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.

DVD Review: Shiva Rea Daily Energy

Okay, this chica rocks.  Shiva Rea hits another home run for me with her DVD: Daily Energy.  I bought this DVD from Acacia catalog (online), and paid $14.95 for it.  It's not a new DVD, and I'm certainly not the first one to write a positive review.  Daily Energy is simply a great home practice DVD for an advanced-beginner or intermediate yoga student.  I think it might be intimidating for someone who is just starting out, but if you're familiar with asanas and enjoy a practice that lets you focus and concentrate, building as you go, this is the DVD for you!
Daily Energy once again features the "Yoga Matrix", which may well be my favorite feature on Shiva's DVDs.  There are 7 20-minute segments on this DVD, and the Matrix allows you to select the segments you like - there's an "Earth flow", "Fire flow", "Water flow", etc.  There are also pre-set practices that vary in length (from 37 to 55 minutes), selected by Shiva to incorporate a "flow" with the asana.  What this means for the home practitioner is that you'll never get bored.
I got myself familiar with the DVD by trying to do each of the 20 minute segments over the course of a week.  Each day I tried a new segment.  Some are more challenging, some are more relaxing, and I was able to make a mental note of which ones would work nicely together for another time when I had more than 20 minutes to practice.  What I like about each segment is that they slowly build up to ONE posture which you finish with.  For example, the "Heart-Air" segment focuses on backbends, and you go through a series of postures that gradually build up to Wheel.  If your practice doesn't include wheel just yet, that's okay, and Shiva instructs you to take it to YOUR level (be it supported bridge, bridge, wheel, or wheel with a leg extension! woo hoo!) 
I like the option for modification with every posture throughout the entire DVD.  She instructs you to do "your chaturanga" when you're in the Fire segment (which sneaks in more than a few pushups to build arm strength). Some segments are better for the morning, some are better for the evening.  As I get to know the DVD better, I'll be able to select segments and make a really nice custom home practice depending on my energy levels and time.  I didn't like the 7 minute "core" segment, simply because it requires more floor space than I actually have.  If an instructor did this in a yoga studio at the end of a vinyasa class, it would rock. 
I bought another Shiva DVD along with this one, and once I'm done playing with Daily Energy, I will give it a whirl and write a review.  It might be a while, though, because Daily Energy is just that good!

Always be pure, simple, and honest.

Have mat, will travel...

When you have something that you're passionate about, it's so much fun to experience it in a different place.  This holds true with a *someone special* (few things are better than experiencing a new destination with a lover or fabulous friend), a *vibe* (some people feel like they don't know a place unless they've visited "the underbelly" - case in point:  Bourdain's No Reservations!), or even an *activity* (yes, I'm talking about YOGA!)
I have a new friend Joanne, who is passionate about running.  She is so passionate about it, that she probably identifies herself as "a runner" above all else.  Her passion for this activity takes her to some amazing destinations, all for the sake of experiencing an amazing run in a new and interesting place.  She'll travel to Vegas, to Florida, just about anywhere, to take in the sights but above all, squeeze in a good run.  I thought this was way-cool...and thought about how lucky Joanne is that she has this thing that she is passionate about, and she can do just about anywhere.  Then I thought about it a little more, and realized that I do, too!
About a month ago, I got an email from my bestie since the 90's, Liz, saying that she was tagging along on her DH's conference which was going to be in Boston.  She wanted me to help her kill the time while her hubbs was in his workshops.  Boston's a 4 hour drive away, but that's a heck of a lot closer than Texas which is where Liz spends the majority of her 365 days a year.  I talked it over with MY DH, who travels frequently to Boston (we're talking about once a week), and we were able to work it out so that I would be able to fly up, stay in a suitably pampering hotel, and help Liz kill some time.  I booked the flight, booked the hotel, and started to think up things to do.  First stop:  yoga. 
I found a studio within walking distance of my hotel - this was NOT hard.  Yoga is so popular in Cambridge that you can throw a rock straight up and have it land steps away from a yoga class.  I emailed Liz an itinerary that included not one, not two, but three separate yoga classes!  DH travels to Boston and his research entails swank bars and delicious curry joints.  I travel to Boston and I research yoga classes.  Everyone has their passion.  Liz had her reservations about taking yoga - she hadn't taken a studio class in a long time - but she figured "what the heck".
On the morning of my trip, I got up, left the house by 7:30, hopped on the plane by 9 and was at Logan Airport by 10:30.  Took the T to my hotel, checked in by 11:30, and was at the studio a tad bit early for the noon class.  In case you are wondering, I wore my stealth-yoga outfit on the plane, so no changing was necessary.  I was comfortable, and sans-pockets, breezed right through airport security (bonus!). For Your Fashion Information:  Lucy black yoga pants and a Lucy black wrap top with a hood (sorry, can't find a link!).  I feel like a ninja when I wear this outfit (all black with a wrap top) and it can go from studio to street without a second thought.
It was incredible.  The studio, KarmaYoga, was gorgeous.  With a lobby full of zen furnishings and a small library of various books and pamphlets, I felt relaxed before I even set foot in the studio.  There was a tea bar and a few healthy snacks and goodies available for purchase. The class (Liz and I borrowed mats) was challenging, it felt good, and I was so happy about being able to experience a new teacher's style.  Even though I had never practiced with this yogi before, I knew the postures as she called them out, I liked her focus on setting our intention and gently reminding us of this intention throughout the practice. It dawned on me that this really is a passion that I can take with me everywhere. 
The best part, however, was meeting Liz in Boston and sharing another experience with her on the mat.   I have to say that, thanks to a few too many cocktails in a swanky bar (kudos to DH for the recommendation - his research did come in handy afterall!) and a rich dinner in the North End, the other two yoga classes fell by the wayside.  No worries - I still feel fortunate that I was inspired by a new friend to experience my passion in a different place with an old friend.  New, different, old, Yoga is a unifying experience. 

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).