September: National Yoga Month!

In honor of National Yoga Month, Athleta is offering a series of "inspirational yoga quotes".  Of course, while you view these quotes, you'll probably notice the insanely fit women wearing some insanely cool yoga gear.  And of course, you can purchase this gear from Athleta.
But for now, let's enjoy the serenity of the model, and be inspired by Yumi's words:

Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love.

I hope you'll find yourself on the mat at least once this month!

A lamentation on the end of summer...

My boys and some friends saying farewell to summer.
(well, they're waiting for the ferry, but it looks like "farewell")

"Summer" doesn't officially end until September 22nd - the Autumnal Equinox - a time when the hours of day are supposed to equal the hours of night.  Despite what the calendar tells us, most people feel that Labor Day weekend is the end of summer.  Stay-at-home/work-at-home parents are rejoicing because they'll finally get a little peace and quiet to get their projects (work and home) completed.  Children are antsy - looking forward to seeing their friends again on a regular basis, but not looking forward to using their brains in an academic way ("Ugh, I have to get up early?"  "There's homework?!?")  Teachers are whining "Where did my summer go?!?"  (I know, I know...you just want to tell those whiners "STFU!" - it even gets on my nerves - and I'm a teacher!)  Parents of college-bound children can't believe those 18 years have flown by.
We can't stop the march of time.  It moves on whether we like it or not.  I try and be a grownup about it and accept it every September.  It's time to be grateful that I have a job that allows for a 104-day (not really, Phineas and Ferb.  Not even close.) break to rejuvenate. Somehow, the end of summer feels different for me this year.  I know I'm on the verge of some dramatic changes.  Obviously the topsy turvy schedule we'll be keeping around here is going to be dramatic.  But I also have a 5 year old who is entering Kindergarten (and "organized" town sports, too), and I'm surprised at how emotional it is this time around.  It's dawning on me that it's the end of the preschool era in our house.  That's dramatic!
He is the younger of my two children, and once he walks through those Kindergarten doors, I won't have a "little kid" anymore.  I mean, physically, he's little, but people will start to see me as one of those mothers "with older children".  He is going to join his brother in the "land of primary school-induced independence"! Even more-so than in nursery school, he is going to learn how to be his own person and make his own decisions.  Soon, he'll not want to hold my hand anymore or give me a hug and kiss goodbye.  I'm starting to understand why people have 3 and 4 kids (but not 5.  That's crazy, no matter how you cut it!  Both my grandmothers had 5 kids...and we've got some crazies.) You want to prolong those feelings.  Sure, it's a pain the neck to change diapers, juggle baby gear, and wipe faces (I can't say tushies, because my 5 year old is still asking to have his tush wiped...some of you with husbands might even comment that they never stop acting like they need their tush wiped!), but that sweet feeling of having a little person who wants you and actually acknowledges that he needs you is so warming.  It also ironically makes you seem "younger".  A mom who feels frazzled with kids pulling at the proverbial apron strings can rest assured that she projects a younger vibe than the "polished" mom who has a few extra minutes to actually accessorize with a bracelet or run some product through her hair because her kids can brush their own teeth, no matter what age that driver's license reports.
So, what am I actually lamenting this year?   Is it the end of the relaxed days with no deadlines?  Is it the dread of cooler, snowier days ahead?  Now that I've typed this, it's starting to dawn on me exactly how vain I actually am...
Oh, and how is yoga going to help with this?  Well, keeping active with gentle yoga stretches that bathe and lubricate the joints with sinovial fluid will keep me feeling sprightly, and at the very least, enable me to continue to wipe my own tush, well into my old, old age!

Namaste.

"Big" Birthdays

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Soon, my mother is about to turn 60 (like, tomorrow).  That's a pretty big birthday.  It's not the biggest she or I would ever like to celebrate, but it's a big deal.  These days, though, 60 is positively "young" - Tom Cruise is just 10 years younger than that, and he's still doing hard-core action films.  Madonna is closer to 60 than she is to 50 (I think), and she's still traipsing around stage dressed like a "Carnival Stripper" (thanks, Elton John, for that spot-on analogy!), and don't get me started on the Stones and McCartney.  Some of my friends have siblings who are close to 60, and when I mention my mother is not even 60 yet, they can't believe how young she is (do I look THAT old, that you can't believe I would have a mom who is just turning 60?)

I don't have a "girlfriendy" relationship with my mother - partly a result of distance (we live about 3 hours apart - she, comfortably ensconced in the rural parts of NJ, me, happily running the rat race outside of NYC), but I think it's moreso a result of my independent nature, even from a young age.  Imagine a newly-married 21 year-old (gosh she was young!), excited about the birth of her first baby, looking forward to the cuddling and care-giving, only to find this baby fiercely willful and wanting to do her own thing.  Not long after, followed another baby; a "cuddler" - you know, one of those babies who never wants to be put down.  Ever.  That was my sister.  So there's my 23 year-old mother chasing down a 2 year old who liked to throw the contents of the medicine cabinet into the tub and mix everything up (hey, it was the 70's - before childproof caps!) while trying to placate the screaming 5 month old on her hip.  Next day, said 2 year old decides to climb into the crib and wake the baby from her nap by smearing her (and the walls) with peanut butter.  Man, I can't believe my mom didn't give me away after that.  She probably tried, but no one was stupid enough to fall for it.

