Are you afraid?

My children are deathly afraid of the dark.  This fear makes it very hard to "take care of business" during winter months, when the sun sets earliler than during other times of the year.  Neither of my kids will venture into a room where the lights are not turned on.  If we're out and return after 5pm to a dark home, they won't leave the foyer until the lights to the next room are turned on.  If I commence with cooking dinner, getting busy in the kitchen, and one of them needs to use the bathroom (which is on the second floor), they need me to stop what I'm doing, wash my hands of whatever food I'm preparing, and walk them upstairs.  They won't even agree to walking upstairs, turning on lights as they go.  I must escort them, lest a "Death Eater" (my older son is WAY into Harry Potter) or "Ghost" come and spirit them away.  In the modern age of energy conservation and environmental conscientiousness, it's pretty much ingrained in me that we can't leave lights on unless we are in that room, so I'm pretty much stuck with this station in life.  To be fair, this fear of the dark *does* work itself to my advantage.  If there is a room where I don't want my children to enter and make a mess, I just leave the lights off.  But overall, my life is inconvenienced by my children's fear.
Is fear justified?  As far as my children and the dark are concerned, yes.  This is despite the fact that my husband and I are vigilant about what these boys are exposed to.  Knowing that the 4th Harry Potter novel is far scarier than the first 3, I've been reticent about letting my older son delve in, despite protests that all his friends are reading it.  The boys haven't even seen Finding Nemo, we've sheltered them so much from "scary things".  Can it be conquered?  Ask the 7-and-under set - the answer is No Way.  Mom's help is needed.  But what about us grown ups - you know, those of us for whom "Mom" is no longer at beck-and-call?
When it comes to your yoga practice, what is it that you fear?  Is it something simple, like a challenging posture?  Are you afraid of flying in crow?  Are you fearful that your Ardho Chandrasana is going to land you on your face? 
Maybe you have no idea of what I'm talking about - let's address you neophytes:  are you afraid of trying yoga?  What is holding you back?  The beauty of yoga is that you take away from it what you want (unless what you want is a hard-driving sweaty workout.  Then again, we've got you covered with Bikram!).  There really is nothing to be afraid of.  It's not too girly (in fact, I'd venture to say that there were more men than women in the class I took with Heidy this morning...and the Tuesday night class I've been aiming to catch with Eileen always has at least 3 men who are regulars).  It's not too intense (there are modifications for every single posture).  Remember that it even took God 6 days to make Earth.  You're not going to fly in crow on the first day - you work up to every posture, honoring your body and respecting your intentions with each practice.  You'll get there.  And when you feel like you've "arrived", you realize that there's somewhere else to go with the posture.  Your practice is never finished. 
So maybe that's what you're afraid of - the fact that there is no "end" to yoga.  There's always somewhere else to take your practice.  When you think about it, that's nothing to be afraid of.  It's exciting that your relationship with Yoga is not going to reach a "dead end".  There's room for improvement, room for growth.  The longer you spend growing your practice, the more you appreciate it, and not that other's opinions should matter, you'll have more respect. 
In a practice last month, towards the end of the hour, the teacher guided us into crow.  I was game to try, knowing that I wasn't strong enough to hold the posture (which is a rather intense arm balance that also incorporates abdominal strength).  There were two women on mats behind me that scoffed at the thought: "Oh, there's no way...", but as I attempted the balance: "Oh, look, she might have it...oh, she doesn't...wait, maybe she's got it...ooops, nah".  Why weren't these women focused on their own practice?  Why weren't they attempting to conquer the pose?  The answers don't matter.  They were fearful of something, and they let their fears get in the way of trying.  And this, in turn, got them nowhere. 
So, the lesson to be learned here is to put things into perspective.  My kids need to put it into perspective that the dark is simply the absence of light.  The same things that are there in the light are there in the dark.  Conquering this (hopefully) will come with age.  Right now, they haven't much life experience, so the fear of the dark is understandable.  As we gain more experiences, we realize that certain aspects of life are left in the proverbial "dark" - there are things we can't see or understand.  Maybe we're not meant to understand them, maybe we need patience to deal with them.  Either way, give them time and patience, and the light may be turned on, hopefully conquering our fear.  Treat your yoga practice with the same perspective, and one by one, each posture will come to you.  It will be like turning on each light as you go upstairs to the second floor.

