latest issue may be warranted...

Do you subscribe to Yoga Journal, or ever pick up a copy on the newsstand/bookstore?  What are you looking forward to reading this month?

We are here to love each other, serve each other and uplift each other.

POW! Pose of the Week

Pose of the Week - This week's pose: Virabhadrasana III - because you knew it was coming! Warrior 3 is the final pose of the Warrior series (thank goodness, because after this, you can only imagine what could be next!). Of course, it improves your balance - how else could you form a Capital letter T with your body? - and improves your posture, but it also strengthens your ankles and shoulders while toning your abdominals. Believe me, you are not going to be able to support this posture without using your abs!

You can find yourself tipping into Warrior 3 from standing (mountain pose), leveling out from Ardha Chandrasana (half-moon pose), or swooping out from Trikonasana (triangle pose). In this way, Warrior 3, though extremely challenging, is versatile! It turns out, that this month's issue of Yoga Journal has an article that discusses the "stories" behind some of our favorite yoga postures. Much like the Greek and Roman legends describe the formation of the Constellations, there are stories and legends to explain the origins of the Sanskrit names for yoga postures. The author of the article didn't go into the legend of the Warrior series, but a simple online search revealed the story behind Virabhadrasana (a powerful hero born from the hair of the god Shiva), and the story almost compels you to follow the asanas in order (Vira. I, Vira. II, and finally Vira. III), so that's how I'll take you there!

Starting from where we were last week, Virabhadrasana II, your front knee is bent, toes pointing straight ahead, looking to the future. Your back leg is straight with the foot at a 45 degree angle, hips are open to the side. Arms stretch forward and back, palms facing down. Sweep your back arm overhead and bring it in line with your forward arm while rotating the hips and back foot forward. Place your weight on your forward foot, and lean into it. Balance on the front leg while you allow the back leg to lift off, coming parallel to the floor. Your torso also will tilt forward in line with the back leg, parallel to the floor. Wrists, shoulders, hips, and ankles should all be level. From the side, you will look like a giant, capital T. Now you're flying!

Allow the balance of this series to help you seek balance and happiness in your life!

POW! (pose of the week)

This week's pose: Sukhasana - "Sit easy Pose" - because we're starting over ;)

Sit easy Pose helps to focus awareness on breathing. It's great for starting a practice as it gently opens your hips and strengthens your lower back. Yoga Journal admonishes that if you're used to sitting in chairs all day (hello, Desk Jobbers!) even this simple pose can feel uncomfortable at first and take some getting used to.

So, why are we starting over? Summer is ending (for us teachers, it's our first day back from the summer break, so Summer is already over. September 21st is just a formality on the calendar...) The change of seasons always present us with a new beginning, a chance to set up a new routine, and with this, it's always good to revisit the "classics" in your yoga practice, just to make sure you're keeping up with good form.

Sukasana is one of the most commonly used yoga poses, and many instructors begin their practices in this pose. It's "easy" - you sit on the floor, buttocks grounded with your sitz bones aiming downward. You cross your legs and keep your spine lifting upward to the crown of your head. The chin is kept level. My older son says this is the "criss-cross apple sauce" way of sitting, but Sukasana lends a little more dignity to the start of your practice. Sit as long as you wish, but if you visit this pose often, be sure to alternate the way you fold your legs, just for balance.

Namaste

POW! (Pose of the Week)

Pose of the Week: Siddhasana - because we're building on something here...

Siddhasana, or "Sage pose" is a nice little pose to work on once you've warmed up quite a bit in your practice. It will help focus the mind and reduce stress, but it's also going to open the hips and elongate the spine while toning the abdominals as you focus on proper breathing techniques.

I've been seeing quite a bit of Lotus pose lately (online, in Yoga Journal, in books), and it's definitely one of those decievingly advanced yoga poses that you have to work up to. Whenever you see a photograph of Lotus, the practitioner looks calm, and at peace, like he/she is totally relaxed in the moment. In fact, Lotus is a common pose that people take when meditating, the ultimate practice of looking inward towards the third eye and/or heart center.

But Lotus is a very challenging pose, and I think Sage pose is a good pose to practice in order to ready yourself for Lotus. Begin seated with extended legs and bring the sole of one foot to the inner thigh of the other leg. Gently bend your other leg, bringing that foot and ankle to rest on top of the opposite calf muscle. Let the legs and pelvis feel heavy as you breathe deeply into the belly. Relax here for as long as you like, before switching to repeat on the opposite side. With regular practice of the Sage pose, soon, you'll find yourself ready to try the half Lotus, and finally Full Lotus poses.

Namaste.

POW! (Pose of the Week)

This week's pose: Chaturanga Dandasana - because sometimes a girl wants to rock a strapless dress!

"Crocodile" pose, despite its simplicity, is a hard pose to master. It has a number of physical benefits, like improving circulation and digestion and building core strength, but the #1 reason for a girl to perfect this pose is the opportunity to get amazing shoulders for your strapless summer dresses!

The most common way an instructor will get you into Chaturanga is to lower yourself down from a plank (top of a push-up) pose. But you could raise yourself from the floor - I've had an instructor or two try this. I've also had an instructor encourage us to "scoop forward" from Down Dog to get there.

No matter how you get there, if you look at the photo of the model I've included this week (from Yoga Journal's website, btw - does this count as giving credit?), there are a lot of subtleties in this pose. You'll notice that her fingers are grounded and the digits face forward - to quote one of my fave's Diann: "...like the number 11". Her upper arm bones are at right angles to her lower arm bones, which are at right angles to the hands. The thighs are NOT resting on the ground, but hovering, directly in line with the rest of the torso. Finally, the foot bones are at right angles to the lower leg bones.