This isn't anything several of us hasn't experienced, believe me.  Except my mom followed up with 2 more kids!  My dad was not a banker or highly paid attorney.  There were no nannies or mother's helpers.  There was no grandma around to help out - my parents moved away from their families in western PA when I was 4 or 5, to NJ, where we had no relatives nearby.  In fact, there wasn't even a station wagon!  When my brother was born (I was soon to turn 6) my parents had to buy a "bigger" car - a Ford LTD sedan (you read that right.  A sedan). We picked one in baby blue, because we had a new baby boy.  Not even 30, with 3 kids, my mom couldn't be a stay-at-home mom anymore, so she went back to work.  Except she had to work at night because my dad worked during the day.  And then she had another baby.  I was in 6th grade, had just turned 12, and my mom was probably shitting a brick.  33 years old with 4 kids!  

There are times growing up, especially as a selfish, whiny teen with no concept of the way the world works, where I thought my parents were unfair to me for having so many kids.  I wasn't able to go to sleep away camp.  We didn't go to Disney World every year like my friends did.  In order to go on the Latin trip to Italy, I had to raise my own money by selling M&Ms (that was A LOT of M&Ms.  I "sold" a lot to myself.  I was quite chubby to prove it!).  I remember my mom being my age now, getting ready to send her oldest daughter off to college.  My dad packed my every last belonging into our car (still no station wagon...by that time, he had upgraded to a Buick), and when we arrived on campus 6 hours later, he phoned home to let my mom know we had arrived.  She replied that the new "guest room" was finished!  I never lived home again after that.
Knowing what I know now, I no longer think my mom was unfair; I think my mom was brave (and maybe a lil' bit crazy).  Growing up, it never seemed like she sacrificed much to raise us, but it's glaringly apparent now that she sacrificed an awful lot to raise four kids (especially a pain in the ass like me).  There were probably lots of times that she wanted to have "date night" with her hubby, or go on a "girls weekend getaway" with one of her sisters.  Times where she wanted to go new clothes shopping instead of grocery shopping (again).  She probably wanted a cleaning lady to help out, but she had none of that.  Sure, she cajoled us into helping out now and again, but I know what my sister's bedroom looked like, and lots of those battles were losing ones.

It wasn't all doom-and-gloom raising us.  I know that there have been many, many rays of sunshine in her first 60 years, but my greatest wish for my mom's next 60 years is that they are filled with so much sun that she's gotta wear shades - and I hope they are the biggest, coolest, most stylish shades she can find!
Happy Birthday, Mom!  I know you never, ever read my blog, but I love you and I can't wait to celebrate your birthday with you tomorrow.
xxoo.

A little something different...

To say that I've been doing a lot of yoga this summer is a bit of an understatement.  Last Summer, I tried doing a "week of yoga" - where I would practice for 7 days in a row.  I wanted to see how I felt, to see if my body began to be transformed, to see if I became more committed (or worse, addicted!).  At the end of the week, I had managed to take 5 days of gym yoga classes and 2 days of home practice with DVDs, and while I was proud of myself, I didn't experience any magical transformations.  Maybe a little more sore in my shoulders, but I didn't suddenly have flat abs and amazing shoulders.  That sort of thing takes years of dedicated practice...not a solid week.  I can report that I felt more relaxed and centered, and realized how important yoga is to me...so perhaps I renewed my commitment to the mat, and yes, started an addiction.

This summer, in light of the fact that I am starting Yoga Teacher Training in a few short weeks, I set a new goal for myself:  To try as many different classes as possible this summer.  There are my faves - the gym standbys - and I make time for them every week (as long as I'm not in Paris!) because I simply can't make their classes when I'm working.  I have no idea if Josh and Heidy feel a bit happier when I show up with my mat, but I certainly am happy and grateful to be able to be there!  I'm also branching out and trying new teachers, new studios, and new classes!  I've done Iyengar, Hatha, Restorative, Vinyasa, and now "Family Yoga"!

A new studio opened in my town, and while it is technically a "Wellness Center" - offering a variety of "mindful" experiences (Meditation, Kirtan, Nutritional counselling, eco-crafts, etc) - yoga is the main focus.  There's teen yoga, yoga camp for kids, mixed level, restorative, vinyasa, and FAMILY YOGA!  I convinced my husband to join me and the boys for this fun, 45-minute practice.  It certainly was something different!