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.

Do we need a resolution?

It's been a while...3 1/2 months to be exact.  There's no reason for my departure, other than sheer laziness.  I mean, I didn't exactly have anything profound to say in the last 3 months.  It's not like I have anything profound to say now, but I've only had small ideas on my mind.  I didn't have the time or the inspiration to develop them into "blog-worthy" ideas.  It takes a lot of effort (usually late at night, after the kids are asleep, papers are graded, and the lesson is squared away for the next day), and there are a lot of things I'd rather do with my time.  Things like talk with my husband, watch a little TV, read a magazine, another chapter of my book, shave my legs, polish my nails, catch a few ZZZs myself.  Instead, I found myself folding laundry, vacuuming, utilizing all the "de-cluttering" ideas from said magazines, and trying to keep up with homelife in general.  This left precious little time (and motivation) for blogging.

However, more than a few times since 2012 began, I found a situation pop up that made me think "Hey, that would make a good blog post!".  It seems like so many people in my life are unhappy or worried these days.  People at work are disappointed with their students' efforts or are worn-down from the inconsistent messages we get from administration.  People in town are divided over the school budget and the best way to deal with the projected shortfall and supposed lack-of-rigor in our maths program.   People all over are arguing over presidential politics.  People on Facebook just seem to be bitter and hopeless (I'll shamefully admit to having been snarky once or twice).  There are so many battles that we all seem to be fighting - and when I do mindless household chores (the grown-up version of a "thinking chair"), I inevitably find myself coming up with the realization that so many yogic teachings can help us to better deal with these battles.  Only, I'd end up making a mental note, and get on with my tasks, only to forget it or lose inspiration later. 

Once that calendar makes the flip from December to January (although as far as the universe is concerned, it's just Earth beginning another trip around the sun!), it's only natural for people to start contemplating the potential that the new year holds.  Maybe make a few resolutions; "promises" to yourself to make something better in the year ahead. 

I, myself, never bother to make any resolutions.  It's not that I don't think there's room for improvement in my life.  I have the same 5 (or this year, it seems to be 10) pounds that everyone else has to lose.  I need to be more conscientious about the way I use our resources (money included!).  I really should be more forgiving of my own faults so that I'm better able to forgive the faults of others.  But I have never seen the point of making resolute promises that EVERY single bit of research shows rarely lasts beyond 3 months.  I'm not without the need to improve, but I suppose I am a bit of a defeatest.  Why start something that I know I'm not going to finish?  A year, afterall, is a loooooong 365 days when you have to cut something out (like spending, or drinking, or eating, or gossiping)

With yoga, I find that I have a chance to make not a yearly resolution, but a DAILY resolution.  It's much easier to to live with an intention for a day.  Whenever I'm on my mat, I know I have 20 minutes, 45 minutes, an hour, or however long I give myself to just breathe.  I can forget about the things that are troubling me.  They aren't going anywhere, they'll be right there when I'm done - BUT after an extended time of deep breathing and stretching out my limbs,effectively wringing out even the most deeply-seated stress, I know I'll be better equipped to handle what life throws at me.  At the start of a practice, I can make even the simplist intention, mediate on it for the entire session, and finish up knowing that I can deal with that "daily resolution" for the next 24 hours or until the next time I find myself on the mat.

So yes, there are many things I need to work on in the year ahead.  I have my work cut out for me if I only set out to undo the damage I did in 2011 before I even think about making things better in 2012.  But will making a resolution help?  I don't think it really will.  I think I just need to be more mindful of the world around me - set an intention each day to look at the bigger picture, and notice that I'm merely one brush-stroke in the beautiful painting.  The way my brushstroke mingles and interacts with all the other strokes is what gives the painting it's beauty.  I see something in myself and recognize that I'm a small part of something much, much bigger than me. This is what yoga is about, and this is what I want to share with whoever will listen (or read).  It's not a "resolution", but it is something that gives me purpose as I go forward with writing my blog and sharing my yoga journey with you.  Namaste.

Let your body be graceful on the mat, be gracious in dealing with others, appreciate and honor the grace within them.

Detox day 4. I have problems.

Prep for my Mineralizing Vegetable Broth

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

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

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

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

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

Fall DeTox

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

End of Summer Practice

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yoga while on Vacay? Sign me up!

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

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