Final day of the Olympic Games. LW and I trying to be good Canadians and watch the gold medal hockey game, but let's face it we find curling far more interesting. We walked down to the local cafe through eerily silent streets where we had a quiet late breakfast with a few other locals who weren't that keen on the match. Strolled across the street to a very empty grocery store. The cashier was too distracted by automatic updates on her cell phone to pack my bags properly. I guess we'd let the States tie it up with 24 seconds in the final period.
Sitting outside enjoy the sun, the neighborhood started going crazy. Horns honking, people yelling. I guess we'd scored in overtime.
Even if hockey isn't my thing, I do love the comraderie of sports.
Go Canada!
February 28, 2010
February 25, 2010
Great Site for Information on Asanas
I just found the Bikram Yoga Portsmouth webiste today. It has great photos of real life people doing the asanas, so you not only see them in full expression but also what they may resemble when practiced by you.
The Power of Breath
This morning I forgot my water bottle! I could not believe it! I'd forgotten my double walled vacuum sealed stainless steel water bottle filled with a few ice cubes and Emergen-C!!!
After a moment of panic, I asked my teacher for a cup, bit the bullet and walked into the room. Luck would have it or maybe it was meant to be but yesterday I had read Mary Jarvis' posting on Oh My Bikram about her view on water in class and decided to take her advice and focus on my breath.
At Party Time (the one official water break), I calmly stood on my mat and contemplated my cup of already warm water. There was absolutely nothing appealing about it at all, I knew it was already warm and there was no flavoured goodness in there. So I passed. I didn't drink through the entire standing series, or when we hit the floor for our 2 minute Savasana. I'm not saying it was easy, the cup was calling me, whispering into my ear, trying to convince me to just take one little sip. By the time we pushed up to Fixed Firm Pose (Supta Vajrasana) my throat was very dry so I wet my lips and continued my practice. Every so often my warm cup of water would start talking to me but I never drink water before Camel (Ustrasana) or Rabbit (Sasangasana) so I curbed my craving until after the final breathing.
I am absolutely amazed that I survived this class. Not only did I survive but I was strong. My breath was constant and focused, if I got nervous or anxious I would inhale and exhale deeply and it would calm me. Who would of thought that it was really that easy?
After a moment of panic, I asked my teacher for a cup, bit the bullet and walked into the room. Luck would have it or maybe it was meant to be but yesterday I had read Mary Jarvis' posting on Oh My Bikram about her view on water in class and decided to take her advice and focus on my breath.
At Party Time (the one official water break), I calmly stood on my mat and contemplated my cup of already warm water. There was absolutely nothing appealing about it at all, I knew it was already warm and there was no flavoured goodness in there. So I passed. I didn't drink through the entire standing series, or when we hit the floor for our 2 minute Savasana. I'm not saying it was easy, the cup was calling me, whispering into my ear, trying to convince me to just take one little sip. By the time we pushed up to Fixed Firm Pose (Supta Vajrasana) my throat was very dry so I wet my lips and continued my practice. Every so often my warm cup of water would start talking to me but I never drink water before Camel (Ustrasana) or Rabbit (Sasangasana) so I curbed my craving until after the final breathing.
I am absolutely amazed that I survived this class. Not only did I survive but I was strong. My breath was constant and focused, if I got nervous or anxious I would inhale and exhale deeply and it would calm me. Who would of thought that it was really that easy?
February 17, 2010
Love
Today was an amazing morning.
I walked out of class, basking in the 7:30am sunlight, glistening with sweat and a great big smile on my face, ready to conquer the day.
I love my yoga. It has helped me realize that I am strong, beautiful, confident, sexy and all powerful.
You never know, it may help me conquer the world.
I walked out of class, basking in the 7:30am sunlight, glistening with sweat and a great big smile on my face, ready to conquer the day.
I love my yoga. It has helped me realize that I am strong, beautiful, confident, sexy and all powerful.
You never know, it may help me conquer the world.
February 15, 2010
Too Much To Prove
Monday morning 6am class, is ALWAYS a challenge.
No matter how well I sleep, how hydrated I am, Monday mornings knock me down. Mondays also consist of one of my favourite teachers and I always want to do well to show them how I am improving.
I know this yoga should be about me. This is my practice, my time, my experience, but the little girl in me pipes up and says, "Look! Look at me!"
This morning my knee hurt, for no reason, I'd had a horrible nightmare right before waking up, and just had the all around Mondays. I couldn't decide where I wanted to lay my mat and didn't talk to anyone. My practice looked fine as I sweated for the 90 minutes, I was able to do the poses to my regular depth but I was just going through the motions. In my mind I knew I could do better. I wasn't really present. I struggled and was frustrated with myself and my inability to just be in the moment.
I almost always leave Monday morning class feeling this frustration. I am not sure whether it is because I set myself up for this by telling myself, "this Monday will be a good class!" or if it's just the way of the world and the weekend is over and my routine must start again.
And so I've decided that on Monday mornings, I am going to try to be inconspicuous. I will find myself a quiet little corner in the studio where I can observe myself in the mirror but where I am not in the front row, where I am not in direct sight of my instructor.