The main focus of Family Yoga was to introduce smaller people and their grownups to the practice and benefits of yoga.   The obvious benefits are easily understood by the grownups, but kids may be too "literal" to understand abstract benefits like improved focus, better balance, a more "centered" and "present" mind, so this was introduced to them through a series of fun postures and games on the mat.  There was no "organized" flow - instead, the practice was very organic.  The instructor (who happens to be a co-owner of the studio) skillfully led us through a few postures and when it was time to be silly, she let it happen.  When it was time to re-center, she made fun games to bring us back to attention.  This was great for my 5 year old, who can be a bit spontaneous and is not always the best listener.  My 8 year old had practiced before, and happily followed along.  My main concern was Husband, who sees me doing yoga videos in the living room, and was a bit unsure of how he was going to balance in Half-moon or Warrior 3.  He's not exactly the "patient" type, either, and that's a big part of a yoga practice.  Naturally, I was worried he might not like it.

After the class was over, I realized that my worries were for nil.  I'm not saying that Husband is going to jump right in and start yoga teacher training with me, but I can say that a good time was had by all!  It felt wonderful to support a new small business in town, but it felt amazing to share my love of yoga with my family.  The time spent together, parent and child, on the mat was precious. Helping one another into postures and interacting together in a gentle, physical way was time well-spent!  With time and regular practice, I can envision my spontaneous 5 year old building better listening skills.  Perhaps my 8 year old will become more confident.  Maybe, just maybe, I can see Husband becoming more patient.  What is for sure is the bond we build as we spend focused, family-centered time together will only become stronger!

The Monday morning shuffle

12 years ago, before kids, before the suburbs, before yoga even, I married my college boyfriend.  We called each other "sweetheart", but wouldn't exactly say we were sweethearts.  We were a guy from a foreign land and a girl from a small town who met at a small, liberal arts college and liked hanging out together.  We did some crazy things things way-back-when, and eventually decided that we liked each other enough to get married.  Actually, Husband was transferred to London, and I said there was no way I was joining him unless I was a little more than a "girlfriend" - and he could start with a rock and piece of paper (scissors not necessary).
Fast-forward all these years, and we're now firmly ensconced in the suburban life, along with all of our peers, who probably have eerily similar stories about how they got "here" - and became part of the bleary eyed, Monday morning shuffle.  It's really no different from any other morning shuffle - you still have to be in the same places you were on Friday, at roughly the same times - so why does Monday get such a bad rap?  It has nothing to do with celebrating your 12 year anniversary with some champagne and a bottle of wine the night before, that's for sure (although it's certainly not helping...)
In our household, the summertime Monday morning shuffle involves Swim team for the first kid, daycamp, errands, phone calls and emails, swim team for the other kid (they're in different levels, otherwise this shuffle might be leagues easier!) and all of this before 11:30.  Is yoga a possibility?  It's always a possibility...maybe not a studio class, but I could try some home practice with a DVD or some flow that comes to me once I'm on the mat.  What I DO know, is that some well-spent time on the mat will help the Monday feel a lot less manic and a lot more marvelous!
As the saying goes, today is the first day of the rest of my life.  I'm grateful for the last 12 years with Husband, growing our family, our experiences, our life.  I approach this Monday with more gratitude to start the next 12 years with more growth, experience, and LIFE.  
*Knowing that the next Manic Monday will be spent in Paris certainly helps, too ;)

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

Won't you come out to play?

With highs in the 40's expected today, the brilliant sunshine is quite deceiving.  You look at the calendar, see that it's the end of March, relish the fact that the sky is cloudless, and gleefully look forward to wearing some relaxed spring clothing - only to check the forecast and see that you'll be once again bundled under 2 layers or three.  Even still, the clear bright day is inspiring enough to get a yogi on her mat!

And who better the play with on my mat than my favorite 4 year old?  I unrolled the old yellow mat and he unfolded his older brother's kindergarten sleep mat.  He picked the red side - the root chakra, or Muladhara. It is related to instinct, security, survival and also to basic human potentiality, appropriate for a maturing Id-filled toddler!

I started in mountain pose and asked him what I looked like.  He copied the posture and said a tall tower.  We folded into standing forward bed, and I asked what we looked like.  He said, "a short tower".  We walked forward into down-dog, and he said we were like dogs (it's catching-on!).  We got into planks, and while I moved into chaturanga and told him I was a crocodile, he did a three legged plank (what a little show-off!).  I finished an upward facing dog, then told him to hop to the top of his mat, which he gleefully did.  We looked out into the world from our fold, and I asked him what he saw when he looked out into the world, and he said "The Sun!"  Immediately, the Beatles' song "Dear Prudence" came to mind:

Won't you come out to play?
Greet the brand new day.
The sun is up, the sky is blue;

It's beautiful and so are you

Won't you come out to play...

I can't tell you how much fun we were havng.  We didn't play much longer, but I was so happy to have him enjoying something that I enjoy.  Nothing was forced, nothing was really rote or routine - quite natural in fact.  This is all the motivation I need to get back on my mat a little later (perhaps when I DO want to get through a little sequence).  And next time, if my little guy wants to get involved, I'll happily let him come out to play - it's beautiful and so is he! 

What will get you on your mat today?

The joy of a spirit is the measure of its power - Ninon deLenclos

Bikram - parts 2 and 3...

Happy 2011, friends!