If you for some reason fail to keep these perpendicularities with the joints, you run the risk of aggravating Carpal and/or Tarsal tunnel syndromes or placing stress and strain on the shoulder. These mis-alignments, at worst, can cause injury to the joints in question, and at best, prevent you from developing the results you're looking for (awesome shoulders for that strapless dress!)

Just because this pose has it's difficulties doesn't mean that you shouldn't devote time and attention to mastering it. Time and attention are just what it will take to get it right! Spend the time, reap the rewards!

Namaste!

POW! (Pose of the Week)

Pose of the Week: Ardha Chandrasana - because it's fate.

Half Moon pose does a whole heck of a lot! It improves circulation, improves balance and coordination, opens the chest and hips, while stretching the hamstrings and strengthening ankles, knees, and thighs.

What does this have to do with "Fate", you may ask? Well, I *was* going to do something clever this week having to do with the "dog days of summer" (I guess that will have to be put aside until next week....), but I went to yoga class on Sunday - always a special treat to practice with Heidi! - and she got us into Half Moon pose about 3 times on each side. And each time she got us there a different way. And the final time, she transitioned us into King Dancer Pose, a pose which I feel is chock FULL of grace, and I'm rather pleased with my personal growth in this pose.

So, while I was really, really resenting Ardha Chandrasana the first two rounds in class (I just wasn't balancing quite as well as I usually do because I was visiting the pose from a different approach than I normally do), the last round sort of redeemed itself. But I still wasn't loving it. I mean, I LOVED the practice. I am always, always challenged by something or other in Heidi's class...and she knows when she has me, because she'll say "Ah-HA!". She's totally not talking to me personally...but she knows that I have some experience and she seems to enjoy when I'm enjoying a challenge in a practice. I know it's not a personal practice just for me (the class is always packed with 20+ people), but it feels like it, and that's fun.

Now, back to why this is "fate". I didn't get to practice on Monday, despite the fact that there was a class, and I vowed not to miss any classes all summer long, but it was the first day of camp for my kids and I didn't want them to be late, so I didn't make it to the class, and instead I did the elliptical. But I DID read Yoga Journal while I was on the elliptical! And lo-and-behold, what do they feature, not once, but twice in this month's issue? Ardha Chandrasana! There it was, demonstrating that it keeps your knees in tip-top shape (page 26). And there it was again on page 81, showing how it's great for "Partner Yoga" (and btw, despite this article, I'm still not a fan of partner yoga).

Half Moon Pose really doesn't look like anything special. You're still "standing" on two limbs. They just aren't the two you're used to standing on. One foot is grounded, and the same-side hand is placed in front of the foot so that the opposite foot can soar out parallel to the ground and the opposite hand can stand tall. It's kind of like a broken H or a weird K. On the other hand, when you get yourself into Half Moon Pose, no matter how you got there, and you feel yourself balancing against "tradition", it really feels like an accomplishment and you can reap all the benefits it offers!

I'm really looking forward to practice tomorrow morning (with Josh!), and darn it, those kids will be a little late to camp. For now, I'll leave you with a thought offered up by Heidi somewhere about 3/4ths of the way through practice:

there's no wrong way to do yoga, unless you do it without intention or purpose.

Crazy Coincidence!!!

I got my Yoga Journal magazine this week....and I'm waiting to dip into it. Waiting until I can devote some time and attention to the articles. I've been subscribing to the magazine for a little over a year now, and it's only been in the last few issues have I really gotten a lot out of reading it. They have food articles, "fashion" articles, media product reviews (books, dvds, cds), and of course philosophical articles - that have never piqued my interest before, but now they have a 3-part series on "Mantra" going, and I'm enjoying it. The hilarious thing is that I usually read it while I'm on the elliptical at the gym. Not the most "zen" experience, if you think about it.

So, the crazy coincidence comes into play since they also have a Facebook Fan page, of which I am a fan, and they give you updates from time to time when there's a new article on the Yoga Journal blog. The best part is that I'm a blogger, and I never read the Yoga Journal blog. I only read the Facebook newsfeed updates! It turns out that maybe I should tune in a bit more, because this week...coincidence of all coincidences...they featured Standing Forward Bend as their "pose of the week". On Tuesday. Right after I featured the *same* pose as my "POW"!

Now, I don't know if they regularly feature a pose of the week (you know how Facebook is: things you are "Fan" of don't always pop up on your newsfeed), but I felt so proud of myself that I chose a POW that the "big timers" chose as their Pose of the Week. I felt so connected. I felt like I knew what I was doing. I felt awesome...especially since I posted my POW before they posted theirs! (well, before I got the notice on my newsfeed that they had posted it).

Anyway, I immediately wondered, "Hey, do they read my blog? Wouldn't that be awesome?!?" But then I had to be honest with myself and wonder how in the world would *they* even know my blog existed? Did you, lone reader, message over to them and let them know? Is my readership up, and now Yoga Journal bloggers are Facebook subscribers to ME? A girl can dream. When I do a Google Search for my blog, using the exact title of my blog, it doesn't even come up, so I doubt they know I exist. I can always hope that the big yoga gurus are tuned into my little blog....but for now, I have to resign myself to the crazy coincidences....

...and whisper to you that Yoga Journal are the biters! But that's okay, I'm happy to share ;)

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