The Beginning of a New Life February 25, 2008

I thought that title sounded so important and strong that I had to use it. I was going to write: Experiment, Week One but that’s not as strong.

I’ve always loved planning out my weekly meals. I don’t always do it, but I love when I do. It means when I get to the grocery I have a comprehensive list of what I’ll need to get me through the week. A wonderful feeling. Well this week hubby and spent a whole two minutes brainstorming what we’d like to eat this week. Then I made a grocery list. Then we took the kids and all went to the store. No one died. The End.

OK, I’ll be serious for a minute. It was fantastic and on Sunday morning we trekked out in the glorious snow to play and when we came home we started cooking (that’s yogipapa pulling yogiprincess up the huge hill with yogodoggie running alongside). Admittedly I did most of the cooking while he did the kidertainment (so a word) but when I did need help (thank you still hyperextended and painful thumb) he was right there. The meals are all cooked or assembled and ready to go for the week. I’m so excited.

This is one step toward a bigger goal of eating well. By not having to think about my meals for the coming week I’m ensuring we all eat a home made and relatively healthy meal. If I can do this for this week and next week then I can start to implement the next step: preparing healthier meals. I just don’t want to jinx this by trying to make huge changes all at once, you know?

My yoga practice this week has been fantastic, though not enough. I’ll get into more of that later with more pictures.

Where Did All of My Practice Go? February 21, 2008

And where did all of my posting go?  I must admit I’ve put more energy into my other blog in the past week.  This is the time of year that my mind wraps around basketball and I’ve had more to say over there than over here.  But that doesn’t mean I haven’t been practicing!  Sort of.

I’ve been on antibiotics for a week now and I’m finally starting to feel normal in the head again.  I can bend over without feeling like my head will explode or like I’m drowning.  So I’ve been spending time here and there throughout the day in uttanasana.  Ahhh.  When you’ve gone weeks without a forward fold, your body rejoices to finally find that position again.

These ‘biotics have helped my work, too.  I’m a professional voice over talent.  I have clients that rely on my voice to be consistent and when I’ve got a head cold I leave them hanging.  If I leave them hanging then I feel guilty.  And if I can’t work I can’t make money so then I feel the pressure of no paycheck.  So guilt + no paycheck = stressed yogi mummy.  Enough of that already!!

So my goal to end out this week is to find peace and flow on and off the mat.  I can do it!

My Sinuses Aren’t In My Hips February 13, 2008

So I’ve been having a hard time doing a daily practice because of this head cold/sinus infection/pressure inducer/filling rattler.  And it was really getting me down.  Then I realized MY SINUSES AREN’T IN MY HIPS.  Go figure!  So this opens up a whole new practice idea…hip flexors, baby.  Yes, those hip flexors and the groin.  Stretch those hip flexors and you’ll help the back.  Don’t believe me?  Google it.  I did after I wrote that and this is what I got.

I taught two classes tonight.  I love all of my classes but this particular intermediate class just steps up.  They want to push themselves within their limits and they do it.  I had them doing hip openers, groin openers, chest and shoulder openers then, in the end, offered up the backbend.   I was definitely inspired by this post over at WoYoPracMo.

It’s not easy getting into a backbend if you’ve not done one for years.  Or years and years.  And these students just stepped up and tried.  Not all of them, mind you, because I’ve drilled into their heads that they have to honor their bodies and they SHOULD NOT go beyond the limits of their bodies ever.  And I’m proud of those students, too, the ones who know their limits.  I assisted a few, having them hold my ankles so they can push up.  And they had a sense of accomplishment!  The energy that flows in a room like that is amazing.  Just amazing.

So, back to my own practice.  I worked through my hip flexors tonight as well and loved every minute of it.  I was able to keep my head up and, therefore, the pressure from increasing, and was able to breathe and make it work.  I got in the workout I needed and was able to help others deepen their practice.  I am determined to remember this feeling of peace and share it with those around me.  Namaste.

Not really behind… February 8, 2008

I don’t know how I got behind in posts.  So now I’m posting what I was going to post yesterday.

I’ve been hit upside the head with this beautiful head cold.  I’ve mentioned this before so no need to get into details.  Needless to say it’s throwing a wrench into my yoga practice.  That and the kids are, too.  I tried to practice yesterday morning but I was continually interrupted by princesses and school buses and screaming that, “she did it.”  No real relaxation there.  So all I could do is smile and go take more drugs.  And this is what I’ve got to show for yesterday’s practice:

I had to teach tonight and it was, despite the head and all, fantastic!  I love watching students grow.  One of the women works on her form, takes direction so well and really gets into her practice.  Another has lost weight, gained confidence and has developed a great strength in her practice.  Makes a gal proud!