It was very revealing to me as I read Facebook updates over the course of the last week to see SO many friends lamenting that 2010 was less than great for them. Maybe I've been burying my head in the sand, but I honestly didn't think 2010 was all that bad. It wasn't fantastic, but I can't say that I was sooooooooooo ready for it to be over, like many people apparently were. Nonetheless, time passes, and at the stroke of midnight last night, we embarked on a new decade. Let's see what this chance to begin again will bring...

I didn't make any resolutions. I don't usually make them, but I at least *think* about them - even though they inevitable turn out to be empty promises. This year I didn't even pretend. Sure, I'd like to maintain my health, approach my life with gratitude, be more compassionate towards others with whom I share this planet, and try to view the world with more understanding, but none of these things need to be "resolved" at the drop of a Swarovski-encrusted ball. I've felt the need to do these things since I've been spending time on a mat every now and then. I've NOT felt the need to do these things through my Bikram practice, however, and I've finally decided that's what bugs me about Bikram (ha ha! I bet you were wondering when I'd get around to the subject that the title of my post alludes to!!!). Here's my statement about it: Bikram is for people who don't like yoga.

Since my "Bikram-Part 1" post, I've visited the 100 degree studio twice more, and boy, did I get put through my paces. I sweat my butt off, was most definitely challenged by a hard workout (each time I get the "I just got my ass handed to me" feeling), but definitely didn't get the right kind of post-yoga glow that I yearn for. I got a glow, alright - my face was beat red - but I haven't yet left the Bikram studio with a kinder feeling towards man-kind. I've never left with a generosity of spirit. There is literally no time for a meditative experience - hell, you're not even allowed to close your eyes as you breathe deeply.

I've experienced 3 different teachers, and while they put their subtle stamps on the practice, because it is a sequence of 26 poses for a specific amount of time, and the instructor talks for the entire 90 minutes, there really isn't any leeway. No customization. No moments where they inspire you to feel gratitude for what your body is able to accomplish. No chances for you to appreciate your own spirit and honor the practice. You are in a room with other people, and the instructor reminds you that you are all practicing as one. You can't be the weak link in the chain, otherwise you will be letting everyone else down. You have to push, push, push and make it through. Hold the pose for 60 seconds. Don't close your eyes. Don't leave the room. You start as one, you must finish as one. I guess if that sort of "drill sargeant" mentality is your thing, you might appreciate this sort of workout, but that's not why I love or practice yoga.

Yes, you sweat, but as I mentioned before, you aren't sweating because it was super-yoga - the 26 postures, honestly, aren't that challenging as far as yoga postures go. You are sweating buckets because the room is heated to 100 degrees. You feel sore and tired the next day because you exercised in a 100 degree room. If you think about it, you could sweep the floor in a 100 degree room, sweat your ass off and feel sore and tired the next day. In between my 2nd and 3rd tries, I took a regular 60 minute class with Josh, and it had to be the best thing I did all week ♥ I left feeling happy, I left feeling proud of my body, I left feeling grateful for having the time and good fortune to practice with Josh...and you know what, I even left feeling a little sweaty ;)

So, the second time I did Bikram, I was a trooper and got up to make it to the 6:30 am class - I figured if I just got up and got the workout out of the way, I'd have the whole day to do other things. I was one of 4 students. The other 3 students, were obviously regulars, as the instructor knew them by name and had a familiar banter with them, and I really felt like I was holding them back because I was "new". There was intense pressure to "keep up". Disclosure: the pressure was TOTALLY self-imposed. The instructor kept speaking to me and individualizing the instruction, which is what a good instructor is supposed to do, but as a long-time yogi, I didn't need explanation as to what Triangle pose or head-of-the-knee pose are. I just needed a little patience because I was getting used to these poses in the heat. But there just seems like there is no time for patience due to the nature of the 26 posture sequence. I made it through, attempted every single posture, and left with a sense of amazement that the other three people there apparently do this on a regular basis.

The third time, I once again found myself in a class of 30+ people (apparently, the classes this week were fuller than normal due to the extra holiday time off people had). I did a morning class...but a more respectable 9:30, and the instructor was by far my favorite of the three. She looked strict, but once the practice was underway, I could tell she had a sense of humor that the other two were lacking. Not that the other two were "mean"; they certainly enjoyed what they were doing and cared about doing the postures correctly. This third instructor, seemed kind. She conveyed an understanding that some postures need to be "worked up to", and she actually found a way to interject a few gems of yogic philosophy here and there. But there is still a rigidity to the sequence that must not be altered. You know, I'd bet she would be a great Hatha teacher. I was able to complete the practice. When I felt dizzy or lightheaded, I didn't push myself this time, and I didn't feel guilty about it either - I didn't seem to be diminishing the experience of the die-hard Bikram devotees in the room.

So, that's about it. Will there be a "part 4"? Well, I'm not writing it off, just like I wouldn't write-off a spin on the elliptical. Bikram is still a good workout, and if I am looking to take a yoga class, and this is the most convenient one, I'll do it. 90 minutes is a lot of time to spend on myself, though, so I can't envision these classes being "the most convenient" very often. But, "never say never"...

