Yogathon

I did something so cool and so out of my comfort zone this weekend.  Hooray for trying new things!  In an effort to get in touch with my Inner Zen, I signed up for a "Yogathon" that was being hosted by a local yoga studio in order to raise money for a camp for kids affected by cancer.  I figured I could recruit a friend or two and we could go get all "peaceful" together. Well, my friends are lame were busy, so I headed out by myself.

Now, I don't do a whole lot of yoga, but I've done a little here and there.  I dabble, if you will. And I've never taken a class at a real yoga studio- I've stuck to the classes at my gym, that are all done in the dark, with a whole bunch of stretching and laying quietly.  I typically leave said yoga classes and go jump on a treadmill to complete my workout.  Little did I know what kind of surprise was awaiting me.

There were several options on the day of this Yogathon.  It was 4 hours long, broken in to 3 seperate classes that started basic and got progressively harder.  So Brilliant Me decided to push myself and head to the last session: Power Vinyasa.  Might as well make it worth my time, right?  

This is the yoga studio that hosted the event. I might go there
someday for a real class.

Of course I had to make a stop on my way.  And yes, it was to purchase a mat.  Whatever.  I used to own one, but it got ruined when I used it to teach on a super gross floor somewhere last year.  So yes, I've been using the ones at the gym ever since.  Nothing like doing child's pose right where someone else's bare feet have been. Yum.

Hello new pink mat.  I think we're going
to get along famously. Please don't smell
too new when I open you in front of a
bunch of yogis.

To anyone who knows me, it should come as zero surprise that I got lost once I pulled on to the campus, and drove around the exact building where I needed to be approximately 14 times before I finally parked.  Oh yeah, and it was pouring rain.  Like, huge drops.  Walking in late as a soaking wet newcomer to a serene yoga setting where most people seem to know one another is such a cool way to make a first impression.  Try it sometime.

Ok, moving on.  I looked around the room and noticed that all kinds of people were "stretching out" by holding themselves in these weird, twisted poses, with their heads down and their legs in the air.  You have got to be kidding me.  Side note: the only place for me to put my mat was approximately 6 inches behind a guy who was wearing holey socks.  I found out very quickly that he also had extraordinarily long legs.  Boo.

Anyway, class started with an introduction of the first instructor: "This is the guy who we love because he kicks everyone's ass. Now let's get started".  Lord help me. 

But surprisingly, the music started (upbeat, dare I say HIP-HOP??), and I suddenly found myself in my happy workout place.  I was feeling strong, flexible, and filled with power. I was totally doing it!  Wait, was this workout actually... FUN?????

I really wish I had not left my iPod on the front seat of my car because I really wanted to share a pic or 12 of what was happening in there.  But truthfully, I was so in to it that I probably would have forgotten to use it anyway. 

So then after about 45 minutes, the second instructor took over.  She started by saying "move through your vinyasa and meet me in Warrior II" Ummmmmmm... excuse me?  I don't have a vinyasa. Glancing around the room, I kindof plank and down-dogged for a minute and somehow ended up looking like everyone else.  It then was on the verge of going down hill from there, but I miraculously managed to hold it together. In fact, I think I did a pretty great job. And this is despite the fact that I'm pretty sure she used the word "triangashana" (What?? Triangle pose?  Ok then, why not just say that? Duh.) She said a bunch of other shanananas too, but I just faked it. And then came those weird, twisted balancing poses.  None of which I did, by the way.  It was actually a very awesome feeling to have a nice sense of confidence SHOT within a 5-minute series when I couldn't get in to a SINGLE one of the poses.  Luckily, neither could about 97% of the class.  Phew.

And all of a sudden, it was over.  I was lying in meditation after an hour and a half, and I was feeling pretty great.  Hmmm, maybe I should try some power yoga more often...

 Proof that I made it out alive.  Looking all sweaty and unflattering.
People who take pictures of themselves in the car are so cool.
I look better in real life. (I think...)

Namaste,

J

Stressed. Out.

Those of you who know me know that being a good teacher isn't good enough for me.  I want to be great. I strive every day to be the type of teacher good enough for my own children.  So when things don't go as planned, and I have an off day (gasp!), I get stressed out.  Like, REALLY stressed out.  And I don't handle my stress well. 

Those of you who don't know me don't know what happened to me last year.  So here's the condensed version in 1 sentence or less:  I worked my butt off, got put in what I thought was a very unfair situation, felt as though my boss turned her back on me, started having some pretty serious anxiety attacks, started hating going to work, found out I had an irregular heartbeat, ended up visiting 4 different doctors,  spent 2 months in physical therapy because I could no longer bend my neck, and had to get massage therapy twice a week.  And here's the end result: the doctor told me to find a new job and to start doing more yoga.  So here I am a year later: a budding yoga-lover who works part-time in a new job.  I haven't had a single anxiety related symptom all year.  Until yesterday. 

Yesterday I revisited that ugly place that I thought I had left behind.  I had one of the worst days I had had in a very long time.  It was new and all-too-familiar all at the same time. And it sucked.

So I went home and did what I always do when I'm stressed- I ate. Whatever what was in reach.  Some Pringles, a quesadilla complete with sour cream (low-fat!), a few spoonfuls of chocolate ice cream. But something was different this time.  I was mindful for once of what was going on, and stopped myself dead in my tracks.  With my stomach still in knots and my mind still reeling, I headed outside and took it out on my bushes. (Hey, my yard needed to get ready for spring anyway.  Yesterday was as good a day as any to get it there.)

And by 11:00 last night, I was still a stressed out mess. (Yes, I realize it is neither healthy nor normal to let work affect me this way.  But I did tell you I don't handle my stress well.  I wasn't kidding.) After a night of not sleeping,  I did something mildly crazy at the totally crazy hour of 6 AM.   And I'm not gonna tell you until tomorrow, because it's an entirely different story.  But I'll leave you with these clues:  it did not involve unhealthy nutritional choices, and it is definitely NOT something I anticipated writing about.  But it happened.  And I felt SO GOOD afterwards! 



Have a healthy day,

J

TGIF!

Man, how happy are you that this week is over?!?! How'd you do with your goals this week? I set a few back on Monday, and I must admit- I did pretty well!  I wrote a bunch a lists (and crossed a lot of things off!) and workout number 4 is already scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9 AM.  (I REFUSE to be shut out of yoga tomorrow!) The only thing I didn't do is finish my book....

I can't wait to set new goals for myself on Monday.  It really is amazing how much more I get done when I write it all down.  And I know I've said it before, but nothing can beat that feeling of accomplishment when I get to look at my list of crossed-out tasks.  I could get used to this!


So what's on the agenda for this weekend? I am doing the single mom thing until Sunday afternoon. There is a wedding happening all the way across the country and it just didn't make sense for all of us to make the trip. So the boys and I will be doing some bonding. Last night was our first night alone, and so far so good. (But I'm sure I'll be ready to rip my hair out by the time Sunday rolls around. Pray for me! haha!) But in all seriousness, I'm looking forward to a weekend of yoga, chick flicks, and a break from my getting-crazier-by-the-minute job.
Whatever you do this weekend, I hope you enjoy yourself! Do something fun, something healthy, and something that's just for you! I'll be back Monday with another round of GSM!


Have a healthy day,

J