Daily Practice in Writing February 6, 2008

I’ve noticed over at WoYoPracMo many people are tracking their daily practice. Some even put in pictures like this fine practitioner. I’m going to attempt do this. I’ve been inspired. I shall step up to the mat and be. Wish me luck.

I’m a month behind the WoYoPracMoers so I’ve got a lot to catch up on. Vinyasa Krama, though…one step at a time, one breath at a time in the right direction. My intention for what is left of February is to have a daily practice and document it. Intention set, let’s begin.

It’s 2:30 and I’m Fat February 5, 2008

The house is eerily quiet as the three other sick people slumber on.  Once I realized they were all asleep I snuck in some meditation time and came to the great realization that, not only will I get on the mat tonight and get in my yoga practice, I’m fat.  Yup.  Oh, before you go getting all “don’t harsh on yourself YogiMummy” please know I don’t mean any disrespect to myself.  Really.  I love myself.  It’s taken many years of inconsistent loving myself to finally give myself the kind of respect I deserve.  And so I’m going to be honest with myself.  I’m fat.  Yup.  So watchagonnadoaboutit?

Well, for one, I’m going to pat myself on the back for finally realizing this.  Phew.  That felt good to say it out loud.  And thanks to yoga I was able to pat myself on the back.

Then I’m going to make a plan.  A true, written out plan.  Goals, baby, goals.  I make them in other aspects of my life so it’s time I made them for the fat part of me, too.

Then I’m going to put that plan into action.  Not tomorrow or next Monday, but today.  It’s time to step up and take charge and stop letting these little things like sick children, work deadlines, laundry and making prank phone calls get in the way.

Yes, today.  Perhaps I’ll get some hot chocolate while I’m making these plans, though.  Well, it could take a while!

Papa’s Sick Day Now February 5, 2008

Wow, what a way to kick off a new blog – with germs and snot and puke and the whole lot.  Papa’s gone down hard today with a stomach bug and I’ve never seen him this sick.  I had to cancel everything today, including yoga class tonight.  I’ve never canceled a class.  It seems that no matter what I’m feeling, getting out and teaching yoga helps me rally.  But I know I can’t leave Papa with two rambunctious kids for dinner, bath and bed.  Yeesh.

So with this sickness running rampant through our house will I ever get to do yoga again?  Days like this it seems I won’t.  I certainly don’t have the energy to try any flow and if I dared hang upside down in Uttanasana I think my head would explode.  So what should I do?  Is there something from a practice that I could concentrate on?  Hmm, I wonder if 20 minutes of up dog would energize me and clear these sinuses.  Let’s go find out.

Mummy’s First Sick Day February 4, 2008

Mummy is taking a sick day. Actually, mummy would have loved to take a sick day many times over the past 3+ years (and not just to go sit at the bar, either) but this time Papa is insisting on the sick day. OK. I have a laptop and I’ve been meaning to start a blog so here goes.

I’m enjoying my sick day. Besides being worried that I may have infected others with this terrible head cold, I’m getting the chance to catch up on blogs, emails, news, etc. Oh, and I’m meditating this cold away just because I can. Or at least I like to think I can.

So I sit up here in my bed – forced to lay here while my family feeds me in bed, brings me medicine and tries to stay out because Papa said so – and I can hear what’s going on downstairs. M&B are fighting over a yoga mat. I love that a 3 year old and a 21 month old fight over a yoga mat. There has to be something good in that doesn’t there? Well, doesn’t there?

Now M is at the bottom of the stairs and boy, is she peeo’d. “That’s NOT FAIR when Papa says no. I’m not going near him any more because he’s not fair. He doesn’t know how to be fair. Oh, hello, B, is Papa being not fair to you, too? No, B. That’s mine. MINE, SHE SAID (yes, M likes to quote herself by saying ‘she said’ when she’s serious). Oh, gosh, B, you’re not nice and Papa’s not fair. I wish Mummy were down here because she’s not fair only sometimes.”

Oh, my. And there is lots more to be overheard but I’m busy catching up. And planning, there is lots of planning. I just joined WoYoPracMo and there is a lot to catch up on there and to plan for. More on that later. For now, my first post is done. That wasn’t so hard, was it? And the sudafed hasn’t effected my ability to be coherent, has it?

Hello world! February 4, 2008

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