May the light that shines in every dimension of life inspire and guide our inner vision throughout the year ahead - paraphrased from the Gayatri mantra

Surf Yoga Soul - DVD review

♥ Well, dear readers, my shipment of yoga DVDs came this afternoon, and without delay, I ripped right into them and hopped on the mat for a test drive. This DVD, Surf Yoga Soul is subtitled "the ultimate flow yoga practice", and it's lead by Shiva Rea, yogini extraordinaire. {It seems to be produced for (or even by) Acacia, unlike all of my other yoga DVDs, which are from Gaiam.}

I purchased this DVD to support my hubby's dream of me doing yoga on his SUP. After trying this practice, I can say with all honesty that I am not hopping on that Paddleboard any time soon. My first impression is that this DVD is awesome, and it is definitely NOT for beginners. My previous experience with Shiva Rea's offerings on DVD was her Pregnancy Yoga DVD by Gaiam. That practice wasn't the best, but the offerings for Pregnancy Yoga are slim pickings, so I found myself practicing with Shiva a few times a month throughout each of my pregnancies. Surf Yoga Soul, on the other hand, has gorgeous scenery, a hip soundtrack, and a very cool "matrix" format, which means I can customize my workout! It has 7 different segments of varying length, and the viewer is able to pick and choose the segments, organizing them however suits, and voila! the practice is set.

To start, I chose a 17 minute segment that worked the arms/shoulders, an 11 minute segment to stretch, and finished with a 2 minutes Savasana. The first segment was so challenging, the second segment stretched it out, and the third segment finished beautifully. I was so pleased with the flow I put together for myself, that I went back and tried the 20 minute "balancing" segment. I can tell I am going to get a lot out of experimenting with the different segments in different orders, which is so motivating!

Bottom line: This DVD is going to be a staple in my rotation! Highly recommended for people with a firm knowledge of and experience in advanced level poses (crow, Warrior 3, Pigeon, and King Dancer, to name a few).

More to come... ♥

Namaste.

My summer practice comes to an end...

*sigh*
Labor Day must be a teacher's least favorite day of the year. Summer is ending, the anticipated return to work, the chance to "start anew" with a new group of students - as you can imagine, there is a wild mix of emotions. This year is no exeption for me. After several days of prepping my classroom , I'll admit that I AM ready to return to work, and I'm truly looking forward to the chance to work with a new crop of kids, to see if we can work as hard as last year and achieve the same successes, and perhaps some new ones!

What's new for me this year is that I'm lamenting the end of summer for a completely different reason. Frankly, I'm ready for autumn because I'm thoroughly done with the crazy heat we've had this year. What I'm most despondant about is the fact that I KNOW I am not going to be able to practice yoga nearly as often as I've been able to this summer - and I'm unsure what the repercussions are going to be!

I've practiced more regularly than I've ever practiced before - ie, I've not missed more than 2 days in a row since July. For this reason, I've been able to notice unprecidented growth in my practice. I feel centered and calm (and it has more to do with yoga than it has to do with having the summer "off"). I've realized benefits that I truly don't want to see diminish - I'm kinda liking the way my deltoids look: thank you plank, chaturanga, and up-dog! I don't want this hard work to turn right back to flab. Plus, despite this hard work, I still haven't been able to say adios to my 5 pounds from Mexico. Will those 5 pounds turn into 10 now that I'm not doing yoga as often? Talk about a nightmare!!!

In preparation, I did order a few new DVDs to help tide me over and at least encourage me to get on my mat(I promise to give reviews once they come in and I give them a go). I am going to keep an open mind about practicing this way, but realistically, I know the challenges I am up against: kids and their jungle gym climbs on my posture, finding time, having committment to do it after a long day at work, the usual obstacles working folks have. I AM hopeful that my blog will keep me focused and motivated to continue with a home practice, and I know I am at least committed to keeping the gym's yoga schedule memorized so I can get to class whenever possible.

This should be an interesting few months. I encourage you to check back and read about my progress (and DVD reviews), but more importantly, I encourage you to drop in and SHARE your experiences. How do you deal with your workout obstacles (whether your workout is Yoga or something else)? What tricks and tips do you have to offer for staying committed to the mat? What DVDs are really working for you? How is your home practice coming along? Share away, dear readers!

Namaste.

Why do you do Yoga?

Queridos cincos pesos, we first met, reluctantly, in Mexico. Since then, you've grown on me. Now it's time for us to say "Adios". I'm headed back to work in a week and I have some pencil skirts I'd like to squeeze into (and not look like Joan from MadMen!)...

Weight loss? Toning? Improve flexibility? Calm? 5 dang minutes to yourself? An instructor (Diann) once asked rhetorically during class, "Why do we do yoga?" Cheekily, I replied, "So we can shave in the shower..." But really, why do YOU do yoga?

