#30in40: Week 3 Reflections

Yoga Challenge recaps thus far -

• Intro
• Week 1
• Week 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Week 3 of the yoga challenge is behind me, and here are my notes. 

• Monday 7:30 p.m., Hatha II, Beth: Class #13 – I went to class with my mind spinning tonight – I found out my dad is in the hospital again (and even more disheartening is that he is probably going to have to go to a nursing home soon), and with him being in Washington I feel pretty helpless over the situation.  I really wanted to go home and curl up in a ball, but I knew that going to yoga would at least be a good temporary distraction.  I started the first few minutes of the practice with quiet tears streaming down my face.  When Beth asked if we wanted to set an intention for our practice, the word SERENITY immediately popped into the forefront of my mind (in strong white letters, all capitals, with a sunrise background, for whatever that’s worth).  We started our practice with the normal flow-pace that I love so much about Beth’s class, and then we did some silly, fun stuff that had me smiling, but also imparted a deeper meaning. We made a “forest” – we all stood in a line down the center of the class in did tree pose, but holding the hands of our neighbors as we raised them to the sky, finding ease in the support of the pose.  We also partnered up to assist one another in half moon pose - supporting the other person’s leg and hip so they could really open up in the pose. Okay, okay… I get it, Universe… I have support, all around me.  For that I am truly grateful.
• Tuesday 5 p.m., Hatha I/II, Kalena: Class #14 – WARMTH!  Glorious warmth!  Today was a very spring-like day, and the yoga studio was warm but not too much so (I looked after class, about 78 degrees), and not having the air conditioning kick on was actually an incredible blessing.  Between the warmth in the room and the ujjayi breath, I was heated from the inside-out and the outside-in.  It made the work feel harder in a wonderful way, and I was literally dripping sweat on my mat.  I don’t think I could handle “hot yoga” but this was a wonderful experience.  Combined with strong vinyasas (one where we went from down-dog to plank, but bringing our knee up to our chest and outside out elbow on the plank part) and graceful movement, I was mentally and physically spent (in a good way!) by the end of class, and I think I actually was able to meditate.  I wasn’t asleep, but I wasn’t consciously thinking either – suddenly I realized I was thinking about grapefruits (weird) and that Kalena was talking, but I hadn’t heard anything she had said in a while.  It was wonderful to be able to dip into it, even if briefly.  It was the same place I go when I get a really relaxing massage.  :)  I hope to find this place more often.
• Wednesday 7:30 p.m., Hatha II, Zelinda - Class #15 – I so tremendously love the Hatha II classes – pushing myself to the limit, working hard.  Zelinda brought us through an amazing class, my favorite part of which was spending a substantial amount of time in pigeon.  I’ve really grown to love that pose.  I can always use some delicious hip work.  She also took us through an extended savasana with guided relaxation.  I find it interesting that if someone tells me to relax a certain part of my body, especially having to do with my feet, I get twitchy before it will relax.  Last night we were instructed to relax each toe, the sole of the foot, the top of the foot, the ankle – and I twitched on nearly every instruction before settling into the relaxation.  Wonder what that’s about. For savasana I had an eye pillow on and was covered in a blanket, and I was able to relax deeply and felt rejuvenated even after such a short time.
• Thursday 6:15 p.m., Hatha I/II, Randy: Class #16 – Oh what a difference a day makes! Today I felt not nearly as strong and substantially less graceful than I have in recent classes, but it really made me tune in, listen to my body, and adjust accordingly.  Randy led us through some challenging mini vinyasas that really got into the hips and shoulders.  I could definitely feel current emotions running high (especially over the whole situation with my dad in the hospital), and I was able to focus on breath to actively soothe my anxieties a bit. I’m always grateful for Randy’s constant reminders to just breathe.  We also spent a decent amount of time in child’s pose, and I was grateful for the chance to be introspective and restful.  As usual, even when I struggle in class I always feel a zillion times better afterwards.
• Friday 5 p.m., Hatha I, Kalena: Class #17 – Another great Friday “happy hour” yoga class.  Kalena often talks about grace and strength, and her practice is fused with elements of both.  She is full of wise words as well, and tonight what stood out to me was “it matters if you let it matter, it has purpose if you give it purpose.”  Tonight I set my intention as trust – as in, trust that I am taken care of, trust that everything will turn out as its supposed to.  My legs were sore from last night’s practice, and I had to modify a few poses today because of it – I love that there are so many options in yoga to make your practice as calm or as intense as you’d like.  A little bird outside chirped a happy little song through most of our practice, which made me smile.  A perfect beginning to what I hope is a lovely weekend.
• Saturday 2 p.m., Power of Love workshop, Kalena: Class #18 – Kalena led us through two beautiful hours of the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, including some guided meditation and some asana work.  This workshop was also special because my dear friend, Kasey, whom I hadn’t seen in a while was there.  At the beginning of class Kalena had us introduce ourselves and say one thing we loved about ourselves.  I found it interesting (and also kind of sad) how several people said they hate/are uncomfortable with that question.  I said that I loved my perpetual optimism.  We talked about the five human elements – form, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness, and how they relate in our daily lives.  My favorite quote from the handout is “When we know how to maintain a calm, joyful mind, our words and actions will manifest peace and happiness.” – TNH.  I really do try to find peace and serenity in my daily life, even when things are crazy, and yoga definitely facilitates calm in my mind, my thoughts, my body, my mentality.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I can honestly say that yoga has kept me sane over the last week.  With the whole ordeal with my dad in the hospital up in Washington, I felt helpless in so many ways, but I was able to channel a lot of that angst and frustration into my yoga practice, work it out on the mat, and always had a clearer head and more positive feeling by the time each class was complete.  It was a true testament for the power of yoga on my mentality, and how it is waaaay more than physical exercise to me – it’s an integral part of my life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took this after class the other night.  A friend told me that yoga makes me look stoned, ha!  I like to call it bliss.