Mondays will be a fresh start where I will allow myself the forgiveness to be a little tired and to start the week on a good note.
No matter how well I sleep, how hydrated I am, Monday mornings knock me down. Mondays also consist of one of my favourite teachers and I always want to do well to show them how I am improving.
I know this yoga should be about me. This is my practice, my time, my experience, but the little girl in me pipes up and says, "Look! Look at me!"
This morning my knee hurt, for no reason, I'd had a horrible nightmare right before waking up, and just had the all around Mondays. I couldn't decide where I wanted to lay my mat and didn't talk to anyone. My practice looked fine as I sweated for the 90 minutes, I was able to do the poses to my regular depth but I was just going through the motions. In my mind I knew I could do better. I wasn't really present. I struggled and was frustrated with myself and my inability to just be in the moment.
I almost always leave Monday morning class feeling this frustration. I am not sure whether it is because I set myself up for this by telling myself, "this Monday will be a good class!" or if it's just the way of the world and the weekend is over and my routine must start again.
And so I've decided that on Monday mornings, I am going to try to be inconspicuous. I will find myself a quiet little corner in the studio where I can observe myself in the mirror but where I am not in the front row, where I am not in direct sight of my instructor.
Mondays will be a fresh start where I will allow myself the forgiveness to be a little tired and to start the week on a good note.
February 12, 2010
Feet Firmly Planted
Yoga is cyclical. What you learn in the yoga studio can be brought to your outside life and what you do outside in your everyday life can be brought in to your practice.
Lately, in my Bikram yoga class, I have been working on getting my head to my knee in Standing Head to Knee (Dandayamana Janushirasana). One leg up parallel to the floor, foot flexed kicking out, standing leg locked, concrete, lamp post, elbows below the shin. I tuck my chin and slowly move my eyes from the mirror to my hands holding my foot, down my shin, to my knee, tucking in my stomach, chin to my chest...and I stumble. My standing foot rocks to the inside and the outside and I let go of my leg before I fall onto my mat.
Today I spent the entire class focused on my feet. Applying pressure to the four corners, keeping myself grounded. I pushed my standing foot down into the floor and kicked my lifted foot forward as if I were to kick the mirror. It worked! I got my forehead to knee!
This got me thinking of how the simple yet focused action of grounding your feet during your practice prepares you to ground yourself in everyday life. So that when you feel as if you are falling out of place at work, at home, to firmly press the corners of your feet into the ground and you'll balance, you'll handle the situation firmly and calmly.
It is all connected. What is done in the room is reflected in your outside life. What occurs and what is practised on the outside will affect your yoga.
Lately, in my Bikram yoga class, I have been working on getting my head to my knee in Standing Head to Knee (Dandayamana Janushirasana). One leg up parallel to the floor, foot flexed kicking out, standing leg locked, concrete, lamp post, elbows below the shin. I tuck my chin and slowly move my eyes from the mirror to my hands holding my foot, down my shin, to my knee, tucking in my stomach, chin to my chest...and I stumble. My standing foot rocks to the inside and the outside and I let go of my leg before I fall onto my mat.
Today I spent the entire class focused on my feet. Applying pressure to the four corners, keeping myself grounded. I pushed my standing foot down into the floor and kicked my lifted foot forward as if I were to kick the mirror. It worked! I got my forehead to knee!
This got me thinking of how the simple yet focused action of grounding your feet during your practice prepares you to ground yourself in everyday life. So that when you feel as if you are falling out of place at work, at home, to firmly press the corners of your feet into the ground and you'll balance, you'll handle the situation firmly and calmly.
It is all connected. What is done in the room is reflected in your outside life. What occurs and what is practised on the outside will affect your yoga.
February 3, 2010
Today Was The Day
Today was the day I truly realized how much I love this yoga.
I walked into class this morning, 6am, and hid in the back of the room. I've been having a stressful few weeks with a new job and little sleep. I was planning on taking it easy, expecting a brutal class. But the yoga wrapped me up in its warm arms. It welcomed me to be me, it gave me the permission to express myself, to clear my head and have nothing exist for that 90 minutes, except for myself, the room, the teacher and my fellow yoginis. It allowed me to shine in whichever way I needed to at that moment.
Today was the day I decided I really wanted to share.
I read many Bikram yoga blogs. I read them everyday. I scour peoples accounts on their practice looking for tips, for compassion, for the honesty and communication about this practice. Now I'd like to share mine.
I walked into class this morning, 6am, and hid in the back of the room. I've been having a stressful few weeks with a new job and little sleep. I was planning on taking it easy, expecting a brutal class. But the yoga wrapped me up in its warm arms. It welcomed me to be me, it gave me the permission to express myself, to clear my head and have nothing exist for that 90 minutes, except for myself, the room, the teacher and my fellow yoginis. It allowed me to shine in whichever way I needed to at that moment.
Today was the day I decided I really wanted to share.
I read many Bikram yoga blogs. I read them everyday. I scour peoples accounts on their practice looking for tips, for compassion, for the honesty and communication about this practice. Now I'd like to share mine.
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