When you enter a yoga class for the first time, you go with some sort of purpose: Hey, you're going to check out this "Om" stuff; a physician recommended it as part of your physical therapy; your friend who does yoga looks amazing; you've been spying on the class through the window while you run on the treadmill, and everyone looks happier leaving an hour of yoga than you do leaving a 40 minute run...

The reasons are countless, and it doesn't matter why you "try" it the first time. What matters is your reason for coming back. What keeps you returning to the mat, again, and again, and for me this summer, again? (obviously, since those 5 pounds from my vacation are still hanging around, I'm not doing it for weight loss benefits! And since I still don't look like Gwyneth Paltrow, I'm not doing it for toning, either! Then again, I do have a healthy appetite which she doesn't seem to have...)

I attended a class last Tuesday morning - it was an 8:30 class, and while countless people wake far earlier than 8:30 to begin a practice, my joints weren't quite lubricated enough yet, and I was hoping for a little gentle flexing and stretching, building up to some movement, but nothing as intense as one of Diann's or Josh's classes. The instructor, whom I remember from last year, opened the practice with an almost diatribe on how she expected people to participate in her class. "Sitting one out" if you didn't like the pose wasn't going to cut it in her practice that morning. She expected everyone to try and take it as far as he/she could because that's the intent and spirit of yoga (she's right, but was this the time?) It was borderline lecture on yogic theory, and while she may have been trying to educate us on a subject she obviously loves and knows a great deal about, 8:30 in the morning at a gym is not the time or the place. This went on for the first 10 minutes of the class, and she ended by impressing upon us on the need to clean up after ourselves, should we have to leave class early to head out to work or pick up children from childcare. Really? We only get 1 hour, and you've spent the first 10 minutes lecturing us, so I don't think we'll be ducking out early. Then, almost as if to make up for lost time, she launched into a rapid fire practice that didn't have many poses, but some were quite challenging for the beginners who she felt were present in enough numbers that needed "enlightening" at the beginning of class.

My point in telling this story, other than to get a minor gripe off my chest, is that I have been practicing yoga for a long time, and this instructor is hardly going to scare me off with her style. Someone walking in off his/her treadmill, however, might not have the patience for the "mumbo jumbo". I will be back, again, and again, and again (in fact, I'll be on my mat later this morning...), because I have my own purpose in doing yoga. The truth is, it is therapeutic to me (my mind, my joints, my spirit), I am proud of and love the growth in my practice I have accomplished this summer, and now that I'm headed back to teaching in just a week, I have no idea how I'm going to keep attending classes so ardently!

Yes, in the back of my mind, I'm constantly reminding myself that with patience, I'll get that long, lean yoga body - but the fact that it has yet to materialize is proof that I'm on my bright yellow mat for a different reason entirely. Is it those fleeting moments to myself? Is it the chance for the world to stop and move more slowly by? Is it a chance for me to feel the edges of my skin? It doesn't matter, because it's all of these and more. With every new practice, another reason arises, and that's why I'll be back...

Namaste.

Updates...

Just a quick post today...

First, I felt I should give an update on my "Do Yoga Everyday for a Week" goal. I am a teacher, and during the school year, I don't have the time (a more dedicated yogi would say, "oh, you just don't make the time...") to practice as often as I like. I do squeeze in a class whenever I can, but once school is in session, classes at 9am during the week just aren't going to work, nor are evening classes at 7pm, which is precisely bedtime for my two littlest boys. Weekends are relegated to grocery shopping, cleaning, and laundry, plus kids' sports and other committments. It's hard to practice.

SOOOOO, I take full advantage of the summer and the more flexible schedule I have as a "sSAHM" (seasonal Stay At Home Mom), and practice as much as I can. At the start of the summer, I made a pledge to myself that I would take at least one week and try doing yoga every day, and I was finally able to accomplish this goal. So, why the insistence on every day? Well, I do read a lot of celebrity rag-mags, and everyone with a fab body always chalks it up to Yoga. Madonna, Gwyneth, Jennifer, you name the celeb, they name yoga.

My results? No, I don't look like a celebrity. It's going to take a lot more dedication than one week (and a LOT less M&Ms). But I feel happy, which is probably more than I can say for the aforementioned celebs! The accomplishment of meeting a goal, of course, gives you a bit of a "glow", but I do feel more limber, and I feel like it's almost part of a routine now...I just knew each day that I was going to find myself on a mat at some point during the day. After my dedicated week, I did take a 2 day break (Thursday and Friday) from yoga...but I still did some cardio at the gym. Today, I think I'll hop back on the mat and look forward to some more opportunities this week. Maybe by September I'll have that celeb bod...

Speaking of celebrity rag mags - in the latest issue of "Life and Style", who is pictured paddling down some river on an SUP (stand up paddleboard - see last week's post)? And speaking of SUPs, what was featured, front and center, in the New York Times Style Section this past Thursday? And where were the paddleboarders headed? To do Yoga on the beach. Sometimes the connections we can make are a-m-a-z-i-n-g.