I took today as a rest day. I made my BEST two chickpea cookie flavors yet (they are unbelievable!), which I’ll hopefully post tomorrow.  I also got called out for a massage at the hotel.  Now Alex is making a shepherd’s pie for dinner, and I’m going to relax for the rest of the evening.  Over the last week I finished books 4 and 5 of this year – maybe I’ll actually hit my aspiration of 50 this year!

Wild Fermentation by Sandor Katz – This book does more than simply advocate the consumption of fermented foods – though it’s arguments are thoroughly convincing.  It also is an incredible resource with tons of recipes for sauerkraut, kimchi, ginger beer, wine, bread, cheese, and many more, alongside tips and tricks to produce the best ferments within the comfort of your own home.  One point I really loved was how eating fermented foods purchased in a grocery store can still be beneficial to your health, but fermenting the foods in your own environment with the microorganisms that you live and interact with on a daily basis takes it to another level entirely.

One of my favorite passages in the book is actually from the foreword written by Sally Fallon – “Many commentators have observed that America is a nation lacking culture – how can we be cultured when we eat only food that has been canned, pasteurized, and embalmed? How ironic that the road to culture in our germophobic technological society requires, first and foremost, that we enter into an alchemical relationship with bacteria and fungi, and that we bring to our tables foods and beverages prepared by the magicians, not machines.”  YES!  I have a post in the works about my second round of fermented experiments here at the house.  I am having so much fun!

I finished the final 50 pages of Catching Fire, the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy, this morning.

That was after reading from page 45 to page 340 LAST NIGHT!  These books are insanely gripping, and it took all the willpower in my body to actually do the things I needed to get done today rather than crack straight into the final book of the series, Mockingjay. I’ll be starting that one tonight.

Long post is long.  Enjoy the Super Bowl, if you’re doing that, and if not then enjoy whatever you’re doing.

<3 C