As I mentioned last week, our SUP has been ordered, and as my final update today, it is due to arrive on Monday. Will I hop on and paddle on over to my SUP yoga class? You'll just have to check back and see ;)

Connect with your spirit on the mat. Soon. I promise it will feel good...

Ahimsa...

It's Sunday, and another satisfying practice with my gal Heidi! Boy did she challenge me today...and I don't know if it is because it was a true challenge, or because I wasn't quite up to many challenges today.

My three boys (hubbs included) and I spent a lovely weekend in the mountains with my bestie and HER three boys (hubbs included). We indulged a bit in yummy food and bevi, took a bit of a hike, and carrying my 3 year old much of the way did my old bones no favors. I woke up this morning quite a bit more stiff than usual, so I wasn't sure I could make it through yoga, but I soldiered on, and I'm glad I did!

We did LOTS of hip-opening poses, and many of them were new variations on old favorites. The class was not big today, but there were many "seasoned" yogis there. Several of us were struggling on some of the "advanced" variation options she gave us. At some point, she simply said "Ahimsa". My ears pricked up, because I have heard that phrase before, and I wanted to see if she would elaborate and jog my memory.

"Ahimsa" is the yogic philosophy of "do no harm" - to others OR to yourself. Isn't this a wonderful philosophy? It's basic logic to do no harm to others. This is something my husband and I reinforce even with our children. And of course, you shouldn't bring harm to yourself...that would be painful! So why, when we're exercising, do we feel the need to "feel the burn"? Where does that 80's cliche "No pain, no gain" come from? There's no need for pain or harm to your body when you're doing something that's supposed to be as beneficial as exercise!

It's common sense that a yogic philosophy such as Ahimsa should be very important when praciticing yoga...but it doesn't hurt (ha! punny!) to be reminded from time to time. Yoga is not something that's "all at once". You're not going to take your first class and be able to master every single pose. Some of the poses look downright painful...but if the yogi is following Ahimsa, then you know the pose is not painful to them. They have spent hours over the course of years slowly perfecting the pose, training their muscles to give into the pose. A little respect is in order! They put their time in, and with the same amount of patience and "non pain" you, too, someday, will find yourself there!

So, next time you find yourself in a challenging situation (it could be in yoga class, or it could be in Target when you'd like to strangle your uncooperative children), remember:

Ahimsa!

POW! (pose of the week)

Pose of the Week: Vrksasana - because sometimes you need to feel like you can do something impressive!



Tree pose is actually the counterpose to last week's POW, Standing forward bend! It allows your spine to lengthen, obviously improves your balance, but also improves circulation while opening your shoulders, chest, thighs, and hips. Sounds like a recipe for feeling good! I also learned something new: Vrksasana actually remedies flat feet! This is because it helps to strengthen the arches, ankles, calves and thighs. Hey, maybe this is a magic "do it all" kind of pose. Then again, as I learn more and more about the deeper purposes of my poses, so many of them are magic "do it all" kind of poses.



Anyway, I really like tree pose for lots of reasons. It is one of those poses where you first feel kind of bad-ass...like you really know what you're doing with all this yoga stuff. There you are, one leg folded way up on your thigh, while balancing on the other leg. Pretty powerful. Pretty impressive! And your hands are doing whatever they want. It's totally flexible, in both senses of the word.



First of all, you have to be pretty flexible to get your leg hitched up that far, but this pose is also flexible in that there are no rules as to what you need to do with your hands while you're balancing on that leg. You can hold your hands in prayer position in front of your sternum. You can hold your hands on your hips. You can clasp your hands and point your index finger to the sky. You can hold your arms aloft like the branches of a giant oak tree. This last version is my favorite way to practice tree pose. Maybe it's the teacher in me, but I love the idea of my arms as branches, extending out (you know, all "tree of knowledge" and stuff). I feel so graceful. I love any pose that is full of grace. It's also pretty cool that I can balance like that.



By the way, the flexibility also extends down to those feet, too. If you can't hitch your foot all the way into your inner thigh, you can place it on your lower thigh. You can place it on your calf. You can even place it on your ankle. That Linden tree in my backyard didn't sprout overnight, and neither did my efforts in Tree Pose. It took many, many practices to get where I am....and the instructor of any class I'm in will certainly tell you there's room for improvement in my Tree.



Naturally, that's one of the things I love about yoga: there's always somewhere to go. Feel free to come to my tree for knowledge, enlightenment, or even just a bit of shade!



This week, share some shade!

POW! (Pose of the Week)

Pose of the Week: Uttanasana - because sometimes you need to "hang"!

Standing forward bend deeply stretches hamstrings and calves while soothing the nervous system, relieving stress and anxiety. Look, if you couldn't even touch your toes before, and through your yoga practice you're now able to reach down there, you'll be sure to have less anxiety ;)

Okay, so I have this instructor who I'm quite fond of, and I've not mentioned her in my blog. Yet. It's Diann. And I really, really am inspired by her. She's cool, she's strong, she surfs, she can be a drill sargeant...Oh wait, I think she deserves her own post...

Anyway, Diann once opened practice by getting us straight away into Uttanasana. Then, she kept us there for a good 5 minutes. She even backed us up to the wall, folded in half, encouraging us to bend a little further and kiss our ankles. (by the way, she *loves* asking you to do the impossible, but then she'll convince you that it is possible. Even though you've studied anatomy and know your lips can't reach your ankles, you start believing her and you reach further.) Then you realize you've been hanging out for quite some time, and you get the sudden urge to bounce up out of the pose. And like a mind reader, Diann tells the class "Don't bounce up. Resist it. Just when you feel you can't hold the pose a n y longer, that's when yoga starts working!" And you stay in the pose.

So, there I am in Standing forward bend. My lips are almost touching my ankles (and by "almost", I mean they're at my knees). And I feel the pose work. It really does. I feel the tiniest of openings at the base of my spine. It's a sensation I've never felt before, and I can't really say I've felt since. All this, because I was hanging out!

Maybe it's time I revisit this pose...as the school year unwinds and the stress and anxiety ratchet up, perhaps I need to relax my nervous system, stretch my hamstrings, and look for inner peace!

Hang out for a bit today!

"Conversations"

Yoga instructors frequently make reference to the fact that we are having "conversations" with our bodies as we practice. I have to admit that sometimes these conversations go on when I'm not practicing, too. These conversations can take the form of a little soreness (muscles protesting a pose you've manipulated them into), relief and relaxation ("ahhhhh, that feels great"), or even triumph ("okay, okay, you've been trying to get us to do this for 3 weeks now, we're getting the hang of it!").
How else does your body speak to you?

Lucy...

...was the name of my *first* yoga instructor.

Actually, she was the Pilates instructor at the first gym I ever joined (TopNotch in London). As alluded to in my first post, I've never been an "athletic" person (those of you who have known me since way-back-when can attest to that!), so joining a fitness club was a bit of an odd thing for me to do. But they had wide screen TVs, broadcasting SkyTV, plenty of Madonna, Geri Halliwell, and Robbie Williams (it was Summer, 2000, for reference). I was newly-married, living in London, and thought it might be a good idea to have a back-up plan of things to do while my husband was working late nights. Besides, our flat was the size of my current walk-in closet (ie, not that big), so I needed to get out!

Lucy was great. She was a bit "goth" - breaking the traditional mold of what a "trainer" looks like here in the US (in my narrow mind, a buff, Olympic-bound hard body who loves to sweat it out). Lucy had long, dyed black hair, a few wayward piercings, and a love for dark lipstick and voluminous black clothes (hiding what must have been amazing abs!). Despite all prejudices I had, she was punctual and reliable - there every Tuesday evening, smiling, encouraging and supporting us through the "routine". She actually bothered to learn our names! The best part, looking back, is that Lucy would share with us her experiences with her own yoga teacher, and explain how she tried to incorporate that week's sessions into our Pilates class - though very faithfully, not diverting far from Joseph Pilates' philosophies and intentions. I guess we were getting "yogilates" before Yogilates was invented.

I was a faithful student. I was there every week. I would tell her the week prior whenever I wouldn't be able to make the next session. I tried my hardest every week, and my goal was to "earn" a position in the front row. I yearned to be one of those people in the class whom she would refer to in her British accent as she was walking around the room, adusting form, moving on to the next exercise: "Now, let's move on to scissors...if you're not sure, watch the people in the front row...". I luuuurved Pilates. I luuuuuuuurved the way she taught the class. I wouldn't hesitate to wax on and on about it afterwards with my husband and his friend over pints (promptly undoing my work at the gym, by the way).

Looking back, I can't tell if I loved her or loved the class. But it doesn't matter. Lucy gave me some sort of appreciation for what accomplishments I could make - the gentle pushes she made each week were just what I needed. A foundation of sorts, to eventually find a practice that I could enjoy and make my own, even if it was gradual. Little by little, week by week. After a good 3 years of practice, I can appreciate that this "building" is what yoga is all about, afterall. When I was leaving London for good, I exchanged addresses with Lucy, and even communicated "snail mail" for a correspondance or two. I lamented my departure, and didn't know where to pick up when I returned to the States. Lucy explained that she was "Stott-trained", and gave me loads of info about where to get DVDs for home practice.

While I still enjoy a good Pilates practice, I think Yoga is my favorite, and maybe that has something to do with Lucy and her less-formulaic approach as an instructor. She remains my "gold standard" for gym instructors, and when I'm in a new class, and the instructor advises differently from how Lucy used to do, I dutifully follow along, but make a begrudging mental note that "that's not how Lucy would have done it..." Yoga, for me, is perfect, in the sense that I have a core group of poses I can fall back on...some of which have taken 3 years of practice to get myself into, mind you, and I still haven't mastered them! Much like Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, I may never complete them. It's gradual. It is building on what I did last week. It's honoring what progress I have made and what accomplishments are yet to come. There's always the hope that one day I might be able to...but it's okay if I never do. How can you not love that?

Please share what you love about yoga and/or your instructor!

Namaste.